The next day, we go to the branch manager’s office and meet with her. I’m taking her two daughters to the dungeon, so I was thinking I had to be ready, but…
“Everything is ready. Sign this contract.”
““Yes.””
Apparently they’ve already talked about this. Is it really okay to leave me out of this sort of thing?”
“Don’t worry, you will be included when it’s necessary.”
“I hope so.”
Aki and Maki are given piles of documents to sign. Is this actually more trouble than I thought?
““Done.””
…Very well. Good grief, after all the trouble you had at the time, you decided to go back to it so quickly. I wonder what happened to make you change your mind.”
The branch manager glares at me, but I’d like to know too. I have a feeling it’s not just about loneliness.
“By the way, they signed all sorts of things, so does that mean it’s difficult for receptionists to work as adventurers?”
“Not really. There are others who like their exclusives too much and want to take them on adventures. But they have to have grown to a certain extent, reached a certain level, and have the resolve to fight. These two will be fine when it comes to that. And as for resolve, given how enthusiastic they were when they asked me…”
“M-mom, that’s a secret…!”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. But he’s involved, so you will tell him eventually, right?”
“Yes…”
“I’ll handle the rest, wait here.”
The branch manager leaves the room, even though this is her office.
But more importantly, something’s been on my mind since this morning… No, since yesterday, so maybe I’ll ask.
“Hum, so you two are going to stop being my exclusives and become team members?”
“No, we’re still exclusives.”
“That paperwork was a contract to continue being exclusives while also becoming provisional adventurers.”
“Hnn?”
Provisional? Does that mean they won’t come with me every time?
But why do it in such a roundabout way?
“Shouta, do you remember what the duties of an exclusive are?”
“Hum…”
I remember hearing about it when we started living together.
“Assessment of loot, advice as an adventurer, combat guidance, choosing skill orbs and equipment that match the adventurer’s abilities. And something about arranging for the adventurer to rest physically and mentally?”
“Yes. But we don’t do any of that except for assessment and looking for new equipment, do we?”
“Our advice is the minimum, and you don’t need guidance because you make up for it with strong skills. I think we helped a little when we arranged for that dojo while we were traveling, but that’s it. You keep getting skills regardless of us, and you don’t rest unless you’re told…”
True.
“In fact, when adventurers make a lot of money, their exclusives tend to have them rest for the same number of days or a week. That’s how much of a strain taking down monsters normally puts on someone. That is why the job of an exclusive centers around caring for her adventurer or team members. What do you think happens when that is not the case?”
“…You’re left with nothing to do?”
“Yes!!”
…I see. My work took away the job they were supposed to be doing.
“What about editing videos?”
“We can do that on the spot with a laptop.”
“Ayane told us that she helps sometimes with rare monsters, but doesn’t do much when you’re fighting regular monsters.”
“But I always cheer you on!”
Well, that’s true.
That leaves just assessment… Which they can do on the spot too. They won’t hold me back, and since they say they’re lonely…
“Okay. But don’t push yourselves too much.”
“Yes!”
“Got it!”
“Is everything settled?”
Asks the branch manager as she comes back in, with Hana behind her.
“Aki, Maki. I brought your equipment.”
“Thank you Hana.”
“Thanks Hana!”
“Ufufu. Shouta, look after them.”
“I will.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
A lot of adventurers stop to look at them not in their association uniforms, but instead clad in light armor and holding weapons. They’re famous here, which brought a lot of jealousy when they went from exclusives to fiances, but this time I see more confusion and excitement.
But it makes sense. Normally, exclusives would accompany someone to the entrance of the dungeon, but not follow along fully equipped.
I always run through the first floor, but I’m taking it easy with them. Since they’re here today, we don’t have to go back for lunch. We brought it with us, so we have more time.
When we reach the second floor, I put Enki down as many eyes are pointed at us.
“Aira, please do it.”
“Yes.”
Aira takes out many rock blocks from her bag.
‘Goh!’
Enki does the opposite of what it did yesterday, and takes in the rock to become giant. Its Sand Control is now Lv8, thanks to the powered up one from yesterday. It takes it just one minute to reach six meters.
‘Gogoh!’
“Wah, it feels bigger than in the video.”
“Shouta, Shouta. I wanna ride Enki too!”
“Sure. That was the idea. Enki.”
‘Goh!’
Enki takes them in its hands, and I take the same position as before, on its shoulders.
Then the bottom of his buttocks start bobbing, and before I know it, I have a backrest. It’s a shiny rock chair, like a king of the olden days.
“You’re very thoughtful, Enki.”
‘Goh!’
“Okay, let’s go!”
‘Gogo!’
“Ooh, this is great! We’re so high up!”
“Wah, the wind feels nice!”
“It’s the dungeon, but it feels like a theme park, doesn’t it?”
“Hahaha, yes.”
Well then, we’re going to the third floor for the first time. I can’t wait to see what’s there!
Thanks for the treat.
Then the bottom of his buttocks start bobbing, and before I know it, I have a backrest
Hida, did you mean “my” instead of “his” or did enki twerk out a seat for the MC?