arc03 · 062-ep56
Episode 56: Still Can't, Apparently
From there I kept sweeping Floor 11 at high speed, occasionally "playing" with shadow wolves and rock golems as training on the way.
And for all that fighting, my level's sitting still at 28 for now.
Well, the monsters on this floor are probably around level 26–27 themselves, so leveling slowing down was only to be expected. Two more to go until 30, though—which means it's about time to start thinking over what skill to learn next.
And when I can tell what skills a target's holding, I've been using 【Plunder】 here and there to convert them into proficiency—but the next enhancement looks to be a ways off as well.
Let's have another look at my status.
【Name】 Kobayakawa Takeru
【Level】 28
【Status】
・HP: 640 / 640
・MP: 74 / 74
・STR: 129
・VIT: 124
・AGI: 204
・DEX: 125
・INT: 119
・LUK: 4
【Held Skills】
・Plunder+
・Martial Arts (Lv. 3)
・Movement Arts (Lv. 4)
【SP】 15
Hmm.
Somehow it feels like my SP drop rate has gone down. Let's see—at level 27 I had 14, so all those battles netted me exactly 1 point, huh……
Just bad luck, plain and simple—or maybe there's some condition to it this time too. No use dwelling on it.
All I can do is pray that the drops keep coming.
Anyway—my pack's about full, so I'll call Sakurai-san and head back.
◇
By the time I made it back, it was around seven at night. Still a good deal earlier than usual. If I could just solve the storage problem, I could stay down so much longer……
"Welcome back. I'm so glad you're unharmed."
"I'm back~. This—cash it all in, please."
I hand over the whole bag, packed solid with magic stones.
"Another huge haul today, I see…… I'll process the buyback, so please wait just a moment."
"Will do~"
I moved plenty, and it's mealtime—of course I'm starving.
Guess I'll eat on the second floor before heading home.
"Thank you for waiting. Please confirm there are no discrepancies."
"Let's see…… yep. All good. Man, I'm really making money these days, huh."
"Indeed. The guild appreciates it as well—bulk deliveries of magic stones from C-rank and above are a real help."
"Sorry, though—I do nothing but fight, so I don't bring back many materials."
"Not at all—between the two, demand for magic stones is far and away higher, so think nothing of it. ……Oh, that's right. 『Braver』 left a message for you, Takeru-san, after everything."
"A message?"
"Yes. 『We deeply apologize for what happened. If at all possible, we would like to make amends.』—is what they said."
"Make amends, huh. There's not really anything I need done, but……"
Hm. Even if I did have 『Braver』 do something for me—they're all a fair bit weaker than I am.
Still, maybe it's a good chance to learn about ordinary adventurers who run in parties?
Having them treat me to a meal and picking their brains ought to do it.
When I told Sakurai-san as much————
"Understood. I'll pass that along to 『Braver』. We will handle the arrangements, so simply let me know your preferred date and time later."
"Got it."
This is probably another thing she does because she's my dedicated contact, huh.
Really—thank you, as always.
Oh, right—I wanted to ask about clans, too.
Hm, while I'm at it, might as well consult her about that as well.
"Sakurai-san, Sakurai-san. I've got sort of a consult—or well, some things I want to ask about. Have you got a minute right now?"
That very instant, my stomach lets out a long grrrooowl.
Urk…… Way to announce it, stomach. Not NOW.
"Hehe…… Yes, of course. Shall we talk over a meal in the private room of the second-floor café? My shift is ending anyway."
"……Sorry to trouble you. Thanks for this."
◇
The private room in the second-floor café.
Apparently the guild staff mainly use it for commissions and consultations with adventurers—solid soundproofing, calming wood-grain interior. So a room like this existed, huh.
The consult could wait—food first. I dug into the hamburger steak plate and large rice I'd ordered, pronto. Wait, this place is supposed to be a café……? That menu reads like a straight-up restaurant……?
"Mmmh…… so good! I feel alive……!"
"Hehe. You must have been absolutely starving."
Sakurai-san, bringing pasta to her mouth with impeccable grace, watches me with fond amusement.
Mild embarrassment and the taste of the food have my heart pulled in two directions, but with my stomach settled, I decided to get to the point.
"Phew…… thanks for the meal. So—about that consult I mentioned."
"Yes."
"You heard it this morning too, I think, all that commotion. Well—I was wondering, if I said I wanted to found a clan before long, what would the paperwork side of things look like?"
Sakurai-san's eyes went round with surprise.
"So you were serious…… I see. You're looking ahead to that 『Steel Wings』 scout—and to whatever recruitment attempts come next."
"More or less. I've got no interest in kneeling under anybody—but keep climbing from here, B-rank, A-rank, and I doubt the people around me would just look away."
"Knowing your own worth with that much accuracy is a wonderful thing. That said…… to give you the conclusion first: as things stand, you alone cannot yet establish a clan, Takeru-san."
"Huh? Seriously? Money-wise…… I figured I could manage that part well enough."
I'd be raking it in from here on out, plus I've got Mio—I figured it'd all work out somehow. Sakurai-san shook her head.
"This is not a question of money. Under guild regulations, only 'B-rank adventurers and above' are permitted to found and own clans."
"B-rank and above……"
"Yes. A clan is treated as an 'organization'—no mere party—securing its own base, trading in materials, and in some cases raising up the next generation and shouldering the responsibility that comes with it. Because of that, the guild makes it an absolute condition that its leader possess the trust and track record of at least a B-rank."
Huh. Makes sense, actually.
If any Tom, Dick, or Harry could found a clan, you'd get shoddy organizations popping up everywhere—trouble waiting to happen. With the Dungeon Federation and dungeon law involved, that line has to be drawn strictly.
"So it's either climb to B-rank myself, or haul some B-rank-or-better in to be the leader……"
"That is so. Though the latter would run against your wish to 'do things freely,' so your own promotion to B-rank is by far the surer bet, I'd say."
"Could you give me the B-rank promotion requirements in detail?"
"Let's see…… level 50 or higher, clearing the Floor 20 boss, and passing an interview at the guild. It's still quite a ways off, but…… at the pace you're growing, Takeru-san, it might not be such a distant future after all."
Sakurai-san looked me straight in the eye and smiled, soft.
"And if the day comes that you're B-rank and founding your own clan, Takeru-san…… I will support you with everything I have."
"Ohh, that's a huge weight off my shoulders! Please and thank you!"
"Yes."
Or maybe it's just me, but her voice sounds brighter than usual.
With a reliable dedicated contact backing me, founding a clan might actually work out.
"Right…… first: raise levels, and fight my way through to Floor 20. Now I know exactly what needs doing."
I asked her to set the dinner with Braver for five days out—the last day of the holiday string—and then left the café together with Sakurai-san, just the two of us.
B-rank promotion, and then a clan of my own.
Sure, it'd be a clan founded for purely defensive reasons—but if I'm building one anyway, I want it to be a good one. Would Aizawa join up if I asked her, I wonder.
One more brand-new goal on the list. Onward, one steady step at a time.