Seeker 16

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Chapter 16. First Party Action (9)

We continued our exploration of the third floor in good form.

The monster composition of the 3rd floor was indeed exasperating.

We encountered two hobgoblins and four goblins, roughly double the number of monsters on the 2nd floor.

In addition, there was even a goblin archer, a monster that had first appeared on the floor and attacked by a fire arrow, that even Kodachi-san would have had a tough time conquering solo.

But that was if Kodachi-san was alone.

Even though I was low-leveled, the presence of the second Seeker - in other words, me - would shift the balance of power.

Based fighting style, Kotachi-san, who had become serious, would go on a rampage as an attacker, and I would support and sustain her.

As a result, almost all of our battles were completed with no damage, and when one of us was injured, I could heal ourselves with [Earth Heal].

Incidentally, when I dive alone, I heard that Kodachi-san had to dispose of the HP potion, which costs 3,000 yen per bottle, every time she took heavy damage.

That would have resulted in a deficit.

So until now, she had no choice but to work steadily to raise her level on the 2nd floor, where she could fight with more time to spare.

We had to stay up until about 9 p.m. every night exploring the 3rd floor before returning to the hotel.

Since the return journey took some time, it was around 1 p.m. when we left the dungeon.

After being exposed to the open air for the first time in a long time. Kodachi-san, who has been out in the open air for the first time in a long time, stretches her body illuminated by the moonlight.

"Nnnn......! I'm so tired~! Thank you for your hard work today, Rikusou-san. You helped me out."

"Thank you for your hard work, Kodachi-san. I'm sorry for carrying Kodachi-san on my back."

"What are you talking about, Usagi-san? Your follow-up that touches the itch, and the [Earth Heal] in an emergency, weren't great. I can't live without Rikusou-san anymore. Please take responsibility."

"Yes, yes, as you wish, Princess. I will accompany you wherever you go."

We are talking lightly to each other, but I don't know how serious she is.

I'm sure Kodachi-san is just flippantly saying things in a high-tension mood.

"Also, I'm sorry for taking all the experience. I wanted to give Rikusou-san time to kill monsters as much as possible, but it wasn't easy."

"No, it's no problem because of the level difference. I'm still up to level 5."

My level had gone up from 4 to 5 because of our dive on the 3rd floor.

My status is like this.

Rikusou Daichi

Level: 5 (+1)

Experience: 143/220

HP: 44/44 (+4)

MP: 16/36

Strength: 10 (+1)

Endurance :11（+1)

Agility: 9（+1)

Magic: 9

-Skills-

[Earth Heal]

[Mapping]

[HP up (Endurance x 4)]

[MP Up (Magic x 4)

[Spear Attack Power Up (+2)]

Remaining skill points: 0

The skill is the one I have longed for (?). I got [Spear Attack Power Up (+2)].

Perhaps because of this, I was able to defeat the kobold I encountered on the way home with a single blow. For the first time.

Incidentally, [Spear Attack Power Up (+4)] newly appeared on the list of skills that I could acquire.

It was just as we had heard before.

After that, we went to the dungeon information center, which is open 24 hours a day, to sell the magic stone we had acquired at the redemption counter.

Before long, we got cash along with the purchase slip of our magic stones.

The slip I got had this information

Kobolds......, unit price 400 yen, quantity 6

Goblins......, 600 yen per unit, 18 per piece

Goblin Archer......, unit price 700 yen, quantity 7

Hobgoblins......, unit price 1000 yen, qty 7

Subtotal......, 25100 yen

Party prorated (50%)......12550 yen

Withholding (10%) ......1255 yen

───────────────────

Payment......11295 yen

.... I'm surprised.

After splitting the cost between the two parties, the take-home pay for one person was over 11,000 yen.

Compared to the ¥2,880 in the morning, this is almost quadruple times the amount I got.

The time spent in the dungeon from afternoon to night was roughly seven to eight hours.

That's about 1,500 yen per hour.

I feel like I've earned a lot of human rights.

No, I don't think I should be satisfied with this as a reward for risking my life, but it was when compared to my dive in the morning.

By the way, I work part-time at a major restaurant chain, and my hourly wage is 1,110 yen (face value).

At my previous black job, I thought my hourly wage was well below 1,000 yen (face value) because of various reasons.

On the other hand, Kodachi-san was also looking at the voucher and the cash and smiling happily.

When she noticed my gaze, she appealed to me with glee.

"Rikusou-san, it's bad. Now I have zero potion expenses. It's crazy. That is human rights, human rights."

She's saying the same thing.

But that's not all, Kodachi-san smiles at me even more.

"And this is not the only one this time. Do you remember, Rikusou-san?"

"Remember what?"

"What do you mean? I wonder what's in my [Item Box]!"

"[Item Box]? ...... Ah, the broadsword we got when we defeated the hobgoblins on the second layer. Oh, you mean you can sell that one?"

"Motto! But the armory is closed now, so that's something for tomorrow."

Incidentally, I had promised during today's dive that I would party with Kodachi-san again tomorrow.

I have five straight days of part-time work starting the day after tomorrow, but tomorrow is still my day off.

Well, I would be working until my day off.

I can't help but think of dungeon exploration as something else, or maybe it's just fun, so I'm okay with it.

I'll think about the physical aspect when it gets too much.

I was getting close to quitting my part-time job and becoming a seeker, just like Kodachi-san.

At least I would be able to earn enough money to eat.

Then, Kodachi-san pressed her stomach.

A sound of hunger rang out.

"Ugh ...... Rikusou-san, aren't you hungry? I'm already hungry."

"That's right. Then let's break up for today."

"Eh...? Ah, since it's a long-awaited trip, I was wondering if I should eat dinner with you somewhere. I hope it doesn't bother you."

"Oh, I'll go. If I'm not bothering you."

I answered immediately.