Chapter 22

“W-Wow… these are proper onigiri… and the tamagoyaki is perfect too…”

It was the second day of the new semester. After regular classes, it was finally lunchtime.

I had opened my lunchbox in the courtyard instead of the classroom, just in case my sister had packed some kind of “mysterious dish.”

This morning, when I woke up, she had already gotten up before me. The usual weight on my chest wasn’t there—she had truly left the bed first.

She had said, “It’s just a simple bento with onigiri, tamagoyaki, and spinach and bacon stir-fry! Don’t worry!” But given everything up to now, I couldn’t help but remain cautious.

“Wait… these onigiri… they’re really good… this is…”

Now I understood. With all my experience cooking for myself, I could tell these onigiri were amazing—thoughtfully mixed rice!

Minced green onions, grated ginger, tempura bits, and mentsuyu mixed in, formed into onigiri, and wrapped with nori… Of course it’s delicious…!

“Wow… I’m so moved… Mom was terrible at cooking, so we always had bread… I’ve never had someone’s handmade bento before…”

I was savoring the happiness alone in the courtyard when suddenly—

“Ah! Yesterday’s maid-san’s bento!? I noticed you had a lunchbox and then you disappeared. Chasing you was the right call!”

“Ah, Kasumi. Well… knowing onee-san, I was worried she might have turned it into a surprise box with crackers or something, so I moved to the courtyard just in case.”

“Ehh? That far? I knew she was fun, but wow… she’s so beautiful, yet friendly and approachable. I get why Akira looks up to her!”

“Can we not joke about that…? Kasumi, do you want some lunch?”

“This is mine. Today it’s tomato curry bread. I made it myself! Using an air fryer, you can get that fried bread feel without oil.”

“What? I’ve never heard of that appliance. Wow, looks tasty.”

“Want a bite? In exchange, I’ll have a bite of your onigiri.”

“Okay. Ah—yum!”

Judging from the conversation, it seemed like a device that crisps things without oil. Some texture was lost with time, but inside the bread was a tomato-curry paste reminiscent of hayashi rice.

…Kasumi is actually pretty good at cooking.

“Ahhn… mmm…”

Then Kasumi tried my sister’s onigiri. I had found it very delicious, but what would she think? Somehow, seeing someone else appreciate my sister’s cooking made me feel happy too.

“This is… wow, it’s delicious! I want to try making this too!”

“Oh, I’m glad you say that. I’ll tell my sister.”

It felt like a little win. Being able to enjoy both bread and rice at lunch… such a simple pleasure.

But that peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted—

“I found you, Akira-kun. How could you ignore my messages?”

Suddenly, Misaki-senpai, a graduate rather than a current student, appeared in the courtyard.

Shoot…! I checked briefly this morning, but before school it was hectic, so I’d forgotten.

“Ah, sorry, I completely forgot. Did you… come all the way just to see me?”

“I don’t have classes until the afternoon, so I came directly to invite you… but it seems you were having lunch with your girlfriend. My apologies.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. We’re friends.”

“Yes, best friends.”

“Ehh, embarrassing…”

“…We’re sharing food and sitting next to each other as friends, right?”

“Well… we’re best friends.”

“Yes, pretty normal, right?”

It’s normal, really. We don’t see each other as the opposite sex yet… sharing good food among friends is natural.

“So, what did you want to invite me to?”

“Oh, right. After school, could you spar at the academy’s training grounds? It’ll be a closed environment, so no one else will see. That’s fine, right?”

“Hm… I don’t mind either way. But considering your position, closed is probably better.”

“…Honestly, yes.”

“Eh? Akira, you’re friends with Souryuuji-san?”

“Not yet… maybe soon.”

Yes, I want to become friends. Even if it’s partly for calculation, recognition, or backing, I think it won’t hurt to be friends with this person. Her current strength and mindset facing powerful opponents are both admirable.

“Hehe, I’ll do my best to be recognized as your friend.”

“…That’s strange. It almost sounds like Akira is the one lending his strength to me.”

“Exactly. I still can’t match you, Akira-kun.”

“Eh!?”

“But among the people I’ve fought, you’re currently the strongest. I’ve faced active explorers who reached the common dungeon. Oh, actually, second strongest.”

My sister is here. I train with her, but honestly, I can’t see a scenario where I’d win against her bare-handed. Even with my level boost from the other day, I probably still couldn’t.

“Hm… intriguing. Anyway, we have an appointment after school, right?”

“Uh, can I come watch too?”

“Sure, since you seem to be friends with Akira-kun.”

“Yay! I wanted to see Senpai Souryuuji’s sword skills!”

And so, the rematch against me was set, and an additional spectator had joined the gallery.

Meanwhile, at the management center of the Ginza Branch Dungeon, Arnie was intently watching the television in the waiting room.

“…Today, huh. Just as expected. Then this is the timing.”

On the TV, a representative from the government department in charge of dungeons was announcing the truth about the recent magical disturbance in Odaiba and… the emergence of a new dungeon there.

Of course, the broadcast made no mention of the fact that the fireworks had been imbued with magic or the possibility that someone had deliberately engineered the dungeon’s appearance.

As if taking the airing of this news as a signal, Arnie headed to the reception desk of the dungeon center.

“Hello! You’re early today, Arnie-san.”
“Yes. I haven’t challenged the dungeon yet today.”
“Then this isn’t a purchase, is it?”

During the summer vacation period, Arnie had repeatedly ventured deep into dungeons almost every day, returning after each challenge, while simultaneously cashing in a massive amount of magic stones and dropped items. By now, her name was well-known.

Granted, her striking appearance and distinctive maid outfit made her far more memorable than ordinary people.

“No, it’s a purchase. Please contact the center manager immediately.”

As she said this, Arnie produced a massive magic stone from her dimension space.

Its size was clearly abnormal, and its opalescent, rainbow-like coloring marked it as a product of the Celestial Strain.

Every instrument confirmed it was a real magic stone.

The staggering revelation of such a huge magic stone caused the center staff to turn pale and immediately contact their manager.

Of course, Arnie did not expect the communication to stop there.

Now that the government had officially acknowledged the emergence of a new dungeon, her goal was to draw all their attention to herself while they scrambled to gather information.

And in less than an hour, the person who had just appeared on the television broadcast—the head of the Japan Dungeon Public Safety Investigation Agency—arrived at Arnie’s side.