Chapter 602: Rachel's Situation
Chapter 602: Rachel's Situation
“Um… Rachel? I’m happy to see your face too, and I have a million things I want to say, but for now, why don’t you finish what you were doing first?”
We couldn’t just stand here in the spotlight forever.
A Guild receptionist leaping out from her post to kiss an adventurer was already an event worthy of attention. To make matters worse, the two people involved were the Goddess’s Emissary and the Guild Master’s daughter.
It was the perfect combination to spark an explosion of strange rumors.
The old me wouldn’t have given a damn about prying eyes, but I was different now.
I’d learned the hard way just how annoying false rumors could be, thanks to that whole “Saint’s Salvation” incident.
Besides, if this situation led to weird rumors, the one who would suffer most likely wouldn’t be me, but Elder Sister Rachel.
With that in mind, though I was flustered by Rachel’s highly unusual behavior, I tried to send her back to her post.
“None of that matters right now!”
…Yeah. It seemed preventing strange rumors was going to be impossible.
The Elder Sister Rachel. The same workaholic Rachel who once said she had too much unused vacation time saved up was now pointing at her work and saying it didn’t matter.
What in the world was going on?
Silvia. You didn’t tell her I was on my deathbed or something, did you?
“Come on, Rachel. It’s not like I’m going to run away. Let’s just finish up our work and then we can talk at our leisure.”
“O-Okay…”
As I soothed her, she fell silent for a long moment, staring straight into my eyes from point-blank range.
After studying my face as if scanning it, she finally nodded and started back toward her original spot.
…while holding my hand.
“Ra-Rachel?! Rachel?! Aren’t I forbidden from going in there?!”
Worse, she wasn’t just leading me near the reception desk; she was trying to pull me behind it with her.
I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at her actions.
“It’s fine!”
No. No, no, no. It’s not fine. There must be documents and other things back there that only staff are allowed to see. A civilian can’t just walk in.
That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t bring myself to shake her hand off.
It was obvious that she was in a highly unstable state.
The business-like woman who always kept her work and private life perfectly separate had, for a moment, abandoned her duties. The woman who always maintained a flawless appearance was here with a haggard face and no makeup. And even her speech lacked its usual composure.
This act of holding my hand was part of it, too. Normally, her touches were… how should I put it… teasing, as if to intentionally build anticipation. But there was none of that in her grip now.
I wasn’t heartless enough to pull my hand away from her like this.
And so, I now found myself sitting at the receptionist’s station.
Thankfully, Rachel brought over another chair, so I was sitting behind her, one of my hands still held tightly in hers.
…Can I really call this fortunate?
I could feel the surrounding stares growing even more intense.
Was Rachel really okay with this?
No, more importantly, she was incredibly good at working with just one hand.
“Yes. Here is your payment for the Magic Stones. Thank you. Please come again. Next, please. Ah! You there! Please don’t line up here anymore! I’m sorry! Please use the next counter for today!”
Rachel rattled off her lines like she was in a speed-talking competition as she processed the work.
To be able to recite the manual-prescribed lines even in a situation like this… a pro was a pro, after all.
Well, I didn’t actually know if the receptionist manual really told them to say that, but still.
In any case, seeing Elder Sister Rachel in such a hurry, the adventurers who had been lined up at her counter seemed to get the gist of the situation, quickly finished their business, and left.
But adventurers are a free-spirited bunch, so not all of them were in such a rush.
One adventurer, paying no mind to Rachel’s state, struck up a conversation as casually as she probably always did.
“What’s this? The guy behind you? Your boyfriend?”
“Not yet. So, what is your business here today?”
“What do you think? Cashing in Magic Stones, same as always. So. ‘Not yet’ means it’s going to happen soon?”
“Yes. I’ve received the Magic Stones. Please wait a moment while they are being processed.”
Rachel spoke as if she were only focused on her work, but I could faintly sense it.
That first ‘yes’ she said, wasn’t that her affirming that we’d be a couple soon?
As proof, the moment she said it, I felt the hand holding mine tense up slightly, as if she were nervous.
Of course, being behind her, I couldn’t see her expression.
“You just pretended to take the Magic Stones while sneakily agreeing, didn’t you? I can’t believe it! Rachel! Was I just a game to you?!”
But judging by the adventurer’s reaction, it seemed her expression had changed as well.
The adventurer leaned both arms on the reception desk, brought her face close to Rachel’s, and spoke playfully before suddenly adopting a wounded look and speaking in a theatrical tone.
“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood! Guwon! It’s not like that!”
Yes, Rachel. I have eyes, I know it’s not like that.
After all, the adventurer cashing in her Magic Stones was a woman.
“Here is your payment for the Magic Stones! Thank you! Please come again!”
“How could you be so cruel! Rachel! Have you already forgotten that night?! How your ripe breasts were crushed in my hands, changing shape this way and that, how your luscious thighs wrapped around mine…”
“Stop making things up! And sexual harassment applies between women, you know?!”
As she shouted, Rachel seemed quite flustered. I could see the nape of her neck, clearly visible with her hair tied up neatly, turning bright red.
“Oh my, how scary. No need to get so worked up, is there?”
Despite that, the adventurer maintained her playful attitude.
Were most adventurers like this?
