Chapter 30

Every day, I open the D-can a little, but lately, I haven't been getting many good items.

Is my luck running out?

The best prize was a ring that increases magic recovery speed. It seems convenient, but it can't be equipped at the same time as the growth ring. If you equip both rings at the same time, neither of their effects will work.

The information site also said that similar magical accessories lose their effects when worn together.

It would have been convenient to have this ring when fighting the monster at Mount Fuji, but maybe it's not necessary now.

The next prize is a sub-space quiver. It's a fairly rare item that can store a large number of arrows. However, crossbows and arrows are expensive. I don't think I'll use it, considering the cost-effectiveness.

Milk uses a crossbow, so I'll let her use it.

And then, Sunday.

Milk arrived at the meeting place.

She was wearing a suit.

She was also wearing a tight skirt.

"Why are you wearing a suit?"

"Well, it's a job interview for an EPO corporation, even though I'm a high school student, right? It's only natural."

"Did you bring a resume, too?"

"Of course."

Milk had even brought an explorer's resume with a photo and a status verification document.

I didn't think it had to be that formal.

Maybe it was a mistake to tell Milk about the EPO corporation's approval from Hime the day after I heard about it?

But being dressed seriously shouldn't affect the evaluation, right?

I trust Hime.

Ayame wanted to come with us, but she said she had to leave later due to family reasons, so she would meet us at the location later.

Milk and I took the train to Tenshōji Station and then to the hotel where Hime was staying.

Milk, who thought the interview would be in the hotel's café, was a bit surprised when we arrived at the guest floor one floor below the top.

"Wait, is Hime staying at the hotel?"

"Yeah, her main house is in Kyoto, but she stays here on weekends."

"Did Taira go there?"

"Let me make it clear, it's not just the two of us. There are three of us."

"Is the other person a girl, too?"

"I haven't done anything suspicious."

Even though I said that, Milk gave me a suspicious look.

I really haven't done anything suspicious.

We arrived at Hime's room and rang the doorbell.

After a while, Hime came out.

...I was surprised.

Hime was wearing a suit.

"Welcome."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Makino Milk. Thank you for having me today."

"Thank you for your polite greeting. I'm Oshino Hime. Please come in."

As Hime went inside, Milk sent me a look.

*Hime is Oshino Hime!? You didn't tell me!*

*I didn't mention it? But she's famous, and the interview is at an Oshino Group hotel, so you would have figured it out, right?*

*No way!*

That's how the exchange went.

I think I got about 90% of it right.

I'll apologize later.

I didn't expect Hime to be in a suit.

I think it's better than her ninja outfit.

I thought it would be a more casual meeting.

The three of us went to the guest room.

"Please, have a seat."

"Yes."

"Do you have a resume?"

"I brought it. Should I also submit a status verification document?"

"The resume is enough. I don't intend to have a formal interview."

After checking the resume, there was no way it wasn't formal.

Hime quickly glanced through the resume.

"Level 10, able to use fire and earth composite magic. You only know one spell, Heat Stone Bullet. At the very least, you have the basic qualifications to be an adventurer."

"Yes, I went to the dungeon yesterday to level up."

"Good. Now, I have some questions. What is your role in the party?"

"My strength is in magic and crossbow skills, so I can provide long-range support from the back line. As stated in my resume, I have a first-class qualification in crossbow precision shooting, so I can provide effective support even in chaotic battles."

There's a qualification for crossbow precision shooting!?

I heard there are various qualifications related to dungeons, from national to private, but I didn't know there was one for that.

The interview continued for about five minutes, more formal than I imagined.

Then, Hime nodded.

"I understand. To be honest, I don't see any benefits in adding you to the party right now."

Hime rejected Milk's entry into the party.

She gave a decent response.

"Hey, Hime."

"Yoshira, be quiet. I do acknowledge her. If I thought this interview was just a formality and she was taking it lightly, I wouldn't have needed it. We are serious about becoming the world's best exploration party. For that, we need to carefully select the party members, especially the fourth member, in preparation for the twentieth floor."

"Boss battle... huh."

The twentieth floor of the dungeon has a boss room where a boss monster appears.

I mentioned before that there's no safety margin after the twentieth floor, and the first hurdle is the boss on the twentieth floor.

Only four people or fewer can enter the boss room.

That's what Hime is talking about.

"The back line is already decided. What I need is someone with support magic, or preferably, healing skills. Although, it's rare to find someone with healing skills, so I've given up on that."

"I can use fire magic! If I improve my proficiency in fire magic, I might be able to use spells that increase attack power!"

"That's true, there is a possibility. But it's not guaranteed. It would be easier to add someone who can already use support magic to the party before challenging the boss on the twentieth floor. I have connections for that, too."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes, that's the only reason. Well, your level is low, which is a problem, but with that ring, you can catch up to us."

Hime said, looking at the growth ring.

She knows I appraised the growth ring.

She recognized it at a glance.

But this is a bit much—

"The interview is over."

"Thank you."

Milk thanked Hime.

I thought she must be disappointed, but she was smiling.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Don't you get it? Hime told me that if I learn support magic, I can join the party. And she said she'll wait for me until you challenge the twentieth floor."

Oh, I see.

"If that's the case, just say so."

"It's not a promise or anything. I have a good grasp of Makino's status, so it's a matter of determination. Also, I should apologize to you. The dungeon at Ishibutai was managed by our hotel."

"That's not your fault. And, I just found out that you were the one who took Yoshira to Shizuoka. If you hadn't, my dad might not have been saved. I'm grateful."

"Don't worry about it. I got to see something interesting. Oh, you can call me Hime. No need to be formal. We're the same age, so let's be more relaxed, okay?"

"Yes. Then, please call me Milk. Can I ask you one more question, Hime?"

"What is it?"

"You call Yoshira by his first name, but is there a relationship beyond being teammates?"

Huh? What is she saying?

"No, Yoshira and I are business partners. Right now, I respect him as a colleague."

"Is that so... for now?"

Milk looked a bit relieved.

"For now" is harsh.

If I fail, she's ready to give up on me.

Well, aiming for the world's best is naturally that demanding.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

It seems Ayame has arrived.

Hime went to greet her.

"Hey, Yoshira. The one who just arrived is—"

"Another party member."

"Right... this is where the real competition begins."

What does she mean?

Then, Ayame entered the room.

"Oshino-san, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Is the interview over...? Wait, Milk-chan?"

"...Ayame?"

Huh? They know each other?

It's possible since they go to the same high school, but they call each other by their first names.

So, they are friends.

That makes things easier.

"...That ring... childhood friend..."

"The boy of my age who saved me from the Evil Ogre..."

They stared at each other, muttering.

They are friends... right?

I need to add "dull protagonist" to the tags.