Akatsuki Translations

“Forty-five riders down besides the Type 20 rifles. We’re doing pretty well.” -Evie

Unlike the 1st floor, each battle from start to finish took a considerable amount of time. Sometimes an hour would pass before encountering the next enemy, so after just 6 battles, it was already midday.

“Evie, don’t talk while you’re peeing.” -Yuuta

And so it was time for a bathroom break and lunch, with everyone removing their equipment. Because each group of goblin riders had their own territory, once you wiped out a group of goblin riders, that area would become a safe zone.

As this gradually became clear, it was decided that it was okay to remove equipment during breaks. Still, we made sure to go to the bathroom in pairs, with Evie and Lean going now. Misuzu and I had already finished.

“There’s nothing left to hide anyway. They say explorers need to be prepared to fight even while wetting themselves if needed, so don’t worry about it.” -Evie

That said, I felt that in this area, I could afford to give the two some more space while they went to the bathroom, but they had both gotten completely used to doing it in front of me on the 1st floor.

Still, I felt uncomfortable with it. Could I not leave them alone just during these times? I had those thoughts, but depending on the floor, party members separating could become a life-or-death problem. More than anything, we had stayed overnight for 2 weeks before this. I was used to it, but…

If there was one thing I wasn’t used to, it was the other issue. Since I was the only man, I had no choice but to take care of my other bodily functions near the two of them, yet I had never seen them doing the same. They were surely indicating it to each other when it was just the two of them.

“Phew, that felt good. Let’s have lunch.” -Evie

“You’re right. What should we have?” -Misuzu

Talking about food right after going to the bathroom. The girls around me were truly tough. It seemed that, in reality, it was the girls who lacked reserve.

“There’s quite a bit of stuff that came out of the gacha, right?” -Misuzu

“Well, Misuzu and I did keep getting food drops. I’m starving. I could go for two steaks worth of meat, please.” -Evie

The sun shining brightly in the sky was radiant as always today. Come to think of it, it was a strange sight. The sun was always at its zenith and never once inclined from there. The moon and stars had never once risen in this vast sky; there was only the spreading blue.

A herd of elephants slowly passed by in the distance with their calves.

If goblins had been riding those, we probably wouldn’t have stood a chance. The strongest creatures of the savanna. Apparently elephants kill more people than lions do. They’re delicate and will easily kick you if you get close. They’re fine to watch from afar, but they’re quite scary creatures.

“Evie, if you eat that much, you’ll get fat even though you’re a model.”  -Misuzu

“Oh, it’s fine, Misuzu. I can fix it however I want with level ups.” -Evie

“Well, I guess that’s true. Then, I’ll have ramen. I think I’ll go for tonkotsu today. Shio ramen is tempting too, but…” -Misuzu

“Why not have both?” -Evie

“Eh, are you sure I won’t get fat?” -Misuzu

“It’s fine. Believe in the level ups.” -Evie

“I see. It’s a well-known fact that you don’t gain weight if you level up.” -Misuzu

“Yes, that’s right, Misuzu. I can’t help but be grateful to level ups for letting me eat whatever I like.” -Evie

“Even if I’m about to die, it’s fine. As long as I can level up without getting fat.” -Misuzu

“That’s the one thing Misuzu and I agree on.” -Evie

“Then I guess I’ll go with pork cutlet.” -Misuzu

Thinking that level ups were like some new religion, I took out the food from the magic bag. Opening the capsules, the respective dishes appeared in their original sizes when touched by hand. Even bottled tea had come out of the gacha.

There was no problem with leaving these things that would become garbage lying around. The dungeon would absorb them after about a week. Come to think of it, I still hadn’t delivered the personal effects to Hazumi’s bereaved family. I thought I’d like to take care of that too once this was over.

If I recalled correctly, he was an employee of a dungeon-related company.

“Yuuta, do you like pork cutlets?” -Misuzu

“You eat them a lot.” -Evie

“Yeah, I like them quite a bit. When Imari asks me ‘What do you want to have today?’ I usually answer ‘Pork cutlet’.” -Yuuta

“Imari-chan, huh.” -Misuzu

“Imari… You two seem to get along very well.” -Evie

“Well, we’re stepsiblings and classmates. Our parents neglected us, so we’ve been living together, just the two of us, since elementary school. I know most things about her. Imari also often tells me ‘It’s going to be pork cutlet anyway, right?’ that’s how much I like pork cutlet. Ah, really, I wish Imari could be here now.” -Yuuta

I said that in all sincerity.

“Yuuta, what do you mean by that?” -Misuzu

“Yuuta, even if she’s your stepsister, she’s still your sister, right?” -Evie

“Gah.” -Yuuta

I’m not sure why, but Misuzu and Evie asked in a sharp tone. Oh, and Lean was here too. Should I go with the kid’s meal for her?

