Chapter 21

With the achievement of the top spot on the Low Fantasy Weekly Ranking, I'm posting three chapters today. (This is the third one.)

I will continue to post four chapters tomorrow.

Turning around, I saw multiple men and women outside the forest.

A group of four, three men and one woman. Since the woman is also in armor, they must all be adventurers and a team. Their equipment is also clad in steel, and the colors are similar.

However, the atmosphere is quite different from other adventurers who hunt in the second floor. From the quality of their equipment, they seem to be fighting at least on the third floor or below.

This place should be off the path to the third floor, so why did they come here?

But if they called out to me, I have no choice but to respond. I’m not doing anything suspicious, after all.

I put away the gacha and stepped out of the forest.

"Um, are you talking about me?"

"Yeah, you don’t need to be so cautious. We came to check things out."

"Check things out...?"

"Yes. We usually hunt on the fourth floor and were just about to head back. But at the entrance to the second floor, there were people in a panic because they saw a huge monster they had never seen before. So we came to check it out."

Perhaps sensing my suspicion, the female adventurer explained in a gentle tone.

"If you were hunting around here, do you have any information? About the large monster. If it’s dangerous, we want to take it down for everyone’s safety."

They’re probably telling the truth. The panicked adventurers must have seen me playing tag with that thing. Hearing that, they must have been worried about an unknown monster rampaging and rushed here.

Indeed, there are fallen trees in various places in this forest, and it looks pretty devastated even from a distance. Seeing me lingering at such a scene, they couldn’t help but call out to me.

Glancing at the woman and their equipment, they must have been in battle for a long time. Their armor and innerwear were stained with dirt that couldn’t be wiped off, and I could sense their fatigue, even though they were trying to hide it.

They must have really been worried and came to check things out.

In that case, it’s fine to be honest.

"I defeated a rare monster that appeared here. The reason others haven’t seen it is probably because it’s a new species not in the guild’s database. At least, it was my first time seeing it."

"What!?"

"A new species!?"

"You defeated it?"

"That’s amazing!"

The four of them showed various reactions, but all were positive.

They don’t doubt me, do they?

"I was tired, so I was resting. I was planning to head back to the guild to report."

It’s not a lie.

I defeated the rare monster, did a little experiment, and raised my level a bit, so I was genuinely tired.

"Do you have any drops?"

"Hehe, let’s talk about that at the guild."

"Ah, sorry, I got carried away. Asking about items in hand is bad manners."

"Hey, leader. He’s tired, so don’t say things that make him uncomfortable or make him worry unnecessarily."

"Sorry. And I’m sorry too."

"No, I understand the excitement of seeing a new monster. I’m that kind of person too."

"Right!? Ah..."

The leader, who seemed to be the team leader, shrank back apologetically when the woman glared at him. The other members were laughing.

They’re a good team. If I didn’t have secrets, I could have teamed up with someone...

"I’m Shuji, the leader of the team ‘First Star.’ Call me Shu!"

"Ah, I’m Shota. I’m basically solo."

"Sure enough, you defeated a rare monster solo! You’re amazing, Shota!"

I decided to take advantage of the kindness of these ‘First Star’ members and return to the guild with them, chatting along the way.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

When we reached the guild, Maki-san ran over to me.

"Shota, welcome back! Ah, you’re with the ‘First Star’ members, I see."

"Wow, Maki-san even came to greet us. You’re amazing, Shota!"

"Hehe, no, it’s nothing."

During the return, the topic of exclusive contracts came up, and Maki-san was very surprised when I mentioned it. It’s still in the trial stage, but I’ve been given a test by the branch chief.

An exclusive contract is determined by the adventurer’s will and the branch chief’s approval, but if you ask for Maki-san to be your exclusive, the branch chief might give you a tough test. I was lightly applauded and encouraged to “do your best.”

They’re really nice people.

"Maki-san, I’m back. I have something to report, and the ‘First Star’ members are with me. Is that okay?"

"Y-Yes."

I led the confused Maki-san into the usual meeting room.

First, Shuji... no, Shu, the leader of ‘First Star,’ recounted the events. They received a report of an unknown monster at the entrance to the second floor and rushed over, where they found me resting. I had defeated the monster, and they came to the guild to confirm the evidence.

"Shu, again..."

"Hehe, no, I’m really sorry."

It seems Shu is easily excited by new things and has rushed to adventurers wearing unknown equipment several times. While he doesn’t resort to violence, the sight of a grown man rushing over with shining eyes is amusing to watch but troublesome for the recipient.

In the end, Shu apologizes, and the team’s only woman, Ayaka, scolds him, which is their usual routine.

"Well, I don’t mind, so it’s fine. I didn’t know much about Shu anyway."

"Shota, you’re a good guy!"

"If Shota isn’t angry, that’s good... Let’s get back to the report. Shota, you encountered a rare monster and defeated it. And it was a new species."

"Yes. Here are the drops."

I placed two ‘Murder Rabbit Twisted Horns,’ ‘Murder Rabbit Fur,’ and a ‘Medium Magic Stone’ on the table.

"Big! Long!"

"Shu, be quiet."

"This... I’ve never seen this in the dungeon. But the shape of these horns... Shota, the rare monster you encountered was..."

"Yes, it was the rare form of the Killer Rabbit, the ‘Murder Rabbit.’”

The group showed various reactions, but Maki-san stood up and pulled me to the wall, whispering to me in confusion.

"Shota, do you have ‘Appraisal’?"

"Ah..."

Right, to know a name not in the database, you need to use ‘Appraisal’!

"Be careful. ‘Appraisal’ can not only identify monsters and items but also steal information about people as your level increases. I believe you wouldn’t misuse it, Shota, but others might not."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through."

"Fortunately, the ‘First Star’ members are skilled and trustworthy adventurers. Please be careful, okay...?"

"...Yes."

I knew ‘Appraisal’ was convenient, but I didn’t expect it to be a reason for suspicion.

But indeed, the higher the level, the more information you can steal about others. There might be people who want information about strong adventurers.

Thinking about it, the higher-level ‘Appraisal Interference’ skill can block such attempts. My skills could be read, so a higher level is better.

"‘First Star’ members, I have something to say."

"Ah, it’s about your skill, right? It’s fine, we didn’t hear anything and don’t know anything."

"Shu...!"

"Yes, I understand the struggle. Shota, I also have ‘Appraisal.’ I know the risks involved."

"I agree."

"Me too."

"Thank you all!"

The ‘First Star’ members were really good people.

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