Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"Miscia, how are things going? Did you meet with the adventurers in charge today, just like me?"

"That one's an older orc than me, very tall... hehehe, kind of handsome, huh?"

Upon hearing Eina's question, Misia blushed as she answered.

"Miscia... let me make this clear first, blurring the lines between public and private matters is..."

"Yes, I know, okay?!"

Sensing the sweet atmosphere that was somehow brewing, Eina shot her a piercing look, and Misia hurriedly waved her hands.

We've been in the guild for several days now. We've been sharing what's happened so far, both the hardships and the joys.

"Lord Uranus, you're so charismatic! Even while nervously introducing yourself, you just said with an air of authority, 'I see.' Ah, but everyone in the administration department seems so kind, that's wonderful!"

After a while, the talkative Missia started bringing up topics one after another.

Faced with an even more rappy performance than usual, Eina could only manage a wry smile. She realized that the atmosphere had suddenly changed.

"However, besides being a consultant, I also have to do receptionist work... Am I capable of handling it?"

"If it's Missia, she can definitely do it!"

"However, I'm not as quick to grasp the essentials as Eina... I guess I was just a bonus they brought in when they hired Eina."

Ever since their school days, Eina and Missia have been seen as a duo by others. Missia herself is aware of that, which is why the words "the good student is just an extra" probably came out of her mouth.

Indeed, if Aina looked away from Misia for even a moment, she would become complacent, because she was the kind of person who wouldn't start studying unless an exam was imminent, which made Eina particularly troublesome—she was the kind of person who "only did things when it was time to do them."

It was thanks to her appearance, which matched the receptionist's, though I think that was part of it too. Getting into the guild must have been the result of working hard while crying.

Although Eina's motivation for wanting to join the guild was something as frivolous as "If Eina goes, I'll go too!", Eina still found that statement very pleasing.

"If it's Missia, no problem! Good luck!"

"...Hmm, if that's what Eina said, I think it might be okay too."

Missia, who seemed a little uneasy, said with a smile, "Let's try our best."

Eina responded with laughter.

☆

From then on, I gradually got used to Orario day by day.

Thanks to her staff who taught her all sorts of things, Eina gradually mastered the business.

Sometimes, they can take over the work of their predecessors who are higher-ranking adventurers, and they can learn a lot from their behavior.

If you take a step outside from the guild headquarters, you'll see and hear the constant fighting and various incidents.

The first monster festival, the conflict between the guild and the [Ishtar Familia], the struggles and war games, the successive return of several goddesses to the heavens... all these events make it clear that Orario is definitely not a boring place.

In terms of dungeon exploration, the activities of Freya Familia and Loki Familia are astonishing.

Among them were acquaintances of Eina from the Loki Familia—royal family members who had received much care from her since childhood—and although she was quite surprised to see her name listed, she had no intention of introducing herself. She belonged to a completely neutral guild, and more importantly, she felt a certain fear in the face of her as a first-class adventurer representing the city.

Then, after arriving in Orario, during the second spring visit.

Eina, who was gradually taking over the role of receptionist, now had four adventurers under her supervision.

Among them, Maris's progress in conquering the floors is particularly astonishing.

"Eina! I've broken through level 10!"

At dusk in the guild headquarters, Maris called out to Eina as she left through the window.

"Are you here to exchange money?" she asked as she approached, carrying a bag full of gold coins. Her worn leather armor and the steel dagger, no longer a ration, truthfully reflected her achievements so far.

"Eh, I've already told you the floor you've reached—what?! Isn't this just ignoring all my warnings?! Because it gets foggy from the 10th floor onwards, please explore carefully, I already told you that…!"

As Maris leisurely waved in their direction, Eina criticized her with a mixture of annoyance and surprise.

She conquered all 10 floors of the "Upper Level" within a year. Although it was done in a team, this was still a remarkable speed of conquest for someone from the "Emerging" faction. It was astonishing.

"Ugh—, so noisy, so noisy! Enough with the grumbling, let's go for a drink afterwards!"

"Wait, I'm a guild employee, I should keep my personal and professional life separate...!?"

"It's on me, so stop with the nonsense and come on over!"

Dragged away by the cheerful Maris, Eina had no choice but to attend the party.

Wearing the guild uniform would have been too much of a problem. After finally changing her clothes, she was taken to the bustling southern part of the city to the tavern "Flame Bee Pavilion" recommended by Maris.

"Eina, you're quite popular among adventurers, aren't you? They all say you have a cute receptionist from the school district or something. Honestly, being a fairy is such a lucky break!"

"Mrs. Marise!"

Amidst the constant laughter around her, Maris joked as she downed the shop's special bright red mead in one gulp.

By this time, Eina and Maris had figured out each other's personalities.

Although their relationship as adventurer and advisor had resulted in several conflicts—no, more like arguments—they gradually developed a friendly rapport, able to chat happily even about the smallest things, all while constantly complaining to each other upon meeting. Even so, it was common for Maris to aggressively drag Eina into these situations. With her face flushed the same color as mead, Eina, having only drunk water, sighed as she faced the completely drunk adventurer she was in charge of.

"But... well, what was it again... you're a good guy, Eina."

"...What are you saying? So sudden."

Upon reaching the additional floor, Maris, who had been smiling happily until now, suddenly changed the subject.

Even with the blush still on her face and a smile still lingering on her lips, she was still smiling.

