Chapter 2: The Receptionist’s Consideration.

I killed and dismembered 20 goblins and exited the dungeon.

Things that adventurers need are mostly located in the same building as the gate.
The exchange counter is one of them. The person who handles things there is someone called the “Receptionist.” The ladies who work at this facility are generally called “Receptionists.”

“I’ve brought 20 hearts.”

The lady looked up and widened her perfectly round eyes.

“You’re Isshiki-kun, right? I’m so glad you’re safe. But wow, you look terrible…”
“I’m sorry. I’m all dirty.”

“The dirt doesn’t matter. More importantly, are you injured?”
“No, it’s mostly someone else’s blood.”

“That’s good. We’ll take care of things here, so why don’t you go wash up first?”
“Thank you.”

Indeed, I couldn’t go home in this state. Just as the lady told me, I decided to take a shower.

There is a bathhouse that adventurers can use at any time, probably because they are covered in blood and cannot go outside. It is appreciated that body soap, shampoo, and conditioner are also provided.

Since I have open wounds, I’ll just take a shower and head back to the exchange counter.

“I’m back.”
“The exchange is complete. Because the condition of the heart was good, we’ve added a 10% bonus to the purchase price. The total is 8,800 yen.”

The woman hands me a receipt. The money I receive here will be transferred to the registered bank account.

“So, there’s a bonus if the condition is good?”
“Yes. The items collected within the dungeon are used as samples for research, so the better the condition, the higher the selling price.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“For your first time, that was an incredibly clean dissection… have you done something like this before?”

“If it’s wild boar, I’ve done it a few times.”
“Huh.”

Even if they look at me with an incomprehensible expression, it can’t be helped because it’s the truth.
During long vacations, I would help out a farmer I knew and receive vegetables in return. It just so happened that I had the opportunity then.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work. By the way, Isshiki-san, aren’t you going to form a party?”
“Yes. I can’t stand splitting the reward.”

“Eh…”

Ah, shoot.

That makes me sound like a total money-grubber.
Well, whatever. It doesn’t matter if they misunderstand.

“But, it’s dangerous, you know? Dungeons can be life-threatening if you let your guard down.”
“It’s fine. Money is more important to me.”

When I said something that sounded like a fearsome miser, the older woman fell silent.
While cooperating with companions is recommended, it’s not mandatory. If that’s the case, I’ll choose the option that earns me the most money.

I lowered my head and decided to go home.

?

After Isshiki Itsuki left.

The receptionist, Shiraishi Haruka, was conflicted.

“I wonder if that child is alright… I’m worried.”

Haruka has a younger brother three years younger, who is the same age as Itsuki.
He just graduated middle school and is still fifteen. While kids his age are starting high school, Itsuki has begun delving into dungeons. That in itself isn’t unusual, but…

He doesn’t seem like he’s chasing a dream.

“Money, huh?”

Even from just a short conversation, it was clear that he had his reasons.
As Haruka was racking her brain, a middle-aged instructor had somehow appeared right in front of her.

“Hey, did Isshiki return?”
“Ah! Instructor-um, yes. Isshiki-kun is back.”

“What were the results?”

Hurriedly, Haruka rummaged through the record data and pulled up Isshiki Itsuki’s entry.

“Twenty goblin hearts-the condition was good, so we bought them at a 10% increase.”
“See? Just like I said. That kid will be fine.”

Hearing those words, Haruka finally realized.
The abnormality of a rookie adventurer diving into a dungeon alone and killing 20 monsters on their first day.

“…I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.”

Haruka bit her lip. At that time, she was just happy that he had returned alive. But thinking about it again, this number is abnormal.

Despite achieving such results on his first day, Itsuki remained indifferent.

“What in the world is he?”
“If you’re curious, you should go and see for yourself.”

With that, the instructor turned his back.
Left behind, Haruka stared blankly and pointed at herself.

“Eh, me-!?”

?

The next day, the routine was the same.
My day began after seeing my family off.
As I was about to enter the dungeon again, I noticed a strange gaze.

A masked, black-haired woman was staring intently at me. When she caught my eye, she walked straight towards me. The sound of her staff, as tall as she was, tapping against the ground echoed.

