Chapter 32 - The Meeting

"YOU DID WHAT?!?!?!?!!!"

Kana's scream burst through ASH headquarters, causing consultants in the room next door to fall over in their chairs. I know this because soon after the frustrated scream left her mouth, I heard the sound of hardwood chairs hitting the floor in surprise.

I took my hands off of my ears and bowed my head down to the enraged woman sitting opposite me.

"Geez.... you don't listen to a word I say do you?" She cursed silently while covering her head with both hands.

She looked stressed out as if I delivered the weight of the world onto her shoulders all in one go.

"…I'm sorry…I didn't intend on going into another dungeon." I replied, still keeping my head lowered.

As I said this wasn't just one time, it was twice now that I found myself in a dungeon by mistake and somehow managed to survive.

"I know, I know— you were pushed in! You have to have the worst luck I've ever seen though, did you do something terrible in a previous life?"

"It's not all bad…"

That's right, I managed to gain quite a few rare things from beating the Wondering Boss.

First is the skills I obtained after devouring it, I must have unlocked at least eighty percent of the entire Rhaskan tree. I'm not entirely sure why so much of the information was given to me all at once but I suspect it has something to do with the monster being a Wondering Boss. By that logic, would I be able to complete the entire tree by absorbing more than one of that Boss?

Out of all those locked icons, only two were available to me, however. So I suppose the requirements for unlocking skills are the same as before, if not slightly lower.

{Feather Storm Lv1}

A skill that allows me to shoot feathers in the form of projectiles. At first glance, I got pretty excited about this one but…after testing it out for myself the feathers weren't nearly as strong as what the Rhaskan could do. They must have only been as powerful due to their increased strength as a Wondering Boss.

I don't see myself using it anytime soon so it'll just gather dust in the system for now. Who's to say it won't get stronger with some further levelling though?

The other skill I got was a little more useful.

{Zephyr Burst Lv1}

I was a little surprised that the name was similar to my new ability. Apparently, this ability will be able to blast a short burst of wind at my enemies. I haven't gotten the chance to use this yet but I'm pretty excited to.

I doubt I'll get to test it out anytime soon though…

"Rei, you need to be more careful about how you spend your time in the Tower. You can't be so reckless, you don't need to tell me when you're entering the Tower but at least include me in decisions about going to new Floors."

Kana was concerned, her eyes softened and her mouth sunk into a slight frown.

She's right, I was being a little too reckless. I can't disappear for a few days at a time and come back expecting everything to be alright. That's not how I want to treat my consultant—my friend.

The conversation we had at Lucky Suns the other night opened my eyes to how my actions affect her. If I'm too restless it isn't just my life on the line, it's her job too. Consultants thrive on their clients, as well as wither.

I need to be more open with her.

I jolted up from my seat, sending it flying back across the room. I stiffened my posture and gave a deep bow, so low that my head was in perfect line with my knees.

"R-Rei—what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Kana! I should be working with you and including you more, I promise I'll get better at this part too!"

I wasn't too used to giving out apologies, and had never issued one as large as this but… I knew that this was something important and that anything less might not have gotten my true feelings across. I felt really bad for how I've been continuing in the dungeon and a half-baked apology probably wouldn't get her to know that.

How long is she going to remain silent though?

I came up to a reddened face, she turned away with her eyes lowered.

Was she…blushing?

"Please don't be so embarrassing, Rei."

"…sorry."

I guess it was too much after all. She doesn't look as angry though, did my message get across to her? It must have, right? She's blushing red and her eyes won't stay still either. They're constantly darting back and forth between me and the floor.

I fetched my chair from the floor and placed it back upright in front of her desk. It wasn't hers specifically, in fact, this office isn't hers either.

We were conducting our meeting inside one of the many rotation offices within ASH headquarters. Adventurers and consultants have their monthly meetings in these rooms throughout the day and when you're done, you simply swap out with whoever else needs to use the room.

It's a pretty cozy room, with not much space to walk around in but plenty of open areas. Opposite the door is a long wooden desk where Kana is seated, and a small stool in front of it, where I sit.

There are piles of paper littered around us in stacks, balancing on the desk, stools and any other flat surface that they could be dumped onto. It looks as if each rotation of people for the room, brings even more paperwork. I feel sorry for whoever has to ultimately sort through it all…

I remember Kana mentioning doing something similar before she had been promoted to consultant.

No wonder she was in a hurry to leave that position, I thought while observing around the room.

Kana reached into the stack behind her, swiftly pulling out a single page at the bottom. With a light tug from her fingertips, she effortlessly retrieved the paper, only shaking the tower minimally. She moved like a trained professional, reaching for loose pages and stamping them as she spoke.

"I want you to consider forming a party with someone, you don't have to rush into anything today but please consider it. As you found out, the monsters on each floor get more difficult to fight as you progress but not just because of their strengths.

Their numbers increase as well. Most novice solo adventurers end up growing pretty strong and venture into the higher floors only to be crushed by the overwhelming numbers of reality. In other words—they get outnumbered!"

She held up her pen just over the page she had been writing on, to add suspense to her words. She spoke seriously and was in full consultant mode, adding a lot of wise words and helpful advice.

"A party can seriously help you with getting to the higher floors and a lot faster too. Chances are you'll get outnumbered pretty soon if you continue as you have. Just make sure to go with someone you trust for a party, we don't want another daily party incident, now do we?" She added in that last dig with a nervous smile as she closed her eyes and rubbed her head.

A party to support and fight alongside would be a dream come true! If only it were as simple as she was describing it to be…as long as I have my unique skill I won't be able to just pick out anyone. Things already turned south when Welm and the others saw me use a few skills.

I don't want to imagine if news got out that I had a unique skill to make more skills…the adventurers in this city would be in a frenzy!

If only I could party up with Liv…but that wouldn't happen!

I looked over to Kana with a subtle glance and then lowered my head again.

I want to tell her so badly about my new power…but I can't!! Seeing as improving the skill requires me to take more risks, she would instantly ban me after hearing about it. I can't see any situation where Kana would allow me to go searching for where this skill comes from.

I'll have to keep it to myself, at least for now.

She must have seen I was plagued with stress because her light voice resonated with a warm question to change the topic.

"Also—have you decided on a smithy yet?"

I raised my head suddenly and responded with my hand rubbing the back of my head.

"I looked around at the stores I could afford but nothing took. I was hoping you would have something in mind."

Kana pulled out the paper lying in front of her and handed it to me.

"There's no doubt that most adventurers want to save money, the only downside to that mentality is that there are even more smiths who'll take advantage of that to sell you cheap products. I did a little digging and found something in the market district."

My eyes tore away from the paper and widened to the same level as my voice,

"The Market District—?!"

Easily the most expensive and luxurious section of Istoria, where only the top guilds and most expensive equipment could be found. From top-tier materials to high-level boss gear—that market?!

"Kana—I don't have money for something like that!"

Kana folded her arms and remained confident in the paper she handed me. Her buoyant grin told me that there would be more to it than what I was reading, that this could be a hidden gem among the sands of worry.

"Don't get me wrong, I know the market district can be pricy but not this place." She pointed towards the paper, sitting creased in my fist.

"I don't know…will I really be okay to afford something from here?"

Kana sat back in her seat, nodding with a triumphant grin.

She does seem pretty confident, it's worth giving it a shot right?