The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~ - Chapter 18: The Explorer of Magical Armor

“What the heck is this?”

One morning.

Elta picks up the mail that has arrived at home.

Since Elta became the special advisor to the knight order, it’s been a bit.

While frequently making appearances at the knight’s order, he continued his main job as a lecturer.

In the midst of all that, it seems there are no jobs today.

Since it was just the right moment of free time, Elta promptly opened the mail.

“Is it a letter?”

What had arrived was an informational letter.

Along with a hand-drawn map of the royal capital, it was written, “I want you to come here in the afternoon.”

“That’s a bit suspicious…”

However, he cast a rare nostalgic glance of suspicion at the letter with no sender.

Recently, it seems that he has finally been taught how to live on the surface by Tina.

However, when he flipped over another page, there was an additional note.

“Note: I also have omelets prepared.”

“Alright, I will go.”

The moment he saw that, his doubts were easily cleared away.

And so, Elta immediately set off towards the location marked on the map.

“Hey there!”

Arriving at the building marked on the map, Elta calls out from outside.

It looks quite large and seems to be a stylish wooden base.

Although there is no response, the door is unlocked.

Then, Elta pushed the door as it was.

“Um──”

“Who is it?!”

At that moment, Elta was blinded from the side.

The voice is high-pitched, yet somehow it evokes a sense of reassurance.

“E-eh!?”

“Then, who am I?”

Since she doesn’t sense any killing intent, Elta doesn’t resist.

However, next, he says something unexpected.

“H-hint!”

“What the heck is that?”

At this point, it was like Elta’s mistake, but the woman continued.

“Um, her hair is red, and she’s one year older than you.”

“Is it someone I know?”

“Of course!”

“T-then…”

Elta muttered a name that had come to his mind.

“Could it be Jura?”

“…! Great success!”

Then, the hand was suddenly released, and a girl with a joyful expression jumped in front of him.

Her name is──”Jura.”

Short red hair with a hint of pink at the tips.

Her height is slightly shorter than Elta’s, but she is probably the tallest among the women around.

Overall, the outfit is light, with the top barely covering the large chest and the bottom being shorts, exposing the thighs.

Jura, catching Elta’s eye, gently pulls him close, wrapping him in an embrace from head to toe.

“Really, really, it’s El…!”

“W-w-w-wai.”

Elta’s face was turned down, bringing her ample breasts right in front of him.

Even Elta seemed a bit startled, as expected.

It’s a reunion typical of Jura, unlike the intense dives of Tina and Celia.

“I’m glad you came back.”

Jura wiped away the tears that were about to spill and gently caressed Elta.

It was completely the kind of gesture one would make towards a younger brother or child, but feeling a sense of nostalgia, Elta did not refuse.

It seems that Jura didn’t write the sender’s name on the letter so that he could guess who it was in the game “Who is it?”

Tina probably left it there secretly.

Then, feeling a bit embarrassed, she distanced herself from Elta.

However, the expression on his face remains the same.

“I’m also happy to meet ‘Jura-nee’.”

“Haha, you never change.”

Just then, Jura glanced sideways.

“I wish you’d lift your head up soon, Leone.”

“Shut up!”

At the back table, Leone was slumped over, her head hanging down.

Also, Tina and Celia are sitting at the same table.

However, the two of them don’t seem particularly sad.

Seeing that scene, Elta gets it.

(I-I messed up…)

In the earlier exchange, Elta was able to hit Jura.

In other words, among the four girls, only Leone was not guessed.

Seeing the sad Leone, Elta hurriedly called out to her.

“L-Leone has become so beautiful that I can’t even recognize you!”

“It’s whatever.”

Leone slightly blushes while being aloof.

However, those words also elicited a reaction from those around.

“El, where’s your sister?”

“Big brother! It’s me!”

“Just to be sure, I’ll ask too…”

In this context, it seems like they want him to praise them ten years from now.

In contrast, Elta chooses his words carefully.

“E-everyone has become so beautiful!”

Thus, he reunited with his one-year-older “big sister,” Jura.

“So, Jura, what are you doing here? … munch munch.”

