Mob Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni
Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #148
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 148: Information Sharing
"...Mm, shall we take a little
break?"
With
Teacher gone, the atmosphere made it difficult to continue the conversation, so
Anna said that, as if to change the mood.
"Should we have some tea here, or maybe at
someone's Mayoiga?"
"Ah, if that's the case, let's use mine,
since my Audrey just ranked up to Frigg."
""Frigg!""
Anna
and Oribe shouted in unison.
"The one famous as the most luxurious
cross-space card in the world?!"
"When did that happen?! I didn't hear
about it, you know!"
...Come to think of it, with everything that
was going on, I guess I forgot to report Audrey's rank-up to Anna, huh...
"I stumbled on one before the time flow difference
started."
"He~e...! Is it really that amazing?"
"That's something you'll have to see for
yourself."
I
answered. With that, I called out to Audrey, who was standing behind me in
invisible state,
"Audrey."
"As you wish. However, if I deploy
Fensalir right this moment, it will link up with the Hesperides and the
cross-space cards around the school building. Will that be alright?"
Audrey
spoke as she released her invisibility
"Oh..."
I
moved my head,
Now that I think about it, she’s right...
"What should we do?"
"Then, shall we go outside... no, to the
edge of Hesperides? That way, it shouldn't link up with the cross-space cards
for evacuees."
"Good idea."
Nodding
at Anna's words, we moved to the far end of Hesperides.
Audrey
then deployed the otherworldly space, and the surrounding scenery was instantly
painted over. The next thing we knew, we were standing in front of the Fensalir
Palace.
"So, this is the cross-space card they
call the most luxurious in the world, hum? This place, how big is it?"
Anna
asked, looking up at the palace made of mystical blue ore.
It
would be quicker to ask the one in question about the exact specifications.
I
glanced back at Audrey, who stood diagonally behind me, and prompted her with a
look.
"The grounds cover approximately 1,500
hectares. ...Perhaps it would be easier for everyone if I expressed that as 320
Tokyo Domes? The palace section itself is ten Tokyo Domes, and the default
number of rooms is approximately 5,000."
Anna
tilted her head slightly, looking a bit surprised that Audrey replied her so smoothly.
"Hmm, the number of rooms is surprisingly
low for the size. From the exterior, I'd have guessed there were at least ten
thousand rooms."
"Each single room is ridiculously huge,
you know. Even a single-person room is comparable to a luxury hotel's royal
suite. It's fundamentally a palace for goddesses, not humans. It's more about
quality than quantity. Basically—everything about it is just absolutely
luxurious."
Fensalir
was the palace of Frigg and the Goddess Handmaidens who served her. The guests were
gods, and the servants were goddesses. Therefore, even a single servant's room
required an appropriate level of prestige, and nothing about its furnishings
could be described as poor or meager.
"Space-wise, I bet we could easily accommodate
ten times as many people. Well, we wouldn't have enough food to eat if we
packed that many in, though."
"How much food can be generated here per
day?"
"By default, it's for five thousand
people. But we're talking full course meals here—a buffet setup should cover
more."
I
had ordered one before to see how much food a single full-course meal is, and turned
out it was so much that even a growing high school boy with a hearty appetite
couldn't finish it all.
A
buffet style where everyone takes only what they need should consume resources
much more efficiently.
"I see, I see. Then, how much more do you
think could be increased by channeling the resources from the gardens? It's so
vast, so surely it's consuming a considerable amount of resources?"
"The resource usage on the garden isn't
that much, actually. It's ridiculously large, but the palace and garden seem to
consume resources at roughly a 1:1 ratio. There don't appear to be any special
features either, so the main keep is clearly the palace section. So even if we
pour all the resources from the garden section into it, it'd only be about
double at best. And if we allocate some of the palace section's resources to
food..."
"So roughly ten to twenty thousand people
a day, then? Looks like this could cover everyone."
"You're not planning to open Fensalir to
the public, are you?"
I
said, thinking,
That’d be a bit of a problem.
Anna
shook her head, wagging her red tail.
