ch41-ch60 · 056-ch56

Chapter 56: One Step Forward

"Taking a break? Don't tell me you're feeling unwell?"

Ah, Watanabe-san's here.

Did the Kid Manager lose the argument already?

She's terrible at verbal sparring.

"I was just thinking about something for a moment."

"Was the jumonji spear not to your liking? Perhaps since it was made for fighting people, it might not match what you, Haruki-san... envisioned using it for."

She's calling me Haruki-san again...

Maybe I should call her Kasumi-san too?

No, that's impossible.

"Actually, I haven't tried the spear yet. I was thinking about my Special Skill."

"Your Special Skill... I see... ...Is this something I may ask about?"

When she heard "Special Skill," she asked as if she'd made up her mind.

Revealing your Special Skill is something you only do with party members.

It's proof of mutual trust.

"I was thinking about how to tell you, Watanabe-san."

"M-me?"

"But this place isn't quite right."

This is basically the middle of enemy territory.

Pretty sure those things on top of the streetlights are surveillance cameras.

Watanabe-san looks around too.

"You're right. I've heard high-level Scout jobs can overhear conversations even through walls. Lately, there are organizations called Clans that forcibly recruit multiple parties, so it's best to be careful."

I've heard there are groups that ride around on motorcycles going "hyahhaa" and stuff.

I don't have trouble moving around because I have [Gate], but motorcycles and spears.

There's romance in that, I think.

...Have I been poisoned by [Charge Spearman] lately? I'm starting to pursue romance.

I need to be careful.

"Then let's go outside. How about steak for lunch? You lost quite a bit of blood yesterday, so I think you should eat some meat. Of course, I'll treat you."

The hospital treatment fees—or rather, the examination fees—were paid by Watanabe-san too.

She absolutely refused to let me pay.

"The hospital already treated me, so I'll pay this time."

"No. You also need to pay for the spear. Besides, I know your financial situation. I'm the one inviting you, so I'll pay."

I have her handle all my cashing.

Before coming here, I withdrew exactly 300,000 yen from an ATM on the surface.

If I hand this over to the Kid Manager, I'll barely have anything left.

To think I'd trigger the poverty flag here.

"You're pretty stubborn, Watanabe-san."

"Ah, Mia-san said the exact same thing earlier. That I'm a stubborn person. Hehe."

Same level as the Kid Manager...

Shocking.

But she's smiling.

That smile gives me the courage to take a step forward.

It's just like that time.

I prop my spear against the bench and stand up.

"Watanabe-san. Please form a party with me."

I look straight into Watanabe-san's eyes.

"...Yes. I'd be delighted."

Her response came surprisingly easily.

"I think Mia-san is right that I'm still a child. I'm only 18, a high school student. This is the best I can do right now."

Watanabe-san has a proper job as an Adventurer's Association staff member.

She doesn't need to become an adventurer.

She'd have to take responsibility for quitting her Association job to become an adventurer.

But for now, I can only take one step...

"It's alright. I'm already prepared. But let me ask just one thing. What is your goal... where do you aim to go as an adventurer?"

"Clearing the 50th floor."

I don't look away. Watanabe-san keeps looking into my eyes too.

"The 50th... honestly, I thought you'd say Quadruple, around the 40th floor... but it doesn't matter what floor. ...I'll protect you. I absolutely won't let you die. That's how I feel."

Sorry for being a bigger idiot than you imagined, saying the 50th floor.

And... how she feels, huh.

"If you feel any sense of obligation toward me, then first, make me a Triple-Rank adventurer. I want to obtain a high-level Job and help troubled production-class people like Mia-san. Then you won't have to take any responsibility for me. After that, I'm doing this because I want to. I won't leave even if you tell me to."

I didn't convey it well...

Did it sound like I just wanted to form a party?

Saying she won't leave even if I tell her to...

With her saying that much, I have to take one more step forward.

"There's something I want you to hear first... I like you, Watanabe-san."

