Chapter 231.1. Long-Awaited Mining Dungeon

It’s been a while since they entered the mining dungeon. Moreover, it’s their first time venturing into a dungeon that became abandoned due to the abundance of powerful monsters, making it unprofitable. Mii-chan is excited, her ice-blue eyes filled with anticipation as they head into the labyrinth.
After a good night’s rest at the inn, the group arrived early in the morning deep within the forest and at the foot of the mountains. 
The area was overgrown with vegetation, and the abandoned warehouse was now covered in green, succumbing to nature’s threat.
Before me was the entrance to the mining dungeon, rumored to be inhabited by a Gold Golem. This dungeon was a labyrinth-type created with complex tunnels, a rarity among the environment-based magical night dungeons.
The entrance was previously occupied by Kobolds. It had been wiped out effortlessly by the first-year students’ combined power. 
They had even defeated the boss, Doggie King. Without a leader to coordinate, they were no different from a pack of stray dogs.
“Shall we go in first?” 
With her damp raven-like beautiful black hair gently brushed aside, Yamiyo narrowed her eyes slightly and surveyed the surroundings.
Despite being only in her first year of middle school, Yamiyo exuded an enchanting aura, and everyone exchanged glances, seemingly overwhelmed by her natural beauty, and nodded in agreement.
“Well… we did stay at their base.”
“It’s only fair.”
“Then let’s decide the order of entry.”
As everyone agreed, Shin patted Elizabeth’s growling shoulder to appease her. 
“The Student Council President’s favoritism… favoritism… they’re spending too much money!”
Elizabeth had realized she couldn’t accuse the student council president of favoritism and shifted her blame elsewhere, but unfortunately, no one paid much attention to her.
“Just because they go in first doesn’t mean we’ll get good magic stones. Let’s do our best together.”
Originally, in the original story, Elizabeth would complain about the student council president’s excessive favoritism and sneer at her power, authority, and financial strength. 
However, things changed when a certain beautiful girl set up a base and cooked curry instead of the tents and meals prepared by the student council president. Consequently, her lines changed.
Though she turned away, Mii-chan still confirmed that Shin hadn’t changed from yesterday.
It seems he couldn’t easily change his personality with a pat on the shoulder. Perhaps there were certain conditions for that to happen.
“Something’s not right… I go in Shin’s friend route… I was supposed to be in the winning route…”
Looking puzzled, Masatoshi observed Elizabeth and Shin. It seems he wanted to join Shin’s winning route. 
Unfortunately, winning, passionate love, and banking races are not to be trusted. Well, there’s no need to tell him. Since this is Aguni Dukedom we’re talking about, they will probably keep a proper distance.
“Well then, let’s go in!”
Today, Mii-chan enters the dungeon riding on Mini Guu-chan while shouting her war cry.
True to the name Mini Guu-chan, Guu-chan’s tiger-like physique has turned into a two-seater size. That’s due to my game specification.
The game specifications allow summoned beasts to be used on any narrow street or small room. So, when reflected in reality, I can change my summoned beast’s size to some extent. 
In the non-battle mode, where she’s not selected -Fight-, Mii-chan cannot strengthen her body, so it’s only natural that she becomes a Guu-chan Rider.
“…Mmm, so soft~.”
As the group advances, with Yamiyo leading the way, Sei-chan is the only one wearing a quilt as a makeshift cloak and riding on Guu-chan together. Or rather, it seems like she’s riding, but Sei-chan is sound asleep.
The tunnel is approximately 8 meters high and 10 meters wide, quite spacious, undoubtedly designed to allow Golems to move freely. 
The rough rock walls are covered in luminescent moss, providing faint illumination to the surroundings. Occasionally, water droplets drip from the ceiling like a gentle rain.
Throughout the tunnel, there are abandoned, rusty picks and overturned mine carts in disrepair. 
Many side passages complicate the dungeon’s conquest, making it quite challenging.
With only the dim glow of the moss, it’s hard to see what lies ahead, and a creepy feeling suggests that something might be lurking in the shadows of rocks and collapsed earth.
“It’s a shame we gave up just when Gold Golem is about to appear.”
Tamamo, who is keeping a close eye behind, says sadly while twitching her fox ears.
“You’re right, but this is not a regular mine. It’s a mining dungeon. If a dungeon spawns powerful monsters and it’s not profitable, it gets abandoned.”
“As Mii-sama says. Even if we could harvest billions worth of gold on the moon, hiring top-notch adventurers for more than a billion yen would put us in the red.”
Yamiyo follows up, agreeing with Tamamo. The value of gold and gemstones harvested in dungeons is lower than in my previous world, and unlike regular mines that ordinary people can exploit, mining dungeons require different approaches depending on the type and strength of the monsters that appear.
They abandoned this dungeon because it wasn’t worth the effort.
“That means the monsters here are either formidable or not worth the money! Let’s be careful!”
“Yeah… We need to eat a lot of breakfast to have enough energy!”
Hoku-chan jumps up and down while Nan-chan takes out rice balls from the backpack and munches on them. Perhaps that backpack is a magic bag?
And so, about 10 minutes pass as they continue through the dungeon.
From ahead, they hear heavy footsteps, seemingly carrying considerable weight.
“From the footsteps… I think it’s a Golem. A thumping Golem~.”
Tamamo’s fox ears twitch sharply, her gaze becoming keen.
Everyone reacts to the voice, preparing their weapons, and even Mii-chan jumps down from Guu-chan. Sei-chan seems completely exhausted, lying on Guu-chan’s back, fast asleep.
“It’s here!”
“Okay!”
Yamiyo and Hoku-chan take the vanguard position, ready to confront the Golem that has emerged before them.
With a grating, metallic sound Iron Golem appears. It’s covered in a lead-colored body.