Promoting the Dungeon

"… Could you wait until the golem starts moving next time? That wasn't really much of an exam… I've heard that Ichika over there is a former C-Rank, so she doesn't need a redo, but…"

Yeah, I figured as much.

So with that, I decided to go next.

I waited until the Clay Golem the Guild Head created started moving, then we began.

"Hyah!"

But the Clay Golem's movements were slow. I sliced the Clay Golem clean in half, magic stone and all.

"Wh-?! … K-Kehma-dono, you pass."

"Thanks. Alright, Niku, you're last."

"I'll show you something cool, okay?"

Then Niku faced the Clay Golem without even drawing her sword.

… What's she planning?

"Begin!"

The Clay Golem attacked Niku with sluggish movements. But Niku nimbly dodged it and slipped inside its guard.

Then she pulled back… with the magic stone that should have been in the golem's chest pinched between her fingers.

"Retrieved it."

"O-oh."

Her tail wagging back and forth, Niku handed the magic stone to me.

So dog-like. I couldn't help but pat her head.

I accepted the magic stone and looked back and forth between the golem, which had returned to being just a lump of dirt, and the Guild Head.

"… Pass. Ah, I'd appreciate it if you could return that magic stone."

"Ah, sure."

I returned the magic stone to the Guild Head.

… Apparently, normal golems stop moving as soon as they lose their magic stone.

My golems keep moving just fine even without magic stones though. What's the difference? Maybe the materials from around the dungeon are better suited for magic? Come to think of it, I've never used [Create Golem] outside the dungeon.

"… Alright, the examination is complete. With this, you're all E-Rank adventurers… Silia, please process their rank-ups without delay."

"Yes, certainly, Guild Head."

We handed our three guild cards to Receptionist-san, and she went off to process the rank-ups.

The rest of us stayed there with the Guild Head.

"… Still, to cut a golem made of clay clean in half… I'd heard you had no combat experience?"

"Yes, actually… I went to the [Ordinary Cave]. I got this sword there."

I decided to bring it up at this timing.

Telling the guild's top brass directly should be the quickest route.

"Things were quite different from what you'd heard. As you can see, we managed to hunt quite a few goblins. We got other spoils too."

"Oh… would you mind telling me the details?"

Now then, time to pitch the dungeon.

 

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I showed him the magic sword Golem Blade and two mana potions.

These were dungeon spoils at a level that was "fine to hand over."

However, they were fairly valuable. For a small-scale dungeon, these counted as a "jackpot."

The magic sword goes without saying, and even the mana potions were worth one silver coin each.

"These are…"

"Things I picked up from the [Ordinary Cave]."

"That dungeon only had one room, I thought…"

"One room? Not at all. There were at least several rooms, and stairs too. I got this sword there. There were also golems, so after scoping things out, I came back."

I handed the Golem Blade to the Guild Head.

"… An ordinary iron sword… no, it isn't? Hm, there's a magic stone embedded in it…?! This is a magic sword!"

"Channeling magic into it increases its sharpness."

"I see, so that's how you were able to cut the golem in two."

"Exactly."

It was actually more due to the Cloth Golem's assist, but let's go with that story.

"… Actually, I'm not the one who started all this."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"… The A-Rank adventurer, the [White-Winged Goddess]… I believe she had accepted an investigation request for the [Ordinary Cave]. You know who I'm talking about, right?"

"Haku-sama, huh… Don't tell me she's the one behind this? What happened?"

Ah, so even the guild's higher-ups use -sama for you, Haku-san.

"I happened to meet her in the mountains. She told me the [Ordinary Cave] was showing signs of a Transition Phase. Though she said she had the Imperial Capital's guild report it as 'No Abnormalities.'"

"… A Transition Phase! But why would she hide that? A false report? No, A-Ranks have disclosure authority… and it was Haku-sama herself who originally made the investigation request for that dungeon…"

"And an inn has been built there."

"An inn?! W-what in the world happened to get an inn built there…"

Completely unnatural, of course. But well, time to bulldoze through!

"Does it matter what happened? Haku-san apparently had an acquaintance build it, so I figure there's no point thinking about it…"

"… I can never understand what that person is thinking… There was also a directive not to interfere with the [Ordinary Cave]… Hm, no point thinking about it, I suppose. In that case, it would be better to think about what to do from here."

"Yeah, well, one thing led to another and I ended up working at that inn… From now on, my base of operations will be there."

"… I see. Understood."

Alright, bulldozing successful!

"In that case, let's build a branch office of Tsuia's Adventurer Guild there."

"… Huh?"

… A branch office?

"Mm, thank you for the report. I'll count this as having completed a special investigation request."

"Um, what's this about a branch office?"

"A branch office is a branch office. If the dungeon has grown, adventurers will gather. In that case, being able to trade goods on-site would be more convenient. Especially if there's already an inn there, right?"

"Y-yes, well, that's true."

"Depending on the dungeon's scale, a village could form… We'll need additional investigation. I should put out a request."

A village, he said?!

You've got to be kidding me, I never planned for that scale.

If too many people gather, the golems won't be able to work the fields anymore…!

Crap, is there some way to do farming inside the dungeon?

It'd get harder to use the special golems too.

Just as I was thinking all this, Receptionist-san came back with our guild cards. They were properly updated to E-Rank, but that was the least of my concerns right now.

I finished up with some quick pleasantries and left the guild.

"… Niku, Ichika, looks like things might get a bit troublesome."

"The meat skewers?!"

"T-those are fine, we can still eat them. If they're not available right now, we'll stay one night… Let's hunt some rabbits to deliver and cover the inn fees…"

To give the conclusion first: the delicious meat skewers would be ready tomorrow, so we delivered a quick six rabbits and received a reward of 72 copper coins. After setting aside 35 copper for the inn fee, most of the rest went toward meat skewers as payment, so tonight's dinner turned into a meat party.

Incidentally, this was processed as a designated request. Originally, the rabbit meat request works by having the requester deposit a set amount of money with the guild, and rewards come from that. Since we received payment on the spot this time, we got a request slip annotated that cash and goods had already been paid out.

Apparently it counts as completed whenever you turn it in.

 

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After leaving the usual [Sleeping Songbird Pavilion], we immediately headed to the meat skewer stall to buy some delicious meat skewers.

Since I woke up around noon, the timing was perfect.

"Ooh, I see! You're right, these are definitely better than yesterday's meat skewers!"

"Right? If you come back in a week, I can make 'em for ya again."

"Mmm, that's tempting, Goshujin-samaaaa?"

"No can do. We're going to be busy with various things, so I can't make promises."

I answered while biting into a meat skewer.

"… Nom, nom."

"How is it, missy? Good?"

"Yes… nom."

Niku was also enjoying her meat skewers.

The seasoning was definitely much lighter compared to the hamburgers, but the flavor of the ingredients was incredibly robust.

With so little gaminess, you could really taste it clearly. How should I put it… wild?

This is delicious in its own way.

"… Wouldn't it be amazing if you made hamburgers with this meat?"

"Indeed… I agree with Ichika's idea."

… Maybe I should look for recipes and seasonings.