Earth Dungeon 99.1

Test

Chapter 99.1. Banquet

The sun was setting, and it was about to become night. In this area that had turned into ruins, the usual pitch-black darkness would reign, with only the light of the stars guiding the way, creating a world where walking was nearly impossible.

Usually. People with the onset of night, would stroke their chests in relief for having survived the day and go to sleep with the anxiety of whether tomorrow would be okay.

The people of the recently abandoned town lived such a life.

Not today. A particular building was brightly lit, shining gloriously. It gleamed in the darkness, appearing as a beacon of hope to those around.

It might be an exaggeration to say it's "shining". Karin commented with a wry smile as she surveyed the bustling building. The scene had changed drastically in just 6 months.

Although it boasted the name Amatsugahara Corporation, until recently, the entrance lobby was dirty, and filled with garbage and debris. It was a dilapidated ruin of a building. Drum cans were thrown in, and wood scraps were burned inside the building. It was a shabby, dilapidated ruin.

But now, the floors were polished to a shine, the walls were clean, and there was no trash or debris. Barricades were placed on the stairs, and it should not have been easy to go up, but now, people were climbing the stairs casually.

Karin stood in a quiet, deserted place, watching this scene.

With a cheer in one hand and a piece of meat in the other, people walked around cheerfully. Along the walls, numerous dishes were lined up, seemingly endless.

"Cheers!"

"To the electric lights!"

"To Amatsugahara Corporation!"

No matter how many times they did it, someone would shout cheers again, and copper cups would clang. Barrels of alcohol were prepared in large quantities, and people were drinking freely, guaranteeing that there would be a lot of hangovers tomorrow.

"I'll take this grilled chicken thigh!"

"You have to eat vegetables too!"

"Does cake count as a vegetable?"

Children ran around, taking food from large plates one after another, eating with smiles. Someone with a guitar made a racket playing music, and some people, already drunk, embraced each other, singing loudly.

"They seem so happy. I never thought I'd see such a scene in the abandoned town."

In the inner town, people didn't enjoy themselves so openly. They might exist in the outer town, but the people here seemed happier. Surely it was because they had experienced rock bottom.

Watching the running children, Karin remembered how she was at that age, about 3 or 4 years ago.

However, the memories were not pleasant. Honestly, Karin didn't want to remember.

"I was weak back then, and we had no money."

Unable to enter the military academy, Karin was born under parents who, despite their financial difficulties, didn't want her to fall into the outer city. The minimum annual income in the inner town was 8 million yen. The upper class could earn this amount of money while humming a tune, but Karin's parents had no connections and no talent for making money, so they were barely making ends meet.

The inner town was a very cold world for those who did not have the talent to make money.

Karin's birth brought increasing financial hardship to her parents. School was not free, quite the opposite—it was quite expensive. 

Then, when their savings seemed to be running out, Karin's younger brother was born. Karin had been using her [Cat Transformation] skill to earn money since she was a child.

To earn, she utilized her skill to scout during dungeon expeditions. Karin's keen senses could easily detect the whereabouts of enemies in Goblin Dungeon levels, and she could hide from them. Even at level zero, the beastman skill proved useful.

"Karin, our family is struggling now, but we'll recover soon."

"Until your brother comes of age, Karin."

Her parents, who appeared clean and elite, spoke of her brother. The truth was, Karin was the one earning now. Her parents should have become soldiers. 

Even the lowest-level soldiers could earn a salary of 20 million yen. Still, they feared death, and despite frequent boasting about their family's past glory, they never became soldiers. Despite suggesting that they might consider officer treatment, it was exasperating to think about what they were really saying.

Karin felt not love but even a sense of hatred toward her parents, who sent her into dungeons with smiles on their faces. However, she needed guardians at her age. While firmly swearing to live alone once she came of age, on the other hand, she thought survival through repeated dungeon conquests was low.

Dungeon conquest money was good. It was good for struggling families. It was good for soldiers too. While it might be a small amount for the upper class, it was significant for the lower class. The soldiers faced the highest probability of death in battles with monsters.

Among them, soldiers heading for dungeon conquests had particularly good pay. And for a cat girl, it was a harsh place. Members heading for dungeon conquests treated her well. 

Being the most likely to die, the role of a scout was essential and determined their fate.

They were generally good people, except that the team changed somewhat with each dungeon conquest.

However, other soldiers were scum, especially the regular privates who looked at Karin with contempt, made sarcastic remarks at every opportunity, and kicked her as they passed by. Essentially, they didn't like that a cat girl was earning more than them through dungeon conquests. If that bothered them, they could have volunteered to go into the dungeon, but they avoided it. They were cowards.

But such days abruptly came to an end. It was the day they set out for a new dungeon exploration.