“And that’s about it. Ever since I was a kid, my father has gone through a lot of hardship because of us, and ever since I started making money in Unlucky Hall, I’ve been sending money every month. As for my little sister, we got along until we got our stats, but unlike me, she hit the jackpot… About two years after the stampede, there were rumors about her high stats. She was still in middle school at the time, but the association scouted her, and she became a hope for the next generation. And I was treated as a dud. After that, it became harder and harder for us to see each other.”
“I see… There was a lot more discrimination towards low stats at the time.
Maki hugs me tightly to comfort me.
“…But in that case master, there is a chance your family is unaware that you are still an adventurer.”
“Eh? Why? I send money every month.”
“Yes, I handle your bankbook, so I am aware. This year, you sent a million yen every month.”
“Yes.”
It was eight hundred thousand when I hit level twenty, and a million when I passed twenty-five. That’s a lot of money for an average person, but I also wanted to show that I was working hard…
“That’s a lot. But I guess it makes sense considering how much you made…”
“Does it?”
“Yes. Shouta here only presented minuscule magic stones, but he could easily hit fifty thousand yen in a day. And that’s post dungeon tax. That was every day without a break, right?
“Simple math brings that up to a million and a half a month. And since you sent a million a month, that does make it seem like you’re not an adventurer anymore.”
I didn’t get it, but I do after they explain it.
For a long time… Over two years, I was an F rank adventurer. If you know my rank, you wouldn’t think I would be sending a million a month doing nothing but working as an adventurer. It would make sense to think I got a nice job and stayed registered as an adventurer as a hobby.
“…Well, my sister in particular said it.”
“What?”
“‘You’re weaker than me, so you’re not cut out to be an adventurer. It’s dangerous, so you should get a normal job.’, she said. We had a fight because of that, and I still vividly remember losing to my sister that’s two years younger than me. My strength was normal for my age, so I was stronger until dungeons appeared, but then…”
“Lots of kids were confused when arm and leg strength changed dramatically in a short amount of time when dungeons appeared.”
“…But you didn’t give up.”
“Yes, I hated losing because of something so unreasonable. That fueled me, and six years after leaving home, I’m here.”
This time it’s Ayane who jumps at me.
“You worked so hard!”
“Yes, thanks.”
The next day, we head to the 525 branch of the association, for the sake of the conquest of the beginner dungeon. The promotion ceremony was over yesterday, but I still feel like there are more adventurers here than usual. Their eyes converge on me, but that’s getting to be normal.
It’s just a little strange, I think as a familiar face approaches us.
“Hey Shouta. I was waiting for you.”
“Hey Shuu. It’s been a while. Do you need anything?”
“I guess you haven’t seen the board in a while.”
“Hahaha, I’ve been kind of busy planning.”
I guess I haven’t opened it in a while.
I was busy with the stampede and training, and then spent a week making gifts for the girls, so I completely forgot.
“It’s okay, you seem busy. But do you have some time?”
“Yes. Do you want to go to the table over there?”
“Thanks.”
We sit down, and Shuu turns serious.
“Shouta, do you know what day it is?”
“…Did something happen?”
“It’s the thirtieth day of the fever on the fourth floor you caused.”
“…Eh? Already!?”
I guess that makes sense. Still, thirty days have passed…
“The announcement said it was a month, but when the clock passed midnight and turned into today, I checked the stats of the monsters and they were all normal. The fever on the fourth floor is over.”
“I see. So what you want to ask is…”
“Yes. I have a request for you, on behalf of adventurers still exploring the beginner dungeon. Can you take down the unique monster again? We picked rare skills you most likely can’t get on your own as a reward.”
“Eh…”
Skills…
I could do it while passing through the fourth floor anyway. I’d like to face it again and see how much I’ve grown. But if I do it for free, it would turn into a pain for sure. If I’m acting as a proper S rank, I should accept a reward and do it in the form of a quest.
Not as a friend, but as an adventurer.
“So what are the skills?”
“Aerial Sword Techniques, Harden, and Spectral Detection.”
“Ooh. I haven’t seen any of those.”
“That’s good. They’re skills you don’t often see in area one. Good thing we went to an auction in area two.”
“Can I see them directly?”
I sneakily use True Appraisal to check them.
Name: Aerial Sword Techniques
Grade: Rare
Classification: Magic skill
Description: Uses psychokinesis and wind power to send swords flying that pierce a target. It is boosted if the user knows Wind Magic, Duststorm Control, and Psychokinesis.
I just happen to have all of them, but… I feel like this is like dungeon mechanics, in that the explanation grows longer the better you understand it.
Name: Harden
Grade: Normal
Classification: Passive skill
Description: Hardens part of the body by focusing on it, reducing damage.
What… is this?
A passive that’s normal grade and doesn’t have any special effects? They’ve presented it to me, so it must not have downsides, so I’ll gladly take it.
Name: Spectral Detection
Grade: Epic
Classification: Arts skill
Description: The ability to detect ghost and specter monsters. Can be turned on and off.
…The last one’s scary.
I’m interested because it’s a new detection skill, but what if it picks up not just ghost monsters, but normal ghosts too… Well, it can be turned off, and I have Holy Magic.
In fact, it’d be worse if there were ghosts around the house that I didn’t know about, so it might be a good idea to try to exorcise them, right?
“So..? Will you accept?”
Oh, right, I’m in the middle of a negotiation.
“Okay, I accept.”
“Thanks Shouta!”
‘Ooooh!!!’
The adventurers watching around us cheer.
They’re all excited about another fever. I have to meet their expectations.
…Wait. Using skills made me realize that there’s no guarantee that Gadaga will spawn again, or that there will be another fever. How should I apologize if there isn’t a fever…
If nothing happens, I’ll raise my administrator level and see if I can cause one to happen.
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