The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter

With the crescent moon shining on my back I finally step into my hometown.

Finally……

It was a long journey.

The summer vacation is over already, I surely will get scolded by Professor Elna tomorrow.

Even so, the joy of meeting everyone is very great. It’s completely night around this area, so I just head home. Reaching my home I get an overwhelming sense of relief.

「I’m back.」

There is no answer.

Voices come from the living though. Was my existence this irrelevant? I stealthily get closer, and the first thing I recognize is crying. It’s Alice.

「Onii-sama, please come back home safely. For that I’d even give up my own life…… And also father’s as well.」

「Mine too?! You want to sacrifice me as well?!」

Father is in his spirits as always. I mean, he is half-naked with a sword in hand. I guess he was doing training swings in the house. To a stranger, he might look like a bit of a lunatic.

「Oh my, then I will die along as well.」

Mother also looks energetic. Next to her was a giant black lion. To be more precise, Toramaru is a monster, with a flower on the head being his special trait.

『I should head out to save Noir. I can’t just abandon a friend.』

「Then please take me as well! Brother is calling for me. I can’t help but feel that way.」

Seems like they are quite agitated.

At this rate, they might head off to 「rescue」me.

I’m glad that they care about me so much, but after all, I had to call out to them.

「Ehm, Alice. I’m fine.」

「Did you hear that?! It’s brother’s voice.」

『I heard it as well! He must be using a skill of some kind to reach our minds.』

「Fa-father here. I’m fine.」

What? All three of them are looking towards the ceiling. They seem to think that my voice is coming from far away.

Only mother is different. She is the only one who managed to notice me. Well, I’m actually standing right at the entrance to the living room though.

Mother took something from the shelf and greeted me with a smile.

「Welcome back. I believed that you were safe. You became very strong recently.」

Emotions and tears begin to overflow when I see my mother’s face. After all, I’m her child. How calming is her gentle embrace.

But I wonder, what is that beehive in her hand? Why is there some kind of red stuff seething from the holes?

「Ah, this? It’s my creative cooking. I wanted to try it when you came back.」

One thing after another… To think my family will become the biggest problem. Meanwhile, Alice and others kept listening attentively with their eyes shut. They still didn’t notice?!

Since I had no other choice I approached the trio and called out to them from nearby.

「Alice, Toramaru, I’m back. My voice isn’t coming from far away. I’m right here.」

「Onii-samaaa?!」

『Whoooa, Noir returned!』

「Aaaaaah, my son?! ……Eh, you called my name? Hey, you called me?」

I pat Toramaru and sobbing Alice. Since Father looked too pitiful as he was about to cry I calmed him down as well. Well, though I was the one who caused this!

When I said that I didn’t have dinner yet they gave me an incredibly warm reception.

From cooking to shoulder rubs. Family is warm.

Fully enjoying this happiness I ate home cooking for the first time in a while.

Naturally, I refrained from trying spicy beehive. I relay what happened in the neighboring country as it is. Of course, I reported about brother as well.

I also mentioned that he still didn’t fix that pathetic side of his. Even so, father and mother were happy. Probably, simply being alive and safe is enough for a child to make parents happy.

By the way, the time didn’t pass uneventfully here as well.

The Rare Shop Stalgia, that sold curios gathered by me and Toramaru, was met with harassment from another store.

Our business being quite prosperous probably didn’t sit right with them. Peace is somehow maintained due to the menace of Toramaru.

『However, there is no telling when they will try to interfere with us again. It’s possible that they will aim for the time when I’m away. 』

「At that time I will help as well.」

It’s a great chance for beggar noble to rise in the world. I won’t allow them to squander this chance.

「Onii-sama, for now, please rest. You are worn out, right?」

「Yeah, you are right. Thank you for always caring about me.」

「Those words are heavenly bliss!」

Alice is exaggerating things as always. Climbing the stairs I enter my room. Neither shelves nor the floor had even a single speck of dust. Bed sheets are also pristine clean.

Undoubtedly, mother and Alice were cleaning it.

While being grateful to them, I drop onto the bed. I’m home.

I was dead tired after all. It didn’t take me even a minute to fall asleep.

◇ ◆ ◇

Waking up in a tranquil atmosphere feels good. At the inn, I mostly woke up from the voices of other guests.

After stretching I go down to the first floor. There is no one besides Toramaru in the living room.

