A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 30: And So, the Two of Them…

Episode 30: And So, the Two of Them…

The underground of the royal capital far surpassed my imagination in its complexity, diversity, and tolerance. I thought I understood that everything has a front and a back. But I was clearly clueless about how deep the “back” could go.

Let me start with the underground district. Long ago, there was a dungeon beneath the capital. The Linde Kingdom prospered around it—this is common knowledge among citizens.

Now, the dungeon has dried up, its entrance sealed shut, and the capital was built on top of it. That much is also widely known.

But if you seal one entrance, humans will simply make another.

Currently, the underground dungeon beneath the capital is apparently operated by an organization known as the “Underground Guild.” Thanks to the drugstore hag’s recommendation, I was able to become a member.

It seems my “long-standing contributions in distributing rare materials underground” were recognized.

Naturally, every Underground Guild member also has a surface identity. The drugstore hag, the meat bun vendor, the centipede vendor, and even the unexpected Boomer are all members.

They smuggle shady goods and info gathered aboveground into the underground network, sell and trade among other guild members, and profit from it.

Some members are said to be powerful figures—nobles and the like. It’s not public knowledge. But those who’ve been underground long enough usually know things like, “That guy’s real identity is the head of the so-and-so family.” That’s what the hag told me.

“Man~ this is comfy.”

I rolled lazily on a wide bed.

I had made my home in a corner of the dried-up dungeon. Inside, there was little fluctuation in temperature or humidity. With a bed frame and sleeping bag laid out, it became quite a cozy house.

Is it really okay to live in a dungeon like this? Yes, it is.

As an Underground Guild member, it’s not a problem to settle inside the dungeon. Of course, you have to avoid areas where others are doing business. But since the dungeon is massive, conflicts rarely happen.

“Crap, it’s almost time!”

I sprang up in a panic and pulled a tablet out of the backpack beside my bed.

Today was the gift-unboxing stream for the White Orchid Magic Corps—the first one since we took down the bandit group. It’s a time for fans to send presents to their favorite members to show appreciation.

Naturally, I sent a gift to Ellel-chan too. I’m sure she’ll be happy.

Right on schedule, the tablet lit up. It was time.

『Citizens of the Kingdom! Thanks for tuning in! The White Orchid Magic Corps gift unboxing stream is starting! This is our first stream since returning from the expedition!! We’ve received more gifts than ever, and I’m so happy!!』

The audio from the tablet echoed through the dried dungeon.

“…It’s starting…”

As usual, the stream opened with Captain Paola’s greeting.

The camera zoomed out. It showed the corps members one by one. They waved at the camera in matching robes. And as always, Ellel-chan was at the end of the lineup.

Shiny aqua hair, glowing cheeks, bouncing chest. In her hand—shimmering with a red gem—was the Dragon staff.

“Wooooaaaah!! It’s a match!!”

My left-hand gauntlet holds the same red gem—the Demon King’s eye—as the one on Ellel’s staff. I never take it off, not even for baths. It’s the symbol of our bond!

While I was basking in the excitement, the gift unboxing ceremony continued.

Since it was a “thank you for the expedition” stream, most of the gifts were healing-themed—fancy soaps and bath items.

“Yeah, I get the idea, but… that’s gonna overlap with everyone else’s gifts…”

Indeed, when it comes to supporting your idol, originality is everything. You’ve got to give something only you can offer to truly make them happy. That’s the highest form of support.

I gripped the tablet tightly. Ellel-chan’s turn was coming up soon.

『And last, we have Ellel’s gift unboxing! Since she did such an amazing job during the expedition, we received tons of gifts for her!』

“What the—!?”

I shouted, then collected myself. Of course Ellel-chan got a lot of gifts. She’s the cutest, the most well-endowed, and she performed the best.

“But still…!! I don’t like this…!!”

The truth slipped out. I was happy for her popularity. But it felt like she was drifting further away. Those tangled feelings tore at my heart.

While I wrestled with my emotions, the unboxing continued.

『And lastly, we have a gift from our regular supporter, ‘the passing-by adventurer.’』

“Did you hear that!?! Everyone!! She said ‘regular’!! I’ve been around way longer than the newcomers!!”

In response to my shout, Ellel-chan pulled out a palm-sized package from the gift box. Wrapped in velvet, she slowly opened it.

『Wow, a beautiful hand mirror!』

She held up a floral-engraved hand mirror for the camera to see.

『I wonder what rare material it’s made from this time?』

Captain Paola gave a sharp glance toward the camera. This gift came from the time I defeated the Mirror Demon. It supposedly reflects truth.

Ellel-chan held the mirror and gave a small bow.

『To the passing-by adventurer-san—thank you, as always!』

Whew. She didn’t stuff it in her cleavage this time. That move is so overwhelming I usually faint from overstimulation. I was spared—

『I’ll thank you properly someday.』

“Eh…!?”

A thank-you…!?

#

After the stream ended, the White Orchid Magic Corps members returned to their rooms with armfuls of gifts.

Only Captain Paola and Ellel remained in the large hall.

Joining them was someone unfamiliar to the corps—a hag who ran the slum’s drugstore.

“Looks like the stream’s over. Ellel, are you really going through with this?”

The hag confirmed Ellel’s resolve. Ellel met her gaze with determined eyes and answered clearly.

“Yes! I’m doing it!”

“You’ve got guts.”

On the other hand, Paola looked uneasy.

“Um… are you sure this is safe?”

“What matters is imagination. Most people can’t pull it off. But I can. I’ve done it once before, after all.”

The hag tossed a sidelong glance at Paola. She sounded curt—as if to say “Mind your own business.”

“Well then, let’s do this before you change your mind. Hand me your staff.”

“Yes!”

Ellel handed over her treasured Dragon staff. The hag accepted it and pointed it back at Ellel.

Ellel reached out and touched the red gemstone with her pale, slender fingers.

The hag took a short breath. And then—

“[Absorb]”

#

Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I basked in the afterglow of the gift unboxing stream.

“What did she mean by ‘I’ll thank you someday’?”

I stared at the darkened tablet screen. It was where Ellel-chan’s lovely figure had just been moments before.

She seemed to have grown a lot.

Back when she first joined the corps, she’d always looked anxious. And she‘d carefully watch the senior members.

But not anymore. Though still the youngest, she now acted like a full-fledged member. Even in the bandit fight, her magic was sharp. And she even faced that lightning mage monster head-on.

“Ellel-chan really is the best. I’ll support her forever.”

I found myself touching the red gem on my gauntlet.

Well, not just a gem—it’s the Demon King’s left eye.

“Hm?”

The red gem started blinking. The flashes grew faster and brighter.

“Did Ellel-chan absorb something weird again…?”

I aimed my gauntlet down the dungeon corridor and spoke softly:

“[Release]”

—What emerged from the Demon King’s left eye was a young woman with light blue hair, a lovely face, and a well-endowed chest—radiating divine beauty that seemed out of this world.

I instinctively clasped my hands in prayer.

“Hey, Roger-san! Don’t start praying like that!”

“Can’t help it. I must.”

“Geez!”

Ellel-chan approached as I sat cross-legged on the bed. She reached out with her pale, slender fingers and wrapped them around my joined hands.

“I came to thank you.”

Her face, her body, her chest—were right in front of me.

No good. I’m about to faint again.

“Thank you… for everything.”

Ellel-chan pulled my hands toward her. My palms touched something soft.

“IT’S BIG—”

My hands… are touching her chestttttttttttt―――！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

Wrapped in softness, I lost consciousness.

Original Author’s Comment:

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End of the Arc!

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