I’m meeting Akihiro and Satoru today at noon.
Things got hectic in the end, so I healed them with a potion and gave Akihiro some money for him to go eat something.
I guess it’s up to his mother whether or not they receive welfare, but now that I think about it, it’s hard to believe she doesn’t know about it. There could be a reason why they’re not receiving it.
Well, that’s their business, not something for me to do something about. I told him yesterday, but good luck, Akihiro.
It’s almost time, so I scoop up some ant queen honey with a spoon, and eat it to fire myself up.
This spoon is a desperate measure I had to take to make the honey that’s gone down to about half a water bottle last longer.
If I had more, I’d go crazy with it like when I took down the ant queen, but that day might not come again.
◇ ◇ ◇
We’re supposed to meet in front of the guild at noon, but when I get there, they’re already waiting.
Ou, good morning. Did you sleep well?
Were too excited to sleep? Eh? No?
Your little sister was too excited about sweets and wouldn’t let you?
You went to your part time job early in the morning…
Akihiro hurts my heart the second we meet again.
This pain doesn’t come from sympathy over his circumstances, it’s because this student got up early to work and this adult slept almost until noon.
It really hurts my heart how I feel like I’m becoming a bum.
We head to the weapons store in the mall to check their skills, and I pay the hundred yen on the skill checker on the counter.
Akihiro has Lightning Magic, and Satoru has Earth Magic. Both have rare magic skills.
They’re happy with this result, and start looking for mage staves in the weapons store.
I ask if they have the money for them, and both awkwardly shake their heads.
Satoru looks at me like he’s pleading, but I’m not gonna pay.
If you want them, earn enough to buy them, I declare.
I already gave them longswords and the money from yesterday’s monsters. Now it’s time for you to make money yourselves and buy your equipment, like real seekers.
That’s the real thrill of being a seeker.
After explaining that, their faces turn red, and they look motivated.
Although I also say that if they make money, they should register in the guild first.
I’m not registered, and I don’t need it at this point, but these two newbies need that support. It also looks like they’ll need partners, and if they want to make money, it’d be good to accept quests. There’s also maps, equipment discounts, and other support for newbies with little money.
I explain this with a smug face, and then I hear someone’s voice behind me.
“…What are you doing here?”
I turn around, and see Kazuya with a perplexed expression.
Oh! Kazuya, right!?
Hn? What? You know each other?
Hm? You’re in the same grade? And he’s been strange and unapproachable lately?
Who?
Ah, Kazuya. Well, his chunnibyou is in full swing. It hurts just looking at him, so I get it.
Eh? No? His personality changed?
You were friends in middle school and played together, but he became unapproachable all of a sudden…
…Isn’t that a chunni?
Kazuya gets mad every time I say chunni, but apparently he’s changed. They say he used to hang out with people below him on the social ladder, and make friends easily.
Then, like someone changing their appearance after a long break from school, he began to avoid people, with an unapproachable aura to him.
I ask them if they’re on bad terms with Kazuya, and they say no. But since they haven’t talked recently, they don’t know what’s on his mind.
I nod and turn to Kazuya.
Hey Kazuya, what do you think of them?
Ah, sorry, don’t say it. That reaction told me everything.
So, are you going to the dungeon alone now?
I’m not making fun of you, I’m just checking.
I see, alone.
So, are you looking for partners? I have two with magic skills right here.
Kazuya is suddenly interested, and we go somewhere we can talk.
First, I explain that they got magic skills, and he’s very surprised.
When he asks how far they’ve gone, they say with smug expressions that they reached the thirteenth floor. And they get worked up saying they’re going to keep pushing forward.
That’s a bit irresponsible, but are they trying to look big in front of their childhood friend?
Well, whatever. I say that’s great, and tell Kazuya things would be easier for him if the two newbies joined him.
He says of course with his nose pointed high.
Okay, look after them then.
“Yes, leave it to me!!”
He says full of confidence.
What an idiot.
I guess he cools his head eventually and realizes what he said was bad, because I can hear him asking if they really do have magic skills.
He asks them to show their guild cards to prove it, and they say they don’t have those. Kazuya opens his mouth wide with exasperation.
I tell him they’re not registered and why, and while he sympathizes with Akihiro, he says Satoru’s story is complete crap.
Satoru is dispirited.
