“Yes!!”
“You did it Shouta!”
“Now we can all be together!”
We all celebrate Maki becoming my exclusive, and the branch manager clears her throat.
“You can have it back.”
She says while trying to give me the Swift skill orb back.
“Eh? This is to be put up for auction.”
“That was just a pretext to get you to bring it. Yes, our branch’s valuation would go up if I presented this, but that doesn’t matter unless the adventurers affiliated with it grow.
Use this skill to get stronger and lay the groundwork for you to be able to safely get skill orbs. I can put the next one up for auction. Normally, even the Super Strength from last time wouldn’t be something to be praised. Offering it to the receptionists instead of getting the money or using it on yourself…”
“I wasn’t ‘giving’ it.”
“Even if it was supposed to be to thank them for their daily work. If my daughters suddenly gave you a bunch of money, would you just be unconditionally happy about that?”
“O-of course not.”
The branch manager is releasing more pressure than when Maki scolded me. She’s scarier than rare monsters!
…I guess thinking back, that was a poor choice, even if it was meant as a thank you.
“…I’m sorry you two, I didn’t think about how I was giving it…”
“Yes, please reflect on that. I was very surprised.”
“You got that right. You could’ve asked us out on a date instead.”
“Would he really do that when he was avoiding you, Aki?”
“Muu!”
“Hey hey, stop fighting.”
I want to calm them, but my arms are bound and I can’t move my legs.
“But leaving that aside, you used your savings, so let me repay you.”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
“So branch manager, you can put it up for auction as planned.”
“Why? Didn’t you hear me? You need to get stronger.”
“Don’t worry about that. All right… You can use Appraisal, branch manager.”
“What do you…!? Super Strength II and Swift II!? What is…”
She looks surprised, and I feel kind of happy.
And I have a few questions.
“Aki, you didn’t tell her?”
“I didn’t. I was going to submit that under my name. I made a report, so all that was left was to circulate it to the main office, but I ended up putting it off because I wanted to complain to the branch manager that she didn’t need to worry about Maki…”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Right!?”
“…Aki. Let me see that report.”
“Here.”
I guess she input that data in the application, and she’s sending it to the branch manager’s account. The association’s application is so useful.
As I’m thinking that, Aki looks up at me like she’s telling me to praise her, so I have no choice but to pat her head.
“Dehehe.”
“That’s nice… Ah, Shouta, I didn’t mean… Hehehe…”
And as I do the same to Maki, the branch manager finishes reading the report.
“Amachi, did you test Super Strength II?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Test Swift II at a later date too if you can. Aki and Maki are your exclusives from today onward, so this report can be presented with a joint signature. And of course, with my permission, it will be easier to get it through.”
“I’m fine with it if it’s Maki!”
Ooh, they’re kind of happy about being in the same rank.
“Amachi, let me just tell you one thing. I won’t make reference to your ability to hunt rare monsters in succession, or get skill orbs. I’m not your manager, and you have Aki and Maki.
However, the power to acquire multiple skills in a short amount of time will draw attention. If I present this report and put up a skill for auction at the same time, it might invite danger. Are you prepared for that?”
“I have two exclusives, so I have to be ready for that much at least, right?”
I say, with a joking tone.
“Fufu, well said. I recognize your exclusives as a branch manager, but I haven’t accepted that relationship as a mother.”
“Come on mom, who we love is up to us!”
“Yes yes!”
Aki starts jeering it as some sort of oppression, and Maki gets on board with it.
That reaction… Do they really intend to be… Like that? I’m not misunderstanding, am I? Oh no, I’m the one who started it, but my face is turning red.
Then the branch manager abandons the formal air around her, and talks like a mother.
“I did say something similar a long time ago. But both at the same time is different! That depends on Amachi’s reliability. You two, polish him into a good man.”
“That goes without saying!”
“We will make him even more wonderful!”
After hearing the two girls, the branch manager turns around.
“We’re done. Go be lovey-dovey outside if you want.”
I have a lot on my mind, but I thank the branch manager, and we leave.
…Now that I think about it, where’s the receptionist that brought me here?
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“Hana.”
“Yes Miki?”
Hana, the receptionist who took Shouta to the branch manager’s office, emerged from the shadows. It seemed she was hiding because she did not want to be in the way. Needless to say, she had a big smile on her face after witnessing all that.
“Were there any lies in Amachi’s hunting report?”
“No. In the forest on the second floor where he fought, we found traces that they ran around, but the investigation showed he took it down there. Additionally, the systems that repair the dungeon are working, so it should be fixed tomorrow.”
“I see, good job. Having sharp senses is good. It means the chances of getting caught up in an accident are lower. So his evaluation isn’t wrong? Is he the real deal?”
“Yes. Neither his activities in the dungeon or usual background check showed issues.”
“I see. We’ll leave the rest to those two. Have the personnel assigned to him retreat. Aki is there too, so I shouldn’t need to worry about Maki. Well then, tell me today’s plans.”
In a second, her face changed from that of a mother to the face of a branch manager.
“We have three adventurers waiting for exclusivity interviews. Two of them were proposed by the adventurers, and one by a receptionist. Also, one of them named Maki…”
“We’ll do the interview. If there aren’t any issues with his behavior and abilities, we’ll ask if any other girl wants to take that spot.”
“…Thank you. It’s rare for a branch manager to be so caring.”
“Maybe. But as long as I’m the branch manager here, every employee is like my daughter. I’m not assigning anyone to a weird adventurer and having her get hurt.”
Hana looked at her branch manager with respect from the bottom of her heart.
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