I use Swift II, and dash through the dungeon at full speed to return to the association.
It’s still morning, so there aren’t many adventurers around.
The assessment counters that usually have seven lines are empty, and the receptionists are idle. I’ve only started coming here less than a week ago, but since I have Aki and Maki as exclusives, they know who I am.
And so, when they aren’t doing anything, they smile and wave at me. It’s a little tiring for me mentally, but it also makes me a little happy.
But since I want to be healed by the ones I really like, I just greet them quickly and head straight to the exclusive counter.
Hana is sitting here as usual, but she’s with the branch manager. Are they in the middle of a meeting? Actually, that’s perfect. I should report to the branch manager too.
“Branch manager, Hana.”
“Amachi? You’re here early. Those two are… Wait…”
“Oh dear, you’re popular…”
Their eyes are pointing behind me. It really does sound like the branch manager knows them.
“Can you call them? And it would help if you stayed too, branch manager, because I want to report to you about something else.”
“All right, let’s go to the same room as always.”
“Byebye.”
Hana says goodbye, while we head to Maki’s meeting room.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
We only wait for a few minutes before Aki and Maki jump into the room.
“Aki, Maki…”
I hug them before they can say anything.
““Fue!?””
Ah, that’s reassuring.”
“Well, he’s showing off.”
“Ah, you are…!”
“A-Ayane…”
They notice Ayane, and hug me back as if opposing her.
That makes me feel happy too. Maki looks a little sullen, and Aki is threatening her like some sort of cat. Whoa, easy!
“Thanks, that makes me feel calmer.”
I said and try to step back, but they don’t let me, so I sit down with them still holding me.
The two sisters take position next to me, with Ayane and Aira facing us, and the branch manager sitting at the end of the table.
“First, I should report to the branch manager.”
“I have one question before that.”
“What is it?”
“When did you meet them, Amachi?”
“They’ve been following me ever since I entered the dungeon today, and they called out to me when I stopped for a moment on the second floor.”
When I tell the branch manager that, she lets out a big sigh.
“Then why didn’t you come back to report then? You can report that kind of thing to the association as harassment.”
“Eh? Well, I’ve been followed a few times, so I assumed it’s just something that happens.
And there were other, more important things I wanted to investigate. I figured it would be fine. But they still wouldn’t let up, and I started thinking going on like this would be bad for them. And it was distracting me too, so I thought I should come back.”
“…”
The branch manager looks exasperated by my response.
Did I say something weird?
“Mom, that’s just how Shouta is.”
“The kind of person to prioritize hunting over a date…”
Say Aki and the branch manager.
“Ah… Sorry about that…”
Being reminded of that makes me feel bad.
But I’m also pretty sure I would do the same thing if it happened again.
“Fufu, don’t worry about it. The way you think about dungeons… Is something I like about you.”
“Me too! I-l-like it!”
“Haha, thanks you two.”
“Ahh… If you’re fine with it, that’s fine. Maki, didn’t you say something like this happened before?”
“Yes, but Shouta said we didn’t need to pursue it further, so I left it at a verbal warning.”
“I see. Give me your report then, Amachi.”
What was I going to say?
Hum… Ah!
“Something worrying happened after I beat a Hobgoblin. The next rare monster spawned.”
“…What?”
“Its name was General Goblin, and its stats were like this.
I show everyone what I wrote down on my phone. I’m a little reluctant to report the rest with Ayane here, but the branch manager says they already know. And so, with her permission, I report about the smoke and how skills stack.
“Understood. So it would be possible to put Super Strength II and Command up for auction too. I assume they already know about the ‘requests’, but we should probably prioritize items that weren’t put up for auction yet, and decide the prices of unknown skills as well.”
I see, that’s true.
“Tell me if your investigations go well and you manage to go up to Super Strength III. There is a reward in it for you.”
“Leave it to me.”
The branch manager nods, and gets up.
“I will be going back. You settle the rest.”
“Eh? You’re not going to stop it?”
“I’ve only known Shouta for a short time, but he doesn’t seem to be a person that breaks his promises. That’s why he stopped his dear investigations and came back, right? If you make a decision based on your promises, I won’t object.
Also, you need to be rank B for a third, and A for a fourth. I don’t need to say any more, do I?”
Is the last thing she says before she leaves.
So basically, as long as I put her daughters’ happiness first, she won’t intervene any more?
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