Dungeon Gacha Life Chapter 15

 Chapter 15: A Certain Receptionist's Observation Diary

[Side: Shimotsuki Ryouka]

My name is Shimotsuki Ryouka. I handle reception duties at the Hachioji Dungeon Guild.

Twenty-six years old. No boyfriend.

This is my fourth year on the job since graduating university. At first, dealing with people in the Explorer profession was rough. But lately I've gotten used to it, and I've started to find real fulfillment in the work.

Recently, though, a small change had come to my otherwise peaceful work environment. The cause was one particular, slightly odd rookie Explorer — Suzukaze Touya-kun.

* * *

My first impression of him was "an ordinary college student."

Aside from a slightly sharp look in his eyes, there was nothing about his appearance that stood out. Whether it was just his careful personality, there wasn't a trace of the recklessness you often see in young people.

The fact that he didn't head to the dungeon first thing in the morning, even on his very first day exploring, was pretty out of step with how most people did things. Usually people would show a bit more enthusiasm than that.

Still, that was far better than some hot-blooded kid causing a major accident. And he actually listened to the advice we give beginners too.

Maybe he could make it as a steady, reliable Explorer.

That's what I thought, anyway.

Right up until that afternoon, when I saw him with a "fairy" in tow.

A cute little girl about twenty centimeters tall, with blonde hair. Her name was Lapis-chan.

The moment I saw her, I knew this was going to be trouble. Whisking him straight off to the lounge is a fond memory at this point.

After that, Suzukaze-kun disclosed his Unique Skill to me.

Part of the reason was probably that he'd already realized there was no hiding it. But more than that, it was that his Unique Skill just didn't seem all that powerful.

I suggested sharing some of the information within the Guild, to keep prying from other people to a minimum. He was bound to get more attention from other Explorers going forward, but I hoped this would cut down on it, even by a little.

He agreed to it, so sharing the information went smoothly. And that's how the Unique Skill "Support Fairy" got etched into the Guild's records.

...Though he never did disclose his Status.

* * *

His activity from then on was genuinely steady.

Using Lapis-chan as a decoy, he started safely hunting non-aggressive monsters. His main activity was on Floor 3. He kept on hunting Horned Rabbits there.

He wanted to raise his Level as much as possible before heading to Floor 4, where the aggressive Goblins showed up. That's what he told me and I backed that approach.

But I never imagined he'd hole up there for nearly a whole month.

Once I sensed the people around him starting to look down on him, I suggested Suzukaze-kun move on to Floor 4. He accepted it without any fuss.

I'd half-expected he might have some aversion to humanoid monsters so it felt a little anticlimactic.

And he easily returned with the results from the Floor 4. Despite my worries, the payout was good enough to call a major success.

On his very next dungeon attack, he went and unlocked the Floor 6 teleportation magic circle. Though I never expected he'd come back before noon and just call it a day right then.

And then Suzukaze-kun, in that teasing way of his, invited me out to eat.

It didn't feel bad but if he was going to ask, I kind of wished he'd do it a little more smoothly. I thought there was a surprisingly cute side to him.

* * *

After that, he started holing up on Floor 7.

Not every day, exactly — since he kept strictly to his three day rest week, working only four days a week — but he started bringing back huge amounts of Wolf materials.

Despite his fairly leisurely working hours of 10 to 4, pulling in 18,000 yen from Wolves alone wasn't something you saw very often.

Wolves appear in packs on Floor 7. I couldn't help wondering just how Suzukaze-kun, going solo, was managing to fight them.

His reputation started shifting from a "steady beginner" to a "promising rookie."

He stayed on Floor 7 for about two weeks straight after that. I found myself worrying he might settle in and stall out here too, same as before.

But at some point, his pace started picking up.

"Today, I'm going to go activate the Floor 11 teleportation circle."

Having raised his Level enough on Floor 7, he said he'd use the distributed maps to cut straight through Floors 8 through 10 by the shortest route.

That was indeed a method plenty of Explorers used to advance through floors. Especially somewhere like Hachioji Dungeon, which had maps published for every floor.

And he came back having reached Floor 11 easily.

Just under two months to get this far. Faster people get even further than that, but in his case, both his working days and his hours each day were short.

You could call that a solid progress.

And then, two more weeks after that. Suzukaze-kun came back having unlocked the Floor 16 teleportation circle too.

"Figured it was about time."

So he said.

He really is a young man who is a bit out of touch with reality, in a good way.

From then on, he started bringing back huge amounts of Floor 17 drops. The volume was already on par with a full-time Explorer.

Having him outdo my monthly salary with that few working days was, admittedly, a bit of a shock. Honestly, I'm a little jealous of that full three day rest week of his.

Maybe I should've become an Explorer myself.

But at the same time, I couldn't help but think.

He's got some hidden trick up his sleeve.

* * *

His Unique skill, "Support Fairy," is also shrouded in mystery.

He calls it a companion for consultation during exploration, but is that really all to it?

Every so often, he comes back with items meant for Lapis-chan. Things like a boot-shaped snack set, the kind of thing a kid would want or a canopy bed. When he brought back a massage chair, even I couldn't help joining him in giving Lapis-chan a look.

According to him, "It's probably like one of those affection-level-up rewards you get in games, right?"

But if that's the case, there's no benefit at all for him, the one who actually owns the Skill.

As a rule, Unique Skills are absurdly powerful. More often than not, they are something that sets someone apart from every other Explorer. Sure, like he says, there are some Unique Skills out there with pretty lackluster effects, too.

But the way he's been growing lately is nothing short of astonishing. I have a strong suspicion he's been granted some kind of advantageous ability.

He hides it skillfully. But that distinctive air of his, and his results lately, were starting to give the game away.

Suzukaze-kun?

Using Lapis-chan as a decoy and making full use of information online — that excuse is starting to wear a little thin, you know?

I've got no intention of spreading this around, but at least keep your activities within a range I can turn a blind eye to, alright?

Because getting to spend time with you and Lapis-chan has been a genuine pleasure for me too.

[Part 1: "Gacha, the Fairy, and the Pity Cap" — End]