"No. We might temporarily evacuate people
here in certain situations, but it’d be better not to let them live here."
Anna
added that it would likely lead to too much trouble, and both I and Oribe
nodded in agreement.
Once
invited in, some people will absolutely refuse to leave. And once they get used
to the standard of living here, they'll probably start complaining even if we
provide them with Mayoiga-level accommodations comparable to a top-tier inn.
For
everyone's sake, it'd be best to avoid sheltering the evacuees here.
I should probably keep Fensalir hidden using
[Hide and Seek] when deploying it. Better not to invite unnecessary jealousy.
...I know this feels like stating the obvious
now, but jealousy over possessing a powerful card is different from jealousy
over one's standard of living.
"You know..."
I
said, looking around at everyone,
"Let's go inside already."
There
was no need to stand outside talking in front of such a magnificent palace.
The
palace doors swung open of their own accord, and we were drawn inside as if
pulled in.
"Hoo... This is... magnificent..."
Oribe
murmured, seemingly unable to help herself, as she surveyed Fensaril's entrance
hall, meticulously decorated down to the finest detail.
Taking
a moment to calmly observe Fensalir's interior, it was indeed magnificent
enough to stand as art in its own right.
...But honestly, this is a bit too luxurious
for everyday living. I might not be able to relax.
"Goshujin-sama, Ojousama-gata1,
this way please."
As
I pondered such thoughts while surveying Fensaril, Audrey spoke and snapped her
fingers.
With
a rumbling sound, the entrance hall shrank, and the front door loomed before
us.
When
Audrey opened that door, a Japanese-style room
with a calming atmosphere was prepared for us.
"Is this... carried over from
Mayoiga?"
"Yes. Considering your preferences,
Goshujin-sama, I thought this might be more relaxing. If you wish, I can also
provide Japanese cuisine."
"Impressive,"
I
said, nodding in satisfaction.
As expected of Eliza's mentor. Her execution is
flawless.
“Well then, since we've had a break, shall we
organize the important points from the senior's story?”
After
enjoying tea and sweets for a while, Anna spoke up.
Looking
around, she asked,
"...Say, do we have something to write
with?"
"Ah—, Audrey?"
"Yes,"
Audrey
replied to my call and retrieved a whiteboard from her Storage skill. It was
the same one I had used to organize my thoughts during my journey.
"Thank you very much, Audrey-san,"
Anna
thanked her with a friendly smile, then stood before the whiteboard and began
writing smoothly with the marker.
"Now, to organize the key points from
Senpai's story..."
・Specifications
of the new phase
・Athena's
Aegis skill activation
・New
cards and magic items acquired by Senpai
・The
Star Mother Association
・Eliza's
[Hamelin's Flute] skill
・Renge's
special skills like True Amrita and Breakthrough of Limits
"This should cover it, I guess? These are
listed in order of importance to us, from top to bottom."
Hmm... I'll set aside the position of the Star
Mother Association for now.
The Phase specifications are the most
important, followed by Aegis, then the cards and magic items I newly
acquired... and last is True Amrita. Even Eliza's Irregular Encounter
transformation is second to last.
"What's the reason for that order?"
When
I asked, Anna capped her marker as she replied,
"Firstly, this order isn't for you,
Senpai. It's based on importance for us... and by extension, the entire
school."
I
nodded. In other words, the list was prioritized by matters most closely tied
to everyone's safety and such.
"Let me briefly
summarize the situation.
Due
to spatial isolation, we now have to navigate staircases just like in a dungeon
to go to another area/region.
The
difference from a dungeon is that the staircases are, in principle, one-way and
only allow descend.
Which
area they connect to is random and unknown until you try them.
Each
area isn’t as completely isolated as a dungeon floor; even if a card goes to a
different area, it won't get lost.
Beyond
the stairs is a gate and a Gatekeeper guarding it. Monsters within the
Gatekeeper's domain won't attack humans unconditionally like regular monsters,
but they also won’t drop as cards.
The
Gatekeepers have enhanced stats like a dungeon boss and also attained the so
called True Skill..."
