Chapter 19

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Mentoring Program (5)

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"Cain?"

Momentarily stunned in surprise, I came back to my senses when I felt Mion poking my side.

"Ah...! Ahaha, yes, Mion."

"Then, please talk it over, and come back once the matching is confirmed~"

As Mion stepped away, the three people who'd been watching me spoke up.

"Oh my! Didn't you see me last time?"

"....Honey."

"Hello! I'm Robin!"

Tanya, who recognized me right away, fidgeted as if about to jump up from the table, pretending we knew each other. Her boyfriend... the guy I hadn't seen last time said his name was Robin, so the boyfriend must be Roy.

Anyway, Roy suddenly draped his hand unnaturally over Tanya's shoulder, trying to put on a relaxed expression as he looked at me. Idiot.

Robin, meanwhile, stood with his arms crossed in a laid-back manner, eyeing me with an appraising gaze.

"Roy, it's hot, so take your arm off."

"Huh? Ah.... Ahaha, yeah.... Sorry."

At Tanya's icy words, Roy awkwardly lowered the arm he'd placed on her shoulder and apologized.

"Hey, sis, aren't you being too cold to bro?"

"Aww~ It's just 'cause it's hot~"

"....."

Tanya snapped irritably at Roy, but when Robin spoke, she put on a coquettish act, playing cute.

Even so, Roy seemed used to it, his face just twitching slightly without any big reaction.

"The beautiful lady is Tanya, and the one who looks like Robin... may I have your name?"

"Kyaa! Robin, the mentor says I'm pretty."

"Our sis is quite the looker."

"...Roy."

Tanya was the kind of woman who'd make anyone on the street go, "Oh...?" and turn around for a second look.

With her orange ponytail and blue eyes, her face ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had a cute, coquettish charm, but her expressions gave off the vibe of someone who knew exactly how to handle men.

She was dressed differently from the last time I'd seen her in the park.

A glossy black leather vest-like top, black hot pants, matching calf-high leather boots, a utility belt with pockets around her waist, and a small dagger sheath hanging from her right side.

It was that popular brand armor set among female explorers these days.

A bit pricey for beginners, but she looked like she'd splurged on the full set at once.

The top laced up in the back instead of a zipper or buttons—honestly, questionable if it offered any real defense.

And beneath that short leather armor? Nothing but a bra.

Her shoulders, upper chest, and abs fully exposed, with her bra's lace artfully peeking through the leather in all the right spots.

Catching my gaze lingering on her chest, Tanya leaned forward to flaunt her cleavage, smiling at me.

Honestly, even in that tight, push-up top, it looked a touch bigger than a full B-cup...

Still, her slender figure would appeal to guys into slim builds, and her lower body's lines were nicely toned.

"Hmm... Nice to meet you. Have all three of you completed the Explorer Guild's free training?"

"Yes!! We graduated just last week!!"

Parties can enter the Labyrinth with a minimum of three. Time to take another look?

Poor Roy. Not long until he's totally out.

I've activated the blessing, so let's check the others.

Whew... Only women, as expected. Then that thing with Claude the other day...

'Hey, Claude, do you know someone named Sergei?'

'Huh? No? Who's that?'

'Think hard, have you ever heard the name Sergei?'

'I told you, no. Even if my head's not the sharpest, you think I'd forget a name?'

'....!'

I'd suspected it, but after testing the Hitomi blessing on more guys today, I'd reached a conclusion.

It felt like I'd glimpsed the depths of Labyrinth City.

"Whew...."

"Um... Mentor? Is something wrong? It's just that Roy's shy. Sorry."

"H-Honey?"

"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about something."

"Phew... Good."

When I stared at them without saying a word, Tanya cautiously apologized, making excuses for Roy's sensitive reaction.

She sighed in relief at my response and chattered on.

Roy watched his girlfriend from the side, his gaze toward me more strange than hostile.

Robin didn't try to check me or anything, just naturally joined the conversation between Tanya and me.

Still more confident than Roy, huh?

Robin was clearly an upgraded version of Roy at first glance.

Tall and decent-looking, and from their seating, Tanya leaned more toward Robin, who was casually fiddling with her arm.

"Aww~"

"Hahaha."

"...Tch!"

The odd thing was Roy openly watching Robin and Tanya's contact without stopping them, aside from a forced smile and twitching lips.

His expression and reaction were totally different from what I'd seen in the park, and I could guess why.

'Well, well? Looks like something happened in the last two weeks.'

I had my suspicions, but if things went well... For now, mentoring first, think later.

"So, Mentor, what's your disposition?"