"Although complaining is annoying these days, and I'm not very bright... I'm so lucky to have you as my advisor."

"..."

"You've taught me countless times, despite my rudeness and slow thinking... Today was no exception; the information from 'Oc' and 'Little Demon' came in very handy. I'm sorry for mocking you at the beginning, calling you a newbie and such."

"There are many things in the labyrinth that are beyond our control even with our best efforts," she continued. Marise, emboldened by the alcohol, expressed her gratitude.

"It's so wonderful to have met you."

Hearing Maris's soft murmur, which seemed to disappear completely into the store's clamor, Eina knew that emotions she had never felt since becoming a guild employee were spreading through her chest. Feeling a heartbeat completely different from her usual self, Eina reflexively asked a question, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Mrs. Maris...why did you become an adventurer?"

Many of the adventurers who came to Orario possessed engines. Eina tacitly understood that she shouldn't ask too many questions about other people's affairs.

When faced with Eina, who was entering her heart for the first time, Maris remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I want to prove them wrong. I want to show them what I'm made of. I want to show them what my parents, who love me so much, and those who treated me like a fool, really mean. I want to become a powerful guy like a first-class adventurer, and make a name for myself."

After revealing that she was a homeless child, Maris finally smiled.

"And then, yes... it was to pick me up from my filthy state, God, that's why, right?"

Seeing her smiling, which seemed somewhat embarrassed, Eina's jade-green eyes behind her glasses narrowed.

Adventurers are often perceived as ruthless outlaws.

While this is true, it's not entirely accurate. Aina felt happy to share the same emotions as Maris, who was also struggling to support her family.

From now on, we will continue to support adventurers and cheer them on.

I've found a clear value in doing this, and I have that feeling.

"Zul"

"Squad Leader Remer"

After a month, he had further shortened the distance between himself and Maris.

As Eina walked down the corridor of headquarters, she was stopped by her dog-man superior.

"You and Flott have been with the company for a year now. Have you gotten used to your jobs?"

Yes, thanks to you.

Just as he said, Eina's first anniversary of joining the guild is approaching.

As she walked shoulder to shoulder with her slender-faced boss, Eina recounted her current state of mind.

"Lately, I feel like I've gotten closer to adventurers... I wish I could become their strength, that's what I'm thinking."

While reminiscing about what happened with Maris a few days ago, he said that they would continue to walk together as a trio from now on.

The dog-man superior stared silently at Eina's smiling profile.

"Is that so? You and Flott aren't ready yet...?"

--·not yet?

Just as I was about to ask him a question about what he had murmured, he continued.

"Zul... this is my opinion as someone who has worked in the guild longer than you, however..."

After making a meaningful preamble, he told Eina this.

"It's best not to develop too much emotion towards adventurers."

"Eh?"

Ignoring Eina who had stopped moving, the superior looked away and continued walking forward.

"It will become very painful afterward. Although this is just my personal opinion."

"Class monitor...?"

"Quite a few, many employees probably say the same thing as me."

Watching her departing figure, Eina was left standing there.

It was several days later that I fully understood the meaning of his words.

That day, Eina was in charge of inspecting the skyscraper's facilities, running around everywhere.

As dusk settled, bathed in a crimson glow, adventurers returned one after another via the staircase leading underground. On the first floor of the tower, Eina and her group of inspectors, who were in the main hall, also finished their inspection and were about to embark on their journey home.

At that moment, a sudden uproar erupted.

As soon as Eina turned to look at the commotion caused by the adventurers, several bodies dragged back from underground appeared in front of her.

It seems that a certain adventurer team has been completely wiped out.

While Eina was still in a daze, she heard the voices of the adventurers. It seemed that a team of high-ranking adventurers had discovered the body lying on the floor and, out of professional courtesy, had retrieved the remains.

While the other staff members who had worked for the guild longer than Eina wore cold, expressionless faces, or had their lips tightly pressed together as if they were trying to hold something back, the remains that had finally returned to the ground were placed side by side in the hall.

Then, there are people Eina knows in there.

"Huh—?"

The tattered leather armor, the broken sword clutched in his stiff hand, and the blue hair he recognized.

That human girl covered in blood—yes, it was Maris Hackard.

There was absolutely no misjudgment of the person; it's simply impossible to misjudge someone.

Maris's remains, with her eyes slightly open, gazed up at the void with empty pupils.

That body was missing an arm.

As if recounting that horrific scene of being ravaged, the other bodies also had multiple lacerations.

In the next instant, Eina's knees gave way, and she involuntarily collapsed.

"That scar...is it Xiaolong's?"

"Right. They probably didn't even put up a proper resistance, did they? See? It's terrifying."

The whispers of adventurers passed by.

Aina slumped helplessly to the floor, her thoughts halting. The sight before her—her own now-cold corpse—prevented her from looking away from reality.

It has been a year since I took office as an advisor.

Among the adventurers under Eina's supervision, Maris was the first to die.

"Zul, hey, Zul?"

The voices of the employees calling their own names were muffled and indistinct.

As if trying to escape reality, everything in front of me went completely dark.

Nevertheless, Maris's face, covered in blood, and her expression remained indelible, as if branded onto her retina.

I already knew. This is Orario, the labyrinth city. Every day, countless adventurers venture into the dungeons, and most of them never return. I shouldn't have been unaware of this.