Chapter Seven: “Furikake, Cats, and Running Around”
After negotiations with the Self-Defense Force went positively, and we were finally free, we found ourselves back underground. We were at the first relay point of Tokyo’s fourth dungeon, in the underground lake plaza. Despite having toilets, rest areas, and ashtrays all prepared and ready, no one had approached us yet, perhaps because we didn’t know anyone or maybe because we looked too strange in our powered suits with yellow cloth wrapped around us.
“It’s boring, isn’t it?”
“Didn’t it start like this in Third dungeon too? Just be patient.”
As I stared at Mars, who was busy spinning the gacha for the latest social game, I heard a voice, “Ah!” Looking up, I saw an adventurer approaching us, with two gold-ornamented swords at his waist. It was someone from 3th Dungeon, the protagonist of a harem light novel, Mr. Kaneki.
“Hey, the procurement agent is here! You really did reopen business in 4th Dungeon as you said on social media!”
“Mr. Kaneki! Long time no see! You’ve returned to Tokyo?”
“Yeah, rural areas are inconvenient… stuff from online shopping takes forever to arrive, and they try to set me up for arranged marriages without my consent.”
“Brother, you’re popular even in your hometown.”
“It’s not about being popular. The last one was a fourteen-year-old girl, you know? I had to run away… even though my skills aren’t that great.”
I think Kaneki’s skill was [Drawing the Sword]? He mentioned he learned [Cooking] with a skill orb he obtained in 3th Dungeon.
“Oh? By the way, where are your two companions?”
“Oh, those two went back to their hometown and got married. They were close with Ebisu, so there were some unresolved issues…”
Ebisu was from the party [Ebisu Hedgehog], who got stranded in the dungeon because of the dragon in 3th Dungeon. Two of them were buried alive, and the other two were pushed to the brink of death. They disbanded the party, but the aftermath was apparently more significant than expected.
“Oh, but I’ve formed a new party, so let me introduce you. Hey, Sato and the others!”
The party Kaneki called over consisted of three beautiful young women. Oh boy… the harem has expanded… I felt somewhat uneasy as I exchanged greetings with the new guests.
While we were chatting with Kaneki and his group, a party of balaclava-wearing individuals, who said they came after seeing our social media posts, joined us too, turning the front of the store into a reunion of 3th Dungeon alumni.
“To be honest, there were rumors that you guys got arrested.”
While flipping his balaclava halfway and smoking a cigarette, the carefree guy said with a grin.
“Eh? Why?”
“Well, the Self-Defense Force guys were asking around about you.”
“Yeah, although they didn’t wear any rank insignia, you could tell they were different from regular folks by their posture.”
“We don’t do anything bad.”
“The guy who runs an illegal stall in the labyrinth is saying that? You don’t even pay taxes.”
As he said this, I tapped the chest of my work overalls with my right thumb. There, embroidered in gold thread, was “[Kawashima General Trading].”
“What’s that?”
“We’ve incorporated. We’ve incorporated.”
“Eh?! So, Mars, did you become the president?”
“No, it’s me, I’m the president, Mars is the managing director.”
That’s what everyone thinks. I chuckled and pointed to myself, and the two of them grinned.
“Mars looks more dignified though.”
“Oh? By the way, what about university? Did you finally drop out?”
“I haven’t, I’ll graduate properly.”
“Hey, don’t tease our president too much, okay?”
Mars tilted his head with a bothered expression. Well, my presidency was decided by the Kawashima family.
“Sorry, sorry.”
“But seriously, why did you incorporate? You had a good business without having to pay taxes…”
“Well, it’s related to my suppliers and all that jazz. I’ve been able to procure various things like the reinforced exoskeletons that Tonbo’s riding, but it’s not as smooth sailing as it used to be.”
“Oh, really? That sounds intriguing.”
“Yeah, speaking of which, I’ve been curious… What exactly is that thing Tonbo’s riding?”
“You mean this? Heheh, this is… a powered suit!”
With a flourish, he points at my powered suit, and I spin around with a slight whirring sound.
“A powered suit?”
“Let me show you.”
