CH 225

Episode 225 – News Coverage

After we returned from the Dungeon, we went to our usual cafe to have our review meeting. Immediately after we finished, I sprinted off to the Laudungeon Company as if I was running away from something.

But as for why I was running away…

“Ooh! Looks like the celebrity has arrived! Wasn’t the change in the spectators’ attitudes just amazing?”

The person who was greeting me while smiling ear to ear was none other than Tobias. Just as he said, after we returned from the Dungeon, there was a huge turnaround in the attitude of the surrounding onlookers. Just like the time when I went to clear the Dungeon solo, I was again surrounded by multiple reporters when we came out of the Dungeon, and all the other people were cheering and giving shouts of encouragement.

I ran off to the cafe to get away from these people, but then they even started whispering about me in the cafe, so we had to hurriedly end the review meeting so as to not cause any trouble for the cafe we were in. To be honest, I had noticed that I was starting to garner a bit of attention after we had defeated the Two-Mino, which was followed by a short period of calm while we were on the 10th layer gathering plants. But this time, after defeating the Demon Arachnid, the attention directed towards us all of a sudden blew up.

“Yeah… Honestly, I didn’t think we would get this much attention.” (Lewin)

“I guess it’s true that you’ve arrived at only the 15th layer so far, but aside from the fact that your party only has 3 people, your clearing speed is far from normal. There was also that time when you were solo-clearing, but the reporters have already started to take notice from the time that your party was just formed. Around the time when you had defeated the Two-Mino, I even started to hear rumors of other companies starting to make a move to propose signing a contract with you.” (Tobias)

“So that’s how it was. I felt like I could somehow feel their gazes on my back for a while now.” (Lewin)

“Yeah. That’s why there was such an explosive reception now that you’ve defeated the Demon Arachnid! And just like that, you’re now among the ranks of the popular adventurer parties!” (Tobias)

Hmmm… I’m not that happy about it though. I knew that if we were to continue clearing the Dungeon, we were bound to get noticed some day, but I really didn’t think that it would be so soon. I began to respect those popular adventurers who could scatter smiles and fan service everywhere they went, and even Ahmed who could somehow completely ignore them. I needed to get used to it or find some countermeasures as soon as possible.

“I thought that it would be nice to be popular and be able to earn money without having to do much, but I’m only beginning to realize how troublesome it is now that it’s actually happening to me.” (Lewin)

“That’s what they call the price of fame, you know. The Dungeon is a major pastime in this city, so you’ll have to face it sooner or later if you want to keep clearing the Dungeon. You’d better get used to it quickly!” (Tobias)

“I’m now somewhat tempted to leave this city as soon as I’ve reached my goals.” (Lewin)

To be honest, I was just being surrounded by reporters just a while ago, so I didn’t really feel like having this article published, but… I had been treated so well up to this point, so I didn’t have any intention of being selfish.

“Hm…? Is this a notebook of your Dungeon attempts?” (Tobias)

“Yes, that’s right. I wrote down the happenings of my Dungeon adventures in this notebook, so I was thinking you could use it as a source for your article. If you have any other questions, I can answer them.” (Lewin)

“Really?! I’m super grateful for this, but… is it really okay with you, Lewin? If I write an article, you’ll start getting even more attention, you know?” (Tobias)

“Of course I think it’s not preferable, but I’ve already started to get attention anyway. Besides, I’m aiming for a much deeper layer, so as you said, Tobias-san, I’ve just gotta get used to it sooner or later!” (Lewin)

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll be happy to write an article, Lewin. I’ll do my best so it’ll sell as well as possible!” (Tobias)

There were a lot of adventurers who were stuck on the shallow layers, so I collected information on the monsters’ behavior patterns and appearance ratios because I thought it would be useful. However, the newspaper’s subscribers were usually the general public, which made me feel a bit disappointed. Even so, after I had finished telling him of our party’s movements, I noticed that it had already started to get dark out.

“Man, that was a great conversation. A party of 3 is really so interesting! Everyone in the party, Lewin, Aruna, and Rosalie each has their own role that they have to play. I could write an interesting article no matter which point of view it’s from.” (Tobias)

“We don’t really feel that way since it’s ourselves we’re talking about, but if you say so then it must be the case, right Tobias-san?” (Lewin)

“Exactly. The fact that you could clear until the 15th layer shows that you have the strength. And because it’s only a 3-person party, it’s even more thrilling. I’d imagine that you could perhaps even make it into the top spot and attract a lot of onlookers.” (Tobias)

“Hmmm… The [Azure Alliance] already fills that spot, so I think we would just be seen as a secondhand knock-off version though.” (Lewin)

Now that he had explicitly explained it to me like this, it became clear to me why we had become so popular. The ability to easily explain things… such would be expected from a reporter, I suppose.

“―Well, as I’ve explained, they’re the closest adventurer party to the best from a Dungeon lover’s point of view. Do you get what I mean?” (Tobias)

“Yes. Thanks to your explanation, I can understand it a bit now, Tobias-san.” (Lewin)

“It’s not much of an explanation. Well anyway, I think I can manage to write several articles from this interview material, so I’ll publish them when the time is right! Maybe you can ask Aruna and Rosalie a little bit, and then I can hear what they have to say through you.” (Tobias)

“Got it. They might refuse, but I’ll try my best!” (Lewin)

“Thanks. As soon as the article is finished, I’ll let you know, Lewin. Ah, also… please decide on the name for your party soon. It’s not an exaggeration that it’s the most necessary part of writing an article. Well then, I’m going to get started on that article right away, so see you later, Lewin!” Tobias said energetically, giving his shoulder a roll as if he was getting himself fired up. He spun his pen between his fingers and tucked it behind his ear as he made his way back to his desk.