We hold hands with Ayane as we explore, which isn’t at all efficient, but at least she’s having fun.
After looking around for thirty minutes, I finally see a green icon on my map, and find a rocky shade similar to the one on the eastern side.
We go in, and find another locked treasure chest without a keyhole, with the only difference being the relief.
Said relief is without a doubt the Man-Faced Fishman we just fought.
“The relief is less gross and more surreal… True Appraisal.”
“Let’s get some footage of this.”
“Yes please.”
“Master, can you also see this one?”
“Yes.”
Name: 810-2-2
Description: ??? placed on the second floor of the 810 dungeon. Offer the appropriate false image
“The one on the first floor didn’t have the extra numbers. Are there more of them as we go deeper down?”
Asks Ayane.
“No, I think it’s about the type of monster. I know four dungeons, and most only have one type of monster on the first floor, but the beginner dungeon has four on the second floor. Also, there’s a bit of a problem with the first floor over there. I think you’ve seen it too Ayane, but very rarely, killer rabbits spawn there. I’m still thinking about what to do with that one…”
“Master, are you concerned about that floor having a slot set up for the killer rabbit rare monster?
“Yes. Even worse, there could be multiple points where it can spawn. If that’s true, half a day won’t be enough to investigate it.”
Worst case scenario, I’ll have to reserve it for a full day.
The spawn rate of killer rabbits is one for every ten goblins there. If luck isn’t on my side, that number can go up to twenty…
“It might be trouble… But I’m sure you can do it!”
“I will follow you as far as you please.”
“Thanks you two.”
“Now that we have confirmed the existence of a treasure chest here, let us retrieve the one on the eastern side.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
When we reach the northern side, the association employee is surprised. After all, I took off my armor, and it makes sense to be startled when the guy that went out to fight a rare monster comes back in regular clothes.
We say hello, and keep making our way to the eastern side. It’s currently two in the afternoon, so the area is a little less busy, and that combined with the fact that we aren’t wearing swimwear draws people’s eyes to us.
But there’s no avoiding it. The only way to move safely to the eastern side is to go through the northern side, so we just have to take it.
As I think that, Ayane looks up at me with an excited expression.
“Darling, do you think someone will hit on me when we are drawing so much attention?”
“…Sorry to put a damper on your excitement, but that’s not the kind of attention we’re getting.”
“Too bad…”
I pat her head, and we reach the border. We enter the eastern side, and head straight to the treasure chest.
It’s hidden in the same place as before, so we enter the cave where there’s oxygen, and face the treasure chest with the Death Crab relief.
“Well then…”
I touch the treasure chest, and it reacts to my trophy, shining before the lock turns to smoke.
With the lock gone, the treasure chest slowly opens, and its contents fly into me. I knew it was coming, so I keep my eyes on its trajectory, but it disappears when it hits my chest.
I feel like when I learn a new skill through a skill orb. Also, the treasure chest is gone.
“So, darling?”
“Ah…”
＊＊＊＊＊
Trophy: Hobgoblin
Administrator keys: 810 (1), 810 (2 (1/2))
＊＊＊＊＊
“(2 (1/2))? I’m pretty sure the other one is the Man-Faced Fishman we just saw. And then this floor will be done.”
“It’s fortunate that we know what to hunt. Does that mean that despite there being three areas, only two types of rare monster appear?”
“We haven’t seen the whole southern side, but it does help that it doesn’t look like there are others. I wanted to avoid having to look for a treasure chest in the southern sea while being chased by man-faced fish.”
“Are we done for the day, darling?”
“Yes, we’re going back to the beginner dungeon tomorrow, so we have to get back early to prepare.”
“Then let’s dash back home. I’m sure Aki and Maki want to see you soon too.”
Ayane comes over to jump on my back, and we start running while I think it’s adorable how she does that.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“I don’t know if it’s the stats, but I feel like I can move really fast even without skills.”
“Yes. We have passed through the two thousand mark, so we can easily reach thirty kilometers per hour even at a jog. If we actually ran fast… Let us not go too fast, or it might be dangerous for the lady.”
“Yes.”
Ayane is on my back, but I’m sure even just hanging on is taxing in itself.
“Darling’s back is the safest space in the world!”
“Haha, thanks.”
We chat as we enter the association, and are directed to a conference room in the back as always.
Aki and Maki come in after a while, and we hug each other after they see we’re well. Now that I’ve been using them as hugging pillows, they don’t mind this sort of thing at all.
Actually, Maki was always pretty close to me, I think. Well, they haven’t gotten rid of their embarrassment completely, but that’s cute in itself.
We fool around like this, and Youko, who came in with them, looks exasperated.
“You people sure are friendly. Working in this association means I have to see couples fooling around all the time, but… You’re still up there in the top.”
“Nihihi, jealous?”
“Kind of… Anyway, do you need anything with me? I heard you were leaving.”
“Ah, that’s right. I want to ask to release some information about a rare monster on the second floor.”
It can only be so secret, considering other adventurers saw us.
Since they already suspect there are rare monsters, we should make it public before something bad happens.
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Thanks for the treat.