ch41-ch60 · 047-ch47

Chapter 47 - It's All the Orc Magic Stones' Fault

"I-I won't forgive you if you go to any receptionist besides Watanabe-san, okay?"

What a forced excuse.

"I could have sworn I heard you say [Heal]?"

...Crap. How much did she hear?

"You seem to have quite a few secrets."

Ah, now she's turning her attention to me too.

"...You're still hiding magic stones. Please hand them all over."

"Um, ...I'll go get them."

Watanabe-san came back holding the rental spear... Better not defy her.

I quickly went to the changing room and grabbed my Boston bag.

Lying here wouldn't be a smart move.

I placed the bag on the counter as quietly as possible.

"Shiraishi-san, could you step away for a moment?"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

The moment she said "Huh?" her gaze, which had been fixed on me, shifted toward Shiraishi.

Shiraishi vanished into the back office with a pyaa sound.

After confirming that, Watanabe-san opened the Boston bag.

"...! Could it be... Are all of these from the 19th floor?"

As expected of a receptionist. Correct.

"...Yes."

"Didn't we agree you wouldn't do anything reckless?"

"I wasn't... being reckless."

I did charge in without thinking yesterday, though...

"Didn't you promise not to go deeper?"

Uh oh, she's super mad.

"I didn't go... any deeper than this. To the 20th floor, I mean."

That's just splitting hairs. Sorry.

Watanabe-san's grip on the spear tightened.

No, that's not okay.

"I thought it was strange. There's no way someone could level up every day. I even suspected you were strong from the start and were making fun of me."

So she noticed I was leveling up.

I tried to measure her stats and ended up having mine measured instead...

The schemer falls into his own scheme.

The strength contest was a mistake.

"If I give you this spear, will you do something reckless again?"

She said that, holding the spear out to me with both hands.

Oh, is it okay?

I grabbed the spear, but... I couldn't pull it away.

She doesn't seem to actually intend to hand it over.

She's using both hands, I'm using one.

But I already know from our earlier test of strength that even with both hands, I can't win.

"Promise me once more that you won't do anything reckless. Otherwise, I can't give you this spear."

Hmm? This is still weird, right?

Is she really that worried about me?

"Why are you doing this?"

I ended up asking.

What kind of answer was I hoping for...?

"Because I don't want anyone to die. This is my duty as an Association employee... No, as a person."

"Anyone... duty... you say. Do you do this for other people too?"

I see, I see.

That was close.

Didn't I keep telling myself?

Don't get the wrong idea, stay dense...

And yet...

Why is that?

"Yes. No one ever listened to me. You won't either, will you? But I beat you. So please keep your promise."

She said that firmly.

I see... she says this to other people too...

Why do I feel this way?

"I... understand. I'll keep my promise."

I looked Watanabe-san in the eyes.

She was scrutinizing my words with a serious gaze, checking for any lies.

She was smiling at me just a moment ago...

"...I'll definitely beat Watanabe-san and advance."

Looking her straight in the eyes, I declared that firmly.

([Charge・Spear], [Charge・Spear・Strength Up], [Charge・Spear・Endurance Up], [Charge・Spear・Agility Up].)

"Huh?"

I pulled the spear toward me.

Surprisingly, it slipped easily from Watanabe-san's hands.

Did she let go in surprise?

I don't want to be here right now.

So I ran.

There was a loud BANG.

I might have broken the Association facility's door.

With that much momentum, I flew outside.

"W-a-i-t... p-l-e-a-s-e..."

In this world where everything moved slowly, the voice from behind was slow too.

But I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop.

I ran with all my might and reached the back of the warehouse.

...Why did I come here?

I don't want to be here either.

([Gate].)

The 'Right Gate' took me to the 19th floor.

As soon as I arrived on the 19th floor, I dismissed the gate.

I finally ended [Charge・Spear] here too.

"..."

What am I doing?

It's like I just got rejected.

No, I didn't feel anything for her...

Nothing...

Damn it.

I don't have my helmet or bag, but at least I have my spear.

I'll take out my frustration on these orcs.

This is all your magic stones' fault.

"Pwoooon. Pwoooon."

The watchman orc blew his horn, and all the orcs on the hill gathered.

"Fugoh, fugoh."

Are these guys laughing at me?

"Fugohfu (That guy's delusional about getting rejected)."

What did you say, you bastard.

"Uwooooooh."

Zashu.

"Fugoh (Was there anything to fall for about you?)."

"Shut uuuup."

Zuba.

"Pwoooon (Horn)."

"Stop blowing that horn."

Baki.

︙

︙

I didn't think my level would go up in just one day.

Today I had no backpack, no bag, not even a pouch.

Not picking up magic stones was incredibly easy.

Honestly, extracting magic stones and going back takes more time than actually defeating monsters.

With roughly double the time efficiency, and fighting from past noon until it got completely dark.

As a result, my level went up twice in one day when I thought it wouldn't go up at all.

"[Status]."

Name: Kasugano Haruki

Job: [Charge Spearman]

Lv: 24

HP: 691/720

MP: 11/360

Strength: 60

Endurance: 60

Agility: 48

Magic: 36

Skill: [Gate]

[Charge・Spear]

[Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear]

[Charge・Spear・Strength Up]

[Charge・Spear・Endurance Up]

[Charge・Spear・Agility Up]

[Charge・Spear・Aiming]

Skill Points: 14

"I don't want to go back..."

It's past 8 PM, so surely Watanabe-san has gone home by now.

But what if she's still waiting?

If she worries about anyone, maybe she worries about me too...

If she's waiting, I should go back early.

I've been thinking about this since around 5 PM...

But what face should I go back with?

What kind of face am I making right now...?

While I was thinking about that, it had become completely dark.

"[Gate]."

It's dangerous to stay on the 19th floor anyway, so I might as well go back.

The other side of the 'Left Gate' is behind that warehouse.

"She's not here, of course."

What was I even hoping for...

I headed toward the Association facility.

My footsteps were heavy.

Covered in blood splatter and completely blue again today.

Maybe I'll get scolded again.

...I'm still hoping.

Even though she can't be here.

"The door... doesn't seem broken."

Relieved, I entered the Association facility.

"You're late!"

...The one waiting was Shiraishi.