Tsutomu and his friends had visited the guild to dive into the dungeon to acclimate themselves to Diniel's new bow, but the searchers were buzzing.


''What's going on?''
Yeah, it was that one.


　Daryl asked the explorers around him, and they all pointed in a certain direction. There were five PT-like people in that direction, and it was certainly no wonder that the searchers were buzzing.

　Weiss dressed in black equipment and Alma with her black staff, Leon with his golden hair and ornamental clothes to match his wolf ears, and Eunice with her dango raises that are creating a buzz. And Camille, the divine dragon man carrying a ridiculously big sword, was there.


''........Wow. Four unique skills or something, Sekko.


　Seeing the five gorgeous people who had submitted their status cards and completed their PT contracts at the reception desk, Tsutomu couldn't help but mutter with a don't-so-distant look on his face. It was Alma who was the first to react to such words.


''........Could it be that I'm in it too, that?''
''Of course. You have a weapon that is more powerful than an eighty-one level treasure chest, so it's like a unique skill.
'My God, are you really that jealous?　Look, look.
Say it.


　When I threw the black cane at Alma, who was thrusting it out in a blink of an eye, Leon and Camille behind me had surprising looks on their faces. In addition to that, the passing explorers in the guild also seemed to be uniformly surprised.


''Eh?''


　And when Tsutomu, who was getting a lot of attention from the surroundings, was unintentionally surprised, Alma turned a dumbfounded look at him.


The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you didn't notice?　The fact that word is spreading that Alma and Tsutomu are the worst of the relationship.
'No, I know Camille and others who know what's going on, but I didn't expect the other explorers to react like this. Was it that blatant?
But from now on, I hope you'll understand your influence a little better and get around. It's pretty hard from an explorer's perspective to be hated by the clan leader of the infinite circle on the front lines, isn't it?
I still don't like it, though?
..........


　It's a good idea to have a good time with them. It's a good idea to have a good time with them.


''No, it's just a joke. I'm surprised the air is so frozen.
'This one surprised me more than the other!　Tutum has a hard time getting the joke!　I mean, you were half-serious!　My eyes were serious!


　Ignoring Alma, who began to make a fuss as soon as he said that, Tsutomu decided to change the atmosphere he had created for himself and shifted his gaze to Camille, who was carrying the red great sword she had pulled from the treasure chest she had dropped from the fire dragon on her back.


''Now I know why Amira was so determined to do it.
Well, I have no idea.
That's not very mature, you're completely out to destroy it.


　I knew that Red Demon and Golden Research had formed an alliance, but I didn't expect Camille to join them as well. I would never want to fight with this kind of PT the most if it were me. Tsutomu inwardly gazed at Corina and said sorry for her loss.


''Looking at Tutom and the others, I have an idea about your PT as well. It's a bit surprising that Diniel is here, but...''
'If we're going to be the fastest shell club to break through, we should probably switch them out now.
'I'm adjusting my new bow, and I definitely don't want to compete with a PT like this. I don't want to compete with this PT in the first place.
Oh, come on. He doesn't like me.


　Leon looked slightly shocked by Diniel's words, a former Clan member, and Leon looked slightly shocked by Diniel's words. Weiss next to her also looked a little disappointed, perhaps buying into her abilities. And Camille also lowered her eyebrows at Tsutomu, who didn't seem to have any intention of taking on the mutant shell club.


'It's surprising that Tsutomu doesn't show up, though. I thought we were going to be able to compete with him.'
''Since you wanted to compete with me so badly, please come to the eighty-fifth level. Then I'll go as fast as I can.
'In my position, there's not enough time to get to the front lines. That's why I saw this as an opportunity.
''Well, I don't think you should take Corina too seriously. It's not that I'm taking the Mutant Shell Club lightly either, and I'm letting her take care of the PT selection as well, because I think she can handle it.
"Huh?


　The amount of attention paid to the mutant shell club is so high that even Tsutomu, who is not so obsessed with popularity, cannot ignore it completely. It's partly because it's only now that the Shell Club has entered the everyday landscape, but the ratings for the fifty levels are exploding, especially among children. It seems that the sight of the Shell Club overwhelming the explorers has grabbed the hearts of children.

