Episode 32 – Celebration

19 minutes

“Phew, it really is cold outside.” -Evie

“Truly.” -Yuuta

After changing clothes at the dungeon shop and transforming into a couple in their 40s using a ring, we stepped out onto the streets of Kofu, feeling a bit odd about the transformation. We walked for a while and then boarded a limousine that was waiting for us in the distance.

“””Good Work!””” -Yuuta, Misuzu, Evie

Inside the limousine, driven by David and others, we toasted with sparkling beverages. Becoming an explorer increases one’s resistance to poison. Still, the sensation of beer entering the stomach brought a bitter sense of intoxication.

“Yuuta, is it really okay for us, being 15, to drink this?” -Misuzu

“Probably not. But we already did.” -Yuuta

“It’s fine just for today. We’re not driving, after all.” -Evie

“True, but…” -Misuzu

Despite saying this, Misuzu seemed happy, feeling like she had grown up after running around in the hot savanna and drinking beer for the first time. The drinks kept flowing. The limousine’s interior was quite spacious, with one side set up as seating.

A counter was set up in front of us, allowing for free eating and drinking. The car’s interior felt like a different world altogether, highlighting Evie’s wealth. Do top models in America really earn that much?

“Hey, instead of going home now, why don’t you come to my hotel room? I’ll have David and the others prepare a party to celebrate finding the staircase. Let’s drink until morning and sleep in a fluffy bed together.” -Evie

Evie suggested.

For Misuzu and me, who had lived in a child’s world until now, it was an attractive proposal. Moreover, neither of us had contacted our homes yet, so there wasn’t a pressing need to return. However, as a boy, I worried about what physical things Evie might do to me.

“That sounds fun. Let’s do it, Yuuta.” -Misuzu

“Yeah, sure.” -Yuuta

Misuzu was enthusiastic. The unfamiliar alcohol seemed to have made her more open-minded. Although I felt bad for Imari waiting at home, we decided to visit Evie’s room. Upon arrival, it was clear that it was a luxury hotel.

The entrance was made of solid wood, and the floor was covered with plush carpeting. The concierge, whether speaking English or any other language, would surely provide impeccable service. I remembered staying in such a hotel when my parents were still on good terms.

Even among the guests, David and the others in black suits stood out. The inconspicuous Japanese couple and their child, me, felt like we were being escorted somewhere. The room we were led to had the luxury feel of a place where Nagumo-san might stay.

There were several sofas and two massive king-size beds in a room that seemed to span about 50 tatami mats. Staying alone in such a large room made me wonder what one would do, reflecting my frugal nature.

“You can change back now. The hotel and service are under our contract,” David said.

“That’s true.” -Evie

Hearing David’s words, Misuzu and Evie returned to their original appearances. The dungeon was lawless, leaving no room for complaints about what might happen there. But did we need to be cautious even when not near the dungeon?

After discussing, we decided it was necessary. Initially, Evie hadn’t been very cautious about hiding her dungeon explorations in Japan. However, after witnessing disputes in the dungeons here, she reconsidered.

Whether we needed to take such precautions was debatable, but being overly cautious until we reached a certain level wouldn’t hurt. The more we understood about the dungeon’s whirlpool of human desires, the more we leaned towards this view.

“It’s impressive that you found the staircase to the second level in such a short time.” -David

David seemed impressed. The muscular, blond-haired David in his black suit and sunglasses looked every bit the tough American, making me wonder if even someone like him found our achievement remarkable.

“Why don’t you try being explorers in Japan too? The dungeons here are quite different from America. For starters, there are hardly any goblins with guns.” -Evie

Even though it was still dangerous, David and his companions seemed more suited for the dungeon than we were.

