章 33: Are You That Hungry?
Leonar followed Selena through the bustling city streets, noting how the lively chatter of hunters contrasted with the calm he'd felt back at the office.
The mage stopped in front of a restaurant with a brightly lit sign that read *Maria's Rose.*
It was a spacious place, with large windows that revealed a warm, lively interior.
Leonar whistled, impressed.
"Wow, this place looks pretty fancy."
Selena offered a slight smile as she opened the door.
"It's a favorite among hunters... and it's conveniently close. They gather here to exchange information and close deals, but honestly? The food here is excellent."
Leonar nodded, following her inside. The smell of spices and roasted meat enveloped him instantly, making his stomach growl in protest, a stark reminder of how much he needed this meal. They found a table near the window, giving them a good view of the steady stream of patrons coming and going.
As they waited, a waiter handed them menus. Leonar scanned the list of dishes carefully.
"I think I'll go with the large plate of herb-crusted beef steak with rice. Oh, and an extra side of fries."
Selena raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Are you *that* hungry?"
"You have no idea. It feels like I haven't had a proper meal in days," Leonar replied with a grin, folding his menu.
Selena opted for something lighter: a fresh vegetable salad with a small side of soup.
Once the waiter had left with their order, Selena pulled out her phone and started scrolling through messages, her face illuminated by the screen.
"Do you have a phone number?" she asked suddenly, her eyes still on her device.
Leonar leaned back in his chair, scratching the back of his neck.
"Uh... not at the moment."
She looked up, frowning.
"What do you mean you don't have one? Practically everyone has a phone."
"Let's just say... things happened," Leonar replied evasively, toying with the napkin in his hands.
Selena sighed, pulling out a contact card from her pocket. She handed it to him, her tone more serious.
"If you ever decide to join a guild, give me a call. My number's on there."
Leonar took the card, glanced at it briefly, then slipped it into his pocket.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
"No problem. Do you have any questions about how guilds or dungeons work?"
Leaning forward slightly, Leonar considered her offer before speaking.
"Yeah, actually. What happens if someone doesn't leave a dungeon before the system closes the portal?"
Selena set her phone aside, crossing her legs and resting an elbow on the table.
"It's simple: they get trapped in that world. The portal loses its connection to this planet, and there's no way to reopen it. That's why the entrances always register who goes in and out. It's a measure to prevent someone from disappearing without a trace."
"So… there's no way back…" Leonar muttered, lowering his gaze.
"No. That's why the time limits are so strict. If a hunter doesn't make it out in time, it's on them," she said firmly.
Leonar mulled this over for a moment before asking another question.
"Do you think it's possible to revisit the dungeon I was in?"
Selena straightened, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Why would you want to do that? Is it because of the treasures your teammates mentioned?"
'Wait, they told her about that too?' Leonar thought, caught off guard.
He nodded, his expression betraying a flicker of interest.
She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"I wouldn't recommend it. From what I heard, your teammates' guild confiscated everything they brought out of that dungeon. Those contracts always have clauses allowing guilds to keep the loot, especially if the team consists of collectors. Besides, they're probably squeezing every last resource out of the place before the portal closes."
Leonar clenched his teeth in frustration.
"That's legal?"
"It is… technically. Which is why it's so important to read the contracts before signing them," Selena replied in a serious tone. "And it's no secret that collectors are treated like disposable tools. They're easily replaced compared to a rank F or E hunter."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food. Leonar's face lit up at the sight of his massive plate. The fluffy rice was perfectly paired with a herb-crusted beef steak, drenched in a rich green sauce with hints of garlic and rosemary. Golden, crispy fries rounded out the meal.
Selena, by contrast, had a modest salad and a small bowl of soup in front of her.
Before digging in, Leonar broke the silence.
"Is rank D good?"
Selena gave him a small smile.
"Of course. Rank F is for newly awakened hunters with basic powers and no experience. Rank E is for those with some training and experience in practice duels. But rank D and above? That takes real merit. In your case, you survived and saved several people in a dungeon on your own. Honestly, I think you deserve rank C or even B."
Leonar's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"And how strong are the higher ranks?"
"You mean the rank S hunters?" Selena asked, leaning slightly toward him.
He nodded as he took a big bite of his meal.
"They're… something else. Their abilities are almost godlike. A single attack from a rank S hunter can wipe out an entire city. That's why they're the first ones called to secure dangerous dungeons. Once the area is cleared, lower-ranked hunters go in to gather resources."
Leonar nodded thoughtfully.
"That explains why they asked if I closed the dungeon I was in…"
Selena's brow furrowed slightly.
"That's something you need to consider carefully. Dungeons aren't just a source of income for guilds; they also provide essential materials for improving equipment. If a portal closes unexpectedly, the losses can be enormous. No wonder that would upset the guilds."
Selena studied him curiously as she sipped her soup.
"By the way… were you the one who triggered the dungeon's closure?"
Leonar chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"No, it wasn't me."
She narrowed her eyes at him but didn't press further.
"Well, for now, enjoy your food. It looks like you need it more than anyone."
Leonar grinned, raising his fork in a mock toast before diving back into his meal.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット