"Man, that was a lifesaver."


    To be honest, I felt like I got roped into a pretty troublesome task. I didn''t mind running around to save my first-ever friend, but right now, I''m really annoyed by the branch chief''sid-back attitude. It''s tempting to punch him.


    "Still, a magic anomaly of +9 brings out monsters like that, huh?"


    "You didn''t know?"


    "I didn''t. I knew you guys had to deal with some nasty stuff out there, but I''d never actually seen one of those monsters caught on camera."


    I see. Dungeon streaming could be used to capture footage like that… Not that I''m particrly interested in taking on that role myself.


    "I just updated the Association''s homepage with the news that ''EX-UNKNOWN has resolved the issue.'' But writing that… it does mean the Association is officially recognizing Kisaragi Tsukasa as UNKNOWN."


    "I don''t mind."


    I have no intention of officially registering my personal information, but I''m not particrly concerned if people find out I''m an EX-ranked explorer. Maybe I''ll get some long-lost rtives popping up out of nowhere, but they can be ignored.


    "I see… Well, good work as always. I''ll deposit the payment into your usual ount."


    "Yeah… thanks."


    "By the way, your cute girlfriend is waiting for you at the entrance."


    "We''re just friends."


    How rude. Asakawa-san can choose who she wants to date.


    As I was muttering this to myself, grumbling about the chief''s assumption, I spotted Asakawa-san leaning against the wall, staring at her phone with a pale face.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Ts-Tsukasa-kun… because of me, everyone found out!"


    She showed me her phone screen, where "UNKNOWN" was trending at the top of social media. Even my name, Kisaragi Tsukasa, and Asagao''s name were trending, causing quite a stir online.


    "I''ve been bombarded with messages from friends… and now everyone at school knows… What should I do?"


    "It''s fine. The teachers already knew."


    "That''s not the issue here!"


    Even if my ssmates find out, it won''t change my daily life. It''s not like being a super-powerful secret EX-rank explorer is going to suddenly make me popr or cure my social awkwardness. Nothing''s going to change.


    At least, that''s what I thought…


    "Hey, isn''t that…"


    "He''s the EX-rank, right?"


    "So that''s why he''s been missing school so much. Makes sense now."


    "Yeah, with that much time off, anyone else would have been held back."


    They''re really gossiping about me!


    I mean, it''s natural to talk about someone when they''re suddenly the center of attention.


    "Good morning, Kisaragi-kun!"


    "Morning. You''re here again today, huh?"


    "We''re friends, right?"


    "Ha… haha…"


    For some reason, I suddenly gained a bunch of new friends, both guys and girls. I could swear I saw money signs in a few of their eyes, like they were my long-lost rtivesing out of the woodwork.


    Since Asakawa-san hadn''t arrived yet, I was left sitting at the edge of the ssroom, feeling like I was on pins and needles with everyone''s eyes on me.


    "I always thought you were kinda cool."


    "I always knew you were a good person."


    "And you''re really good-looking, too."


    Don''t underestimate the eavesdropping abilities of an introvert. I can hear everything. And by the way, I also remember you calling me creepy just yesterday!


    "Good morning, Tsukasa-kun."


    "Good morning…"


    "This is rough, huh?"


    Finally, my savior, Asakawa-san, showed up and spoke to me with a wry smile. With her arrival, at least half of the gazes shifted to her, easing my burden a bit. I started wondering why a mission didn''te up today, sparing me from school, but then I thought about how kind Asakawa-san is… Is she the embodiment of all the world''s goodness?


    "Good morning, Nanami!"


    "G-Good morning!"


    "Were you okay yesterday? I watched the stream, and I was really worried about you."


    "Thanks. But I''m fine, thanks to someone helping me."


    Asakawa-san was chatting with a friend of hers who had just arrived. Even as they talked, her friend kept ncing at me. Introverts might be overly self-conscious, but they''re especially sensitive to being stared at, so I''m sure it''s not just my imagination.


    "Um…"


    "…Yes?"


    Just as I was thinking about how annoying this was, she spoke to me directly.


    "I also have an explorer''s license. Do you think I can make it?"


    "…Well, I''m not sure."


    That''s… not really something I can answer.


    I don''t really understand what she means by "make it," but from a personal perspective, I think anyone who has a license and puts in the effort can probably reach the lower floors. But I don''t think that''s the kind of answer she''s looking for.


    "Akari, you''re making Tsukasa-kun ufortable."


    "Oh,e on, just a little chat. I''m Akari Nonohara. Nice to meet you."


    "Yoroshiku, onegaishimasu."


    "Heh… so formal."


    Asakawa-san, please stopughing and help me out here.


    "By the way, I''d ignore those people who suddenly say they''ve always thought you were cool."


    "I know that."


    "Good. You''re more interesting than I thought, Kisaragi-kun."


    I''ll keep Nonohara-san''s advice in mind. I''m well aware that anyone who says things like that is likely trouble. Don''t underestimate introverted geeks—we may be bad at receiving affection, but we''re experts at detecting when ites with ulterior motives.


    My immediate response earned me augh from both Nonohara-san and Asakawa-san.


    "Hey."


    As we were chatting, the atmosphere shifted as Ikemen-kun stormed over, kicking a desk loudly.


    "I told you not to get cocky!"


    He kicked the desk again. It''s not right to treat school property like that. Ikemen-kun, you''re an explorer, you should know better than to break the desk into pieces.


    "Today, I''m gonna kill you."


    Wait, did he just threaten me? Should I call the cops?