“It seems so. We’ve gathered that information since coming to Japan. We considered what Evie suggested, but ultimately decided it was impossible for us.” -David

“Why is that?” -Evie

“Like I said, we prioritized safety too much and ended up at level 10 without any magic or skills. When we entered the dungeon, there was a lack of information. It was foolish, but we laughed at the idea that the Japanese government, which doesn’t allow guns, was letting its people die.” -David

“Ironic, isn’t it?” -Evie

“Exactly. We never imagined that was the right approach. In America, the stronger and more confident you are, the more likely you’ve handled a gun. I killed all the goblins with a gun, never considering close combat. As a result, we hit our limit by the third level.” -Mark

Mark, who looked like a lean, muscular type, seemed irritated not by Evie’s words but rather by the memories of the dungeon he’d rather forget.

“Would you mind telling us more about why you think it’s impossible?” -Evie

Evie asked, seemingly for reference.

“I’d rather not talk about it; it’s too embarrassing.” -David

“If you really don’t want to, it’s okay. But we’d like to know to avoid dying ourselves.” -Evie

“Well, if it’s for Evie and the others’ sake, I’ll talk.” -David

“Thank you.” -Evie

“It was quite some time ago. Back then, no one could enter the dungeons in America, and dreaming of leveling up, we left the military and crossed into Mexico. At first, we were successfully killing goblins with guns. We thought, ‘Are these weak monsters even monsters?’ But then…” -David

David clenched his fists until they bled.

“Even at level 7, we couldn’t defeat the monsters on the second level in close combat. You might know, but you can only level up to 7 on the second level. Yet, we couldn’t defeat the monsters there. We could manage with guns, but by then, we had started to realize that something was wrong with relying on them. So, we panicked.” -David

“Is status really that important?” -Evie

While it’s clear how important status is when you’re in the dungeon, whether it prevents you from descending to lower levels was hard to determine from the speculative information available online. This time, Mark answered.

“Important is an understatement. In the dungeon, your status is your life. Those who descend to the third level can defeat groups of second-level monsters in close combat, alone. Whether you’re a woman, elderly, or a man, if you have the status, you can do it. Without status, it’s impossible, no matter how muscular you are.” -David

“Even if I can do it, you guys can’t?” -Evie

“No. When we tried to descend from the first to the second level, even if the goblins didn’t have guns, we didn’t have the confidence to win against a group alone. Against humans, maybe. I have the skills to handle five or six people. But those creatures come at you without fear, desperately trying to kill us with blades. I wouldn’t want to face many against one in such conditions.” -David

“Well, certainly. What’s with that murderous intent?” -Evie

“From Evie and the others’ perspective, our muscles might look strong, but inside the dungeon, muscles only help up to level 2. Beyond that, it’s all about status.” -David

“It’s funny, isn’t it, David? Even then, we were bragging about killing goblins with guns on the second floor.” -Mark

“But the level still goes up, right?” -Evie

Evie asked.

“It does go up. But, the increase is about half compared to not using guns. Plus, we don’t have any skills or magic.” -David

“If you go to the third floor without being able to properly defeat the monsters on the second, you’ll see. No matter how much you think ‘they’re just monsters,’ you can’t win. That’s when we realized, maybe it’s not good to just rely on guns, especially since we were gradually getting information from Japan. So, we discussed it among ourselves and decided to switch to melee combat, which turned out to be our biggest mistake.” -Mark

“People who struggle with monsters using guns, can’t possibly handle close combat. We were spectacularly hunted down. Escaping with our lives was hell.” -David

“Evie. If you don’t want to die, make sure to bring plenty of healing methods. We were out of money in that vast space. We didn’t even have the cheapest potion.” -Mark

“You did well making it back alive, huh?”  -Yuuta

I couldn’t help but say it out loud. Having explored the first floor, I realized just how vast the dungeon is. It’s incredibly wide. In the early days of the dungeon’s appearance, there probably weren’t convenient map apps, and if you ran out of supplies, you’d truly die.

