249. Ryota> Alice> Rebecca




 Outside of Fosforus, in the shadows a short distance away.

 Most of the adventurers coming out of the hidden exit were full of frustrated faces.

''Suddenly it's not dropping anymore, what the hell is going on here?''
We'll come back tomorrow.
I've got a lot of money here for now.

 Fosforus no longer drops gold, and it seems that adventurers are leaving there in droves.

 The reason why Fosforus is no longer dropping, is, of course--

You're very successful.
Yeah. I've got Melamela here. Just like Aulum.

 Alice, who was beside me, put the new addition to the group, Melamera - the spirit Phosforus, on her shoulder and said with a smile.

''Does that mean they're the same? If I go back now, will the drop be restored?
I don't know: ...... I don't know.
......
I do.

 It was silent, but the melancholy flames showed a reaction that grew in size for a moment.
 Like his fellow monsters until now, he doesn't speak, but he seems to be able to communicate with Alice.

''Eh? Oh, no, it's not. I'd rather not have to go back - and that's fine, Ryota.
Yeah, that's more like it.
So there's that. But we'll go to other dungeons together, okay? All together.

 When Alice said that, the other fellow monsters on her shoulders as well - from Hone Hone to Gau Gau got excited with a lot of enthusiasm.
 Because of their deformed appearance, their clamoring figures are comical and cute.

That's right! Hey Mela Mela, come over here and give me some honehoneys.

 Thinking of something, Alice, she held out her palm and indicated it there.
 Hone Hone went into the palm of her hand without any hesitation at all.
 Melamela, who hadn't yet become Alice, hesitated a bit, and then did the same in the palm of her hand.

 The skeleton Honehone is standing in the palm of Alice's hand.
 Melamela, on the other hand, is floating in the air.

 Bones and flames, side by side together, it's like a human soul to a skeleton.

It's a good look for you.
'Right! They're both so cute!
'I didn't say it was pretty, but it looks good. Probably the best partner?
So do I.

 Alice with a big smile on her face.
 In response, Hone Honehone dexterously shaped the place of Geikotsu's eyes into a smile and clattered with delight.
 On the other hand, Meramela on the other hand wavered and the color of the flames flickered, but ...... looks unperturbed.

 Alice's group was having a great time with the newcomer, Melamela, and the rest of the group was having a great time.
 I wanted to watch them all the time, though, because it was fun.

'Alice, go and report back to the cell.
What did I do?
'Since the meltdown is proof of a solution, it would be faster to show Cell in person.
Yeah, right! Yeah, I'm off then.

 Alice nodded, and shortly afterwards the master dragon, Gau Gau, returned to monster size and literally flew away with Alice and the other companions on board.

''I'm dumbfounded.''

 A voice came from behind me.
 Rebecca Neon.
 She came to visit me and followed me to the dungeon, she had been silent and watched from a distance ever since Alice brought Mela Mela to me, but then she spoke to me when Alice was gone.

 I turned to her and asked her back.

'What?'
I've heard about your unusual stay in Phospho-Las, isn't that the solution?
Yeah.
That's going to take the credit for her.
I'll put it away or nothing: ......

 I turn my back and glance at Alice and her friends, who have disappeared into the sky in pea-sized pieces.

'It's Alice who solved it, I didn't do anything. If there's any credit to be given, it's 100% hers.
Are you sure you want to do this?
Yeah.

 I answered immediately.
 There was not the slightest hesitation.
 Rebecca stared at me, then said.

"...... hmm.

 He sniffed with a sullen look on his face and walked away.
 Come to think of it, I didn't even ask him why he came, but ...... is that okay?

     ★

 Cyclodungeon Society, President's Office.
 Alice, unusually, met Cell without Ryota's presence, and showed him the Phosporus melange.
 When Cell saw it, he nodded firmly.

''As expected of Satou-sama's companions, to have spirits on your side as well...''
I'm not on your side. I'm with you. Hey, mellifluous.

 Melamela gently flickered her flame.
 A vague reply, neither agreement nor denial.

 He was still puzzled by Alice.
 As far back as he could remember, Phosforus - the first human to enter his dungeon who didn't ask for 'money' - was the first person he had ever met.

'That's as good as it gets,'
Now I'm on par with him, right?
You mean Rebecca Neon.
Can you tell?
In retrospect.
So... ...... What do you think?

 Alice looked expectantly at Cell for an answer.

 I want to be able to not be licked.
 I want to be Ryota's companion and not be licked as a member of the family.

 To that end, he aimed to be with the same spirit as Rebecca, who came from a similar origin.
 Now that the results were in, I wanted to know how it would look from the cell, an outsider.

''Huh, not of the same rank.
'What? Still not good enough? Is he that great, Rebecca?
No, rather the opposite.
"Huh?

 What do you mean? He looked at the cell with a scowl.

'You're already over there. Hence, there is no such thing as equal rank.
'...... yeah! Really?
'Of course, she's the kind of woman who takes the dungeon all to herself, not to mention her accomplishments, and then gets jealous and grumpy all on her own: ...... Phew.'

 The corners of Cell's mouth twitched in a nihilistic manner.
 As Sato Ryota's biggest believer, he was mostly aware of what happened around Ryota.
 He was naturally aware of what had happened just a few moments ago when Rebecca had left in a sour mood, feeling one-sidedly inferior.

'You're now a far superior person to Rebecca Neon. I can vouch for you.
Yeah!

 Alice was delighted, and the other monsters, except for Meramela, were also very happy.

"You can always count on me for help in the future. In the name of Sel Stem, I will help you as much as I can.

 Even Cell, who speaks with Cell, seemed sincerely happy, not only because of his position as the head of the association that solved the case.

 Cell is a complete follower of Ryota.
 He's a man who can even follow a spirit attendant.

 In that sense, Cell wholeheartedly welcomed Alice's genie's company.
 Perhaps even more so than he was, he welcomed it.