Dad’s bread hooked something unbelievable.
“You really know, do you like eating?”
“It’s not me… it’s Dad, he likes it…”
Siloque shook the bread in his hand, and Bried’s eyes followed its movement.
You like it too…
“Doesn’t your father usually go jogging in the morning?”
“He said the Headquarters of the Tuners asked him to do some guidance, so he went over.”
“How long will he be gone?”
Bried frowned, possibly wondering why Siloque was asking so much.
In the end, she still answered:
“At the earliest, two weeks.”
Looks like this bread won’t be of use.
Sorry, Dad.
“It’s yours.”
Bried’s eyes sparkled as she took it, like a hungry puppy that hadn’t eaten in days.
“Really? This is a limited bread, only 100 per day, can’t be reserved, you have to line up for it! It’s a rare item!”
Hearing this, Siloque’s favorability toward Dad went up even more.
“If you don’t want it, give it back to me.”
“I want it!”
Bried tore open the bag, devouring the bread in a way so blissful that it made Siloque feel hungry just watching.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything since waking up this morning.
So even if it’s a Main Character’s Opportunity and Storyline, I can’t get even a share?
I thought I could get some resources to grow stronger, but it seems I’ll have to find someone else to train with.
“By the way, Silo…Siloque, what are you doing here?”
Bried finished off the first bread and was about to start on the second when she finally asked.
“Looking for your dad.”
“For what?”
“To get stronger.”
“Hah? Cough… cough! …cough!”
“Hey, hey, don’t eat so fast, look, you’re choking.”
Siloque hurriedly spent his dwindling funds to buy the cheapest bottle of water from the Automatic Vending Machine.
Bried drank it gratefully.
“Pay me back, 4R.”
“Ah, okay.”
As she scanned the Ring Chart to pay Siloque, Bried asked,
“Why do you suddenly want to get stronger? That’s not like you at all.”
“Did you buy this bread as a gift to get your dad’s help? You can’t move him with food.”
She misunderstood it as a bribe.
But it was the bread that moved Bried.
“It’s a greeting gift. My dad already asked your dad, and he agreed to help train me a bit. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going back.”
No time to waste.
Better start some basic training following the free chapter of the Dungeon Senior Professional Explorer Guide.
“Wait, you haven’t answered my question. If you just want to graduate, you can join any squad and it’s fine. There’s no need to work so hard to get stronger.”
Bried had a point.
School credits could be counted by squad, so even if you didn’t have enough individual points, if your team did, you could graduate.
“The Dungeon isn’t a zoo. Monsters attack, environments change constantly, and traps can refresh anywhere at any time. One mistake…”
Bried simply didn’t want people close to her to disappear suddenly.
“Bried, just like how you enjoy the process of gaining strength, I need power for my own reasons.”
“What reasons?”
To slay minotaurs and protect my family.
Of course, I can’t say that.
“To buy a house after graduation.”
“…..Huh?”
That left Bried speechless.
“But, is it worth risking your life as an Explorer just for money…”
“Bried, you know as well as I do. Explorer is the job that makes the most money.”
“I know. You risk your life for it. Have you really thought it through? The danger is real and unavoidable. If you run into something like a Crystal of Cursed Death, you won’t even leave a Full Corpse.”
Siloque nodded and coughed lightly.
“You’re right, but my dad’s mortgage still has 30 years left. He has to support me and my sister’s schooling. That’s not just 30 years. I don’t want to be a parasite at home forever. It’s possible to coast through school credits and graduate as an average student, get an ordinary job at a Corporation, and never make real money.”
“I don’t want to be paying off a house for 30 years like my dad. My dream is to roll around in a 100-square-meter apartment I paid the down payment for myself. Wake up to delicious food, have the latest gaming consoles in the room, with top-spec hardware and software! Fast and stable internet, soft, bouncy sofa. Never having to leave home! That’s why money is essential—the more, the better.”
“….Aren’t you still a parasite in the end?!”
Bried suddenly snapped back to reality, holding her head in exasperation.
“Really, people don’t change that easily. But actually, this sounds more like you, so I feel a bit relieved.”
That speech was half true, half a lie. Siloque almost convinced himself.
Bried mulled over Siloque’s words, trying to digest them.
It’s true you could make a fortune by going down into the Dungeon.
