Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Mites and Ming Dungeon
Just as this world had originated as a game, equipment too came with equipping restrictions.
For example, gear imbued with high-level magic could cause a backflow into the user's mana, damaging the mana itself.
So what I had prepared for Yuna and Silen was good gear among beginner equipment—by no means top-tier.
"I see. But this…. This is outrageously expensive equipment, isn't it, Master?"
"I won't say it was cheap."
"I want to know the exact price!"
I have no idea why kids have such boundless curiosity, but I was once the same at their age—everything in the world was fascinating, and equipment prices especially so. Just like asking 'How much did your new computer cost?' was a universal concern for our generation.
"Yuna is a Tank, so I paid extra attention to the armor—1,500,0000…. Silen's came out a bit cheaper at 1,200,0000."
"……."
Yuna's jaw dropped wide open, and she began fumbling to take off the equipment.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I-I don't have the confidence to walk around wearing equipment more expensive than my own worth…."
"Can 1,500,0000 or 1,200,0000 even compare to your lives?"
"T-then please, something more beginner-level. Beginner equipment! I don't have the confidence to wear something like this!"
A laugh escaped me unbidden at Yuna's wail—the lament of a true commoner at heart.
Living on the frontlines of the Hephaestus Dungeon meant being in a position to always get your hands on the finest treasures in the world.
On top of that, I had knowledge of this world as a game, so I owned a few pieces of equipment that were in a completely different league—ones the other members of Thunder Strike hadn't even noticed.
The only problem was that all of it was locked away in the item storage linked to the bank….
Regardless, pulling out a few pieces of gear at this level meant nothing to my wallet, but Yuna seemed to be taking it very differently.
"Yuna. The jobs with the highest mortality rate in the Dungeon are Swordsmen and Warriors. Usually, fewer than 30% of beginner Swordsmen and Warriors ever make it to the veteran ranks. They all end up crippled or dead."
"Ah…. I—I've heard that."
"Among them, there were certainly those who were equal to you or even more talented. And yet, the reason so many Swordsmen and Warriors die is…. It's because they can't equip themselves properly."
"……."
"Today they earn money on the Dungeon's 1st Floor, then that money drains away on meals, inn fees, and living expenses. After that, they agonize over whether to buy an emergency escape scroll or upgrade their equipment—whether to invest in weapons or armor…. It's not uncommon for it to take five or six years just to put together one beginner set."
And usually, the ones who claw their way to completing that set end up settling into the floor where they can safely hunt.
Because they know how grueling it is to acquire equipment beyond that point. Because they don't have the confidence to risk their lives challenging higher floors.
This world is not a game. It's reality. Die once and it's over, and everyone's life is precious. That is the fate of adventurers who have just shed their novice skin and plant their stakes on the Dungeon's 10th Floor.
"You two need to go deeper with me. For that, there is no limit to how much I'll invest in equipment. Don't confuse the tool with the objective."
And for that, a mere 1,500, 0000.
One piece of top-grade equipment dropped from the depths of Hephaestus could easily buy about a hundred of those.
"Not confusing the objective with the tool…. Yes! Then I'll…. wear it gratefully, Master!"
Only then did Yuna smile brightly, and Silen, who had been staring intently at her equipment, let out a sigh.
"Mister. I have a question."
"What is it?"
"The other day. You said there was something incredibly dangerous in the 2nd Floor Boss Room. This equipment you gave us…. Did you give it as insurance in case we might run into that thing?"
"No. That one…. won't be appearing for quite some time. This equipment was prepared purely out of the desire for you two to grow stronger and get hurt less."
"Is that so? Well…. There's a part that doesn't quite sit right with me, but…. Alright. I'll wear it well."
Silen grinned and nodded.
"Oh, right. The moment you equip those two pieces of gear, they'll be personalized to your mana pattern, so they can't be sold to anyone else. Understood?"
"……."
"……."
At my words, Yuna and Silen's expressions stiffened ever so slightly.
Honestly.
These little brats….
.
.
.
.
Arriving again at the Demeter Dungeon's 2nd Floor.
The two of them cut down a few Rocket Chickens to get back in the groove, and their jaws dropped at the difference the equipment's performance made.
"W—with this, I might even be able to defeat the Demon King."
"Mmmm…. The sword cuts so well it's actually scary…."
