I tossed my empty coffee can into a bin and returned to the sofa. Just in time, too—Yukino-san and the others were emerging from the dressing room with their gear. They looked around, searching for Yuji and me, so I gave them a quick wave to signal our location.
Noticing me, Hiiragi-san waved back to acknowledge us and walked straight over.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kokonoe-kun, Hirose-kun."
"Ah, don't worry about it. We weren't waiting that long. Right, Yuji?"
"Yeah."
I gave a casual gesture as I answered Hiiragi-san. It had been less than ten minutes, so it really wasn't an issue.
As I spoke, Mika—who was clutching a small pouch like it was a treasure—approached with a beaming smile and hugged my arm.
"Hey, hey, Onii-chan! Enough with the formalities. Let’s hurry up and cash in these drop items!"
"Whoa there, Mika. I get that you're excited, but settle down a bit. Why don't we have some tea and take a break first?"
"Aww..."
When I suggested she take a breather, Mika’s face fell into a pout. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Saori-chan looking just as disappointed, even if she wasn't as vocal about it. I suppose they both had that skill scroll on the brain.
I gave a wry smile at their reactions and glanced at Yuji and Hiiragi-san, silently asking what they wanted to do.
"I mean, it should be fine, shouldn't it?" Yuji said, standing up from the sofa. "Daiki and I got our rest while waiting for the three of you. If Hiiragi-san is okay with it, we could head straight to the office..."
"I’m not particularly exhausted, so we don't necessarily have to rest here in the waiting room," Hiiragi-san added, though her expression suggested she was simply yielding to the girls' enthusiasm. "If everyone wants to move, I won’t object."
Mika and Saori-chan’s faces instantly lit up with joy.
"All right then... shall we get going?"
"Yeah!"
"Yes!"
I disentangled myself from Mika’s grip so I could grab my things from the sofa. She skipped over to Saori-chan and immediately struck up a lively conversation. While watching them with a smile, Yuji leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"...Daiki. It looks like the other side is all present and accounted for."
"Yeah, I know. I’ve felt the surveillance intensifying for a while now..."
"Right. So, what's the plan?"
"Even if you ask that... if they don't actually do anything, we have to just ignore them, don't we? Or should we run to the DP outpost and have them detained on suspicion of planning a PK?"
"Ah, that's one way. But that would probably just turn into a massive headache later on..."
"True enough."
Ultimately, we had no choice but to leave the Watchers alone for the time being.
Since they hadn't caused any actual harm—other than the discomfort the three of us felt being watched—taking overt action was difficult. Even if we reported to the DP that the Watchers had been tailing us since morning, they could just claim it was a coincidence that they were heading in the same direction.
"Onii-chan! Yuji-san! Hurry up, hurry up!"
While I was discussing the Watchers with Yuji, Mika had already started walking and was beckoning us to follow.
"We're coming! Yuji, let's leave it at that for now."
"Yeah, you're right... Shall we?"
I gave a short nod in response and started walking toward the beckoning Mika.
I pulled a ticket from the machine, and it read 63. The number on the electronic display was 58, so our timing seemed perfect.
"There aren't many people today. Looks like we can get the paperwork done quickly."
"Yeah. We definitely got lucky with the timing."
We secured a set of empty sofas in the waiting area to wait for our number to be called.
"It’s a good thing we found a spot where we can all sit together."
"Definitely. There were scattered seats, but it's much better to stay as a group."
We all let out sighs of relief as we sat down. While the waiting room wasn't packed, it was usually difficult to find enough seats for five people in one spot.
However, a group of six sitting on a sofa against the wall had left just as we arrived, so we had been able to snag their spot.
"Let's see... the current number just went up to 59..."
"At this rate, we should be called in about ten minutes, don't you think?"
"Yes, probably. We really are lucky today."
Hiiragi-san, sitting across from Yuji and me, turned back toward us and nodded in agreement. I’d heard that during peak hours, the wait could be nearly an hour. Being forced to wait that long when you were already drained from a dungeon dive... it was a scenario I didn't want to imagine. Still, compared to the early days, the staff had gotten much more efficient and the number of windows had increased. Back then, a two-hour wait was common.
