Mob Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni
Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #155
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Translator(s) note: If all goes well, by next week, we should be able to go back to one update per week like before~
Episode 155: Scroll of Doppelganger
"————And so, I've decided to Calm all the
dungeons in Ikebukuro."
After returning to Tachikawa,
I explained the situation to Anna and Oribe.
I would Calm all of the dungeons
in Ikebukuro and wipe out all the monsters on the surface in exchange for them lifting
the shelter's barrier and let me in...
Kurohara-san's—or rather, the Izayoi
Shoji's reaction to my proposal had been something along the lines of,
"Hmm... well, if you can actually pull that off, then by all means, please
do?" but he did promise that once I completed the task, they would lift
the barrier and welcome me in.
As a note, the moment he gave
his word, a formal contract was established through Frigg’s Authority.
He might have thought it was
just a casual promise, thinking, "There's no way he can do that,"
but Frigg's Authority doesn't require both parties to fully grasp the gravity
of the pact, so long as a ‘fair exchange’ is being made.
Therefore, once I fulfill my
end of the bargain, a binding force would compel Kurohara-san to 'execute the
contract'. If he fails to honor it, a penalty equivalent to the value I
provided would be imposed.
In this case, since
Kurohara-san negotiated and contracted with me in his capacity as 'the Senior
Managing Director of Izayoi Shoji', should the promise be broken, the
consequences would fall not only on Kurohara-san but on Izayoi Shoji itself.
Specifically, the barrier
would be forcibly deactivated or nullified.
It may be a form of ‘sneak
attack’, but I see no moral issue with it. After all, the barrier will be
lifted only after I have already eliminated the surrounding threats.
Now, once I Calm all the dungeons in Ikebukuro
and sweep away the monsters on the surface, my entire family will finally be
reunited. However...
"The problem is the new B-rank dungeon
that have popped up in Ikebukuro, yes?"
Anna said after hearing my explanation.
"With your current strength, Senpai, any
number of C-rank dungeons or lower shouldn't be an issue. You can clear them
right up to the Boss rooms, then sweep the surface monsters. Take down the
high-rank dungeons in turn. For each cleared dungeon, seal its entrance with a
Cross-space card to prevent it from having its Calm state lifted. Depending on
the situation, completely Calming or eliminating D-rank or lower dungeons should
be fine. This should allow you to
achieve region-wide dungeon Calm."
The
task itself was simply a larger-scale version of the Calming of all the
dungeons on Oragashima. You could say the manual for how to do it
was already in place.
"The remaining hurdle is whether or not
you can conquer the B-rank dungeon. That's all there is to it. Since we have to
defend the school, we won't be able to assist you with the dives. ...In other
words, this will be a solo challenge."
Anna leaned forward slightly,
peering into my eyes as she posed the question,
“I’ll ask you straight: What are your actual
odds of success?"
Odds of success, huh?
Only a dozen or so people
worldwide have confirmed solo B-rank dungeon clears. Even then, most of them
were backed by nations staking their prestige on the outcome. The number of
truly solo conquests was said to be only a handful globally.
In other words, soloing a
B-rank dungeon would be synonymous with standing among the world’s most elite
adventurers. When asked if I had that kind of confidence...
" Honestly, I can only say it depends on
the field effects and the total number of floors..."
The field effects of a B-rank
dungeon are said to be double of a C-rank. This applies to both main and
sub-effects, meaning challenger often deals with four overlapping effects per
floor.
If even one of the main
effects includes heavy debuffs like Transfer Nullification, Skill Sealing, or
Summoning Restriction, clearing the dungeon would be virtually impossible.
Furthermore, multiple
corridors become the default in B-rank dungeons, and branching paths often
appear at relatively shallow floors. It's common to deal with three or more
separate paths simultaneously.
The depth of a B-rank dungeon
was said to be between 51 and 100 floors, but the actual number of floors could
be several times that.
"But Calming it down like that is just a
last resort. It shouldn’t be a problem," I said.
"Last resort?"
