Re: Let’s Orb Cooking! Part 1
The scarf situation was… well, “resolved,” I guess, and I headed home.
If it was precious enough for someone to ask about, then it was good it went back to its owner.
I should think of it that way.
Suddenly—
Ah.
Wait.
Didn’t I… kinda mess something up when I repaired it…?
……
Nope.
Nope nope nope.
I don’t know anything.
I reached my room in Sōrin‑kan and checked the mug to see how the Skill Orb was doing.
The Orb was gone.
“Ha—WHAT?!”
Only clear liquid remained in the cup.
What—did someone steal it…?
Just then, the familiar monitor appeared.
■ Liquid (Orb Dissolution)
Orb Re‑use: Failed
Recommended Use: Supplemental nutrient for plants
…So it melted.
And the melted liquid can be used for something else.
I poured it onto the green onions growing by my window.
“Grow big, okay?”
I had no idea that this single sentence would cause me so much trouble later.
Well, I guess I’ll have to wait until I find another empty Skill Orb to experiment again.
Ah—
But maybe if I submit a request, I could buy one someone else finds?
I’ll ask at the counter tomorrow.
The next day
I checked the green onions.
No visible change.
Even if it’s “nutrient,” maybe it’s only a tiny effect…
I headed to work.
Today was Marui again, but apparently they were short on staff, so they asked if I could continue from the fifth floor through the connecting passage to the neighboring dungeon, Marui Ichijōkan.
It meant overtime, but with the Skill Orb situation, I agreed immediately.
Up to the fifth floor, nothing unusual—cleaning went quickly.
I pushed the caster‑mounted trash bin through the connecting passage.
Then my anti‑monster beacon at my waist reacted.
I moved to the side of the passage and pressed the stealth mode button on the trash bin.
It blended into the surroundings, and anything adjacent to it—including me—also gained the same camouflage.
It only hid us visually, though—sound and smell still leaked normally.
I held my breath, staying perfectly still.
A creature appeared—child‑sized, green skin, swollen belly, holding a club.
A goblin.
Not strange for the fifth floor, but it looked like a group.
If a large cluster formed, it could get dangerous.
I should report this later.
Just as I thought that, the goblin at the rear suddenly noticed something and started looking around.
Crap…
I covered my mouth with my hand, breathing slowly to avoid making noise or scent.
The goblin approached, sniffing, searching.
This is bad—
It’s going to find me.
My heart pounded violently.
Please…
Quiet down…
