ch41-ch60 · 046-ch46

Chapter 46: Written All Over Your Face

I thought the sparring would end once the guarantor came up, but I kept getting beaten to a pulp after that.

Though Watanabe-san never took the initiative to attack me.

Watanabe-san, committed entirely to defense, was truly an iron wall.

I tried to step forward and force a weapon lock again, but I got tripped and sent tumbling. Game over.

So frustrating.

"Regarding the first transfer, it should be completed by tomorrow noon. It was quite a substantial amount, so you should probably start by getting a new spear."

First transfer, huh...

If I just handed over the Boston bag sitting in my locker as-is, I'd definitely get yelled at.

She did tell me not to do anything reckless, after all.

I need to adjust things properly.

Maybe I should get that big bag I'm storing returned to me and transfer everything over.

"About how soon can I rent that warehouse?"

"There will be some paperwork to process on our end as well, so it will take until tomorrow noon. If no equipment maintenance or such is needed, it should be fine to enter after noon. The issue is how to explain this to Sakura... I mean, Hayashi. She already thinks you went Single-Rank? If you'd like, I can have Hayashi handle the paperwork instead?"

Her tone at the end sounded a bit prickly, didn't it?

I should leave this to Watanabe-san.

But... is she jealous?

No, forget it. The dense protagonist type is the only way to win.

Time to act like I didn't notice anything.

Better not say anything careless anyway.

I'm already beaten black and blue.

If I get burned instead of getting rice cakes on top of this, I won't stand a chance.

"No, I'd like you to handle everything related to me, Watanabe-san. As for Hayashi-san... let's see. The branch manager said I could use his name however I like?"

"Yes. Use his name or whatever else you need. Just be aware that his intention is to build favor with a promising newcomer. I said earlier that the guarantor would be the branch manager, but if that sort of thing bothers you... I could be your guarantor instead."

Whatever I want? Did she say whatever I want?

"I'd hate to trouble you that much... It's fine. I don't plan on leaving this dungeon for a while anyway. I'll accept the branch manager's help, and once I've grown, I'll repay that debt. In exchange, I'll take full advantage of everything on offer here too."

I was planning to grind away here until I reach Floor 50, and once I hit Floor 50, that'll be repayment enough in itself.

Well, who knows how many years that'll take, so until then I'll be drip-feeding information from my end too.

"If he's lending me his name, let's have him play the villain too. Since I'm a promising newcomer who went Single-Rank, we'll say it was on the branch manager's secret orders. I'll say that both you and I actually wanted to tell everyone, but... because of the warehouse situation, it's supposed to be secret, but I'll tell only you, Hayashi-san—just keep it a secret that I told you. If you could convey that message from your end, I think it'll work out."

"I see. Since you actually became Single-Rank in less than a week, it has quite a bit of credibility. No one loses out—it's a very kind consideration."

Yep. The branch manager's taking the loss here.

Well, I'll repay him all at once later.

"So, the branch manager, a Triple-Rank, is personally guaranteeing for a promising newcomer so he can rent a warehouse at a bargain price. I was planning to make him the villain, but wow, the branch manager's such a nice guy."

"Hehehe. Yes, he is. Hehe."

Ah, she laughed.

A smile.

That's right.

She was smiling when she first sent me off too.

Come to think of it... she was also smiling when she was beating me with the mop during sparring... Well, that must have been my imagination.

I didn't see anything because I'm the dense protagonist type.

Well, she's smiling way more now anyway.

Somehow, that makes me a little happy.

"Hehe, now that that's settled, shall we head back? I'll get the paperwork moving."

She's in a good mood.

I should hold off on cashing in those Floor 19 magic stones today.

"Don't tell me—you finally won?"

The moment we entered the Association facility, Shiraishi jumped up from her chair and shouted.

I haven't been fighting her long enough to warrant a "finally."

"There's no way I could win. Right, Watanabe-san?"

"...That's... right. I'll hold onto your license."

Huh?

She was in such a good mood just now, what happened?

"?? Is that so? Was I mistaken?"

Watanabe-san headed to the back, mop and naginata in hand.

"Watanabe-san had this look like she was going to punish you when she left... Did you corner her quite a bit? It's written all over your face that something good happened to you."

You can tell that?

"Not a chance. As I said, the level gap is too much."

I raised both hands to show my mud-caked—or rather, sand-covered—clothes.

"Hmm. [Analyze・HP]. You haven't lost much at all. Didn't hit you hard enough, I suppose. [Heal]."

"Whoa."

Amazing.

So this is [Heal].

I'd seen it in videos, but this is the first time I've had it cast on me.

My shin doesn't hurt anymore.

[Analyze・HP] is a skill that lets you view HP, huh.

Both are [Healer] skills.

"Um, how much do I owe you?"

"Hmm? Huh? Wait, what? Oh, it's fine, it's fine. I did it on my own, after all. Consider it onee-san's goodwill. If I charged money for this, it'd be really expensive, you know? Just accept it gratefully."

That last part was unnecessary.

But experiencing recovery magic firsthand is huge.

I'll brag to Otaku about it next time.

"Then, I'll accept without reservation. Thank you very much."

"Yes, yes. Besides, I have something I need to apologize for too. Let me apologize first. I'm really sorry. Here you go."

She's holding her hands together in front of her face.

Isn't her needing to apologize a regular occurrence?

Though this is the first time she's actually apologized...

Then she gestures with her index finger, beckoning me closer.

She's checking behind her too.

Is this something Watanabe-san shouldn't hear?

"...Your HP is strange. It's too high."

Ah. Can she estimate my level from the HP she sees?

I won't be able to get healed so easily anymore.

"I'm sorry, okay? Is this something you're keeping secret from Watanabe-san too? With this HP, you really can't beat Watanabe-san? You're not just playing around with her, are you?"

"No way. Like I said, our levels are too different. I tried to turn it into a contest of strength today, but I lost. Also, I'm leveling up so I can beat her, so it's a secret from Watanabe-san."

"Watanabe-san is that strong? I see, so you were working hard so you could beat her. Understood. I'll keep this secret. I won't tell anyone."

You peeked at it without permission. "Keep it secret" isn't the right way to put it.

"But this would be easy for a [Healer] to figure out."

That makes sense.

"It's only a secret for now, so."

"If you want [Heal], come to me. Don't go to other women, okay?"

"What are you talking about?"

""Eek.""