CH 254

Nihonium Dungeon, basement 2nd floor.

Since my Flaming Bullets have ran out, I came here for a refill.

The zombies living at the 2nd floor were slowly being shot in the head with the Growth Bullet.

The zombies who had their heads blown away fell to the ground and dropped seeds, where it was sucked into my pouch.

[Hmm, I wish the special bullets were a little easier to refill.] (Ryouta)

While resting between work, I pondered about my dilemma.

The easiest special bullets to replenish are the normal and Homing Bullets.

Normal bullets can be replenished by using bean sprouts, and Homing Bullets by using Trash rogue monsters.

However, special bullets only comes from monsters of Nihonium.

Although the normal bullets came from rogue monsters as well, but since the quantities are way higher than seeds, it’s easy to get a ton of supply for it in comparison to the special bullets.

…..I can’t think of any other ways, as the drops in Nihonium can only be dropped by me.

Let’s at least build up a farming pattern to make it easier.

Thinking so, I continued to defeat the zombies.

[Hm?] (Ryouta)

I suddenly stopped and looked at a certain direction.

I felt someone’s presence.

[There’s someone in Nihonium?] (Ryouta)

I doubted my senses.

Since Nihonium doesn’t produce anything, normally no one other than me comes, with the exception of Margaret who produces Air Box once in a while.

And since she only wants air, she won’t go below the first floor.

So, since we’re at the 2nd floor, no one should be here.

I lowered my revolver, and took a deep breath.

Regaining my calm, I went to where I felt the person was…..And I was right.

It wasn’t a misunderstanding.

Wondering why they would come to such a place, I stopped collecting seeds and went to where they were.

After turning the corner—-

[——STOOOP!!!] (Ryouta)

I saw a man with a rope hanging on the ceiling, and clearly the man was trying to hang his neck right now.

As he was about to do it, I pulled out my revolver and fired at the rope.

With the rope torn off, he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

I then ran towards him.

[You alright?] (Ryouta)

[…..]

The man looked at me, and at first he nodded, but then he shook his head.

[I did not ask for help.]

[I can’t let you do that. But why would you….] (Ryouta)

[Nobody would come to Nihonium, so even if I were to die here, the equipment that I dropped would not bother anyone.]

[No, that’s not what I meant, I meant why would you want to commit suicide?] (Ryouta)

The man looked at me again and laughed, but it had no expression.

[I am…..no good….]

That’s bad.

I can’t leave him alone, so I dragged him to my mansion using the Transfer Gate.

☆

[Have you calmed down?] (Ryouta)

[…..Yeah] He nodded.

After warming him up at the salon with Emily’s tea, he seemed to have slightly calmed down.

I’m glad that Emily’s tea have the effect of calming and relaxing someone.

After pushing him into the salon, I immediately ran to find Emily’s whereabouts in the Transfer Gate and asked her to come back.

[Thanks. I’m fine now.]

The guy seems to have been reluctant to suicide again.

[Can I ask for your name before you leave?] (Ryouta)

Better to ask about him first.

[…..It’s Mateia.] (Mateia)

[I see. I’m—–] (Ryouta)

[I know. You’re Ryouta Satou. The number one celebrity right now.] (Mateia)

Mateia then laughed to himself.

[Being able to solve difficult incidents, followed by having four subordinates with spirit name holder, and the boss of Shikuro. A completely different person than me.] (Mateia)

Mateia muttered which was a mess.

[What happened, to make you want to suicide?] (Ryouta)

[I…..can’t do anything anymore.] (Mateia)

[If you don’t mind me asking, maybe I can help you.] (Ryouta)

[….Help?] (Mateia)

[You mentioned that I often solve hard incidents right? Maybe I can help with your problem as well.] (Ryouta)

Then I stared straight at him.

For some reason, I can’t leave him alone, probably because I have often seen people like him back in earth.

After some time, he finally talked.

[My family started a new business.] (Mateia)

[Oh, okay, and?] (Ryouta)

[It was about a year ago, everyone was in a drinking party, and we were overly positive that we proposed such an idea. Even if it doesn’t work, at least we can find every dungeon’s floor, the most efficient way to kill those monsters on that floor, and sell that method to adventurers. And we can earn money with that.] (Mateia)

[Ah, so an information broker—–I mean selling your know-how to others.] (Ryouta)

Mateia nodded.

