Chapter 25

"Today, as promised, I will post the fourth chapter (4/4)."

That was the plan. However, trying to summarize the story of the Aki and Maki sisters in one day resulted in one extra chapter.

"Ta-da! I'm home!"

Shouta had only been back for about thirty minutes when Aki returned home. As usual, she carried a plastic bag with cans of beer and snacks. After work, she would enjoy these with the dinner her sister had prepared. It was their usual routine.

"Oh, sis... Welcome back."

"Maki, good job! It was pretty quiet today. I miss Shouta-kun, but thanks to that, you're getting more attention, huh?"

"A, u..."

"Huh?"

This morning, Shouta-kun had proposed making Maki his exclusive partner. Not knowing much about exclusivity, Shouta-kun seemed like he might agree. When she received the report, she was so excited that she almost danced. Despite it only being the second day since he left, she felt lonely, but Maki's recent news was heartening. She intended to bless her with a joke, but Maki's reaction was strange.

Usually, Aki would get a sarcastic comment or be ignored, but...

Maki was blushing furiously!

"Y-You're serious? Maki, you beat me to it!?"

"Eh? ...Ah, n-no, sis. Shouta-san and I aren't at that level yet..."

"Y-Yet!? That means you've progressed beyond this morning! Come on, tell me what happened!"

And so, Aki listened to Maki's detailed account of everything that had happened since that phone call.

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"...So, you came back in a terrible state and lost control."

"Yeah... My sword was broken and lost in battle, and though I wasn't injured, my armor was covered in mud. I was worried..."

It had been ten years since the dungeon appeared. Many people ventured out seeking high-value skill orbs and treasures, only to return unable to fight or not return at all. However, some survived and continued to fight, becoming living legends. Inspired by them, Maki and I started this job, hoping to one day be on the side that sends people out.

But reality wasn't that sweet.

Maki had been working as a receptionist for a year. Despite the Beginner's Dungeon being relatively gentle, she had witnessed the deaths of many adventurers multiple times. This had caused her great pain and pushed her to her limits. The dungeon was a terrifying and dangerous place, and they were sending people to their deaths for money. Despite taking the job as a receptionist, by the end of her first year, Maki's heart was nearly broken.

Unable to leave Maki in such a state, I started looking for something to distract her. The answer was right in front of me: Shouta-kun.

He had appeared at the 'Unlucky Hole' when people started leaving, and we saw each other every day. While many adventurers left due to the lack of rewards, he stayed. I had my own issues and was appointed as the branch manager through my mother's connections. However, despite my efforts, adventurers kept leaving. Frustrated with the situation, I found solace in his cheerful demeanor.

Unlike other adventurers, he treated the dungeon not as a place to earn money but as a fun playground. He was an oddball who found joy in a mundane and unchanging dungeon.

Slimes are the weakest monsters, easily defeated for fun. But to continue hunting them for years as a job is nearly impossible. What he does is a form of penance. If someone else were to do it, they might go mad from the lack of variety. I couldn't do it, and I wouldn't want to. A few dozen slimes for entertainment is enough.

Yet, he came every day with a smile and left with a laugh. Over time, he brought back an abnormal amount of slay reports and magic stones. When I returned from a few days away, the pile of 'Tiny Magic Stones' at the appraisal counter was overwhelming.

I thought he could give Maki the right kind of stimulation. He wasn't strong, more like one of the weakest in the world. But I knew no other adventurer who enjoyed the dungeon as much as he did. Maki, perhaps moved by my enthusiasm or genuinely interested, started saying she wanted to see him. After a long persuasion, I finally managed to invite Shouta-kun, hoping to bring back Maki's smile.

So, I used my branch manager authority to quickly designate him as 'exclusive' and 'exclusive agent.'

"Shouta-kun, you're moving too fast just because Maki is cute! What's with that line, 'With my luck, there's no obstacle I can't overcome'? When did you become so cool? You ignored me for three years!"

"That's because... Sis, you keep putting up a front and teasing him."

"Ugh..."

"Sis, you even said in that manga, 'Real-life tsundere is hard to convey,' right?"

"Ugh!"

"Shouta-san was here until just a moment ago, but he left because he didn't like being teased by you. Sis, you're being avoided, aren't you?"

"Guh! ...Uwaaan! I wanted to be with Shouta-kun too! Maki, you're being mean!!"

"Okay, okay, I'll make dinner, so wait a bit."

"You're treating me badly!"

To all the readers,

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