I’m the Eldest Son of a Poor Family, but My Magical Talent Awakened While Working Hard for My Family - Chapter 2

I killed and dismantled 20 Mobmen and then exited the dungeon.

The things adventurers need are mostly in the same building as the gate.

The exchange office is the same. The person who assists us is called the [Receptionist].

The person working at this facility is generally called [Receptionist Lady].

“I brought 20 hearts.”

When she lifted her face, her round eyes opened wide.

“Isn’t it Itsushiki-kun! I’m glad you’re safe. But still, what a terrible state you’re in…”

“Excuse me. It’s dirty.”

“The dirt is fine. More importantly, are you hurt?”

“Yes. It’s mostly bl00d from the fight.”

“That’s good. I’ll take care of the rest here, so please go wash up first.”

“Thank you.”

Indeed, I can’t go home in this state. As the receptionist lady suggested, I decided to take a shower.

Perhaps to prevent bl00d from getting outside, there is a bathhouse that adventurers can use at any time. It’s nice that they provide body soap, shampoo, and conditioner as well.

Since I have fresh wounds, I’ll just take a shower and head back to the exchange office.

“I’m back.”

“The cash exchange is complete. Since the condition of the heart was good, we bought it at a 10% premium. The total is 8,800 yen.”

The receptionist lady will give me the receipt. The money earned here will be transferred to the registered bank account.

“When it’s in good condition, there’s a premium, right?”

“Yes. The items collected inside the dungeon become samples for research, so the better their condition, the higher they sell for.”

“I’ll try to be more aware.”

“For the first time, it was a really clean disassembly… Did you do something?”

“I’ve done boar butchering a few times.”

“Ha.”

Even if she makes an incomprehensible expression, it can’t be helped because it’s the truth.

During long vacations, I used to help a farmer acquaintance and get vegetables in return. It was just a coincidence that I had the opportunity at that time.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work. By the way, Itsushiki-san, aren’t you forming a party?”

“Yes. I can’t stand splitting the reward.”

“Eh…”

Oh, no.

With this, it would make me look like a really money-hungry person.

Well, whatever. It’s not a big deal if I’m misunderstood.

“But it’s dangerous, you know. Dungeons can be life-threatening if you let your guard down.”

“It’s fine. Money is more important to me.”

When I said something like a tough miser, the receptionist lady fell silent.

It is recommended to cooperate with my teammates, but it’s not mandatory. In that case, I’ll choose the option that earns me more.

I decided to bow my head and go home.

◇

After Itsushiki left.

The receptionist, Shiraishi Haruka, was struggling alone.

“I wonder if that kid is okay… I’m so worried.”

Haruka has a younger brother who is three years younger than her, and he is exactly the same age as Itsuki.

Having just graduated from middle school and still only fifteen years old, while other kids his age were starting high school, Itsuki began exploring dungeons. That in itself wasn’t unusual.

It doesn’t look like he’s chasing his dreams.

“Money, huh?”

Even from just a brief conversation, it was clear that there was some kind of situation.

As Haruka was deep in thought, the middle-aged instructor somehow appeared right in front of her.

“Hey, has Itsushiki returned?”

“Ah! Instructor—uh, yes. Itsushiki-kun has returned.”

“What’s the result?”

In a hurry, Haruka rummaged through the record data and pulled out the entry for Itsushiki Itsuki.

“20 Mobmen hearts―—since they were in good condition, they buy them at a ten percent premium.”

“See, I told you. He will be fine.”

Hearing those words, Haruka finally realized.

The abnormality of a novice adventurer diving into a dungeon alone and killing 20 monsters on the first day.

“…I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.”

Haruka bit her lip. At that time, she was just happy that he had returned safely. However, upon reconsideration, these numbers were abnormal.

Despite achieving such results on the first day, Itsuki remained calm.

“Who on earth is he?”

“If you’re curious, just go see it for yourself.”

After saying that, the instructor turned his back.

The abandoned Haruka, in a daze, pointed at herself.

“Huh, me――!?”

◇

The next day, the tasks are the same.

My day starts after I see my siblings off.

When I tried to enter the dungeon again, I noticed a strange gaze.

