Mob
Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #44
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 44:
Please, Give Me Another Chance (2)
The
journey to the bottom floor went extremely smoothly.
As
expected of two-star and three-star adventurers, the monsters along the way
were nothing. The floors were only a few, so it didn't take long for us to
reach the bottom floor, and we even defeated the boss in the bottom floor.
"Hmmm,
indeed, in an F-rank dungeon, even the boss is no different from those small
fry."
Anna
laughed as she looked at the corpse, or rather, the magic stone of Onmoraki,
the boss of the dungeon.
The
face of Onmoraki1, who was killed by Yuki's blow, had displayed a look of
indescribable melancholy on it.
".....The
Hound Master shows no sign of attacking us at the moment."
When
I said that while looking around, Oribe nodded.
“Well,
basically it seems like Hound Master is targeting individuals. I guess it’s
because if they target two or more people, the chances of them escaping go up
significantly. Besides… Senpai has already been targeted by the other party
once. Of course, they will think that you came to the dungeon after taking
measures to escape. Unless Senpai has very solid evidence or their reason for
targeting Senpai is unique, I don't think Senpai will be targeted by the
criminal.''
"I
see......."
Indeed,
if you think about it normally, if someone's life was targeted, but they
immediately crawled into the dungeon, wouldn't the culprit think they had some
kind of countermeasure?
In
fact, even though I'm relying on Anna and Oribe, I've prepared magic cards for
evacuation.
The
information at hand about the criminals was not necessarily traced directly to
the Hound Master.
As
for Renge, she was the only one from my point of view, but I can't say that
there are no other cards like her.
Then
I guess the culprit would be more likely to go after other unsuspecting prey
rather than messing around with me any further.
I
was relieved that I wasn't likely to be attacked at the moment, but
disappointed that I couldn't be used as bait to lure the culprit out of the
water when the time came.
"Now for
the..... disappointment box. Yeah, it's just a potion....By the way, what about
the distribution?"
After
collecting the reward for conquering the dungeon, I suddenly thought of the
question and asked Anna.
"Right...
The actual amount is not very much and I would like to say that you can go
ahead and take it... BUT, since this is something that concerns the future, I'm
going to say it here."
Anna
said seriously,
"We will
adopt a per-capita system for income based on contract fees after expenses are
deducted.''
I
understand what she mean by deducting the expenses and split them by heads,
but... contract fees?
When
I tilted my head, Oribe added,
"The
contract fee system is a common practice in professional teams. When a team
invites an adventurer who is more talented than the average adventurers on the
team, a certain amount of money is first given as a contract fee, with the
agreement that the profit will be split among the team's members in the
future."
"Oh,
it's like that......"
I
often hear that the distribution of rewards was a source of trouble for
adventurers who form parties.
The
best way to avoid such a problem was to divide the reward based on the number
of people in the party. However, if there was a difference in the strength of
the members in the party, there would inevitably be a difference in the degree
of contribution to the strategy, and dissatisfaction would build up among the
party members.
However,
if rewards are to be differentiated depending on the degree of contribution,
then there will be a dispute over how to calculate the degree of contribution.
Was
it simply that the more enemies you kill, the higher your contribution? If so,
wouldn't it mean those with cards that only emphasize firepower have an
advantage? How do we evaluate those that contribute to the party with recovery,
auxiliary skills, or special skills? How do we compensate for the loss or
contribution of those that ended with Lost cards along the way? And so on. The
tussles were endless.
I hear that
parties like university adventurers' clubs, where parties were fixed from the
beginning and there was a hierarchical structure of senior and junior members,
were relatively stable, but I also hear that the average amateur adventurer's party
was in a lot of flux.
In
addition, the distribution of rewards for parties continued to be a headache
for adventurers, as there was much debate over how to distribute the drops of
cards and magic items, not to mention magic stones, and taxes were also a
factor in when they were to be redeemed for cash.
I came thus
far as a solo adventurer partly because I didn't want to deal with the hassle
of such relationships.
In that
sense, the contract fee system, in which money is initially given in the form
of a contract fee, and thereafter the parties agree to split the payment on a
head-to-head basis, seemed to be an excellent way of doing things.
Well, I
think we'll still need to have a lot of discussions...
“Well, I
think it would be good if we can discuss the specific details next time, but
for now, please understand that our basic policy is tsplit the reward on a
per-head basis.”
"Okay, I
understand."
