Ordinary Person × Modern Dungeon × Summer Vacation Life = Rise to Success!? 〜A Private Dungeon Was Made at the Remains of a Secret Base From Childhood〜 - Episode 4: Dungeon Investigation

Episode 4: Dungeon Investigation

Otama-chan, unlike when she was a child, now had smooth hair that reached her shoulders.

Her clothing also had a girly look. She was wearing explorer tights under her skirt.

The vibe was completely different from when we caught bugs together.

“It’s been a while. You looked so different, I didn’t recognize you. Is that someone’s influence?”

“Id-Idiot! I haven’t had a boyfriend at all! I-I’ve always been… *mumbling mumbling*…”

“Hey, Omoigawa-san! Just because you’re acquaintances doesn’t mean you can be careless with your words!”

“Uuuu~”

Otama-chan was scolded by Yamada-san, her senior. And she looked down.

“…Haha.”

So, even if her appearance changed, she’s still the same inside. That’s a bit of a relief.

Yamada-san from the Explorer Association smiled and spoke to me.

“Natsume-san, sorry about that. Now, we will begin assessing the danger level inside the dungeon. Since you haven’t taken the explorer training course, we’ll have to ask you to stay outside or near the entrance gate.”

“Understood. Since I’m here anyway, please let me wait inside.”

Maybe I’ll get to see Otama-chan in action.

“Understood. Then, please wait with the city and prefectural staff. Ah, please use this.”

Saying that, Yamada-san handed me a plain helmet.

Yamada-san put on a camouflage helmet herself and began walking toward the dungeon gate’s door.

Following behind her, Otama-chan wore a pink helmet and snuck along.

She seemed to be hiding the design on her helmet with her hands.

…If she’s hiding it, now I’m curious.

“…*Sneak sneak*… *sneak sneak*…”

“Hey, why are you sneaking around?”

“Hyah! Hyaaah!!”

When I snuck up from a blind spot and tapped her shoulder, Otama-chan exaggeratedly jumped in surprise.

At that moment, her hand left the helmet.

“Let me see…”

There was a sticker that read “NK♡”.

“What’s this?”

They’re the same initials as mine. But maybe it’s an idol sticker or something.

“I-IDIOT!! Don’t look!”

Otama-chan covered the mark on her helmet with both hands.

“Hey, Omoigawa-san! That’s the second time! Don’t say rude things!”

“B-But… Uu…”

I didn’t think it was something that needed to be hidden. But…….. maybe I teased her a bit too much.

I should stop messing with her now.

“Sorry about that, Natsume-san. Shall we go in?”

Yamada-san reached for the door that stood on the ruins of the secret base.

However—

*Clack clack!*

“…It won’t open.”

The dungeon door was tightly shut.

“Huh? It opened just a moment ago…?”

“Let me try.”

The city hall and prefectural staff both tried turning the knob. But the door didn’t open.

“T-That can’t be…”

I approached the door and turned the knob.

Then—

*Clack, creeeeak…*

The door opened easily.

“See? Please go ahead. I wasn’t lying.”

“Hmm, hmm…”

Yamada-san from the Explorer Association wrote something in her notepad.

“U-Um…”

“Let’s go. Omoigawa-san, follow me.”

“Y-Yes!”

Yamada-san calmly walked through the dungeon gate.

“D-Don’t look at it…”

Otama-chan followed her while still trying to hide the “NK♡” letters on her helmet.

Then, I and the city and prefectural staff also entered the dungeon.

“Ugh… it’s hot…”

Inside the gate, it was summer as always.

The sound of cicadas filled the air.

“Whoa, what is this! This feels nostalgic somehow!”

“Hey! Wait a bit before moving forward!”

“Uuu~…”

Otama-chan got too excited. She made noise and was once again scolded by Yamada-san.

“…Well, judging from what I see, the danger level doesn’t seem too high.”

Yamada-san didn’t seem too surprised by the dungeon’s state.

“Um, are there other dungeons like this one?”

I asked what had been on my mind.

Yamada-san thought for a moment and replied.

“There are many dungeons where, after going down stairs, a sudden outdoor landscape appears, like forests or deserts. But this one… I think it’s not a normal floor. It might be a ‘regional trait reflected floor’, so-called ‘local-themed floor’.”

“Local-themed floor…?”

“Yes, it’s just a theory, but…”

According to Yamada-san, the dungeon generation process is still unclear. But sometimes floors appear that reflect the local area’s characteristics.

For example, in the famous Shinjuku Dungeon, the 20th floor is modeled after a well-known discount store called the “Palace of Shocking Prices” (it’s apparently the most popular area on dungeon streams).

In front of shelves arranged like a maze, there’s a floor boss called “Danpen” the penguin. It has “Da” written on its stomach. If you defeat it, you get a “magical” electronic money card, and can shop within the floor.

“It seems that dungeons grow by feeding on human desires. I have some thoughts about this dungeon as well. But I’ll share them after the investigation is finished.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, we’ll make the rounds. So please wait a while. Omoigawa-san, let’s go.”

“Okay! See ya, Kou-chan!”

“Yeah, do your best.”

The two from the Explorer Association began walking along the rice field path in the dungeon.

Somehow—

Otama-chan’s working hard too.

…..…Maybe I need to work hard too.

I felt a bit more motivated.

Looking to the side, the person from the prefectural office was measuring some numbers using a device I’d never seen before.

While answering questions from Tanaka-san of city hall, I waited for Otama-chan and the others to return.

☆★☆

About 30 minutes later, the Explorer Association’s field investigation was complete.

“We’re back, Kou-chan!”

“Oh, good job, Otama-chan.”

“Thank you, Natsume-san. Before we discuss the results, please step outside the dungeon.”

“Understood.”

Prompted by Yamada-san, we all stepped out of the gate.

“Kyaa, it’s cold! My sweat’s freezing!”

Back outside, it was February again.

Otama-chan took off her helmet and started screaming.

“Hey! Don’t lose focus before the important talk is over!”

And got scolded by Yamada-san again.

“Uu…”

“Now then… Before I tell you the results, let’s run a little experiment.”

“An experiment…?”

“First, Tanaka-san from city hall. Can you open the dungeon door?”

“Excuse me, Natsume-san.”

*Clack clack!*

The door wouldn’t open.

“……..…It won’t open.”

“Thank you. Next, Omoigawa-san. Can you open the door?”

“Eh!? M-Me?”

Caught completely off guard, Otama-chan flinched but approached the door as told.

Then—

*Clack, creeeeak…*

“It opened!”

“I see… Now I understand.”

Yamada-san from the Explorer Association wrote something in her notepad and then said:

“I’ll get straight to the point. This dungeon corresponds to a Type-5 dungeon under the Labyrinth Exploration Law.”

“Type-5?”

“Yes. Simply put, it’s a completely private dungeon. It does not require national management or opening to the public… It belongs entirely to the landowner.”