[We were all excited, but I thought they were just joking at that time. However, the boss was actually serious, and he made it a reality the next day, ordering me who was sitting closest to him to do so.] (Mateia)

[…..] (Ryouta)

[Having worked hard for a year, using various weapons, magic. I tried to optimize the route and so on but….] (Mateia)

[It didn’t go so well.] (Ryouta)

After nodding, he became depressed.

Well…..of course he’ll be.

In this world, many adventurers would dive into dungeons day and night with the same routine.

So the structure of the dungeon and monsters that inhabit doesn’t change much, and recently with the breed improvement that changes the dungeon has declined as a rule was made where only families with [more than 2 spirit holders] can do so.

Thus, most adventurers are familiar with their dungeon, and have optimized their movements.

Hence why a new optimized way won’t be found so easily. (reminds me of speedrunners)

[But why would you go so far as to…you know.] (Ryouta)

[It was my fault that I didn’t get any results after a year, so I’m told to either compensate the damage or create a better way soon….] (Mateia)

[Oi oi.] (Ryouta)

It’s the boss’s order, but he has to compensate for the damage?

What a stupid story.

[That’s why I couldn’t take it anymore.] (Mateia)

[I see.] (Ryouta)

I finally understood the entire story.

Though there’s a lot of things to think about for the boss, but for the time being, the first thing to do is fix what’s in front of us.

[So, whichever dungeon can be chosen for the optimization?] (Ryouta)

[Eh? Aah, yes….aah, except from Nihonium.] (Mateia)

[Yeah I know.] (Ryouta)

Optimizing Nihonium is just a waste of time for other adventurers.

Anyways.

[Shall we?] (Ryouta)

[Huh? Where?] (Mateia)

[Don’t worry about it, let’s go for now.] (Ryouta)

I said as I walked out.

Turning around to look at the confused Mateia, he finally stood up and followed along.

We went through the corridor and went inside the Transportation Room.

Using the room, I set a destination.

The bright vortex which looks like a gate appears.

[Let’s go.] (Ryouta)

[Huh? Wait—-] (Mateia)

In the middle of his conversation, I pushed him into the gate without saying anything.

When we arrived, it’s a dungeon with similar design to a japanese house.

[T-This is?] (Mateia)

[It’s the 20th floor of Lanthanum.] (Ryouta)

[Lanthanum? The one in Flint?] (Mateia)

[Yeap.] (Ryouta)

[You’re lying…How did we….] (Mateia)

[Don’t mind that. For now, do you know anything about the 20th floor?] (Ryouta)

[Eh? …..Aah, a new wine.] (Mateia)

[Yeap, it’s the dungeon which I’ve improved by breeding. So the structure of the dungeon would change. From now on, I’ll go around farming, and you remember how I did it and submit it to your boss.] (Ryouta)

[Eh? But that’s….] (Mateia)

[For now we’ll do a quick run.] (Ryouta)

I laughed.

[Since it’s a newly changed floor, nobody has optimized it yet, so we can find a better way. So don’t mind it.] (Ryouta)

I said as I stared at him.

After he was confused for a while, he bowed deeply.

[Thank you.] (Mateia)

As I have been optimizing to defeat monsters on a daily basis, it wasn’t that hard to find a good route.

At first, when I showed him a route, it was impossible to do that without abilities of S or SS, so I made adjustments by limiting my ability to B and showed a different method.

Mateia remembered that route and hurriedly went back.

☆

Several days later, Nihonium’s 8th floor.

Today, I was with Leia and we were trying to increase my Luck.

[Satou-san!] (Mateia)

[Hm? Oh it’s you Mateia. So how was it?] (Ryouta)

[It went well thanks to Satou-san.] (Mateia)

He looked so much different then he was a few days before.

[So what happened?] (Ryouta)

[I quit.] (Mateia)

[Huh?] (Ryouta)

I was a little surprised.

[Why did you quit?] (Ryouta)

[After teaching my boss what Satou-san taught me, he completely stole my way and did it as if he was the one who created it.] (Mateia)

[Aah….] (Ryouta)

Something seems to come to my attention.

Failure is the responsibility of subordinates, and the success is the work of the superiors.

Yeap, it’s a common occurence….it kinda makes me mad.

[Since I have been done by him, I thought of quitting that family.] (Mateia)

[I see. I wanted to say it, but that’s for the best.] (Ryouta)

[Yes. Hence why today—-] (Mateia)

Mateia took one step forward and bowed deeply.

[I came here to thank you.] (Mateia)

[I see, no worries.] (Ryouta)

Mateia raised his head, and had a radiant look on his face.

It’s strange to say that I’ve solved his problems.

But seeing his face, it was worth it.