Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru-Chapter 101: The King Of The Little Ones II

「Evetta-san, it’s done」

「Yes, certainly」

My horned person-in-charge checked the scroll and produced the reward.

「What's this?」

I had been given a card along with a silver coin.

The card was made of a glass-like material and had a geometric pattern on it. The pattern changed depending on how the light hit it, much like a hologram card.

Is this a rare card or something?

「That's a Shogaku ticket. See here?」

She pointed to the bottom left of the scroll.

It had a design that looked like the card in my hand and the number “01” was written in it.

「When you complete a request with this mark on it, you will receive the number of tickets corresponding to the number written there」

「I see, so is there any benefit in collecting these tickets?」

「There is. You can exchange them for information on how to clear floors, hire people who are registered with the Guild, or exchange them for valuable items that cannot be found in merchant companies. Also, please do not attempt to buy or sell these Shogaku tickets. Not just with merchant companies, but also between individuals.

There is authentication magic cast on them that links them to the request form, so illegally traded ones will be seen through easily. If you're caught, you'll be sentenced to forced labor. It's a pretty grueling punishment」

「I'll keep that in mind. But information on how to clear the floors, huh…」

I desperately want that.

Especially maps and so on.

Completing requests like this can also be considered part and parcel of clearing the dungeon, I suppose.

「This is something I should have told you earlier, but your party was clearing the dungeon so smoothly that I forgot about it. I’m very sorry」

「No, it's fine. By the way, how many tickets do I need to buy a map of a floor?」

「It depends on the floor, but the average cost for a map of one floor is 50 tickets. As for the hiring of people, the average cost for a period of ten days is 400 tickets for vanguards and 300 tickets for rearguards. However, it varies depending on the person. As an example, hiring me costs 700 tickets, while hiring the Guild President costs 1,000 tickets」

So I can even hire Evetta-san, huh……… Oh! A naughty fantasy crossed my mind for a moment there.

The Guild President sure is expensive though. No way am I going to hire him.

「But quite a lot of them are needed, isn't it?」

A map costs 50 tickets, huh?

If I take it as completing requests like the one involving the Gunmerrys 50 times, then it becomes quite daunting.

「It's just that your party is exceptionally fast at clearing the dungeon, which is usually done more carefully and slowly. By diligently slaying monsters to obtain materials for crafting weapons and armor, and completing requests to earn a daily living, an adventurer works, earns, nurtures, and is nurtured in return, all for the good of the city and the other adventurers.

The Shogaku tickets are issued by the Guild free-of-charge as a way of supporting such adventurers.

This may be a strange concept to you, Souya, but exploring the dungeon isn't all there is to being an adventurer. Furthermore, in some respects, this city can only exist because of such adventurers. Please never forget this and act arrogantly. Those are the kinds of adventurers I hate」

「I'll be sure to remember that」

I don't want to be hated by Evetta-san.

All occupations are equally honorable. In the same way, I'd say that there’s no difference in importance among adventurers.

In particular, the adventure I'm pursuing needs no such distinction.

The outcome of reaching the 56th floor in the remaining 248 days is all I’m striving for in my adventure.

「Now, Souya, before I give you the next request, I have one question」

「What is it?」

Bring it on.

「Since when did you have a child?」

「Since yesterday」

Loli-Lanseal is sitting on my lap again. This time, she's well-behaved and quiet. The way she casually takes my hand and intertwines our fingers is just like her though.

「She looks an awful lot like someone I know when they were little………」

「Evetta-san, it's just your imagination. This is the child of my acquaintance, and she has been left in my care for a while. She has absolutely no connection to the illegitimate child of the king of this country, and furthermore, she is not related to me by blood at all」

「Is………that so? I was thinking, by any chance, have you guys finally gone and done it? Despite how the king seems, he's a doting parent, so if what I had imagined was true, I would expect you to be unable to go on any more adventures, Souya. I'm relieved that my fears were unfounded」

「Haha………haa」

I can’t help but have a bad feeling about this.

「Anyway, here's the next request. At the bar, Master needs a new――」

「Hey, Souya」

The Guild President appeared behind Evetta-san.

His expression was sterner than usual.

「There’s a special request for you. Evetta, give that request to someone else」

「Understood. So, what's the special request for Souya?」

「For reasons of confidentiality, I can't share that information with the regular staff of the Guild. Hey, Souya, follow me. That kid can come with you. Or rather, bring her with you」

The payoff for the foreshadowing came really quickly.