I nodded at
Anna's words, thinking that it wasn't something we should discuss inside the
dungeon.
"Well,
we've been on guard all this time, but it doesn't look like the Hound Master is
going to attack us, so let's be bold here and split up into three groups to
search the floors!"
"Understood.
If anything happens, please contact each other immediately."
The map was
easily divided into three sections, and each section was assigned to a
different person.
Now that I
was alone, I decided to call Suzuka, taking turns with Dragonet to increase our
manpower first.
The
humanoid Suzuka was also better suited to detailed tasks such as searching for
things.
......Now
that I think of it, I owe Suzuka an apology.
She had
advised me before I went down to the bottom floor last time, and I had disregarded
her advice.
I must first
apologize to her for not believing her.
With that
in mind, I switched Dragonet and called her out......
"……Fufufufufu!"
For
some reason, Suzuka appeared with a conceited and proud look on her face.
I
was puzzled by this unprecedented pattern of entrance.
"Hey
hey, Master? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Suzuka
asked me that in a sticky voice and tone.
Thi,
this punk....... Although I thought like that, I bowed my head to her.
"I am
sorry that I ignored Suzuka-san's advice and rushed into the bottom floor,
causing a great deal of suffering."
“Kyahahaha!
Right!? Right!?”
Suzuka
clapped her hands and got very excited. She seemed to be in high spirits,
exuding extreme emotion like the demon she was.
The
sight of her made me think, 'Huh? Maybe I didn't need to apologize?'
"Aww! Even though I
gave you that much advice. Because of that, that Zashikiwara...puff (*holding
back laughter). From now on, you'll have to listen to me properly. Heey, do you
understand?"
"......Kh."
I
gritted my teeth inwardly at Suzuka's seemingly sarcastic line.
After
all, she...is a genius at making people irritated.
To
begin with, she said she gave me so much advice, but that advice was just
'something didn't feel right', and it pissed me off that she used it as a
springboard for a sermon.
It
doesn't help that she seemed to be clearly happy about the death of her
comrades.
...However,
it was a fact that I did not follow the advice.
Also,
she is not responsible for Renge and the others' deaths.
That
was why, although irritated, I'm holding on.
"----Suzuka-san.
You can't talk like that, you know?"
The
one who said that sharply was Yuki, who was watching the situation closely.
Yuki's
eyes seemed to be lit up with a quiet anger, which was unusual for her.
"Renge-san
and the others sacrificed themselves to let the Master escape. I don't think we
should laugh at that."
Suzuka
looked at Yuki intently.
"Ah, you
are finally one of the 'special' ones, aren't you? Ah~, I'm envious of you.
Indeed, I am envious. Well, when that Zashiki child chose you? I knew it would
happen so~medaaaay."
Yes,
she spit it out in an abhorrent manner.
What the? What is Suzuka
saying?
Yuki
also seemed puzzled by Suzuka's words and behavior.
"Hey,
Master~... Even though I appear like this, I really like you, you know?"
Suzuka
rubbed up against me as if clinging to me. A sensual fragrance that invites a
man tickled my nostrils softly.
"Although
you has a little talent for playing cards and have nothing special, the way you
fight against the tide is ...... pathetic and beautiful."
Suzuka's
eyes were slightly moist as she said that, and she seemed to be tinged with
heat.
"That's
why... it's so painful to see you being swept away and ripped to shreds by the
arrogance of those who are ...... so special."
I
couldn't move a muscle as I was enchanted by her eyes, which were filled with
various emotions...... such as pity, compassion, and pleading for help.
It
was not due to some strange perception, like in the past, but to her own
charm,.......
"Special
ones always place high demands on the ordinary people around them, ......
because they can naturally handle those demands. Because for them, it's
something they can do as a matter of course. Attracted by the light they
radiate, ordinary people, no matter how hard they try to live up to it, will
eventually be shaken out of it......."
It
was common to hear that those who are highly capable demand high standards from
those around them.
There
was even a story of a company that turned black when a talented employee was
made president.
However,
Suzuka's voice, with her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, seemed to be filled with
her own real feelings, rather than such a generic statement.
This
is strange. Cards lose their memory every time they change masters'
hands.......
Perhaps
she had once struggled under a 'special' master, only to be dismissed.
Even
though she had lost her memory, perhaps her feelings of that time are still
stuck in her soul.
