The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 227

By the time we exited the labyrinth, the sky had already turned a deep crimson.

“It’s already this late? Time really feels weird inside the dungeon.”

“…It’s probably also because the safety zones restore stamina and energy for no good reason.”

“I prefer places with sunlight.”

“I prefer the kotatsu.”

Yeah, yeah.

Still, they’re right—your sense of time definitely gets thrown off in there.

“AI-chan, what’s today’s haul?”

“Thirty-two magic stones, one necklace, and a knife and staff—one of each.”

I asked Alice if she wanted the staff, but as expected, she turned it down—said it felt unlucky.

“And the map?”

“We’ve got half of it done. With one more day, it should be complete.”

“Got it. Alright, let’s head to the guild and sell off the drops, then call it a day.”

“Sounds good.”

We made our way across the plaza and into the increasingly crowded streets of the town.

Koma-chan was carrying Annie on her back, Tama-chan was being held by Natalia, and I was walking hand-in-hand with Lily.

After weaving through the crowds, we arrived at Guild #5 and stepped inside.

The moment we entered, I locked eyes with Gina in the back—and she immediately made a sour face.

“Wonder what that’s about?”

“Probably that.”

Natalia tilted her head as she glanced at Gina’s expression, but Annie, eyes narrowed in annoyance, looked toward one of the round tables.

Sitting there was the party of four women we’d passed in front of the labyrinth plaza yesterday.

“Ignore it.”

I said that and headed over to Gina.

“Hey there, handsome. Dungeon diving again today?”

Gina greeted me with the same tone as yesterday.

Guess that’s just the kind of person she is.

“Yeah. Went in this morning, just got back.”

“You were in all day? You’re seriously gonna die, you know? Safety zones are traps, after all.”

“You mean those spots that make your body and mind feel rested?”

“Exactly. But it’s just a feeling. In reality, your stamina is definitely wearing down.”

So that’s how it works after all…

“Well, something like that’s no big deal. Still, we’ll be taking the day off tomorrow.”

I could probably keep going, but the girls likely couldn’t.

Besides, Gina did say “if you think you can keep going, that’s the sign to pull out.”

I should take that advice to heart.

“I see… By the way, is that your style?”

Gina motioned toward the all-female party. I turned to look.

Tama-chan had somehow wandered over and was rubbing up against them—getting treats in return.

“Huh? When did she even…?”

Looks like even Natalia hadn’t noticed.

“What do you mean, ‘my style’?”

“Flirting with women like that—using your animal to win them over, right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Like I’d use animals to score points with women.

“Feels familiar somehow,” Annie said, crossing her arms and tilting her head.

“You’re the one who kept doting on Koma-chan for no reason.”

That dog doesn’t even snuggle up to people.
She’s always sleeping on the entrance hall sofa—her designated spot.

“Don’t you think the shikigami you make are kind of… calculated?”

“Big-Spider-chan and Giant-Centipede-chan are adorable though.”

Obviously, Bee-san is cute too. And AI-chan goes without saying.

“…Sorry. My mistake,” Annie said with a dead-serious look.

Apparently, she doesn’t think Big-Spider-chan or Giant-Centipede-chan are cute at all.

“Natalia, could you go retrieve that conniving cat who’s trying to swipe every last piece of someone else’s snacks?”

This is probably how she always mooches off the girls in the dorm.

She’s way too smooth at it. Total repeat offender.

“Got it… Sorry about our cat~”

Natalia headed over to the group of four women.

“Gina, we got one necklace drop, and one knife and staff. Can you buy them off us?”

As I said that, AI-chan placed the items on the counter.

“Oh? Three drops in one day? That’s pretty impressive.”

Gina picked up the necklace and began examining it, clearly impressed.

“Is it, though?”

“Yeah. In the advanced zones, items don’t drop that often. Usually, you’re lucky if you get one item for every ten monsters you kill—if that.”

We had 32 magic stones.

If the drop rate’s really that low, then yeah, I guess our haul makes sense.

“Huh. Maybe it’s beginner’s luck… again.”

No need to go out of my way and tell her we just took down a ton of monsters.

If she’s going to keep it businesslike, I’ll do the same.

“Hmm… So you’re not just some dumb harem party after all, huh… The girls don’t seem to have particularly high mana. That means you must be the odd one out.”

“They’ve all got high mana, thank you very much.”

Rude.

“This is the advanced tier, you know? Only B-rank and above can enter. Sure, compared to the mid-rank crowd they’re strong, but among the top-tier adventurers, they’re average—or below.”

Ah… so that’s what she meant.

Yeah, if we’re comparing within the top ranks, then they’re probably not that high up.

Maybe even on the low side.

“They’re still developing.”

“Well, they’re young. Lots of potential. I’m looking forward to seeing how they grow. Though… they’ll probably be forced to retire eventually.”

Gina muttered under her breath.

“Hard to say, really. So? Think it’ll sell for a good price?”

“You’re impatient, huh? Hold on a sec. The necklace will go for 40 gold coins. It’s enchanted with an anti-curse spell, so it’s worth a lot. Are you sure you want to sell it?”

Forty gold—that’s a big deal.

“There’s no one who can beat me in a battle of curses. I did that sort of thing in my previous life.”

One of our family’s duties back then was installing anti-curse wards in the Imperial Palace.

“You’re a scary guy, you know that?”

I’m not the one doing the cursing, alright?

…Not that I can’t do that too, of course.

“What about the knife?”

As Gina set the necklace aside and picked up the knife, I asked.

“Hang on… Yeah, this one’s just a regular knife. Dud.”

Too bad.

Well, not everything carried by high-ranking monsters is going to be valuable.

“I figured something like that would happen eventually.”

“Yeah, it’s just the way it goes. But this staff… this one might be promising. Weapons tend to fetch a good price.”

Gina turned her attention to the staff.

“Come to think of it, we passed a four-man party of guys in the dungeon today.”

“Ah, that would be Blaine’s team. Blaine said they ran into some weird party in the labyrinth… so that was you guys, huh?”

So those guys were with Blaine-san.

“They looked pretty strong.”

“They’re a veteran party—all A-rank. Don’t go picking a fight with them.”

Why are you warning us about that?

“You think a guy surrounded by girls is the one who’s gonna start something? If anything, warn them. If they try anything, I’ll kill them without a word.”

“That’s right, that’s right! Anyone who harms our clan gets eliminated, no matter who they are!”

AI-chan was getting all fired up, but coming from such a tiny girl, it just looked like a fox borrowing a tiger’s authority.

“I did say they were all A-rank, didn’t I? Don’t go making threats like that.”

“Those guys aren’t a threat to me.”

“That’s right, that’s right! Master’s super strong!”

Yeah, yeah…

“Okay, okay… Just don’t start anything, alright? The younger ones are always biting at veterans or mocking them.”

“I don’t do that. I lived to be 99 in my previous life, you know.”

According to Leanne’s math, those so-called veterans are probably younger than me.

“So you’re an old man… Ah right, you’re a reincarnator. I’d like to live that long too someday. Anyway, appraisal’s done. This staff’s worth 80 gold coins. Jackpot.”

Eighty gold, huh. That’s huge.

“We’ll sell everything. Knife too.”

“Alright then. The knife’s worth five copper coins.”

…Yeah, sure. That’s fine.