--I was in love with Kana before she was in love with me.　

“It was soft. ......”

This is a habit of mine these days. It comes out spontaneously at a moment's notice.

Well, ...... originally I don't have any acquaintances that I'm friendly with, so even in the middle of the day, no one is talking to me. The sun in the cloudless blue sky seems to be looking at me with a dazed look.

“......fufufu”

　I touch my lips, remembering the fateful event of a month ago.

　The encounter a month ago - it was shocking, fateful, sensual.

　Even though it was like an accident, I still cannot forget the feel and taste of the kiss we exchanged that time.

　I faint in agony alone, my face and ears hot.

　I want to touch her again. I want to feel and taste her lips with my own, with these lips of mine again. ......

“No, I mustn't. I have to earn my money in the dungeon again today.”

　I shook my head and came to my senses. I arrived in front of the Adventurer's Guild and put my hand on the door.

　This large wooden door is an important door that guards the boundary between the dungeon and the country of Regalia. The wood is layered and strong.

“One...... two......three!”

　I pushed the door with such force that my voice was almost audible, and finally managed to open the door.

　Once inside, a large hole leading to a dungeon appeared in front of the door. Immediately to the right of the hole was the Adventurers' Guild reception desk and quest board. Adventurers were lining up to go to the reception desk and staring at the quest board. Some adventurers are even fighting over the “quest request forms” posted on the quest board.

　I despise such people who have no ...... sense of humor at all.

　To the left of the hole is a dining hall where many adventurers are eating and slurping down drinks. The dining hall is a social gathering place for adventurers. Information is exchanged here, and party formation is frequently discussed. Of course, the people here are often unrefined and lacking in morals, so fistfights often break out.

　Thus, the building of this adventurers' guild is set up to block a hole in the dungeon. The floor is made of earth, and the surrounding area is covered with wooden walls and ceilings. Lighting is provided by torches placed at equal intervals throughout the room, illuminating the interior with warm colors.

“Do you have the usual gathering quests?”

　I proceeded toward the quest board and began to look for a quest request form suitable for my level.

　But then I sensed some troublesome-looking people approaching.

“Hey, you little rat.”

“......(I should be ignored.)”

“Hey, you little rat.”

“......(No. I should not reply.)”

“Hey, don't ignore me.”

“What's ......?”

　I stopped and turned around to face the people who had called out to me. The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good understanding of what you're doing.

I can see six legs in poorly maintained, rusty armor, so they are probably a rough gang of three female adventurers. Just as well. I don't have to look at their hateful faces.

“Ugh, ...... stinks!　What is it?　That tattered robe ...... hasn't been washed, has it? Is that dirty brown fabric, or is there some kind of ooze on it?”

“What's with the ......?”

The women were surprised at my reply.

“Wow, ...... is gross!”

“You're a real rat!”

“I think we should just feed these little shit stinkers to the monsters in the dungeon.”

　The three bastards pointed at me and laughed vulgarly.

　The adventurers around me were also looking at me with disdain.

“Okay, bye-bye.”

“Hey, I'm not finished with you.”

　As I was about to walk away, one of the three blocked my way.

“Ignoring this 'Zulu-sama,' you've got some nerve, don't you?”

“......(I should not be dealing with these people.)”

　A female adventurer who introduced herself as “Zulu. The woman adventurer named Zulu and her cronies are often rumored to be bad news.

“Hey, we're on a ...... important quest. Can you lend me some money??”

“I'm sorry, but I don't have any money.”

“Don't lie to me, you bastard!”

“......!?”

　When I refused Zulu's request, I was suddenly punched in the face.

“I know you've been sneaking around making money!　I know you spend a lot of time in dungeons, picking up ores, plants, and dropped equipment.　And you're cashing it in and making filthy money.”

“......(You guys need to get out of my sight as soon as possible.)”

“As a senior adventurer, ...... I'm going to teach you how to make money as an adventurer. Come on, give me your tuition.”

　I really hate these people!　They exploit the weak and try to make a miserable living. Neither the Adventurers' Guild nor the national guard get involved in petty personal disputes. So the weak like me have to suffer the frustration.

　Even though I try to protect myself with a robe smeared with monster feces, there are still idiots who attack me without a care. They are worse than monsters.

“I only have this amount now. That's good enough, right?”

　I held out a package containing copper coins.

“Wow!　What is this parcel? It's disgusting. ...... It's made by hollowing out the body of a vampire spider. Hey, you take it. I don't want to touch it.”

“Sister,...... we don't want to touch it either. Hey, you do it.”

“No, I don't want to ...... touch it either!”

　When the three roughnecks saw the black-and-red, unnaturally patterned outer shell of the bloodsucking spider, they began to tussle amongst themselves. But they soon turned their anger toward us.

“It's your fault for putting out such a disgusting thing in the first place!”

　Zulu came at me again.

　Oh, ......, that's the worst. I've been on the verge of being mugged, and most people would have given up and stayed away from me if I'd offered them this disgusting package. But these guys were different.

　I meditated and stiffened my body at the oncoming fist.

　--But their fists never reached me.

“What are they doing to my companion?”

“Tch!　You're the 'Gripping Gorilla Daughter,' aren't you?”

“I'll forget that profane avenging name too, so get the hell out of my way.”

　Zulu's fist was caught by a beautiful woman with long blonde hair.

　The blonde woman was clad in slim, white armor that emphasized mobility. And her frilly skirt, which seemed to resemble a butterfly, accentuated her beauty.

 “Don't get ...... carried away, you incompetent adventurer with hazing skills. But your beauty is intriguing. ...... I love beautiful women like you. How about it?　I'm not an adventurer and I'm going to immerse myself in a world of sensuality and sweetness with this Zulu.....Ouch, ouch, ouch!.”

“What's that?　I'm not a good adventurer, but I'm a good person. The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get the best out of your car is to make sure that you have the right car. But it works for you, doesn't it?”

“Let go!　...... Okay, I get it. But remember. If you think you're good just because you're a countess, you'll be in for a world of pain sooner or later.”

The three roughnecks left, swearing.

“Well ...... are you alright?”

“U...... yeah.”

“Finally, we meet--”

“Wait, stay away from me!”

“Why?”

　I pulled my hood up deeper, hiding my face.

“You don't want to get too close to him, he smells.”

“I don't care if it's you. Polka.”

“You noticed that, ...... Cana.”

As soon as she heard my words, she held my hand.

“In the meantime, please come to my mansion. I have a lot to say!　I won't return it tonight!.”

“I've already ...... had a lot to say about it!　I won't be returning tonight!”

“Please go easy on me.”

　I was pulled strongly by Kana's hand and we headed to her mansion together.

　But her strength reassured me.

　--The first time I saw her, she was in the middle of the street, and I was so worried that she was going to die.

　She nearly lost her life in my hands.

　However, Cana has recovered and is now smiling at me with a radiant smile.

　I am so glad that I did not lose this irreplaceable smile.

　With Kana's hand in mine, I headed for her residence.