Ah. Sword suddenly raised his voice. I think you should take the rank-up exam in the next town. That said, lets dive into a dungeon.

He mentioned out of the blue.

Then again, I know that he tends to be rather abrupt in his words and actions.

In other words, youre saying a dungeon is conveniently nearby?

Yep. It think its goin to be a breeze for you, but itll be your first time in a dungeon, right? Lets go check it out.

Dude, youre saying it with a mood as if telling us to go check out a game center since its right around the corner.

So, whats a dungeon in the first place?

Why did Swords expression immediately screw up when hearing that?

You sure love theoretical stuff, dont you? No one thinks bout what a dungeon might be.

No, you should actually think about it.

That means its different from a simple cave which got infested by monsters?

Indeed. Well, how to say itits at least not that. Accordin to one theory, dungeons seem to pop up at places where magic elements accumulate, but the details are unknown. A dungeon core exists in the deepest part of the dungeon, and if you break that, the dungeon is goin to disappear, but thats forbidden.

I get the reason more or less, so Ill pass on asking any further.

As youve guessed, dungeons are quite profitable. A dungeon wont be destroyed unless its an emergency. Breakin it counts as a serious crime. Then again, you wont be able to return alive either way.

Figures. If the dungeon collapses because the dungeon core has been destroyed in the deepest part, getting out sounds unrealistic.

So, dont break the core, even by mistake.

What should I do if I dont know what the dungeon core looks like?

Thats why Ill come along as your navigator. Dont let go of my hand and do as I tell you, kay?

Got it. What about Ryoku?

I wonder whether the dungeon is wide enough for him to enter.

Youve brought him, so just take him with you. Hes your golem. Take him to the exam as well since hell be counted as a weapon. Thats only if you get him registered as golem, though.

I didnt mean it like that, but it sounds like hell fit in the cave. In that case, Ill of course take him with me! Ill have him learn lots and lots of new stuff!

For heavens sake, that thing is more like a tamed monster than a golem. Hes been regularly strikin up conversations with me.

The same applies to you as well. Ryokus learning function is doing its job. Hes memorized a lot of things already, hasnt he?

Sword turned red.

He always acts cold and indifferent towards Ryoku in front of me, but whenever Im not looking, hes chatting away with Ryoku like an old granny. With a feel closer to teaching a mynah language than training a dog to shake hand.

I guess he must have been quite happy about Ryoku remembering and then doing or saying whatever Sword casually taught him.

Come on, lets go!

Yeah, yeah, good job at glossing over your embarrassment.

I think doin a dungeon run yourself is quite a challenge. If a map of the place is bein sold, you should get it, even if its somewhat costly. Ive got the map for this place, but this time well go without map, just as its done durin the exam.

Hmm, so they got the concept of mapping in this world? Its that, isnt it? What Ive done in a game a looong time agowriting a map on a piece of paper!

When I tried to enter the dungeon, I got stopped.

Its dark inside a dungeon.

Eh? Really?

The dungeon core isnt tactful and provides illumination or something similar?

What do you take a dungeon core for? You wont receive the same hospitality in a dungeon as in a noble mansion, idiot.

I see. What a bummer.

When I combined my otherworld knowledge and the stories Ive heard, dungeons kinda sounded like attractions to draw in customers.

Okay.

Since it couldnt be helped, I equipped a lamp on my head.

Hey, whats that?

Its a Light magic tool. With this shape, itll allow me to use both my hands on top of illuminating the area ahead of me.

Usin light magic without a care, eh? Usually youd use a torch, you know?

Do you want to die?

If you use fire in a cave with no ventilation, youre going to suffocate!

Why would it turn out like that?

Fire steals an element from the air while burning. Humans have to breathe that element for their bodies to work.

For real!?

Before considering me to be too much of a theory nut, itd be smarter for you to ask yourself how things work, I think? Certainly, its not like the common sense of this world and the otherworld align in everything, but Ive already proven that fire burns on that principle.

This world is based on magic elements. You can do anything as long as youve got magic elements. But, its also true that other components are required as well.

Yet, the people here think that nothing else is needed as long as you have access to magic elements. Though my thinking is gradually getting infected by that ideology, too.

Torches might be fine if theres an airflow, but I want to keep my hands free. Because of that, this way is more convenient. Has no one ever built anything like this? I mean torches might have a certain charm, but they lack user-friendliness, dont they?

You aint usin em for appearance sake. Also, Ive never seen such a magic tool. Even if someone had created it before, Im sure itd cost exorbitantly. Or do you think sorcerers capable of usin light magic grow on trees!?

Thats the problem? I mean this doesnt even use light magic to begin with, but whatever.

While advancing through the cave, I explained what Ive been thinking about.

In my eyes, you and other magicians are amazing. Once you chant a spell, fire takes the form of an arrow and flies off or similar, right? Things like golems move by simply ordering them to fight. I have absolutely no idea how that works.

If you tell it to fight, its got no choice but to do that, no? Moreover, golems do nothin but plain swingin their fists or tryin to trample somethin.

But thats actually amazing. When I tried to build my golem, I had to first teach it what it means to walk.

Hah?

No need to get so surprised. People will walk if you tell them to do it because they know what kind of action it is. Its impossible to expect that something that doesnt know the concept of walking would be able to walk just because you tell it to do so, right? It could only walk after learning to understand that walking means Lift your right foot, and lower it frontwards. Lift your left foot and lower it further frontward than your right foot. And yet even that becomes completely unnecessary by just telling a golem to Fight Making it actually understand all the motions included in that action is super, super difficult, you know?

