ch41-ch60 · 059-ch59

Chapter 59: If I Make It to the 30th Floor, I Get to Eat Watanabe-san's Homemade Cooking

　I somehow ended up exchanging contact info with Watanabe-san.

　Wait, is this too fast?

　Watanabe-san said she'll be busy this weekend helping the child shopkeeper, Mia-san the [Blacksmith], level up.

　And since that's an important commitment she can't get out of...

　Apparently, it's because of a promise she made in exchange for getting that rental spear made super cheap.

　I'm still getting a lot of use out of that spear myself, so that's fine...

　But she told me to rest quietly this weekend.

　I can't do that.

　I have to go all out in the dungeon.

"So, yesterday's match counts as my win, right?"

"Of course. The match was already decided at that point. And yet I did something like that... I'm truly sorry."

　Watanabe-san bows deeply.

"Please raise your head. I'm not asking you to apologize.... Um, would it be okay if I go to the 20th floor?"

　Watanabe-san looks up abruptly.

"....Isn't that cheating?"

　Ah, she's giving me a sharp look.

　She was smiling so nicely just a moment ago....

"Listen, I've never gone all out in the dungeon before. The only time I get serious is when I'm fighting you, Watanabe-san."

"Only with me.... By 'serious,' you mean that [Charge・Spear] technique, right?"

"That's included. I've tested [Charge・Spear] against monsters a few times as practice, but that's all. Am I too weak to challenge the 20th floor?"

"Not at all. No one knows your strength better than I do. But I know how dangerous it is... Anything can happen in the dungeon. Would Monday be okay? I'll go with you."

　I answer by shaking my head.

"On Monday, I'll bring the 20th floor boss's magic stone with me. You handle the Double-Rank promotion procedures for me."

"That's still cheating.... Forgive me for not being able to go with you when I said I'd protect you. Please don't do anything reckless or force anything until I can join you."

︙ ︙

　Last night, Watanabe-san called me again, and we talked for a while.

　This morning, she woke me up too.

　I'm smiling, but my mother has been grinning since yesterday too.

　You'd think she'd be more worried about her son skipping school to just play around.

　The day before yesterday, I didn't even come home, and yet...

I need to tell her I'm going to the dungeon.

"Mom...."

"Oh? Going out again today? Maybe you should dress up a little nicer? Do you need some allowance money?"

　She's really trying to tease me, isn't she?

I'll just ignore her.

"I'm off."

　On the way to the dungeon, I get a message from Watanabe-san.

『I've arrived at the main branch. We'll gather at Mia-san's shop and then head to the back. Haruki-kun, please be careful with your condition and take it slow. Once I enter the dungeon, I probably won't be able to contact you until around tomorrow evening, so I'd appreciate it if you could leave a message when you exit the dungeon.』

　She might have already entered the dungeon, but I'll reply anyway.

『I'll be at the Chiba branch soon. I'll contact you when I exit the dungeon. Let's both do our best.』

『＾＾』

　I can't help but smile.

All right, let's give it my all.

If I make it to the 30th floor, I get to eat Watanabe-san's homemade cooking.

　While dramatically setting up that flag, I'm inside the dungeon.

　Since it's the weekend, there are quite a few people here.

　The reception staff are two handsome middle-aged guys.

　Just as I'm about to call out to one of them to withdraw my rental spear, Shiraishi comes out from the back.

"When did you rent a warehouse space? It seems they need the owner present for the handover, so I'll come with you. Here's the card key. And this... it's some luggage that arrived for Watanabe-san, but she said to give it to you."

　I'm seen off by the handsome middle-aged guy who returned with my spear, and head to the warehouse with Shiraishi.

"This here will be our party's base."

　She suddenly said something.

"But, about that....

"No, no. I've heard properly from Watanabe-san. I'm glad things are going well. Or did you want to form a party with me instead?"

　She's still saying something.

　But I might actually owe this person one.

I guess I should go back to calling her 'Shiraishi-san' in my mind too.

"I'm sorry. I had prepared my resignation letter and everything, but Hayashi-san found it and tore it to shreds. I probably can't quit, but I hope Watanabe-san is able to resign properly."

　I feel like I just heard about the existence of some final boss.

　This person is a [Healer], so she's actually the biggest money-maker at the Chiba branch.

　Meanwhile, according to Watanabe-san, Hayashi-san is making extraordinary efforts for the development of the Chiba branch.

　Yes. I heard about it on the phone yesterday. Smiling.

　For the low-income Chiba branch, losing someone like Shiraishi might actually be an existential crisis.

　Hayashi-san would naturally try to stop her too.

　But what about Watanabe-san?

　Hayashi-san seems quite attached to Watanabe-san.

Would she allow it?

　....I have no choice but to become Triple-Rank then.

　Currently, there's no exclusive Triple-Rank at the Chiba branch.

　Even Double-Ranks, apparently only one party is operating exclusively for Chiba.

　If a Triple-Rank appears at the Chiba branch, Hayashi-san probably wouldn't object.

So it has to be the 30th floor after all.

I have to go.

"I'm opening it."

　She holds the card key to the warehouse door.

Beep.

Oh, it opened.

The moment of triumph.

"Well, we just rented it, so there's nothing here. The second floor just has surveillance camera equipment and a desk, I think. Oh, the second floor has air conditioning too. Now then.... The electricity should be on, right?"

　Click—Shiraishi flips a switch, and the lights turn on.

Just to be sure, I confirm the second floor too, and the handover is complete.

"To register the key, try holding the main card key while the door is open. Yes, select register and beep, okay, you try it too."

I see.

I hold up the card key, select deregister, and delete the one license that's registered.

"Tch."

　This girl casually registered her own license with such natural ease.

I register my own adventurer's license again.

This way, I just need to have my license with me.

"By the way, what's in that box? It was pretty heavy, but...?"

　She changed the subject so quickly.

　Earlier when we went up to the second floor, she made me go first, and when coming down, she went down first.

She actually has no gaps in her defense.

She might be surprisingly competent.

"This is a new weapon. Is it okay to leave weapons here?"

　It's the kind of thing that would violate the Swords and Firearms Control Act outside.

"I haven't heard of any rules against that sort of thing. It's only been 5 years since dungeons opened to the public, so they're probably pretty lenient about that stuff, don't you think? As long as you don't take it outside, and you should probably report it if there's a chance it might be stolen. I'll check into it later, just in case. More importantly, let me see."

　I open the box.

Inside is the nagamaki that Mia-san gave me as a bonus yesterday.

"Huh? That's not a spear, is it? Are you okay with that?"

"It's fine for enhancing purposes. I'm having a separate spear made, so this is just a placeholder until it's ready."

"I see. Will you be keeping your weapons here from now on? When your new spear is finished, you have to show it to me properly, okay? Alright then, I'm heading back, but...?"

"Yeah, I'll move all my stuff here too."