"And
the liberation of all monsters from the 'shackles of trial and reward,'
too,"
I
added, supplementing Oribe's statement.
"The Saintess said their purpose was to
grant all monsters the same freedom as the domain monsters, and in this phase,
that goal has been achieved.
If
it’s like that, then from now on, all monsters will no longer drop as cards
simply by being defeated just like the domain monsters. It also seems they
won't unconditionally attack humans anymore, but..."
As
I said this and looked at Anna, she nodded and opened her mouth,
"Spatial isolation, Gatekeepers and True
Skills, the time flow difference... Each has significant effects, but the most
impactful is the future drop of cards.
Cards
are directly tied to everything in our future lives, from defense to food
production. If they stop dropping, it won't just affect us—it will threaten the
survival of all humanity."
Seeing
us nod with serious expressions, Anna continued,
"Apparently, if you have a Cardification
magic item, you can still convert them into cards through negotiation. But that
also carries new dangers.”
Anna
turned her gaze toward me as she spoke, and I nodded back.
"It’s that if people turn them into cards
without knowing anything, they can become cards that have their shackles off,
right?"
I
said, recalling the time I turned Prima into a card.
Fortunately,
in her case, she informed me firsthand, so I was able to find out. But not
every monster would kindly tell you.
Or
rather, they absolutely won’t tell you normally. Prima's case should be
considered an exception.
"Yes. A card without shackles is akin to a
cursed card. If people unaware of this rule turn monsters into cards without
stipulating conditions in a contract, and those cards circulate..."
"It'd be like scattering landmines,
huh?"
So from now on, incidents like Ose's could
happen routinely.
Not only will card drops become scarce,
limiting supply, but we won't even know if cards received from others are
safe...
The only cards we can say to be safe are those possessed
since before Angolmois... No, considering that cursed cards existed even before
Angolmois, we can't even be certain about those.
Not only monsters, but even the cards one
possesses must be suspected. Yet, one cannot survive without cards.
The world ahead will surely become even more
chaotic...
“...Card drops and the issue of unshackled
cards are problems, but the remaining spatial isolation and time flow
difference are also significant concerns."
"The time flow difference, huh."
Oribe
murmured this, then turned to ask me,
"How big is this time flow difference
we’re talking about? ...I know it's huge, given that we can barely communicate
with Senpai before, but how much is it?"
"I don't know the exact figure, but when I
returned to Oragashima from areas where I could contact Tachikawa2 and Ikebukuro, a stay of just a few minutes resulted
in several days passing by. That means the time difference is definitely around
3000 to 4000 times. Since there was no particular time lag in communications
between Tachikawa and Ikebukuro, that much time flow difference must apply
between Tachikawa and Oragashima."
"Three thousand..."
Oribe
was momentarily speechless.
But
she quickly resumed her usual analytical mode.
Impressed
by her composure, I replied,
"According to the Saintess, this time flow
difference varies depending on the number and depth of the dungeons. Areas with
more dungeons would be slowed down, while those with fewer would be sped up.
But she also said that eventually, even areas with few dungeons will see an increase,
so the time flow difference will mostly disappear..."
"I see..."
Oribe
murmured this and fell silent, deep in thought.
Then
Anna spoke up,
"But 3000 to 4000 times... that's nearly
ten years in a single day. It wouldn't be surprising if people outside the
metropolitan area were wiped out by tomorrow."
"I'm not so sure about that."
I
shook my head at Anna's words, spoken with a distant look in her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
“If time moves faster, it means fewer dungeons
exist, and none are deep. Unless a high-rank dungeon suddenly appears, people there
could strengthen themselves by venturing into low-rank ones and adapt to the
post-Angolmois world.”
Like
Reina, many pros dislike the dungeon-dense urban centers and move to the countryside.
If a pro adventurer is present in that area, survival rates would likely
increase further.
"I see... So if you're in an area with
powerful adventurers or companies, you might survive, adapt to the new Phase
mechanics, and build strength?"
Anna
also took on a pensive expression.
While
the Phase progression meant cards no longer dropped unconditionally, looking at
it another way, it meant that even high-rank cards would drop reliably if
negotiations succeeded.
