The hot spring I’d been told about was on floor B2, so the trip there would be dangerous. I used the products from my store to thoroughly prepare myself to take on the challenge. Even if Minerva, Meryl, and Mira were going to be with me, I wanted to at least look after myself. I hated the idea of looking ridiculous in front of everyone. Even a dagashi-ya wants to act cool.
I only had four monster cards left: C. Giant Crow, R. Zombie Knight, SR. Turtle Ninja, and R. Stone Golem. I had some decently strong cards left, so I felt I could probably manage whatever came my way.
Before I went out, I pulled some Scratch Cards too. I finally won on my fourth try, and with my three matching swords, I got increased physical strength.
Whoa, I really do feel stronger! I wonder what’s the heaviest dumbbell I can lift now?
Also, I had two Anzu Sticks for a burst of courage, and I put agility-boosting Odama Candy and a Morocco Yogurt into my pocket.
I had done what I could, so the rest was up to fate. All that was left was to roll with the punches.
✦ ✦ ✦
Meryl and Mira soon appeared as I waited by the dungeon’s entrance.
“Good morning, Mister Yusuke,” Meryl greeted me. “Is Mister Minerva still not here?”
“Yeah. He’s usually very punctual, but he’s pretty late today.”
Whenever we would meet up, it was usually Minerva who showed up first. We often ran into each other in places I wouldn’t have imagined, and he’d always comment on how unexpected it was or how it was such a coincidence. It had reached the point that it felt like he was lying in wait wherever he expected me to show up.
And yet today, Minerva was late. He had said he had some important business to take care of yesterday. Was he busy because of that?
After we waited for a while, Minerva appeared from inside the dungeon.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Nah, it’s no big deal, but are you all right?” I asked. “You sound really tired.”
“I’m just a little sleep-deprived. Pay it no mind.”
Even the way he was walking told me he was running on empty. Was he really okay?
“Monsters don’t show up inside the hot spring,” I said, “so I think you should take a nap there.”
But Minerva just couldn’t accept my suggestion. “No, there’s no way I can sleep. I have to keep watch to make sure those two girls don’t commit any indecencies...”
And he’s still going on about that...
Minerva seemed thoroughly exhausted, yet his eyes alone held a fiery glare.
I had seen the stairs that led down to B2 a million times by now, but this was my first time actually using them. There were several terrifying stone statues, and the vibes were overall a lot more ominous compared to on B1.
“Hoot, hoot, hoot.”
As we headed farther inside, we started hearing cries reminiscent of a bird’s.
“What’s this weird hooting?” I asked. “Is there a monster nearby?”
I readied myself for battle, tightly gripping my Giant Crow card in my hand. Meryl and Mira both looked around with worried faces.
“I’ve never heard cries like this before,” said Meryl. “Is it a new monster species?”
The strange hoots continued.
“The rhythm is similar to a Chime Blossom Bug’s, but it is certainly the sound of a bird...” Mira observed. “I’ve never heard such a thing before.”
While the three of us were on high alert, Minerva, of course, was perfectly calm.
“There’s no need to panic. A pigeon got lost within the dungeon is all.”
“A pigeon?”
“It sounds like there are multiple birds, though...” Mira mumbled.
“A whole flock of them got lost in here!” he said hurriedly. “Instead of wasting our energy worrying about such trivial things, let’s get a move on.”
Minerva then snatched the map from me and speed-walked ahead of us.
We encountered some monsters along the way, but Minerva made quick work of them all. I had heard he was superpowerful, but he was on a totally different level from the other adventurers. His adeptness impressed Meryl and Mira time and time again.
Eventually, we passed through a narrow alleyway just barely big enough for one person to squeeze through, arriving at a slightly larger blind alley.
“We’re here,” Minerva said, handing the map back to me. “Now all you have to do is recite that spell those gnomes told you.”
I knelt on one knee and tapped on the floor with my fist.
“Oh, heed my knock,” I said. “Open that secret door. Beckon us unto that room from whence warm spring water flows.”
The wall before us slid to the side after I finished reciting the spell, revealing a passageway behind it.
“I sense no monsters,” Minerva said. “Let’s head inside.”
Minerva led the way as we arrived at what looked to be a break room with a door. Was the hot spring behind it?
I flung the door open at once. Thick steam came rolling out. Unlike the fog that preceded a monster’s appearance, it was accompanied by the scent of hot water. Once the steam thinned, a large and beautiful bath was spread out before my eyes. At a famous hot spring, I’d once seen a bath that could hold a hundred people, but this one looked even wider. Hot water gushed out all along the edge of the bathtub, filling it with free-flowing spring water straight from the source.
“Whoa, it looks really nice,” I marveled. “The bottom of the bathtub is covered with gravel.”
“The water feels silky smooth against my skin!” Mira rejoiced as she dipped her hand in the bath.
“All right, let’s go in right away! Ladies first. I’ll wait in the other room until you guys are done.”
“Don’t mind if we do!” Meryl chirped.
“I’m so excited!”
I was going to leave the girls to it and head to the other room, but for some reason, Minerva wasn’t budging. Jeez, he’d been so strict about men and women not getting in the bath together, but here he was acting the funny guy by “forgetting” to leave. It was like he was setting me up to join in a comedic skit.
“Hey!” I barked at him. “Don’t play stupid and try to get left behind!”
“What?”
“You’re a man, aren’t you?!”
When I decided to play the straight man for him, Minerva became flustered.
“Oh, right. I am. Sorry, sorry.”
“There’s always gotta be at least one guy who pulls that act whenever you go to a hot spring.”
“That wasn’t what I was trying to do...”
“Now go on ahead of me.”
“All right.”
Minerva and I returned to the room that had preceded the hot spring. It was completely deserted, with nothing inside, but at least it was safe since no monsters would appear. If I called up my shop, I’d get that chair that came along with it, so I decided to do so and take a breather.
“Store, open.”
Once I chanted the words, I discovered that I had once again leveled up.
“Whoa...”
My heart trembled with excitement as finally the thing I had long been yearning for made its debut.