Late in the morning, still well before noon.
With only one reservation scheduled, an incredibly bored staff member was browsing message boards on his Awakener Phone.
Typically, settlement-type dungeons take a considerable amount of time to tackle.
It’s not uncommon for it to take three days, and if a party doesn’t return after over a week, a rescue team is dispatched.
In fact, in general, fixed dungeons aren’t meant to be cleared at all.
Setting aside Tokyo Dungeon #2, used for practice, and #3, which doesn’t take much time to complete, most other fixed dungeons have parties entering every hour.
It’s more profitable to continuously farm the monsters that reappear periodically than to actually defeat the boss.
These days, no one risks their life clearing bosses. That’s a job for the big-name clans to take on periodically.
And due to its nature, Tokyo Dungeon #4 inevitably turns into a full-blown extermination battle.
In other words, a life-or-death battle with the boss—and the reward? Just some dirty axe or sword. On top of that, there’s always the risk of getting injured by traps.
A dungeon like that being unpopular should surprise no one. The Awakener who went in earlier would probably learn the hard truth and come back out soon—or so the staff member thought, without a care.
“…Still, she was cute. Hope she didn’t get hurt or anything.”
Fox ears and a tail, probably just a hobby. Entertaining such rude thoughts, the staffer leaned back in his chair and pulled out his Awakener Phone.
“Oh yeah, the limited gacha starts today… Alright, let’s do a ten-pull to pray for her safety…”
Just as he began pulling on the popular game “Awakener Wars” gacha, he failed to notice the transfer pad near the gate beginning to glow.
“Ooh, guaranteed animation—!”
Inari arrived in a shimmer of light—
—And at that exact moment, the staffer's account pulled a limited 5-star character.
“I-I got it! Yes!!”
“My, my… I’m flattered by such a grand welcome.”
“Huh? Uwaaah!? Wait, you’ve already cleared it!?”
“Hmm? Aye. Eh? If that shout wasn’t for me, then for whom—?”
“A-ah no no no! It’s just… my joy got ahead of my brain, you know!”
“Oh? I see, I see. I’m pleased to hear it.”
While Inari was easily tricked by the half-assed deflection, the staff member was internally screaming in disbelief.
“Wha—? No way. Already cleared? What!? The clan “Flashlight” needed a hundred people and half a day! And she’s back before noon!? What is going on…!?”
“Uh, um… congratulations on the clear. May I check the spoils of battle?”
“Aye. Here they are.”
“Ugh—an Item Box!?”
“Hyoh!? What was that!?”
“N-no, sorry. I was just surprised by an unexpected skill…”
The staffer stared in shock as Inari pulled out piles of items from the Divine Concealment hole—then gaped in disbelief at the sheer number of magic stones and drops.
“No way… Orc axes and shields aside, is that the Orc General’s sword…? Wait, it can drop?”
“Oh yes, that. I was just about to open the item box when—hm?”
You have achieved a commendable feat!
【Achievement: Swift Orc Exterminator】
Calculating reward box…
You have received a reward box!
“Muu… this again. Achievements sure are easy to get.”
“U-umm… what’s with that weirdly un-cute box?”
“I agree with thee on that.”
Inari held out a palm-sized box wrapped in paper featuring a chibi orc face print. The staffer blinked.
“Eh?”
“A photo. You’ll be taking one, aye?”
“Ah—yes! Right! I’ve just never seen one before…!”
As the staffer frantically snapped a photo with his Awakener Phone, Inari tore off the wrapping.
What floated out, glowing faintly, was the very helmet the Orc General had been wearing.
“E-excuse me, I’ve never seen this item before. How do you plan to handle it…?”
The stunned staff member bowed slightly. Inari held out the Orc General's helmet and affirmed with an "Mm."
The answer was obvious.
“Such a thing holds no value for me. I’ll only keep the magic stones. Put the rest up for auction.”
“Eh—what!? That could be a rare item!”
“Rare or not, I won’t wear such a thing. Better it go to someone who wants it.”
“U-understood. I’ll process it immediately!”
“Good, good. Then I shall take my leave.”
“Ah, wait! I’ll prepare a receipt for the item list!”
After handing over the item list, Inari stashed the magic stones in her Divine Concealment and casually walked off. The staffer watched her leave, then called over the gate’s designated appraiser.
Due to the ‘Appraisal’ skill, such services were standard—but anything going to auction required identification.
As a result, the appraiser turned pale and hastily called Inari, only to be told once again, “Don’t need it,” and so the Orc General’s helmet was listed…
…causing yet another stir across the entire Awakener community.