The Coworker Arrives

"Yo yo yo yo!! Found you yo!"

And so, on the morning of the day off, my coworker finally arrived.

Well, I got a friend chat saying "Almost there yo! Better be ready yo!" so Penpen and I were waiting at the Adventurers' Guild.

A black twintailed beauty strode confidently into the guild.

"Whew, finally arrived yo, Tsudon! It was a long, hard journey yo!"

"Hey cowor — wait, that name's bad to use here. Um, Alto, right?"

"That's right yo! Yo yo, Tria! After all this time we finally meet yo!"

"Haha, what's that supposed to mean."

There was no high-five motion in the game, so I used an attack motion to slap hands instead.

"Gufoh!?"

Alto, I mean my coworker, went flying. 56 damage display + damage effect.

"Ah, my bad. So friendly fire's a thing, huh… Come to think of it, I never hit Penpen. That was close."

"I'm fine yo, I've been training too… Still, that hurt quite a bit yo. Payback yo, take this!"

"Ahaha, HP going down, going down."

I was bashed with the gun repeatedly. It was basically cannon-sized, so there was serious force behind it.

But the damage was weak. 12, 12, 11, 13. No knockback either.

Heheh, it's because my armor is good. Also the martial arts skill difference.

"… Hm? But this is the first time I've seen damage numbers."

"That's 'Damage Display (Numeric)' that unlocks at Lv 25 yo."

"There was something like that? I missed it."

So that feature had been unlocked. Didn't notice. I'll set it up later.

Also, you can see it when your opponent has it enabled too? Bug, maybe?

"Right, greetings done, so healing magic yo! Heal!"

"Oh, thanks. You learned healing magic? Nice."

"I traveled solo all the way here yo, picked it up along the way yo."

With a recovery effect, we both fully healed. This had numbers too. Nice display, easy to understand.

Oh right, I wonder if this town's magic shop sells healing magic. Totally forgot to check.

"So, that's Penpen yo?"

"That's right! Nice to meet you, Alto!"

"!! We both use 'Alto' to address me yo…! Well, that kind of thing happens with otaku, so whatever yo."

"Right!"

Alto and Penpen exchanged friendly greetings.

"I heard from Tria you're the debt queen yo?"

"Oh. I've already paid back 50% ahead of schedule! The merchant was shocked!"

"Half repaid before the first weekly payment was even due. Makes sense."

"Yo yo yo! Better to pay back debts while you still remember them yo. So here, take this."

Thud! Alto dropped a Lesser Dragon corpse on the guild floor. Killed with a gun apparently, there was a dent where a rock had been embedded in its head.

That's big. About the size of a compact car. Could probably fit four people if you crammed them in.

"Ooh! So this is the Lesser Dragon you mentioned! Man, I'm fired up!"

"W-wait, please! D-don't spread your spoils here!"

"Yo?"

The elf receptionist hurriedly called out.

True, putting something this big here would be in the way.

"Oops, sorry Ms. Receptionist. Penpen, put it away quick."

"Roger! I'll take it then. Hyahaa! Lesser Dragon materials!"

With a whoosh, the Lesser Dragon corpse was taken by Penpen.

"Penpen, if there's any leftover materials, you can have them all yo. So make me the best stuff you can yo!"

"Seriously!? Awesome, leave it to me! Any design preferences?"

"Something that shows Alto-chan's pretty belly button and looks smart yo. And make it black."

"Going for source recreation, got it!"

"Oh! You know the source yo! That's reassuring yo… Oh, but change it a bit yo. Don't want any copyright issues. A bikini top might not have much defense either yo. The main thing is the coat yo!"

"Classic yo. Well, you've got more chest than the original. Roger that!"

Penpen looked happy and excited. Production classes can design equipment too? This game really does have a lot of options.

"… Um."

"Hm?"

The elf receptionist quietly approached.

"Sorry, were we in the way?"

"N-no, not at all. Um, the new Spirit-Possessed who just arrived — are you acquainted?"

"Yes, we're friends."

"… … I see… Ah, if you have subjugation reports or such, please come to the reception."

"Okay."

At this point she could just tell Alto directly, I thought as I watched her return to the counter.

Hmm, so conversation events like this happen too.

"Yo, then Tria. Let's go hunting while Penpen makes the equipment yo!"

"Sounds good. Let's see, a good hunting ground around here would be… the swamp with Lizardmen?"

"Time to mow down Lizardmen in the swamp yo!"

"Also, you should report your subjugation requests from getting here first."

"Good point yo. I've got gathered items in my inventory too, might as well turn them in yo."

Alto headed to the reception.

Ms. Receptionist was diligently confirming request completions and handing out rewards… Hmm, watching a beautiful elf NPC work is soothing. Cute.