A woman with black hair wearing a mask is staring intently at me. When she spots me, she walks straight towards me. I can hear the sound of her staff, which is about her height, tapping rhythmically against the ground.

“Good morning, kid. I’m the ‘Free Labor Mask,’ and I love teaching beginners all sorts of things. I’ll guide you step by step and teach you a lot. This must be fate, so how about going on an adventure with me?”

“――You’re the receptionist lady, right?”

When I spoke my mind, the masked woman bent over as if she had received a fatal wound.

“Guh! Uh… the receptionist lady… what? My, oh my, young people these days use such strange words. I’m just a humble ‘Service Squad: Free Labor Black.’ But everyone calls me ‘Free Labor Mask.'”

“Isn’t it the worst thing in this day and age?”

Sister, I wonder why she’s doing something like this.

I know she’s concerned about me.

Could it be that she’s pretending she doesn’t want anything because I said yesterday that I didn’t want to share the reward?

If that’s the case, she’s too good of a person. She’s so good that it makes me worried.

“Maybe I’ll become the ‘Volunteer Mask’ starting today…”

“That might be better.”

“Well then, let me introduce myself again. I am the ‘Volunteer Mask,’ supporting beginners as a hobby. You can call me Bora-san.”

“Haa.”

“Alright, once you’re ready, let’s go on an adventure together! Don’t worry, all the rewards we get from this adventure will be yours.”

“…It’s too convenient, and it’s scary.”

“I believe Bora! Bora-san doesn’t lie!”

“Scary!”

“Alright, let’s get going. If you follow me, I’ll take you outside the [Labyrinth of Beginnings].”

“――Tsu!”

It was an incredibly tempting invitation for me.

To be honest, targeting Mobmen doesn’t yield much income.

The rate for hearts varies from day to day. Getting 500 yen for one is quite good. Moreover, if mothedventurers continue to increase, the population will undoubtedly decrease.

I honestly just want to hurry up and move on.

“Are you really going to take me?”

“Yeah.”

The older sister nodded vigorously. Since it’s probably the receptionist lady inside, she seems trustworthy.

I got ready and decided to go with her.

◆

――This kid has an incredibly faint presence.

As soon as they entered the dungeon, Haruka noticed the features of the boy next to her.

Even if Haruka sharpens her senses with magic, she can only faintly perceive the presence of Itsuki.

――He’s unconsciously suppressing the surrounding mana.

“How does Itsushiki-kun fight?”

“Approach from behind, kill the first one before they notice—then let things take their course.”

Haruka convinces herself in her mind. Indeed, if he can conceal his presence this much, the Mobmen probably won’t notice him.

――That means this kid should already be able to use magic.

Mana suppression is a technique for intermediate-level practitioners and above. He would likely be proficient in basic magic. There’s even a possibility that he has incorporated it into real combat.

“Isn’t Itsushiki-kun able to use magic?”

“…My magic isn’t working.”

“Really? That’s surprising.”

If he can hide his presence this well, he should be at a sufficient level.

“Yes. I haven’t been very good at it since my training days…”

“Could you give it a try?”

Itsuki points his finger forward and quietly speaks.

“――Fireball.”

With a whoosh, a fireball is formed.

As Itsuki said, it just stays suspended in the air without moving an inch. Indeed, this makes it difficult to use for attacks.

After observing the situation for a while, Haruka calmly reached into the fireball.

“What are you doing!?”

To the flustered Itsuki, she waves her hand to show she’s fine. Literally, there isn’t a single scratch on her hand.

“――I knew it. This isn’t fire. It’s just glowing like it.”

“…Eh.”

“That’s great. It seems like there’s something to teach.”

Haruka smiled behind her mask and started walking down the corridor. She spotted a group of Mobmen nearby.

Since she’s here, she should show it in practice.

“The dungeon is filled with mana, which is the essence of magic. Monsters primarily sense their surroundings through this flow. ――In other words, if you apply this, you can lure them in.”

The moment she said it, two Mobmen jumped out from around the corner.

“Watch closely. This is my magic.”

Boom.

The air crackled with tension, and in the next moment――

Haruka swung her staff.

“[Lightning Flash].”

A bolt of lightning pierced through two monsters.