"Me? Kleptomania. Sometimes I can't control the urge and swipe something. Like this."

"Huh?.... Wow."

I'd quietly swiped Tanya's earring and handed it back; all three jumped in surprise.

Makes sense—now that I'd gotten my card and leveled up, all my stats were 1, so they couldn't follow my hand movements.

"When I unconsciously swipe something like that, I show just the disposition part of my explorer card, return the item, and settle it smoothly."

"So~ could you steal something that's not an item?"

"Who knows?"

Tanya stuck out her tongue cutely, striking up conversation.

Anyone perceptive would catch the flirting invitation; Roy missed it, but Robin's wariness toward me ticked up a notch.

After that, we bantered about my thief-like disposition, and without much pushback, they all agreed to have me as mentor and enter the Labyrinth together. We headed to the reception desk to apply.

"Temporary party with Cain as leader, four-person Labyrinth entry application received. When do you plan to enter?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Got it, day after tomorrow entry. Exploration period?"

"Five days."

"Yes! From the 17th to 21st for exploration... Application complete!"

I decided to show them how to apply for Labyrinth entry at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guild first, so Roy shyly sidled up, watching Mion and me intently while scribbling notes.

"Then, have a safe trip!"

"Thanks, Mion. Take care."

With others around, she played it a bit less familiar, then secretly winked at me as we left the guild.

"...Um... Hey."

"Yes?"

"I have a question..."

"Go ahead, Roy."

Unlike his earlier glare, Roy seemed genuinely worried and asked more proactively than expected.

"Why bother applying for exploration at the guild?"

"Hmm... You did all attend the training properly, right?"

"Yes? Ahem! Well..."

No surprise, with Tanya dragging guys around, they'd probably skimmed the training.

"One of the guild's biggest roles is issuing and managing explorer cards, plus mana stone exchange. You've seen the relic that makes those cards, right?"

"Ah, yes.."

"Once your info's imprinted on the relic, they can track you to some extent—whether you're alive, if you've entered the Labyrinth, etc. Smuggling mana stones out of the city? Impossible here."

"Uh..."

"I don't know where you're all from, but those merchants claiming to come from afar selling 'mana stones'? Total scam. Just ground mana grass or potion-making herb scraps circulated from the city—zero real effect."

"What! Really, Mentor?"

Tanya yelped in shock at my words and rushed over.

"Honestly, why do you think a single city gets treated like a kingdom? There's one of the continent's two magic towers here, and the policy is extreme crackdown on mana stone leaks."

"So that's why applying at the guild..."

"This city is ironclad on mana stone leaks. Getting caught smuggling them out is harsher punishment than stabbing a few people on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠street."

"Ah..."

Of course, killing gets you arrested too.

We'd walked slowly, but suddenly we were at the park where I'd run into Tanya and Roy last time. I sat on a bench and continued explaining.

"So if there's evidence of mana stones leaking or they find out you entered without applying, you'll be tracked by the security force until you prove no leak. Be careful... Who's the leader here?"

"Me! Hehe."

Tanya raised her hand, then scooted close beside me on the bench. I caught a whiff of her subtle perfume.

Don't do that—Roy keeps glaring at me.

"Alright, let me read over the info you've gathered, and tomorrow morning, meet here in the park to buy supplies."

"Wow... Mentor, your handwriting is amazing?"

"....Huh!"

"Ooh... Impressive, Mentor?"

Even Roy, blinded by jealousy and glaring, let out a hollow laugh when they saw the parchment I'd brought. Everyone looked impressed.

"Hey hey! Mentor, wanna grab a meal with us? Lunch is on me!"

Tanya latched onto my arm, inviting me to eat.

Her meager rag-bag contrasted with Sia's hefty healing pouch and Camella's sloppy, seductive affair pouch, rubbing against my arm and suddenly making my chest feel tight.

"No thanks. I have plans. See you all tomorrow."

"Aww... Okay. See you tomorrow, Mentor!!"

"Yes, bring all your gear and consumables tomorrow. I'll check them."

"Yes!"

Surprisingly, Tanya backed off cleanly when I refused.

She winked with what she thought was a killer expression, probably figuring like with Hawk's party, we could keep hanging out after mentoring—prime chance to seduce me anytime.

"What a fun girl."

Camella wasn't fully conquered yet since she hadn't seen Johnson, so I'd planned to marinate her longer before eating for max NTL blessing EXP.

That was gonna take time, but look—a test subject rolled in faster than expected. Lucky.

I'd planned to half-ass it for the subsidy, but now Roy and Tanya have to survive and return from the Labyrinth.