Earth Dungeon 156

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Chapter 156. Summons

The sky was overcast, casting a dim light even though it was daytime. Anticipating the rain, in a room within a vast Western-style mansion in the inner town, Taira Konoha sat elegantly sipping her coffee.

"It's a bit lukewarm, isn't it?"

She muttered as she placed her coffee cup on the table, and the maid standing by the wall nodded in acknowledgment.

"......"

"......"

"......"

"Hey, shouldn't you replace it with hot coffee?"

Unable to bear the silence, Konoha glanced at the maid with a sharp look and received a calm response tinged with surprise.

"Ishida Mitsunari gained Hideyoshi's favor with lukewarm tea, hot tea, and sweet tea, they say. Hideyoshi liked that and employed Mitsunari."

"So, shouldn't that mean bringing hot coffee?"

"Miss, it was hot coffee. It cooled down since you were fidgeting and left the coffee unattended. Also, the sugar is right there."

"It's such a hassle, honestly."

Asked if she wanted to drink hot coffee, she didn't really want to. The maid seemed to see through that. With a wry smile at the thought of their long association being a consideration, Konoha finished her coffee. Perhaps she had put in too much sugar, and combined with it not being very hot, it was overly sweet.

Konoha's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she glanced at the clock leaning against the wall. She had been waiting. Waiting to meet her friend after a long time.

As the clock's hands clicked to the awaited time, and nothing happened. Just that fact made her reexamine the antique mirror that could be considered a treasure. The date and time, written in bright red rouge, remained unchanged on its polished surface.

She hurriedly checked the clock again. It was indeed 1 o'clock. There was no mistaking the appointed time.

A bad feeling crept in. Did something change? Perhaps a switch in plans? She stood and sat in her chair repeatedly, unable to stay calm.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Maybe you need to use the restroom? Madam has a habit of wanting to use the restroom right at the time of appointments."

"Is that so? That's quite a troublesome habit."

Feeling troubled and frowning deeply, she noticed something odd. The maid and another person who shouldn't be there were having a conversation while eating cookies in a corner.

"...When did you get here?"

Realizing this, Konoha stopped abruptly and stared at the two with suspicion.

"I need to check for traps, you know."

She directed her words accusingly at the masked girl she had been eagerly anticipating, who was munching on cookies that the maid probably provided. The girl answered while chewing, her cheeks puffed like a squirrel.

The girl had somehow appeared there.

Feeling tired, Konoha sighed and rested her forehead on her hand. But she understood what needed to be said. Sitting back deeply in her chair and crossing her legs, Konoha gestured around.

"There are no traps, and only one maid as an escort. Do you trust me?"

"Yes, I'll have a sweet cafe au lait, please."

Sitting on the opposite sofa, the masked girl leaned on her elbow. Her relaxed expression slightly intimidated Konoha. Her face was partly hidden, her true appearance unknown but presumably beautiful. And yet, she exuded an intimidating aura.

Konoha understood deep down that it was because the girl in front of her was powerful. She seemed younger, which was unbelievable, but she also seemed stronger than when they last met.

She swallowed unconsciously.

"Long time no see, Rei. Have you been well?"

Konoha asked while maintaining a steady voice, looking at Rei. Rei claimed to be the vice-captain of the Jester Knights, a girl with mysterious and immense power. Her background remained unknown. While people thought she belonged to the Minamoto clan, even that was unclear. People also said she concealed the Amatsugahara Corporation she built in the abandoned town as a front, increasing her forces. However, her relationship with the Minamoto clan was ambiguous.

Konoha knew she dealt with commodities like food, but beyond that, her movements were a mystery, according to her mother.

Rumors in town even linked the Minamoto clan to the backbone of the Amatsugahara Corporation. It was perplexing, and her mother wore a troubled expression trying to gauge this situation.

Konoha considered siding with the Minamoto or the Amatsugahara, but Rei never showed signs of reaching out.

As a result, it remained unclear.

"I've been well, thank you. I've been busy preparing fields for spring. I thought I'd get blisters from holding the hoe too much."

"It's good that your beautiful hands are blister-free."

Smiling, Rei fluttered her hands with flawless, smooth skin like a white fish, and Konoha smiled back.

"I take good care of my skin, so it's all good."

"Next time, I'll give you some of the skincare products I use."

As the maid placed a cafe au lait and shortcake in front of Rei, Konoha noticed some cream around the maid's mouth. It bothered her, likely deliberately done. Ignoring it, she focused on Rei.

"It seems like you have a fun relationship. Could you tell me why you summoned me?"