"Fwa? Ah, um... n-no, I'll listen. Please continue, please..."

"I like you. That's why I want to be with you. Let's form a party and adventure together. I should have said this from the start."

Thinking back, maybe I liked her from the very beginning, from when she pushed me forward.

"F-fwah."

"But I'm not prepared for what comes after that. I can't guarantee your livelihood. We might even die. ...But I understand about the Triple-Rank. I promise to get there. Once we clear the 30th floor, by then..."

Can I make that resolve? I can't say for certain.

Honestly, I feel like we'll reach it around next month.

"Yes. I'll definitely obtain the strongest spear Job and show you that I can protect you."

"Then, please take care of me."

Watanabe-san takes my offered right hand with both of hers.

"Ah, um, I also..."

Somehow, the atmosphere became really nice.

This is...

Then, Watanabe-san suddenly lets go of my hand.

"...I can't go any further than this. I promised Mia-san. No police, no waiting."

What does she mean by "police"? What has that Kid Manager been teaching her?

Grr.

"Ahaha, let's go back. Mia-san is waiting."

With an awkward smile, Watanabe-san picks up the spear from the bench and heads back toward the shop...

Wait, I haven't tried the jumonji spear yet...

I catch up to Watanabe-san and walk beside her.

Watanabe-san on my right is holding the spear in her right hand.

Her left hand is free...

Would it be bad to hold hands?

I extend my right hand.

Smoothly, Watanabe-san moves away.

So it's no good...

As I'm hanging my head, I see Watanabe-san's feet.

Before I know it, she's walking right next to me again.

She's not looking this way.

Is this a chance?

I extend my hand once more.

Whoosh.

Watanabe-san moved away again.

I'm being avoided.

But she comes close again right away.

Hmm?

When I move my hand, she moves away, then comes close again.

This repetition.

Could this be...

(Controlling the airspace.)

Is she training me so I don't die in the dungeon?

"Those who control the distance control the spear."

They say an American Quadruple spear user said that once.

He never came back from the 50th floor...

In other words, he misjudged the distance.

In the end, I walked the short distance to the shop in silence, without holding hands.

"Oh, you're back. Listen to this. I came up with something amazing."

When we return to the shop, the Kid Manager is in some kind of excited state.

She takes the spear from Watanabe-san and starts explaining something.

"Can't decide which spear you want? So how about combining a jumonji spear with a regular spear? Make the butt end of the jumonji spear into a regular spear, use it as a jumonji spear normally, and when you want to thrust deep, flip it over and thrust. How's that?"

She says this while poking me with the butt end.

Combining spears is such a childish idea.

But she's motivated.

"Then for my first one, I'll go with that. Focus on durability, same handle length as before, but extend it by the length of the regular spear tip at the butt end."

I'll have her make lots of different ones and try various things.

I have the nagamaki too, so it's okay if the first one fails.

"What do you mean 'first one'? I came up with the ultimate spear, so you only need that one."

What's this "ultimate spear" thing.

Then have her make an ultimate shield too and have them fight.

Ah, the ultimate spear—that's it.

"If it's the ultimate spear, how about making the butt end into a drill?"

"Look, drills work because they spin at super high speeds to make holes, okay? Attaching one to a spear is pointless. Even elementary schoolers know that. You a kid or something?"

Ugh, shut down instantly.

And I got treated like a kid by the Kid Manager.

"Well, couldn't you spin it yourself or something?"

It's a motor, I'll bring a motor and go European-style.

"You idiot. Hey, Kasumi-san, don't you think—huh...? Isn't she standing kinda close? And she left all angry but now she's in a good mood. Kasumi-san, were you even listening to what I was saying earlier?"

Whoops.

We entered the shop still positioned like from our conversation earlier, so Watanabe-san is within arm's reach.

"Yes. A double-headed spear. I think it's a wonderful idea."

Watanabe-san answers with today's brightest smile.

"That's not what I meant."