Sword was lost for words.

How are you makin Ryoku move then?

The basic movements have been handled through Programming. In short, he can do them even without having to learn them first. I smirked broadly, or at least intended to do so.

I got it that your proud of it, but dont give me that gross smile while linin up an array of incomprehensible terms. Sword commented, and pulled on my cheeks.

But, please teach Ryoku a lot more things. By just teaching him what you can, hell memorize it and become smarter.

After all, its possible that a soul might form in an AI when it comes to this world!

I gently caressed Ryoku.

Fundamentally, I can do anything Ryoku can do. But, since I want him to learn, I let him do it.

Mapping of the first floor finished.

Ryoku displays the map with a hologram.

Gaah!? Sword got totally startled.

Good boy, well done. I stroked Ryoku.

WeLl dOnE, iS, GeTtINg prAiSeD.

Correct.

Aww you make me all shy. Ryoku became bashful.

Oi! Ryoku has

Ah, sorry. This is part of his basic functions. Its not that he memorized it.

I just wanted him to do it since its cute.

Hey, whats with you wastin functions on such nonsense!?

For some reason I got scolded.

What are you saying? Cuteness is justice, you know? Anyway, Ryoku, This is a trap, This as well.

THiS iS trap. THiS AS wElL, trap. THiS AS wElL, trap.

He immediately learned it, and became capable of identifying other traps after understanding traps.

Well done

Aww you make me all shy.

Good grief, lately Ive been wonderin whether your not actually a nutcase.

The conversation between Ryoku and me earned me a very cold look from Sword.

We came all the way to the boss room without running into any problems.

As expected, dungeon clearing with the support of a map is boring. It doesnt let me feel the excitement of being on an adventure whatsoever.

Listen, never say that in front of ordinary adventurers, got it? Sword hurled a warning at me.

I got it. Im a woman who learns.

I looked up at the door leading to the boss room.

Im sure no one has wondered how this door came to be. Its pointlessly extravagant with many ornaments, so itd be ridiculous if this door had become like this naturally.

Oh well, whatever. It just means that anything goes with magic elements.

Coming to that conclusion in my mind, I opened the door. The boss orc was sitting on its throne.

Im sorry, okay. But it looks like youll be revived later anyway. Please forgive me since Ill at least do you the favor of killing you in an instant.

Once again, why the hell are you talkin to monsters while actin all cool?

I was asked by sword, but dont you think its awful to selfishly trespass into ones home and slaughter its inhabitants? If a monster were to trespass into my home, Id certainly get angry, so its way too arrogant to consider it as fair to trespass into their homes.

Even though I say all that, I trespassed and killed the boss. I ran up to it in an instant and delivered a neck chop. Immediately following, the corpse turned into dust and disappeared.

So there are monsters leaving behind corpses while others dont, huh?

The monsters created in dungeons belong to the latter category.

I see, I see.

After the dust had dispersed, a magic stone and a treasure chest became visible.

Hey! Why does a treasure chest appear after defeating the boss? This is definitely a present from the dungeon core.

Dont mind the small stuff. Come on, open it.

Its not small stuff!!

What is a treasure chest to begin with? Who has placed it there and why? Is it the management? The dungeon management?

When I opened the chest while unleashing that flurry of muttered complaints, Sword commented, Oh, its a winner!

It contained a medicine bottle.

There are winners with treasure chests? Its becoming more and more like an attraction. I suppose this is a giveaway for the sake of entertaining the customers, aka the adventurers.

When I unleashed yet another flurry of grumbles, Sword retorted, Not like its a problem. You aint losin out on anythin, so stop bickerin.

Thank you very much, kind Sir Dungeon Core. I shall humbly accept your gift and go back.

If I remember correctly, it went like that.

On our way back out, no monsters appeared and no traps got activated either. The dungeon core might as well have provided a door with Exit written on it.

After we stepped outside, Sword faced me.

Now then, Im in no mood to criticize the dungeon clearin itself since your way too eccentric. But Ill at least tell you what you need to watch out for when takin the C-Rank exam.

Eh? So hes not going to teach me the tricks of clearing dungeons?

First off, Ill allow you to bring along Ryoku from now on. Itd be best to expose him to many people for the sake of allowin him to become well-known, if your goin to act together with him in the future. However, even though the mappin will be fine, that thing, you know the one that brightened up the area in front of you, is a no go.

Eeehh!

If you show off somethin like that, youll draw the attention of the army, idiot! Your already standin out by just bein together with me, so try to avoid to stand out even more!

Oh, it came out, your excessive self-consciousness.

Did you say something!?

I fervently shook my head.

I mean, you blabbed bout the clearin bein borin while lookin at a map, didnt you? So show me how you do it without the light thingy!

Sure

Is it going to become fun by doing just that? Oh well, nevermind. I understand. Im going to enjoy it while thinking of it as an attraction!

A map is boorish when visiting an attraction! Itll be the best if I can feel excited by not knowing what might pop out!

Raising a fist in the air, I pledged, Youre absolutely right! Ill enjoy it with self-imposed restrictions! The thrilling feeling of an adventure is indispensable. I mean its my job after all!

Though I believe itd be better for you to stop bein an adventurer n focus on magic tool creation.

How terrible!

Once I pouted, he stretched my cheeks again.

Y-o-u! Get it into your head that your upsettin people by just breathin! Adventurers are quick to pick a fight and very short-tempered, so its dangerous if you run around while naturally pissin off people!

Eiih donchdo aniiffin liek dat.

You do! Realize it, idiot!

Pah, thats not true!