I guess Kazuya and I see these two differently. Akihiro, who had to become a seeker, and Satoru, who did it to satisfy his desires. I think Satoru is obviously more suited to become a seeker, but Kazuya is making that decision based on who’s moral.
I’m feeling something close to sympathy from Kazuya, but I must be imagining it.
With everything explained and understood, they say they’re going to make a decision after going to the dungeon.
◇ ◇ ◇
The eleventh floor.
It’s going smoothly… Is something I can’t say.
It should be obvious, but these two entered the dungeon for the first time yesterday, meaning it was their first time fighting.
Without ever fighting before, they have no knowledge about fighting, so even with longswords, they have trouble against monsters.
They try attacking with magic, but can’t move after the first shot, and can’t even hit monsters with that.
Akihiro is done after what’s basically static electricity. Not something you can use to fight.
That means they have to use the longswords.
◇ ◇ ◇
Satoru thrusts at a goblin, but it easily dodges by jumping to the side. It tries to counter by stabbing with a knife, but Akihiro pierces it with his sword from the side.
The excess momentum leads him to fall along with the goblin, and he suffers scrapes when he hits the floor.
He tries to get up right away, but another goblin, angry about its friend being killed, hits him with a club, leading to him rolling on the ground.
Another hit, and he gets up. Satoru then tackles the goblin about to swing down again.
This time it’s the goblin that rolls on the ground and tries to get up right away, but Satoru uses the momentum of the tackle to pierce the goblin as if falling on it.
Hm, I wonder. I guess this is expected from newbies, but it might be a bit bad from the point of view of impressing Kazuya.
His expression doesn’t change, so I don’t know what he’s thinking.
Kazuya then suddenly takes out a staff and hands it to the tired Akihiro on the ground.
I guess he wants him to try using magic with it.
Akihiro looks at the staff, then at Kazuya, and uses Lightning Magic. And what was static electricity before is now fired with a streak of light.
I’m sure it’s the effect of the staff, but his magic is clearly stronger.
I remember that staff. It went for ten thousand yen in the guild’s purchasing counter, and they sold it for fifteen thousand (chapter 14). Clearly a rip off, but now it feels nostalgic.
Satoru sees Akihiro’s magic was boosted, and insists he try it too.
He takes the staff, fires a pebble, and collapses. He’s completely out of magic energy.
Kazuya picks up the staff and tries to hand it to me, but I softly decline.
I tried one before and it made my magic weaker. I think the Magic Energy Control skill is too good, and invalidates the need for the staff.
It’s very precious, because it means I can attack with magic while fighting up close too.
Hn? I can’t join the party if you can’t see my real power?
No, I’m not joining. Only these two.
You want me to join?
No, I’m already joining another party.
And isn’t it better if you students team together?
I’m a student too?
What are you on about? I’m twenty-four.
I’m not lying, look at my license!
Ah? It’s not fake. The photo is of someone else? He’s not fat?
You idiot! This is very real!
I desperately argue my case but they don’t believe me.
These kids don’t pick up on my adult charm, so it’s useless to try to argue. That must be why they don’t talk to me like I’m an adult. Well, it has to be.
Show my guild card because it’s impossible to forge?
I told you I don’t have one.
Yes liar? What are you, a kid? Well, I guess you are.
Whatever. Don’t believe me then, it’s still true.
So Kazuya…
I give up trying to convince them, and try to get Kazuya’s confirmation.
Is he going to partner up with Akihiro and Satoru? Are they going to brave danger together?
Kazuya crosses his arms, and touches his left eye with his right hand like he’s pretending to think with an affected pose.
“You have a long way to go… But you pass. Nice to have you.”
I’m sure that’s his signature pose or something, but it hurts.
Anyway, I’m relieved to see they’re now with him.
Kazuya acts like an idiot, but he did make it to the thirteenth floor on his own, and he was picking a fight with the lecturer in a magic lecture. That’s not something someone does without confidence in his strength.
I think I can assume Kazuya has the power to back it up.
He could just be an overconfident idiot, but he did activate a magic circle. The lecturer said you need the appropriate magic technique for that, so he must have some power.
In any case, the party is formed.
I’m sure they’ll get more people eventually, and some might pull out. It’s all up to them.
But since I got a little involved, I hope they succeed.
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