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Now, since all members of the party have entered the dungeon, I thought all we had to do was just depart, but it seems that wasn't the case.

Yagami, the leader of the party, turned his body and said to me.

"Oi, you. Go out of the gate and come in again."

"Eh?"

"It is for verification. Do it quickly."

For a moment, I thought it was just a nonsensical instruction, but I finally understood his intention after hearing the word ‘Verification'.

Depending on the dungeon, it could be a dungeon that makes people unable to leave until they defeated the boss once they entered, or a dungeon that makes people unable to re-challenge that dungeon for several days even if they were not in the middle of intermission once they got out. Thus, this kind of verification is also the duty of the party that is in charge of capturing the dungeon for the first time.

And I understood that I, who seems to be the most unnecessary for the capturing, should take up the role of verifying it, in case the one who goes out to verify can't re-challenge the dungeon. Yes, I really understood that, but…although I feel bad for Yagami, there is a reason why I couldn't nod obediently.

Because in my case, I entered by using [Transfer Within Dungeon], not through the gate. Hence, I am not befitted to take that role. Although this is surely going to be awkward, I guess I should firmly refuse here.

"No, I can't do that,"

"What did you say?"

Yagami furrowed his forehead and directed his gaze at me sharply.

"You, did you just get conceited? Do you think you can contribute to the capture more than the other members here?"

"No, that's not what I meant…"

"If that's not the case, then tell me the reason. Otherwise, you can just go to the bottom floor on your own. Because having someone nonsensical like you in this party could bring dangers to the others."

"Uh…"

Damn, what a fair argument!

It made me feel more guilty about this. But because I couldn’t say my reason, I could only shut my mouth, causing the sharpness of Yagami's gaze directed at me to increase. Looks like I just made him completely antagonize me.

Then, when I was apologizing to Yagami in my mind, someone came in between us. It was a robe-wearing woman who was beautiful and also cute at the same time.

"Well, well, please calm down Yagami-san. I will be the one who'll do that instead."

"… Don't be stupid, Shinonome. It will be a great loss if the sole healer of this party is gone. Sigh, can't be helped. Matsumoto, you go"

"I feel like I was nonchalantly told that I was the most useless one here, but…well, understood."

While deliberately uttering such a depressed voice, Matsumoto– the man who seems to be the magician of this party, went out of the dungeon and returned in an instant.

"Looks like there is no problem"

"I see. Then, let's go ahead quickly."

Then, after glancing at me for the last time, Yagami walked behind the two tanks who were the vanguards. At the end of the line, there was me and Shinonome, the woman who helped me earlier. And I bowed my head to her.

"Thank you, you saved me."

"Ahaha, it's fine, it's fine. From the way Yagami-san said it, it feels like it was implying that Amane-kun was a hindrance after all, so, of course you would want to rebel if you heard something like that, right?"

"… Indeed."

Although I felt that she thought of me like a child with uselessly excessive pride, since it was convenient for me if she thought that way, I nodded.

Thereupon, Shinonome-san gently smiled.

"I'm Shinonome Kaori. You can call me as you like, such as Shinonome-san, Kaori-chan, or even Onee-san."

"… Then, I will call you Shinonome-san. By the way, I'm–"

When I was about to introduce myself, I remembered being called Amane-kun earlier, even though I shouldn't have told her my name since I arrived. How did she know? And in front of me who was having such questions, Shinonome-san laughingly said.

"Amane Rin-kun, right? Of course, I know."

"Of course you have at least heard the name of the guy who was going to dive together with your party in advance."contemporary romance

"Although that is true, I actually knew Amane-kun for quite a long time. Because this Onee-san was a little interested in you"

"Eh?"

"Your name often comes up whenever I talk to Yui-chan and Rei-chan after all"

Hearing the name of those two, I immediately understood.

"Are you close with Rei and Yui?"

"Ee. For Yui-chan, I have taught her various things since she joined as a healer senpai. As for Rei-chan, I guess you could say we occasionally talk?"

"Are those two doing well in Yoizuki?"

"Of course. Yui-chan is amazing, you know? Her talent as a healer keeps blooming, and I am sure the day when she becomes a force for the guild will not be long. But, regarding Rei-chan…"

After stopping her words for a while, Shinonome-san said with a slightly solemn look on her face.

"Because she is a unique skill holder, I can't measure her with a normal standard. Even so, I know very well that her unique skill is too–"

At this moment, Shinonome-san suddenly lifted her face.

"No, as expected, I'm not going to say it here. I think Amane-kun should ask her directly since you are close with her."

"Then, I'll do just that."

Although I am a bit curious, it's not something that I should hear from people other than herself. Just as Shinonome-san said, I could ask the two about many things when I have the chance to talk to them next time. Thus, from here, the topic shifts from the two to regarding this party.

"Because I want you to know about this party, I'd like to introduce you to us. Our party consists of eight people, with most of them around level 20,000. And our leader, Yagami-san, is by far the strongest here with a level that exceeds level 25,000"

"I see"

Yagami is probably the top of the party in both name and actuality.

"This party is the top party in Yoizuki, right?"

"… For a party, yes. But, at the real top, there is Claire"

"…."

Claire called herself an S-rank adventurer. If that's really the case, then her level must be over level 100,000. Even if everyone here challenged her, there is an overwhelming difference that makes them unable to win against her.

"How’s she…"

I've always been curious how she could have that much power. And Shinonome-san who belongs to the same guild as her might know the answer to that question. That's what I thought, but even so, I also thought it would be wrong to know about it in this way.

That's why I changed my question.

"What kind of standing does Claire have in Yoizuki?"

"Standing?"

"Well, it’s just, I was just wondering what the other guilds members think of her. Since she is that strong, wouldn't the others distance themselves from her?"

Hearing that, Shinonome-san giggled.

"What a strange question you asked. Claire is loved by everyone, you know? Even though her ability is surely overwhelming, she never tries to show off and always treats everyone politely…however"

After stopping her words for a bit, she continued.

"I wonder if it's because of her overwhelming strength and her over-polite attitude towards everyone, but it feels like Claire herself is creating an invisible wall between her and the others."

"Invisible wall?"

"Ee. I guess it will be easier to understand if I say that she was avoiding getting along with others more than she needs to."

Hearing that evoked my memories about her.

About how she told me with a soft but sincere voice that she wanted to see me the day we first met.

About her beautiful and cool figure, as she instantly defeated the Cyclops with a single blow.

About the figure of her who flubbed while saying her own name.

About the figure of her who was trying to protect her sweets.

And about the figure of her who was hugging a stuffed animal.

… Are? I didn't feel like she was avoiding people that much, though? When I tilted my head, thinking how weird it was, Shinonome-san said.

"That's my impression of her. Even so, to think Amane-kun is asking that kind of thing, perhaps Amane-kun is interested in Claire-chan?"

"I-it’s not like that…"

"Ufufu, too bad, this Onee-san's eyes cannot be deceived. Although the competition will be fierce since there are many people who are aiming for Claire-chan, I will support you!"

Oi, the conversation suddenly took a strange turn. And when I was feeling nervous because of that,

"Cough. Oi, Shinonome, it's about time monsters will appear. So, stop your idle talk."

"Mu, even though we're at the best part… Understood"

Thanks to Yagami's aid, Shinonome-san stopped asking while pouting her cheeks.

… I- I was saved. Thank you, Yagami-san. I thanked him like that in my mind.

And it was 5 minutes later that we actually encountered some monsters.

done.co