A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 11: The Gift Unboxing Ceremony ②

Episode 11: The Gift Unboxing Ceremony ②

I bought a mystery meat bun from the meat bun shop and walked along Central Avenue. I muttered, “Today’s a good one.”

Then I headed straight to the public bathhouse. Before every gift unboxing stream from the White Orchid Magic Corps, I made it a point to cleanse myself.

I paid the old man at the counter, got a locker key, entered the changing room, took off my clothes, stuffed them into the locker, and locked it tightly.

Clothes are valuable. If you’re wearing anything made of decent material, it can be stolen easily. Mine may look plain. But they’re made from the hide of a fairly rare monster. An expert would know. That’s why you’ve got to lock them up properly.

I tied the locker key to my wrist and entered the bath. It was crowded.

Probably because it was evening. Adventurers were coming in to wash off the sweat of the day’s quests. The heat in the room was heavier than the actual temperature.

I followed proper manners and washed myself with soap before entering the tub. The soap was something the old lady at the apothecary gave me. This stuff is amazing—it gets rid of dirt like nothing else. Though the old lady did say, “You shouldn’t wash your ‘member’ with this soap.” What the hell is it made of?

As I recalled that conversation with her and scrubbed my body, a ridiculously buff man with his locker key tied around his ankle sat beside me. While pouring fresh hot water over his body, he kept glancing at me.

“So it was you, Roger. I recognized you from behind.”

Ugh. Just my luck. Of all places, I run into *him* at the bath.

“Who?”

“Come on! After that steamy night together, you’ve forgotten already!?”

“We didn’t have one! I’ll kill you!”

The one slapping my shoulder like we were old pals was Boomer, another adventurer. We’d both come to the capital around the same time. So he often talked to me whenever we crossed paths.

By the way, aside from adventuring, Boomer also worked at a gay brothel in the slums. According to him: “I do everything I want. That’s what I was born for.”

“Roger, you haven’t stopped by the shop lately.”

“I’ve never been there, not once!”

“Then how about after this?”

“I’d rather die!”

Boomer kept joking around. He probably wasn’t being serious. I hoped.

I hurried up with my wash and started heading for the big bath.

“Wait, Roger. Lend me your soap.”

“You didn’t bring any? Sheesh. Here.”

With a bit of mischief in my heart, I tossed the soap to Boomer.

“Scrub every inch. You’ve got work later, right?”

“I know, I know.”

I sank into the big tub. My body was enveloped in the hot water. It was warming me to the core. I closed my eyes slightly. Instantly, all kinds of sounds filled my ears.

The sound of flowing water. The sound of people scrubbing. Idle chatter. A small scream.

“Ow! Ow! What is this!?”

Apparently, Boomer had washed his “member”.

#

After cleansing myself at the bathhouse, I returned to the Snake’s Nest to prepare for the gift unboxing stream. I gripped my tablet with both hands, straightened my posture, and focused.

My breathing naturally grew deeper. At the same time, my heart beat louder and faster. A struggle between my excitement and my attempt to stay calm waged within me.

Time passed oddly slowly. As if reading my anxious mind, the tablet showed nothing. It was toying with me, delaying on purpose.

“Come on already—”

As if waiting for my words, the tablet lit up. Gradually, the video began to appear.

『People of the kingdom! Thank you as always! We’re about to start the White Orchid Magic Corps’ gift unboxing stream!』

“Alright. It’s starting.”

As always, it began with Captain Paola’s greeting. The camera zoomed out to show the table lined with gift boxes for each corps member. At the far end, I could see *my* girl Ellel-chan’s box. The box that had my gift inside it.

『First, we’ll start with the gifts for me, Captain Paola!』

The box labeled “Paola” was shown in close-up. And the gifts were opened one after another. There were so many that it became a kind of assembly line. I watched it in a daze.

But my body didn’t lie. As the moment of Ellel-chan’s turn approached, my heart pounded louder and louder.

“Fuu… fuu…”

I tried calming myself with deep breaths. But it didn’t help at all.

Captain Paola’s unboxing finished. Next was Vice-Captain Curry. She crossed her arms under her chest, accentuating her bust.

“Tch. Shameless… Even with padding, she’s no match for Ellel-chan. Pathetic attempts.”

Ignoring my muttering, Vice-Captain Curry continued unboxing her gifts. Many of hers were risqué outfits. Given her sexy persona, it couldn’t be helped—but still, it felt cheap. Fans should give gifts that *elevate* their idols, not this stuff.

As I grumbled to myself, the stream continued. And then, finally—

『Last, it’s time to open gifts for our newest member, Ellel-chan!』

“YEEESSSSS!! It’s here! Ellel-chan’s turn!!”

I screamed and exhaled everything from my lungs. My voice echoed in the small room of the Snake’s Nest.

“Hey! Roger! Shut up!”

The adventurer in the neighboring room banged the wall in anger.

Ignore him. I had no time for that now. I focused everything on the tablet.

From beyond the screen, Ellel-chan smiled at me with a still-youthful expression. Her light-blue hair had clearly gotten shinier than before. It had to be because of the White Dragon comb I gave her! No doubt! Thank you, Ellel-chan, for using it!!

While I was getting all excited by myself, the video switched to a shot of Ellel-chan’s gift box. As usual, there was only one package inside.

It glowed blue. No mistaking it. That was mine.

『This gift is glowing!』

『What could be inside?』

Captain Paola and Vice-Captain Curry leaned in on either side of her. They were hyping it up.

With careful hands, Ellel-chan picked up the package and slowly opened it.

『Wow, it’s beautiful.』

In her hands was a small vial topped with a Water Spirit Stone. Noticing the message card, she read it aloud:

『‘This is a lotion made from a slightly rare material. Please use it if you feel like it.’ From passing-by adventurer! Thank you so much! I’ll definitely use it!!』

“Yes! Use it! Use it all up! I’ll send more when you run out!!!!”

『Ellel, wait. You can’t just use a liquid like that.』

『Right. At least [Appraise] it first.』

Vice-Captain Curry voiced her concern, and Captain Paola agreed.

“Shut up! What do you mean ‘can’t use the liquid’!? There’s no way I’d send something dangerous to Ellel-chan!!”

*Thud!* The wall was punched again.

“Shut up! What liquid!?”

“It’s liquid, alright!? You moron!!!”

I punched the wall back and hurried to focus on the tablet again. On screen, Ellel-chan wore a slightly troubled expression.

『Anyway, thank you so much, passing-by adventurer.』

She held the vial in both hands and brought it to her chest.

“The vial… it’s resting on her chest…!!!”

Everything suddenly went white. Looks like I got… too excited… again.