『Looks like you had a good sleep. This puts me at ease.』

「Good morning. Where is everyone?」

『Everyone left. It’s ten o’clock already.』

「Ten o’clock?!」

I shouted unintentionally. I thought it’s only about seven o’clock. The summer vacation is long since over.

Today is not a holiday so of course, we also have a school.

Last night I was greatly excited in part due to being able to attend the hero school once again.

『Alice prepared breakfast. I’ll see you off once you eat it.』

I immediately got to the table and started eating. I pretty much gulped it all down. Sorry, Alice, even though you went through all the troubles of making it.

I hop on Toramaru’s back and head to the school. The view from here is the best.

「Toramaru, you planned to go to the store, didn’t you? Thank you for staying for me.」

『For a friend it’s not a big deal. There is something more important though. The assortment of goods at the store has been quite modest for a while already…』

I’ve been to another country all this time after all. Toramaru kept hunting, while father relied on his acquaintances to procure merchandise, but the limit was close.

「Leave it to me. A bit later I will dive into the dungeon once again.」

『Just don’t overextend yourself. I think it’s particularly difficult even among other hidden dungeons.』

Infinite labyrinthーー is the name for that hidden dungeon.

There existed more than one hidden dungeon.

It seems that Toramaru previously discovered another hidden dungeon in a faraway land. But it was conquered by adventurers right away.

Moreover, while I was away, an unexpected event related to that occurred.

『Near a town called Corotto another hidden dungeon was discovered. But from what I’ve heard, only those with special permission can enter inside.』

「Infinite labyrinth is still far from being completed, and there is another one……!」

It’s quite exciting.

Corotto is quite close, I’d like to visit it when I get time.

Well, since it’s restricted, the likes of me won’t be able to enter. So first I should focus on progressing onwards in the current dungeon. I also want to see the Master.

『Keep at it without doing anything rash.』

「You too~.」

Jumping off his back at the gates I enter the school. Getting to the door of the classroom I hear the voice of Professor Elna coming from the inside. It seems a lecture is in process.

Quietly, as not to disturb it, I try to get inside.

Crouching I head towards my desk.

In the middle of it, I see a familiar back on one of the seats…… It’s Layla-san. Why is she in S class? Anyway, I reached my seat, but why are there flowers on my desk?! This is as if I’m treated like a deceased person.

Now that I came closer to Emma I can hear her muttering something.

「We will be together even in another world. I won’t be with anyone else until my death…」

「I’m still alive!」

I couldn’t help but retort to that.

「Noir!」

「Sh-shtappu……」

Seemingly overwhelmed with emotions she hugged me. I’m also happy about the reunion so I hug her back.

To be frank, I should’ve reported on my survival last night. Sorry.

「I’m glad that you are alive. I thought that you…… Could’ve died……」

「Even so, the flowers are overkill!」

「Those flowers are slow to wither. They are used in this way as a charm for people who went off to war to come back safely. And it actually worked!」

Seeing Emma crying with a smile gives a strong feeling of being back home.

I wanted to talk with her a bit more, but with the racket in the class it became impossible.

It seems that to some degree they were aware of the situation. The one who calmed things down was Professor Elna.

「Get back to your seats! Who gave you permission to stand up!」

She still had that edge of a strong ex-mercenary.

Once the place calmed down, the professor approached me and looked me all over. Different from a moment ago, her eyes were kind.

She is checking if I have any injuries.

「…Good job returning in one piece.」

「A lot happened. Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.」

Though I was close to dying a couple of times.

Professor Elna quietly embraced me. I was a bit surprised, but this pleasant sensation brought a smile to my face anyway. After a bit, the professor said to other students.

「Everyone knew that Noir, no, Noir and his friends, went to the neighboring country. They saved Hornest from attack by monsters. The one who got to the source of the problem is also Noir. Let’s give them generous applause.」

Energetic applause resounded through the classroom.

Everyone’s glittering gazes make me a bit embarrassed.

Scratching the back of my head I mutter that it’s nothing that great.

「Both personally and as your teacher, I’d like to hear the story. Is that fine with you?」

「Eehm…… Yes.」

It seems I won’t be scolded for skipping school.

Standing in front of the class I spoke of the events of the trip. I narrated what happened at Hornest as it was.

However, I changed some details in the events regarding S. I was afraid whether my decision to let him go will be accepted by everyone or not.

And in part, it also was because I myself still hesitated. After I told the most I got bombarded with questions, so it turned quite tiresome.

But it also gave me a strong feeling that I returned to a peaceful everyday life. Thank goodness.