Chapter 66

(1/2)

　The girl with twin tails and the ominous maid flanked me as we entered the café.

　This café was also customized for adventurers, with completely private rooms. Orders were placed via a touch panel, and the items arrived on a conveyor belt. Payment was possible through a function in the "Dungeon Communication Network App." This system was designed to ensure that no one would disturb us.

"Hehe, we can talk at our leisure here."

　Saying this, the girl sat across from me at the table.

　However, I didn't feel like I could relax.

"I won't run away, so can you do something about the maid behind me? She's distracting me."

"Oh? You're more perceptive than I imagined, noticing her presence."

"Huh? Presence... I can see her clearly."

　When I turned around, there was nothing unusual about her presence; she wasn't faint or blurry. She was just a beautiful woman with a slightly intense gaze and aura.

"Miss, my skill loses its effect on the same person once discovered. I approached invisibly, but was immediately detected. Since then, I've been visible to him."

　I hadn't turned around at all except for this moment. For her to say "since then," she must be referring to my "Eagle Eye."

　"Eagle Eye" doesn't actually make my eyes float out or have a physical form. For her to notice even that, she must be a high-level maid.

"Well, I see. Ira, come and sit here. Shouta-sama seems willing to listen."

"Yes, Miss."

　The maid called Ira sat next to the girl. She also had blonde hair, so they looked like sisters with a significant age gap.

　I wondered what kind of conversation would unfold. To calm my nerves, I wanted some sugar.

　As I reached for it, the maid beat me to it and took the touch panel.

"Ira, bring the usual. Shouta-sama, would you like three cubes of sugar in your tea?"

"Uh, yeah."

　She even knew my preferences.

　I didn't think I was being stalked, but still.

　I took a sip of the tea that arrived and took a deep breath.

"So, what do you want with me, Miss?"

　Honestly, I wanted to finish this conversation quickly and enter the dungeon. The first floor wasn't suitable for rare monster hunting, but the second floor had two unconfirmed ones. I wanted to confirm their spawn points and map the area. If possible, I also wanted to check for any enhanced variants.

　I wanted to have a good plan by mid-morning, so the sooner this conversation ended, the better.

"It's a simple matter."

　Even the act of drinking tea was graceful and refined, making my heart skip a beat. This is what a real lady looks like. Maki is fine, but I can't really see Aki as a lady.

"Let's get married."

"…Huh?"

　Did I hear that right??

　Suddenly... what? My head couldn't process the sudden and unexpected content.

　What did she just say?

"Ah, I apologize. I made a slight mistake."

　Ah, thank goodness. It was a mistake.

"Let's have a child together!"

"Even worse!"

　What is she saying, suddenly appearing like this? The maid is just standing there silently. Isn't it the servant's job to stop the master's outbursts!?

　I can't really talk, but she's skipping too many steps.

　I mean, I did get close to Maki in two days, stayed over on the third day, went on a date on the fourth day, and talked to her mother on the fifth day. Looking back, I was a bit hasty too.

　What's going on in this girl's head?

　And why me!?

"Miss, he's confused. Perhaps you didn't explain enough."

"Oh, I'm sorry. How thoughtless of me."

　Not just a little, there was no explanation at all.

"Do you know about the second generation, Shouta-sama?"

"…The ones born after the dungeon appeared, or more accurately, the children of adventurers, right?"

"Yes. The higher the adventurer's rank, the more likely their children will inherit excellent stats and skills. Of course, they all start at level 1, but it's said that they can surpass their parents if they become strong enough."

　This topic has come up often since the dungeon appeared, so I've naturally heard about it.

　People born before the dungeon appeared developed their stats through their own effort and talent, regardless of their parents' stats. However, for the second generation, a gap is created from the moment they are born, which is a rather unfair situation.

　Most people probably want to avoid unnecessary commotion, so not many publicly disclose their children's stats. It's unclear how much of a gap actually exists.

　And according to rumors, it's rare for a child to be born with such overwhelming strength that they can be clearly identified as a second-generation.

　The parents need to be high-ranking adventurers. That's why it's only recently that children with high stats have been discovered.

　However, the only known feature of the second generation is their high initial stats. The "SP" and level-up growth values are still unknown because it's not appropriate to send children under 10 into the dungeon.

　So, for now, the second generation isn't receiving much attention. The focus is more on the current adventurers becoming stronger and performing well.

"So, why are you bringing this up now?"

"Oh, you're so dense. In the 10 years since the dungeon appeared, no one has been able to consistently obtain skill orbs. Yet, you appeared in this beginner dungeon and obtained how many skill orbs in less than a week? To secure enough for your own use and still auction off so many is frankly abnormal."

"…You seem to be mistaken, but I only auctioned off one skill, 'Super Strength.'"

"There's no need to hide it. I've confirmed that you auctioned off seven skills today. Someone who can do that can't be a normal F-rank adventurer. When I heard about you, I felt a sense of destiny. You are the one who is worthy to be my partner! However, despite your exceptional skills, the adventurers here tend to look down on you. This means you must be hiding your strength, right? Not to misuse it, but to keep it a secret from others? But you don't need to be afraid. With my family as your backing, you can stand tall. And let's have a child together and raise a strong one, won't you?"

　I was speechless at the girl's passionate speech.

　What she said was outrageous, but... I could understand it. I think she detected my extraordinary abilities and came to scout me early. Her ultimate goal is something else, though.

　She probably wants to create a hybrid child with my powers to achieve some grand ambition. ...Probably, if I were the me from a week ago, I might have been flattered and jumped at the opportunity.

　But now, I have important people in my life.

　So...

"Come, take my hand. I will make you happy."

　Her words, which sounded like something I had heard before, made me smile, but I shook my head.

"Your offer is tempting and interesting, but I must decline."

"…What? W-Why!?"

　She seemed completely unprepared for a rejection and stood up in shock.

"I'm already in a relationship with girls, with the intention of marriage. So, I can't accept your offer. ...Besides, I'm not as strong as you think. My original stats are the weakest, and my growth curve and 'SP' are the lowest. ...So, even if we had a child, it would likely be a normal child, not a second-generation. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't help with your ambitions."

　Right now, I want to focus on conquering the nearby dungeons thoroughly rather than thinking about such a distant future.

"No, no! I heard you weren't in a relationship with anyone yet!"

"Um, that was until yesterday. I confessed to them and got their parents' permission. So, I'm sorry, but I can't marry you."

"Blown away!"

　Her use of onomatopoeia with a polite suffix made me want to laugh. I managed to hold it in and stood up.

"That's why, I'm sorry."

　I left the café, leaving the stunned girl behind.

　The maid seemed to watch me until I left the room, but she didn't say a word or make any move to follow me.

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