The Guild President led me and Lanseal past the reception area.

We reached some stairs that went up.

Speaking of which, the reception area for the Adventurers' Guild on what's called the 1st floor of the dungeon is located somewhere in the middle of the "Odoriji Spire". (Though that's purely my subjective opinion since I can't tell how deep it actually goes.)

What adventurers are exploring are the floors below the reception area.

In that case, what's on the floors above the reception area?

「This place is off-limits to even advanced adventurers. Only a select few Guild employees are allowed access. The only reason a novice adventurer like you can enter this place is because you were summoned. Just don't touch any of the books around you. At best, your wrist, at worst, your entire upper body will be devoured」

I was told something very ominous by the Guild President.

We went up the stairs.

The upper floor we arrived at was a library.

It was a circular atrium with light pouring in from the center of the floor, and there were rows of bookshelves as far as the eye could see. Their shelves were jam-packed with books, books, and more books, with barely a gap between them.

In addition, every single one of the books was huge. These books weren't meant to be read by humans. They were as tall as a person.

There had to be millions of these books.

No………………it might even be more than that.

The bookshelves and books were stacked higher than I could see, all the way up to even higher floors.

Is this the Guild's private library? This is a heck of a lot of books.

「Reading them with your glasses or that device hanging from your hip is also forbidden」

「Understood」

At the Guild President's words, I passed my hand over the top of the mini-pod.

That was the signal to not try anything. It was a warning to Yukikaze to keep her curiosity in check.

I'll have to be more careful in future since the Guild President has found out about the A.I.s and the devices. I'll be held responsible for deeds that are illegal or fall into a gray area.

We continued through the forest of books and arrived at an open area.

「Obfuu」

The person waiting for us let out a weird sound when that person saw us.

Sitting alone in a chair and without attendants was a man.

A man who was 61 years of age.

In the alternate world, where the average life expectancy was fifty years, he was considered to be very old.

However, his physique was muscular and imposing. Ever since he was cured of his illness, he had been growing increasingly vigorous and energetic.

In order to hide his identity, he wasn't wearing a crown on his bald head.

He was dressed as usual in well-made clothes and a cloak, and was holding the thick hilt of a bastard sword with both hands. It was still in its sheath, but it was no less intimidating.

At his hip, he wore a katana just like mine.

It was King Lemuria.

To be specific, it was a King Lemuria who was blazing with anger and killing intent.

I want to go back……………… If I go back, I will be able to survive again. Will I survive, I wonder? [1]

「Souya, I have a great many questions for you」

「Yes」

His voice was very threatening.

The pleasant old man who ate every little dish with relish was gone.

「It was last night. Over pillow talk, I heard something peculiar」

Who was he sleeping with? The king's two wives should have passed away already.

I'm curious, but this is definitely not the time to ask.

「I heard that my daughter, Lanseal, brought a child with her to the castle. A child with black hair, just like yours. In addition, I have another pressing question for you right now. Who on earth is that silver-haired girl?」

That very Lanseal was hiding behind me.

「She’s the child of my acquaintance, and――」

「Otou-sama~, who’s this Oji-chan?」

Said Lanseal in a sweet~ voice.

He’s your Otou-sama!

Eh, is that where you’re going with this? That's a path that could cost me my life, you know?!

「Isn't she your daughter?! Answer me! Who's her mother?! She looks just like my daughter did when she was little! When did this happen?!」

「No, this is, umm」

She's none other than your daughter.

Even if I tell him the truth in this situation, he's just going to dismiss it as nonsense. What am I to do………………and that was when I caught sight of the Guild President, who was standing behind the king.

「………pff………kuh」

His face had turned bright red as he tried to stifle his laughter.

You piece of shit! You set this up despite knowing everything, didn't you?!

「Now, answer me, Souya! Depending on the circumstances, not even you will get away with this!」

「Please calm down, my king. I will explain everything in order」

「I won't listen!」

What the heck am I supposed to do then?

「Ki………kuh………King Lemuria, this is――」

Holding back the urge to burst out laughing, the Guild President opened his mouth.

「You shut your mouth! I'm asking Souya!」

He shut his mouth.

What’s the right thing for me to do here?

As I helplessly paid no heed to the king's angry voice………

「This Oji-chan is so scary」

Lanseal muttered softly.

