An Old Man Restaurant Owner Is Unparalleled by Relying on His Old Tricks. It Turns Out, He’s the Legendary Dungeon Conqueror. - 28

Chapter 28: If My Adorable Niece Is the One Asking

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After that, Mizusawa-san kept coming to my restaurant to try to persuade me to accept the promotion. Apparently his subordinate, Abukuma-san, was relieved of duty from trying to convince me since she never came along with him since their first visit.

“If you become an S-rank explorer, your dungeon tax rate will drop from 20% to 5%. This is incredibly low, even by global standards.”

“I’m not doing this to make a fortune in the first place.”

“Your pension will receive a significant increase too! You can have a stable and secure future!”

“You can increase it all you want, but I’m sure it won’t amount to much in the end.”

“Then at least A-Rank….!”

“I’m sorry, I will have to decline.”

“Leaving a global sensation explorer as an F-Rank will jeopardize the country’s dignityyyy!”

“I mean, even if you say that to me…”

I refused to budge no matter how many times they tried to convince me. While it was true that becoming S-rank came with huge sets of benefits, but it also came with a lot of downsides. Like I had to follow through mandatory summons. Besides, I only started livestreaming my dungeon explorations only to promote my restaurant. Over the past few days, representatives from government agencies such as the national security guard, the police, private companies, national research institutions, explorers, religious organizations, and even foreign agents had come to scout me. Of course, I turned them all down.

Then, one day…

“Heya!~ Uncle Kenichi, long time no see!”

“Oh! If it isn’t Nanoha! It’s been a while!”

After closing time, Nanoha, my niece, came to my restaurant. She was the daughter of my big sister. She had just graduated after studying at a university in Hiroshima for 4 years and moved to Tokyo this April to start her new job. I had heard she was quite busy since she had to get used to her new job. I lived in Western Tokyo, which technically was still within Tokyo. I had told her that we should go out for a meal sometimes, but she was so busy so we hadn’t been able to meet until now. Her sudden visit really caught me off guard, especially since she came all the way here to visit me at my restaurant.

“Wait, you’re still in your suit?”

“Yep. Actually, I’m still working.”

“It’s already past 9 PM though? You must be really busy, huh? Have you had dinner yet?”

“Nope.”

“Then have a sit. I will make you something to eat.”

“Eh? Really? Yay! I love the food you, Uncle! After all, everything you make tastes so delicious!”

“Haha~ Well, I am a professional chef after all.”

“But before that, I have something to talk about.”

“Something to talk about?”

“Ah, here. This is my business card.”

Nanoha said as she handed me her business card. I looked at the business card and it was written on the card that she was working for the Dungeon Management Agency.

“Huh? Dungeon Management Agency?”

“Yep, that’s where I work.”

“Huh?”

I was at a loss for words. I was completely caught off guard by this unexpected information.

“I had heard that you got a job at the government agency, but… I never imagined it was the Dungeon Management Agency.”

Nanoha had always been an excellent child since she was little, but it still surprised me when I heard she had secured a job in the central government agency. After all, getting a job in the central government agency was not an easy feat. But still, I didn’t expect it would be the Dungeon Management Agency. 

“I thought any positions related to dungeons are quite popular among the young people. The competition must be high, huh?”

“Yeah, it is. I was lucky, I guess.”

“You can’t get a job in the central government agency with just mere luck. You know, Uncle has been talking with someone from the Dungeon Management Agency recently.”

“I know. That’s why I came here.”

“Huh?”

With a friendly smile on her face, Nanoha nonchalantly revealed the true reason why she had come to my restaurant in a suit at this late in the night.

“You see, the people at my workplace found out that I’m your niece. So the superiors asked me to come here to try to persuade you. Well, I’m not in the explorer management department though. The superior that asked for my help is not from my department.”

“I see.”

“The job is tough, but I can manage just fine. But Uncle, you’re so stubborn that even Department Head Mizusawa was at his wit’s end. In fact, not only the Department Head but even the Minister was begging me to come here to talk with you. They wouldn’t stop pestering me, so here I am.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m a chef by profession. I don’t want dungeon diving to become my main job.”

In fact, I went to dungeons just to get ingredients for me to cook.

“But still, if Nanoha is the one asking, I suppose I can’t refuse it anymore. Fine. Go ahead and assign me as an S-rank explorer.”

“Really? Are you sure?!”

“Yeah. My adorable niece is the one asking for it after all.”

“Well, technically speaking, I haven’t asked you yet, Uncle.”

Nanoha smiled wryly before she continued. 

“Anyway. Department Head Mizusawa, it looks like Uncle agrees to become an S-rank explorer.”

“SO FASTTTTTTTTTT!! THAT’S TOO DAMN FASTTTTTTT!!

Mizusawa-san came bursting into the shop while shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Just now, it was just a prank, right??? You were just testing us, right??? I mean, why did you agree to it so easily?! What about all my hard work over the past few weeeeeeeks?!?!?!”

It seemed Mizusawa-san had been listening to our conversation from outside. I mean, of course a request from a middle-aged man like him couldn’t hold a candle against a request from my adorable niece. 

“Ahahaha~ Like I told you, Department Head Mizusawa, Uncle has always been lenient with me. I knew he’d fold easily if I’m the one asking.”

“But still, I didn’t expect he’d be the stupid doting uncle type…”

Mizusawa-san groaned, seemingly exasperated.

I can hear you, you know? Well, not like I’m oblivious to it though. I know I’m the stupid doting type. After all, I don’t have children of my own, so my nieces became the apple of my eyes.

“In return, please take good care of her at work. Don’t ever try to bully her or abuse her.”

“Ye-Yes, of course.”

“Wai-?! Uncle! Geez! I’m not a child anymore, you know!”

Nanoka quipped in a slightly stronger tone than usual. Her face was bright red from embarrassment.

“Ah, right… I guess… Yeah, you’re right, Nanoha…”

I felt a bit sad because she was angry at me. Well, of course. She was already an adult. A capable adult at that. Someone who passed the rigorous exam to become a public servant. I reflected on my actions. It wasn’t my place to interfere. After all, she was already an adult. She could take care of herself. 

“She’s a promising newcomer and we already intend to nurture her with care even without Nishida-sama saying so. Uncle-sama, I hope you can also see how much she will grow in our agency.”

Mizusawa-san quickly said. His face seemed a bit stiff though, probably because he was trying to hide his exasperation from being the witness of how doting I was with my niece.

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