Meeting (4)
Meeting (4)
"So...... you want me to come to the event?"
"Y-Yes...... Is that not possible?"
Dojin looked at Pion, who was kneeling and begging in front of him, with a troubled expression. Then he reread the paper she had handed him.
'Year-end Commemorative Festival......?'
A social gathering hosted by the Adventurer Guild for high-ranking adventurers and promising prospects. One might wonder why adventurers needed something like this, but in fact, adventurers were the profession that needed connections the most.
Just hearing a single word from an adventurer who had climbed higher ranks could let you know what monster was coming next and prepare accordingly.
Being able to prepare in advance was an advantage that words couldn't fully explain.
What's the reason a rookie who just debuted in pro mixed martial arts sometimes beats a veteran fighter?
It's exactly 'knowing and preparing.'
'But it's not particularly beneficial for me.'
Of course, that only applied when there were pioneers who had gone ahead first, and right now, Dojin was the being who had broken through the highest rank in history among all adventurers.
Unlike other adventurers who conquered dungeons using maps made by previous generations, he was a living legend piercing the front lines.
The only things Dojin could gain from attending this party were honor and a bit of pride.
"I don't see any reason for me to go."
"W-Well, if Dojin-nim just participates, the guild said they'd pay an appearance fee accordingly......."
"Really? How about ten billion?"
"N-Not quite that much... Um, ten Gold Coins......."
Even as she said it, it sounded so absurd that Pion hung her head low. Dojin even doubted if he had misheard ten Platinum Coins as ten Gold Coins.
Of course, it was impossible to mishear with a superhuman's hearing. He hadn't tuned in midway; he'd been focused from the start, so missing what the other person said would only happen if he had some congenital disability.
Even so, Dojin had no choice but to ask again. It was just that ridiculous.
"......Ten Platinum Coins?"
"N-No, ten Gold Coins-."
"Ah, haha! The Guild Master's got a sense of humor."
The amount Dojin earned from a single day of hunting was at least one Platinum Coin. Equivalent to 100 Gold Coins. Yet the Guild Master was offering only a tenth of that.
It was basically telling him to skip a day of hunting and share his know-how for that paltry sum......
"─You really want me to participate that badly?"
"......Yes."
He locked eyes with Pion and opened his mouth. Pion, who had no words even if she had a hundred mouths, naturally averted her gaze—.
Dojin grabbed her chin and lifted it, forcing her to meet his eyes. Realizing she couldn't escape, she squeezed her eyes shut and spilled her true feelings.
"B-But-! ...Dojin-nim brought me here and hasn't laid a hand on me......."
"......What?"
"M-Me too. If there was solid proof, I could refuse this request... But since coming to this mansion, you haven't touched me once, and you just keep saying you'll take responsibility without showing any interest......."
Pion started pouring out the grievances she'd bottled up deep in her chest, half in tears. It had been almost a month since Dojin brought her to this mansion, yet he hadn't laid a hand on her even once.
It wasn't as if there'd been no opportunity; Dojin had already seen her naked. That happened because she got drunk and vomited on her own clothes, committing a blunder......
It was only natural for her to doubt her own appeal and start looking for a backup plan in case Dojin abandoned her.
After hearing her story, Dojin nodded as if understanding her.
"......Yeah, now that I hear it, I guess I've been in the wrong too."
"R-Right?"
"Good. I'll attend the party."
"Really!?"
Pion couldn't hide her slight surprise at his words. She'd asked half out of loyalty to the Guild Master, thinking he'd probably refuse anyway, but to think he'd accept so easily?
However, Dojin attached a condition.
"But I have a condition."
"Yes! Whatever it is, if the guild can do it, we'll make it happen!"
"Pion, you'll wear a bunny girl outfit there and attend to me."
"Y-Yes—bunn...... Huh? Wait a minute, Dojin-nim? What did you just say......."
"Maybe I should just tell the Guild Master directly? Looking forward to it."
Dojin grinned widely at Pion. Her face turned beet red in an instant.
She subtly poked at her belly fat. Even a light grab filled her hand. It was the result of going from desk job to half-unemployed on-call work, spending too much time lying in bed munching snacks.
'This is bad.'
One week until the party.
She dove headfirst into a diet.
Invitations had gone out to all adventurers level 2 and above, and even to a few promising level 1 adventurers.
They were already buzzing with excitement over the rumor that a level 3 adventurer—whose fame was all hearsay—would attend the party...... But the invited Emilia wasn't thrilled about it at all.
"A party? What's that?"
"A place where people gather to drink, eat, and chat."
"Why do I have to do that?"
"W-Well. If Emilia-nim participates, as a token of gracing our party, ten Gold Coins will be awarded......."
"So, isn't it more efficient to hunt one more monster in that time?"
Unfortunately for the Guild Staff, Emilia was an extreme grind fanatic who believed in the gospel of endless grinding.
Study the enemy? Swing your sword once more instead.
Count the enemies? Swing your sword more times instead.
Defeating monsters didn't depend on how much you knew about them, but on how many more times—and how quickly—you could swing your weapon.