The three of us gazed toward the reception windows, reminiscing about how things used to be.
"Hey, Onii-chan. Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
While we were lost in our memories of the old reception system, Mika turned to us and whispered a question, making sure she couldn't be overheard.
"Um, how much do you think that skill scroll will actually sell for?"
"An appraisal price for a scroll like that...? Well, it depends on the contents, but at the very least, it'll be in the high tens of thousands of yen."
"Tens of thousands... so you mean hundreds of thousands?"
"Depending on what's inside, sure. The one we cashed in before sold for nearly five hundred thousand, though that was partly because of the supply shortage back then."
When I mentioned the specific amount I’d received for a previous skill scroll, Mika’s eyes went wide and sparkled with shock. She quickly clapped her hands over her mouth to keep from shouting. Saori-chan, who had been eavesdropping, also turned toward us with a look of pure, frozen astonishment.
Well, if you heard that a single shake of salt resulted in five hundred thousand yen, that would be the natural reaction.
"O-Onii-chan? Are... are you being serious?"
"Yeah. There’s no reason for me to lie about it."
—!?
Mika and Saori-chan looked at each other in silence for a moment, then almost simultaneously, they threw their fists into the air with expressions of sheer joy.
"We did it, Saori-chan!"
"Yeah! That's incredible, Mika-chan!"
"With this, we won't have to worry about train fare for a while!"
"I know! I barely had any part-time wages left—this really saves us!"
Listening to the two of them talk, sounding genuinely relieved from the bottom of their hearts, I unintentionally looked down and rubbed my eyes. It seemed their financial situation was even more critical than I’d realized. To be struggling even for the cost of a train ticket...
I glanced up at Yuji and Hiiragi-san, only to find them both holding their heads in their hands, just like me. I leaned in and whispered to Yuji so the girls wouldn't hear.
"...Maybe I should have taken them to a closer dungeon?"
"...No. Given the situation with the Repeating Students, we decided it was safer not to use the local dungeons, remember?"
"I know, but... hearing those two talk makes me wonder."
"W-well, yeah... I never imagined they were this broke."
"Yeah."
I wished Mika had at least mentioned it to me... though she probably found it hard to talk about money since she was already in debt to me for her equipment.
As I was thinking that, Hiiragi-san shot me a sharp, slightly accusatory look. I could guess what she wanted to say.
"Kokonoe-kun. What exactly does that mean? What those two were saying?"
"I... I just heard it myself. They didn't consult me at all."
"Sigh... get it together. You're their guardian as far as the explorer world is concerned, aren't you?"
"...I have no excuse."
I offered a flustered apology to Hiiragi-san, who was scolding me in a low voice. Honestly, it's impossible to keep track of someone's personal finances if they don't tell you anything.
Seeing my reaction, Hiiragi-san let out a heavy sigh. I wanted to sigh, too.
"Anyway, changing the subject, Kokonoe-kun."
"...What?"
Hiiragi-san looked up, her eyes narrowing sharply.
"That thing they have... do you know what the skill is?"
She was asking if I had used my appraisal skill on the dropped scroll. Well, I had reflexively used Appraisal Analysis the moment it dropped.
"...Ah, yeah."
"Is it something that will fetch a high price?"
"Yeah, well... it was so-so, I guess?"
"So-so, huh."
I looked away as I gave my awkward, low-voiced answer. Sensing the truth behind my vague response, Hiiragi-san’s sharp gaze softened into one of pity.
Even for a skill scroll, if the skill wasn't in high demand, it would be bought for a pittance.
After closing her eyes briefly as if to think, Hiiragi-san spoke up to Mika and Saori-chan.
"...Hey, Mika-chan, Saori-chan?"
"...? What is it, Yukino-san?"
"Would you mind going over to that vending machine and buying some tea for me?"
Hiiragi-san pointed to a machine located next to the stairs.
"Tea?"
"Yes. Would you mind? I'll pay, of course, and you two can pick out whatever you'd like for yourselves as well."
"Oh, well..."
Hiiragi-san took a thousand-yen bill from her wallet and handed it to Mika. After exchanging a quick look and checking the current reception number, the girls agreed.
