Chapter 51
The Rumored Stray
Hunter
The day after I made it onto the punching machine rankings, I visited
the Kagurazaka Dungeon Administration as usual. I obediently waited my
turn at the very back of the line of people at the reception desk first thing
in the morning. Even though the wait time would be zero in Higashi-Nakano.
I find it a pain every time, but it's a popular Dungeon, so it can't be
helped.
Once I finish at reception, I'm going to energetically tackle my Dungeon
attack today, too. A hardworking girl aiming to earn money, earn experience
points, and polish combat techniques that don't show up in the numbers while
I'm at it! If I do say so myself, I'm a fantastic worker.
However. An event that seems to sap that motivation of mine is about to
happen right away. I can feel the vibes strongly. I had predicted it from Yuuka-san's
warning, but to think it would be this fast. While standing in line, rumors
reach my ears whether I like it or not.
「Hey, did you
see the punching machine rankings?」
「Haven't seen
it, but it's that thing that's been causing a fuss since last night, right?
That mysterious person who suddenly broke into the top 10, some guy named Nagakura.
I've had a few messages passed around about it.」
「That's the
one. Apparently, they aren't affiliated with a clan. You'd think a Hunter
capable of ranking that high would definitely be in a top-tier clan.」
「Especially
since the perks of a top clan are huge; there's no reason not to join one.
Well, it was a name I hadn't seen before, so it's probably a story about them
having just left some mid-tier or lower clan.」
Rambling on and on about someone else... how annoying.
「Hey, hey, I
wonder which Dungeon that rumored stray Hunter is in. I wonder if
they'd join our clan~.」
「Obviously
not. If a Hunter who can bite into a rank like that remains a stray, the
top clans aren't going to just leave them alone.」
「Right? I
just overheard in passing that the Musashino Young Ladies Group's sub-clan is
already making a move.」
「Aren't the
other top clans probably launching investigations, too?」
「Judging by
the name, it's a woman, too. If she happens to be young and pretty on top of
that, she could make a killing with sponsorships.」
Sponsors? So clans have that kind of system, too. If you catch a patron,
you can make a profit from things other than selling magic stones, huh. This
might have just increased my interest in establishing a clan a little bit.
「But isn't it
weird? I've never seen that Nagakura on the individual rankings. If they
can put out a score like that on the punching machine, it's strange if they
aren't near the top of the level rankings.」
「Don't you
get it? Because no one has seen them, that's part of why they're such a hot
topic. Did you try searching? It's amazing, that Nagakura person.」
「Ah, so they
show up if you search for them. So, what's so amazing?」
I see. I hadn't paid any attention to it, but it seems I'm being listed
on various rankings without my permission. From what I'm hearing, it's not just
the top ranks; as long as you have a certain level of activity over the past
six months, you get ranked, even if it's in the tens of thousands. In other
words, unless you do absolutely nothing for six months, you end up on the
rankings automatically.
Anyway, even if there is such a thing as a level ranking, at Level 15,
I'd be way down at the bottom. If they were looking normally, they'd have a
hard time finding me, but if it's searchable, it's easy to look up. Without my
permission, that is!
「Believe it
or not, this Nagakura person is Level 15.」
「Huh? Level
15? That's impossible. Aren't all the guys at the top tier of that ranking
around Level 50?」
「That's
exactly why it's a hot topic. People are wondering if she has a special Class,
or if her skills are unique.」
「Even so, her
level is way too low. What a fraud, that Nagakura.」
Geez, they're just saying whatever they please. So annoying.
But getting into a ranking where guys are around Level 50 while being
only Level 15... Yeah, I guess that would cause rumors. In my case, I'm fully
aware my skills are special, but could it be that my Class is actually
super strong or something? No, no, that's definitely not it. If I wasn't just a
regular bandit, but a Super-Dimensional Cosmic Bandit or something, then yeah,
there might be a "secretly overpowered" pattern. But no.
After listening to rumors I didn't even want to hear for a while, I
finally made it to the front of the line at the receptionist's desk. The Kagurazaka
Dungeon Administration, being the most popular in Japan, has quite a large
number of receptionists to match the visiting Hunters. The person in
front of me is a face I'm seeing for the first time. Given her somewhat green
demeanor, she might be a newbie.
Hmm. Still, glancing repeatedly at the smartphone grasped in her hand
while working is a no-no. I wonder if that's work-related, too? Well, whatever.
As fellow newbies, let's both do our best!
「'Sup, here
you go.」
Feeling a one-sided sense of kinship, I handed over my ID card in a
friendly manner. But then, this newbie receptionist-chan started looking back
and forth between my ID card and my face over and over again. This is that,
isn't it. My ID card has my full name written perfectly clear on it, after all.
I wonder if receptionist-chan knows about the hot topic, too.
「...Ah!」
Letting out a small gasp of surprise, receptionist-chan blinked rapidly,
but she didn't stop tapping on her smartphone. In a way, that's impressive.
Anyway, I just pray she doesn't say anything unnecessary. No, praying won't do
any good. I need to voice my demands clearly.
「Hey,
receptionist-chan.」
「Y-Yes, what
is it?」
「Keep my
identity a secret, please? You know what I mean, right?」
Leaning in close and making direct eye contact, I spoke in a low voice,
but clearly enough that there would be no misunderstanding.
「U-Umm, well.
O-Of course.」
Perhaps the pressure of my gaze worked, as she hurriedly finished my
registration to enter the Dungeon.
「Glad you
understand, receptionist-chan. See ya later.」
Yuuka-san had said my identity would get found out right
away regardless, but the longer I can delay it, even by just a few days, the
better. Solicitations from strangers are nothing but a nuisance, and if I'm
going to belong to a clan anyway, I want to create my own. If I joined
somewhere and ended up being treated like an underling, I definitely wouldn't
be able to stand it. Whatever I do, I need to think it through much more
carefully first.
I quickly slipped through the crowded lobby and hurried to the Dungeon.
Flipping the mental switch, I'm going to earn some serious cash today, too.
And just as the Dungeon came into view—
「You there,
yeah, you. Care for a match on the punching machine?」
As I was walking briskly, a man leaning against the passage wall called
out to me. Judging from his casual, everyday clothes rather than Dungeon
gear, he probably has way too much free time on his hands. From the way he
spoke and the smirking look on his face, he clearly understands that I'm the
rumored Hunter. He seems to have enough discretion not to say my name
out loud, at least.
Even so, don't just talk to me so casually. Us hardworking girls are
busy.
「Shut up.
I've got business in my 『Solo Dungeon』, so see ya—」
Muttering to myself, I completely ignored him, walked right past, and entered the Dungeon area. To anyone else looking, I must have suddenly vanished, which probably surprised them. It happens all the time and I couldn't care less, though. If he's still waiting there when I come back, I'm officially branding him a stalker!
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