While
I spent a day here, some insane evolutionary leap might have happened out in
the countryside.
When
the time flow difference between the metropolitan area and the countryside
vanished, what would become of the countryside was a complete unknown.
"...By the way, the card drops have stopped,
but what about the Lottery Cards?"
As
if to break the heavy atmosphere, Oribé changed the subject.
"Yeah, let's test it out."
I
took out a Lottery Card and tried using one.
Then
the Lottery Card transformed into a Goblin card without issue.
"Looks like the Lottery Cards still work
just fine."
"In that case, the value of Lottery Cards should
skyrocket from now on. Since you can reliably get safe cards," Oribe said.
"According to Senpai's story, domain
monsters are guaranteed to drop Rare Drops. If all monsters become like domain
monsters, maybe the same applies to drop items?"
True...
Is that how it works?
That would mean that Cardification magic items
and Lottery Cards will also become easier to obtain going forward.
...Thinking about it that way, maybe the
liberation from the shackles of trial and reward isn't all bad.
"Also, what happens if an unshackled card is
used for rank-up? Can they be used for revival?" Oribe posed questions.
"Good question. Even if it worked, it
would be bad if the shackles of the card we're using suddenly came off...,"
I said.
“Using a shackle-free card for rank-ups or such
could potentially remove the shackles from the cards we've been using. Why not
ask a card?” Anna proposed.
“Let's ask.”
I
nodded and summoned Prima.
Then,
seeing her appear,
" "HUuu…………ge!" "
Anna
and Oribe shouted in unison.
“No, no, no—isn't that way too big? Was that
what sirens were like?” Oribe was astonished.
"No, she ranked-up from a Näkki-Neito,
so..."
"Näkki-Neito... Ah, that's the kind of
race you'd like, Senpai. I see. Going out of your way to turn a Näkki-Neito
into a Siren...”
Anna
gazed off into the distance as she spoke.
I
opened my mouth to make some excuse, but nothing came out. I just ended up gaping
like a carp.
No, you are absolutely correct, yes...
"I thought I was pretty big myself, but
seeing this really makes me lose confidence,"
Anna
looked down at her own chest and let out a small sigh.
...When
we first met, her breasts were around a D or E cup. By the time we reunited in
high school, they'd gone up a size. Now, they'd grown another cup size,
estimated at around an F or G cup, continuing their steady growth.
Considering Anna's mother, there's probably
still plenty of room to grow. Given her age, it's more than impressive.
As for Oribe, watching Anna with that hollow
expression... well, no comment.
“Tch... We all know about your kinks, Senpai.
So? What happens if we use an unshackled card for rank-up or revival?”
Slightly
intimidated by Oribe's small click of her tongue, I turned to Prima,
"What do you say, Prima?"
"U-nn, well, the shackles of a card won't
come off just by using a card who has its shackles removed for rank-up or
revival. The card's protections are fundamentally superior. However..."
"However? What is it?"
"Huh? Is it like that?"
I
was surprised and returned it with a question.
Or
rather, all this talk about benefits for rank-ups or no benefits for revival
was completely new to me.
"Yes.
When used for a rank-up, that card may gain skills possessed by the card it
ranks up into the next time they appear in this world. Of course, they can
choose which skills to take and which to discard.”
"""Oohhh~!"""
Hearing
this new information, we all exclaimed in unison.
This
was information we hadn't gotten from any cards before.
"I see,"
We
nodded with interest at Prima's explanation.
"While we're at it, I will ask, why do monsters desire Magic Stones? Does that also relate
to their next appearance in this world?"
"..................."
Oribe
asked, but Prima, for some reason, kept her gaze fixed on me and didn't answer.
"Prima?"
I
called out, puzzled.
Huh? Did she just ignore Oribe?
We
exchanged glances, and Anna questioned Prima next,
"Umm, why is
that knowledge protected? I
mean, I don't see why knowing it would be a problem. Also, why does Prima-san
remember it?”
Prima
still doesn't answer. So, I posed the question instead,
"...Why?"