"Sure thing. We'll be right back."
"Thank you. Oh, and those bags will just be in your way, so I'll watch them for you."
"Eh? Ah... okay, then. Thanks!"
"Yes, leave it to me."
Mika handed over the small pouch containing the drop item—the one she had been clutching so carefully—to Hiiragi-san and walked off toward the vending machine with Saori-chan.
Once she confirmed they were out of earshot, Hiiragi-san handed the pouch to me. Wait, what?
"Um... what’s this for?"
"What do you think? Swap the skill scroll for them while you have the chance. You have one ready, don't you?"
"Eh?...Well, yeah. Technically."
When I had appraised the dropped scroll, it had definitely felt like a dud. Anticipating this, I had already taken a certain skill scroll out of my Spatial Storage and moved it into my backpack while we were in the dressing room restroom, just in case I got a chance to swap it. I hadn't found the right moment until now because Mika had been guarding that pouch with her life.
It might be overprotective, but I wanted them to pay off their debts as quickly as possible. Carrying such a large debt had to be a significant mental burden for them. Though, I hadn't realized they were so broke they couldn't even afford train fare.
"Fortunately, those three Watchers haven't followed us into the building since they have no official business here. This is the perfect time."
The Watchers were focused solely on tailing us and hadn't obtained any drops of their own, so they hadn't come inside. They likely judged that hanging around without purpose would make them stand out. They were probably still watching us from outside.
"I’ll block the view from the people in the waiting room. Go ahead and swap it. If you're careful about the angle, you can stay in the surveillance camera's blind spot."
"Right. I’ll obscure the camera’s view," Hiiragi-san added.
"...Understood."
Once I agreed, the two of them casually shifted their positions to block the view from both the other people and the security cameras. For a brief moment, a perfect blind spot was created. Since spending too much time would look suspicious, I quickly pulled the prepared scroll from my backpack, tucked it into Mika’s pouch, and retrieved the original scroll into my Spatial Storage.
The whole process took five seconds. I was quite proud of my handiwork.
"Okay, all done."
I handed the pouch back to Hiiragi-san, who accepted it with an innocent expression. I glanced around, but no one seemed to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Just as I was starting to feel a sense of accomplishment, Yuji whispered to me.
"So, Daiki. What did you swap it for?"
"What do you mean...?"
Apparently, he was dying to know what I’d used as a replacement. Well, I suppose it was only natural to be curious.
"I swapped it for a Water Magic skill scroll."
"...What!?"
Yuji let out a tiny, stifled exclamation of shock.
He took a shallow breath to calm himself, then asked for my reasoning.
"Hey, why would you swap it for something like that?"
"Why? Well, because of the popularity and demand. I figured it would get a pretty decent appraisal price."
I chose a Water Magic scroll because magic-type skills were consistently popular. Water Magic specifically was in high demand because it made it easy to secure drinking water and cleaning water inside a dungeon. As a result, they were reliably bought for high prices—usually in the seven-figure range. While it wasn't as flashy as fire or wind, Water Magic was the most popular for its sheer utility.
After I explained, Yuji let out a small sigh and seemed to accept it.
"Daiki. When the appraisal results come back, make sure you explain it to them properly. Tell them it’s not something they can expect every time—that it’s a rare stroke of luck."
"Yeah, I know. I plan to give them a thorough explanation."
"Make sure you really drive it home. It’ll be a disaster if they get a taste for easy money, let greed blind them, and start charging recklessly at monsters."
Yuji’s concern was valid.
In a way, this was like winning a massive long-shot bet on beginner's luck. Plenty of people get a taste for that kind of success, invest everything they have hoping for a repeat, and end up ruining their lives. To prevent that, I had to teach them self-restraint, or things would spiral out of control.
As we were finishing our talk, Mika and Saori-chan returned with the drinks.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here you go, Yukino-san."
"Thank you, Mika-chan, Saori-chan."
Hiiragi-san took the tea and the change from Mika, then handed the pouch back to her. Mika and Saori-chan sat down and sipped their juice, their eyes fixed on the electronic display with hearts full of anticipation.
...Yeah. I really, really need to make sure they understand.