“Do you understand, Yuuta? I don’t even want to remember that time. Having to return from the third floor to the entrance of the first, over 200km while being chased by monsters. One by one, our friends died. Oliver and Benjamin. We let two of our friends be eaten alive by goblins.” -David

“Even after finally getting back, there was no time to grieve. Despite being seriously injured, we had no money for the hospital. If the boss hadn’t picked us up, we’d be dead.”-Mark

“You wouldn’t want to enter there ever again, right?” -Evie

Evie, too, seemed to understand why David and the others were so reluctant to enter the dungeon.

“Coming to Japan was the right choice after all.” -Evie

After preparing for our wrap-up party, David and the others went back to their rooms. While we were in the dungeon, David and the others had a contract to rest, and when we came out, they were on call 24/7.

“I was fed up with the goblins in the American dungeons using guns, and there was no future if we stayed in America.” -Evie

“Evie, couldn’t you have solved it with money?” -Yuuta

“How much do you think I spent to avoid ending up like David and the others?” -Evie

“A billion or so?” -Yuuta

“No, 10 billion. I prepared 10 aristocrat reserves. That alone was 3 billion. No matter how many times I was shot with a gun, I bought potions that wouldn’t let me die unless it was an instant death. I even prepared potions that cost 100 million yen. But even then, I couldn’t buy an elixir for a friend who had his arm torn off.” -Evie

“Is an elixir that expensive if you try to buy it?” -Yuuta

Elixirs are almost like urban legends. There wasn’t much information on the internet about how they are treated.

“They’re not even on the market to begin with. I tried every means to look for them, but I couldn’t find any. If by any chance they appear on the market, someone richer than me would buy them for over 10 billion yen. I definitely can’t afford that.” -Evie

“10 billion yen…” -Yuuta

It made me realize again that dungeon-related items are truly bugged.

Elixir.

It’s a healing potion that can cure any injury or illness in an instant. Having one is like having an extra life. If you have money, you’d want it.

“If you want an elixir, you have to obtain it yourself. And for that, you need reliable party members. Yuuta, reliable in close combat. Misuzu, who supports with long-range attacks. I needed you guys.” -Evie

“Is that so?” -Misuzu

“Yes. Misuzu, so don’t do anything that would get you killed, okay?” -Evie

Evie seemed to be following up, worried that Misuzu had used a 1 million yen potion on herself during the exploration. She’s a kind girl. It would be perfect if she wasn’t carnivorous in her relationships.

Before the party, we changed our clothes. Misuzu wore a tank top and shorts, and Evie was just in a black camisole. Although there were plenty of sofas, the two naturally sat on either side of me.

Misuzu clung tightly to me.

“Mi, Misuzu?” -Yuuta

“I’ve realized. I hate being without Yuuta. I love Yuuta. Because all I could think about while exploring alone was Yuuta.” -Misuzu

“…” -Yuuta

“What does Yuta think of me?” -Misuzu

With her sharp eyes, it felt like she was peering straight into my heart. There was no mistaking that Misuzu was directing clear romantic feelings toward me. I couldn’t find the answer within myself. If I responded to Misuzu’s feelings, what would I do about Imari? I didn’t even know myself which one was more important to me.

“Sorry, I… can’t give an answer.” -Yuuta

A situation so happy that I could never have imagined it before. The girl I liked most of all had confessed her feelings to me. But it wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be, it was rather matter-of-fact. Even though I was really happy, I couldn’t respond. I didn’t know what to do.

“Yuuta.”  -Misuzu

Misuzu snuggled up even closer to me.

“I’m such a bad girl, aren’t I? You already have someone you like, Yuuta. I’m sorry. I’ve fallen for you.” -Misuzu

Having the girl I liked say that to me was something I had always wanted. However,

Squeeze!

“Oww!” -Yuuta

The intense pain made me jump. Just when things were getting really good, Evie had firmly pinched my thigh.

