Chapter 77: The Sound of the Wind Chime, and Manamin-san’s Monologue
“Alright, that should do it…”
I hung a wind chime under the eaves of the “Home” in my Private Dungeon.
It was the “Soothing Wind Chime” I’d bought at Dungeon Hote.
An ice dragon with wings spread wide was painted on the transparent glass hemisphere, looking very cool and refreshing.
“Nice touch.”
I sat on the veranda and waited for a breeze.
And then.
—Chime.
The clear tone of the wind chime echoed through the dungeon.
“Haaah…”
So calming.
Combined with the sound of cicadas, it truly felt like summer.
—Tinkle, ti-ling.
A gentle breeze caressed my cheek.
“Fuuuh…”
I could feel time slowly passing by.
As the sound resonated, my mind grew quiet.
“So this is what they call a relaxing effect…”
It seems like it’d be good for when I’m tired, or conversely, when I want to think things over.
I’m glad I bought it.
Resting my hands behind me, I looked up at the summer sky.
An endlessly blue sky enveloped the world.
“…Come to think of it, it’s already May.”
It was late, but I finally realized.
May 31st is Otama-chan’s birthday.
With the general Explorer Exam and the A-Rank Party certification test, it had completely slipped my mind.
“I need to buy her a present…”
Would giving her accessories be too much, considering we’re not even dating?
That said, giving her some cheap trinket also feels…
“What would be good, I wonder…”
As I was pondering this while the wind chime’s sound echoed,
“Yo, Ko-chin…”
Before I knew it, Manamin had returned to the “Home.”
“Manamin, you were here?”
“Yeah, well…”
Manamin sat down next to me.
—Tinkle, tinkle.
The wind chime made a beautiful sound.
“…”
Uncharacteristically, Manamin was silent.
Usually, she’d be spouting some nonsense about Pretear or whatnot.
(This must be because…)
—Yesterday, I got a LINK message from Otama-chan.
Tamaki: It was trending online, but it seems all those Magic Stone Excavation Lottery tickets Manamin bought at Dungeon Hote were duds.
Tamaki: Just a bunch of small magic stones, and the estimated total market value is only around 30,000 yen, apparently.
Tamaki: People online were saying if she’d bought proper items, she could have sold them for several million yen, calling it an epic fail and stuff.
Tamaki: I mean, it’s her own fault, but if Manamin is feeling down, please cheer her up.
Tamaki: (Stamp of a bear saying, “What a handful…”)
—Tinkle, tinkle.
Listening to the sound of the wind chime, I said to Manamin,
“Well, uh… I heard about the Magic Stone Excavation Lottery. Don’t get too down about it. We can all just go to Shinjuku Dungeon again. Though, I do think it’d be better if you bought something different next time… but there’ll be another chance.”
You can only charge points at Dungeon Hote once every six months, but the opportunity will come around again.
We can all just go exploring together again.
At that, Manamin said,
“…Ko-chin, do you remember the promise you made in this dungeon before?”
“A promise…”
Probably.
“…The one where I said I’d protect our bonds with everyone?”
“That’s right.”
The day Shi-chan called me crying.
I vowed to make everyone an A-Rank Party so I wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of my childhood.
“What about it…?”
Then, Manamin said,
“No, I was just thinking it might be my turn now…”
“Eh…?”
I couldn’t see where this was going at all.
As I stared blankly, Manamin continued, speaking haltingly.
“To be honest, that last trip to Shinjuku Dungeon… was a lot of fun. I never thought someone like me could be in a party, let alone go all the way to Dungeon Hote… It’s all thanks to you, Ko-chin.”
“Ah, yeah… But that’s because everyone, including you, Manamin, worked hard.”
Something feels off…
Manamin said, gazing at the garden,
“…The Magic Stone Excavation Lottery was definitely a huge bust. I was super bummed, thinking I should’ve bought something else. And then, I thought about it. —How many more times can we all go to Dungeon Hote together…?”
“We can go as many times as we want, can’t we…? We’re in the same party, after all.”
“In an optimistic scenario, sure.”
“…? Are you worried we’ll have a fight and break up or something?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s more like we get along too well.”
“Eh, eh?”
I don’t get it.
“What do you mean by…?”
“…What I’m about to say is just me talking to myself. Even if you don’t get it, Ko-chin, I’m not going to explain. Got it?”
“Ah, yeah…”
Manamin, still gazing at the garden pond, said,
“…At Dungeon Hote, I found what I wanted to buy pretty quickly. I’d decided to go for a get-rich-quick scheme even before we entered Shinjuku Dungeon.”
