CH 161

Late at night in Aurum Dungeon’s first floor.

[Damnit! It’s the Adventurer Hunters!]

[If you know about us then hurry up—–]

[I’m sorry but this is as far as you can go.]

The man who was threatening the adventurer with a rough face had a muzzle pointed at the back of his head, and his face soon tightened.

[Ryouta・Satou!?]

[If you know about me then it’s easier.] (Ryouta)

[Impossible, that’s too fast. I didn’t even—–]

[What’cha gonna do now? If you leave Aurum as is, I’ll let you off just this once.] (Ryouta)

I shoved the muzzle further onto his head, as I threaten him with a deep voice tone.

[I, I got it. Please let me go, I’ll never come back ever again.]

[You sure?] (Ryouta)

[Yes, I promise!]

[Okay.] (Ryouta)

I lowered my revolver, and the adventurer hunter ran away like a scared rabbit.

I turned behind one last time, and he bit his tongue before disappearing outside of the dungeon.

He probably won’t come back again.

I’ve already gotten used to Aurum, and predicting the [signs of adventurer hunters], I immediately go to the place before they could do anything.

For example, the middle of the night where everyone supposed to be sleeping.

Aurum would notify me beforehand, and waking me up I would immediately head to the scene.

Hence the adventurer hunters were slowly diminishing, and the cases of robberies rapidly dropped.

It’ll eventually be gone.

I kept my revolver, and talked to the adventurer.

[You alright?] (Ryouta)

[a, Aah. Fuu…..]

The young adventurer sat there on the spot.

[What’s wrong? Were you hurt by him?] (Ryouta)

[Ah? Ah no, I’m just really tired. Because of the boss’s orders, we had to continue midnight hunting.]

[Midnight hunting?] (Ryouta)

[Because adventurers wouldn’t be around during midnight, so we could hog all the monsters.]

[Aah, I see.] (Ryouta)

I get what the young adventurer was trying to say.

There’s a limit to the amount of monsters spawned in a dungeon—–as in there’s a set limit of monsters per floor.

So, if you defeat 1 monster, the dungeon would spawn another one, but it won’t spawn 2 more. The fact that spawning more than it’s limit has never happened before.

Then, if the amount of adventurers exceeds the amount of monsters, well obviously there will be fewer monsters one can hunt at a time.

Hence why the Dungeon Association prohibits any acts of KS(kill steal) any other adventurer’s monsters.

Which meant that one of the ways to avoid such conflict would be to hunt at midnight.

It’s obvious that one would do that as it’s the time where most of us would be sleeping soundly.

And it’s obvious that there are less competition during midnight in the dungeon.

[Are you the only one here?] (Ryouta)

[Yeah, boss and the gang would work during the day, and I work during the night. It’s the same with boss but the rest are also old in age, and thus they can’t stay up till so late at night. So it can’t be helped.]

[Are you sure it can’t be helped?] (Ryouta)

[If they can’t do it, then it’s up to me to do it.]

The man shrugged his shoulders while he raised his hands slightly higher than his shoulders. Then a smile floated on his face.

When I looked closely, it reminded me of those late-night workers who were constantly tired, but if the person himself is alright with it, then I guess it’s fine.

☆

The next morning, using the Teleportation Room, I arrived at Aurum’s room.

A horn on its head, and wings on its back, and wearing a gothic lolita outfit, that was Aurum, the spirit of this dungeon.

The girl who had a childish atmosphere welcomed me with a smile.

[Ryouta! Are you fine today? There’s no one like them inside the dungeon today though.] (Aurum)

[I see. I’m seriously thankful for your help.] (Ryouta)

[It’s fine, it’s fine, didn’t I say it before? It’s nothing huge for me.] (Aurum)

[I’m still grateful…..Oh and you did mention that there’s no one else like them in the dungeon anymore?[ (Ryouta)

[Yeap, none. The only ones are——-Un, people who I’m familiar with, those who are normally hunting monsters.] (Aurum)

[Is that so. I’ve promised to give you something in return, so where do you wanna go and play today.] (Ryouta)

[Really! I want to go to Ryouta’s house. I wonder if I should move to a new house.] (Aurum)

[Oh right, you’ve never come to my house before, haven’t you? Alright, let’s head there right now then.] (Ryouta)

[Okay!] (Aurum)

I pulled out my revolver—–thinking of carrying her back like that.

[What’s wrong?] (Aurum)

[No, I think this would be better.] (Ryouta)

I held my hands up instead.

In order to take Aurum out, it was necessary to defeat her once and then letting her be a rogue monster once she’s outside, so it has been firing my gun at her thus far.

It was a necessary procedure, and the person herself didn’t seem to mind it, but striking a gun at her doesn’t feel good either.

So I decided to sue magic instead of my revolver.

[Repetition.] (Ryouta)

Chanting the magic, I used the magic that instantly defeats an enemy.

Then, Aurum became a 1 meter gold bar—–In that instant.

Everything turned black, and I got dizzy as it was hard to stand straight.

I knew this feeling, it was when my MP ran out.

The consumption of MP for Repetition changes according to the strength of the opponent.