Seeing the kids so happy made me smile too.
Is this what it feels like to be the uncle who bought the latest gaming console on Children's Day?
"Master. Are we also taking care of the 2nd Floor Boss?"
"Let's go straight in, Mister!"
The kids were pestering me, and I smiled and nodded.
"Right. Let's go then. We've got good equipment now, so we go all out."
"Yes! Master!"
"Mm."
The 2nd Floor Boss should be just the right challenge for these two to grow.
.
.
.
.
When we entered the Boss Room, what appeared before us was a Rocket Chicken.
It had a magnificent golden beak and comb, but its size wasn't particularly different from the others.
"The 1st Floor's Grass Cow was an oversized boss, but this one is different?"
"Typically, if a boss hasn't been enlarged, it tends to have special abilities instead. Engage with caution."
"This time we're going straight in without a meal?"
"But you have equipment for that. Try facing it bare—if you feel you can't win, retreat and re-challenge after a meal."
The two of them were persuaded and nodded.
Yuna one step forward, Silen one step back.
A formation set for free interchange between attack and defense, always ready to support each other.
I nodded at the textbook form of it.
"Then. I'll engage first. Silen."
"Go ahead."
At the very moment Yuna raised her shield to the front and was about to charge at the Golden Rocket Chicken—the other side detected Yuna and Silen first.
And right after. The creature's lungs swelled greatly and….
【Coooo-ka-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo!!】
It crowed with an earth-shattering volume.
Not the sound of livestock, but the roar of a beast. And a predator's roar at that.
A Battle Cry.
The boss had unleashed a shout attack that was said to be possessed only by seasoned warriors.
Yuna somehow maintained her stance, but the problem was Silen at the rear.
"Ugh…. K—kgh."
Rogues are weak to 'area-of-effect' and 'status effects.' An obvious logic.
If there were some agile character who could dodge all area attacks, shrug off all status effects, and pour in damage freely, that character would be the ruler of the world—why would any other job be needed?
The boss fixed its gaze on Silen, whose body had been thrown off balance by the Battle Cry, and the moment it launched itself at Silen, Yuna charged first.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa?!"
Even after blocking with her shield and deflecting with her armor, Yuna's body was sent flying backward and slammed into the wall.
"Yuna?!"
Silen, seeing Yuna fly, turned around in a panic to check on her—but that was the mistake.
The Golden Chicken launched itself at Silen as well, and….
【Kraaaaaaaaaaaang!】
"Kyaaaaaaaaaack?!"
Silen too was hit and sent flying far away.
And just like that, both of them were out of commission.
The Rocket Chicken crouched again, ready to finish them both off—but.
"That's enough."
【—Coo-ka…! Kok!】
I released a killing intent as a warning, and it froze in place, glaring at me, before stepping back.
.
.
.
.
About an hour later.
The two woke up.
No serious injuries. I hadn't expected them to get badly hurt in the first place.
"We lost."
"We got completely wrecked…."
Yuna was utterly dejected, staring only at the ground, while Silen let out a sigh and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Right, now I should tell them why they lost.
First of all….
"Silen. Do you remember the creature's opening move?"
"It was a Battle Cry, right? That's where my stance broke and…."
"Right. And I covered Silen and then got sent flying."
"It's my fault. If I'd known it was a Battle Cry, I could have handled it somehow."
"No. To deal with a Battle Cry, your Endurance needs to be higher than your opponent's, and Silen shouldn't invest in Endurance. That's my role. So then…."
Before I could even give any instructions.
The two of them were analyzing the cause of defeat on their own, debating back and forth, and working out a strategy.
"Haha…."
A laugh escaped me before I knew it.
Diving into it like that and putting their heads together to work out tactics—that itself is the most enjoyable moment.
There's no need for an adult to step in and stop children from trying to take that next step. You shouldn't stop them either.
What I need to do at times like this is watch over them as they try to grow, and cheer them on.
So then, shall I make something to eat?
I'd been debating quite a bit over what would be fitting, but alongside the egg tomato meat sandwich, another dish had come to mind that I felt like trying to cook.
First, boil eggs in boiling water, and in the meantime, mince chicken and beef and mold it together. Season it generously. The eggs are to be hard-boiled—soft-boiled would be interesting too, but it tends to make a mess, so hard-boiled it is.
Next, roll the boiled eggs in flour.
