After-School Dungeon Diver: Level Grinding in Another World Volume 4 E-Book

Gamei Hitsuji

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: After-School Dungeon Diver: Level Grinding in Another World
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 285

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Why not relax and travel to another world? Following the trip to Japan with his Long-Ears friend Scrael, Kudo invites the Tail girl Eldrid to his home world. But trouble awaits when he loses sight of Eldrid at an amusement park. Will he be able to bring his friend safely back to Do-Melta?

Meanwhile, some of the mysteries surrounding Kudo’s personal life are about to be unveiled...

Brought to you by Hitsuji Gamei and Karei, here comes the highly anticipated fourth volume of After-School Dungeon Diver, a laid-back otherworldly adventure story!

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Extra Floor: Adventuring with Eldrid?

Floor Twenty-Eight: Those Who Are Ruled by Soy Sauce

Floor Twenty-Nine: Taking a Walk with Miguel

Floor Thirty: Rescuing People in Distress and Whatnot

Floor Thirty-One: To the Dungeon with Carbuncle

Floor Thirty-Two: Dillon’s Revenge!

Floor Thirty-Three: An Incident During Helping-People Week

Floor Thirty-Four: Emergency Directive? Overcome the Mystery Porridge!

Floor Thirty-Five: The Horror, the City of Verdigrisy Smoke!

Extra Floor: My Childhood Friend May Be a Glutton

Extra Floor: The Evil Old Man at the Guild

Floor Thirty-Six: Where the Rabbits Hang Out

Epilogue: Natural Honey vs. Commercial Chocolate

Afterword

Color Illustrations

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Color Illustrations

Extra Floor: Adventuring with Eldrid?

“Whoa, so cute...” breathed Eldrid.

The Tail woman was usually gallant and cool, but she became weak at the knees when it came to cute things. I recalled something similar happening when we’d been playing with Chorus Seals in the Submerged City and when she’d hugged Walker Rabbits. Why was she in this state? She was staring at the animals in the display cases at a pet shop. Her ears were flapping, and her tail was wagging, but those features were only visible to me. She was completely smitten by the lovely rabbits (the small kind), chinchillas, and hamsters.

Instead of her usual knightly garb, Eldrid was wearing modern clothes today: a high-neck knit top and a pair of denim pants that suited her quite well.

“The rabbits in this world are so small,” she noted.

“I’m used to the rabbits here, so I was surprised when I saw the ones in your world,” I said.

“Yeah, I guess they’re really big compared to these.”

“Yup.”

As Eldrid looked around the store, her expression shifted as if a realization had hit her.

Seemingly conflicted and somewhat sad, she said, “I kind of feel bad for them, trapped in those cramped little boxes.”

Her mood visibly fell as the words left her mouth. Her ears lay flat against her head, and her tail drooped, both of which were only visible to me. Tails were easy to read; their ears and tails gave away their emotions.

“Yeah, pet shops may look nice, but they’re places that buy and sell animals. I hear some pretty terrible things happen behind-the-scenes at a lot of them,” I said.

“I don’t know how I feel about that,” said Eldrid.

“Same, but it isn’t like we can do anything about it.”

“Seeing how they’re still in business, I guess there’s a demand for it.”

“Yup. It’s an easy place to start for people who want to own a pet,” I said. “I just hope they end up with a nice owner and happily live out the rest of their lives.”

We left the store as we talked in hushed voices, then we began walking around town again.

“Your world is really interesting,” said Eldrid. “The technology is so advanced, and there’s so much more here in terms of entertainment.”

“I think your world is fun too,” I said.

“You think so? I think there’s way fewer things to do for fun in my world.”

“I guess that’s why they say the grass is always greener on the other side.”

“What grass?” she asked, confused.

“It’s just a phrase that means other people’s things tend to look more attractive,” I explained.

Eldrid clapped her hands together and said, “Oh, I get it.”

Feeling envious of other people’s belongings was only natural. Of course, this didn’t only apply to objects but also environments, situations, and all sorts of things that could invoke envy and jealousy. “The lottery of birth” was an idea in the same vein, I guess.

Anyway, you surely knew why and how we’d gotten here, but I’d explain just in case. I was in Japan with Eldrid today. Why? Well, we’d been talking about hanging out for some time, so we were following up on that promise and going around town together. That was why we’d met up near the Divers Guild earlier this morning...