The lord of the Dungeon, the Spirit Aurum.

The MP necessary to insta-defeat her was so high that my SS MP was depleted to 0 for an instant.

This was the most I’ve consumed so far.

[This is reasonable.] (Ryouta)

While I mumbled to myself, I placed the muzzle on the base of my elbow and recovered my MP with the Infinite Recovery Bullets.

This wasn’t anything bad, but a way to recover, it’s like replacing the syringe with a gun.

After healing my MP to the max, I carried Aurum and returned to the mansion with the Teleportation Gate.

☆

Inside the residence of the house, sunset had came and Aurum was relaxing there.

Sinking deeply into the sofa, a listless expression that was never before seen when she was inside the dungeon.

[This is a wonderful place, it’s incredibly comforting.] (Aurum)

[I know right. All by the help of Emily.] (Ryouta)

[It’s too comfortable——What should I do Ryouta!] (Aurum)

Aurum showed a troubled expression.

[What’s wrong.] (Ryouta)

[I don’t think I can get out of here anymore.] (Aurum)

Aurum appealed to me with a clumsy expression.

She looked like those who sat inside a kotatsu and doesn’t wanna leave.

…..Well, I get her.

It’s like Emily has casted a powerful magic to warm the house up.

And that level has already reached at the grade of a kotatsu.

[Do you wanna move in here? There’s so many empty rooms too.] (Ryouta)

[Is that alright! —–Uun, but I can’t.] (Aurum)

[Why not?] (Ryouta)

[Well, if it’s just going out to play for awhile, then it’s alright, but to sleep outside—–or have a slumber party, the dungeon’s drop would end up disappearing.] (Aurum)

[Aah, now that would be troublesome to deal with…..] (Ryouta)

[With that, you can just bring me here again. It’s no problem if it’s just going out for a morning walk kinda ‘awhile’.] (Aurum)

[What a cheap repayment, you can just come here everyday—–Nn?] (Ryouta)

[What’s wrong?] (Aurum)

While relaxing on the sofa, Aurum tilted her head while looking at me.

I digested the words that she said.

Sleeping outside—–if she were to spend the night away from home, then the dungeon drop would disappear.

That sentence repeated itself inside my head.

[Neh, really what happened to you? It’s not like I’ll come here everyday? On~ce in a while would be fine. Since I’m a spirit, my perception of time compared to you humans are different—–] (Aurum)

[Aurum!] (Ryouta)

[Wh, what is it, why did you shout…..] (Aurum)

Being startled, Aurum was pulled around.

[Is what you said just now true?] (Ryouta)

[Wh, what is?] (Aurum)

[That if you spend the night out then the drop would disappear.] (Ryouta)

[Yeah…..if I’m not mistaken, the dungeon would lose consciousness if I were away for too long…..] (Aurum)

What’s wrong with that? She looked at me with those eyes.

I thought for a while.

And came up with a lot of stuff.

As an adventurer.

As the Dungeon Association Chief.

And, as a former company slave.

I’ve thought of various things on various angles.

[Aurum, do you want to live here. I’ll send you back every morning.] (Ryouta)

[As I said, if I were to stay outside the drops——] (Aurum)

[My house is nice you know? Emily’s coming home soon, and the rest—–Ah right, even Boney-chan is here.] (Ryouta)

[Boney-chan?] (Aurum)

[It’s one of Alice’s friends, I’m sure you’ll like them.] (Ryouta)

As their born in Aurum.

Aurum who got persuaded with sweet offers, watched me with her eyes at the top.

[Is it really okay?] (Aurum)

[Yes.] (Ryouta)

[Thanks, Ryouta.] (Aurum)

Then she smiled strangely.

With that, Aurum of the spirit dungeon, would stay in our mansion.

☆

The next day, in the village of Indole.

I, as Indole’s Dungeon Association Chief by name, made an announcement.

It was the announcement that Aurum would not have any drop during midnight.

The adventurers that stood in front of the notice board were talking to each other.

[It would be an inconvenience if the drops would disappear during midnight.]

[It won’t okay, it’s not like we’ll be hunting during midnight, we’ll all be sleeping.]

[But those who have to?]

[Rather, didn’t they also write that the drop rate would increase again? Even though previously it increased, but now they’re further increasing it?]

The adventurers all agreed while making noises.

Just by looking at some, they weren’t happy about the news, but the rest had a stance of [well it’s not like anything has changed].

We’re asleep anyways during midnight, were many.

This should do it.

I thought of a similar case when I saw a news that the family restaurant would quit business at midnight.

[He, hey.]

[N?]

Someone called out to me from beside me.

When I turned, it was the young adventurer from before.

The person who was doing midnight hunting yesterday.

[Was it you who did that?]

[No, the spirit did it on a whim. Even spirits have to sleep at night.] (Ryouta)

[I see…..then can you convey a message to the spirit.]

[What is it?] (Ryouta)

[Tell her that I’m thankful, and that I could finally sleep too.]

[Sure, I’ll tell her that.] (Ryouta)

[Really, thank you.]

The young adventurer looked straight into my eyes.

I thought that the next time I met him, he would be much more energetic.