Come to think of it, when I occasionally talked with other adventurers, I felt like quite a few of them would joke around with me so casually, even if we’d just met.
I see. So Rachel has to deal with people like this all the time.
I felt like I understood a little better why she was always able to maintain a mature attitude even with my pranks.
Not that I’m saying I’m just like that adventurer in front of me, unable to read the room and joking around at any given moment… well, I can’t say I’m not like that.
B-But I’m not that bad, right?
“If you’re done with your business, please leave!”
“Not done yet. Ah, show me a map of the 5th Floor, too.”
“What? The 5th Floor? You already have one, don’t you?”
“I can’t seem to find where it went. I think I lost it.”
Rachel eyed the adventurer suspiciously, but the adventurer just replied with a cheeky, unfazed expression.
“How can an adventurer lose their map! Please wait a moment!”
Rachel immediately scolded her.
Despite the adventurer’s sly attitude, it seemed Rachel was determined to fulfill her duties as a receptionist.
Then again, she did finish my adventurer registration back then, even when I tried to hit on her the moment we met.
Being a receptionist is a lot harder than I thought.
In any case, Rachel turned around, presumably to find a map on the shelf behind me.
Of course, I stood up from my chair to get out of her way.
No. Since it’s come to this, maybe I can sneakily slip out from behind the desk…
That was my plan, but it was easily thwarted by Rachel.
“Stay seated!”
“What? No, but…”
“It’s fine!”
As if determined not to let me leave her side, she pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me back into the chair. Then, she climbed right onto my lap and reached for the shelf behind me.
No. No, no, no. Rachel. Isn’t this dangerous? Don’t we look like we’re in an incredibly compromising position right now?! This is your workplace! Isn’t this a violation of public morals?!
Those thoughts flashed through my mind for a brief moment, but they were instantly scattered like smoke by the bountiful sensation enveloping my entire face.
To hell with public decency. I’m going to enjoy this moment!
Her soft breasts, wrapped in the tight receptionist uniform, gifted my entire face with a beautiful texture that was hard to describe.
Overcome with a wave of bliss, I unconsciously raised a hand and gave a thumbs-up.
It was aimed at the nameless adventurer who was surely still on the other side of the desk, though I couldn’t see her past Rachel.
“Pfft. Heh heh.”
From beyond the desk, I heard the sound of the adventurer trying to stifle a low laugh, as if she found my reaction amusing.
“Phew. Here it is. Unngh.”
It seemed the map for the 5th Floor was on a slightly higher shelf.
It made sense, since there were very few adventurers who could even go to the 5th Floor. Items with relatively low demand would be placed in such spots.
In any case, Rachel pressed her chest firmly against my face, pulled out a map, and then tried to get off me.
“Aaargh… my breasts…”
“W-What did you say?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
That was close. My thoughts almost slipped out of my mouth.
Hey! Nameless adventurer! Don’t you laugh just because it’s not happening to you! You just don’t know the demonic charm these breasts possess!
“Haaah… really now…”
Rachel, who had been sitting on my lap and looking down at me, finally shook her head and returned to her own seat.
“Here. The map of the 5th Floor. A map is an adventurer’s lifeline, so don’t lose it again, okay? What will you do if a veteran like you makes that mistake!”
Rachel switched back into lecture mode, her tone firm as if to say such a thing must never happen again.
It made sense. She was the type who hated seeing adventurers she knew come to harm in the Dungeon, so much so that she’d go looking for them herself if they went missing.
It happened on the 3rd Floor, and with me… huh? Wait a minute. Does that mean she was so seriously worried because she thought something bad had happened to me in the Dungeon?
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll stop… ah.”
But even with Rachel’s lecture, the adventurer just gave a half-hearted reply in a light tone, then suddenly pulled a hand out of her pocket.
And in that hand was a tattered-looking piece of paper.
“Sorry. It was here all along.”
“What?! You did that on purpose…!”
“Sorry! See you later, Rachel! Thanks for cashing in the stones!”
It was painfully obvious to anyone watching that she’d done it on purpose, and Elder Sister Rachel finally looked ready to explode.
The adventurer, who until now had paid no mind to Rachel’s attitude and just said whatever she wanted, must have sensed the danger this time, because she immediately started to back away.
Even as she did, she shot me a thumbs-up. What can I say… I had a feeling she and I could become good friends.
And with that, all the adventurers who had been lined up at Rachel’s station were finally taken care of.
“Honestly! Always playing around!”
“U-Um… I’m sorry.”
Seeing Rachel fuming, I, feeling vaguely guilty, apologized reflexively.
Rachel tilted her head at me quizzically, then a playful smile spread across her face as she poked my chest with her fingertip.
“What’s this, Guwon? You seem to be aware that you do the same thing, don’t you?”
Ah, she’s back to the usual Elder Sister Rachel.
The moment I saw that smile, I was certain.
“Me? No. Of course not.”
I put on a perfectly straight face as I replied, and she just chuckled as if she found me amusing.
“Hehe. Then, please wait here for a moment. I’m going to go request to leave early.”
She gave me a light kiss on the cheek, then moved away from me and disappeared into a room further inside.
No. Rachel. You want me to wait here the whole time?
“E-Excuse me… can I register as an adventurer here?”
“…Go to the next desk.”