Terdungeon, basement level.

　I was resting near the rest stop.

　Leia is back in the mansion.
　I went to ask him about the numbers he gave me for the circumference optimization.

　The magic cart that Orton the custom cart maker modified for me also has a tally function, but that thing is just a simple one.

　I wanted a proper number, so I asked Leia to run an errand for me.

　So now I'm taking a break like this.

Everyone, stand in line. It's not safe to go too far!
Hmm?

　I heard a distracted voice.
　I looked at the voice and saw a young woman in her twenties, with a group of children about mid-elementary school age in tow.

''What?''　That one.
Don't you know?

　An adventurer I knew nearby responded to my soliloquy.

'What do you mean?'
It's a school event in town, and since adventurers are such an important profession, sometimes the teacher will take you to the dungeon and show you around.
Oh, okay. Social studies.

　I was vaguely impressed with the fact that there was such a thing.

"I won't go downstairs for safety reasons, and I'm preaching to you, but please refrain from attacking me like that when there are children around.
Yeah, sure.

　The familiar adventurer entered the rest stop.

　But a social studies tour is a dungeon?
　It's typical of this world, though.

'Um--hello.'

　One of the girls came over and bowed to me.

'Hi, what's up?'

　Maybe it's because they're children, but I can't help but be gentle with them.

"Uncle, are you an adventurer?
My uncle ...... ah, yes.
Can I see you slaying that ...... monster?

　Yet another girl came in.
　The new girl was also polite, but she seemed to be stronger than the first girl.
　I'm sure I'll see this girl again in the dungeon in the near future.
　She was the kind of girl that made me think so.

''Oh, good.''

　I broke off the break and pulled out my gun, ready to go.

'Thank you,'
Thank you. I saw a monster over there earlier.
No, I'm fine. It should be there by now.
......?

　The girl tilted her head slightly. What do you mean it's about time?　That's a face.

　I held my gun up, pointing it at the empty space.
　I could generally tell when I was circling around, the monster's resurrection point and the approximate interval between resurrections.

　I fired the strapped bullets accordingly.
　The bullets flew into the empty space and hit the slime that had just been resurrected.

　The placing restraining bullets hit, and the slime was tied to the rope of light and couldn't move.

''Whoa!　Amazing.
'Want a closer look?　Or do you want to try to beat it?
Are you sure?

　The more energetic girl went towards the restrained slime with a glint in her eye.
　She punched and kicked it.
　The other girl followed along as well, picking up stones from a distance and trying to smash them.
　I guess they're good friends, they're both pettisoning each other against the slime, and it's funny to watch.

　I was careful not to break the restraints.
　It took the girls five minutes to get the slime down.

　The slime dropped a pinch of bean sprouts, and the girl happily took it with her.
He's back.

'Uncle!　The sprouts!
'You did it!'
Yes!
Thank you.

　The girls smiled like flowers had bloomed.

'Hey, what are you doing?'

　More children came.
　This time it's a boy, a boy who seems a bit rowdy.

'You know, he's amazing.'
Look, this guy really helped me beat the slime.
Wow, you're good at that.
What's sweet?
Hey, old man.
Yeah?
My husband's name is...
It's Ryota Sato.
Satou ...... ryohta ...... hmm. That's not right.
What's going on?
Let me tell you something, adventurers, the best thing about being an adventurer is that it comes with a genie.
You're a sailor?
'Yes. There's a genie in the dungeon, and if that genie recognizes you, you can name the dungeon after him.
Really?

　The girls looked at me.

'Yeah, really.'
Satou and Ryota aren't dungeon names. This guy's not much of a dungeon.

　They didn't look wild, they were sassy kids.
　What I'm saying isn't wrong, but the two girls who were sprayed with cold water were shuffling and buzzing.

　I thought to myself, "Let's follow up on that a bit.

'Hey there, long time no see, Ryota-kun.'
That voice is ...... Neptune.
I can't believe you can tell by the sound of my voice, it just makes our friendship that much stronger.
Likeability is not a status in this world, so I'm fine with it.