§

“I-I’m ready!” said Eldrid.

She must’ve hurried here judging by the way she was out of breath.

Of course, she was wearing an outfit totally different from her usual knightly garb. She was properly dressed up, and she looked quite cute. The sword on her back was charming—well, maybe not. It was kind of scary, but apparently, you needed to carry a weapon around even when going out for fun.

“Oh! Your ears and tail look even nicer than usual. Lustrous, even,” I noted.

Eldrid seemed pleased that I’d noticed. Her expression brightened, and she said, “Yeah! I used the brush you gave me the other day!”

“Glad to hear you’ve been using it,” I said.

“Of course! You went out of your way to buy it for me!”

“But you know, you’re gonna have to change your outfit,” I said.

“What? Why?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

“Get there? Oh, you said we’re going to the place you’re from, right?” asked Eldrid.

“Yup. Just follow me,” I said.

I led us from the Divers Guild entrance to the statues of the gods at the square, which was one of Freida’s go-to meeting spots. This place was always busy, and on the holidays, it was so packed it could even give a certain mouse’s amusement park a run for its money. It seriously made me think Freida may have a population density problem.

“You wanted to come here?” asked Eldrid.

“Yup,” I replied.

“Wait... Don’t tell me you live...” she trailed off, sounding rather disturbed and her expression concerned. She clearly misunderstood the situation.

“No, no!” I said quickly. “I’m not a homeless person living in the public square!”

“But you said you’re gonna show me where you live, then you brought me here. Not that I’m complaining or anything! Everyone has their own living situation. I mean, it wouldn’t bother me if you slept on a straw mat out here! I’d want you to bathe regularly though!” said Eldrid.

“Stop trying to make me homeless, will you?! I do bathe every day, and I don’t sleep on a straw mat!” I protested. But I was having a hard time convincing her after bringing her out here. “I’m gonna prove it, but first, I need you to hold my hand.”

“What?! You want me to hold your hand?!” she said.

“Yeah. And hold on tight, please.”

“Oh, okay...”

Eldrid took my hand hesitantly. I could tell she was feeling uncertain from the way her ears were standing straight up.

“Time to activate my magic!” I called out.

“Huh? What magic? Akira, what are you—”

“Just trust me. Here we go!”

And that was how we’d left Do-Melta and ended up where the gods were just a minute ago.

This time, we arrived at a library. It was quite a sight with its countless bookshelves and stacks of books that couldn’t fit on the shelves. God had clearly moved while I was in Do-Melta because earlier, he’d been in that white space as usual. Maybe he always spent his Sundays reading around this time.

“Oh? Hey, Akira. Welcome back,” said God.

“I’m back as promised, and my friend is with me!” I said.

“‘Friend’? Hmm, right,” he said as he nodded to himself and smiled knowingly. He then pointed at me with both index fingers and said, “Oh, Akira, you dirty dog! I gotta say I’m impressed.”

“Dirty dog? I mean, my friend here is a Tail, but what do dogs have to do with me?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it. I already knew you’re like that anyway,” he said.

I looked at him, confused, but he just let out a resigned sigh. It was as if he was having trouble explaining something to a young child, but I didn’t have enough information to reach a conclusion.

Eldrid was stunned in the meantime, not able to process everything that was happening. She surely didn’t expect to visit a god today. What’s more, he wasn’t just any god but (presumably) the greatest god of them all, Ameithys himself. Her surprise was pretty understandable.

She finally snapped out of her daze and bowed as she knelt down on one knee.

“Ah! Lord Ameithys!” she said.

“Hmm,” he nodded.

It seemed she, too, knew who he was at first sight. Had she seen him before? Well, there were statues that looked just like him, so I supposed everyone in Do-Melta knew what he looked like. Celebrities didn’t get any privacy, I guess.

“Lord Ameithys, I thank you for your daily blessings,” said Eldrid reverently.

“Very well. Continue to keep your god’s word and promise, and live a fruitful life,” Ameithys responded in a dignified manner.

Whoa, he’s glowing. This god comes with a backlight feature.

“Akira,” said Ameithys, “you know you said that out loud, right? Comments like that can really kill the mood. Anyway, just think of it like an option at a car shop or a set piece on a stage.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it— Anyway, I noticed everyone says that greeting to you,” I said.