Most people just scavenge on the first floor or resell good Equipment for a profit.
If you want to make real money as an Explorer, you have to go deeper into the Dungeon, where the danger increases exponentially.
It’s best to join a high-ranking Guild or a big group like the Tuners.
By that logic, “graduating from the Academy of Explorers with top grades” and getting recruited by a major Corporation might actually be the simplest path?
Siloque watched as she got lost in his nonsense and quietly slipped away…
“Wait.”
Siloque felt exasperated inside.
Not done yet?
Bried stuffed the last bit of bread into her mouth.
“Siloque, I’ll help you. No—please let me help you.”
“Help with what?”
“What you just said.”
Bried licked the crumbs and cream from the corner of her mouth.
“Getting stronger. If you’re serious and truly determined, I can lend you a hand. After all, I’m the daughter of a former Professional Kendo Coach. I can teach you some Dungeon combat skills, too. But be mentally prepared. Just because we’re childhood friends, I won’t go easy on you during training.”
Hmm…
Getting solid, reliable training—Bried is someone who means what she says, even in games.
If she says she’ll do something, she’ll do it.
But that also means spending a lot of time with Bried.
Too dangerous…
If a side character like me gets too close to the Main Character’s girl, the negative rating from players would skyrocket.
Wait, this game’s audience is minotaur enthusiasts, so maybe the positive rating would go through the roof?
Bried saw Siloque go silent and thought he was backing out again.
“If you don’t want to…”
“I accept. Please help me, Bried Taros.”
What am I hesitating for?
There’s no other choice.
I’ve dragged things out this far; what’s the point in worrying about this now?
I don’t want to be powerless at a critical moment.
“Oh!”
Bried flashed a bright smile.
Just as she was about to be moved by how much Siloque had changed, he threw out an unexpected, bizarre statement:
“Just so you know, during training, don’t fall in love with me, Bried.”
“?…Pfft…”
Bried froze, then suddenly covered her mouth, struggling to hold back laughter.
At last, she couldn’t help it.
“Hahahahahahahahahahaha——”
Siloque waited patiently for her to finish laughing.
She laughed for a full minute.
“What are you… thinking? So narcissistic?”
Siloque just looked at her seriously.
Huh?
He’s serious?
Bried wiped away tears from laughing, then composed herself and replied earnestly.
“Don’t worry. I could never have feelings for you in that way. Not even a bit, not now or ever.”
She sighed, like an exasperated big sister.
“I just don’t want you wandering in the Dungeon and ending up as a Goblin’s dinner.”
“Hope you really mean that.”
The way things turned out was different from what Siloque had imagined, but he had gained a training opportunity and guidance.
If only the person wasn’t the Main Character’s love interest, it would be perfect…
Siloque adjusted his mood.
“No time to waste. Let’s start today. Please, Teacher Bried!”
“No problem—…I’d like to say that, but didn’t you get hurt yesterday? I saw you went to the Health Room.”
As expected of Bried, she saw through my disguise…
“Thanks to the power of love, I’m fine today. Bried, you’re the one with a match against Cliff next month. I should be thanking you for taking the time to help me.”
“Love’s? …Forget it, come on. The Dojo was cleaned yesterday, so we can start today.”
Suddenly, Bried’s stomach gave a weak “gurgle.”
Siloque’s eyes widened.
Bried’s face flushed red.
“You’re still as easy to get hungry as before, Demon of Gluttony.”
“Tch, don’t bring up old nicknames.”
Bried rummaged through her clothes but couldn’t find any backup snacks, making her feel a bit down.
“No one cooks at your house?”
“There is, I had two bowls this morning. Maybe I used up too much energy exercising… Mom went out with friends and won’t be back till afternoon…”
Seeing Bried clutching her stomach so pitifully, Siloque felt she’d starve to death before her mom got home.
Siloque offered a solution.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll cook for you.”
“…I don’t want instant noodles or compressed rations.”
“It’s not that. Just a normal breakfast. Think of it as tuition for teaching me. If there are ingredients at your place, I can cook there.”
“Hah? You can cook? No way, no way.”
Bried denied it three times in a row.
“Really not going to eat?”
Her stomach rumbled again, forcing her to yield.
“There’s still some food in the fridge… I’ll trust you this once. But I’m picky when it comes to food.”