After calming an unruly Lucky, I enter the hotel and check in at the reception. Then I am taken to the room where I will be staying from now on.
They were told about Lucky beforehand, so that won’t be a problem. But I’m going to have to pay quite a bit if it damages the room or breaks things in it.
Tamed beasts are typically bound spiritually to their masters. This means that unless the owner blunders, they are easier to take care of than pets. I feel the same about Lucky, despite it being a summon beast. Unlike tamed beasts, it doesn’t need to eat food, and it can disappear if I undo the summon.
It can also revert to being young, making it an eco mode of sorts, so it’s even less trouble than a tamed beast.
Then I take my things to my room, and head to lounge with Lucky.
Most guests at this hotel are seekers and people related to them. Basically, everyone here is a colleague. I was hoping a newbie like me could gain valuable information and make some connections, but…
“Hey. What’s your deal?”
“Nothing. It’s first come first serve for adventurers. Don’t whine about nonsense after the fact.”
“Nonsense? You damn thief. You’ve been doing this on purpose in line with my schedule.”
“I told you it’s nonsense. We planned to explore that dungeon anyway.”
In the lounge I see a big man with golden hair that looks like a lion given human form, and a thin man with glasses and an unaffected expression arguing.
Looks like I have come across a battle between seekers.
“Ah, old man with the fancy tamed beast. You shouldn’t go there right now.”
Says a woman sitting on a sofa, as I watch them argue in a daze.
Her clothes with a strangely high level of exposure are something I would call funky, and she has pretty loud makeup. She looks like an idol, but the air around her is that of a seeker.
“Hi. I’m Yuri. Just a poor little matuber.”
“Thank you. My name is Oonuki. I’m a seeker. This is Lucky, my tamed beast.”
“Eh, cute. Hello Lucky.”
“Kyu.”
Lucky raises its hand and makes a sound in return. Greetings are basic for it.
“Oh, Lucky is smart. Is it strong too?”
“Yes. It’s a big help in the dungeon.”
We have only gone there together once, but Lucky really is great. It can fight, it can carry things, and it can explore. And when it works with the searcher drone, magic beasts can’t get close so easily.
So a matuber. I’m pretty sure that’s what they call people who stream on the video site exclusive to dungeon content, matube. I’m pretty unfamiliar with this sort of thing, since my old company stayed away from anything dungeon related.
“Hm. By the way old man, do you know me?”
“I’m sorry. I’m a new seeker, and I don’t know much about dungeons.”
“New? At that age? I’ve been on TV a bit too. Guess I gotta work harder.”
“Hahaha, I led a very work focused life until last month. But I want to also watch that sort of media from now on.”
“I see. Information is the difference between life and death. You should start tuning in to all sorts of stuff too, if you’re going to start being a seeker at that age.”
Yuri is right.
If I’m going to be the greatest seeker, I need to have a better grasp on the competition.
I’ll start watching matube, and try harder to collect information.
———————————
Zenjurou trembles upon meeting strong people, and rejoices at the choice given to him.
Whether he is thought of as an overreacher or a pitiful fool, it makes no difference to him.
He will simply bare his fangs towards the best prey.
Thanks.