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Chapter 301 – The basement miracle
Tennessine first floor.
After being attacked by the shadow’s a few times, the star has been reset.
Then, those shadows that took the shape of me was defeated using Repetition, and they dropped Matsutake.
With this new found knowledge, Neptune, Ril, Ran, and I could reset the stars that is on our arms.
And out of all 3 of us, I have 11 stars left as I just defeated my own shadow.
“You really helped us out big time.” (Neptune)
Neptune said with a smile on his face.
Behind him was the usual Ran and Ril who would only look at Neptune in high regards.
“If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t know what to do at all, and might be stuck in the dungeon for all eternity.” (Neptune)
“I guess so.” (Ryouta)
I bitterly smiled and nodded slightly.
I actually tried using a different floor’s shadow monster to reset the stars, but that didn’t work out quite as planned.
Since from the beginning, the shadows would only activate their abilities at their respective floors.
Also, if you bring a rogue monster into a floor, they won’t become doppelgangers of that monster, as tested previously.
“That’s why I’m thankful for your help. Hey, Ril, Ran.” (Neptune)
He called out his companions.
I don’t think even if Neptune forces them to thank me, they wouldn’t do it——-was what I thought.
“Thank you, Ryouta-san.” (Ril)
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” (Ran)
“


..” (Ryouta)
I was legit shocked.
If you were to take a picture of me right now and enter a contest with the title [Shock], you might be able to win first prize.
“What, are you really that shocked?” (Ril)
The usual Ril would always act -tsun -tsun, but today she was mostly normal.
“Ah no no. I didn’t expect that you girls would actually thank me properly.” (Ryouta)
“We’re really grateful okay.” (Ril)
“That’s right. If it wasn’t for you, we would’ve been trapped in the dungeon, separated from Neptune for all eternity.” (Ran)
“Yeap! That’s why

.. Thank you.” (Ril)
Aah, now I get why.
Being convinced by their words, I nodded.
For them, they couldn’t care less about any other human, except for Neptune.
So when they say that they’re grateful towards me, it’s because if I wasn’t there to help, they would not be able to see Neptune forever and ever.
“We shall head back.” (Neptune)
“You’re leaving huh.” (Ryouta)
“Yeap. From our previous experiences, whenever we have any postponement when we started an exploration. After a long time, we want to spend a long and relaxing day to ourselves.” (Neptune)
“I see.” (Ryouta)
“Call me if you find something else. Of course I will help if necessary——Boss.” (Neptune)
So he wasn’t joking when he’s going to start calling me [boss], and obviously the two girls were unhappy when they heard that.
They have their killing intent piercing through me.
“Stop it with calling me boss.” (Ryouta)
“Ahaha, bye then.” (Neptune)
He chuckled, then lead the two girls out of the dungeon.
Ran stopped for a moment to wave goodbye, and Ril just looked over her shoulders and nodded.
Though we still have our pending problems, but I’m glad that they’re starting to break the ice between me.
Welp, it’s not like I’ve fully solved this issue, so let’s leave it aside for the time being and head back to relax.
Using the Transfer Gate, I went back to the mansion.
“Kyaa!”
When I came out from the room, I bumped into Alice.
She fell butt first on the floor, and the monsters on her shoulders fell onto the ground as well.
“Ouch ouch
.. Is everyone alright?” (Alice)
The SD sized monsters showed through their body language that they were fine, and one by one climbed back up onto Alices’ shoulder.
Once she confirms that all of them were on board, she stood up.
“I’m sorry Ryouta.” (Alice)
“It’s aite. Did you hurt yourself?” (Ryouta)
“I’m fine as you can see——-Wait, Boney-chan what that’s, it’s hilarious!” (Alice)
One of the SD monsters, Boney-chan has her eyes—– replaced with a mushroom.
“Ah sorry, that’s on me.” (Ryouta)
It was the item that I brought back.
Pop! Alice helped pulled the Matsutake out of her eyes.
“Ahahaha, it went pop! Pop pop!” (Alice)
Alice who was laughing hysterically, made her monster friends laugh as well.
Especially the Master Dragon Gau-gau, and Phosphorus, Mera-mera.
If she was in a manga, there would be “LOL” or “笑” emoji’s appearing from above their heads.
“Were those two always like that?” (Ryouta)
“Hm? You talking about Gau-gau and Mera-mera?” (Alice)
“Yeah.” (Ryouta)
“Of course~” (Alice)
She replied as if it was something obvious.
Wait that’s not right

 was what I wanted to retort back.
It’s certain for Gau-gau not to do that, and definitely not Phosphorus.
The phrase——- like mother like daughter popped up in my mind.
“Alright, here you go.” (Alice)
“Ah, thanks.” (Ryouta)
Alice returned the Matsutake back.
“Is this a drop item? And it’s rare for you to not send it to Elza’s place. Or is it that you’re going to eat it?” (Alice)
“Ah that’s not it.” (Ryouta)
“Fumu fumu, then you’re using it to turn it into a rogue monster.” (Alice)
“What makes you think so?” (Ryouta)
“That’s because, whenever you bring something that’s neither to eat or to exchange it for money, it’s usually to change it into a rogue monster to test for a different item, isn’t that right?” (Alice)
“I see
. So that’s why you guessed that.” (Ryouta)
Was it because of the fear of the stars, or was I just impatient.
Usually, I would always test it out immediately to see what the rogue monsters would drop, but so far I have not done it yet.
Even when I was testing the rogue monster shadow at different floors, for some reason it did not cross my mind to test it.
What’s more, it was Neptune the one who defeated the rogue monsters, not me.
“Since I have it with me, so why not.” (Ryouta)
“I want to see it as well~” (Alice)
Alice then clapped her hands together and followed me.
Thus we both went to the basement, and I placed the Matsutake at the far end of the room, and went away to wait for it to hatch.
“Oooh Ryo-sama! Wait that’s not it, it’s Ryouta?” (Alice)
For a second, Alice thought it was the Dungeon Master from Plumbum, but she then tilted her head sideways in confusion.
Because the rogue monster looks exactly like me.
I used Repetition to instantly kill it.
This was done in order to stop the doppelganger from wrecking havoc in my mansion.
This time it was out of cautiousness.
I was afraid that it would start attacking Alice, and it being the maximum limit of me, that would be dangerous.
“Eh? It didn’t drop anything.” (Alice)
“It didn’t huh

” (Ryouta)
“That’s weird, usually it would drop something.” (Alice)
“As far as I remember, this is the first time it didn’t drop something.” (Ryouta)
“Hmmm, which is why it’s weird.” (Alice)
“


” (Ryouta)
We both wondered why as well, as we tilt our heads.
Thinking about various things, I took out another Matsutake and placed it on the ground.
When I wanted to hatch it

“Eh? What’s wrong Mera-mera.” (Alice)
Mera-mera was reacting to something.
The fire ball, which resembles a human soul was flickering.
Is this how they talk

which once again shows the bond Alice and Mera-mera has with each other.
“Really!? Are you kidding?” (Alice)
“What’s wrong?” (Ryouta)
“Ryouta, look at your arm.” (Alice)
“My arm?” (Ryouta)
When I checked my arm—-I was shocked.
“It’s gone.” (Ryouta)
The 12 stars that were tattooed on my arms, were now cleanly wiped out.