Chapter 72

"Does that guy next to you, is he your boyfriend? They don't seem to match at all."

"No, he seems calm and his face isn't bad, but a bit mismatched, you know? I think we match better, don't you think? Let's take a photo together? We'll look super cute."

They are quite an easy-to-understand pair, with nothing but ulterior motives visible.

They look like they are in their late teens, around my age or Sayama's. Their slightly childish faces might make them look like middle school students if you're not careful.

However, the pickup lines these days are polite, or something. The way they speak, slightly considerate of me, the third wheel, is oddly heartwarming. I can feel that they are not bad people, even though they have ulterior motives.

In contrast to my thoughts, Sayama seemed quite offended. She replied with a cold tone, but a cheerful smile.

"Huh, you don't match? I think I match well with you guys. Hmm."

"Eh? No, we do match, but—"

"I mean, that guy over there doesn't match with the lady. He's plain and seems to blend into the background. He has gentle eyes and looks like a good person, though."

"…Yamagata, show them your certificate."

"Eh…?"

She urged me with veins popping on her forehead. Scary.

The certificate, you mean the explorer's one, right? Should I show it to them? No, no, why… I could just say I'm busy or call the security guard. Why do I have to reveal my true identity?

When I looked back at her with a puzzled expression, Sayama said to me with a bright smile, not showing any of it to the pickup guys.

"I don't mind being mocked, but I absolutely cannot tolerate Yamagata being mocked. Here, show it to them. Show them how Yamagata is better than any other guy."

"Ah, okay. Well, I am this kind of person."

The pressure is intense… how angry is she?

I obediently showed it, knowing that you can't win against an angry girl. My parents and Yuzuko have taught me this naturally. It's tough.

"An explorer!?"

"Hey, that's serious! You're the girlfriend of an explorer!?"

The moment they found out I was an explorer, their attitude changed dramatically.

Shock, confusion, fear, and even a hint of guilt. They probably didn't expect a completely ordinary guy like me to be an explorer, so they were surprised and scared. I'm not sure about the guilt, though…

"Sorry, sorry! Thank you for always exploring the dungeon!"

"We were saved by an explorer during the stampede the other day, and we've been really respectful ever since!"

"Oh, that's good to hear… I'm glad you're safe."

I see, so they've been respectful of explorers ever since they were saved. Still, a stampede… the explorer who saved them… it couldn't have been me, right? I might have been there by chance, but if they've seen the TV, they might recognize my face from that interview.

As I was pondering, the pickup guys gave me the answer.

"Did you know? Sekiguchi is an explorer!"

"He came to our rescue when we thought we were done for! He kicked the monsters away in no time!"

"Sekiguchi? Really…"

"Huh… he helps people?"

Both Sayama and I were surprised and impressed by the unexpected appearance of Sekiguchi.

He had a reputation for causing trouble with werewolves during the stampede, but of course, he is an explorer. No matter his thoughts or feelings, he was fighting to help people. He was just doing something strange because I showed up. Before that, he was doing his job properly. It makes me feel good.

"But the fact that he interfered with Yamagata and almost got us killed is a different story…"

"………………"

Sayama didn't seem to mind, but it's a valid point! Just as it's true that Sekiguchi saved the pickup guys, it's also true that he interfered with me, almost getting Sayama and the others killed. They are separate incidents, and they don't cancel each other out.

What's done is done. The good and the bad. That's how it is.

"So, we'll be going now…"

"Sorry!"

The pickup guys eventually apologized and hurriedly left. They were quite likable despite everything.

From a strange pickup attempt to the unexpected discovery of Sekiguchi's good deed, it was quite an intense exchange.

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