Chapter 10, If It’s Okay, Could I at Least Treat You to a Meal?

Translator: Lizz

 

My fist roars with heat. Or rather, it feels like it’s wrapped in flames.

 

The image in my mind tells me this is how magic is supposed to work. I channel fire into it, then simply punch.

 

“Uwooooooh!”

 

“Guh… Gwaaaargh!”

 

The demon screams for the first time. My blow sinks into its face. After thrashing around while engulfed in flames, the red beast collapses and vanishes.

 

Thick black smoke billows out, and before I know it, only a club and some strange red stone remain.

 

“I-I won…”

 

I was seriously on the edge there. As I slump to the ground, completely exhausted, a calm voice rings out from my goggles.

 

<You defeated the ogre. I’ll store your rewards in the box. Congratulations.>

 

“Ah, yeah. Thanks for teaching me about magic. That was the right way to use it, wasn’t it?”

 

<You used the magic completely incorrectly.>

 

“Oh, I see. That’s go- Wait, what?”

 

<You completely misunderstood how to use it. Fireball is a spell for throwing fireballs. It’s not meant to be channeled into your fist and used to punch.>

 

“Ah, yeah, I guess that makes sense. It’s called a ‘ball’ after all. Haha…”

 

Man, that’s super embarrassing!

 

Good thing no one was watching. If I’d done that in front of thousands of viewers, it would’ve been totally humiliating.

 

I glance at the comment section, and as expected, there aren’t any comments. Maybe no one’s been watching up until now.

 

Oh yeah, looks like my steel sword is reaching its limit too. The blade’s covered in cracks and looks like it’s going to break at any moment.

 

I’ve got a goblin weapon stored in the box, but… I’m not too sure about that. It doesn’t seem very strong, so I guess I’ll just head back for today.

 

Just as I think that and quickly stand up,

 

“Uh, excuse me…”

 

“Hm?”

 

I turn around to see the girl who got attacked by the demon earlier, looking flustered as she approaches.

 

She’s got blue hair in a bob cut, probably around high school age based on her appearance. She’s wearing a black dungeon suit, but something about her seems gentle and not very adventurer-like.

 

Also, she’s really cute. I bet she’s super popular. Maybe the person who ran off earlier was her boyfriend?

 

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

 

“Uh, um. I’m fine! Um, thank you so much for saving me… Really, thank you!”

 

“Oh, no worries! Let’s walk you out first.”

 

She seems kind of hesitant, but after what just happened, there’s no way I’m leaving her on her own.

 

On the way, I ask her why that monster attacked her, but she doesn’t seem to know.

 

“I think I ran into something called Irregularity.”

 

“Irregularity?”

 

<Irregularity is an occurrence when a monster appears in the dungeon that’s way stronger than what’s supposed to show up.>

 

“Eek!? What…”

 

“Oh, it’s an AI. Her name’s Miria, and she’s super smart.”

 

I go ahead and explain a bit about Miria and the stream. The more she listens, the more surprised she looks.

 

“So there’s an AI that amazing now? I had no idea.”

 

“Yeah… Wait, are you not streaming?”

 

“I was using this drone to stream. But it broke…”

 

She pulls a cute pink drone out of her backpack, but there’s a big hole in the camera section.

 

She gently strokes the tip of the drone like she’s comforting a living thing.

 

“My collab partner had equipment too, but then he disappeared partway through.”

 

“Huh? Tall guy? Pretty handsome?”

 

“Ah, yes! You know him?”

 

<Escape confirmed. He has likely already left the dungeon.>

 

At that moment, she lowers her head slightly.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“No, nothing…”

 

It doesn’t look like nothing, to be honest. For a moment, she looks like she’s about to cry.

 

But it feels like pressing her on it wouldn’t help, so I casually shift the topic and manage to walk her all the way to the dungeon exit.

 

I’m pretty worn out, so I decide to head home too. Man, that was rough. And come to think of it, I’ve just been wandering around the upper levels. But I guess that’s normal for a solo run.

 

“I’m heading out that way. Be careful on your way back, okay. Later.”

 

“Uh, um!”

 

Just when I say my goodbye and think it’s over, the girl, who looked like she was at a funeral a moment ago, suddenly rushes toward me like she’s made up her mind on something.

 

“What’s up?”

 

“I’m sorry. You saved my life… I just wanted to offer something in return.”

 

“Don’t worry about it! Back when I was a student, I got into all kinds of trouble and people helped me out plenty.”

 

“But… um. If it’s okay, could I at least treat you to a meal?”

 

“Huh? Well, I mean-”

 

<That won’t be necessary.>

 

“Whoa!? That came outta nowhere.”

 

The AI cuts in abruptly. Didn’t expect it to handle stuff outside the dungeon too.

 

<Kagetora-sama is expected to be very busy from now on. It may be difficult to find the time. Your gratitude has been conveyed, so let’s part ways here.>

 

“Hope I really do get busier. Later!”

 

“Ah, wait! Are you hurt?”

 

“Hm? Oh, this?”

 

She looks at my fist and her face turns sad.

 

“It’s not exactly an injury, more like a burn. I kinda messed up how I used the magic.”

 

“If you don’t mind, can I at least heal it? I can use recovery magic.”

 

“Seriously? You can?”

 

<There is a recovery item available.>

 

“But those are pretty rare, right? Um, would it be okay if I just heal it instead?”

 

Hearing her say that… it feels wrong to turn her down.

 

So I let her go ahead and heal me.