Yuda Kagami’s POV
“Looks like the negotiations went well, Yuda-sama.”
Once everyone else had left my office, a man dressed in black entered. Tall and slender, with a handsome face and a smooth, pleasant voice, his name was Rei Minami. He was the Deputy Representative of the Far East Headquarters of the Dungeon Association.
In other words, he was my direct subordinate.
“I wouldn’t say they went one hundred percent according to plan, but we achieved the minimum objective.”
“Man, I have to hand it to you. Taking on a bunch of monsters like those all by yourself… That’s seriously impressive.”
Rei bowed deeply from his otherwise perfectly upright posture, as though paying me his sincere respects.
His performance was so transparently insincere that it was almost laughable, but there was something undeniably satisfying about watching a handsome man bow his head before me.
“Save the flattery. More importantly, is everything else proceeding according to schedule?”
“Yes. We’ve had them make their preparations at the Guild-operated item shop.”
“No oversights in the setup?”
“Everything is perfect.”
If this man said it was perfect, I had no reason to doubt him.
Had the negotiations gone completely according to plan, there would have been no need to have Rei handle the additional preparations for me. But unfortunately, things hadn’t gone quite that smoothly.
I hadn’t particularly wanted to owe this man a favor, but there was little choice.
“…”
Daishi Ajiri. I suppose I could at least give him credit for forcing me to play my trump card.
“That killing intent of his…”
To be perfectly honest, it had sent a genuine chill down my spine.
“Did the dummy videos do the trick? Man, modern AI technology is incredible, isn’t it? Just give it a few simple instructions, and it’ll automatically generate something that looks incredibly realistic, almost like it’s being streamed live!”
“That’s merely a testament to the Guild’s superior AI systems and intelligence-gathering capabilities. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Oh, come on. I was the one who wrote the prompt. You could at least give me a little credit.”
I’ve known him for a long time, but I still can’t stand Rei’s attitude. He always acts overly familiar while maintaining just enough distance to make it seem like he’s showing me proper respect.
He must look down on me quite a bit deep down.
“I’m merely carrying out my responsibilities. It isn’t something worthy of praise.”
“Aw, what a shame.”
“…More importantly, that footage wasn’t actually very useful in the end.”
“Huh? Really? Then how did you manage to tame those monsters and get them to head for the Beginner Dungeon?”
Rei stared straight into my eyes as he asked the question with an unusually serious expression.
I wanted to avert my gaze, but my dignity as the Representative wouldn’t allow it.
I had made a mistake. I shouldn’t have admitted that the footage hadn’t been useful!
Why did I let that slip out, me!?
“Hmmm… I get it now. Yuda-sama, you used your “feminine charms”, didn’t you?”
“Wha—!”
I knew it!
He figured it out!!
“Of course some old geezer like that would fall head over heels for Yuda-sama’s beauty! Seriously, you should’ve just gone with that strategy from the beginning.”
“I-I couldn’t possibly incorporate something like that into an official strategy!”
“Oh, don’t get embarrassed. You’re really cute, Yuda-sama.”
“Y-You insolent bastard! That’s an outrageous way to speak to the Representative!”
“Yes, yes. Sorry about that. I’ll listen to your lecture later. Anyway, I’ve got another job to take care of, so I’m heading out.”
“Hey! We’re not finished tal—”
“Well then.”
And with that, Rei left the office like the wind, after thoroughly provoking me to his heart’s content.
“…”
I stood there alone in the now-empty office.
And, without thinking, I slipped back into my true self and couldn’t help shouting what was really on my mind.
“That damn Rei… He’s so freaking annoying!!”
Oops. I shouldn’t have said that.
If someone had overheard me, that little outburst could have seriously damaged my dignity!
Calm down.
Forget about Rei and focus on Daishi Ajiri.
He has a very important task ahead of him—one that could determine the future of all humanity.
“Daishi… Ajiri…”
I opened both hands and stared down at them.
For some reason, I suddenly remembered the feeling of his palm when I’d instinctively grabbed his hand earlier in an attempt to encourage a truce.
“…”
They had been remarkably large, beautiful hands.
“Huh? What’s this…?”
A strange sensation suddenly washed over me.
For some reason, my heart was beating a little faster.
◇◇◇
“We should probably stock up on about a hundred potions, right?”
“Let’s get a hundred MP recovery potions, too! No, better make that two hundred!”
“Make sure we get plenty of food. You can’t fight on an empty stomach.”
“SHAAAAAA!! (Meaaat)!!”
After finishing our meeting with Yuda-san, the whole group headed to the item shop attached to Guild Headquarters.
We are getting our supplies together for another attempt at conquering the West Tokyo Fourth Beginner Dungeon.
“Do we really need this many items? Aren’t we buying a little too much…?”
“Daishi-san, just be quiet!!”
“Y-Yes!”
Ever since we’d finished the meeting and arrived at the item shop, the girls had been in an absolutely foul mood.
Sure, I had unilaterally decided that we were going back to the Beginner Dungeon, but I didn’t think it was worth getting “that” angry over.
Unlike the Nether-class dungeon, it was an easy dungeon. And more importantly, we are just going to visit the Dungeon Master, who had helped us out so much. It wasn’t exactly some incredibly dangerous mission.
Well… assuming we could even meet her of course.
Apparently, some ridiculously powerful barrier had been erected around the dungeon entrance, and nobody could enter at the moment.
I had told Yuda-san we’d head over right away, but I still had absolutely no idea how we were supposed to get through that barrier.
Yuda-san…
“So, Daishi-san! Please pay for all of these and put everything into your Item Box! We’re going to the food court to get some dessert first!”
Mina-chan shoved several enormous carts overflowing with supplies toward me, then turned her back and started walking away with the others.
“Hey! Why are you dumping the checkout on me, tooooo!?”
Wasn’t this a little unfair?
“Wait, wait. I’m the only one paying for all this…?”
“Why don’t you ask that beautiful Guild Representative to pay for you?”
“Hm. An excellent idea. Why don’t you go ask her? You lustful old man.”
“Daishi-san really is such a pervert.”
“SHAAAAAAA!!”
“…”
Wait a minute.
Could it be…
They had all noticed how completely smitten I’d gotten with Yuda-san!?
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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