“Well, of course. I’m a god, after all.”

“Right. Yes, of course. I understand that, but still,” I said.

Eldrid shook me frantically as she said, “H-Hey! Akira, don’t talk to Lord Ameithys like that!”

“Huh? Oh, well, this is how we usually talk,” I replied.

“No, no, no! Show some respect! This is blasphemy! Blasphemy!”

“O-Okay...”

She was clearly upset. Scrael had a similar reaction last time too. Everyone was crazy reverent of him, though they were probably the normal ones.

“Akira is Japanese, so I don’t really blame him,” said God. “They think of gods and Buddha as familiar beings.”

“I do put my hands together in worship at household kamidana shrines, at Buddhist altars, and toward my oshis. Should I change my attitude?” I asked.

“Nah, don’t worry about it. Just be yourself,” he said.

“Thank you.”

I put my hands together as a show of respect, Japanese style. It was a gesture that originated in Asia—India, to be more specific. God was pretty open-minded about the method of prayer we wanted to use.

Eldrid walked up to me and whispered into my ear, “So...what’s going on here?”

“The thing is, I’m actually from another world. I’ve been visiting your world by passing through God’s place here,” I explained.

“R-Really? I mean, it isn’t that I don’t believe you, seeing how we’re in the presence of Lord Ameithys himself. So that’s why you have his blessing— Wait, that means—”

“Oh, Eldrid, let’s not talk about that, okay?” interrupted Ameithys.

“As you wish,” replied Eldrid. She then seemed to have remembered something and knelt before the god again, her expression grave. “P-Pardon me! There’s something I’d like to ask of you!”

“I know what this is about,” he said.

“You...do? Well, of course you do. So—”

“Sorry to say, but I can’t help you on that one.”

“B-But why?!” asked Eldrid.

“That’s the rule,” replied God. “We’ve decided long ago to not intervene more than necessary.”

“Is there no way you’ll reconsider?” insisted Eldrid.

“No. Your dad asked me too, but I simply can’t get involved.”

They seemed to be talking about something important.

Eldrid fell silent and looked at God pleadingly, but he only shook his head.

So Eldrid’s dad has met God before?

I’d heard it was pretty common for other races to meet their gods, but considering Eldrid was a Tail, I would’ve assumed her dad would’ve been visiting his own god. I wondered what the backstory was there.

“Anyway, keep your chin up,” said God. “It might be against the rules for me to say something like this, but it isn’t as if your issue won’t be resolved.”

“Is that true?!” asked Eldrid, perking up.

“Yup, so don’t worry about it too much. I’m sure someone will help you.”

“Yes... Yes, Lord Ameithys!”

Eldrid seemed to be going through something rough, but God’s words had reignited her fighting spirit.

“What are you guys talking about, El? What did you ask of him?” I asked, not able to help my curiosity.

“Well, it’s, uh...complicated,” said Eldrid.

“Yeah. I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything from my end,” said Ameithys.

So even God isn’t gonna tell me. Well, I guess it’s a private matter. I get that.

God smiled gently at Eldrid. “Anyway, go have fun today.”

“Y-Yes, I will,” she said.

“Oh! There’s something I need to talk to you about,” I said to God.

“Ah, right. You mean her clothes, ears, and tail, right? I’ll take care of them,” he said as he cast a spell.

“Huh? Whoa!” said Eldrid. Her ears and tail turned invisible (or so I assumed), and her clothes changed into a high-neck knit top and a pair of denim pants. Her tail stuck out from above her butt, so I figured there was a hole there.

“There isn’t anyone in Akira’s world who looks like Tails, so— Huh?” said God as he noticed Eldrid’s reaction.

“M-My ears and tail...” she said with tears in her eyes as she dropped to her knees.

It was the quintessential pose of despair. Her features seemed to have disappeared to her, though they were still faintly visible to me. The people of Do-Melta really were proud of their race’s distinct characteristics. She looked absolutely devastated just like last time with Scrael. God seemed a bit taken aback too.

“Th-This is a trial for me to overcome! I can do it!” she said to herself.

Huh? Trial?

“The clothes are a gift from me. Yeah!” said God as he made a peace sign with his fingers. He was quirky as usual.

“Okay, let’s get going then,” I said.