　And the Doren Workshop, currently the sole sponsor of the Infinite Circle, has asked me to check and bring the mutant shell club magic stone if I can. I've had the Doren Workshop adjust a lot of equipment from the treasure chests of the Light and Dark Hierarchies day and night after day, so I'm willing to cooperate if I can.


''Korina has eyes and senses that I don't have, you know. She has different strengths than I do, and yet she's a good healer as well. I'm a little unsure of her, but she has a lot of experience under her belt. He will grow from now on. He's going to grow.
'It's kind of unusual for Tsutomu to be so complimentary.
'Really?　I'm just telling the truth, though.


　To Camille, Tsutomu said with a look on his face that it was only natural. However, there was someone here who could not overlook Tsutomu's assessment of Kolina, the prayer warrior.


'Hm, what are you just telling the truth!　Then why aren't you practicing your dumpling raises?


　Tsutomu gave Eunice a cumbersome look as she suddenly came out of the back and lunged at him.


'It's because it's a skill I don't need,'
Isn't it necessary?　Ha, toughness. Mostly jealousy, I suppose, but I was surprised to see how unseemly it looked.
...Jealousy?


　When Tsutomu asked back with a divine look on his face, Eunice widened her eyes and pointed her finger at him, saying, 'Yes.


'What else could it be but jealousy?　Even though the dango raise is so highly regarded by healers and labyrinth maniacs, Tsutomu stubbornly refuses to acknowledge it and doesn't even practice it. It must be the pride of the master who didn't want to acknowledge his disciple's success that was getting in the way!
No, he's out of his league.


　Tsutomu looked down at Eunice, who was complaining about his misguided opinion, with a look of deep disappointment. Then, after bowing to the people behind him, he turned around and went to the guild's reception area. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more information on this topic.

　Xeno stared at Eunice, who was trying to hide her agitation but her eyes were wavering, and Tsutomu's back, who had never seen such needle-like emotions in her before. He then shifts his gaze to Camille, the head of the guild, and shakes his head as if he's not doing his part.


'Tsutomu, can you give me a moment?'


　Camille immediately called out to her at Zeno's urging. Tsutomu then turned around reluctantly with a distinctly unhappy look on his face.


''What is it?''
'That's very unusual. There's not much room. Is that all you have to be angry about?
.........Does Camille think I'm jealous of her too?


　His voice was so cold at the bottom that the words he had just said to Alma could be taken as a joke. The person in question, Alma, could still think that she was better than that, and she looked at Camille, who had such feelings directed at her, with concern.

　But Camille smiled at Tsutomu as well.


'That's an accusation, isn't it?　You can take it out on me, but that's something I'd prefer to have done when we're alone at home.
..........


　Tsutomu keeps his mouth shut at Camille's joke-infused correctness. She's chuckling, and Garum is behind her with his tail hanging down. And for some reason, Tsutomu looks at Zeno, whose white teeth are sparkling as he thumbs up, and he looks like he's lost his mind. He then awkwardly looked down and bowed his head lightly.


''It was definitely an accusation, and it was an outburst. I'm sorry. Well, we've never been alone at home before.''
There's a lot of them. First, when they taught me how to make pot-au-feu and...
That's enough. Then we're done.
Wait, wait, wait, don't run away. We're not done talking.


　Tsutomu, realizing that Camille's grip on his wrist was stronger than he expected, looked uncomfortable as he realized he couldn't escape. But regardless of this, Camille asks in a gentle voice, "You've been disappointed in Eunice.


''You seem to have been disappointed in Eunice for quite some time, but I want to hear the reason for that.
Why?
'We seem to be going back and forth with each other. So, first of all, yes. Let me hear your thoughts on Tsutomu's dango raises. Please.
...Huh.


　Tsutomu let out a heavy breath as he watched the guild's staff disperse the onlookers. It's shameful that he was unexpectedly angry at Eunice and took it out on Camille, and that he made Garum and Xeno care about him. Then Tsutomu let go of Camille's hand and pointed his wand in Eunice's direction.


