“You’re there, Yuri? You should’ve said something then.”
As I talk with Yuri, the guy that looks like a lion and was arguing with the glasses guy talks to her.
“Oh, Retsu? Are you done chatting with Monkura? Wait, he’s gone.”
“That bastard ran away. Dammit. He took my prey. What’s with that nerd?”
Sounds like he swiped his prey in the dungeon. This man looks really upset, but apparently he and Yuri know each other.
And then he turns to me.
“Who’s this old man?”
“Oonuki. He’s a new resident… Right?”
“Yes. My name is Oonuki. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mister… Retsu?”
“Yeah, Retsu. What, you don’t know me, old man?”
Is he famous? This is close to the Tokyo metropolitan area, so I guess famous people stay here. I’m surprised they let me stay. Well, turnaround is pretty severe in this occupation.
“Haha, you gotta work harder too, Retsu. Well, he didn’t know me either, so…”
“Sorry. I’m not too familiar with dungeon related things. I have only been a seeker for a week.”
“Ah? For real? Why are you here?”
Retsu looks baffled. Well, he has a point. Normally seekers have to be over level twenty to stay here and have accomplishments under their belt. I have neither.
“The Seeker Association arranged for it because Lucky here is a rare species.”
This is the excuse provided to me by the association. It’s not a lie, it’s just that Lucky is a summon beast and not a tamed beast.
“It just looks like a red panda. Wait, regular people can’t have those as pets, right?”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s a magic beast that looks like one. But you’re still low level, right mister? Aren’t you gonna have trouble paying to stay here? Are you rich?”
“No no, I was a normal salaryman, but I became a seeker after the company went bankrupt. But money won’t be an issue, I am quite strong.”
“No way.”
Rude. Look at these biceps… I don’t have. People don’t get muscular from leveling up. I’m sure Retsu here is this muscular because he trains a lot.
“Eh… If you’re that confident, how about having a go at me, old man?”
“? Aren’t fights between seekers prohibited?”
I say to Retsu.
People say seekers are people-shaped violent machines. They aren’t wrong. The difference in power means a regular human would never beat a seeker. This is why there are all sorts of restrictions and penalties put in places about using this power outside of dungeons.
Needless to say, duels between seekers are not allowed…
“This is a hotel for seekers. We have training facilities here. And we can use magic items dug up in ruins to have mock battles safely.”
He says.
Houhou, that is a little interesting.
“Hold on you idiot. You can’t do that. You’re just picking on an older person. Don’t bully the weak.”
“Wahaha. You won’t know until we try.”
He laughs in response to Yuri, and I guess it was just a joke. Still… He did challenge me, so don’t I have the right to accept?”
“Yes, we won’t know until we try.”
“Ahn?”
He wasn’t expecting that. His eyes are sharp. He might be thinking I’m underestimating him. Or that I don’t know my place.
But he is a high level seeker. If I want to be the greatest seeker, he is a wall I will have to get over. And fighting someone strong in a safe environment is an experience I will need going forward. So…
“Can I please have a match with you, Mister Retsu?”
———————————
Retsu Daiba. This man is most definitely strong.
But don’t be careless, for you are facing a rabid dog.
He will bite your throat off if you take your eyes off him.
Will he win or lose the match?