ch41-ch60 · 057-ch57

Chapter 57: Drop Out of School or Stop Being Human

"Got the 300,000. Once I get the materials, it'll take about three days to make, so a week at most. I'll send it to the Chiba Branch. But hey, come by sometime and tell me how the nagamaki feels. I ain't here on weekends, so drop by any other day. See ya, Kasumi-san. Tomorrow, then. And don't forget what we talked about earlier."

Three days?

The [Blacksmith] skill is insane.

Wait, are there other employees on weekends?

"Yes. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

Hmm? Tomorrow?

Tomorrow's Saturday.

Come to think of it, I've been skipping school for three days now...

Watanabe-san must be power-leveling at the headquarters dungeon on weekends...

I need to talk to her about my future plans.

Jobs aren't exactly easy to quit, are they?

And I've got school too, so I guess things stay like this for now?

Well, we can discuss it over food.

I head toward the Dungeon Gate to exit to the surface from Mia-san's shop.

Along the way, it's the same hand-holding battle as before.

"Um..."

About halfway there, Watanabe-san calls out to me in a quiet voice, and I stop walking.

She's speaking softly.

"I want to hold hands too. But Mia-san said I'd get arrested just for holding hands..."

Hey, child shopkeeper.

Isn't that going too far?

Is it really?

"I was just so happy you kept trying to hold my hand, I ended up teasing you. I'm sorry."

Huh? So it wasn't training?

"Let's talk as we walk from here. I'll walk normally beside you, so please don't hold my hand, okay?"

Bam. Hand-holding rejected.

Curse you, child shopkeeper.

But chatting is fun.

Naginata at a girls' high school? I see, no wonder you're so skilled.

Wait? You're ten?

Actually, Watanabe-san, you're the one who...

That's right. I want to graduate quickly.

Your plans after graduation? Exactly.

"I've told my parents and school I'm going to college. But I'm dropping out. I'll focus entirely on being an adventurer and earn as much as I can."

"That's not acceptable. If you can go to college, you should. Your life after being an adventurer will be much longer than your time as one. I gained so much from university myself. The connections I made there continue to this day. Not 'if you can'—you absolutely must go. College is definitely the right choice."

We're at a steak restaurant now that we've exited the dungeon.

I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt with gym pants on the bottom—a pretty terrible outfit—but I was worried about a dress code for nothing and got in just fine.

"Actually, I was planning to quit my current job when you graduate high school, Haruki-san. Until then, I was going to adjust my shifts to work as an adventurer after school and on weekends to match your schedule. But if you're going to college, then I suppose I could continue for a while longer. I have savings, and you can rely on my money until your adventurer work stabilizes."

She was really thinking about this for me.

Having her continue working at the Association puts my mind at ease.

That was my only concern.

But earnings...?

Hmm?

"Huh? Am I actually earning quite a bit?"

"...Come to think of it, yes. Actually, I haven't touched the magic stones you asked me to cash in yet. But at a glance, there were over 50, maybe close to 100."

The latter half was whispered after checking our surroundings.

300,000 last week and nearly a million this week is pretty amazing.

Well, I did go absolutely crazy—enough to make Watanabe-san furious when she saw the magic stones.

"...You're earning quite a lot. But you can't be reckless. Even with a five-person party, your earnings won't multiply by five. You should assume they'll become one-fifth instead. Plus, adventurers have high expenses, and if you're aiming deeper, you'll need savings for that too. And if you're going to college, you'll need study time, right? My grades were decent, so I should be able to teach you a thing or two."

Studying!

That's it!

Wouldn't it be perfectly legal to have Watanabe-san teach me?

The child shopkeeper couldn't complain about this.

Which means... w-wait, she'd have to come to my house?

Alright, I'm gonna study hard!

"Yes! I'll study hard."

"Huh?"

I agreed way too easily, so she might be suspicious, but right then our food arrived.

The conversation shifted to the meal, and the moment passed.

"About the warehouse, I actually haven't touched that matter either."

Well, she was pretty angry, after all.

I figured she wouldn't handle it for me.

"I took today off and I'm off on weekends, so I left that matter to Sakura. I hope that was alright? She was quite pleased to learn what a capable adventurer you are. She was enthusiastic about it, so the paperwork should be finished by this afternoon. The documents remain, but you can start using it right away. I've arranged for the key to be left at the dungeon counter. It's a card key, so once you register it, you should be able to open and close it with your license too."

Even when you can't do something yourself, you get someone else who can.

That's what being capable is all about.

She's definitely good at teaching too.

"But not today. I know I'm the one who took you out, but please go home and rest properly."

Okaaay.

I'll work hard cleaning my room.

"I mentioned teaching you earlier, but for the time being, it'll probably be at that warehouse. The second floor should work as a simple office, so let's work hard there. Ah, but would it be bad if we were alone? I should ask Mia-san."

No, that's perfectly legal.

It's just studying, so it's as legal as with the child shopkeeper.

"I'm actually good at cooking too, but I can't invite you over, right? Hmm, it seems I can't until you graduate. But if you manage to break through Floor 30, I'd like to celebrate with a home-cooked meal."

I want to quit school right now.

Or Floor 30...

I'm already halfway to ceasing to be human with my stats and super mode and all, but I suppose I'll have to get serious now.

It's either drop out of school or stop being human.