"Clearing the dungeon isn’t the only
method to Calm a dungeon. It can also be done by defeating the dungeon Boss
that has come up to the surface. Since there’s at least one A-rank in the
Ikebukuro area..."
"Then, defeating it can lead to Calming
without having to complete a full dive?"
Anna said, also finishing my
sentence. I nodded in response.
"I see. That would significantly reduce
the effort required to Calm. If that's the case, you'd only need to clear the
C-rank and lower dungeons?"
"Hmm... But what about the possibility
that the A-rank monster came from elsewhere? Or the risk that the actual
dungeon Boss has traveled to another area?" Oribe pointed out.
"That’s possible."
I admitted, acknowledging
Oribe's concern,
"But the likelihood is quite low.
Timing-wise, A-rank monster emergence on the surface should be at same time as
the spatial isolation. There wouldn't have been enough time for an A-rank to go
to another area or for an A-rank to wander in from another place."
Until I entered the dungeon
where the Pied Piper of Hamelin lurked, no A-rank had been seen on the surface.
It was only after the spatial
isolation that A-ranks began appearing. Considering that, it made sense to
assume the A-rank in the Ikebukuro area was the dungeon's boss.
With an "I see,"
Oribe nodded, seemingly satisfied with my reasoning. I continued,
"Besides, even if your concerns are right
and I’m forced to tackle a B-rank dungeon, it still doesn’t mean I have to
clear it to the very end, you know?"
"Why is that?"
Anna asked, looking puzzled. I
answered her question,
" Even if I can't break through the B-rank
dungeon, if I can get a card or magic item that can breach the shelter's
Absolute Barrier during the attempt, that's good enough. Right?"
Absolute Release skill—a skill
that nullifies the effects of all other skills, except for pseudo-safe zones.
If I can get my hands on that,
the Absolute Barrier is as good as gone.
My primary objective is, and
always has been, to reunite with my dad. If I secure a counter-Absolute Barrier
skill along the way, there’s zero need to bother grinding through to the end of
the B-rank dungeon,
Going so far as to draw up a
contract with Izayoi Shoji using Frigg's Authority was merely a contingency
plan for when no other means was found.
Anna and Oribe nodded in
understanding. I kept going,
"Besides, since the Phases advanced, the
monsters' behavior patterns have changed too. Depending on the situation, B-rank
dungeons might actually be easier now than they were before Angolmois."
The fact that monsters now
possess egos akin to cards means they won't necessarily resort to violence upon
sighting humans.
Sometimes things can be worked
out through negotiation. If a floor has a Skill Sealing effect, passing through
it by hiring the monsters guarding that floor as escorts... that might even be
possible.
"Hiring dungeon monsters as escorts, huh?
I never thought of that," Oribe said.
"That's the kind of idea only Senpai,
someone who actually makes deals with domain monsters, would come up
with!" Anna smiled.
The two of them seemed
impressed after hearing my idea.
Getting praised like this by
smart people made me feel rather proud.
"Fortunately, my father's safety is more
or less guaranteed for now. I'll approach this with a safety margin, building
up my strength."
"Yes. I think that’s the right call,"
Anna said, her smile laced
with relief.
... I suspect she would have
tried to stop me if I’d planned to tackle the B-rank dungeon with nothing but
blind hope.
Even if it meant leaving my
dad behind and ruining our friendship, she would’ve stepped in if she thought
I’d lost my mind.
Seeing that I had a proper
plan thought out clearly took the weight off her shoulders.
"That’s the deal. I'll be back up to solo
action for the time being, so..."
I bowed my head, feeling a bit
guilty, but they both just laughed—the sign for “you don’t need to finish
that.”
"Ah, please don’t worry about that," Anna
said.
"Besides, you’ve already paid us in
advance. Leave the fort to us," Oribe added.
I breathed out a quiet sigh of
relief, realizing that they seemed willing to let off this level of absence
with the cards I had given them earlier.
"By the way, about the the Star Mother
Association..."
Once that conversation had
settled, Anna broached the subject,
"Star Guide and Five Star General, was it?
