07 - A Painful Heart

I finished my first dungeon dive and headed home, utterly exhausted.

Defeating the combined slime without much effort was a small victory, but my legs were in serious trouble after walking for about three hours round trip. Despite having decent stats, my physical endurance seemed lacking.

I stumbled through the doorway, eager to shed my shoes and collapse into bed. However, my growling stomach insisted on food first. Dragging myself to the dining room, I found an older man eating there. At first glance, he looked to be in his twenties, but a closer inspection revealed he was in his mid-thirties, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and a few gray hairs.

This man was Johannes Garcia, Theodore's father, and the owner of PEARL'S, a company renowned for its fashion line catering to adult women and men. Under the PEARL'S label, their products had successfully penetrated the international market, dominating Asia and making inroads into Europe.

With Theodore's memories intact, I felt confident enough for a simple conversation with him.

"I heard you've already dived into the dungeon," he remarked, his tone a mix of curiosity and approval.

"I've only beaten some slimes," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow, a gesture of interest that reminded me of my sister's expressive features.

"I wish I could make a living as an adventurer. If you pick up anything interesting, please show it to me. Maybe I could use it for some inspiration for my products."

My father, Johannes, used to be an adventurer and is now level four. He still dives with his drinking buddies occasionally and has made it to the fourth floor, but that was more for stress relief from work than anything else.

While adventuring can bring in some income, it's nothing compared to running a giant fashion company. It's also said that adventuring isn't worth it unless you're truly talented.

But Johannes still wanted to infuse his passion for adventuring into his fashion business. He used his knowledge of adventuring to invent items like a coat that keeps you warm regardless of the temperature or a suit that can withstand fatal physical and magical attacks without being destroyed or disheveled. These items, made from rare materials, come with sky-high prices.

As he sipped his beer, he began to ramble again. "There are only a handful of adventurers who can make a living full-time. You must be talented enough to get into an adventurer's academy, so do your best."

I don't think Theodore has the talent to be an adventurer. He's more suited to sit on a office chair and continuinh his family business. But maybe I could change that? I have the knowledge of this world that comes from the game and don't have that much of leading such a great company.

'But if I don't want to continue it maybe Sophia would in the future?' I shrugged mentally.

"I'm going to enjoy school and dungeon diving at my own pace. If I find any treasures, I'll show them to you. You can count on me."

Talking about treasures, I got this slime ring from the post-battle with the slime spawn... Should I show it to him?

'Well, it wouldn't hurt, right?' I lifted my left hand to my father's face, showing the slime ring on my index finger. "I found this slime ring during my dive. It's not much, but it gives a +3 [Vitality] buff. What do you think?"

My father looked at the ring, observing it for a while before sighing. "That's a nice find, but we already have some clothes that give a simple buff to anyone who wears them."

"Umu, I thought so."

"Well, don't be disappointed! After all, it's your first loot from the dungeon! Maybe you should make it a family heirloom!"

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Tomorrow and the day after are my days off, so I'll have plenty of time to dive into the dungeon. I'm thinking about how I'm going to conquer this dungeon, but for now, I need to finish my meal.

"What was adventurer academy like, Brother?" my sister asked curiously, her ears perked up as she ate next to me.

"What do you mean? The facilities were amazing."

"What kind of amazing? And how was the dungeon?"

Since I just arrived in this world today and Theodore was admitted today, I hadn't used the facilities yet, although I knew them well from the game.

"I've only seen the facilities from a distance. It looks like I'll only be able to use them after the orientation next week. I've only been to one dungeon, so I can't say much."

"I can't wait to go to the dungeon. I've never been to one," my sister said, her eyes shining with excitement.

My sister seems eager to learn more about dungeons to prepare for the adventurer school entrance exam next year. According to Theo's memory, the entrance exam considers academic and athletic abilities as well as potential abilities.

What exactly are potential abilities? Does it mean initial skills or initial jobs?

In The Conquest, you can learn skills by taking specific jobs and leveling up. Theodore, for instance, started with the "Fist Break" skill, though I still don't understand how he got it from the beginning. It's a powerful skill, but its origin remains a mystery.

As for his job, it might not be "Novice" from the start, but rather a rare job. This isn't necessarily a good thing, as rare jobs come with their own set of disadvantages. It's also worth noting that you can't change from other jobs to [Novice], making it a special job in a sense.

Getting a good initial skill can secure a strong position early on, but it's not something to prioritize when starting the game. Whether you're a [Novice] or not, each initial job has its pros and cons. It's not about favoring one over the other.

'Glad I have |Jester| in my arsenal. I need to quickly change job after I got the another skills' slot.'

In any case, adventuring academy and dungeon diving are complex, with many secrets and nuances. We'll figure them out as we go along.

It's a good thing I'm not in a hurry. Sophia has just finished her entrance ceremony. But I'll find out about the exams myself.

"Really?"

"Isn't that what the adventurer school exams are for, connections?" my father asked, beer in hand.

"Connections? They don't seem to matter much once you're accepted."

"That's true. Can I get another beer, dear?"

"That's it for today," my mother then look towards me. "Theo, go and take a bath."

Now that I've eaten, I'll take a quick bath.

I'm planning to dive into the dungeon again tomorrow, so I'll relax in the bathtub and think vaguely about this world.

For someone who has always lived alone, it's a strange feeling to know that my family is still alive. I feel safe and comfortable. This feeling may just be a manifestation of Theodore's memories, but I want to hold on to it.

As for how to get back to the original world, I don't know anything about that at the moment. Of course, I can't confirm whether my body is there or not, and I don't know how to log out. It's still unclear whether this world is a game or reality. I can't dismiss the possibility that it's an elaborate metaverse, but there's a strong chance it's real because it feels so genuine.