"That
is something only the 'Mother Sea', who placed the protection, would know. But
I think, wouldn’t it be because she didn't want the relationship between cards
and humans to be purely business-like? The 'Mother Sea' seems to desire that
humans and cards deepen their bonds, so an employment relationship based on
Magic Stones as payment is likely not what the 'Mother Sea' truly wishes for.
The reason I remember it is because I recalled it when I joined a domain, and I
managed not to lose that knowledge even after becoming a card."
"But if she wants
bonds to deepen, why do the cards seem so rigidly constricted?"
"............"
"Prima."
“I
think it comes down to the power disparity. Between fragile humans with short
lifespans and resilient non-humans with long lifespans, it must have been
impossible to deepen bonds without any sort of restraint, right? Well, I do
feel like they put too many shackles on the non-humans.”
I
let out a sigh and asked.
"Just confirming, but you can see
those two over there, right?"
"...? Yes, I can."
"Then why are you ignoring them? You can
hear them, can’t you?"
"Well, if you ask me why..."
Prima
looked genuinely confused, which only made me feel more perplexed myself.
"Haa... Fine, whatever."
Renge,
who had been silent and invisible until now, appeared with a sigh.
Renge,
looking at Prima with an exasperated expression, wore a face that basically
said, "She probably has no interest in anything besides becoming
stronger."
“Come
to think of it, the cards don't really join in human conversations much, do
they..." I asked, remembering.
"But
you guys get along well with my family, right? Especially Ai and Athena?"
"Cards
who are close to their Master sometimes show interest in their Master's close
friends or family too. ...But with Ai and Athena, it's probably because of
their soul resonance."
Resonance?
Souls?
As
I tilted my head in confusion, Renge told me with a serious expression,
"You know that
monsters are beings converted from impending misfortune, right?"
I
nodded.
Back
when I first went to a dungeon's core room, I saw a scene of a drowning boy
among the floating cards.
That
must have been misfortune in the stage of being processed.
"...Athena is probably a monster born from
misfortune tied to Ai. That’s why they resonate with each other on an
existential level."
"Ai?"
I
couldn't help but ask back.
When? When did Ai suffer such a great
misfortune...? Wait, hold on. If I don't know about it, then...?
"So... that's how it was..."
A
shocking truth revealed! ...Well, maybe not quite that dramatic, but my chest
swelled with fresh astonishment at this hidden truth of the dungeon unknown to
us humans. Judging by Anna and Oribe's expressions, they felt the same.
Ah, no wonder Athena's affection for Ai was
unusually high right from their very first meeting.
But a monster born from misfortune, and the
human who served as its core...
――――What would happen if the core human died before
the misfortune was resolved?
I
suddenly wondered about that.
【Tips】Soul Resonance
Cards
fundamentally hold little interest in humans.
This
tendency grows stronger the higher the card's rank.
This
is because the disparity in soul rank between humans and cards is simply too
great.
To
draw an analogy, it's akin to a college student (card) not genuinely feeling
friendship or romantic feelings toward a kindergarten child (human) as an equal
(though exceptions certainly exist...).
If
the Master is akin to 'their own child or a relative’s child' or 'their boss’s
child' among kindergarteners, then other humans are merely on the level of 'a
random kindergartener seen on the side of the road.'
Therefore,
in most cases, they either 'show no interest in anyone besides their Master' or
'show no interest even in their Master.'
On
the other hand, there are cases where a card shows strong interest or concern
toward a human other than their Master from the very beginning.
These
are the individuals with whom they experience ‘Soul Resonance’.
Since
monsters and cards are ‘beings born from misfortune’, the humans responsible
for that misfortune exist.
To
the cards, these humans become figures as close as ‘parents’ or ‘another
version of themselves as humans.’
Therefore,
when a card encounters such a human, their souls resonate, causing the card to
feel either intense kinship or a deep aversion to its own kind.
***
Notes:
1 'Ojousama-gata' is the plural form of 'ojousama' or 'ojousan', which is a respectful term for an unmarried woman.↩
2 Reminder: the school is in Tachikawa ↩
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