80. I Like Girls, But No Experience Is Bad Isn’t It?

“Let’s go! Craft-sama!”

Of course, it was Shururu the Lizardwoman clinging tightly to my arm.

“Um, Shururu? It’s hard to walk like this…”

“Then how about this!”

Somehow, she lifted me into a princess carry.

Me.

“Pfft!”

Jitaro burst out laughing. I’ll get him back for this later!

“Shururu!? Please put me down!”

“This way, you don’t have to walk, right?”

“No, no, no! Look! Shururu, you’ll get tired!”

“It’s fine! I drank Craft-sama’s stamina potion!”

“That’s not the point!?”

In a half-panic, I couldn’t think of how to stop her.

Leafan sighed with a wry smile.

“Craft-kun, why don’t you just say you’re embarrassed?”

“Huh? Oh, right! Shururu! It’s really embarrassing! Please put me down!”

“I’m okay with it, though.”

“But I’m embarrassed!”

“Oh… alright then.”

Reluctantly, she put me down.

As Shururu tried to hug my arm again, I quickly moved next to Jitaro.

Shururu looked at me with her finger in her mouth, clearly disappointed.

Wait, Shururu. I don’t dislike you, but if you come on too strong, I want to run away!

“Raidoc! We’re ready to go!”

“Y-yeah, right.”

When I moved towards Raidoc for help, he had Solar and Eva on either side of him!

They were glaring at each other over Raidoc, and it was scary!

“Solar, there’s no need for a ranger to be next to the commander, right?”

“You don’t need to cling to him either.”

The tension between their gazes was almost palpable.

“Everyone! We’re leaving! Form up! Solar, you scout ahead, Shururu guides with Jitaro! Eva, you stay in the middle with Craft, Marilyn, and Bardock!”

“I want to stay with Raidoc-sama…”

“I’m on the flanks!”

Raidoc shouted in distress.

“You should rot.”

“Craft, you’re guilty too, you know?”

“Shut up.”

I used to be a poor, powerless magician, so no girls ever came near me. But things are different now.

Sure, I like girls, but I have no experience in dealing with them, so I don’t know how to handle it!

Besides, deciding who to be with for the rest of my life isn’t something I can do easily!

“What? Craft-kun, do you want to get married?”

“Leafan… No, it’s not that, but if you’re going to date someone, you need to think about that, right?”

“Oh, I see. You’re serious about it.”

What is this?

I’m not saying anything wrong, but I’m getting a look of sympathy…

No, it must be my imagination!

“Craft! Let’s go!”

“Sorry, Raidoc! Everyone, get ready and form up!”

“I’m ready.”

Leafan, my escort, pouted slightly.

Eva reluctantly joined us, and we set off.

◆

As we progressed through the forest, Shururu suddenly bounced back and hugged me.

“The cave is just ahead!”

“Shururu! You don’t have to come back every time!”

We gathered to observe from a distance just in case.

Solar approached to check for safety.

“Nothing seems wrong from the outside.”

“Yeah. But if the Lizardman warriors haven’t returned, it could be connected to another world.”

“If that’s the case, it’s a bit tricky.”

Dungeons connected to another world are unpredictable in scale.

There are several types of dungeons, so we’ll have to enter to get a better idea. If it’s not connected, strong monsters might be inside. Otherwise, it’s strange the warriors haven’t returned.

As I discussed this with Raidoc, Solar returned.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. It’s connected to another world. The cave-type dungeon seems quite large.”

“A cave-type dungeon, huh? Might be resourceful.”

“Why didn’t they return to the village despite the connection?”

Shururu’s grip on my arm loosened.

“There haven’t been many discovered dungeons connected to another world. The warriors might have thought they could handle it like the others.”

I see. There weren’t many dangerous dungeons before.

Considering the Lizardman population, finding a connected dungeon is rare.

“This is bad. If they’re not used to dungeon exploration, they might fall into traps.”

“Traps in dungeons?”

“Right. If they’ve never encountered such a dungeon before, it could be urgent. We should explore immediately.”

“That’s fine, but Shururu should return to the village.”

“I can protect myself!”

Raidoc scratched his head.

“…It’s also risky to send her back alone. There could be Baron survivors. Considering the amount of food the warriors took, returning to the village would take too long. Fine. Shururu, you must not participate in the fight.”

“I can protect Craft-sama!”

“Alright. Stay by Craft’s side.”

“Yes!”

Wait!?

Of course, I have no objection to protecting Shururu, but her clinging makes it hard to move!

Especially with the soft parts distracting me!

“Craft… We should report this to Myrna.”

“Why Myrna!?”

I patted the creepy rabbit plushie Myrna gave me, hanging from my waist.

Oh, I get it. Unlike Kyle, I’m like the unreliable older brother she tattles on!

I want to be a dependable big brother!

“Anyway, Shururu! Dungeon exploration can be life-threatening, so stop clinging to me!”

“Okay.”

Shururu stepped back obediently.

If she were more lizard-like like her brother Jurara, I wouldn’t mind, but she’s almost human, with noticeable breasts, so I can’t help but be conscious!

Finally, Leafan intervened.

“Shururu, dungeons connected to another world are really dangerous, so no clinging inside.”

“Got it. I’ll protect Craft-sama instead!”

“I appreciate your resolve, but don’t overdo it.”

Shururu was enthusiastic but seemed capable of understanding boundaries.

“Alright, tighten the formation and move in. Stay alert.”

“Right!”

The previously relaxed atmosphere tensed immediately.

“Leafan, you’re not used to dungeons either, so follow Raidoc’s or my instructions.”

“Sure. I’m counting on you, Craft!”

“Leave it to me.”

We delved into the connected dungeon.

It was different from the dungeon we found and cleared on the way to this village. The previous one had stone walls and a building structure, but this one was a cave.

This type is hard to see through and easy to get lost in.

“The Lizardmen seem to have triggered traps and fled deeper.”

Solar found a trap quickly.

“Can you track their footprints?”

“Leave it to me.”

Following the tracks deeper, numerous monsters attacked us.

It’s a mystery how they survive, but many monsters live in these connected dungeons.

Of course.

In the past, I would’ve fled from such a high-difficulty dungeon, but with Raidoc’s party, the Caspar sisters, Leafan, Jitaro, and me, it was like a picnic.

“Craft-sama!”

“Raidoc-sama!”

Can’t we be a bit more serious?

Solar disarmed traps, and we instantly killed the monsters.

Following the Lizardmen’s tracks, we found an unnaturally large door deep in the cave.

“They’re probably inside.”

After carefully checking for traps, Solar listened at the door.

“…! There are sounds of a large-scale battle inside!”

“Damn! No time to check! Charge in!”

“Right!!!”

Warrior Morda and Raidoc kicked the door open, revealing a vast space.

Inside, numerous monsters were fighting Lizardmen.

“Everyone!”

“Shururu!? Humans!?”

The bloodied Lizardmen turned to us.

It seemed they were on the brink, fighting desperately.