The weakest (self-proclaimed) salaryman suddenly finds himself treated like an S-rank adventurer!? ~Relaxed dungeon life - Episode 6

The afternoon sunlight softly illuminated the potted plants by the window.

The water droplets on the tips of the leaves sparkle and reflect the light. The quiet air that fills the room is somehow pure and even exudes a faint warmth.

Shiina Haru’s room is surprisingly sunny for an apartment that’s over ten years old.

The study space, partitioned off in a corner of the living room, has evolved into a comfortable space as remote work has become more common.

A large wooden desk with a laptop, a mug bought at a cafe, a stationery case, and a new addition.

It was a blue-green crystal stone that I had picked up during yesterday’s “dungeon exploration.”

The stone contained a faint light that changed subtly in brightness depending on the angle from which it was viewed, and in its center was a pattern of tiny particles floating in the air.

It exudes a somewhat fantastical atmosphere, like an aurora trapped underwater.

“Fufu. This stone is calming.”

Smiling, Yo picked up the stone in his right hand and tapped it against his cheek.

A cool feeling and a silky smooth texture.

Above all, just touching it gave me a strange feeling, as if a sense of peace was spreading from the depths of my heart.

“Looking at it while working on the computer is gentle on the eyes and helps me maintain concentration…. Yes, interior design is important after all.”

Having just the right amount of color in your living space can make you feel more positive.

With this in mind, Yo gently returned the stone to its usual place, next to the keyboard, in its place as a paperweight.

However――

Of course, it wasn’t just any rock.

Its official name is “Healing Crystal.”

An extremely rare magic stone with healing properties that naturally generates inside the otherworldly dungeon.

Just touching it has the effect of stabilizing the mind, relieving fatigue, and increasing concentration. Even experienced healing magicians and magical tool craftsmen must be careful when handling it, and it is said that there is even a risk of magical power going out of control if it is not refined.

–Shiina Akira displayed this magic stone as a paperweight in the corner of his desk.

◆ ◆ ◆

Today’s work is preparing presentation materials.

This is an important document to be used in an internal meeting next week. It has a considerable number of pages and is heavy with content, so it would normally take me a day to finish it.

despite–

“…I feel like I can concentrate a lot better today. My mind feels clearer than usual.”

Having finished two-thirds of the slides in the morning, Yo took a deep breath and took a sip of the reheated coffee.

At that moment, a small voice came from the corner of the desk.

“Pilgrim, that’s… a healing stone, isn’t it?”

“Oh, good morning, Mirelia-chan. Healing stone? Are you talking about this stone?”

“Yes! It is a high-grade magic stone that brings healing effects just by holding it. It has the effects of natural recovery, mental stability, and increasing concentration, and since ancient times, high-ranking magicians have used it for meditation–“

“Hmm… It’s soothing…”

Yang leaned back in her chair and stared blankly out the window.

“But maybe that’s true. My shoulders were stiff until yesterday, but today I feel fine and my mind is clear.”

“That’s exactly the effect of the healing stone—“

“Okay, this is officially my favorite item! I’ll name it ‘The Blue Guy’!”

“I didn’t hear anything!! Please, at least call me by my real name!”

Mirelia protested quietly from the desk.

However, within Yoh, the decision seemed to have already been made, as a sticky note with the words “Favorite★” had been discreetly placed next to the stone.

◆ ◆ ◆

In the evening, after finishing preparing some documents, Yo went for a walk around the neighborhood to refresh himself.

As I was walking down the shopping street bathed in the gentle setting sun, I was stopped by a familiar greengrocer’s owner.

“Shiina-kun, your demeanor has changed recently. Your complexion is brighter and your posture has improved, hasn’t it?”

“Eh, is that true? …Could it be the “magic stone effect”?”

“May I ask you about a new health regime?”

“Well, how should I put it… It’s more like an improvement in lifestyle.”

As he spoke vaguely, Yo stroked the healing crystal in his backpack with his fingertips.

A faint blue-green glow was shining from the depths of the bag. It didn’t feel heavy, but it certainly gave off a mysterious sense of stability, as if it was supporting the core of my body.

◆ ◆ ◆

And then, that night–

On the other side of the world, there’s the Japanese Urban Dungeon Monitoring Center.

　In a corner of the silent control room, a terminal was reporting an abnormality.

“……this is……?”

The young spirit employee stared intently at the screen.

“The healing crystals that were supposed to have been harvested on the first floor… are now operating steadily in the urban area.”

“Without any refining process?”

“Yes. There are no signs of a magical rampage. The stability of the waves is… off the charts. It’s as if the stone itself is “optimized for the environment”…”

“…So that means the owner is unconsciously tuning their magical powers?”

“That’s all there is to it at the moment… The target coordinates are Shinjuku Ward. The individual identification code is – “Pilgrim 001.”

Silence fell on the data analysis team.

Eventually, someone muttered something.

“This person again… Who on earth is he?”

◆ ◆ ◆

Meanwhile.

Yang lay on her back on the bed and took a deep breath.

“…I’ve been sleeping well lately.”

The healing crystal placed next to the pillow emits a soft light.

Even though the lights in the room were off, I strangely didn’t feel uneasy.

The light flickers slowly and gently, like a heartbeat.

“Mirellia, are you asleep yet? Good night…”

　The moment I suddenly closed my eyes, a faint voice replied from the shelf next to me.

“…Good night, pilgrim.”

His sleep is deep, quiet, and warm.

It was as if the world itself was being healed by the existence of Shiina Haru.