“What’s wrong?” -Misuzu

“Ah, no, haha” -Yuuta

“I don’t want you to forget I’m here too.” -Evie

“Ah, Evie, you were still here.” -Misuzu

“Of course, I am. It’s my room. And I’d rather not be left out. We’re in the same party, right?” -Evie

“That’s true. But thank you, Evie.” -Yuuta

“You’re welcome.” -Evie

Evie seemed unsatisfied with being mentioned as an afterthought. She clearly told me she was fine with being third, yet she seemed jealous. Evie was somewhat incomprehensible to me, so I took a piece of pizza from the table and brought it to my mouth.

I probably shouldn’t have, but since David and the others didn’t stop me, I also downed some beer. This was my fourth since the car ride. I didn’t feel particularly drunk yet.

“I’ve never drunk alcohol before, so this is what it feels like.” -Misuzu

Despite Misuzu’s confession, I couldn’t get drunk on my first alcohol experience. If only I could get drunk, I might feel better… If only I could shout out that I love her too, I might feel relieved…

“Do you want to try some wine? There’s a delicious one.” -Evie

“Is it okay even though I’m underage?” -Misuzu

“Is it okay in America?” -Yuuta

Misuzu’s speech was slurred, possibly from the alcohol. So, even explorers get drunk. I hadn’t properly researched alcohol, so I didn’t know much about it. It seems she didn’t mind me being close to Evie.

“It used to be stricter than Japan. The legal drinking age was from 21. But then the law changed. Once you reach level 3, you’re considered an adult at 15, and you’re allowed to drink. They wanted to encourage more people to enter dungeons because it was too dangerous and nobody wanted to go in. It’s the opposite of before.” -Evie

“It’s different in Japan. Even if you level up, there’s no such law.” -Yuuta

“Oh? In Japan, explorers won’t be punished for drinking either. David researched it, so it’s probably true. But…” -Evie

“But what?” -Yuuta

I looked at Evie as she paused. Her deep-set foreign features and large eyes captivated me. If Misuzu’s warmth wasn’t on my right arm, I might have kissed her.

“She’s asleep.” -Evie

“Huh?” -Yuuta

I looked to the side, and Misuzu was breathing softly, clinging tightly to my arm.

“True.” -Yuuta

“She must be really tired. Even though she seemed fine, she used a 1 million yen potion twice.” -Evie

“I’m really glad Misuzu didn’t die.” -Yuuta

Just the thought of Misuzu dying sent a chill through my heart. With Evie’s permission, we decided to use the king-sized bed. I laid Misuzu down and covered her with a blanket. Should I have kissed her sleeping face? In the end, I did nothing and sheepishly returned to the sofa.

We found the stairs during our exploration in the morning, and I wasn’t very sleepy. It was around noon, and I was still hungry, so I reached for the pizza.

“I thought you were going to go ahead with it.” -Evie

“I don’t have the courage for that.” -Yuuta

“What a waste. She would have definitely been okay with it.” -Evie

“I hope so.” -Yuuta

Evie sat next to me again, leaning in. Her gaze fixed on me, the gap in her camisole revealing her cleavage. I wondered if she would get angry if I touched her.

I understood what her beautiful blue eyes were saying. Her face was coming closer.

“Evie, shouldn’t we stop this?” -Yuuta

“Yuuta, you worry too much. Use me more for your goal of reaching level 1000. I’m willing to meet your expectations. I’ll give you all the money you need.” -Evie

“It’s not about that. I don’t like this kind of thing.” -Yuuta

“I love it.” -Evie

Evie’s lips met mine.

“What are we going to do tomorrow?” -Evie

As if it was the most natural thing, I conversed with Evie while kissing her, away from Misuzu’s gaze. It seemed, if I wasn’t mistaken, that Evie liked being close and kissing her favored partner.

“Sigh.” -Yuuta

“It’s terrible to sigh while kissing such a beautiful woman. I might cry.” -Evie

“I’m thinking of taking a three-day break before going back to the dungeon.” -Yuuta

Evie straddled me and hugged me from the front.

