ch21-ch40 · 028-ch28
Chapter 28: The Type Who's Popular With the Same Gender
I grinded away on the 16th floor and managed to raise my level by 2.
The time was 8 PM.
The dungeon's starry sky viewed from the high ground was another spectacular sight.
"I'm so tired."
What was tiring, you ask? Climbing up and down the hills.
When I kept defeating them, the orcs' corpses made the footing bad, so after defeating a certain number, I'd pull out the magic stones and move to the next hill, repeating this process.
Finally, it got dark and my vision was understandably poor, so I resorted to using the magic-using orcs' Fireball to create light.
Around me wasn't exactly a sea of fire, but it was quite a惨状 (sorry, but I think you want this translated as "quite a mess" or "quite a sight" in English).
The smell of burning orc meat filled the air.
"I'm hungry."
Still, I had no cooking equipment or seasonings, so I wasn't about to eat these orcs... but.
Unfortunately, I was covered from head to toe in orc splatter, turning bright blue.
In the darkness, I hadn't had the luxury of worrying about getting splattered while fighting.
In this state, I probably couldn't enter any stores, so I'd need to shower at the surface branch of the Association.
Either way, dinner was far away.
"[Gate]."
I placed my 'Left Gate' near the shadows of a hill close to the '17th Floor Gate' and decided to call it a day for today.
The changing room is inside the Association facility, so I have to pass by the reception desk, but should I change first before going to the reception?
"Well, if I see anyone I know, I'll just bow and head into the changing room. That seems like the right move."
By the way, for changing, I use the rental lockers in the changing room.
My wallet and phone are in a valuable items locker with a surveillance camera, visible from the reception desk.
Here's the problem though—should I get my wallet and phone first, then go to the changing room, or change first and then get my wallet and phone... I should probably change first. Besides, I won't get reception anyway.
Upon entering the Association facility, first comes the reception desk check.
Of the two reception desks, one is staffed by the male employee, Hiramatsu-san.
His partner isn't the black gal.
A serious-looking girl is sitting there.
She's cute too.
That's right, she is.
Actually, even the black gal is quite cute, and even Shiraishi-san gives off the impression of a beautiful lady.
The two from the morning were handsome older men, and the quiet guy from the afternoon was probably in the handsome category too.
Their levels are high.
Huh? Hiramatsu-san?
"Quite the getup you've got there. Go change first."
He's handsome on the inside.
After changing, I tried wiping my head vigorously with a towel, but I didn't feel like it all came off.
I really should shower on the surface before heading home.
When I lifted my backpack, it felt incredibly heavy.
I went too far. Even I know it'd be problematic to cash in all of these.
That human amplification speaker system probably announced everything when I came back at noon and left the magic stones behind.
Even if I had them put it in a locker at reception, there's a possibility they'd notice the weight.
And if I tried to take it home, I might be unable to move the moment I stepped outside.
I'll just leave it in one of these rental lockers for today.
They said not to put valuables in it, but if it gets stolen, that's not really a problem.
I'll go to Hiramatsu-san's desk and make up some excuse like "I need Watanabe-san to cash these in for me."
It might cause trouble for Watanabe-san, and I'd probably need to explain the situation to some extent.
If I keep the details of [Gate] vague and just say it's a movement-type special skill that lets me move fast, that I want to keep the special skill secret, and of course, I want to keep it secret from other staff members too—those three points wouldn't exactly be lies.
...It's normal to want to keep special skills secret.
Especially my [Gate], which has high utility value.
If it becomes known, I'm not exaggerating when I say it would make countries move.
After all, it could be the key to conquering the 50th floor, which all countries are competing for yet have stalled at.
But if I keep using it, someone will eventually see it and figure it out, and if I stand out, people will try to investigate.
I intend to tell Soushi and whoever becomes my party members, but if countries get involved, I can't even trust the Association staff.
Of course, there's also the option of going public and entering the protection of the government.
But how would that work out?
Wouldn't that be something to do when I can no longer progress through the dungeon with my own power?
I'll try to go as far as I can by myself.
That's what dreams are for, right?
The important thing is the timing of when to go public.
When I myself am recognized as an adventurer who can aim for the 50th floor.
Until then, [Gate] will remain my secret skill.
"Hm? Just weapons? Well, don't overdo it."
He figured it out without me saying anything.
This is what friendship between men is all about.
Hiramatsu-san is the type who's trusted and popular with the same gender.
"So you defeated the Minotaur, huh?"
Shiraishii. What happened to protecting personal information?
"Don't make that face. Well, listen. This is about taxes. You're overworking yourself, you know."
Come to think of it, I think Hayashi-san mentioned this during the training session.
They take half of what you cash in.
The girl next to him is taking notes while listening to our conversation.
Just as she looks, she's a serious type.
Is she new to the job?
"Once you get a Job, you're done with rental weapons. Buy a weapon that suits you. And when you do that, make sure you keep your receipts properly. It's not just about weapons, either—when you end up like you are today, you can't wear those clothes anymore, right? Next time you buy clothes, buy separate clothes for wearing in the dungeon and keep the receipts."
He starts talking about taxes while tapping the rental spear.
Huh? What did I do with the helmet receipt? The backpack receipt might still be in my wallet...
"And so, what becomes important is cashing in frequently. It's about showing proof of your activities. When you were active, when you spent money, whether that money was necessary for adventurer activities. When you cash in, it leaves a record here. If you do it on the same day, even meals you ate at places like the dungeon restaurants can be counted as expenses."
Seriously? I feel like I immediately threw away the wild boar cutlet receipt in the receipt container at the register...
That clerk, were they a [Trapper]?
"Aah, you're here already. Why?"
"Because you guys said you were taking a break halfway through and wouldn't move."
"We didn't walk for more than 2 hours straight, you know."
"When did you overtake us? Did everyone notice?"
This was the third time today with the party that has the scout girl.
This is bad. The scout is doing her job properly.
"If you didn't notice, that's exactly why she's a scout. Your fast movement is because of that too, right?"
Right, right, let's just go with that explanation.
The leader who said that headed toward the valuable items locker.
Hmm, so valuable items locker → changing room → reception is the right order after all?
"Are you listening? If you're going to advance further, buy proper armor too. And for the detailed tax talk, the higher-up staff members will consult with you."
Higher up, meaning the surface. When it comes to the surface branch staff, that's Hayashi-san.
That's right, I'll go see Hayashi-san.
Oops, if that party hadn't come, I would have forgotten my wallet and phone.
I could hear the voices of the five-person group again as they headed toward the changing room.
"But, would a scout go that far alone? If they can fight alone there, they might be stronger than us, right?"
"If so, maybe they're a Double? Their sub is a scout, right."
"Yeah, and I've never seen their face before. They must be from somewhere else."
"Hmm. I think even a scout would notice, though. Don't lose confidence."