Chapter 11

Wasn't that person definitely a shop clerk from the armory?

Seihiko tilted his head when he saw the woman's figure.

Just as things were getting suspicious, a shop clerk from the armory barged in.

Thanks to her intervention, the situation progressed smoothly.

Before he knew it, the distribution was over.

Wasn't she faster at appraising than the shop clerk from the buyback store?

Her skills were truly remarkable.

It seemed that Seihiko's armor was worth the effort to repair.

But, he was concerned about the drool that was flowing down her chin.

Surely, she hadn't gone crazy.

Her eyes always glinted suspiciously.

Those were the eyes of someone plotting something behind the scenes.

If you thought she was just a fool because of the drool, you'd surely get a backlash.

Like Seihiko this morning, who was made to buy armor he didn't plan to buy...

But it was good that Kuren agreed with the distribution.

"If I refuse, I'll stand out. Think of it as for my sake and take it."

At that time, Seihiko whispered to Kuren.

Seihiko wanted to stand out, but not in a bad way.

Standing out. Standing out in a bad way.

The line was subtle, but Seihiko had a clear distinction.

It was hostility.

Not just jokes or insults, but clear hostility.

He didn't want to stand out in a way that would provoke such hostility.

Hostility would eventually lead to violence.

Seihiko didn't have the strength to fend off violence.

He also disliked conflicts among people.

So, he tried not to stand out in a bad way.

Some adventurers deliberately stood out in a bad way, role-playing as villains.

There was a certain demand for such characters, and they were necessary to highlight the good.

By playing the villain, other adventurers might be spurred on.

"Can't lose to a guy like that!"

But it was better to leave such roles to those who were good at them.

At least, Seihiko couldn't do it. It wasn't his style.

With the money from the short sword and armor from this hunt, Seihiko's pockets were full.

It's strange how everything seems to shine when you have a decent amount of money in your pocket.

You end up wanting to spend it frivolously.

"How can I repay this kindness..."

Kuren made various suggestions, but honestly, he didn't help her because she wanted something.

Thank you.

That was enough for him.

"I'll treat you at a restaurant.

"Or would you prefer homemade food?

"I'm good at cooking too!

"Or is there something else you want?

"Tell me anything I can give you!"

What!?

Seihiko almost reacted to her words, but he sternly reprimanded himself.

No.

She's 18.

I'm an old man.

Just walking together is dangerous for a man.

Being suspected alone is (socially) fatal...

Besides, Seihiko wasn't used to being thanked.

He wasn't as great as she said.

Her gratitude was so uncomfortable that Seihiko ended up running away from Kuren.

Being a non-entity, Seihiko easily lost Kuren.

While "non-entity" is usually a sad word, today its lack of presence was a blessing.

But, the atmosphere around him felt different from usual.

"The atmosphere is heavy?"

Seihiko's stamina was low after clearing the Monster Parade.

His mind wasn't working well, and he couldn't figure out what was different.

...Well, whatever.

He returned to the parking lot, but it was a one-hour drive home.

Since the Stampede, the price of gasoline has risen, and traffic has significantly decreased.

Main roads aside, other roads have become rough.

If you're not careful, the steering wheel might be taken away, and you might fall into a ditch or puncture a tire.

If the car is damaged, it would cost several times today's earnings.

That would be bad.

Very bad.

If he was careful not to cause an accident, that would be fine, but Seihiko lacked the confidence to stay alert for an hour.

With 150,000 yen in income, he might as well prioritize safety and stay at a business hotel...

It would be an unexpected expense, but much better than causing an accident.

When he entered the hotel, the front desk man was shocked to see Seihiko.

"Wow, has my presence increased?"

He was so happy that he almost skipped.

But the front desk man's face turned even paler at his movements.

What was going on?

The night view of Sapporo visible through the large window at the front desk.

In front of that view.

Seihiko stopped moving when he saw his reflection in the glass.

"Oh..."

He was still wearing a suspicious mask.

He had completely forgotten about it because it had no sensation.

Seihiko put his hand up to the mask.

...Will it come off?

Cursed mask. Can't be removed.

Dangerous thoughts arose, but contrary to Seihiko's anxiety, the mask came off his face easily.

When Seihiko revealed his face, the front desk man let out a relieved sigh.

It seemed he had been afraid of the mask.

That made sense.

A man wearing a suspicious mask, approaching with a skip.

Anyone would be scared.

...I'm very sorry.