'Odango raises can be used as insurance in the event of a healer's death, so they're useful no matter what you think. In fact, utilizing the dango raise, Stephanie recently broke through the eighty-fifth level the other day, and it's a technique that will continue to be used on the front lines.
Ho, so how does Tsutomu feel about it?
As I said before, I don't currently have a need for the technology, that's all.


　Tsutomu said to Camille, who was listening to him cooing while crossing her arms, as she spat out. Eunice's fox ears twitched at those words.


''Why doesn't Tsutomu need it?''
'Why, because I haven't been standing around dying in the first place. It's partly because I've been following the path pioneered by Aldrete Crow until now, but I'm still not dead, am I?　So there's no need.
'But, but!　The 85th level is--
Eunice, calm down a little. Don't talk too much without thinking.


　Camille blamed Eunice, who reflexively tried to say something back. Then he bent down a bit and pointed at Tsutomu, making eye contact with her.


'It's not very advisable to make an emotional appeal to Tutom. Besides, it's not a good idea to speak in false words. Because unlike Leon, Tsutomu doesn't have any insight into women's minds.
Why is it that people say bad things about me?
'So you'd better face your real feelings with Tsutomu. If you don't, the misunderstandings won't be resolved. With that in mind, I ask you, did you really mean what you said to Tsutomu earlier?


　While going through Tsutomu, who soberly rushed into the comparison with Leon, Camille asked him to confirm it. Then Eunice looked like she was about to cry, and then shook her head shakily.


''Then you can go tell them what you really think. What, I'll pick up the bones.'
I don't want to be a bone, sir.


　Eunice said with a smattering of words and moved away from Camille and came closer to Tsutomu. Then she felt Tsutomu's inorganic gaze and shivered, but still made eye contact with him.


''You must take back what you said earlier. It's not that Tsutomu is jealous of me. I know that too. I had no intention of learning at first, but I was still Tsutomu's disciple. And then I've also seen the healer Tutom in God's Table. So I think I know that much........I think I know that much. I only said that one because it just pissed me off.
..........
''I was saying earlier that the dango raises are not currently needed. With the way you talk, have you already gathered the eighty-five levels of countermeasure equipment?
Well yes.
'Then I certainly don't think you don't need it if you're standing on the twombs.... For some reason, I don't see you making mistakes in hate management, which is chilling to watch, and even support recovery is a sickeningly good thing to do. You don't seem to be in a situation where a healer dies from anything other than an inevitable ranged attack in the first place...


　Eunice's eyes were a little moist and disappointed, but she looked up again.


'But then I don't know what happens next. There may come a day when Tsutomu will use a bun raise.
Such as?
Even Faren Rich made a range attack like that, so it's possible that the Ninth Level Lord will do it too. If that happens, there's a chance that Tsutomu will die as well.
''Then let's say the Ninety Level Lord attacked me with a ranged attack and wiped me out like Aldoret Crow. But what would happen if I only came back to life with a dango raise?　Can you rebuild from that on your own?


　When Tsutomu asked him that, Eunice put her hand to her chin and pondered deeply as Camille had advised her to do. You'll be able to find a number of different types of shoes that you can use for your own personal needs. Then Eunice collected her thoughts after a little while and began to speak in a probing tone of voice.


''I think it's.......difficult. The eighty-five levels were able to get away from the distance after the healer came back to life, but if you're a hierarchical lord, you don't have much of an escape route. When a dango raise brings you back to life, the healer buys the hate. Then you revive the tank and heal it too so the healer gets the hate of reviving and healing for two people. It's tough for the tank to take care of that, because it inevitably takes a lot of time.
So you don't need it then?
'But what if it's the endgame?　If it's a scene where I can beat them in a few more minutes, I think I can ignore the Hate and bring the four of them back to life. .........oh. Tutu, from a Tutu's point of view, you might think I'm a self-sacrificing healer again, but I'm thinking about breaking through!


　To Eunice, who was flustered as if she had misspoken, Tsutomu scratched his eyebrows and said with a nonchalant look on his face.


