Chapter 576: Taking a Break With a Side Gig Dungeon: [Lights Paradise] (2)

So, we made our way deep into the dungeon.

"Shall we take a bit of a break, Muzoh?"

"Yeah, let's. That okay with you, Ichika, Kehma-san?"

"Sure is!"

"Understood. Then let's take a break."

We took a rest in a passageway that served as a slope dividing the dungeon floors.

Monsters seemed to appear less frequently near these divides.

... Now that I think about it, managing monsters near these divides is troublesome for us too, so we try not to let them mingle there much.

"But man, I feel like I'm the one draggin' us down the most. My skills've really dulled."

"You usually just eat and sleep, Ichika."

"Nah, that's not true! I work harder than Master, ya know?"

For me, as the Founder of Beddhism, sleeping is a form of prayer.

My magical power probably has actually increased too.

"Look! I even maintain my figure with all I eat, yeah!?"

"Well, I did think so a little."

"If you want, I can strip down to prove it, Master."

"I'll pass on that."

I had Rokuko, after all.

"... I can't believe you can resist that temptation. That's some incredible willpower, right Muzoh?"

"Definitely. If it were me, I'd jump at the chance, Uzoh."

"Don't worry, I won't seduce you guys. Think about your prospects."

Ichika waved her hand dismissively, and the two men, both B-rank adventurers, looked dejected.

Honestly, there were better prospects than a woman who was only good at blowing money on gambling and injesting gourmet food.

The women in my village tended to be a bit special, so it was probably better to look in Tsuia or Draco.

"... Maybe it's a good idea to hold a matchmaking party in Tsuia? I'll propose it to the lord."

"Wait a minute. Did you just say 'lord'? Did you hear that, Muzoh?"

"I heard it, Uzoh. He said something about proposing to the lord... He can just casually propose that?"

The lord comes to our church for prayers weekly. His daughter Maiodoru lives in our village.

Maiodoru is engaged to Niku, and it seems like they're planning to get married.

... Well, Maiodoru would probably find a good match at the noble school she was about to attend. Probably.

"Let's get our meal out of the way now... Kehma-san? What's that?"

"Hm? It's food. Want some, you two? It's on the house for the party."

"Really? Then I won't hold back!"

With that, I handed the Uzoh-Muzoh brothers each a hamburger I'd taken out of [Storage]. Ichika was already eating hers.

"Master, seconds, please!"

"Alright, but only one more."

"Is this what you call being a provider... Can we have seconds too?"

"Damn, the portable food we've been eating feels like wood compared to this, Uzoh...!"

They'd been about to eat some homemade dried meat.

I tried a bit in exchange for the hamburgers and it was really tough. I'd probably munch on it without a second thought out on a camping trip.

"At least bring some tack bread with you. Soak the dried meat and bread in a water bottle to soften them, and eat it like soup—that's the best way to handle it."

"Wow, that's an interesting way to eat. As expected of the Glutton."

"Planning to carry multiple water bottles, that's hardcore."

[Glutton] used to be one of Ichika's old nicknames. Makes total sense.

"Well then, shall we get moving? ... Ichika, can your sense of smell tell where the Ambrosia might be?"

"Hey, hey, Master. That kind of thing should be said to a dog beastkin like Niku-senpai."

That's true, but still.

"Though, let me sniff around... Yep, there's a sweet scent coming from over there!"

"So it seems, what do you think, you two?"

"... Well, we don't have any other leads, do we? Shall we go that way, Muzoh?"

"Sounds good, Uzoh. I'm fine with it."

And so we'd decided our direction based on Ichika's nose.

Along the way, we snapped a spear-wielding walking flower, split a giant seed that charged like a wild boar, and burned a man-eating plant dripping sweet nectar, making sure Ichika didn't get too close.

By the way, that nectar turned out to be a paralytic poison. It seemed to be worth some money.

"Why are you licking it if you know it's poisonous?"

"I have poison resistance, so a little bit should be fine. Ah, the numbing sweetness."

But honestly, the sweets in the village are sweeter and tastier, so we didn't overindulge and continued deeper.

"Hm, there's a dangerous, or rather, an odd presence ahead..."

Muzoh said, stopping in his tracks.

"What kind of presence? A boss?"

"I'm not sure. But when there's this kind of presence, it's usually safer to avoid it. What do you think, Kehma-san?"

If I trusted their intuition, it would be better to turn back.

But we were pretty strong. We could probably handle most enemies.

"Alright, I'll scout ahead. My magic can handle many situations."

Just to be safe, I turned on [Blackout Resistance Lv9].

"Got it. Tie a rope around your waist, we'll pull you back if you collapse."

"Counting on you, Kehma-san!"

"Come back safe and ya can do whatever ya want with me!"

With that send-off, I went ahead alone to check the situation.

Frost Lizard Gonta peeked out of my pocket. This guy could fight too so long as the Uzoh-Muzoh brothers weren't around. Hehehe.

"Alright, let's go—...!?"

Upon entering that room.

"Oh, Kehma? You're late."

"Yo! I've been watching your adventures, uncle! So much fun!"

"Welcome, glad to have you here, Rokuko's Master."

Rokuko was there, leaning back in a white chair with armrests while sipping tea at a white table.

Igni was reaching for the tea snacks.

And the host of this tea party was a golden-haired beauty in men's attire, pouring tea... How could she pour so accurately from such a height?

In a brightly sunlit room, under a tree bearing yellow fruit, the three of them were having a tea party.