“That sounds reasonable. Won’t you tell me the details of your three-day break?” -Evie

“Tomorrow, probably with Imari. It’s Saturday, after all.” -Yuuta

“Ah, my biggest rival. What about the next day?” -Evie

“I’m going shopping with Misuzu. We need to rethink our equipment before going to the second floor again. I was shocked we had to use a 1 million yen potion twice.” -Yuuta

“Then I’ll book modeling jobs for tomorrow and the day after. The third day is still open.” -Evie

Evie spoke while maintaining a kissable distance, then snuggled closer.

“T-that’s good.” -Yuuta

I tried to dodge the topic, but I couldn’t think of plans for the third day immediately. Would she get angry if I said I wanted to rest at home?

“Are you teasing?” -Evie

“No, I’m not. I plan to rest at home on the third day.” -Yuuta

“That’s fine. You’ll be getting along with Misuzu on the second floor, right? There’s no time for just the two of us. Yuuta, don’t you think about me? If you spend that day with me, I’ll endure being in the dungeon.” -Evie

“Really?” -Yuuta

“Really. Have I ever lied?” -Evie

“Well…” -Yuuta

She always kept a low profile, preferring not to be first. But didn’t she interrupt when Misuzu and I were about to get really close?

“No, but…” -Yuuta

I couldn’t bring myself to say it. After all, after being so passive up to this point, I didn’t have the right to say such things.

“Right? So, spend the third day with me. Let’s go to the movies. We can use the rings to become completely different people. Then, it can be our little secret.” -Evie

“That would be outright cheating.” -Yuuta

“Isn’t it the same with Misuzu? The one you truly love is Imari, right?” -Evie

“That is…” -Yuuta

Would it be easier if I just admitted it? And then cut ties with Misuzu and Evie. But what would I do after that? It would be difficult for Imari and me to be explorers by ourselves. Should I give up on reaching level 1000 and live off petty cash?

I didn’t want that.

What is a dungeon?

What lies beyond the higher levels?

What does it mean to be reborn?

I want to surpass humanity.

The very bottom of a special grade dungeon.

What kind of sights would I see there?

I want to know.

I need to know.

And for that, I absolutely need Evie.

For some reason, my intuition was screaming that at me.

“Yuuta. I love you too. I love you. So, let’s look at my equipment together.” -Evie

“…I’ll be with Evie on the third day.” -Yuuta

“Fu fu, I love you, Yuuta.” -Evie

Evie’s lips met mine once again. I wanted to believe this “I love you” meant something different from Misuzu’s. I never thought I would be involved in something like cheating, yet here I was, getting deeper and deeper into it.

“Be a different man by 6 a.m. on the third day, wear a blue scarf, and come to the hotel lobby. I’ll become a different woman, wear a brown coat and sunglasses, so just call out to me. Let’s keep what we’ll look like a secret from each other.” -Evie

“Why so early?” -Yuuta

“Let’s spend every minute we can together.” -Evie

Blonde hair, blue eyes, tall, with curves in all the right places, and sexy. Such a beautiful girl clinging to a guy like me while drunk. The conversation dwindled, and that’s when it happened.

“…” -Evie

Evie, too, closed her eyes and fell asleep leaning on me. I lifted Evie and carried her to the bed, laying her down next to Misuzu. There were two king-sized beds. I felt bad for the two of them, but I decided to use one of the beds by myself.

Lying down next to two sleeping beauties, I closed my eyes as I watched them. Sleep quickly overcame me.

“In America, I would have been attacked 100 times by now.” -Evie

I thought I heard such a voice in my dream. Then, feeling the smooth touch of skin and enveloped in a comforting warmth, I pulled it closer and slowly fell asleep.

2 responses to “Episode 32 – Celebration”

  1. Dwarfy2k Avatar
    Dwarfy2k

    MC so beta cuck I dunno why these girls would be all over him, like seriously I wish he’d grow a spine. Also has he never looked in a mirror since 3rd level to see he’s completely changed?

  2. mono00 Avatar
    mono00

    The romance part is so irritating to read so that we see how wimpy the MC is…

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