I’ve woken up later than usual today.
I was up until five yesterday preparing, so I can take it a little easier from now on.
Yes, I’m done with the whole full time employee thing for a while.
Hn? Ai is calling me… Good morning. No, I didn’t forget. I was just about to leave, I’ll be right there.
Eh? I’m late? Wasn’t it at eleven!?
Ah, sorry. I was tired yesterday, so I must have misheard you.
Yes, I’ll be right there. Yes. Yes…
I completely forgot I made plans to go to Honto in the morning.
I take a shower and leave, and reach Honto ten minutes after eleven.
◇ ◇ ◇
I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.
Yes, I am embarrassed as a working adult.
Yes, I will be more careful.
…So why am I here?
I apologized for making her wait, but come to think of it, she’s the one who called me here, I didn’t want to be here, so my attitude returns to normal.
Ai is the boss of this company, but I don’t even work here. I don’t have to listen to her.
Ah, I did get half a million yen from her.
Thank you thank you thank you.
I keep bending and straightening my big body, but it’s not like I’m flirting with her. I’m just sucking up to her.
Yes, I hope we can keep doing business!
I guess that’s it… Of course not.
Yes? Watch this video?
Yes yes. Is this from the dungeon?
This is the tenth floor, right?
Hm… There’s lots of fat seekers nowadays. I can’t see his face through that helmet, but I’m sure he’s bad news. I just get that feeling from him.
Hm? Does he look familiar?
Hn.. Ah, I do remember those university students.
But where… Sorry, I don’t remember.
I keep watching, and then it goes into a boss battle. At some point the fat seeker jumps forward and starts fighting. It would look better if the others fought, but the fat seeker is doing all the work.
Once it’s over, all I can say is that it’s an unfortunate video.
The guys and girls all looked good, but the shine was on the fat seeker. It’s the camera man’s fault too, but the fat seeker also didn’t show any restraint. Think about the people watching too.
I say that, and Ai let’s out a big sigh, before looking at me straight.
“That fat seeker is you, isn’t he?”
…Yep.
・This fatso is crazy lmao. Look at him go lol.
・Is this an irregular encounter on the tenth floor’s boss room?
・Someone tell me how strong this fat seeker is.
・Are you sure it’s okay to show this? It might lead to fewer people becoming seekers.
・Even with the legal reform encouraging people, I’m sure some will think twice about becoming seekers after watching this.
・Where do I buy the stuff he’s throwing at x minutes and xx seconds?
・I’ve seen this guy before. It was in that orc video…
…Etc.
Those are some of the comments on the video.
There’s a thread on a certain message board too, so it looks like it’s really making the rounds. Apparently this video keeps being taken down and reuploaded.
Why is it taken down?
According to Ai, the comments play a part in that, but it’s also seen as not good because it might make fewer people want to become seekers. That would harm the Seeker Association, all companies related to it, the government, and the upper classes living in the neo utopia.
I’m sure no one’s going to come after me to harm me, but some people might try to make contact.
There’s a way to avoid people messing with me. Have the company become a sponsor.
It normally happens when seekers pass the thirtieth floor and become pros, but sometimes people get scouted if they have Healing Magic or special skills.
When seekers get sponsors, they get equipment and tools, along with a place to live and meals.
The company also solves problems, so if they attract attention like I did now, the company will lawyer up and deal with it through the law. Most people don’t want trouble and stop at this stage.
Conversely, it becomes hard to say no to requests from this company, and there are fears that they will push unreasonable tasks.
Although that would sour relations with seekers, so it almost never happens.
So? Asks Ai with a serious expression.
I look at her with my best smile.
“No.”
I don’t want to sign a contract. No way.
It’s like losing my freedom. Even if Ai doesn’t see it that way, that’s what it is. I’m sure that aggressive old man would be fine too, but who knows what people I haven’t met are like.
I’m not naive enough to put my trust in strangers.
◇ ◇ ◇
After leaving Honto, I head straight to the shopping mall near the dungeon. The weapons store said my armor is ready.
When I get there, I see a white armor on display. That’s definitely mine. It looks cool, mainly white with blue lines. It’s like it was made for chunnibyou.
I see parents with their kids taking photos in front of it, and other chunnis.
Hello, I’m here to get my armor.
Hn? Did something happen?
Eh? You want that armor…
…How much?
Thirty million? No way. That’s a hundred million yen item (rip-off). I won’t part ways with it for at least that much.
Well then…
Upon entering the store, I saw a beautiful woman talking to the owner, and it was about buying the magic mirror armor.
The owner said it was not theirs to sell, but she really wanted to negotiate, and came over to me.
After complaining to the owner about putting my stuff on display, he says armor like that doesn’t come around too often, and apologizes. Fine then.
I try it on right away.
Yep, I can’t put it on. Wait, it’s the same size as before.
The owner is just watching with his arms folded and a self-satisfied expression.
What are you doing? Your customer is troubled, you know?
I stare at him, and he comes over to touch the blue lines, infusing it with magic energy while he chants release. Then the magic mirror armor gets bigger, big enough for me to wear it.
I put it on, and see that it’s a bit too big, and would hinder my movements.
When I say that to the owner, he touches the white surface and chants equip while infusing it with magic energy, making it shrink until it fits perfectly.
Ooh! This is great.
Alchemy… I could get into this!
I don’t really get it, but I can see it’s a great mechanism.
Eh? Infuse the arm with magic energy?
Uoh! A shield came out!
His face turns from self-satisfied to full on smug.
It would’ve cost two million if it was just a refit, but the shield attachment brought it up to five.
I see.
Wait, did I tell them to do that?
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-first floor.
Today is a day for payback.
After dealing with orcs for days, I need to vent a little.
It’s not because I was laughed at after putting on the armor, that woman who wanted it said it was pearls before swine, and I got ripped off by them adding a shield I didn’t ask for. I’m not doing this to relieve stress from that.
It’s just, I was hit, and I’m hitting back.
I put on my helmet, lower the visor, and face orcs with battleaxe in hand.
I swing it down at one of the orcs that kept messing with me, and destroy its head, making it fall limply to the ground.
Then I use the centrifugal force of my spin to bisect another’s body. I follow that up with a leg sweep, and break that one’s head with a thrust of the handle.
I feel like yesterday’s training has improved my handling of the battleaxe.
More are coming, but I’m charging towards them.
Bastards! How dare you!?
Beating up a guy that’s not even resisting, uh!?
That hurt! That hurt!!
And didn’t I tell you to not upload that video!?
Why did you attach that shield!? It’s cool, so I forgive that!
It doesn’t suit me!? Pearls before swine!? You think I don’t know that!? Idiot!
I don’t know why so many orcs spawned, but I leave the dungeon feeling better.
I’ve been meaning to stay the night in the dungeon, but I instead stop by the purchasing counter of the guild, and buy food at the supermarket before going home.
I see someone watching that video on the train, but he doesn’t notice it’s me.
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Haruto Tanaka (24)
Level: 17
Skills: Earth Magic, Trace, Healing Magic, Spatial Grasp, Toughness, Magic Energy Control, Physical Strengthening, Poison Resistance, Storage Space, See Through, Parallel Thinking, Sewing, Limit Break, Dismantling
Equipment: Agility bracelet, tyrant battleaxe, divine bird boots, safeguard necklace, magic mirror armor
Status: Fat (All abilities boosted)
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It should play Weird Al Yankovic’s “I Am Fat” as BGM. 😆
Thanks for the treat.
Real tired of the fat MC