“All right, bring it on! I’ll beat anyone who stands in our way!” said Eldrid.

“No, El. We’re just gonna hang out and have fun.”

“I know. I’ll beat them up while having fun.”

Eldrid was acting weird now that her ears and tail were invisible to her, and I was starting to get worried. Was she panicking because her precious pride and joy were gone?

“Take care. Oh, and don’t forget to bring something back for me,” said God.

“Sure. We’ll see you later!” I said.

I mentally prepared a list of gifts for God as I teleported into my own world with Eldrid.

§

It took no time before we arrived in modern Japan in my room, which looked like any other typical high school boy’s room. My parents weren’t home, so we didn’t have to worry about them—not that anything would’ve been different if they were around.

Meanwhile, Eldrid seemed to have recovered from the confusion of losing her ears and tail. She seemed interested in my room and its furniture, and she spent some time looking around curiously. She kept herself busy poking things and picking them up as she wandered around.

“This world really is completely different from ours,” she noted as she stared at my room’s walls. There, she found a home appliance that could be considered a modern essential. “What’s that?” she asked.

“That’s the AC,” I said.

“A-C? What’s that?”

“It’s for adjusting the temperature in the room,” I explained.

“Really? That sounds useful for hot summer days.”

Tails, like Eldrid, had fluffy ears and tails, so summer heat must’ve been especially hard on them. I’d seen cats and dogs with long fur get summer haircuts because of this. Though, Tails only had fur on their ears and tails.

I closed the curtains and turned the lights on and off, and even that seemed to impress Eldrid.

“Wow! I wonder if my world will become this convenient too as technology advances,” she wondered aloud.

“Probably,” I said.

“The bed sure looks soft,” she said, then sat her butt on it and bounced a few times. She had a childish side that reared its head every once in a while.

I picked up the TV remote and said to myself, “Let’s see if the weather forecast is on.”

I turned on the TV and changed the channel, which happened to have the weather report on. The forecaster confidently assured us it would be sunny all throughout the week, which meant we wouldn’t have to worry about any sudden rain. The weather would be perfect for going out.

Eldrid stopped bouncing on my bed and looked at the TV with a puzzled expression. “What’s that?”

“It shows other locations with the power of technology,” I explained.

“Huh. I wonder how it works?”

“Let’s not sweat the details. That was the weather forecast.”

“Weather forecast? They know what the weather is gonna be beforehand?” asked Eldrid.

“Yup. They’re usually spot-on too.”

“That sounds nice. I don’t like getting wet, so knowing what the weather is gonna be would be really helpful.”

She seemed quite impressed. Weather forecasting wasn’t a thing in her world, and I’d heard their weather changed based on the will of the gods, so things like weather maps would be useless over there. It’d probably be more likely for them to have a program that went like “Here’s the report on the moods of the gods today,” though the complete disregard for privacy might be a problem.

As I browsed through the channels with my remote for a while, I heard a newscaster’s voice, then the screen changed to a hero broadcast. Kaijins holding an avant-garde vase appeared on the screen.

“I see you’re still up to no good, kaijins!” called out the hero.

“No good? We’re just selling vases on the street! We’ve done nothing wrong!” replied one of the kaijins.

“Don’t give me that! You take advantage of people’s emotional weakness and force them into buying your wares at exorbitant prices!”

“N-Now hold on! Wait just a minute! All we did was put a slight premium on the prices! ‘Exorbitant’ is a bit dramatic!”

“There’s nothing ‘slight’ about it! You’re guilty of fraud and violation of public order and morality!”

“S-Stop! We haven’t committed any violence! What kind of hero attacks someone who isn’t resisting? You cruel, heartless monster!”

“Silence! Take this! Big Bang Smaaash!”

“Noooooo! He isn’t listening! Someone call the police! Aaaaaah!”

The poor kaijin was hit with a ball of fire before he exploded. Yup, it was just another peaceful day in Japan.

Eldrid stared at the screen blankly. The violence aside, the hero had blasted the kaijin with absolutely no intention of hearing it out, so I couldn’t blame her. It’d been a surprising development even for me, and I was already familiar with heroes.

“What was that?” she asked.

“A hero of justice defeating bad guys,” I said.

“Just to make sure, the ones holding those weird vases were the bad guys?”

“That’s right.”

