ch221-ch240 · 225-ch225

Chapter 225: Anego's Owner

"So Kasumi-san being down is the New Dungeon's fault, then?"

What Aikawa says is fair enough.

Kasumi-san's heart aches for the adventurers who will lose their lives to reckless challenges.

"She was in a good mood all weekend, though. Oi, Haruki—do something about it."

That's what Mia-san tells me, but the fact is: we spent the weekend restoring her mood, then that announcement dropped and she sank all over again.

The misunderstanding about Kasumi-san was cleared up, we had a lovely dungeon date over the weekend, the 'Left Gate' is now parked on Floor 36, and my level has risen to 36—finally matching hers.

Yesterday was Monday, and I was working on Shiraishi-san's leveling when the Association made that announcement at midday, and Kasumi-san sank right back down.

For the record: Shiraishi-san is 24, Soushi 26, Aikawa 27, and Mia-san has gone up one to Level 32.

So here it is, Tuesday—a fresh new day, and we're in a meeting at Mia-san's shop about Kasumi-san's low spirits since this morning.

"...Why doesn't the little boy just propose to her?"

Says the person with even less energy than Kasumi-san, never learning her lesson.

Shiraishi-san is currently under the parfait ban and completely dried out.

What she calls me has reverted from "Haru-kun" to "little boy."

Well, I never did properly apologize to Kasumi-san for doubting her, so I suppose I've earned the "little boy"...

"If Watanabe-san hears that, you're really Aomori-bound this time?"

Aikawa is right.

It's her own just deserts, so I've decided to pay her no mind.

"Whew, that was close. If I hadn't leaked intel on Harue-san, my life might have been in actual danger. A best friend is what you need in this world."

Lately, Soushi has been cooking everyone's dinner in the dungeon, so I haven't been eating at home.

Father is off on his solo posting in Aomori, which means Mother inevitably spends her evenings alone.

Shiraishi-san apparently escaped her crisis by handing Kasumi-san the information that my mother is lonely.

Thanks to that, Kasumi-san has made me promise to leave the dungeon and go home by around six.

By having Shiraishi-san spread the word to Mother that my coming home is thanks to Kasumi-san, the memo affair was settled on the condition of a temporary ban on Soushi's parfaits.

I don't know when they became best friends, but once someone declares herself my mother's best friend, even Kasumi-san can't lay a hand on her.

"I figured you ate too many sweets anyway. Works out fine."

"Well, you see, now the talk is that he should make me cake."

It's the if-I-can't-eat-parfaits-I'll-eat-cake-instead strategy, apparently.

"That's right—the magic cake! Just eating it raises your level!"

"And so Soushi ends up in the kitchen! Good grief, that woman is hopeless..."

"Oh—someone's coming this way."

Light blue? No—it leans purple. Blue-purple, maybe?

Where Mia-san's presence is small, this person's is big.

I think it's a presence I've never felt before.

Nothing around here but Mia-san's shop is inhabited, so this must be the destination.

"MIYAKOOO! You in there?!"

Fists hammering the door, DON-DON-DON, and a husky woman's voice.

"Crap, it's Anego! Haruki, hide!"

Huh? Hide? Anego—the gorilla's? Wait, was it the lion?

"Oi, I can hear you! What's this 'hide' business? Get out heeere!"

"Mia-san, someone's calling for you? At this rate the door's going to break, you know?"

Just as Aikawa says, the DON-DON doesn't stop.

"Grrrnnn. Fine, fine. What do you want? Huh... OI! Don't just barge in!"

Mia-san pokes her face out of the shop entrance looking none too willing—and gets seized by the scruff of the neck and lifted clean off the ground.

"Yo, Natsuki. And two I don't know..."

"Heyyy—"

A large woman who apparently knows Aikawa strides in, still holding Mia-san aloft.

Big presence, and to match, tall and powerfully built—she might be over 180 centimeters.

So this is the 【Tamer】 who owns Anego...

I've heard 【Tamer】 stats are low, but this person looks strong.

Maybe 【Tamer】 is her sub-job?

There's only one presence, so she doesn't seem to have brought Anego today.

Well, you can't exactly transport a gorilla or a lion easily, can you.

She's probably waiting patiently back at headquarters.

"Hm-m. So you're Haruki, huh. Miyako's boyfriend?"

"You calling me an idiot? There's no way! Who'd you hear that from?"

Judging by Mia-san's indignant reaction, Miyako must be Mia-san's real name.

But how did I come to be Mia-san's boyfriend?

"Heard it from Kokoa. Sounds like you've got a high schooler tucked away in Chiba and you're having a grand old time?"

A person who adores Kokoa!

Koko-nee DID say something like that... but I denied it properly, right?

"THAT girl! This one's Natsuki's party member and has nothing to do with me! Just a customer!"

"Hm-m. That's what Miyako says, but is it true?"

"Yes. Exactly so."

My girlfriend is Kasumi-san.

"Oh dearie dearie me. Miyako, you got dumped."

"I'm TELLING you that's not it! I'll send you flying!"

"Ah-hah-hah! I'm Motoko—Ito Motoko. Pleasure."

"Uh, I'm Kasugano Haruki. Nice to meet you. Is Anego staying behind at home today?"

"Hah?"

"What are you on about? Anego's right here."

Hm? Mia-san says something strange.

There's only one presence here—Motoko-san's.

Anego can use something like 【Presence Concealment】 despite being an animal?

No—maybe Motoko-san's 【Tamer】 skill is hiding her presence.

But even shaking my head and scanning the area, I can't see her anywhere.

"Haru-kun—this person IS Anego-san?"

A person?

"Eh? Anego's a person? Not a gorilla that Motoko-san keeps?"

"Pfft—Haruki, you... Pfffhah-hah-hah-hah! She IS built like a gorilla, but Anego here is, believe it or not, a human being. Wah-hah-hah-hah!"

I don't follow.

Does she transform into a gorilla with 【Beast Transformation】?

"But didn't you tell me before about one that goes on a rampage when it won't do as it's told and might even eat a person?"

"MII-YAKOOO! You're the one who went around telling people I'm a gorilla, aren't you!"

"I wasn't! It wasn't me! It had to be Kasumi-san! Oww!"

Ah, a knuckle sandwich!

"There's no way Kasumi-san said a thing like that! It was you and only you!"

"Ow! Cut it out! Shiraishi-san is Association staff, you know! Keep that up and it's license revocation for you!"

"...Is that cake ready yet?"

A lovely smell has started drifting over, and Shiraishi-san's mind is elsewhere entirely.