The king froze.

「Don’t bully my Otou-sama」

「………………Oh, ohh. Sorry, I'm sorry, little lady. I wasn't trying to bully your father, alright?」

He had broken out into a huge smile.

This person seems like he would spoil his grandchildren silly if he had any.

「Oji-chan, who are you?」

「I'm Lemuria?Oru?Almagest?Razva, the king of this land」

「Why is the king so angry with my Otou-sama? Why?」

「Um, umu, your father, you see, he sort of has a problem with women. I had heard that they were in a relationship, but I haven't given them my blessings yet, and he laid his hands on my daughter despite being a married man. Furthermore, he assaulted my daughter after refusing my proposal once, so it’s……… How should I put it?」

He seemed to be having a hard time finding the right words.

Sticking to acting like a child, Lanseal continued.

「Do you have a wife, King-sama?」

「I had two, but they both died early. But fortunately, they left behind several children」

「Is it really just two?」

「………………Mu, hmm? Umm………that’s, well………」

Hang on a second there, King-sama.

You had two wives and you still fooled around with other women?

「Little lady, all kings love women. This may be hard for a child to understand, but that's just the way it is」

「Two young noblewomen from Elysium who had come for a visit」

「………………」

When Lanseal said that softly, all the blood drained from King Lemuria's face.

「Three widows of advanced adventurers」

「………………Obfuu」

The king choked.

「The Mansion of the Night Demon's Wild Banquet, the Golden Fleece Mansion, the Mansion of the Red-Eyed and Indolence, the Mansion of the Sleep Demon and the Goddess of Fertility, Isela's Mansion of Honey」

「Th, that’s………」

Cold sweat had begun to trickle down the king's forehead.

The words that had come out of Lanseal's mouth must have rung a bell.

They were all names of brothels.

「Eight dancing girls from a traveling troupe」

「Wh, who did you hear all that from?!」

The king was flustered to no end.

「There's a journal that Verxina-okasama inherited from Nemosh-okasama. It’s currently in my possession. Father」

「What, could it be that you're Lanseal?!」

「Yes, I may have become like this, but I consider it a blessing as it allowed me to get a very precious look at the king」

She looked like a six-year-old, but she was even more intimidating than the usual Lanseal.

The king sure fooled around quite a bit, huh?

The Guild President, who had remained silent, gave the king a belated explanation.

「King Lemuria, I just got confirmation. This appears to have been caused by the Gunmerrys' elixir. I’d never have thought that it would have such an effect. I believe that the black-haired child in question was Souya himself」

Bullshit, you've known that for quite some time.

「I see. That's awful. So the effects can be reversed?」

「Yes」

Finally, I had a chance to speak.

I took out the elixir from the pouch at my hip.

「This is the elixir that reverses the effects. By pouring this over Lanseal's head, she will return to normal」

「Ohh, that's great」

He was trying to act all innocent.

Lanseal was giving him a look of disdain.

「Umu, there's no problem then」

The king slapped his knee and got up from his chair, trying to escape.

「Father. I'm not done talking to you just yet. Please sit down」

「But you see, Lanseal, as the king, I have a backlog of matters involving the country to attend to. Isn't that right, Solcia?」

「That's right, King Lemuria. We must return to the castle at once」

「Solcia, you take a seat as well」

Lanseal also spoke forcefully to the Guild President.

「Lanseal-sama, where exactly would you have me sit?」

「The floor is fine. Even the floor is a luxury for those who laugh at setting others up in their wicked schemes. If you prefer, shall I arrange for a blade for you to sit on?」

「………The floor is fine」

The Guild President folded. He put down his staff and sat down next to King Lemuria.

My goodness, Lanseal is so strong.[2]

「Souya」

「Hmm?」

「Go sit next to the king as well, Souya」

「………………」

I'm also on that side, huh?

With the Guild President and I sitting on either side of King Lemuria, Lanseal's lecture began.

「Father, you've had your way with the maids as well, right? Nine so far. No, eleven?」

「………Thirteen」

「It's high time you learned some sense! If you want to marry, marry! Choose properly! Take responsibility properly! You're too old to be sleeping around like a young man! It's this kind of behavior that has had such a bad influence on Georg that he's become as rotten to the core as you!」

For some reason, I felt ashamed as well.

Seeing my grimace, Solcia chuckled.

