The branch manager is still frozen while looking at my stats.
My current stats are as follows.
Physical Strength：370 (+321)
Agility：360 (+311)
Intelligence：276 (+229)
Luck：732
To get that Luck, even adventurers with high values would have to reach about level ninety and pour SP into it. And as for my other stats, my highest growth value would put me at about level seventy. Not to mention that with regular adventurers, the stats they gain when leveling up skew in accordance to how they fight.
That means that a lot of adventurers get four of five growth points in Physical Strength, but one or none at all in Magic Power. In my case it’s always one. I’m just glad it’s not zero.
And the weak stats I showed the branch manager just days ago were…
Physical Strength：50 (+40)
Agility：54 (+44)
Intelligence：30 (+22)
Luck：112
She praised my Luck, but the rest of my stats were poor.
They were on par with a level fifteen at best, and single digit level adventurer at worst.
And they got so much higher in just a few days. No wonder she’s not moving.
“How did you…”
“It’s something I haven’t told them either, and I’ve been wondering if I should. So please don’t ask.”
“…I see. I understand that way of thinking. You don’t want to put them in danger either.”
“Yes.”
“…These stats, and a parade of valuable skills. I see some… Strange numbers too… I see. You can somewhat protect them.”
“Yes, with this power, I definitely can.”
“Wrong.”
“Eh?”
Oh no, is something wrong!?
“What you need to protect with that power is yourself. Protect yourself first, no matter the sacrifices. And after that, protect those two and their hearts.”
“Prioritize myself…”
“That’s right. But let’s say you encounter an unknown rare monster. You have Appraisal, so you can correctly gauge its strength, right? If you’re strong enough to beat it, fine, but what if its power is above yours?”
“I’d run of course.”
“Yes. I think it’s fine if you say that immediately, but I’ll still say this. Even if you go out making rare monsters spawn, you won’t know their strength until you’re facing them. There must be times when you face an opponent you can’t beat. And if that happens, no matter what, you need the strength to run away and return.”
What the branch manager says rings true to me. It’s like when I fought the Murder Rabbit.
When I fought the Hobgoblin, I was sure I would win, so I had enough composure to be aware of my surroundings.
But it was different with the Murder Rabbit. I knew even without detailed information from Appraisal that I wouldn’t beat it with one attack, and that it was stronger than me.
I just happened to win then, but no matter how much I think about it, I can’t see how I could have beaten it head on. The moment it blocked my first attack, running away became the best choice out of the ones I could make.
But, contrary to what I thought, it could leave that open area. That meant that even if I got through its attacks, in the end, I didn’t have the mobility or speed to outrun it. That’s why I had to face it.
If I had Adamantine Armor then, things might be different, but…
Yes. I need more skills, if I’m thinking about the future.
“I’ll say this over and over, if you’re going to a battlefield alone, what you need to think about the most is your safety. Minding people around you in the face of mortal danger when you’re not strong is what an idiot does. On the other hand, I have reports that you’re doing well in those areas when you have the leeway, so neither Hana or I are worried about that.”
“…Understood. I promise I will use this power to protect myself, and their hearts.”
“Very well, you pass. Hana.”
“Yes Miki?”
“Eh!?”
Where did Hana come from? How long has she been there!?
“Fufu, carelessness is one’s greatest enemy, Shouta.”
“Listen Hana, can you call those two?”
“Understood.”
“…Do you understand, Amachi?”
“Yes.”
And then, Aki and Maki reluctantly follow Hana inside.
And since the branch manager and Hana say nothing, the atmosphere is tense.
I step in front of them, and look them in the eyes.
“Aki, Maki, I have something important to say.”
“Y-yes.”
“H-hn…”
I reach out and ask.
“I… Care a lot about you two. You’re irreplaceable to me. Not as receptionists or exclusives, as girls. I’m not saying this to one in particular, I want to make you both happy, and I want you to be my family. So I want us to stay together. You already know this, but if you’re okay with a guy that’s crazy about dungeons, take my hand.”
I get awkwardly tongue-tied as I do my best to propose.
Maki’s eyes then tear up, and she takes my hand first.
“I want to be with you too Shouta, so let me.”
“I love you Maki. I’m going to keep protecting your heart from now on.”
“Yes…!”
Next, Aki’s bewilderment is getting the better of her. It’s like she didn’t expect me to turn to her. She’s been reaching out and pulling her hand back over and over.
“Aki.”
“…!”
“I like you Aki. What about you?”
“Ah…”
“Come on Aki.”
Says Maki, as she takes her sister’s hand and puts it out.
Her hand also lands on mine, and I hold both their hands.
“Maki.”
“Aki.”
Uu… I-I also likeee…”
Aki starts crying, and Maki can’t hold back her tears either.
They’re both so lovely, and I hug them.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“It sure is nice to be young.”
“Fufu, those three are in their own little world.”
“First they start crying, then they ignore us and get all lovey-dovey… This is the branch manager’s office, you know?”
“You say that, but your mouth has been curled into a smile this whole time.”
“…It has not. And what about you?”
“It’s a sight for sore eyes. These three could win the adventurer and exclusive best couple competition that happens every year.”
“Of course. They’re my daughters.”
“Fufu, we have a proud parent here. But I should be going back.”
Clap!
“““!?”””
Hana clapped her hands in front of the trio.
It felt like the technique where one clapped their hands to confuse an opponent, but strangely enough, the trio cooled down.
“It’s nice to be getting along so well, but consider where you are.”
“““Yes…”””
“Well then Shouta, do you have something to say to them?”
“Hum?”
It seemed his memory was blown away by this once in a generation confession.
“What you showed the branch manager. You know.”
“A-ah!”
Shouta remembered, and grabbed their hands again.
“Maki, how is your Appraisal skill?”
“Hum, it’s actually four.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Hana smiled deeper at this lovely short back and forth.
And then, Shouta realized how dear he was to Maki, because she never used her skill on him despite having Appraisal Lv4. Conversely, Maki also thought even more dearly of him for never peeking at hers despite his skills. Aki thought this was adorable.
“Well then you two, cast Appraisal, and check my stats and skills.”
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