“Good morning, young man. I’m ‘Free Labor Mask,’ and I love teaching beginners all sorts of things. I’ll teach you everything step by step. Since we’ve met, how about we go on an adventure together?”

[TL/N: ?????? (Tadahataraki Kamen) literally translates to “Free Labor Mask.”]

“-You’re the receptionist, aren’t you?”

When I voiced my thoughts, the masked woman bent over as if struck by a fatal blow.

“Gah! Ugh… the receptionist…? Oh dear, young people these days use such strange words. I am but a humble ‘Service Squadron: Free Labor Black.’ Though everyone just calls me ‘Free Labor Mask.'”

“Isn’t that the most useless existence in this day and age?”

Why is this lady doing this?
I can tell she’s concerned about me.
Could it be that yesterday, when I said I didn’t want to split the reward, she’s trying to appeal to me by saying she doesn’t need anything?
If that’s the case, she’s too nice. She’s so nice it makes me worried.

“Maybe I should go with ‘Volunteer Mask’ from today…”
“That might be better.”

“Well then, let me reintroduce myself. I’m ‘Volunteer Mask,’ who supports beginners as a hobby. You can call me Bora.”
“Huh.”

“Now then, once you’re ready, let’s go on an adventure! Don’t worry, all the rewards we get on this adventure will be yours.”
“…This is too good to be true, it’s scary.”

“Believe, Bora! Bora doesn’t lie, Bora!”
“So scary…”

“Alright, alright, we’re setting off. If you come with me, I’ll even take you outside the ‘Labyrinth of Beginnings’.”
“—!”

For me, that was an incredibly tempting invitation.
To be honest, hunting goblins doesn’t pay very well.
The heart rate varies from day to day. 500 yen each is pretty good. More than anything, if the number of adventurers keeps increasing, their population will undoubtedly decrease.

To be honest, I just want to get going.

“Are you sure you want to take me?”

“Sure.”

The lady nodded vigorously. She was probably the receptionist, so I thought I could trust her.

I got ready and decided to go with her.

?

“This kid has such a faint presence.”

As soon as they entered the dungeon, Haruka noticed a characteristic of the boy beside her.
Even when Haruka sharpened her senses with magic, she could only faintly perceive the presence of Itsuki.

He’s unconsciously suppressing the surrounding mana.

“Isshiki-kun, how do you fight?”
“I approach from behind, kill the first one before it notices me-and then I just go with the flow.”

Haruka nodded to herself in understanding. Indeed, with the ability to erase his presence this much, the goblins probably wouldn’t notice him.

In that case, this kid should already be able to use magic.

Mana suppression is a technique for intermediate or advanced users. He’s probably mastered basic spells. There’s even a possibility he incorporates them into actual combat.

“Isshiki-kun, can you use magic?”
“…My magic doesn’t work, you see.”

“Oh, really? That’s surprising.”

With the ability to erase his presence to this extent, he should be at a sufficient level.

“Yes. I haven’t been very good at it since training.”
“Will you try for me?”

Itsuki pointed his finger forward and quietly announced,

“-Fireball.”

With a whoosh, a ball of fire appeared.

Just as Itsuki said, it merely stayed still in the air without moving an inch. Certainly, this would be difficult to use for attack.

After observing the situation for a moment, Haruka suddenly thrust her hand into the fireball.

“What are you doing!?”

Haruka waved her hand at the flustered Itsuki, indicating that she was alright. True to her word, not even a scratch marked her hand.

“Just as I thought. This isn’t fire. It’s just glowing to look like it.”
“…Huh?”

“Good. It seems there’s something I can teach you.”

Haruka smiled beneath her mask and started walking down the passage. She spotted a group of mob men nearby. Since they were here, she might as well show him in a real fight.

“Dungeons are filled with mana, the source of magic. Monsters primarily sense each other through this flow. In other words-if you apply that, you can lure your opponents.”

The instant after she spoke, two goblins sprang out from around the corner.

“Watch closely. This is my magic.”

Tingle…
The air crackled, and in the next moment-

Haruka swung her staff.

“?Violet Lightning Flash?”

A single bolt of lightning pierced through both monsters.