Once things had calmed down a bit, Elta resumed the conversation.

Holding a rolled omelet prepared on the table.

“I’m an ‘Explorer.’ I recently became an S-rank.”

“Eh, wow!?”

“And also—”

Jura stood up and drew her sword a short distance away.

When she focused her strength there, a flame suddenly ignited on the sword.

“The field of utilizing monsters in equipment──I’m researching ‘magic armor.'”

──”Magic Armor.”

It is a new concept devised by Jura, and she is conducting the research herself.

In the dungeon, there are many monsters with abilities that humans cannot imitate.

For example, lighting a fire, freezing, flying, etc.

For an ordinary person, it would be almost impossible.

However, Jura saw potential there.

By using monster materials and making independent modifications, she thought it might be possible for humans to exhibit the same abilities.

Additionally, when it comes to S-rank explorers, there are only a handful in this country.

Creating her own equipment and standing at the forefront herself.

“The Explorer of Magical Armor” Jura is currently the most talked-about explorer.

Elta’s eyes sparkled at Jura like that.

“S rank, magical armor… amazing, amazing!”

“Ahaha, being told directly makes me blush.”

Blushing, Jura has a somewhat pleased expression.

However, amidst that, a fleeting expression of sadness peeked through.

“Then, it seems that even more terrifying technologies are being researched…”

“Huh?”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. Don’t mind it.”

However, Jura quickly composed herself and changed the subject.

“By the way, Celia, the weapon we talked about… It’s done.”

“…! Is it true?!”

“Yeah, right here.”

Jura brings out a sword from the back of the atelier.

Appearance-wise, it’s overall light blue.

The hand that grasps it feels no impact, but the blade seems to be imbued with coldness.

It is truly a sword that perfectly suits the “Ice Knight” Celia.

“This is…!”

“Yeah. It’s magic armor just for Celia.”

“Wow, that’s a lifesaver!”

And then, handing it to Celia, Jura took out another… weapon.

“And over here is Leone’s.”

“My turn too! Thank you, Jura…!”

Two short, yellow-green swords.

It seems like they have become a pair.

This weapon was also specially made with Leone in mind.

It seems that the two of them had requested new weapons from Jura.

When she receives it, this time, Celia asks.

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t asked about the payment.”

“Well.”

Normally, she would demand money.

However, Jura glanced at Elta for some reason.

“Hehehe.”

“Huh?”

Then, she turns to Celia with a smirk on her face.

“Give me the ‘right to ask El for anything’ you mentioned earlier.”

“W-What!?”

That was something Elta blurted out on the day he reunited with Celia.

Celia hadn’t used this right yet.

In response, Celia instinctively stands up, but Jura is only half-joking.

What she truly desires are the following words.

“If you don’t like that, how about a match with your big sister to get used to your weapon again after a long time?”

“…!”

Then, Jura also takes out a weapon.

Given its unusual appearance, this must also be a magical weapon.

“How about the winner gets to go on a date with El?”

“Hmph, fine then!”

However, there was one more person who raised her hand.

“Wait! I can’t let that slide!”

Just now, Leone received her dedicated weapon as well.

As someone who cares for Elta and as the student council president of the academy, she couldn’t back down.

Then Jura changes the proposal.

“Then shall we do it with three people?”

“”…!””

Celia and Leone’s eyes widen, but they don’t hesitate for a moment.

The feelings for Elta, and the strength they have cultivated so far with those feelings in their heart, they believe are the best in their own way.

To prove those ten years, they couldn’t back down here.

“Alright, I will win as the Vice Captain of the knights.”

“I can’t lose as the student council president either.”

Thus, the match between the three of them was decided in a hurry.

In the midst of all that, Elta read the room and kept silent.

However, perhaps he was reaching his limit, and he just wanted to say one thing.

“Why?”

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Afterword

The third childhood friend is Jura-chan, the “Explorer of Magical Armor”!

One year older than Elta, and as childhood friends, she’s the senior!

Among them, she seems to be the “older sister” character!

In the future, there might be some talk about the past…?

Until now, Elta-kun was just dominating on his own, but finally, the heroine battle (physical) has begun!