By the time he had dinner and took a shower, his exhausted spirit from the Monster Parade had finally returned.

The Monster Parade had been exhausting today.

But thanks to it, he could feel the effects of the Skill Board.

He had also absorbed the fighting style of the Killer Rabbit.

The more tired he was, the more he gained.

"Still, the effects of the Skill Board are incredible..."

Just by putting one point into Strength, he almost broke the hotel's facilities several times.

If he had a bit more stamina left, he would have definitely broken something.

If he had put five points into Strength, could he break concrete with his fingers?

"Putting one point into Strength was a big deal—"

While walking as usual,

"Ouch!!"

The feeling was completely different, and he accidentally hit his little toe on the corner of the bed.

"...Ugh..."

Seihiko writhed on the bed.

He might have taken the biggest hit of the day.

His body's balance had changed in various ways.

This was a drawback of becoming stronger too easily with the Skill Board.

"I need to get used to this body quickly, or my little toe is in danger!"

Continuously defeating monsters might eventually lead to that level.

But gradually.

Not all at once.

To have this much of an effect from just one point without any training...

How many levels did he skip?

Still, Seihiko reprimanded himself.

Improving physical abilities and clearing the Monster Parade were impressive.

But impressive doesn't mean strong.

That's why he needed to stay focused.

To avoid being tripped up by overconfidence...

He lay down and closed his eyes.

Sleep was definitely nearby, but it wouldn't come to him.

The excitement from the intense battle still lingered in his body as a slight fever.

His body was tired, but his nerves were tense, making it hard to sleep.

"Hmm. Since I'm in Sapporo, I might as well visit a famous place."

Muttering, Seihiko went out into the night in light clothing.

Seihiko arrived at "The Hero's Bar" in Susukino.

Since the dungeon appeared, the cost of materials, fuel, and transportation has risen, causing a significant decrease in alcohol production and a price increase.

Furthermore, due to the nearby dungeon, ordinary people no longer go out to drink.

In this situation, "The Hero's Bar," which focuses on adventurers, has become one of the busiest places in Susukino.

This bar is often talked about on "Narou."

The interior is a typical fantasy setting, evoking the keywords "adventurer" and "bar."

It's easy to enter and enjoy without feeling pressured.

If you pay a tip to the bartender, they will provide useful information.

The management understands this well.

Additionally, if you pay with an IC card, drinking alcohol can help with tax planning.

For adventurers, it's a perfect place.

Stepping into this famous bar alone, Seihiko was soon disappointed.

"...No one is coming to serve me."

He waited at the entrance, but no one came to serve him.

Later arrivals were immediately noticed and seated!

"Excuse me!"

He shouted, and finally, a server came to him.

(Why is this person angry even though they just arrived?)

He felt like crying.

I've been waiting for at least ten minutes... yes.

After struggling, Seihiko finally took a sip of his mug of beer.

"...Ah, it's delicious!"

It had been a while since he had a drink.

He might not have had one since the price of alcohol skyrocketed after the dungeon appeared.

"The Hero's Bar" is apparently cheap, but even so, a medium mug costs 2000 yen, an unimaginable price before the dungeon appeared.

Seihiko wasn't rich enough to drink casually.

"But today is special."

After all, Seihiko had cleared the Monster Parade.

What else would he celebrate?

He enjoyed the long-awaited taste of beer at a slow pace.

"Excuse me, I'm sitting here."

"Huh? I thought I heard something... Oh! I'm sorry."

Occasionally, adventurers who thought the seat was empty would sit at Seihiko's table, but he couldn't be bothered.

Humans make mistakes!

When the medium mug was half empty, laughter came from the counter.

It was a loud laugh that drowned out the voices of the adventurers in "The Hero's Bar."

Looking in that direction, he saw five adventurers in armor, each with a sword at their waist.

"I really saw a weird guy. He had a creepy mask on."

"The one with a short sword at his waist? I saw him too. I thought he was a monster for a moment and panicked."

"What's up with him? He's a beginner with entry-level short sword equipment. Wearing such a creepy mask, he must be role-playing!"

"Plus, his armor is also entry-level. Terrible balance!"

"He must be a noob, so his equipment direction is all over the place."

The men laughed again.

Hearing those voices, Seihiko clenched his fists under the table, trembling.

"...Grr!"

He gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the emotions that were about to overflow.

"Could it be..."

He had been seen by strangers!

"What a great day!"