''It's impossible to only do that from the beginning, but if it's an option, it's an option. ........And since even a ninety level Lord would be able to divert Farenrich's countermeasure equipment, it's unlikely that a tank with a high VIT would die from a ranged attack.
'Oh!　Doesn't that make the dumpling raises come to great use!
'I suppose. You'll probably buy your own resuscitation and recovery hate because your tank is being cut down at that point, but that's still a category where you can rebuild. If you're thinking about those situations, the bun raise works. So I've been practicing a bit in my private room myself.
Is that so?
I just didn't take the option to stop thinking like the current healers and practice a bun raise for now. I might have a chance to use it later on, so I'll practice in my free time.


　When Tsutomu was told by Eunice about her jealousy, he was irresistibly annoyed because he felt like he was witnessing the fact that she hadn't thought about it. Because I thought that maybe the dango raise wasn't something I discovered through trial and error, but just an accidental flash of inspiration. But as far as I could tell, he seemed to have given it some thought, so I was relieved.

　When I looked at Camille with a look of satisfaction with this, she only deepened her smile. And then she looked down at Eunice, who was becoming more and more cheerful.


(Maybe I'm just a little bit more fragile than I thought.)


　Perhaps not long ago, he wouldn't have been so emotionally disturbed by Eunice. Even when he said something about jealousy earlier, he would have let it slide lightly and ended it. But the reason for the emotional turmoil until he took it out on Camille is clear.

　The fact that Eunice popped up in the middle of the Stampede when she was about to die. Not that it helped me, I was the one who saved him, rather. But it's also true that the position of Eunice in my mind changed after that.

　Tsutomu, who was keenly aware of that today, lightly clicked his tongue and was about to walk away, but he was lightly tugged on his long sleeve.


''Well, there's one last thing I want you to hear.



　Since the famous members of the searchers were all together causing a quarrel, there were a large number of onlookers and the guild staff was busy dealing with them. Therefore, Tsutomu thought it would be inauspicious if they didn't disband for good, so he told her to hurry up. Then Eunice said the words that came out of her mouth in a flash as if she was in a hurry.


''Ho, I want you to praise me.
...Yes?


　What Eunice said was so abrupt that Tsutomu raised his voice, which he didn't understand. Then Eunice clenched her fists and bobbed them in an angry manner.


'I haven't been praised yet for making a dango raise. So I'm going to praise me!
What are you talking about?
'Why ... because he complimented me on the dumplings!　If that's the case, more praise for the bun raiser!　I made the bun raiser just so you could admire it.　It doesn't matter how many people praise you, if you don't praise me.　So, praise be!
Yes....


　Tsutomu mutters to Eunice, who is shaking her body as if to say that she is already a desperate person while meditating, as if she lightly pulled back.


''Even though I've said this much, is it no good...?　What.........do I have to get down on my knees now.......?


　And at the end, he said that while looking up at me, and I didn't feel comfortable leaving without saying anything about the quicksand.


'Well, I think you did well on your own. The fact that you didn't get any information on the gods table means that you practiced catching Reyes before you were sure of it yet.
Yes, that's right. I was really worried. I think it was more likely to be a waste of time.
'Yeah, you worked hard. So you got some results this time, so kudos to you.
I want you to stroke me. I saw it in the paper.
What are you doing, petting me, are you some kind of regressive child?


　Tsutomu frowned at Eunice, who was no longer in drunken tension, but naturally reached for her head. Amy was thin and squishy and Lorena felt like she had a core, but Eunice's fox ears were quite thick. When I touched and stroked her fox ears as if massaging them languidly, Eunice let out a breath of relief.


''Ehehe........ It was good. It's good that you did your best.''


　Tears of joy trickled out of the corners of her pleasantly narrowed eyes and dripped a number of them onto the floor. When I put my left hand into my pocket to wipe Eunice's face, which was also dripping with snot, with a handkerchief, she just fell down.


''Soooo....''
...a child.


　Tsutomu, who received Eunice, who had fallen completely asleep, couldn't help but mutter those thoughts.