"Everyone
has their own way of life. The way I see it, ...... right now is the very edge
for Master. If you are satisfied here, just let it be and have a good time with
me. Don't worry, I'll be with you until the very end."
“……………………………………………………”
Suzuka
seduced me with a flirtatious smile, but with a seriousness I had never seen
before.
Perhaps,
in her own way, she was thinking of me when she said that.
It's
just that her direction was the exact opposite of that of Renge and the others.
If
Renge is the type who encourages the masters by giving thema pep talk, Suzuka
is the type who puts on the brakes and keeps them so that they don't overdo it.
It
was up to each individual to decide which one they preferred.
As
for me, I honestly feel more comfortable with...... Suzuka's direction.
I
had always been an introvert and would rather choose the safe choice of neither
success nor failure than taking on the challenge where either glory or doom
awaits.
Before
becoming an adventurer, I thought it would be enough to have normal friends, go
to school normally, go on to higher education or get a job normally, and if
possible, go out with a girlfriend with big bosoms.
I
already earn enough money as a three-star adventurer, and I can earn a certain
amount of respect. There was no need for me to push myself any further in terms
of my livelihood.
The
lukewarm idea of maintaining my present life is very appealing.
But.
"Suzuka......
I understand where you're coming from. Honestly, I'm happy. But...I've decided
that I want to try going as far as I can."
According
to Suzuka, I'm attracted to the light emitted by someone special, by Renge.
That's
certainly true.
But after
all, it is also my will.
It
is my own desire to see what lies ahead after walking with Renge and the
others.
Suzuka
gazed into my eyes and ......
"...........
Haa〜〜〜h"
She
sighed loudly.
"As
expected, I'm not good enough, huh......?"
"......What?"
I
asked Suzuka, who looked seriously depressed, feeling a little guilty, but she
asked me back softly with wet eyes,
"...What
if I told you that if you choose me, I'll do a lot of naughty things with
you?"
"!?!?"
Well... well,
that's cheating!
I
was fuming. I don't know any women. I am a virgin. I've been living by hanging
out with male friends and with my right hand as my lover. But I was more
interested in the female body than others.
You should
have told me those important points at the beginning! You're making all
kinds of mistakes!
I think it's
not fair when you're cool with it and then bring it up after I can't take it
back!
"...Wha~t?
I know you'll refuse. Anyway, I don't have the same charm as her~"
Suzuka
crossed her arms as if trying to hold her own with that statement. The voluptuous
cleavage of her chest, which looked like two watermelons stuffed together, was
emphasized, and my eyes were glued to her.
"We-
well, I wonder about that."
I
mean, in that sense, it's extremely attractive. But now I couldn't even put my
foot down despite the pulling.
......Won't
you give me one more chance to negotiate with you? You see, even the
wicked and evil king gave Melos2 one more chance. I'll even offer you the
East-West duo as hostages if you like.
"......Master."
"Ha......!"
...Yuki
was looking at us with a stunned look in her eyes!
Damn...I
guess I have no choice but to back off for now.
"Ah,
cough, ...Well then, Suzuka, I'm sorry, but could you please go look for clues
about the missing person?"
"Yes,
yes. Understood. I'm off then."
"Yeah,
I'm counting on you."
I
saw Suzuka off as she lazily headed off on her search.
......Missed
the big fish, huh?
I
was disappointed.
[Tips] Local
Skills
Local
skills are special skills that can only be manifested by monsters in a specific
region. In addition to Japanese ninjutsu, there are also Chinese hermetic arts
and Norse rune magic.
On
the other hand, normal skills that can be acquired by all cards, such as
elementary to advanced attack magic, are called global skills.
Global
skills are highly versatile, but tend to fit into a certain pattern, while
local skills are less versatile, but tend to have distinctive qualities.
Cards
with local skills are also called ninja, kunoichi3, sennin4, etc., and are very
popular.
***
Notes:
1 Onmoraki are bird-like monsters with black feathers, bright eyes that shine like lanterns, and a ghastly human face. They are skilled mimics, and shake their feathers as they give off their shrill, terrifying call. Onmoraki come from the bodies of the recently deceased.↩
2 From Japanese short story titled [Run, Melos!], which seems to be used in exams often. ↩
3 Female shinobi or practitioner of ninjutsu ↩
4 Sennin (Hermit, Sage, or Immortal) is a title that is associated with the beings who have trained a long time, granting them longevity, which includes powers of regeneration. ↩
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