ch401-ch420 · 417-ch417
Chapter 417: The Fool
"Congratulations, Kasumi-san."
March 31st.
Today is Kasumi-san's last day at work.
The moment the clock hits five, everyone at the branch gathers to see her off.
The one presenting the bouquet is Hayashi-san.
Perhaps because I kept Hayashi-san in a good mood right up to today, she's seeing Kasumi-san off with a smile.
"Thank you, Sakura. I leave the rest to you."
"Uweeeh, ssu...... I wanted to sday with you longeh, ssuuu—"
"There, there. Once a new trainee finishes, you'll be the senior one. You'll be the one guiding juniors, you know? Today is the last day for crying, all right?"
Kasumi-san goes around greeting each of them in turn.
"Congratulations—is that the right thing to say?"
"Hiramatsu-san. Please look after Fuyutsuki-san."
"......"
"Sato-san, you'll be the only Triple-Rank at the branch—lean on the others from time to time."
"Maaan, Sato-san! It's her last day, at least say something!"
"Akane-san, since Sato-san is in this state, keeping the dungeon-side staff together will likely fall to you. If anything comes up, contact me anytime."
"Watanabe-san, congratulations. Lately you've been up to something or other behind the scenes again—keep a firm grip on those reins, won't you?"
"Endo-san, you've taken good care of me. I'll be coming to consult you often, so no farewell is necessary. Today, instead, allow me to offer you one piece of advice. Take that first step without fear. That is the ultimate secret of both the spear and of love."
"You can't stop at one step—you have to take two, three, you know?"
"Shiraishi-san, don't milk the grandpas for money too shamelessly? No gambling either. During breaks, please stay outside the dungeon as much as you can. And keep your phone with you at all times...... Thank you for everything, all this time. Do come to my wedding, now. I'll be throwing the bouquet to you, after all......"
Ugh.
The date isn't quite set yet, you see......
I haven't even proposed, in the end......
"Good work, all this way. That a Chiba branch full of problem children lasted this long is thanks to you, I'd say. My gratitude. Staff numbers have grown lately, and the employees are motivated. Retire with an easy mind. Watanabe, ......don't die."
With a crisp salute, the branch manager closes things out.
He seems to know that Kasumi-san is joining 'Blue Ocean' and aiming for Floor 50.
"Thank you...... for everything."
Kasumi-san returns the salute, looking every bit the part.
Beautiful women do make a fine picture.
"Kasumi-chaaan, don't goo——"
"Enough, get in the car. Then—Haruki-san, I'll call you tonight."
Kuwashima-san had come for the send-off too.
As her cohort's representative, she seems to have watched over Kasumi-san's final day of work from start to finish.
Kasumi-san has filming prep as a 'Blue Ocean' member at HQ after this.
April 1st is an important day for streamers, after all.
The strategy: announce her membership on April Fools' Day so nobody can tell whether it's a lie or the truth.
Spring Shadow's job and special skill are to be announced as well.
That ninja is already famous—his video dancing with Aikawa went viral.
Lately, I'm starting to feel like that guy is the real one.
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"Hm? What golem is that one?"
April 1st.
The day before university entrance ceremonies, I've come to Floor 40 for the golem-hunting that's become my daily routine lately.
Everyone's at HQ for the video shoot, so I'm alone.
Well, I'm doing this behind Kasumi-san's back anyway, so that works out.
Funds are tight, so after consulting Hayashi-san and Mia-san, I'm cashing in golems like this.
Under Mia-san's name, I'm having Hayashi-san cash them in without Kasumi-san knowing.
I've already handed Hayashi-san the magic stone of the Floor 30 boss, the Ogre King, with instructions not to promote me to Triple until the time comes.
Also that I'm suuuper strong, so I can defeat golems too.
I asked her to keep quiet as well, but as long as it becomes Chiba branch revenue, Hayashi-san probably doesn't care.
If Soushi and Aikawa were with me, the Flirting Strategy on Floor 39 would be the way to go, but for hunting a specific golem, Floor 40 isn't bad either.
