April 29th.
Today was the day for our overnight dungeon dive.
As I headed to the Shinjuku Dungeon in the morning as usual, Hinata-san was already waiting for me in the lobby of the Association Branch.
I hurried over to her.
"Good morning, Hinata-san! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Good morning, Takeo-kun. No, I just got here myself."
"I see..."
"...? Well then, shall we get changed and head into the dungeon?"
"Ah, no, Hinata-san, wait a moment!"
Usually, we would head straight for the dungeon, but today I had something to give her before we started. I could have waited until we were inside, but after reconfirming how important she was to me yesterday, I felt like I should hand it over immediately.
Perhaps, on some level, I also wanted to deter the fellow explorers in the lobby who were casting frequent glances toward Hinata-san (specifically her chest).
"Actually, I have a present for you, Hinata-san..."
"Eh!?"
"It's nothing much, but..."
Setting the stage, I pulled the Skill Orb I'd obtained yesterday out of my backpack.
"It's a Life Magic Skill Orb. Hinata-san, your Skill Level was stuck at 4, right? Please, use this."
"O-Oh, thank you..."
Hinata-san accepted it with a rather conflicted smile.
Hmm, well, I suppose that makes sense. I've given her Life Magic Skill Orbs before. This was the fifth one, so the novelty was nonexistent.
As I thought, I'll need to prepare a proper main present separately.
What should I get her? A ring? A necklace? That might be a bit too heavy. Besides, in my estimation, Hinata-san has the soul of a battle junkie, so she’d probably be happier with something related to combat.
In that case, maybe a Skill Orb for powerful Attack Magic, or an offensive skill? Or a weapon. A brutal mace that could tear through flesh and bone and crush them to a pulp felt like it would suit my image of Hinata-san perfectly.
...Yes, it would be fine. The Hinata-san in my head was smiling and nodding as she accepted the mace.
Anyway, I'd figure out what to get her as a gift eventually.
It seemed that as far as deterring my fellow explorers went, even a Life Magic Skill Orb served its purpose well enough.
The moment I handed the Skill Orb to Hinata-san, the air in the lobby shifted with a collective stir.
"A Skill Orb as a present...!?"
"He said it's 'nothing much'... even a Life Magic Skill Orb goes for at least 3 million yen on the market!"
"But look at Hinata-chan's face...!!"
"No way! She doesn't even look that happy! Does that mean she's used to receiving things of that caliber!?"
"I've never heard of that, but could it be... is Leveling Junkie Bro providing for Hinata-chan!?"
"If I provide for Hinata-chan, will she party with me too!?"
"Hey, stop it, face reality! If 3 million is 'nothing much' to them, it's impossible for guys like us!"
Listening to the buzzing of my fellow explorers, I nodded with a satisfied "mm-hmm."
This should reduce the number of people trying to poach Hinata-san, at least by a little.
Meanwhile, Hinata-san looked around and, for some reason, spoke up in a flustered panic.
"A-Anyway, what's with this all of a sudden!? If it's a Skill Orb, we usually do that inside the dungeon, you know... that!"
What did she mean by that?
Well, I guessed she meant that I usually gave them to her inside the dungeon, so why the change today?
I hesitated for a moment, but I decided I should clearly convey my feelings here.
"Actually, when I tried it alone for the first time in a while yesterday (leveling up), I realized something."
"Y-Yeah. When you tried it (dungeon exploration) alone?"
The lobby stirred again.
"(He tried it alone!?)"
"(Since he said 'for the first time in a while,' does that mean he's usually doing it with someone else!?)"
"(No way! The rumors said Leveling Junkie Bro was still a virgin!)"
"(With who... wait, you don't think!?)"
"I realized... that my body can no longer be satisfied by anyone but Hinata-san!"
I bared my true feelings with an expression so pained I looked like I was on the verge of tears.
"Uh, that's... (Since it's Takeo-kun, he probably means efficiency was poor and he didn't gain enough levels.) As for me, well... I'm happy that I seem to be useful, but..."
The buzzing intensified.
"(A body that can't be satisfied by anyone but Hinata-chan!?)"
"(Is Leveling Junkie Bro really doing that with Hinata-chan!?)"
"(Wait, Hinata-chan isn't even denying it, she's confirming it!)"
"(This is... it's a done deal now!)"
"(Has the phrase 'I'm happy to be useful' ever been used in such an erotic sense before!?)"
"But of course! More than just being useful, I can't even imagine a life anymore where I'm not supported by Hinata-san (running the Monster Room)!"
"I-I see."
"When I'm alone... I just can't feel good anymore!"
Finally, my tear ducts gave way and the tears overflowed.
The lobby erupted in a frenzy.
"(He can't imagine a life where he isn't supported by her!?)"
"(Leveling Junkie Bro is actually crying! Was it really that painful that he couldn't 'go' yesterday!? If so, just what kind of pleasure are they usually experiencing!?)"
"(To think that Hinata-chan could make Leveling Junkie Bro—a man thought to have no sexual desire and only care about leveling—say this much... just how many 'techniques' do you have, girl!?)"
"(Wait, hold on a second! Then what did Hinata-chan mean earlier when she said 'we usually do that inside the dungeon'!? What kind of lewd things are they doing with Skill Orbs inside the dungeon!?)"
"I see... (So you couldn't level up yesterday.)"
"That's why, because I didn't want to lose Hinata-san to anyone else, I gave you that present..."
"Mnh!? (No, wait! He's probably just worried that I'll move to another party!)...Takeo-kun."
"Yes."
The lobby went dead silent.
"(That Leveling Junkie Bro is saying things like a man madly in love!?)"
"(What is this!? Is this really happening!?)"
"(It's such an unrealistic sight that I want to doubt everything... but analyzing the conversation between those two, there can only be one truth...)"
"(In other words... Leveling Junkie Bro has been driven mad with pleasure by Hinata-chan's techniques, and now he's her sugar daddy... that's the reality of it.)"
"(Hinata-chan... what a femme fatale!)"
"Um, I'm not going to go to anyone else. I... would be in trouble if it weren't with Takeo-kun, too... I can't imagine being with anyone else now."
"!! Hinata-san...!!"
"E-Erm, so... you don't have to give me presents just to make me stay, okay?"
"I understand!"
Knowing that Hinata-san had no intention of transferring parties made me feel relieved.
Hinata-san, whose cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, raised her voice unnaturally loud to change the atmosphere.
"W-Well then! Let's get changed for real this time and head to the dungeon!"
"Yes! Let's go!"
And so, we moved from the lobby to the changing rooms.
Incidentally...
The lobby behind us was in total turmoil, but Hinata-san and I were so preoccupied with our conversation that we didn't notice a thing.