ch41-ch60 · 044-ch44

Chapter 44: A Guarantor is Essentially a Debt Flag

"Well then, how about this property?"

Hayashi-san was sitting next to me, and we were looking at a computer screen displaying vacant properties inside the dungeon.

Hayashi-san is a beautiful, energetic-looking woman with black hair tied in the back. She's the one who gave the lecture when I got my adventurer's license.

She's sitting really close. She smells nice. Her profile is dangerous. What should I do...?

Beyond Hayashi-san's profile, someone was looking at me.

It's Watanabe-san.

She's also a beautiful woman with glasses and long black hair, but...

Sometimes, no, she's been staring at me this whole time. Her glasses look different from usual today. Maybe because of that, it feels like she's glaring at me..., no, this might be what they call a jito-eye.

(How did it end up like this?)

Skipping school to open a bank account went fine. Well, it's not like the current situation is bad... I think...

After that, I finished some light shopping for clothes to wear inside the dungeon and came to the Chiba branch.

Watanabe-san was supposed to be on the surface side in the morning, so I was looking for her at the Association's surface branch.

Then, I ran into Hayashi-san in the hallway.

"Oh, Kasugano-kun. It's been a week. How's your adventurer life after one week? You've progressed pretty deep over the weekend, right? You didn't go to the headquarters by mistake, did you?"

A casual conversation started with her characteristically energetic way of talking, but...

"If there's anything troubling you, please let me know. If there's anything I can do, just say the word."

"Anything?" - I got distracted by that and replied without thinking.

"Ah, actually, I was thinking about renting something like a warehouse inside the dungeon..."

Before I could finish, she took both my hands.

"That's wonderful, Kasugano-kun. The fact that you want to rent a warehouse means you've decided to continue your adventurer life in the Chiba Dungeon. If you're looking for vacant properties, leave it to me. I have materials at my desk. Let's go."

Just like that, she pulled me by the arm.

(She's strong.)

No, maybe the problem is with me right now.

According to my classmate who's a dungeon nerd, when beginners who recently entered the dungeon level up rapidly, it interferes with their daily life on the surface.

It seems I'm experiencing those symptoms too.

I can't control my strength properly on the surface. Even though you're not affected by status outside the dungeon, when I intend to use just a little strength, I end up using my full power on the surface.

Right now, I'm constantly in a relaxed state on the surface. If I tried to shake her off in this condition, I'd end up hurting Hayashi-san.

That's why I stopped myself, but...

Watanabe-san was inside the door we went to.

I was looking for her, so this should have been perfect timing...

"Ah..."

"Yes, yes. Come to my seat. Please sit down. Go on, go on."

I was about to greet her, but before I could, she took my hand and led me to Hayashi-san's seat, then put a hand on my shoulder and made me sit in Hayashi-san's chair.

Then she brought a pipe chair from against the wall and sat between me and Watanabe-san.

Hayashi-san's and Watanabe-san's seats were slightly apart but in the same row.

And that's how the current situation was completed.

"Kasumi-san?"

Hayashi-san noticed that I was looking toward Watanabe-san. She turned toward Watanabe-san and called out to her.

Hayashi-san, turning back, exposed the nape of her neck as she tilted her head.

But Watanabe-san's gaze was still on me.

I can't look. In situations like this, it's peripheral vision in soccer, or generally just peripheral vision. I'll look just a little with the corner of my eye. Thank you. Thank you. Her hair has a different nice smell from before. Thank (abbreviated)

"...I'll make some tea."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't even notice. Please do. I'm sorry, Kasugano-kun."

"Oh, please don't worry about it..."

Watanabe-san looked at me for a moment before leaving the room.

"Basically, the rental rates don't change depending on the location. What changes the price is the land size and the equipment attached to the building."

I don't really need any equipment or anything. As long as it's not visible from outside, and the things I put inside don't disappear.

What I want is a safe place where I can set up my "Right Gate," and a place where monster drop items won't be absorbed by the dungeon.

"Additionally, electricity is separate. This is sent directly from the dungeon's power generation facility, so it's quite cheap. On the other hand, this dungeon has no water sources or rainy areas, so water is very expensive. That's why you need to be careful with buildings that have water facilities like kitchens or toilets, as they cost quite a bit separately from the rental fee."

A shower would be nice since I often come back covered in monster blood, but that's still for later. I want to use the Association building's toilet too, but it might be suspicious if I go to the toilet when I'm supposed to be deep in the dungeon...

There are convenience stores too, so I guess I'll have to rent from various stores in rotation.

When I can steadily earn large amounts of money, let's rent a big living space for the whole party. Because of MP recovery, you can't stay overnight in the dungeon, but I dream of having strategy meetings at a base.

Many people rent houses inside the dungeon as party bases and do things like filming videos.

"I don't need any equipment right now. I really just need the warehouse functionality, so please, something like that."

"Yes. Then I'll narrow it down."

The computer keyboard is directly in front of me.

As a result, Hayashi-san next to me stretched a little and came in front of me. I straightened up like I was leaning back, and she ended up looking down at me from above.

Just as I thought "Ah," the door clicked open.

Yes. Watanabe-san came back. With a tray in one hand.

I quietly slid back.

"..."

Thud. Watanabe-san placed tea in front of me, as if pushing Hayashi-san aside.

"Oh, thank you."

I gave one to Hayashi-san too.

"Sorry for always troubling you, Kasumi-san."

Hayashi-san has a nice smile. These two get along well, don't they? They went to eat together too.

"..."

Silence. So silent that I think she might have been replaced by Sato-san. She's looking at the computer screen from next to me.

"Oh, here. This one is good. This warehouse is vacant, right?"

"Please wait a moment. I'll check how the shop on the main street is doing."

There's tea in front of me, so Hayashi-san pulls the keyboard toward her and investigates something.

"...This place is."

Oh, Watanabe-san noticed too. Hyah. Watanabe-san leaned forward to get a better look at the screen.

Right now, I'm sandwiched between two beautiful women, Hayashi-san and Watanabe-san. Watanabe-san smells nice too.

Come to think of it, I've never had a standoffish moment with Watanabe-san. Next time, no, starting today, I should try it out...

"It doesn't seem to be a shop that deals with products that would use a warehouse. I'll check with this shop just in case, but it should probably be fine. I'll put it on hold for you."

The priority right probably belongs to the shop along the main street heading toward the "Second Floor Gate." It's probably a warehouse made for that shop, after all.

But "put it on hold" - does that mean I can't rent it immediately?

"What do you mean by 'put it on hold'?"

"Um, sorry. I realized this halfway, but vacant properties, or rather, land rentals are limited to adventurers of Single-Rank and above. And you need a guarantor too."

Ah, right, she doesn't know I've reached Single-Rank. They've started information control on me too, though...

When I looked at Watanabe-san, who had returned to her normal posture, she shook her head slightly.

I guess that means I don't need to say anything.

"It's fine. For someone ambitious like you, Kasugano-kun, you'll become Single-Rank in no time. Until then, I'll responsibly hold the land for you, so do your best. Ah, there's also a discount based on the higher rank between the contract holder and the guarantor's adventurer rank, so please consider that too."

So the guarantor has to be an adventurer too... what should I do...?