Tamer 8

BGM: Tojima Want to be a Kamen Rider(Really recommend the anime!)

Chapter 8: The Extremely Bored Guild Receptionist

TL : Cnine

ED/PF :

Part 1

「It’s dead quiet again today…」

　The Aomori office of the Dungeon Association almost never sees adventurers.

　When I check the registry just to kill time, there’s a massive list of over a thousand names, but almost all of them are people who signed up once and then quit dungeon exploring ages ago.

「I’m so boooored. Seriously, bored bored bored.」

　It’s way too quiet. At this point, I’d rather just ditch the reception desk and go explore the dungeon myself.

　They say the 1st floor’s only got slimes, so even a total beginner like me could just stomp them flat.

「The only person who’s shown up lately is that one, Kikyo…」

　Seriously, what’s Kikyo’s deal? What’s fun about going into a dungeon every single day?

　Meanwhile, I’m here at this reception desk with nobody coming in, bored out of my mind.

　And can he even live on about 3000 yen a day? He said he was twenty-two, right? Probably one of those grads who messed up their job-hunt.

　He probably didn’t bother doing proper job-hunting from his second year. Though honestly, even if he did everything right and joined the Dungeon Association, he might still end up dumped in a dead-quiet place like the Aomori branch… Just like me.

　Even then, it’s definitely better than being a newbie explorer who makes less than a part-time worker.

　New explorers just get treated like absolute bottom-rung losers.

　sigh… I really want to slack off and go into the dungeon. It’d be something to do, and even if the pay’s tiny, grabbing a few magic stones would easily cover lunch money.

　I wish that old guy at the appraisal counter would just go on break…

　With him there watching the place from the side, I couldn’t sneak off to the dungeon at all.

　The reception PC’s useless, the internet’s locked down, and the only game on it was that bloody Solitaire, you know?

　Like, seriously, could they not throw in at least one proper RPG? Are they trying to bore a young receptionist like me to death?

「I took this job because the pay was decent, but there’s no fun and no chance of meeting anyone. At this rate, my twenties will be gone in the blink of an eye.」

　Sigh.

　And that Kikyō, he tried to chat me up in the creepiest way so I brushed him off, but seeing how he shows up every day, maybe I should’ve at least been friendly with him.

　His earnings might be trash, and his flirting was cringe, but he’s actually pretty cute. Being friends wouldn’t have been a bad shout.

　Since Aomori wasn’t my hometown, I’ve got no boyfriend and not even any friends here. Honestly, Kikyo might’ve made a decent occasional date partner.

「Excuse me~ I want to become an explorer.」

「Ah, yes. Welcome to the Aomori Branch of the Dungeon Association. I’ll start your registration procedure.」

「You’re gorgeous, miss. Once I start earning, wanna grab a drink sometime…?」

「Yeah yeah, flirt after you’ve actually made some money. Here, fill this out.」

　Tch. Seriously, the people who show up at the Dungeon Association are always the same.

　Like, come on, think about your age. Why would a cute 24-year-old like me ever bother with some guy who’s clearly over fifty?

　And his accent was so thick I couldn’t even understand half of it.

　You get these forty- and fifty-somethings who’ve been fired or whose companies went bust, and they wander in now and then, but every time it’s the same: they quit after two or three days.

　I’m so done with that pattern.

　If they were older but still looked decent and had actual skills to become high-rank explorers, I might not mind. But seriously, how could they not realise there was no way anyone would giving them a chance?

「There, done. You’re pretty tough on people, miss.」

「Oh, not at all. I’m not being harsh.」

　Honestly, this is completely normal. Having some unimpressive old bloke who’s about thirty years older than me look at me like that is just gross, absolutely not happening.

　This is bad. If things keep going like this, I’m going to spend my entire twenties stuck at reception dealing with creepy old men.

　Maybe I’ll try being nice to that Kikyo when he comes in next. He’d shown up three days straight, he got some grit. And have a baby face on top of that… Could it be that he was, in fact, a hidden gem?

　Maybe it really would be fun to teach him a thing or two and shape him into my type, but after brushing him off, suddenly talking to him would just feel awkward…

「I’m heading out.」

　Honestly, why’s this old guy talking to me while I’m trying to think?

　I’m seriously working out my future here.

「Yeah, yeah. Have a safe trip.」

「You’re awfully cold. Women need a bit of charm, you know, you won’t be popular acting like that.」

　I wouldn’t be even remotely happy if someone like you fancied me.

　You’re a newbie explorer in your fifties, basically unemployed. Try realising that no young woman is going to act cute for you.

　Come back when you’ve got a hundred mil in your account or you’re rocking a nebuta on your back.

===

「Hah… haah… hah…」

「What’s up?」

　Seriously? The old dude just went in and he’s already done.

　He didn’t even last two hours in there, right?

　Even for a beginner, this level of spinelessness was insane. This was exactly why you’ve ended up a bottom-tier explorer in your fifties.

「G-gob… a monster…」

「Yes, yes. Goblins show up on the 2nd floor. When you’re just starting out, a wooden sword is usually your best bet.」

「N-no… Not that… Something like… Goblins fused together… And it… Talked to me…」

　If it could talk, it was not one of the monsters down here.

　There weren’t any speaking monsters on floors we’ve already cleared, so if one did talk, it would be from a higher level.

　There was no way a monster from a higher floor would show up on 1st or 2nd floors. He was obviously hallucinating.

　Either that, or, since Kikyo’s a monster tamer, he probably saw him walking around with a goblin and jumped to the weirdest conclusion possible.

「“Well, some beginners get mentally shaken when they fight monsters, so take a break and try again later.」

「I quit.」

「Alright, thanks for the effort. The registration fee can’t be refunded, but please come back if you ever feel like exploring again.」

　What a weak old dude. Quitting because you're broke makes sense, but losing it over a goblin? Come on.

　Kikyo, though, is made of sturdier stuff. This was his third straight day. Not many newbies show up three days in a row.

　I kind of want to go talk to him… but hmm…

　Since I brushed him off on the first day, suddenly going up to him now would look way too unnatural.