CH 23

Newbie Explorer Party

“Phew~ Kaede, thank you for taking the trouble.”

Yua looks happy as she gazes at the new dagger in its sheath that she just bought.

In the end, I recommended Yua a safe dagger that I thought would perform well, and after testing it out, she finally chose a very ordinary dagger with no strange effects.

But still, Yua seems happy with it, and that’s okay.

“I’m glad you’re happy with it.”

“Yes♪ It’s all thanks to Kaede-san.”

Saying that Yua smiled again.

I would say that the choice of weapons this time was a success.

But still, I never thought that Yua and I would be shopping together like this, even though we are both in the Explorers Association.

It’s. but well, it’s not bad.

“Eh~ even we can go!”

While I was relaxing like that, I suddenly heard a loud, yelling voice.

The voice came from a place a little far from where Yua and I were.

Or rather, someone on the receptionist does some kind of purchase.

“Um, what is it?”

“Maybe it’s someone waiting for their turn to make a purchase?”

“No, it didn’t sound like that. ……”

It did not sound that way to Yua.

Right?

Well, I don’t either.

The voice just now sounded like the explorer was complaining about something, not a purchase.

I’m sure there aren’t many people here at this time since most explorers are probably diving into the dungeon, but how could you hear the voice so far?

“I wonder what’s going on?”

“Well, ……?”

I look at Yua and tilt my head.

“Kaede-san, I’m going to go take a look.”

“Oh, hey.”

Yua said that much and made a short run to the reception desk.

I also decided to follow after Yua and head to the reception.

There were three girls and one recepcionist man at the reception.

One was a petite girl with red hair in twin tails.

Another was a blonde girl with wavy blonde hair.

The last one was a mature-looking girl with brown hair in a ponytail.

And the boy at the reception desk was the man from the explorer’s association at the time of the warden issue.

“That’s good~ we even defeated the boss of an F-rank dungeon, we should be able to go to an E-rank dungeon too!”

“Ummm …… I understand that, but it’s the explorer’s responsibility to dive into the dungeon, so I don’t have a problem with it. ……”

“Rin-chan, the receptionist is also worried about us, right? I need to think a little more about how to say it.”

“Rin, calm down. The most important thing to remember is that the receptionist is also worried about you.

Are you arguing? That’s what I thought, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Well, …… what is that?”

Yua, who is next to me, must have thought the same thing and asked me.

I think the content of that conversation is: they defeated the boss of the F-rank dungeon, E-rank dungeon, and no explorers from the explorer association.

From that, I think–

“Maybe they are talking about the fact that they were able to defeat the boss of the F-rank dungeon, so let’s go to the E-rank dungeon next, right?”

“I see…”

After defeating the boss of the F-rank dungeon, we go to the E-rank dungeon next. This is nothing strange.

When I was at the party, I started diving into the E-rank dungeon after I beat the F-rank dungeon.

But that was after I went with an explorer sent by the Explorers’ Association several times.

The reason was to prevent novice explorers who had become accustomed to F-rank dungeons from letting their guard down and dying in E-rank dungeons.

That is why newbie explorers can use the system that allows them accompanied by veteran explorers dispatched by the explorer association.

I guess those girls were thinking of using that system. But the proposal didn’t go through because all the explorers from the Explorers’ Association who were eligible for that system were out of town.

The other thing is that they were teaching them about the dungeon, like I used to do, by joining a party of beginners.

“Hmmm. But. Ah!”

The man at the reception desk, who talks to the girls called Rin and the red-haired girl noticed me.

Or rather, he is looking at me as if he had his sights set on me.

“Excuse me. Please wait a moment.”

Then the man at the reception desk turned the girls down and came toward us.

Then he stops in front of me and apologizes with a deep bow.

“Amamiya-san, thank you for your help the other day. And I am very sorry for interrupting your date too, girlfriend-sama.”

“Gi, girlfriend! And a date!”

Yua’s face turns red and she is flustered when she hears the man’s words.

Yeah, well, that’s right. If he thinks you’re dating me, that’s a big problem.

She’s an explorer who belongs to a company, so there’s a lot to be said about romance.

If I don’t deny it here, it would be bad for Yua.

“Ah …… no, don’t worry about it. Also, this girl is not my girlfriend.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m sorry about this.”

“No, no. No, no, please don’t worry about it!”

Yua is still a bit flustered, but the man seems to have understood and immediately backed off.

Well, I guess that’s all right for now.

“Let’s see… …… So? Is something wrong?”

“Oh, yes. I’m having a bit of a problem …….”

The man at the reception desk then began to explain the current situation.

“Recently, there has been an increase in the number of F-rank dungeon bosses being attacked by new explorers, and there are not enough explorers to dispatch because many newbie explorers are using the system of having veteran explorers dispatched. And as a result, those kids could’nt take on E-rank dungeons anymore.”

“Huh. …… And that’s why you ask me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but could you please follow those girls to challenge the E-rank dungeon? I can rest assured that Amamiya-san, who was called The Guide. We will prepare the rewards for you.”

I was a little annoyed that he called me The Guide, but in summary, he wants me to support the girls.

Well, there is no reason to refuse.

I don’t mind because they’ll pay me, but the problem is that I won’t be able to level up during that time.

But from my experience, it should be over quickly, so it shouldn’t be long.

“Okay, I understand. If it’s okay with you, I’ll help them.”

“Oh, thank you!”

“Kaede-san, it looks like I won’t be able to help you because of my office, but please do your best!”

Yua supports me with a slightly disappointed expression on her face.

“Well then, I’m leaving here. But I heard that the death rate of explorers who enter E-rank dungeons is a little high this year, so please be careful.”

And after saying that last bit, he left.

As she left, she looked at me with worried eyes, but was the death rate in E-rank dungeons that high?

“Then, Amamiya-san, please come this way.”

“Understood.”

…… Let’s be vigilant and prepared.

***

[“Yeah… I managed to get him to do a good job. I don’t know why he was in the association branch, but he said he was going to Rock Cave Dungeon.”]

“…… I see.”

[“…… If you’re going to do this, do it well. If you fail, I’ll be involved too, right?”]

He is trying to remind me, but I don’t have to worry about that.

There was no way I was going to fail.

I hang up the call and tuck my phone into my pocket.

Now I’m ready for revenge.

All that’s left is to put it into action.