I step back and then jump vertically, higher than the others’ heads, before gracefully landing back on the ground. Thanks to the dampers, my legs don’t ache at all. The onlookers gasp in awe.
“Is that Gundam for sale?”
“It must cost a fortune!”
“How much? Can I try it out?”
With eyes shining like a child’s behind his balaclava, Kimu-san eagerly gestures with both hands.
“Try it out? Sure thing. Tonbo.”
“Oh, right.”
I press the button on my collar, and the locks all over my body disengage. Despite the rough terrain, the powered suit remains in an upright position. Its appearance in this state is akin to a skeletal framework of a doll, with fittings that automatically adjust upon boarding.
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“Do I stand on these foot marks?”
“Exactly. Step onto the fittings. Then press the button on your collar.”
“Wow! Amazing!”
Kimu-san, now equipped with the powered suit, delivers punches and kicks with precision, jumps almost touching the ceiling, and then casually lifts a rock from the ground.
“Whoa! It’s not heavy at all! It’s like a real Gundam!”
“Kimu-san! Me too! Let me try!”
“Kimu! Me too! Switch with me!”
“Wow! I want to try it too!”
As Kimu-san sets down the rock, the others crowd around, and he is forcibly removed from the powered suit.
“Wow! It’s the powered armor of my dreams!”
“I’m next! I’m next!”
“Ladies first, right!?”
“Hey, this isn’t some branded merchandise, you know?”
Well, I understand the excitement, but… Kimu-san, still somewhat disgruntled from being removed, scratches his head while watching the scuffle over the suit. He attempts to lift the rock with his bare hands before giving up midway.
“Um… how much does it cost?”
“Right now, it’s around twenty million.”
“Wow… well, that’s about right. And what about power?”
“Inside the frame, there’s a fine fluid that keeps moving, generating power automatically.”
It’s a technology used in space, honestly a bit outdated. But even such technology is mind-blowing on Earth.
“What? That’s incredible technology!”
“Apparently, it’s a recently developed patented technology.”
As Kimu-san’s eyes widen in amazement, Mars explains nonchalantly.
“Well, what else do you have? Any other cool products?”
“We have various things! Like this, for example, an all-purpose seasoning…”
“Seasoning?”
“It’s seriously amazing! This versatile seasoning called [Kantaro] makes anything… absolutely delicious!”
This seasoning is… I’ll say it again, seriously delicious. Despite not being a big eater, I polished off three cups of rice cooked in a rice cooker in one go.
“Calling this amazing… you, seriously…”
“No, no, I’ll give you a sample! It’s absolutely delicious!”
Once you taste it, you’ll understand its greatness. My family back home, to whom I sent samples last week, is already asking for more. It’s like eating addictive narcotics. It’s hard to believe that only ordinary ingredients are used… but according to Hime, it seems to be true.
“Okay, okay…”
“Ah, and along with the samples, I’ll also give you this beneficial toner [Plump Plump] for your wife. It hasn’t been approved yet, but it’s of the quality endorsed by our female vice president.”
This product only uses popular ingredients found on Earth… Unlike the food sector, which turned into a mess due to people from another world bringing in all sorts of items, resulting in stringent inspections delaying approval for cosmetics.
“It hasn’t been approved yet, is that okay?”
“It’s a long-standing product from the importer, so it’s fine. I’ve also tested it myself.”
“Well, I suppose…”
As I handed the skeptical Kimu the snacks and toner, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I saw three ladies from Kaneki’s party, smiling and holding out their hands.
“Wouldn’t it be better to promote cosmetics to women?”
“We’ll try it too.”
“Having multiple female opinions is always good, right?”
“Oh, um… yes, I suppose.”
Despite hesitating, as I handed them the toner, they extended their other hands eagerly.
“Big sister wants to try tasty snacks too.”
“We’ll buy again if it’s good.”
“Is that okay?”
Unable to refuse, I handed them the snacks, and they returned to the line for powered suit test rides, looking satisfied.
“Big brother always teams up with assertive women, huh?”
“Well, everyone has their preferences… Oh, Kimu, let me continue with the product introduction. Look at this capsule.”
“Still going on with this…”
“This can also be useful for dungeon exploration.”
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