“So you were making bad judgment calls even before the exploration…”
That can’t be helped.
“I had time. So, for reference for my blog articles, I was able to stroll through Dungeon Hote from one end to the other. I ran into you three during that time too.”
“Yeah. That was when I was looking at the combat drones.”
I was in a place that looked like a toy section, so it was a little embarrassing.
“And that’s how I ended up seeing what Tamama and Shi-chan were planning to buy. The expressions on their faces, what they were holding in their hands…”
“Hm…?”
Suddenly, I couldn’t follow what she was saying.
“Well, it was fun shopping, so I bet they had happy, beaming faces, right? I don’t plan on asking what exactly they were trying to buy, though.”
Just like with the combat drone (Victory Custom) I was thinking of buying, some things are embarrassing just for others to know you were looking at them.
“…Well, something like that. If they were making such maidenly faces, even I couldn’t bring myself to talk to them…”
“Maidenly?”
Were they trying to buy some Danpen-kun fancy goods, maybe?
Well, whatever…
“In any case, can’t we just go to Dungeon Hote again? If there was something else you wanted, you can just buy it next time…”
“Hey, Ko-chin…”
Manamin looked straight at me and said,
“You’re sincere. And kind.”
“Oh, uh… Thanks. What’s gotten into you, all of a sudden…?”
Did losing the Magic Stone Excavation Lottery make her mentally unstable?
Manamin continued with a serious expression.
“And Tamama and Shi-chan are also serious and considerate of their friends. The only one with a few screws loose is me.”
“Oh, uh…? You don’t have to be so hard on yourself…”
“That’s why, Ko-chin…”
Manamin said with a distant look in her eyes.
“Maybe I’m the only one who has a chance of protecting the four of us…”
“Eh, eh?”
I really don’t get it.
“Manamin, what have you been talking about…?”
“Basically, the friendship route. Depending on the situation, second partner, or two daughters, could also be…”
“Heh…?”
“Well, in short…”
Manamin stood up from the veranda.
“Ko-chin, you just live as your heart desires. Leave the rest to me.”
“Manamin…? You’re not planning on moving far away or something, are you…?”
I don’t really get it, but it has that kind of vibe.
However, Manamin said,
“Keke, no way. If anything, I’d rather move into the same house as you. Look, I’m still carrying around those adoption papers, you know.”
“…Geh, you’re still on about that? Besides, Manamin, you’re strong enough to earn a fortune solo, and you’re a celebrity, aren’t you…?”
“Just ’cause I can do it solo doesn’t mean I want to work solo. It’s fun being with you guys. Plus, I wanna take it easy too.”
“I agree with you on the part about it being fun to be with everyone.”
“Keke.”
Manamin laughed, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Thanks, Ko-chin. I feel a lot better after talking to you. Or maybe it’s the effect of that wind chime… You made a good purchase. Unlike me.”
“Manamin, just stop buying such incomprehensible items and live a steady life…”
“Keke, that depends on how I feel at the time. Well, I’m heading home for today.”
Manamin started walking down the hallway leading to the entrance.
“Ah, right.”
Since I have the chance, I might as well ask.
I chased after Manamin and called out to her.
“Manamin, let me ask for your advice on one last thing. It’s almost Otama-chan’s birthday, right? What kind of present do you think I should get her?”
At that, Manamin said,
“It’s like I said earlier. You should just decide based on what your heart tells you, Ko-chin. Tamama will be happy with anything she gets from you.”
“Oh, uh…”
Honestly, that was unhelpful advice.
I must have looked disappointed.
Manamin added,
“…Whether it’s a healing potion set, a fancy meal, a 3°C Ring, or a Tiffanes necklace, Tamama will probably be delighted.”
“I hope so, but…”
“However… the present you choose will be a message to Tamama. Like, ‘I wonder how Ko-chan wants our relationship to be from now on.'”
“Ah…”
“Think carefully, Ko-chin. Giving her a potion set, taking her out for a meal, or an accessory—they all have different meanings, you know. By the way, I want cash.”
“…Manamin, I might not even get you a birthday present at this rate, you know?”
“Kekeke, just kidding. Well, take your time thinking about it.”
――And so, Manamin left the dungeon.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling.
The sound of the wind chime echoed through the dungeon.
“How I want Otama-chan to see me, huh…”
As a friend and a fellow Explorer in our party, or…
As something more than just a friend, or…
Or perhaps, as a lover.
“Geez… this just makes me even more confused…”
While listening to the chirping of cicadas and the sound of the wind chime, I pondered for a while inside the “Home.”