Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? by Fujino Omori Page A

with that tone? Cut it out! This is a real dirty game you’re playing!”
    This is way too much stress for just keeping a promise! They’re scamming me!
    “It’s just a joke. I wanted to have a bit of fun, that’s all. Please, take your time and order when you are ready.”
    “… Okay. But just a little.”
    Clever girl, this one.
    I hold back a sigh and turn to face the counter. I remove the menu from a trendy stand and take a look. My eyes find the prices before the food.
    I exchanged enough loot to get 4,400 vals before coming here. I slew more monsters today than ever and picked up a few drop items on the side. My pockets are much heavier than usual right now.
    Fifty vals’ worth of food is enough to fill me up, but weapons, armor, and items are really expensive. I want to get some better equipment, but one healing potion costs 500 vals a pop! I barely have enough to pay for repairs for my own weapon and armor.
    My dagger cost me 3,600 vals, and I had to take out a loan from the Guild to cover it. I finally paid them back for that and my armor, but they’re really taking advantage of adventurers…
    I’ve got plans for this money. I’d like to save some, too.
    I guess I’ll have some pasta. Bye-bye 300 vals…
    The food here all has a flashy style to it. This is my first time eating food at a bar, but other places have to be cheaper than this…
    “How ’bout some ale?”
    I politely refuse the owner’s offer. I’m underage, but more than anything, I don’t have the money.
    She just ignores my words and thumps one down on the counter anyway.
    Why did she even bother asking?
    “Are you enjoying yourself?”
    “… I’m a bit overwhelmed, actually…”
    Syr comes back when I’m about halfway through my pasta.
    There’s a hint of irony in my voice.
    She unties her apron; her dusty blue hair shakes as she pulls it over her head. She puts it up on a hook on the wall, drags a stool up to me, and sits down.
    “What about your job?”
    “The kitchen is a little busy, but the others have everything else covered. Things are slowing down a bit, too.”
    She shoots a pleading look at the owner, asking for permission.
    The owner raises her chin in a jerking nod, giving her the okay.
    “Well, first let me say thank you for this morning. The bread was delicious.”
    “No, no. You coming here tonight made my empty stomach worth it.”
    “Don’t you mean it was worth it to force me to spend a lot on dinner?”
    I didn’t think I’d be paying this much for food; I have the right to complain.
    Syr laughs with a smile, bowing her head and saying, “Sorry.” I hope she’s serious.
    After that, I ask her a bit about the bar itself.
    This bar, The Benevolent Mistress, was founded by an ex-adventurer, the dwarfess behind the counter. Her name is Mia, but the employees here usually call her “Mama” or “Mama Mia.” She got permission from the god of her
Familia
to retire from dungeon crawling and open up shop. I suddenly had a lot more respect for the lady behind the counter.
    She only hires women, period. However, Mia employs all types of girls with questionable backgrounds and welcomes them with open arms.
    “What about you?” comes out of my mouth without much thought. She simply says it looked like a fun place to work.
    “We’ve become pretty popular with adventurers recently, so money is flowing in. The pay is good, too.”
    “… Are you one of those people who’s in love with money, Syr? Kidding, kidding! But because so many different people come here…”
    She turns away from the counter and looks across the main floor of the bar.
    A human waitress lightly bends over to take a dwarf customer’s order. There are elves looking at their food with hungry eyes. A group of prums is living it up on the other side of the room.
    Everyone is raising their glasses and drinking until they’re red in the face.
    “More people means more possibilities. I get really excited just thinking about what I might