The F-rank Adventurer, Who Was Supposed to Be Just a Helper, Accidentally Goes Viral for Blowing Away an S-rank Monster – It Seems the Home I’ve Been Living in Was an Unusually Powerful Dungeon Inhabited by the Strongest Species

“Hello~. My name is Erika♡”

Tentatively opening the door, Guild Chief Sekino was met with Erika’s unnervingly bright smile.

“Ah, uh…”

Confronted with her, Sekino let out a voice of despair, realizing her predicament.

(Have I… met my end?)

Her concern was understandable.

The “Neighbor Operation” executed by the guild for dealing with Hikone Hoshi came with several foreseen barriers, the biggest of which was Erika, referred to as “E” in the operation.

Erika was considered the most crucial person to be wary of in any contact with Hikone Hoshi.

(Calm down, calm down, me…!)

Holding onto her stomach medicine in her pocket like a charm, Sekino tried to compose herself.

“Um, Erika-san, what brings you here today?”
“Well, first, this.”

Erika handed over a large dish covered with plastic wrap, still warm.

“Is this… fried rice?”
“Yes. It’s just a humble dish I made.”
“No, it’s… it smells good.”

The shiny yellow fried rice was emitting an appetizing aroma through the plastic wrap.

“But why so much?”
“Oh dear… because…”

Erika’s eyes momentarily lost their sparkle as if she were peering into the back of the room.

“It seems you have… many companions here, right?”
“Uh, that is…”
“No need to hide. Please, try some.”

Despite her respectable position as the Guild Chief…

(No, it’s suspicious!)

Sekino raised her danger meter to the max, suspecting something might be in the food.

However, Erika added,

“There’s nothing particularly suspicious in it.”
“!”
“Please, go ahead.”

(Maybe I was overthinking…)

Acknowledging her overcaution, Sekino took a bite of Erika’s cooking.

“…!”
“How is it?”

Overwhelmed, Sekino covered her mouth with her hand.

“It’s… delicious.”
“I’m glad.”

The fried rice was unlike anything she’d ever tasted, but its deliciousness was frightening to Sekino.

(Is this really just a gift? Could she actually be nice…?)

Considering this, Sekino’s thoughts were interrupted by Erika.

“By the way…”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what ingredients I used?”
“Uh, well… eh!?”

On closer inspection, Sekino realized the ingredients were all high-quality dungeon products: Platinum Shrimp, Deep Layer Scallions, Golden Fur Pork, all of A-rank or higher.

Sekino, in shock, bowed deeply.

“Such luxurious ingredients! I must return this!”
“No, no, please enjoy it with everyone.”
“How can we accept this? It must be so expensive—”
“It’s free.”
“Eh?”

Sekino looked up in disbelief.

Erika smiled with her hands together, though her eyes did not smile.

“If you obtain them yourself, it’s free.”
“…Ah, I see.”

Sekino understood Erika’s message.

“Hehe.”

Erika continued with a sly smile.

“It’s admirable to be so dedicated to your work. But…”

“But…?”
“Don’t let too many women get close to Hoshi-kun. No matter how strong the monster might be… right?”

Erika’s hair floated up mysteriously.

“Ah, uh…”

This was a warning. The ingredients in the fried rice were not only luxurious but also came from A to S-rank monsters, easily obtained by Erika.

“If you don’t want this to happen to you, don’t act rashly.”

Sekino took this message to heart.

“Then, I’ll be leaving.”

Erika walked out, leaving Sekino to collapse to her knees (the fried rice was safe).

“I feel like my spirit is breaking…”

She swallowed a tablet of stomach medicine, while the other staff members tearfully enjoyed the delicious fried rice.

—

“What should I do…”

I lay in the living room, pondering my next stream.

“Hmm…”

There were a few options. Streaming the dungeon’s second floor onwards, or another dungeon stream… not many choices.

“Streamers are amazing… huh?”

Just then, a notification popped up on my phone. It was a message from Nanami.

“Ah, okay.”

I nodded and was about to reply when I heard my sister’s voice at the entrance.

“Hoshi-kun~”
“…!”

Her voice was followed by the sound of her running towards me.

“Hoshi-kun!”
“What’s up?”
“I just greeted our neighbors!”
“Oh, is that so.”

I somewhat hid my phone behind me as I answered.

“Hoshi-kun, did you just hide something?”
“No, not really.”
“Hmmmm.”
“What’s up?”
“Just wondering~”

She looked at me sideways with a pout and then walked away.

“Good thing I hid it.”

I glanced at the message on my phone from Nanami.

“Would you like to collaborate with

me?”