“Well, our parents got divorced recently, so we’re not related anymore, but…” -Yuuta

“But, but, I’m a bit shocked that you’d rather have Imari-chan here even though I’m here.” -Misuzu

“Huh? No, that’s not what I meant. I meant as a fourth member. If we had one more companion, I’m sure it would absolutely be easier. Since we just entered February… there’s still a month and a half left. It’s long, isn’t it?” -Yuuta

“Ah, oh, that’s true. That certainly makes sense.” -Misuzu

“Yuuta. Don’t you have the option of adding someone other than Imari to the party?” -Evie

Evie also seemed to think it would be easier if we had a fourth member soon, so she said something like that.

“That’s not an option. Neither my dad nor Imari’s mom have any intention of looking after us. They’re still living with their affair partners and haven’t come back. I haven’t even seen their faces for about a year now. I feel bad making you two wait, but I want you to wait for Imari.” -Yuuta

“I see…” -Misuzu

Evie still seemed to want to say something, but I had no intention of backing down when it came to Imari. I had my concerns about Imari joining us in this current situation. There was the harshness of the dungeon, and I was worried about whether she would get along with these two.

Still, no matter how many times I thought about it, abandoning her was not an option.

“Yuuta, when Imari comes…” -Evie

Evie’s beautiful face, her blue eyes captured me. She approached me like that and licked my lips.

“Wh-what are you doing, Evie?” -Yuuta

I wanted to ask what she was doing in front of Misuzu. But even though I think she saw it, Misuzu didn’t say anything.

“You had some sauce on you. It’s fine, isn’t it? It’s a greeting in America.” -Evie

Don’t lie. As if there’s a greeting like that even in America. But I can’t say that sort of thing in front of Misuzu either.

“Yuuta.” -Misuzu

As if to catch me off guard, this time Misuzu pulled me in. And then she kissed me. I placed the plate of pork cutlet I had been eating on the grassland. The sweet scent of Misuzu and the taste of tonkotsu ramen from her mouth…

Misuzu embraced my body like that. I accepted it without resisting. I noticed Evie watching us, looking displeased. Evie’s hand touched my leg. She didn’t do anything more than that, but it seemed she was asserting that I shouldn’t forget about her.

“Cut it out already. I’m here too, and it’s not bedtime yet.” -Evie

We had been kissing for quite a while. As expected, Evie’s patience wore thin. Misuzu didn’t listen and hugged me even tighter.

“I said stop it!” -Evie

Evie angrily shouted in a high-pitched voice. And she forcibly pulled Misuzu off of me.

“What are you doing?” -Misuzu

“Misuzu, I want us to get along. So stop doing this sort of thing.” -Evie

“You started it.” -Misuzu

“I suppose that’s true. But let’s stop for now. Okay?” -Evie

“…Fine.” -Misuzu

This exchange had an ominous feeling to it. Could it be that the thing with Evie had already been found out? No, there’s no way they noticed. I made sure to get rid of any scent, and unless Evie told Misuzu herself…

I shook my head as I thought that far.

In any case, I had sown these seeds myself. It would come out somewhere. That’s how it is. No matter what, it would come out somewhere. It might be fine if we didn’t stay overnight in the dungeon, but explorers sometimes stay for several months if it’s a long expedition.

More than anything, we intend to hole up in this dungeon for nearly a year soon. That’s how all the hardcore people do it, and I heard that the number one thing to be careful of in that case was human relationships, even more so than monsters. That’s what Kunimaru-san said.

“You can’t take relationships between men and women lightly in a dungeon. Most men and women end up developing romantic relationships, and if the numbers are unbalanced, the odd one out will leave the party 99% of the time.” -Kunimaru

Apparently relationships between men and women need to be handled with particular care, as they tend to cause a lot of conflict. That’s why it’s better to enter dungeons with just men or just women. I looked at the two girls. If it wasn’t just my imagination, it seemed like an extremely tense relationship was forming between them over me.

“Misuzu.” -Yuuta

So I spoke up.

“What?” -Misuzu

I need to stand firm here. Nagumo-san would surely put his foot down here. If I do that, even girls will listen to what I say. It should be fine since they both like me.

It may not be widely accepted by the general public yet, but harem parties are a normal thing for explorers. So the words I’m about to say are perfectly normal too. It’ll be fine. They’ll both understand. I looked at Misuzu. Her almond-shaped eyes captured me too.

Her beautiful eyes that seemed to draw me in appeared to be glaring at me, and…

“L-Let’s stop for now.” -Misuzu

A very timid voice came out as Misuzu glared at me. Huh? That’s odd. I had intended to say firmly and coolly, “Stop fighting over me!” but the words that came out of my mouth were the exact opposite. I mean, what would I do if they both didn’t like me that much?

Rather, what gives me the right to say something so presumptuous to two such beautiful girls?

Also, something about the two of them seemed scary.

Being glared at by Misuzu is scary.

When I look at Evie, her face seems to say, “Get it together.”

By the way, did she find out about my overnight date with Evie? Or not? Advance information is important, you know. If you’re going to make a face like that, Evie, tell me properly beforehand.

Even when I was living with Imari, I often wondered why girls never tell guys the reason they’re in a bad mood.

In any case, I sincerely prayed that the two of them would calm down.