Rei's demeanor as a strong individual relaxed slightly, and her eyes behind the mask looked amused, prompting Konoha to compose herself. She might have noticed the maid's playful actions to lighten the mood, but Konoha chose not to dwell on it.

"Rei. I didn't summon you to ask for potions."

"Oh, really? I thought this was another request for potions."

Cutting a piece of cake with her fork and eating it gracefully, Rei looked at Konoha for confirmation.

"It's not about potions. This time, I want you to help me conquer a dungeon. While guarding me."

Rei paused eating the cake upon hearing Konoha's words.

"Conquering a dungeon alone is sufficient for me. Why do I need Konoha with me? Can't I protect anyone other than like a mother duckling?"

Rei's cold gaze made Konoha shudder inwardly. But she smiled calmly without showing any signs of being intimidated.

"You certainly don't protect anyone like a mother duckling, do you? That's troubling, but I plan to bring a few others besides me. We don't need to focus so much on protection."

"Hmm... You're the captain of the Jester Knights. Depending on the fee, I don't mind. But why? Are you trying to add prestige?"

Rei's question was valid. Bringing fewer people would make conquering the dungeon easier. But that wasn't desirable. Outwardly.

"That's right. Adding prestige is necessary. This dungeon conquest will bring unparalleled achievements."

"This time I want you to go to Niigata Prefecture. Together with me."

"Niigata Prefecture? What for? Are there interesting dungeons there?"

At Rei's question, Konoha smiled and revealed the secret matter, something special.

"There are countless dungeons in Niigata Prefecture. The environment in those dungeons is an oil swamp."

Konoha revealed the hidden information. An oil swamp meant oil fields. Although there were numerous problems associated with it.

Rei didn't seem surprised despite Konoha's expectations. Disappointed, Konoha continued.

"...An oil swamp. That means it's an undead dungeon, right? Are you serious? Fighting undead creatures in an oil swamp dungeon is a life-threatening endeavor. Moreover, the monsters in the oil swamp are mummies. Their claws carry paralyzing poison, and their bandages, seemingly thin cloths, are tougher than iron and flexible. It's not recommended to fight them in dungeons although their strength is D-rank. They can display power exceeding their rank."

"I know about the oil swamp dungeons!"

Rei's expression remained unaltered as she mentioned the details, surprising Konoha, who stood up and exclaimed. The coffee cup clattered on the table.

"If you thought of solving the recent gasoline shortage, I don't recommend it. The oil swamp does have oil floating on the surface, making it seem like petroleum can be extracted, but it's of no practical use. It's barely usable, maybe just as a seasoning like chili oil floating in soy sauce."

"I understand that. But there's another reason."

Konoha knew about the oil swamp but not about this. She couldn't share this information.

"Oh, you want to obtain an Infinite Oil Jar. That's the Mithril Box, right? It doesn't appear easily. I haven't seen it much either."

"I know about that! Although the name is different."

"Of course. It's suspicious to name it 'Infinite.' It can produce 10 liters of oil per day. From gasoline to kerosene, it can produce any type of oil. It's too little to be useful, though. Hmm? But that's not your goal? Its appearance rate is low, and the output is too little."

How far did this girl's intelligence extend? Konoha marveled at her quick wit but maintained her poker face. An Infinite Oil Jar, presumably referring to a jar that continuously produces oil. It was among the items listed during her research for this dungeon conquest. It apparently burned quickly and broke easily.

But that wasn't her goal. And Rei's quick understanding made Konoha wonder if they were of the same age again.

"If that's not your goal, then I don't understand why you want to conquer the dungeon..."

"There are many oil swamp dungeons in Niigata Prefecture. I, with others from different clans, are heading there for conquest."

"I see... understood. So, how much is the contract fee?"

Stopping her thoughts, Rei looked at Konoha. No matter how much she thought about it, there was no way Rei could know. Relieved that Rei also had things she didn't know, Konoha waved it off.

"How about 1 billion upfront?"

"You're quite generous with an upfront payment of 1 billion. As expected of a captain, you can even give a gold seal to your subordinates."

Declaring the upfront payment easily and tilting her head cutely, Rei smiled. Despite that smile, Konoha couldn't help but feel intimidated.

"Alright, let's settle at that amount. Please leave everything to Rei, who brings miracles. Even if Mummies appear, I'll knock them down like dusting with a broom."

Rei puffed her chest proudly, and Konoha, with a smile of relief, knew the contract was sealed.

"Thank you. We depart next week. I'm counting on you."

With her there, Konoha felt at ease. She strongly believed that with this, she could make a name for herself.

The dungeon in Niigata Prefecture was dangerous, but with 5 billion at stake, conquering it seemed worth it.