“I-I see...”

“There have been a lot more kaijin appearing lately, so maybe the heroes have been told to resolve things more quickly,” I said.

Eldrid seemed perplexed for a while, but then she stared at the hero as if drawn to him.

“He’s strong,” she said.

“Yeah. Very strong,” I agreed.

“He’s small, though,” she added.

“D-Don’t say that to his face, okay?!”

I didn’t even want to say what had happened to the last kaijin who’d uttered those words. It was now treated like a forbidden word, and it was considered taboo even among kaijins.

After we browsed through the channels for a while longer, I turned off the TV.

“Well, I’m gonna go change. Wait here,” I said.

“Right.”

I quickly got dressed and returned. Eldrid stared at me and blinked, but I was just wearing a normal sweater and a pair of pants.

“That looks good on you,” she said.

“Well, I did pick it out because I like it.”

“Why don’t you usually dress like this? Your usual outfit is kind of weird—I mean, unusual.”

“Everyone seems to think so. Is it really that strange?” I wondered.

“It doesn’t really suit you,” she said.

They were tough critics. It seemed the safari style looked odd to the residents of Do-Melta.

“Anyway, let’s go outside,” I suggested.

“Yeah! Let’s go! I can’t wait!” she replied enthusiastically.

We were about to leave the room, but then I realized something.

“Oh, one sec, El,” I said.

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Uh, that thing on your back...”

“My sword? What about it?” she asked.

“Well, I was hoping you’d leave it in my room.”

“Huh? But what if we run into trouble?”

“Don’t worry, that rarely ever happens,” I said.

“Hmm... Okay,” she said hesitantly.

Despite that, she kept glancing over at her sword. Maybe she was feeling reluctant, or she was feeling anxious going to an unknown place without her trusty weapon.

“You know, maybe I should bring it after all? We never know what’ll happen,” she said.

“Nope. The police will arrest you if you walk around with a weapon. Well, they’d probably let you go because you’re a minor, but the whole day would still be wasted.”

“I see,” she said, visibly disappointed. She really was easy to read.

“Besides, if we do get in trouble, you still have your claws,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, but I prefer my sword,” she said.

The sword presumably had much higher firepower. But she had that crazy special technique called the Woof Buster, which she’d used a while back, so it wasn’t as if she’d even need her sword. Anyone she’d encounter in Japan would be reduced to dust with one hit of that attack—which meant I couldn’t have her using it here.

Eldrid kept glancing back behind her until we left my house.

First things first, we needed to get some breakfast. Come to think of it, neither of us had eaten this morning, so we definitely needed to get some food in our stomachs. I’d treated Scrael to an unagi bowl, but I wasn’t sure what to get for Eldrid. It would’ve been ideal if there was a place that served braised pork on a Sunday morning, but since there wasn’t, I figured I’d take her to some chain restaurant.

Eldrid made low surprised noises at the cityscape and cars driving by, then her expression grew intense.

“Akira,” she said.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“What kind of dungeon is that?”

I said nothing. This was my second time being asked that here, so I knew what she was talking about without even looking. Everyone from the other world seemed to assume the entrance to the subway was a dungeon entrance. I mean, we’d technically be diving underground through there, but still.

“And no one’s even carrying weapons!” Eldrid went on. She really thought people were going down there to fistfight.

“El, El. That isn’t a dungeon,” I explained.

“Really? But everyone’s in a rush, and they have this intense look like they’re going into battle.”

“I guess they’re heading into a battlefield of sorts, especially because it’s the weekend.”

It was Sunday, yet some people were heading to work wearing suits. I really couldn’t blame them for looking so frantic. Adulting seemed hard—and scary.

Anyway, we moved on and found a burger shop nearby.

“Oh? Sandwiches?” asked Eldrid.

“Hmm? Those are burgers,” I said.

“But it’s stuff between two pieces of bread, right?”

“Yeah, but...”

I wondered if there was something lost in translation. Hamburg steaks supposedly originated in Hamburg, and it inspired hamburgers in America. Meanwhile, there were theories that the word “sandwich” could be traced back to the name of some earl or city. Hamburgers were patties between pieces of bread, which could be considered a type of sandwich. Maybe I’d look into it later. I had the power of Google and Yahoo backing me, so I could look it up with ease.

