“We need a big celebration, so I’ll tell my mother when you’re going to the association.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Says Aki, who then leaves the room.
She just barged in with everyone and congratulated me on becoming S rank. Apparently it’s in light of my achievement of stopping the stampede, and while I expected it, it’s not like I’m not happy.
It’s already been a week since the stampede on the southern island. The warp portal we used appeared on the beach where the holiday house is, and after trying it, I learned I can use it to enter and exit the dungeon any time I want.
Apparently my mother-in-law Sakuya never heard about these warp portals either, and was very happy about it. But since the first floor monsters lead us to believe the difficulty is comparable to the high rank dungeon, conquering that dungeon will be done with caution.
I also told her I’m the core holder of the 1086 dungeon, but I haven’t told her about the Linchpin System yet. And Sakuya didn’t tell anyone besides my other mother-in-law, Miki, that I conquered the 1086 dungeon and became its core holder.
Is there a reason for this caution?
Well, only a few people know about keys, dungeon cores, and the whole core holder system, so it’s a special privilege and I understand not spreading the news. But that shining warp portal will be hard to keep hidden, even if it’s on Sakuya’s property.
By the way, Miki came over to visit, and I told her about being a core holder and the Linchpin System. The Linchpin System in particular is a dungeon exclusive feature, so I don’t know how things will turn out if I use it. But still, there’s no way we can not try it. And since I used the beginner dungeon as a target, I felt I had an obligation to tell its manager.
My Aki is the branch manager of Unlucky Hall, but no one’s been assigned to 1086. If I had to say, I’d say I’m responsible for it right now.
“I could tell they were coming because I can detect presences, but I didn’t expect them to come in without knocking. I was so focused on my work that it almost got spoiled.”
I borrowed Aira’s waist bag, and from it, I got precious metals of various sizes, along with armor from the dungeon that I melted into special ingots. I’ve been testing out these new skills all week.
I wanted to do this in secret, but I couldn’t secure the materials. And so, as before, I consulted with just Aira, who got me the materials and let me borrow her bag.
“Hn…”
“Is it finally done?”
“No, not yet… Uoh!?”
I turn around and see Aira looking at what I’m holding.
How long has she been there!?
“You… Don’t suppress your presence when you come in. You scared me.”
“Fufu, I’m sorry. But while you are charming when you are focused, it is also a weak point.”
“Are you still talking about the stampede? We’re in the house, and there’s a big difference when someone or something has bloodthirst.”
I was focused, but when someone’s as good as Aira, they can erase their presence, their breath, and reduce their bloodthirst to basically nothing. It’s almost impossible to spot.
“Is that correct? Then I will protect you from non-monster threats.”
“Is there a bigger threat than you near me?”
“There is. You are an S rank adventurer now. It is no exaggeration to say you have the power to flip over the situation of this world.”
“Sounds like an exaggeration to me.”
“You were an A+ rank, someone valued as quite powerful. This was why S ranks from multiple countries were coming, but you managed to stand as their equal before they could arrive. You have been kept hidden due to the efforts of the Saotome and Houjouin families, but… from now on, many people with different ideas will come to you.”
It’s my first time realizing that their families have been protecting me.
I figured it wasn’t just good luck that made it so nothing ever happened… But then again, wasn’t it luck that allowed me to build good relationships with families with that kind of power?
“By the way, is this really not done? It looks done to me…”
“Hm, I’m not confident. Aira, that place you told me about doesn’t really have a specialist adventurer engraver, right?”
“Yes. It is a general… but high grade establishment. A high grade establishment for the upper class. But what you have made looks first rate to me.”
Aira and I are looking at beautiful shining rings and necklaces, four of each. I felt satisfied when I made the rings, thinking they couldn’t be any better, but… the necklaces, not so much.
I would’ve accepted that if I didn’t make them, but… I used a skill, but it’s still the work of an amateur, and something worked and reworked while using a pro’s item as a motif. Is this really okay? Can I call it finished… I’m not confident.
It’s beautiful, but isn’t that because the materials were good to begin with? I keep thinking that.
“Does your True Appraisal display the name of the item? If so, that is unmistakably what it is, and the world will see it as such.”
“I guess… but my skill doesn’t see hidden effects. If there’s something even worse than last time, I’ll be sad.”
“Master, the effect is indeed important, but this is something you made yourself, that you gave shape to without anyone’s help. I would be very happy to receive it, regardless of its effect.”
“I get what you mean and how you feel, but I want it to be a good effect if I’m doing this.”
“…You say that, but how many times have you adjusted these necklaces? You need to make a decision already.”
“Ugu…”
I mumble, and Aira leans over. I feel something soft on my back and a nice smell.
She tends to be kind of clingy like this when we’re alone.
“Very well. I will call someone with a fantastic sense of beauty and observing eye. And has True Appraisal. Surely this person will agree if you give some nice skills.”
“That’s fine, but do you know someone with True Appraisal?”
“I do, very close, who has become family recently.”
“You’re not…”
“Yes, I will call Lady Sakuya.”
She says with an excellent smile.
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