　The one who came over was Neptune, with Ran and Lil in tow, as usual.

"What are you doing here - well, I guess I'll just have to deal with the kids.
I took a break.
That's right. Children are very important, aren't they?
Yeah.
"Hey, hey ......

　The cocky boy spoke to Neptune, looking completely different than he did to me.

'Yeah?　What is it?
Is this Neptune, or is it that Neptune Oxydin guy?
You know your stuff.
Oh, my God. It's got a genie in it!

　The boys were excited.
　It's like a huge thrill to see a genie in the flesh.

'Oh, um!　Shake my hand, please.
Okay.
I'm going to be an adventurer!　I'll be an awesome adventurer like Mr. Neptune!
Well, that's good to hear. But you should be aiming at him instead of me.
What?

　When Neptune pointed at me, the boy was puzzled.

'Why ...... this old man?'
He's better than me. Hey.
That's fine, but don't wink at me.
Ha-ha, you're as uptight as ever.
Has anyone ever told you that you're just too shattered?

　Neptune and I made idle chit-chat.
　Neptune is easy to talk to.

We'll be on our way. Let's go, run, lil'.
Yeah!
You made me wait too long.

　The Neptune family went down the stairs and headed downstairs.

'Hmph!'
Hmm?

　When Neptune was gone, the boy snorted.

'Don't get carried away,'
Um, yeah.

　As I was wondering what this was all about, the boy swooped in at once.

''The awesome thing is that it's with a genie, and it's just not cool to be dignified just because you're friends with a genie!
...... Yeah.

　So that's what you mean.
　For a moment I didn't know what you were talking about, but in short, you're jealous.

　I'm talking to Neptune, the genie of my dreams, and I'm having a friendly conversation with him.

　That's very sweet.

"Master.
Oh, Leia, you're back.

　A voice called out to me from behind, and I didn't have to turn around to see that it was Leia.

　Leia came around in front of me.
　It was as if she couldn't even see the children, she was only looking at me.
　It's very much like Leia to not pay any attention to ...... when there are children in the dungeon, but it's very typical of Leia that she doesn't pay attention at all.

"I'm sorry I'm late,
What's going on?
'Seren called me. If I ignored her, her voice would echo in my head and interfere with my master, so I went over there first.
Well, if that's the case, I guess I'll have to do it.

　Seren's call means that he might have done something naughty, but Leia didn't say, and I didn't ask.
　Suddenly, I saw the expression on the boy's face.

　He looked astonished and compared Leia and me in turn.

'What's wrong?'
What's the Serenity? You mean that Selenium dungeon?
Yeah.
Could this sister be the one with a Serene spirit?
Yeah.

　I nodded, and the boy's eyes widened as he looked more and more surprised.

'Seren ...... with a genie, yet master ...... yeah ......'

　I guess he's the type to say everything he thinks.
　Leia with a genie calls me master, and she seems aghast that the genie is now my man.

'Lyota!　Ka-ero.
'Wow!　Who is this guy?
"A-tah-to.
Auldurm!

　It's Aulum who hugs me like she's tackling me from behind.
　She's hugging me dexterously while holding Meeke in her arms.

'What's going on, all of a sudden?'
You came for me. Just like Ryota got me out of the dungeon.
Okay.
How do you like that?
It's not every day you get to have a genie pick you up.
"Mmm-hmm.

　Aurum's chest heaved with joy.
　It was nice to see her so emotional, to take her out and then to pair her with Meeke.

　That, on the other hand.

'Aulum...... genie...... Don't tell me it's the rumored Aulum himself these days!　Why this old man!

　The boy was even more astonished, and then he started to bob and shake.
　He was saying this again in a very obvious way, and I was still smiling.

　The boy turned his attention to me.
　He pulled his mouth shut and stared at me.
　And.

'--?'
Hmm?
Don't think you've won!

　The boy turned and ran away, leaving behind such a discarded line.
　As I watched him back, I secretly gave him a shout-out, "Go for it.