Chapter 40

Well, I've been reflecting on my titles so far.

The only ones left are those two. Specifically, the titles given to me after the Stampede. Let's start with the relatively mild one, shall we?

Title: The One Who Began to Be Noticed by the World

Explanation: The gears of the frozen moment began to turn, pushed by the wind.

Effect: Can sense the location of dungeons within a 1km radius.

"Being able to pinpoint the location of dungeons within the range. This is a convenient effect, I suppose. You can become a dungeon investigator at a low cost, Kouta-kun."

"Yes, I believe they are special professionals who confirm the occurrence of dungeons, pinpoint their locations, and conduct investigations."

"Yes, they have a sort of business partnership with the guild and the investigators' association, where they support each other."

Kasumi-san replied.

Dungeon investigators—officially known as Second-Class Dungeon-Related Specific Workers—are a legitimate profession in this era of great dungeons. They are the people who discover and investigate dungeons. When you receive materials before exploring a dungeon, such as how many floors and rooms it has, which are investigated using special equipment from the surface—these investigators create those materials, and they belong to the Dungeon Investigators' Union, commonly known as the 'Investigation Union.'

"By the way, we dungeon explorers are officially called First-Class Dungeon-Related Specific Workers. Like the investigators, who are the second class, the abbreviated name has become so well-known that the official name is rather obscure."

"It's long and hard to say, after all."

"Government offices tend to think that making things long is always better."

Kasumi-san shrugged, but her gesture was unusually composed.

She looked like a mature adult who had experienced both the bitter and the sweet.

I was somewhat impressed; no matter how many dungeons I explore, I can't mimic this kind of life experience.

Anyway, this "The One Who Began to Be Noticed by the World."

From the name, it's probably because of that incident where Shining Yamagata appeared on TV. It was covered by national news and variety shows. That much is clear.

However, the explanation is quite profound. Frozen gears? What does it refer to?

I asked Kasumi-san, who is more knowledgeable about the era of great dungeons, if she had any ideas, but she said she couldn't think of anything.

Even Liebe, who was asked as a last resort, couldn't help and urged me to level up quickly to summon the cute, cute Liebe-chan. If she really appears, I'll dig out all the information from her.

Anyway, the last title.

This one... I think it's the most problematic. Given the timing, it feels like something else.

Title: The One Who Warms the Newly Born Miracle

Explanation: Being born, meeting, and being together. All of these are wonderful miracles that you weave.

Effect: Grants a charm bonus to the holder based on the number of people with whom they have formed bonds.

I called Kasumi-san "Kasumi-san" for the first time, and the system gave me this title. The system is really mischievous. It's just like my mom, who squeals at the climax of a romance drama.

What is your boss doing, Liebe-san?

"Alright, alright. Even though I'm a tortoise, I'm still offering my blessings, sort of. And the effect, while tricky, should be useful for Kouta-kun. Think of it as a vacation, think of it!"

Don't talk about people like they're vacation spots. And what exactly is this effect supposed to do?

While I was having this mental conversation with Liebe, Kasumi-san started talking about this title.

"The One Who Warms the Newly Born Miracle. Honestly, I don't quite understand the intention behind this... It seems to have been given at the moment when Kouta-kun and I were talking, but I don't know the trigger."

"Regardless of the trigger, the effect is quite vague... What does 'forming bonds' mean in terms of building trust? And what exactly is 'charm'?"

"There have been several types of effects that boost the holder's charm in the past, but 'forming bonds' is a new one."

Even Kasumi-san, a top A-rank explorer, couldn't interpret the expression "forming bonds."

What is charm, anyway? If there are similar skills from the past, I'd like to know. As if on cue, the senior explorer answered.

"Exactly as it reads, it's about how the person is perceived by those around them. I don't know the baseline, but such expressions have been confirmed in skills like 'Charisma,' 'Leadership,' or 'Idol.'"

"Those all sound like skills that attention-seekers would want. What are their effects?"

"All of them temporarily boost charm during specific actions. I once saw someone with 'Charisma' activate their skill, and the bonus was significant. They even charmed a hostile enemy on first meeting, capturing their gaze."

Hmm. Even if it's temporary, being able to draw attention can be useful in various situations. Or rather, the effect of a charm buff.

...But in my case, wait a minute. Looking at the effect, could it be a permanent bonus? Huh?

"I don't understand 'forming bonds,' but if it works well, Kouta-kun might have the power to charm everyone around him all the time. Truly, a savior—this is what it means for the world not to leave you alone!"

"Scary..."

So, at the very least, give me some control over when it's on or off!

With that inner cry, my title reflection meeting came to an end.

At the time of posting this story,

- 1st place in the Low Fantasy Daily Ranking

- 6th place in the Overall Daily Ranking

- 4th place in the Overall Weekly Ranking

Thank you all for your support.

I would appreciate it if you could continue to bookmark and rate the story.