I decided to have Eldrid sit and wait while I went to buy some food.

“Oh yeah, are these chairs okay for you?” I asked.

“You mean my tail, right? Yeah, no problem,” she said.

“Yeah. I was wondering if certain types of chairs were uncomfortable for you.”

“Some can be, yeah, but I just need to move my tail toward the side by my leg like this.”

I’d assumed a stool would be more comfortable for her, but she seemed to be fine.

As I left to order, I suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

“Wait... Didn’t something like this happen before?” I wondered aloud.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I faintly remembered having left someone behind just like this while ordering food.

While I was ordering a few burgers, I heard a couple of guys trying to flirt over where Eldrid was sitting.

“Hey girl, you alone?”

“Wanna get some tea with us?”

By the time I remembered, it was too late. Eldrid was getting hit on. What kind of pickup line was that, anyway? I would’ve expected them to ask her to hang out with them or go somewhere quiet to talk or something. Maybe they needed to get some tips from a real pickup artist. Anyway, Eldrid wasn’t Scrael, so I figured it’d be fine. I kept glancing back while paying for the food and found her ignoring them as if they didn’t exist. The two guys were gesturing with their hands and talking her ear off, but she just looked annoyed with her chin resting in her hand. I could see her irritation in how she was tapping the table with her finger. It was actually painful to watch. I had to get over there and end this.

Hurry with my change, please.

The pickup artist wannabes lost their patience and raised their voices.

“Hey, we’re talking to you!”

“Look at us, damn it!”

They should’ve just given up as soon as she ignored them.

Clearly irritated, Eldrid turned her head toward them and said, “What?” Her voice was cute yet threatening, which should’ve been contradictory.

One glare was enough to leave them completely frozen in fear. I supposed they’d been hit with an intense and murderous metaphysical force that could only be controlled by high-level Divers. Of course, no commoner in the modern world stood a chance against it, and they could’ve easily been knocked unconscious. When I looked more carefully, I saw they were sweating bullets, and their faces went pale, then ashen. That couldn’t be healthy. It made me wonder if Scrael’s solution could’ve been considered more peaceful.

I got my change and order number then sprinted over to Eldrid.

“S-Sorry for the wait!”

“No problem!” she said with a smile that made me wonder where all that malice had gone.

My apology wasn’t just directed at Eldrid. I immediately asked the two guys, “Are you okay?”

“Ah, eh, uh...” they stammered.

“Hellooo? Snap out of it.”

“A-Ah... Oooh, ehh...”

It was no use. They seemed to have forgotten how to talk, and only unintelligible noises came out of their mouths. This was bad—I had a feeling it’d lead to PTSD worse than if they’d gone to war. I gestured for them to leave while Eldrid was still in a good mood, and they scrambled away.

Meanwhile, Eldrid was pouting a bit.

“What was with those jerks?” she said.

“They go around hitting on girls. Lots of them around here. Aren’t they in your world too?”

“Not the kind that raises their voices like those two,” she said.

“The people here don’t have a sense of danger...” I said.

Besides, Eldrid usually carried a massive sword with her. She may be cute, but there weren’t a lot of guys who’d casually hit on a girl like her. One wrong move and there was a nonzero chance they’d be cut in half.

The food I’d ordered eventually arrived: cola, fries, and various types of burgers.

“I got different kinds. This one’s teriyaki, and this one’s a cheeseburger,” I said.

“Can’t go wrong with cheese,” said Eldrid. “Never heard of ‘teriyaki’ though.”

“Oh, can you eat onions, by the way? It won’t make you sick or anything?” I asked.

“Onions? I can eat them fine, why?”

“Never mind then,” I said.

I thought there was a chance she couldn’t eat them because of her ears and tail, but it seemed that wouldn’t be an issue. I mean, I figured it’d be fine because she was mostly human, but it never hurt to make sure.

I handed Eldrid a teriyaki burger, and she quickly unwrapped and bit into it. Her mouth was surprisingly small for the amount of enthusiasm that went into the bite.

“Oh! This is good!” she said excitedly.

I was glad she liked it. She continued digging into the burger with a smile on her face.

Suddenly, she paused and looked at my burger.

“That one looks good too...”

“Wanna try some?” I offered.

“Can I?!”

I peeled back the wrapping and handed her my burger, and she took a bite.

