Volume 3 Chapter 23 The Results of Shark Fin Peeking Through the Snow
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Heroes are coming from the royal capital.
I, holding champagne, fall silent as I think after getting the message from Tifi.
Why are they coming to Dungeon City?
Are they coming after me?
I was summoned to this other world with a bunch of high school students.
While they were welcomed as heroes, I was deemed useless because my skill “Love Hotel” was seen as lewd and expelled.
Since then, I’ve been working as an adventurer and came to this Dungeon City.
The truth is, the skill “Love Hotel” holds value that rivals any other skill.
It can create a safe haven and provide endless supplies from modern Earth, making it incredibly useful.
It’s worth an immeasurable amount to everyone, not just adventurers.
If the royal capital finds out about this, it’s only natural they’d come after me and try to secure me.
But isn’t it unlikely they’re targeting me?
It’s possible they’ve heard about my skill, but I still don’t have proof.
So there must be another reason for their visit this time.
”Is the purpose the dungeon?”
This is Dungeon City.
Sending heroes, who are precious assets to the royal castle, is more than enough reason.
Tifi nodded slightly at my question.
”That’s probably it. They intend to have a high-level adventurer party guide them through the dungeon.”
So that’s why Gaedaf and the Gold Rank adventurers were given standby orders.
They probably thought having their support would make conquering the dungeon easier.
Sending heroes into the dungeon to promote their growth.
Meanwhile, they’re likely scheming to collect monster materials and treasures.
Defeating monsters raises one’s rank as a person.
In other words, it’s leveling up.
The dungeon is perfect for leveling up.
They can grow the heroes efficiently.
Plus, if they hunt monsters, they can get magic stones and rare materials.
Also, treasure chests in dungeons often hide powerful magic tools and valuable items.
Bringing those back would strengthen the kingdom’s military power.
So, dungeon exploring could get us not just 2 birds, but maybe 3 or 4.
It makes me think they might have taken too long to send us into the dungeon.
”It’s about the hero’s growth, materials, magic tools, and maybe even a complete clear. That’s what the kingdom wants, right?”
When I said that, Tifi nodded lightly, but with a bit of a wry smile, she added,
”Well, clearing the dungeon is realistically pretty tough.”
According to her, the last time anyone took down the boss on the 4th Floor was about a hundred years ago by a hero and their friends.
They risked their lives to defeat the 4th Floor boss, but that seemed to be their limit.
They had to retreat because the 5th Floor was just too difficult.
The hero from a hundred years ago couldn’t break through the 4th Floor.
If the power of the hero this time isn’t much different, I can’t see them clearing the 5th Floor either.
I agree with that.
What about me?
Could I push ahead in the dungeon?
There’s one thing I’m curious about.
Which “type” of hero took down the 4th Floor boss a hundred years ago?
There are 2 kinds of heroes.
”Summoned ones” and “those caught up in the summoning.”
The heroes coming to this Dungeon City now are the former, the summoned ones.
And I’m the latter, the ones who got caught up in it.
I recalled the explanation from my summoning.
Back then, the time-space adjustment system did say this much.
”They will strengthen skills as compensation for being caught up in the hero summoning.”
So, that means the ones caught up in the summoning might actually be stronger than the summoned heroes.
My skill “Love Hotel” is probably made more useful because of that compensation.
Although, since my skill focuses on utility, my direct combat ability is low.
In other words, if the hero from a hundred years ago was one of the summoned ones, then maybe I──strengthened by compensation──could break through.
If they were caught up in it, then my lower combat ability might not let me clear it.
”Do you know anything about the hero from a hundred years ago?”
”All that’s left is the legend about ‘defeating the monster with great power’. We don’t know the specific skills or any records from the summoning.”
Got it.
There’s a high chance they had battle-focused skills, but we can’t tell if they were summoned or if they got caught up in it.
I don’t know if I can clear the dungeon.
Well, whatever.
Either way, I can only go as far as I can at my own pace.
There’s no reason to rush the exploration, and prioritizing my own safety is best.
”But this might be a good opportunity.”
”What do you mean?”
Tifi looks skeptical at my words.
”By diving into the same dungeon, I can see the difference in power between them and me. If they know I’m there, keeping track of that difference helps me decide whether to fight or flee.”
I explain.
”I see.”
Tifi nods lightly, looking satisfied.
”So, my job is to investigate their strength, right?”
”Yeah, please do.”
If it’s Tifi from the Adventurers’ Guild, getting info on the heroes shouldn’t be hard.
That makes me feel reassured.
”Leave it to me, Mr. Taro.”
Tifi answers with a confident voice.
There’s a hint of pride in her expression.
She looks incredibly reliable, beautiful, and adorable.
I can’t help but wrap my arms around her waist and pull her close.
And then I gently kissed Tifi.
”Ah, that helps a lot. Tifi, I love you.”
”Mmm… Mr. Taro…”
With her eyes closed, Tifi accepts me.
Enjoying her lips, I think.
She’s helping me here on the surface.
Maybe that’s why I can keep going.
And so, the night stretched on.
* * *
After that, we continued our exploration of the dungeon’s 4th Floor, “Magic-Draining Snow Mountain.”
I want to push as far into the dungeon as possible before the heroes start their assault.
But our progress isn’t great.
The reasons are twofold.
First, it’s the tricky nature of the snow unique to this mountain.
This snow has the property of absorbing magic, just like its name suggests.
So, the power of magic gets significantly weaker.
Our exploration heavily relies on Lifia’s detection magic.
The effects of this magic absorption can’t be ignored when scanning the terrain or searching for hidden enemies.
Finding our way forward and locating enemies buried in the snow becomes extremely difficult.
We can sense the enemies’ presence if we get close enough, but it’s still inconvenient.
The second reason.
It’s that Kéa isn’t doing so well.
To handle the dungeon’s extreme cold, we wear Santa Claus outfits for warmth.
But this costume hinders her movement.
Kéa has big breasts, and they play a role beyond just being a physical feature.
She skillfully uses the sway and shift of her breasts to create instant direction changes and mobility.
If she wore the bikini armor she’s used to, she could let her combat style shine.
Kéa unleashes her combat power by making her boobs bounce.
But the cold-weather outfit blocks that free movement.
Kéa’s lewd style is not just for show.
Her attacks are sharp, but they lack her usual speed and precision, a frustration seeps into her movements.
”I’m really sorry. It’s just because I’m so useless…”
With her eyebrows furrowed and an expression of regret, Kéa apologizes.
”Don’t push yourself. This snowy mountain is like a trial for us. Let’s take it slow.”
I say this in a gentle voice and place my hand on her shoulder.
”Yes, I understand…”
Kéa, with a softened expression, suddenly continues with a hint of self-deprecation.
”I’ve come to understand the value of that outfit now. I didn’t like it at first, but Milord must have had some deep thoughts about it.”
”Ah, well, yeah.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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