She didn't know about learning or the importance of networking because she was a country bumpkin raised in a backwater with nothing but farms and hunting.
"I-It's also a place to share the knowledge you've gained for the benefit of future adventurers."
"I don't have anything to share? I just swing my sword and they die. What more is there?"
"......Dojin-nim, who's also a level 3, said he'd be coming."
"......Him too?"
Only then did the staff member dangle the Dojin bait before the now-interested Emilia. As expected, she showed interest in someone on her level—or even higher.
Emilia didn't know what a party was, but the mere thought of talking to Dojin made her eager to attend.
He was hard to even see normally, and even if she did, he ignored her. But he couldn't dodge her at a social gathering.
"─Fine, I'll participate too."
"Yes! Then this weekend, please come dressed in formal attire......."
"Dress? What's that?"
"......Pardon?"
But the staff hit another snag. Emilia was a total country bumpkin from the middle of nowhere surrounded by mountains and fields, so of course she didn't know what a dress was, let alone own one.
They couldn't kick out an invited adventurer for lacking a dress, nor could they tell her to show up in combat gear.
In the end, she sighed and beckoned Emilia.
"......Come inside. We'll take your measurements and the guild will provide support."
"Really?"
At the promise of free clothes, Emilia giggled and followed the staff. The staff sighed repeatedly, wondering if this would count as guild security expenses.
Dojin headed to the building recommended by the guild.
The other kids weren't attending the party.
Seoyun hated anything that sounded bothersome, and Eunha was the type who got uncomfortable in crowds from the start.
Ga-hee, Nahee, and Da-hee had shown interest and wanted to tag along, but he couldn't bring non-adventurers.
As Dojin loitered near the entrance, a guard stationed at the party venue approached, bowed, and asked,
"Welcome. May I see your invitation?"
"Here."
"Yes. Dojin......-nim, I presume. Confirmed. Enjoy your time."
He hadn't come expecting enjoyment, so he nodded casually and entered. Inside, numerous adventurers were already mingling, eyeing their surroundings warily in outfits that didn't suit them at all.
'What is this, a gangsters' meetup?'
Dojin couldn't help feeling like it was a yakuza gathering. Fierce faces clashing with fancy suits, bodies full of killing intent and scars.
Whoever planned this, making adventurers wear suits to a gathering was clearly the guild's mistake.
Grumbling inwardly, he scanned the room for Pion.
'Pion...... isn't here.'
That was only natural. Unlike the waitresses in skimpy outfits—probably guild hires—escorting adventurers, she was Dojin's exclusive bunny girl.
Letting her loose in the venue beforehand could lead to some wild adventurer snatching her up like a stray rabbit, causing a huge commotion, so hiding her made sense.
"Excuse me. Would you like a drink?"
"Ah, thanks."
"You're welcome."
Standing around empty-handed while looking, a waitress soon approached with a drink.
Sparkling wine fizzing with carbonation—Dojin downed it and asked her where Pion was.
"Um, do you know where Pion is?"
"Pi......on? I-I'm sorry, that name doesn't ring a bell......."
Unfortunately, the waitress—a subcontracted staffer, not guild—didn't know Pion.
So Dojin described a feature she'd recognize.
"She's in a bunny girl outfit."
"Ah-! That lady? You're the one who...... Shall I call her for you?"
"Yeah, please."
"Please wait a moment."
While the waitress stepped away to fetch Pion, Dojin sipped his drink and looked around.
Perhaps because his face was the only one unscarred and pristine, the adventurers glared at him, frowning.
Not realizing how stupid that was.
'A clean face means either you're skilled enough not to get hurt, or you're high-ranking enough to get invited here.'
Couldn't they do that simple math? Dojin assessed the adventurers' caliber and sighed.
At this rate, he doubted even one would properly absorb any wisdom he shared.
"U-Um, do I really have to go out like this?"
"Yes. Don't worry. You look beautiful."
"No, even so......."
Then, a familiar voice rang out. Dojin turned toward the source.
Not just Dojin—all the adventurers in the place turned to look as a stunning beauty with dazzling looks appeared.
"U-Ugh...... Everyone's staring......!"
"It's because you're pretty. So pretty."
"Doesn't feel like it......."
The revealed Emilia spotted Dojin, flinched in surprise, then stomped over to him.
Shorter than Dojin by dozens of centimeters, she wore a bold dress that exposed her cleavage completely from above, but her outstanding figure and looks made it suit her perfectly.
"H-Hey...... Th-That is, um."
Standing before Dojin, she twisted her hair, trying to say something. Just as she steeled herself to speak—
"Dojin-nim-."
From afar, Pion in a bunny girl outfit approached slowly, braving the embarrassment. Emilia, who'd thought her own outfit was revealing enough, was speechless at Pion's.
Only then did Emilia look around. Women in similarly provocative outfits—though not quite as extreme as Pion's bunny girl—lined up in view.
'Is...... is dressing like this normal?'
In that moment, she felt like the abnormal one.