Then wrap them in the minced meat, and submerge in egg wash.
Finally, coat them in breadcrumbs. Then dive them into boiling oil.
With a sizzling crackle, the meat-wrapped boiled eggs begin to fry.
Once they seem fully fried, take them out and cut them in half, then plate them into bite-sized pieces and it's done.
"Finished."
I'd seen this dish somewhere before but couldn't quite remember the name.
What was it…. Scotch Eggs, was it. Anyway, egg sandwiches and fried boiled eggs. And ketchup, prepared and ready.
Glancing over at the two of them, the debate seemed to have wrapped up, and they were wearing satisfied smiles.
"Alright. That wraps everything up, right?"
"No issues for now. The rest is improvisation."
"Then let's go. Silen. Get ready."
"I was already ready without you telling me, alright? Stop acting like the leader."
The two of them bickered as they walked side by side toward the Boss Room.
"You two. Don't you need a meal?"
"I want to eat, but I'm so furious over losing to that boss that I'll eat after I win! We'll be back before it gets cold!"
"If I eat now, the food's going to taste bad. I'm definitely going to kill it and come back. Mister."
And with those words, the two entered the Boss Room.
"Haha…. Splendid."
Food eaten after a defeat tastes terrible.
For little brats, their mindset is every bit that of a true adventurer.
I preserved the food so the heat wouldn't escape and dust wouldn't settle, then moved my steps toward the inside of the Boss Room.
And when I stepped inside.
What I saw were the two of them in the same formation as before.
And the Golden Chicken, staring them down, its lungs swelling.
【—Coooo-ka-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo-doooo】
“Yu-na-Lin-force-is-your-op-po-nent-to-daaaay!!!”
"Hooo…."
Countering the Golden Chicken's Battle Howling with the exact same Battle Howling.
But does that actually work as a counter in terms of the system?
I tilted my head and looked at Silen—her legs weren't shaking, her stance hadn't crumbled, and she was keeping the Golden Chicken squarely in her sights.
Yuna and the Golden Chicken, aggro locked onto each other by their respective Battle Howlings, clashed.
【Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!】
The warrior and the boss collided, and between the two, the one sliding back and kicking up a cloud of dirt with a screeching, grinding sound—was Yuna.
The price for taking the head-on charge of a Rocket Chicken—a boss-grade one at that.
But the one smiling was Yuna, and the one thrown into confusion was the boss.
Before anyone had noticed, Yuna had thrown aside her shield and sword and was gripping the Golden Chicken in a tight hold.
"Clutch Holding. Splendid."
A battle tactic where a Warrior-type draws the boss's aggro and pins it in place.
Immediately after. The party's damage-dealer, the Rogue, Silen, broke out of Stealth, raised her dagger, and cleanly finished off the Golden Chicken.
【—Coooo-ooo-ooo….】
The boss's death cry rang out.
"Silen! We won!"
"Wait. Don't cling to me. What are you saying? Hey! Hold on a moment!"
Saying that, she pushed away the charging Yuna and with her other hand felt around her ear—and popped something out.
Those were…. earplugs.
Ah. Of course.
When they had decided to both activate their Battle Howlings—
The worst-case scenario wasn't 'both cancel out' but 'both go off.'
Silen's legs would buckle, and Yuna would have to face the Golden Chicken alone.
So Silen had come into the Dungeon from the start with earplugs in—to cut off that variable entirely.
A way to cope with the status effect in her own fashion, you could say.
For rookies, quite an excellent strategy.
I was smiling and nodding when the two of them spotted me and trotted over with eyes shining.
"Master."
"Mister!"
"Right. Good work. Your strategy was impressive even from my per—"
"I'm hungry, Master! I used too much strength!"
"We won, so let's eat. I'll take the praise with the food."
Cutting off my words and crying that they were hungry.
I led them to the food, and both of their eyes lit up brilliantly.
"Coating an egg in meat—what an incredibly rich taste…. Even one is filling…. Or is one not enough…? Three? Egg toast is great too, but this fried egg is a violently good flavor."
"Mm. It's good. Really solid. The part where it's all one bite is especially great. Is there more of this?"
"Eat as much as you like. I made plenty."
Their chattering like that—it reminded me of chicks who had only just cracked out of their shells, reaching for food from their mother, and a loud laugh burst out of me.