The golem I'm after: precisely, a diamond-bearing Lock Golem.
It's not that I've made up my mind—but if I find one, that will be the moment, so whenever I find spare time, I'm out golem-hunting like this.
Then again, everyone's been busy lately, so the days keep going like this.
I still don't seem to appear in 'Sword Saint-chan's' dream, and even if I slept, it would be the same.
If we went to the 40s floors together, that would change again, I suppose.
"Huh? There was a metal one around here just now......"
I thought I saw it glint from atop the cliff, so I came down via the 'Eye Gates,' but my sense of direction went haywire and I can't find where it was.
"Ah, this one. There—【Gate】. This is...... gold-colored, right?...... Don't tell me—actual gold?"
The mimicking gold-colored golem already has the 'Eye Gate' deployed over its back, movement sealed.
Selling this would fetch quite a sum, no?
I might clear my target amount in one go.
No wait—when that Silver Golem showed up before, didn't we decide not to cash them in because copycats would appear?
Sorry, Hayashi-san—I'll just have to dismantle it and have Mia-san move it for me......
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"Yeah, yeah. You think I'd fall for THIS? How many times has it been since this morning, huh?"
I called Mia-san over, and THIS is the reaction.
And here I thought she'd flip over backwards with joy......
"Trick you? What do you mean?"
"It's pyrite! I know my stuff, all right! Where'd you even get it? You hid it away specially for today? As if!"
Somehow I got yelled at.
Eh? Pyrite? It's not gold?
"No, I just picked it up? On Floor 40......"
"Hm? You didn't know? Eh? Then aren't YOU the one who got tricked? By the dungeon. That's called fool's gold—it's not gold, it's iron, you know?"
Iron?
Unbelievable—some kind of April-Fools-only monster......
―――― March 31
SIDE: Hashimoto Masaki (Chairman of the Adventurer's Association)
"Five o'clock, is it......"
Today, my duties as Chairman of the Adventurer's Association come to an end.
About two years as chairman—much has happened, but this is no time to be sentimental.
Because a once-in-a-lifetime grand event awaits me after this.
The desk, already cleared out and empty.
From its top drawer, I take out the one thing that remained: a small box.
Inside: a ring.
In a sense, an engagement ring.
Yes—I will give this to Miyuki-kun and ask to court her with marriage in mind.
"Chairman, it's time. Everyone is waiting."
The last time I'll be called 'Chairman.' From here on, what will Miyuki-kun call me, I wonder?
Hashimoto-san at first, perhaps?
No—out of embarrassment, she may stay 'Chairman' for a while.
I do look forward to the moment it becomes 'Masaki-san.'
Or should I simply have her call me 'Masaki,' plain and bare?
"Chairman. Thank you for your service."
Oh? The one presenting the bouquet is Ai-kun.
This was always Miyuki-kun's role.
Well, if her burden is lighter for it, that's all to the good.
But I don't see Miyuki-kun anywhere, though?
"You there—where might Kuwashima-kun be?"
I ask someone nearby.
Perhaps she's too embarrassed by her crying face to come out.
For her, today is a sad day.
But it should soon become the happiest day of her life.
"Pardon? Fuyumi-san is here, so isn't today her day off?"
"Hah?"
Well, that's true, but......
I arranged for the two of them to alternate workdays so both could rest as much as possible.
But when I last checked before coming in, Miyuki-kun was definitely scheduled for work today......
Did Ai-kun perhaps come in on her day off, just to thank me?
"Kuwashima-san left for the Chiba branch this morning, with her escorts in tow. Her cohort-mate is retiring today, she said, and asked to trade shifts."
Wha—what!?
I confirm with Ai-kun—and am cruelly denied......
Chiba?
Why there of all places?
Even though I retire today too—did she prioritize THAT over this?
That couldn't possibly be......
Chiba...... don't tell me...... Is THAT one behind it?
"CURSE YOU, KASUGANO HARUKIII—!!"