Episode 30: Future Choices
The day after defeating the giant Metal Slime, Yuma was troubled.
—I used up all the Cooling Spray and burner canisters yesterday. How am I going to defeat Metal Slimes today…?
While racking his brain, he went downstairs and headed to the garden.
Then, he noticed something strange. Mamezou, who always barked like crazy, was unusually quiet today.
When Yuma got close, he jumped out of his doghouse, wagging his tail and acting affectionate.
“What’s wrong, Mamezou?”
Yuma petted Mamezou’s head and happened to glance over, but the Hole that had been there until yesterday was nowhere to be found.
“Eh!?”
He was stunned by the sight. No Hole? Yuma looked around and thoroughly examined the spot where the Hole should have been.
But there was nothing there, just ordinary ground.
The small Dungeon that had troubled Yuma for over a year and spawned strange Slimes.
It had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
“Eeeh!? It just disappears like that?”
In contrast to the bewildered Yuma, Mamezou was in high spirits. He ran around the garden, barking and running up to him.
It seemed the Dungeon was really gone.
“Well, I guess it’s good that I don’t have to wake up early anymore, and Mamezou’s better off without those weirdos.”
“Woof!”
Yuma returned to his room to get ready for school. Perhaps because he had more time, he didn’t really have anything to do.
Yuma left home earlier than usual.
“Good, good. It wasn’t making me any money anyway, so good riddance!”
The Hole disappearing should be a good thing. But for some reason, he felt like there was a Hole in his heart. He even felt a sense of loneliness.
Was it because it had become a daily routine?
He had wished for it to disappear so much after realizing it wasn’t profitable.
But still, why did it suddenly disappear? Was it because he defeated that Deca Slime? Was it some kind of boss?
As he was thinking about this, a cheerful voice came from behind.
“Good morning! You’re early today.”
“Huh? Oh, Kaede? Good morning.”
Seeing Kaede’s refreshing smile made him forget everything he had been thinking about.
Was it just his imagination, or had she become a little more mature recently?
“I heard! You were super late yesterday, right? Did you stay up too late playing and get no sleep?”
“It’s not like that!”
“Well, I’m not too worried since you’ve been waking up early for about a year now.”
“Don’t talk like my mom! I just overslept yesterday. It won’t happen again.”
That’s right, it won’t happen again. No more being late because of the Dungeon.
“I see… By the way, Yuma, I heard you got into college? Congratulations! Campus life starts in the spring.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, it’s not a super high-level university or anything.”
“Hehe, but I’m jealous. I’ve decided to get a job, so no campus life for me.”
“Eh!? A job?”
Yuma was surprised by Kaede’s words. He had assumed she would be going to college.
“You’re smart, you could go to any college you want!”
“You’re overestimating me. My grades aren’t that great, and my family isn’t rich. I want to start working as soon as possible.”
Yuma knew that Kaede’s family was a single-mother household. But he had never heard her say anything about not going to college for financial reasons.
“Working? Have you already decided where you’re going to work?”
“Yeah, actually. I already have a job offer, and I’ll be starting in the spring.”
“R-Really!?”
Yuma was surprised that she had already decided on everything, but he managed to keep his composure.
“S-So, what kind of company are you working for?”
“It’s a medical venture company called Med Iris. I’ll be doing administrative and reception work.”
“I see…”
He thought it sounded like a solid company—but he recognized the term “medical venture.”
“That company, could it be…”
“Yeah, it’s a Dungeon-related company. Actually, Rui introduced me to them, and I was able to get an interview.”
“Rui!?”
Yuma couldn’t hide his shock at the sudden mention of Rui’s name.