Chapter 78: Sapporo Dungeon Conquest

"The deepest floor humanity has reached in the Sapporo Dungeon is the 76th. The deepest dungeon ever recorded by humans is the Berlin Dungeon in Germany, which goes down to the 97th floor," said Shishijima-san.

"The recent achievement by Kisaragi and Kamishiro in Shibuya Dungeon—reaching the 86th floor—set the record for Japan's deepest level observed. But the Sapporo Dungeon is expected to go even deeper."

"So, what's your point?" Kamishiro asked, raising her hand lazily while munching on a doughnut.

Both Shishijima-san and Aizawa sighed simultaneously at her reaction, while my grandmother, as usual, remained uninterested. The high-ranking explorers surrounding us, many of whom were A or S rank, also seemed exasperated.

"What I'm saying is that this will be a challenge that will go down in Japan's history," Shishijima explained patiently.

"Oh, okay… but why now all of a sudden?" Kamishiro asked.

"Because I'm about to retire," Grandma chimed in casually.

"What!? You're retiring!?" Kamishiro suddenly turned serious, visibly shocked by the news.

Despite her usual laid-back attitude, Kamishiro held genuine respect for my grandmother. After all, the reason we met was because, back when Kamishiro was still A-rank, she picked a fight with me when Grandma declared me her successor. The fight escalated into an actual fistfight because Kamishiro couldn't accept that her idol, Grandma, had chosen me to be her heir.

"But you're so much stronger than me! How can you retire?" Kamishiro stammered.

"That's right," Grandma replied without hesitation.

"You don't have to rub it in!" Kamishiro whined. "Can't you at least believe in my abilities a little?"

Honestly, though, having sparred with Grandma recently, I can confidently say she's not slowing down at all. She's just as fast and powerful as ever. Even though Kamishiro and Grandma have somewhat similar fighting styles, Grandma's unique ability for high-speed movement makes her practically unbeatable.

"Let's continue the meeting," Aizawa interjected. "The Sapporo Dungeon is an icy cave where most monsters resemble inorganic materials. The Association classifies these creatures as 'Golem-types.'"

"Like the Crystal Golem, which is where I get the material for the shield I use to scatter magic energy," Aizawa explained.

"Ugh, I hate golems," Kamishiro grumbled. "Magic doesn't work well against them."

Honestly, the fact that magic even works at all on those monsters is baffling enough, considering their natural resistance. But speaking of important matters...

"Shishijima-san, would it be possible to stream the dungeon conquest?" I asked.

"...EXs, I swear," Shishijima-san muttered under his breath, as if he had just labeled me a troublemaker.

Did he just throw shade at me?

"Technically, there's no rule against it," Shishijima-san said after a pause. "But really, you should consider being more... cooperative."

"It could serve as a perfect video record," I offered, hoping to justify the idea.

"Could you not suggest things no one has even thought of?" Aizawa sighed.

"Whose side are you on, Tsukkun!?" Kamishiro protested.

"I'm on the side of common sense," I replied. Which meant I was usually on Aizawa's side in these situations.

"I think it's a good idea," Aizawa said. "Considering Japan wants to demonstrate that it's actively tackling dungeon challenges, Kisaragi's streaming channel could be a powerful tool."

"I'm not familiar with the internet, but the more eyes there are on the situation, the harder it is to hide any shady dealings," Grandma added in her usual nonchalant way.

"Personally, I'd like to allow it," Shishijima-san said, still hesitant. "But as head of the Association, I'll need to consult the government before making any decisions. I'll do my best to convince them."

Yes! Finally, I'd get to showcase more than just the Shibuya and Hachioji Dungeons. I was already excited at the thought of showing my viewers what it's like to explore uncharted dungeon floors. The thrill of venturing into unknown territories was something I lived for, and now I could share it with my audience again.

"On the day of the conquest, we'll send a team of A- and S-rank explorers to follow after you for support. The four EXs will lead the charge into the unexplored depths. It will be dangerous, so exercise caution," Shishijima-san advised.

"I've gotten used to exploring dangerous deep floors. The government's had me doing solo reconnaissance for years," Grandma said with a shrug.

"Heh, Kisaragi, just don't rush ahead recklessly. And Kamishiro, please don't blow up the dungeon with your magic," Aizawa warned, half-serious.

Wait, am I really being lumped in with Kamishiro as someone who needs to be cautioned? Then again, I've never actually explored deep floors in a party before, so coordinating with others could be tricky. Still, as long as I follow Aizawa and Grandma's lead, it should work out.

With the four of us, Aizawa will likely take the frontlines, Grandma and I will cover the mid-range, and Kamishiro will be providing magical support from the rear. But honestly... having Kamishiro in the back feels a bit concerning.

"I wonder how many viewers I'd get if I stream the conquest?" Kamishiro mused, her eyes lighting up.

"Kamishiro, were you even paying attention to what Aizawa just said?" I asked, skeptical.

"I was listening! I just need to blast everything from the back, right?"

"You weren't listening at all!"

Kamishiro grinned, clearly unconcerned about the logistics. Sure, firing off spells from a distance is probably the right strategy, but if she destroys half the dungeon in the process, we'll have bigger problems.

"The conquest will take place a week from now, on August 31st," Shishijima-san announced, wrapping up the meeting.

"Isn't that the last day of summer break?" Kamishiro asked, tilting her head.

"We still have another week after that," Aizawa corrected. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Oh, right. Well, I dropped out of college, so I'm free anyway!"

Of course she dropped out… Why am I not surprised? I bet if I asked why, I'd get a ridiculous answer, so I won't even bother.

Still, the Sapporo Dungeon, huh? It's been about a year since I last went there. This is my first dungeon conquest mission as an EX explorer, but honestly, it doesn't feel much different from the usual deep-floor requests I've handled. The only thing that excites me is the chance to explore new, uncharted floors.

"...Just don't slow us down, kid," Grandma warned Kamishiro.

"I'll be fine! I've got Aizawa and Tsukkun with me, so we've got this!" Kamishiro declared confidently.

"I don't know what you think you're so confident about, but I'll do my best to keep things under control, Jinguji-san," Aizawa reassured.

"Don't get me wrong, Aizawa, I'm not worried about you," Grandma said, crossing her arms. "It's the kid I'm concerned about."

Kamishiro groaned in frustration, but knowing the team I had with me, I wasn't too worried either. Whatever the depths of the Sapporo Dungeon held, we'd handle it—hopefully in time to make it back by the end of the day. Your next read awaits at m v|l-e'-NovelFire.net