“Oh! This one’s good too!” she said, her smile even wider.

I decided to start eating too, then I realized something. “Oh...we’ve— Never mind.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” I said and took a bite.

Of course, it tasted just exactly the same as it usually did.

After we checked out the pet shop and ate, we arrived at a small local amusement park. I’d used to occasionally visit this place with friends, but with me adventuring all the time, it’d been a long time since I’d last come here.

Today, the park was busier than I’d expected, probably because it was a weekend. Everyone was here with their families, but the place wasn’t so crowded that we wouldn’t be able to enjoy ourselves normally.

“Whoooa! What is this place?!” exclaimed Eldrid as she noticed all the attractions she’d never seen before.

Her eyes shone with wonder, her ears flapped, and her tail wagged so hard she looked like she was about to take off into the sky. I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if I’d taken her to a certain mouse’s kingdom instead, but I was glad she seemed to be into this park.

“Everyone’s riding on those things,” she observed.

“Yep,” I said. “People come here to have fun.”

“I like that!” she said with a dazzling smile.

These rides must be especially interesting for her since horse-drawn carriages were pretty much the only ones available in Do-Melta.

Suddenly, Eldrid slapped my shoulder with even greater excitement and said, “Over there! Akira, look! Look!”

“What?” I asked.

“I wanna check out that stall!”

“Stall?”

I looked over to find a food stall selling freshly cooked chicken legs. Eldrid’s eyes were positively sparkling, and she was so amped-up she looked like she was about to bolt off at any second. She reminded me of a puppy trying to contain itself in front of a new toy or a snack—well, maybe she was one. She really seemed to want that chicken leg. Glancing over at her face, I could see her fangs peeking out of her mouth. She looked like she was about to go feral, and I wasn’t sure if she’d listen if I told her to wait.

“L-Let’s go get it,” I said.

“Yeah!”

We walked over to the stall, and Eldrid dropped a bomb with a big smile on her face. “I think I’ll start with ten for now.”

“Huh?” The worker at the stall and I said in unison.

She’d said it as if we’d walked into a bar and ordered beer to start off the night. I had no idea where she was gonna fit all that food, but the way she’d said it made me think she could eat way more than ten with ease.

The worker stared at her wide-eyed, and Eldrid hurriedly corrected herself. “Ah! N-Never mind! I meant...”

We were relieved that she seemed to have reconsidered. As the worker and I tried to convince ourselves we’d misheard her the first time, she spoke up again.

“I’ll take five!” she said.

“Huh?!”

“Huuuh?!”

Eldrid had attempted to be conservative and failed miserably. In fact, it was even more shocking that five was what she considered conservative. She seemed to have realized her mistake when she noticed our stunned silence and tried one more time.

“T-Two please...” she said quietly with her head down, her face red with embarrassment.

She must be very passionate about chicken legs considering how she still didn’t want to order just one. We’d just had burgers not long ago too. Maybe there was a bottomless black hole or something in her stomach.

“I’ll take one, please,” I said timidly.

“Y-Yes, of course! Three legs, coming up!” replied the worker.

We’d both sounded pretty awkward, but who could blame us? We’d just encountered a situation that would normally be unthinkable. It took all our effort for us just to act like nothing had happened.

Eldrid looked embarrassed for a while, but she immediately perked up once the food came. I handed her a smoked chicken leg and a teriyaki chicken leg, which she dual-wielded. She could’ve been a tribal warrior if she’d started dancing then—not that she’d do that though. Actually, a certain someone I knew had done something like that with soy sauce.

“Let’s eat,” I said.

“Yeah!” said Eldrid, all traces of her earlier embarrassment now gone. She only had eyes for the chicken legs now.

I bit into my chicken. The skin was nice and crispy, and juices overflowed as my teeth sank into the thigh. It was nicely seasoned and tasted delicious.

“Awooooooooo!”

I probably didn’t need to explain my shock of hearing that howl from beside me. The somewhat-concerning sound from Eldrid had startled me, but I told myself it was just a thing Tails did and tried to move on. I don’t wanna think about it too much, so I avoided looking directly at her.

“It’s sooo good!” she yelled.

She really loved the chicken legs judging by how she was more enthusiastic than when we’d had burgers earlier.

“This one tastes just like the sandwich from earlier!” she added.