Live Dungeon!

“I’m not done yet! Bring it on!”

“My, how impressive. Then here… have another.”

The celebratory feast, held at Amira’s insistence, was in full swing. She had already downed an entire bottle of wine Xeno had brought in, and was now howling triumphantly, thoroughly drunk and entirely unbothered by it. Leleia, in a manner that bordered on sommelier-like, topped off Amira’s empty glass.

[She’s definitely aiming to drink her under the table and take the caregiving victory lap. That’s low.]

Despite matching Amira glass for glass, Leleia’s eyes still gleamed with calculation like a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce. Sensing danger, Tsutomu made a mental note never to let those two out of his sight tonight. Still, he reached for one of Ollie’s prepared cheeses and nibbled at it.

“Heh heh heh… Now’s our chance to snag a win ourselves,” Xeno said, raising a glass. “Ealdred Crow’s momentum has been broken. We can’t let this window slip away.”

“Paladin skills seem to have properties that prevent you from turning undead.” Korinna added. “But the issue of organ regeneration still needs figuring out…”

“That IS a valid concern. However, I believe both Leleia and Diniel have the capability to deal with it. If we can keep the undead effect at bay, it might just come down to a war of attrition.”

“The move where it sacrifices its heart, or whatever it does, is still a complete mystery… If I could see it directly, maybe I’d understand more, but watching through the Pedestal leaves too much to guess. I wish I could use [ the way Tsutomu does…”

Though both were clearly buzzed, Xeno and Korinna, with how well-versed they were in social drinking thanks to their years in the Royal Capital, still retained their faculties. Their discussion remained focused on Dungeon tactics. But their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a pale hand and a flat voice.

“There’s no point in fantasizing. Channelers don’t have [-type skills to begin with. And even among White Mages, no one else can manipulate it at that level except Tsutomu. It’s a waste of time.”

The voice came from Diniel, her expression glassy, though her tone remained cool and cutting. Her eyes, however, were starting to lose focus.

“I… I know that already…” Korinna replied meekly from across the table.

“No, you don’t. The whole party recognizes your skill, yet you’re still comparing yourself to Tsutomu and talking like you’re just a second-rate Healer. You’re the best Channeler in town. Everyone knows it. And Tsutomu has nothing to do with your own worth.”

“S-sorry…”

“I hate that attitude of yours. Like you still think you’re beneath everyone. That phase is long over. Know your place. You’re setting a bad precedent for every other Channeler out there.”

“…Yes.”

“Now, now, Dini,” Amy interrupted gently, trying to mediate between the two. “You’re not wrong, but couldn’t you soften the blow a little? Korinny, don’t take it so hard. It hasn’t been that long since people really started recognizing you. It’s okay to need time for your heart to catch up.”

Korinna had already wilted in her seat, looking thoroughly deflated. Receiving a full-force lecture at what was supposed to be a celebratory feast had clearly taken the wind out of her.

“…I get where Miss Korinna is coming from, though,” Daryl spoke up quietly, nursing his ale with small sips. No doubt a lesson learned from a past drinking session with Camille. “A year ago, I was just helping out at the orphanage. I still have dreams sometimes, where I’m back there always being helped instead of helping.” His tone had grown somber, and his voice wavered faintly. “This all still feels like a dream. I mean… I used to stare up at the Pedestals, thinking I’d never even get close. Now I’m up there, sometimes on Monitor#1, even. That’s why I’m really grateful. To Sir Garm for making me an Explorer, and to Sir Tsutomu for letting someone like me into Absolute Helix.”

Tears welled in his eyes as he looked up at Garm beside him, then turned to Tsutomu and bowed his head deeply.

Garm, emotional himself and just tipsy enough to let it show, blinked away a few tears. Tsutomu, however, snorted in amusement.

“What, you think I let you in out of pity? That’d be a serious misread. If your Job hadn’t been a Tank-type, I wouldn’t have accepted you, no matter how hard Garm pushed. I let you in because I believed you had the potential to grow.”

He turned his gaze next to Korinna, who was still being consoled by Amy… if a crash course on Diniel’s historical lack of interpersonal skills counted as consolation.

“You know, Korinna, it’s the same for you. Back when most Channelers were stuck in a rut, you were still pushing forward on your own. I figured you’d thrive if someone just helped you adjust your approach, so I recruited you. And sure, I didn’t expect it to go that well, but then it turns out you’ve got some ridiculous skill that lets you sense when people are about to die. Honestly, the fact that it’s not listed as a unique skill is the real mystery. You should take more pride in that.”

“C’mon, Tsutomu! Would it hurt to watch your wording a bit!?” Amy scolded, puffing out her cheeks.

“All Tsutomu did was state facts.” Diniel grumbled, “Same thing as I did. There is no reason for reproach.”

“Ahahaha! You two are so silly!” Hannah, now a full-blown giggly drunk, flailed her blue-feathered wings and pointed at them. “That’s not what she meant at all! MOOORONS!”

[…Okay, Daryl’s gotten TOO attached. When it comes time to get approval for my return, he might just be the one to say no.]

“Shut it.” Diniel said flatly, grabbing Hannah by the wings.

“Gwah!”

Tsutomu glanced over at Hannah for a moment, then at Daryl, and noticed that he was watching him with a warm, unreadable gaze. That look alone made Tsutomu hesitate to share his circumstances with Daryl just yet.

[Maybe it’s best to tell Garm and Daryl the situation, but leave the approval-giving to someone else. In which case, I’ll need Korinna’s team to clear the hundredth layer soon. Good thing they’re on track to do that without too much trouble.]

Within Absolute Helix, only Korinna and Xeno fulfilled the two ideal conditions: not being especially close to him, and being able to be relied upon to make rational decisions. With his mind made up to seek their permission instead, Tsutomu gently intercepted Leleia just as she was preparing to ‘take care of’ the thoroughly drunk Amira.

“Sorry, Miss Ollie, but could I ask you to handle her?”

“Of course,” Ollie said with a slight bow, already reaching for a wet towel.

“Leleia,” Tsutomu added, “Hannah said she’s ready to challenge you to a drinking contest next.”

“…Tch.”

“Oh? You dare challenge me, huh!? Bold move! I’ll have you know I can hold my liquor!”

Leleia clicked her tongue again. Though, whether in disappointment or amusement was hard to tell and took the offered glass from Hannah without complaint. If there was any lingering bitterness at having her plans spoiled, she did not show it.

Still, Tsutomu had no doubt that if he had not stepped in, she would have pounced. With that thought, he offered up Hannah as a sacrificial lamb and drained his own glass in a toast to her future suffering.

[Sleep well, brave soul.] he mused, the alcohol finally starting to fuzz the edges of his thoughts.

“…”

“…”

Then his eyes happened to meet Amy’s, who’d been abstaining from alcohol all night, and for a brief moment, they simply stared at one another. Then Tsutomu brought a finger to his lips in a ‘hush’ gesture, before rising and retreating hastily toward the bathroom.