The rock cave in the mountain was dark and cold.


　Akira's back was lit by a lantern in front of me.

　I was following Akira, with Igarashi-san and Garcia following close behind.

　The shadows of the four of us reflected in the rock surface are shimmering and slender and look like the devil.


It's a very good idea to have a good idea. It's over here: ......

　And since the tunnels dug by Akira are divided into several branches, this is a small underground labyrinth of sorts.


　Zsa Zsa ......


　Well. As I was advancing like this, I suddenly noticed that the hem of my jacket was being pulled back with a constant force with a twang.

　What is it?

　So I turned around and saw Igarashi-san's earnest cheeks, her cheeks illuminated in a three-dimensional way by the orange light.

　She was squeezing the hem of my jacket and shaking the shoulders of her lady's suit with a shudder.

"Do you need to pee, Igarashi-san?

　I asked in a whisper.


　You may think it's not very polite to ask a woman this, but it's inevitable.

　In adventurers' dungeon explorations, for example, a major problem that always follows is the question of the toilet.

　If it's a man, he can just step aside and get it over with, but it's not that easy for a woman.

　That's why there is no end to the number of "female adventurer's wetting" accidents in the world.

　It's not just a matter of how many times I've been there, it's also a matter of how many times I've been there.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to prevent such a tragedy from happening, so men should always pay attention to women's toilet problems.

　It's much better for her to ask in advance and recommend a rocky shade that she can hide behind, rather than getting her pride hurt by wetting herself in front of everyone.


...... No,

　But Igarashi-san shook her head.

　Really? Aren't you putting up with it?

　My eyes reflexively go to the crotch of her tight skirt, but I see that the rock-stomping thighs are not holding back the urine.

　Why is she trembling then?

Igarashi-san ...... are you scared by any chance?

I'm not scared.

　That's a quick answer.

　I see. Igarashi-san is not supposed to be a psychic, but, well, such senses are often stronger in women.

"Hahaha! It's okay. There's a monster or two, and they're everywhere.

! ...... (sweat)

　When I encouraged him to do so, Igarashi-san looked like he was in a hurry. He jumped at me and freaked out.

"Goof. ......

There are no ghosts! I'm not talking about a ghost!

Oh ......

　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one.

"Mugigi ......

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that, but my legs are strong enough to hold my torso crabbily in place, and I'm not going to budge.

　Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle: ......

　And a woman's trembling that travels down her back.

　Shit. I'm starting to get scared.

　Even the breath I exhale from my lips, which are pitted against my neck, trembles and feels faintly cold.

'...... is, Garcia! Do something!

Hee, hee. Well, wait a minute. ......

　However, Garcia's legs and feet were still soft and completely useless.


　Zsa Zsa: ......


　I've been carrying Igarashi-san on my back since then, so I was just following behind Akira, but I was exhausted.


We're here!

　But finally, this small dungeon is a dead end.

　In other words, it's a destination.


　Kira Kira Kira Kira: ...... Kiran☆☆☆☆


　The rugged rock walls were filled with jerking octahedron and dodecahedron magic crystals.

　It is not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new one.

Oh ......

　Yes, it's a natural magical ore. It's a natural magical mineral.

Ha! ......

This is so cool!

　Igarashi, who had been trembling, got off his back as if he had forgotten about the fear of the monster, and Garcia, who had been gasping for breath on the rocky path, got excited.

　I looked at them both.

　I couldn't hide my smile.

Okay! Then let's have some samples! Please, Akira.

Uh-huh.

　Akira nodded 《nodding》 and took a tool out of the furoshiki.

　Pshaw......

!

　The pickaxe was wrapped in a blue-white magical light.


　Kyuin! ...... Poppa-poppa-poppa......


　And then Akira uses the magical light of that 'pickaxe' to scrape the rock at high speed.

　When did he do this kind of technique?

　A miniature underground labyrinth is also in the works.


　Speaking of which.

　Since I had been hoarding experience points to train the 75 latecomers again, naturally, the experience points should have been transferred to Akira, who had marked his training skill 【Receiver】.

　In other words, Akira's level as a [Excavator or Maintainer] has increased to a higher level.


　Pop, pop, pop, pop. ...... Crunchy, cooing!


　I'm looking forward to seeing how Akira will grow once he goes on an expedition and transfers more experience.



　◇



Right now, the price of the magical ore is soaring. Now we're going to be very rich!

　After returning to the building, Garcia was excited to see the magic ore on the table.

''...... Garcia.

What is it?

I'm not looking to sell the magic ore itself for money, you know?

What's going on?

'I don't think there's any future for this territory if we're relying on the money we get from selling our resources as they are. ......

　I say, and I light a cigarette.

'Fu ....... I told you a long time ago that the demon ore in the mountain village was depleted. So naturally I think that the magic ore in the 'west side of the territory' isn't inexhaustible either.

I see. That's true.

　Garcia was loving and stroking the magic ore on the table as if it were a wad of cash.

Then what do we do with this?

Basically, we'll use the magical ores from our home for our own purposes. That way, we can get something better than simply selling the magic ore for money.

I think it's a good source of trade.

Yeah. I'm happy to send them elsewhere for the sake of trade. But the trade is for the purpose of obtaining 'what we can't produce on our own'. If you simply use the money from selling the magic ore to buy cheap things from other companies, it will also hinder the territory's industrial development.

　When we were discussing the future of the Demon Ore with Garcia like this.

''Eiga-sama. I have a letter for you.

　And Igarashi-san came over with an envelope.

　Hmm.

　Igarashi-san, acting like a secretary like this, doesn't look like the same person who was jumping up and down in the cave because she was afraid of the ghosts.

Let's see, who's it from?

　At any rate, when I tossed the envelope while muttering that, the sender said

【Adventurer's Guild General Headquarters】.

　And.