There's an Additional Designated Request

"He really did just sleep, huh…"

Ignoring Ichika's incomprehensible muttering, I left the inn.

Using [Purify] on my way out has become second nature at this point. This time I cleaned up the whole room too… Nothing leaked, okay?! I planned it from the start!

Ahhh, my arms and legs are sore from muscle aches again today. It's rough. I only slept nine hours after all.

… That's enough talking to myself.

So, what to do now… I've already bought a slave, which was the whole point of this trip. Shall we head back?

"Huh? Yer not goin' to the guild? All the good requests'll be gone, y'know?"

"I'm not particularly trying to be a proper adventurer, so whatever's fine, whatever. It'd be convenient to have enough rank to dive into dungeons though."

"Then ya should at least get to C-Rank. Most dungeons have rank restrictions, so ya need at least that much, y'know?"

Rank restrictions mean the guild won't let anyone below that rank enter.

You could still go on your own and die at your own risk, but they won't give you information about the location if your rank is too low. For managed dungeons, you could even be treated as a poacher and have your spoils confiscated, plus a fine on top of that.

"By the way, do you know about the Imperial Capital's [White Labyrinth]?"

"Any adventurer who doesn't know that'd be an amateur. It's a dungeon in the center of the Imperial Capital that ya can enter startin' at C-Rank. Though I think there were some other dungeons clustered around it with no rank restrictions."

In Haku-san's book, [Introduction to Dungeonology], it stated: "Dungeons are natural phenomena that grow. Once a dungeon has developed to a certain point, it may form new dungeons in its surroundings, almost as if producing offspring." These offspring are the derived dungeons like the one Haku-san created for the Dungeon Battle.

Also, incidentally, it said: "A dungeon may rapidly grow or decline within a single day. This is called a transition phase." In the margin, written in beautiful handwriting, was the note: "This is about Dungeon Battles, by the way."

"I'm thinking of going there to play sometime, so I'd like to at least be C-Rank."

"Heh, 'to play,' huh? That's some confidence… Come to think of it, when I was an adventurer, they'd only cleared up to the fifty-second floor. Wonder if they've made more progress since then?"

Apparently it has over a hundred and fifty floors, so at best that's about thirty percent… It was built after the Imperial Capital was founded, right? Must be a pretty brutal difficulty.

"So, where're we goin'?"

"Our base is outside of town. Heading back there."

"… Hmm, outside of town… but it's not the slums outside the south gate, right? If it was that close, ya wouldn't be stayin' a night in town, so is yer base pretty far away or somethin'?"

"Yeah. It's in the mountains. About half a day's run."

"Then ya really should tell the guild about it, it's just common sense. Well, not that it matters much for F-Ranks though."

Come to think of it, the gatekeeper did say "Receptionist-san was worried." Even though her actual attitude was… that.

Last time I hurried back so I just left, but this time I don't have any particularly urgent business. Saying a word wouldn't hurt.

"Yeah, it helps when you point stuff like that out. I'm a bit lacking in common sense."

"Got it, I'll let ya know when I notice things."

Having a trustworthy ally with local common sense really is important.

Rokuko is a Dungeon Core, so human common sense doesn't really apply to her, and Niku was raised as a slave so she's ignorant of society.

As for Haku-san… she probably does know human common sense, but she's not someone I can casually contact. Speaking of common sense, that is.

So when we arrived at the guild, morning rush hour was in full swing… not for commuting, but for the request board. It was extremely crowded. Maybe I should come back later?

Niku looked at the crowd and asked, "Should I go get a request?" but I hadn't come to accept a request this time. I just came to say hello.

Hmm? Wait, if I'm just saying a word to the counter, it shouldn't take that long. The sooner I get back, the more sleep time I can secure. Let's just get this over with quickly.

At the counter was the usual Receptionist-san… wait, it's someone different! First time I've ever seen someone else!

I showed my guild card and decided to give a quick greeting.

"Um, I'm the F-Rank adventurer Kehma. Just letting you know I'll be heading outside of town for a bit."

"Yes… Ah, I'll have the person in charge come over, so please wait over there."

"Eh? Ah, okay."

Since I was told to wait, I obediently did so.

Ichika asked, "What'd ya do?" but I couldn't really think of anything… Did the guild find out I'm a Dungeon Master?

After waiting a little while, the usual Receptionist-san came over.

"Good morning."

"Ah, yes, good morning… Why did you specifically come out?"

"… Come to think of it, I never mentioned it. I'm your dedicated receptionist, so please take care of me from now on."

A dedicated receptionist provides preferential treatment for special adventurers. If you have one, things that would normally require paperwork can be handled with just a word. They're also obligated to prioritize their assigned adventurers over others. If they spot you waiting in line at the counter, they'll call you over and take care of your business first. Things like that.

Apparently they also provide useful information and advice.

Her attitude toward slaves aside, this Receptionist-san does good work, so having her as my dedicated receptionist isn't a problem.

But as for why I'm getting this treatment… Ah, right. The Guild Head said Niku and I might be his grandchildren.

"So, you said you're going outside of town today…"

"I'll be training in the mountains for a bit. I was thinking of setting my sights on the [White Labyrinth] eventually… Speaking of which, the [Ordinary Cave] is an F-Rank dungeon, right? Would there be any problem with me going there?"

"Training, I see. I understand… Also, the [Ordinary Cave] is indeed a dungeon, but don't get your hopes up. It has nothing but a Dungeon Core—it's a dungeon that can hardly be called a dungeon. The other day's investigation also came back as 'No Abnormalities.'"

Sounds like there's no problem with me going.

"… Well, let me know if anything comes up. Also, please never lay a hand on the Dungeon Core itself. It's extremely valuable from a dungeonology perspective and is a protected object… If anyone does try something, a certain A-Rank adventurer has declared she'll go assassinate them."

Ah, that's probably someone I know… Using the title of A-Rank adventurer to threaten people and protect Rokuko from harm.

When I asked about the location, she pulled out a rather rough map similar to the one I'd seen in the menu and just pointed, saying, "Around here."

"Ah, that's right. You have another designated request."

As if just remembering, Receptionist-san pulled out a request form.

I thought it'd be toilet cleaning again, but it wasn't. It was for procuring rabbit meat.

"Apparently, the meat Kehma-sama delivered was used to make meat skewers, and since it wasn't gamey and tasted good, it became popular… It sold so well that it was completely sold out by the afternoon. From now on, he's boasting that he'll pay up to twelve copper coins and 'buy up to six a day, anytime.' He'd also like you to teach him the secret if possible."

Come to think of it, the meat skewers we ate yesterday were from a different stall…

The request did say "the meat is for next week," so yesterday must have been that day.

If I'd gone to that stall, I could have eaten those delicious meat skewers.

Well, since they sold out by the afternoon, Ichika probably wouldn't have been able to eat them anyway.

"Oho! Delicious meat skewers?! Can't miss that, can we? Right?! Goshujin-sama!"

Ah, looks like I'm going to end up accepting the rabbit hunting designated request.

Not that I'm in any particular hurry to get back, so that's fine.