A few days after the big merchandise meeting. Inari, having smoothly cleared Tokyo Dungeon No. 5, was now standing before a stunned staff member—on the phone herself, wearing a similarly astonished expression.
"Erm… pardon. I could not quite hear thee clearly."
“All the goods reached their planned production numbers just from preorders. We had set a pretty generous estimate, but we just decided to open reservations for a second production run.
Even for the figures, where we haven't even released the final designs yet, the requests to ‘let us reserve anyway’ are overwhelming!”
"Hmm… There must be many wealthy folk, then."
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
"Indeed, it is."
Apparently, the entire first batch of merchandise had sold out just from preorders. Inari, honestly, could only think: “Why?”
But that reaction just showed she still didn’t fully grasp the reality of being an Awakener chosen as a mascot—essentially, a modern idol.
Well, it couldn’t be helped. At the very least, Inari understood that something truly amazing was happening.
Ending the call with a soft sigh, she murmured.
"Things have gotten rather out of hand, haven’t they…"
"Yeah, seriously. This is incredible…!"
"Oho, thou understandeth as well?"
"Of course! I mean, sure, the drop items were pretty underwhelming, but I've never seen a reward box with a mouse pattern like this!"
“Ah… he meant that.”
Inari refrained from commenting. From a dungeon staff member’s point of view, naturally they’d be referring to the loot, not the merchandise.
Indeed, as he said, the drop items themselves weren’t much to write home about—Shards of slime, rat fangs—useful in their way, but low-value and often pulverized for disposal because they hardly sold.
But the reward box—that was different.
Unlike the usual gold, silver, or bronze chests, this one was wrapped like a present. The staff member had never seen anything like it before.
As for Inari—well, by now, she was almost used to strange rewards. Still, even she could tell this one was something special.
Thus, she casually ripped open the wrapping paper, and inside—
A single knife.
When the staff member appraised it, his face grew awkward.
"Uh… It's a Shapeshifting Rat Knife. Probably around Lower Intermediate Tier."
"Aye, I care not for it. Put it up for that ‘auction’ thing, if thou wouldst? I shall take only the magic stones."
"Understood. Good work today!"
The Shapeshifting Rat Knife—Low attack power, with only a minor boost to the wielder’s agility.
Its market value would probably be around 100,000 to 200,000 yen. Decent for a fledgling Awakener, but nothing special.
“Still, considering it came from the unpopular Tokyo Dungeon No. 5, it wasn't terrible…”
The staffer mused to himself.
Kogami Inari.
Already being marketed as FoxPhone’s mascot. It was surprising enough that she had even bothered with such an unpopular dungeon—but her clearing speed had been phenomenal.
The rumors that she'd solo-cleared the Akihabara dungeon were starting to feel very believable.
"I thought I'd seen some incredible Awakeners before, but… there’s always someone higher up, huh…"
Murmuring that, the staff member summoned the transport team to collect the loot. But just then, he noticed a call coming in on his Awakener Phone.
"Eh? Miss Kogami? She just left, but—you're telling me to stop her!? But she’s already disappeared out of sight!!"
While the poor staffer yelled into his phone, Inari—waiting for the bus—received a call from Yasuno.
"Hello, 'tis I."
“Ah, Miss Kogami! Where are you now!?”
"I have just completed Dungeon No. 5. I await the bus."
“Good! Please, return immediately to the Dungeon No. 5! A helicopter is en route to pick you up!”
"…That thing, I presume?"
Seeing a helicopter thundering toward her in the distance, Inari couldn’t help but feel… complicated.
If they were sending something like that to fetch her, it could only mean trouble.
But what had happened?
"May I inquire as to what purpose thou summonest me?"
“I don’t have the full details yet. But… it seems something happened at Tokyo Dungeon No. 1. Many top-rankers are currently busy elsewhere, and among the contacts I have… you seemed the strongest, Miss Kogami…!”
"Hmm."
As she listened, Inari had already retraced her steps to the Tokyo Dungeon No. 5 premises.
The helicopter was closing in fast.
Given the circumstances, there was no way she could simply refuse. And truthfully, Inari was interested in Tokyo Dungeon No. 1.
It was known for never having been cleared—not even once. Because she held only a white card, Inari hadn’t even been allowed to make a reservation to enter.
If this matter concerned that dungeon, it was more than worth hearing out.
Thus, she spoke into the phone to Yasuno.
"Very well. If something hath arisen that requires my strength— I shall see it through, and make thee no cause for regret."
What had happened at Tokyo’s most notorious, most dangerous 1st Dungeon?
Inari did not know.
But—She was not the sort to turn her back on those who sought her aid.