They were laughing about Seihiko.

About Seihiko, who was a non-entity!

Could this be the best day of his life!?

Seihiko's pain was not being seen.

Not being a topic of conversation.

Even if it was negative, being talked about meant he had presence.

That's why Seihiko was excited.

So excited that he almost had a nosebleed.

Drinking beer and being a topic of conversation.

This must mean his presence has increased, right?

"Excuse me, one medium mug!"

Ten minutes after ordering with a cheerful voice, no one responded to Seihiko's order.

"...Hmm. It's busy today."

Despite being ignored, Seihiko's heart was unusually calm.

If it's busy, it can't be helped.

A server started clearing the table where Seihiko was sitting, even though a customer was still there.

The place must be very busy.

"Welcome! How many are you? Please sit here."

"..."

The server led customers to Seihiko's table.

Yeah, it's crowded.

...Maybe it's time to go home.

Back at the hotel, Seihiko accessed "Narou" on the borrowed computer.

Masatsugu, the high-ranker, was still on an expedition and hadn't updated his blog.

Bacon, as usual, was eager to strip, causing trouble for those receiving beginner training.

It seems that Itsumo didn't update today and might have already gone on an expedition.

When he searched for "Karen" in the blog search, several "Karen"s appeared.

He searched for "Karen" who was active in Sapporo.

"There it is."

It felt like peeking into someone's diary.

He felt guilty, as if he was doing something wrong.

The title of her today's post was "Saved."

It detailed how she was abandoned by adventurers and saved by Seihiko, though his name wasn't mentioned.

At the end, her blog concluded with two striking lines.

"I will never forgive that adventurer."

And,

"Thank you for saving me."

Those words. He had received them.

Feeling a warm sensation in his chest, Seihiko checked the blog information.

14 posts.

1043 bookmarks.

By comparison, Seihiko's blog had 61 posts and 0 bookmarks.

"..."

Seihiko's expression turned complex.

A murky feeling welled up from the depths of his chest.

The world is so cruel...

He silently closed her blog.

"...Well then."

After about an hour of typing, Seihiko slipped into bed.

* * *

[The Path to Being Noticed]

"Encountered a Monster Parade > <"

Hi, I'm Air (^o^)

Today, instead of my home dungeon, I went on an expedition to Sapporo's "Chikaho" (^o^)

I reached the 4th floor of "Chikaho" for the first time!

There were Killer Rabbits, and it was a bit tough (T_T)

Avoiding and feinting were really difficult (^_^;)

In the middle of it,

I unexpectedly encountered a Monster Parade (T_T)

For some reason, I charged into the Killer Rabbit's Monster Parade!

My body is really tired (T_T)

Thanks to that, today's harvest was 101 horns (^_^)v

With that money, I came to "The Hero's Bar," which is often talked about on "Narou"!

The atmosphere inside perfectly fits the word "adventurer"!

I fell in love with it at first sight (T_T)

I can't afford to drink every day, though... (T_T)

If you haven't been there yet, please visit "The Hero's Bar."

It's a place that won't disappoint the expectations of adventurers (^_^)

It's just a bit too busy, though (T_T)

Today, I worked really hard on leveling up!

Maybe I'm one step closer to a future where I can have presence? Maybe?

* * *

[Escape] Monster Parade Report Thread 412 [Desperate]

578 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

About the fool who charged into the Monster Parade

579 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

>>578 Rest in peace

580 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

It wasn't me!

I saw a blog post saying someone charged into the Monster Parade

582 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

Pgyaa!

You're a real idiot!!

583 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

No way

No one can survive charging into a Monster Parade

Does this person have a habit of lying?

584 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

You might think it's a lie,

But unfortunately,

It seems a blogger who was at the same place confirmed it

585 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

Really?

Not just a few monsters gathering for a Monster Parade?

586 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

There were at least 100 of them

587 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

I've never heard of "Air"

Probably just attention-seeking

Ignore it

588 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

Believe it or not, it's up to you

But it's better to take it with a grain of salt

Even high-rankers don't mess with a Monster Parade

589 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

Is "Air" a blogger's name?

I'll bookmark it just in case

Might be a high-ranker impersonator who got banned

590 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

That's a possibility

I'll bookmark it too

Report if anything comes up

591 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

Rather, report it as a rumor right away wwww

592 Name: I hope the Monster Parade hits the real-life people

>>587

By the way,

I said to keep it anonymous

How did you know the name?