「Solcia, I also have some concerns about your work」

「Well, Lanseal-sama, as the President of the Adventurers' Guild, I've never singled out Souya」

「You've been rejected twice by Rana, haven't you?」

「Ugh」

「Pfff」

This time, it was me who burst out laughing.

So the reason why this guy has been so cold towards me is because he has a crush on my wife. What's more, to think that he'd hold a grudge against me because he had been rejected twice by Rana.

………If he had approached her after we got married, I'm going to have to step in though.

「It doesn't make sense to have Evetta, who has never dealt with Shogaku tickets before, be the one to explain them. In the first place, shouldn't this have been explained the moment Souya became a novice adventurer? Huh?!」

「That's because his exploration of the dungeon was going so well that we didn't have the opportunity to――」

「It should have been explained, RIGHT?!」

「………………Yes」

He was completely overpowered by her.

「Completing requests to help improve his bad reputation. On the surface, that sounds reasonable, but is that really something that needs to be done so badly that you have to ban him from exploring the dungeon?」

「He's the most notorious man in the city, so I believe that something of that level is justified」

「Regarding this notoriety that you speak of, Souya actually has quite a good reputation among the merchant companies, the tradesmen, the menial laborers, the farmers, and the serfs. They all say that he understands the value of things and pays well. That he is polite and not arrogant.

Certainly, it is a fact that there is some jealousy from the adventurers from the same batch as him. But that's just the opinion of the most vocal. Are you sure you're not attaching too much weight to those voices, Solcia?」

「………………」

The Guild President fell silent.

I'm surprised that I have such a good reputation among those kinds of people.

But it's only because there are people like them who sell quality products that we're able to enjoy delicious meals, so I don't quite understand why some people feel the need to act arrogantly towards them.

Even though doing such things always comes back to bite you.

「Where's your apology to Souya?」 𝘧𝓇𝗲𝑒we𝙗noѵ𝑒l.𝐜o𝘮

「Urgh」

「Lanseal, there's no need for that. Even though I was late to hear about the Shogaku tickets, it wouldn't have made any difference to my adventures. So there's no problem」

「………If that's what you say, Souya, then I'll let it slide」

I turned and smiled broadly at the Guild President.

How's it feel? The feeling of being pitied by the likes of me? Hehehe, I'm feeling really great right now. I think I'm going to sleep very well tonight.

I could hear the Guild President gnashing his teeth.

Oh, crap.

I couldn't stop myself from provoking him.

I hope he doesn't hold a grudge over this. Or is it already too late? Well, what will be will be.

「Souya, there's something that has been on my mind for a while now. I thought that someone would warn you about it, especially Rana, but that woman has no ability to judge, teach, or nurture a man, and only thinks about lovemaking no matter how much time has passed! So let me say this to you with all my heart. You're a small-minded person」

「What?!」

She suddenly hit me in a sore spot that I was sensitive about.

「Show the tolerance to silently forgive those who don't do anything more than mock you. You're so petty. Your caliber as a man is small!」

「Y………………es」

Right at this moment, the pillar supporting my heart got shattered with a single blow.

It’s a good thing I'm sitting down. If I had been standing, I would have been felled.

This scene of a king, a Guild President, and a foreigner being lectured by a six-year-old girl.

It's a nightmare.

Even at the best of times, people are creatures that get depressed when yelled at by those younger than them.

When the person doing the yelling is a little girl, the damage dealt is immeasurable.

She's not really a little girl and only looks that way, but that doesn't matter at this point.

The sun had long since set before we were finally released from it.

[1] This is a reference to Admiral Masatomi Kimura’s words that I’ve mentioned back in vol 2, “Let’s go back, since we’ll be able to come here again if we go back”, which is about retreating to live another day.

[2] Souya is talking like a middle-aged woman here.

This has to be the chapter that I laughed the hardest on so far. Btw, in case it wasn’t clear, Lanseal was only pretending to be a kid the whole time and Souya knew it yet indulged her.

Btw, Oji-chan=middle-aged to elderly man. Not to be confused with Ojii-chan=elderly man, grandpa.

I mentioned this a while back, but note Souya’s complete refusal to call King Lemuria “Your Majesty”, be it aloud or in his head.

Well, pretty funny chapter overall. But it seems that Solcia knows about Souya’s tech...what does this mean and for how long has he known? Stay tuned, still a ways to go till the end of the arc!