I can't log out, and I'm not sure if I can rely solely on my game knowledge to survive in this world. I'll have to gather more information and conduct some experiments tomorrow during my next dungeon dive.

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The next day, early Saturday morning, I'm stretching in front of the house, preparing for another dungeon dive.

I stretch my thick legs carefully because if my legs cramp up or give out in the dungeon, it could lead to a serious accident. While I was secretly surprised at how flexible my body was, a familiar voice called out to me from behind.

"Hey, Theo. How are you doing?"

"I'm good, also good morning, Mr. Haruo."

I turned around to see Akari Hoshimi's father, Mr. Haruo Hoshimi, the owner of Hoshimi Hardware Store.

He sells a wide range of items, from weapons for adventurers to household goods like pots and knives, and he's skilled enough to make his own weapons. Theodore's father and Mr. Haruo are still dungeon buddies who dive together, and the Garcia and Hoshimi families have been friends since before Theodore was born.

In the game, as the main character gets to know Kaworu Hayase, Mr. Haruo appears as a sub-character who helps him. He's a good-natured man who's always kind to Butao.

"Akari is practicing in the garden. Would you like to join us, Theo?"

I'm sure he's saying this with the best intentions, but he doesn't know that his daughter hates me. I'm not sure how to respond.

The garden of the Hoshimi family is quite large, resembling a small Japanese garden. Plants representing each of the four seasons are carefully arranged, and the branches are meticulously pruned. The pond, where koi swim, is also beautiful. Looking at such a garden naturally reminds me of Mr. Haruo's dedication over the years. It's proof that I've grown accustomed to Theodore's memories.

In the center of the well-maintained garden, Akari was enthusiastically wielding a wooden sword. Watching her from a distance made for a picturesque scene. Just as I was contemplating whether to call out, she noticed me and called out first.

"Theo? It's rare for you to be up early on a holiday."

"I met Mr. Haruo. I thought I'd say hello to you as well, Akari."

"Well, I'm busy because I'm going out for a while."

Theodore called her "Akari," so I have to keep using that name to avoid seeming unnatural. Even so, as soon as she saw me, her mood visibly soured. The confident expression she had moments ago twisted into a scowl.

Akari seemed to be busy, and I finished greetings, and when I was thinking about going away and resuming stretching, I heard a cheerful voice saying "Hello!".

It seems that Mr. Haruo had guided some guests here, and entering the garden was Renji Daisuke, the main character. His straight-backed posture and red hair shining in the sunlight made him stand out, even as a first-year high school student. Behind him was Sasaki Mitsuki, with her fluffy, voluminous blonde hair and a cute, delicate presence like a small animal.

The last person to join was Akio Makoto, an intelligent character with long, dark hair parted in the middle and glasses. He is Akari's roommate and a crucial companion in the main story.

"You were here, Akari?"

"Renji? Yeah, I do some training before going to the dungeon."

Akari welcomed him with a bright, flower-like smile. Her demeanor was entirely different from how she interacted with me. Well, that's Garcia for you. Still, even though only one day had passed, they seemed close. Both Renji and Akari were good at shortening the distance between people.

"What? You are...?"

Akio finally noticed me as he stood beside the group, greeting them. However, he struggled to recall my name. Well, it's understandable since I left right after the entrance ceremony.

Renji, who stood beside him, seemed to remember me and discreetly informed Akio that I was a classmate.

"Oh, you're a classmate? We're going to the dungeon. Want to join us?" Renji offered.

Such a gentle personality, always reaching out to others, might give rise to charisma, but it seems he can't read the room. By inviting me, Akari and Sasaki's faces showed clear displeasure. However, I don't recall doing anything to earn Sasaki's disdain. Maybe it's because of this hot appearance? I chuckled to myself. Nah, nobody wants to be with an annoying man like Theo anyway.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Akio intervened.

"Renji, it's probably not fair to invite him out of the blue. Let's dive on our own today."

"...That's right. We only have four lunch boxes."

Akio, ever the considerate one, tried to smooth over Renji's unintended faux pas. He pointed to the lunch bag adorned with a rabbit mark that Sasaki had likely prepared.

I planned to dive solo into the dungeon anyway. With the state I was in, there was a risk of getting stuck or not being able to move properly, but I had a lot of game knowledge and experiments I wanted to try out, so having a big group would be inconvenient.

"Don't worry about it. I have some errands to run as well. Good luck with your dive."

"Oh, then see you at academy on Monday," Renji replied with a smile.

The four of them returned to their happy discussion about the upcoming dungeon dive, their camaraderie evident. Akari was laughing, her joy contagious.

Watching them, a pang of emotion struck me.

Feelings from Theodore's memories surged within me, shouting, "Don't take Akari away!" and "She's mine! Get lost!" Theodore must have really liked her.

'...Damn, it hurt, Theo jealousy got me again...'

Right now, Akari's opinion of me is in the negatives—a big, dark, negative zone. Competing for her against the charming hero is a losing battle. It's better to give up and find another love interest rather than risk doing something foolish and ruining my chances altogether.

It's true that Akari is a stunning beauty with a good-natured personality that endears her to those around her. However, considering the adventurer school is modeled after a game, it's filled with beautiful people, many of whom care more about talent than looks. From now on, my best bet is to focus on improving my abilities and finding someone who appreciates me for who I am.

In the game, my favorite was the heroine who became the next student council president. She's not only good-looking and talented but also super rich with a title. She's the ultimate catch, with qualities that make her desirable as a partner regardless of personality, appearance, or background. And maybe I have a chance to sway with her?

I haven't encountered her in this world yet, but I hope to spot her soon and maybe introduce her to Garcia from a distance.