I’m here in branch 525 of the dungeon association early in the morning.
Yesterday I came here past noon to see how things were, but today I’m here early, in part because of what we talked about yesterday.
“I heard she was already working around this time, but…”
I look around for Maki. Despite it being the morning of a work day, there are a lot of adventurers here. It’s like the opposite of branch 777.
I keep looking around while taking in that disparity, and see a crowd in front of the counters where the receptionists are. Are they already doing assessments this early? Something doesn’t seem right.
“Check this out. Yesterday I took down fifty monsters on the third floor by myself.”
“Ha, I got fifteen small magic stones yesterday, by myself. I think I’m gonna be a big deal.”
“What are you on about? Yesterday I…”
“And yesterday…”
Once I really start listening, I see that they really aren’t there for assessments.
I heard more about the letter of introduction system from Maki yesterday. That really helped too, because I didn’t hear a word about it from Aki.
So firstly, there are advantages for both sides, the receptionist issuing the letter, and the adventurer receiving it.
The adventurer, me, receives preferential treatment, like I’ve experienced already. One of them is having an exclusive receptionist. Exclusive receptionists do their jobs like normal receptionists, but when their exclusive adventurer is around, that adventurer pretty much has them for themselves.
And apparently, adventurers swarm cute receptionists who haven’t issued a letter of introduction yet, to make a case for themselves. Like what’s happening now.
I figured they’d hunt and brag when they brought what they got here, but apparently this uproar only happens at specific times of the day and night.
Receptionists are human, so they have a day and a night shift. And since the period when they change shifts is typically the slowest one, adventurers pick this time to do battle and show off.
Apparently there was a big mess when the letter of introduction system was introduced, because adventurers would do this during assessments, but now there’s an unspoken rule to stick to this system. Maybe it’s different in other branches… And suffice to say, none of this happened in branch 777.
An exclusive…
I get it, having a pretty lady welcome you back and give you all kinds of support. I’m a guy too.
But mine is Aki, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
…Well, Aki is beautiful too. Although she’d make fun of me if I told her that, so I wouldn’t.
Also, I was the only adventurer in that branch. That means it’s no exaggeration to say that she was my de facto exclusive anyway.
“I guess it’s like a parting gift, after looking after me for so long.”
I think about that as I watch the bragging battle in front of me, until my eyes meet the ones of someone I know.
I see, no wonder I couldn’t find her. I wade through the crowd of people, and stand in front of her.
“Good morning Maki.”
“Ah, Shouta! Good morning. Come to the conference room in the back!”
She looked troubled, so I gave her a hand.
I’m sure she was uncomfortable. She didn’t let it show on her face as she dealt with them, but the bright smile on her face when I called out to her was nice.
The fact that she left her seat to deal with me first is another advantage of the letter of introduction. As the name implies, this letter assumes someone will be sent to another branch. After all, without it, if someone goes to another branch, they won’t be able to enjoy the perks of exclusivity.
And that’s why the letter of introduction can name another receptionist to act in place of the exclusive receptionist. And that receptionist takes over the duties of the original exclusive receptionist.
That receptionist is under a temporary contract until she gives her letter of introduction to someone, so Maki is handling me as a proxy exclusive. That means that those people are still desperately trying to show off, even though she’s acting as someone’s exclusive receptionist.
“Tch, he got in the way.”
“Curse you slime hunter.”
Maki is just as beautiful as her sister… Although just from a personal preference point of view, I think Maki is better.
I’m sure a lot of adventurers in this branch are after her.
I hear a lot of tongue clicking and complaints when I take her away, but it doesn’t hurt me at all, because I’m glad to help someone that’s been looking after me.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
The moment I sit down, Maki bows.
“Thank you Shouta. That really helped.”
“Please raise your head, Maki. You did so much for me yesterday, and you are my exclusive, even if it’s just a proxy thing. If you’re troubled, I’ll help you. And you had to set up the auction that was supposed to be a way for me to thank you too.
I think I’m going to be a nuisance from now on, so please bear with me.”
“You’re not a nuisance. In fact, I feel bad for getting so much on the first day.”
Maki is too humble.
“Oh, and does that sort of thing happen a lot?”
“Hum… Ahaha, yes. Not every morning, but pretty much on the morning of every work day. Weekends and holidays tend to be pretty peaceful though, because a lot of students come here and the place gets more crowded.”
“I see… You should just become my exclusive then, haha.”
“Eh? Are you sure!?”
“…Eh?”
I was just joking, but is she on board!?
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