They mentioned granting you a position with quite a few privileges…"
"Yeah. Apparently, they’re generous enough
to offer a dedicated B-rank deck for the Five Star Generals."
"B-rank, and a deck at that..."
Anna placed a hand on her chin
and pondered... Then, her red hair swayed as she firmly shook her head,
" It seems tempting at first glance, but
it's far too dangerous. It could become a worm in the lion’s body1."
"Mhmm. There is a high probability—no, a
certainty—that the shackles on those cards have been removed. You shouldn't
accept that," Oribe also commented.
I nodded in agreement with
their words.
A B-rank deck sounds promising, but considering
the shackles are off, it's no different from a deck of cursed cards.
There was no reason to invite
a potential spy into my inventory.
"Why not tell them you don't need the
cards, but you’ll take magic items instead? If it's a replacement for a B-rank
deck, surely you can get something really good?" Anna suggested.
"Good point… I might even snag some Key
Items that way. It doesn’t hurt to ask."
While I can't accept
cards—since they're likely cursed cards—siphoning resources not only
strengthens me but also weakens the other party.
I should actively ask for magic items and
supplies. ...They probably—no, definitely—won't turn me down.
“That means it’s better to choose the Five Star
General that offer more freedom for expeditions and such rather than the Star
Guide who's bound to the shelter, isn't that so?"
"Seems so. No point in getting stuck with
their internal affairs..." I replied.
"And if it's the Five-Star General,
there's also the chance you can use Star Mother Association personnel for the
surface monster cleanup operation in Ikebukuro..."
Oribe added, before a thought
seemed to strike her,
"Star Guide and Five Star General. Both
positions hold a certain level of personnel authority, don't they? What if we
used that to stir up some chaos inside the Association?"
Sabotage from the inside, huh?
I considered Oribe’s
suggestion for a moment but eventually shook my head,
"...No, that’s no good. Right now, openly
showing hostility is far too scary."
Indeed, using my authority
over personnel to disrupt the Star Mother Association from within—an
organization with such a rigid class system—might inflict significant damage.
If I arbitrarily promoted
someone who hadn't made any major contributions before Angolmois and demoted
someone who'd made substantial donations all the way to the lowest rank, it
would provoke the believers' anger. Ultimately, it would lead to a loss of
faith in the Saintess for appointing a ‘latecomer’ like me to the
second-highest rank in the first place.
But that would also draw the
Saintess’s direct wrath.
I shouldn't poke the beehive
until I have a solid counter-strategy in place.
"You're right. For now, it's better to
focus on building up as much strength as possible while they’re still in
'appeasing mode'."
Oribe, apparently not being
all that serious, backed down easily.
At that moment, Anna clapped
her hands together,
"Oh, right. While you were in Ikebukuro,
we got word from the Tachikawa Guild."
"Hoo, within the same day? That was
surprisingly quick."
I’d expected them to spend at
least two or three days bickering in meetings before getting back to us...
"They must have caught a serious case of
cold feet after seeing your cards, Senpai," Anna told me.
"Humm. Any apology?"
"There wasn't one. They just said they
wanted to discuss accepting evacuees as soon as possible."
Well, they weren’t going to
wave the white flag on the very first move. They likely want to engineer a
'soft landing'—resolving the situation while keeping the question of who’s
actually at fault as vague as possible.
The Guild has its pride, after all. On the
surface, they won’t offer apologies or formal recompense; instead, they’ll
probably try to frame the compensation as 'special measures' or 'support'.
We aren't obligated to play along, but we want
a soft landing just as much as they do. There's no need to unnecessarily
escalate things.
But in that
case, compensation that isn't directly tied to support the evacuees'
livelihoods might be difficult? They probably won't want to part with their
cards either, so is there anything else I actually want from the Guild...? Hmm,
tough call.
"Will Senpai be present at the
meeting?"
"Let's see... where will the negotiations
take place?"
"They said they'd be coming over. I
suggested we could head over to the Guild, but they politely declined."
As expected, they're on guard, aren't they? At
least they’re aware of their own scheming.
"It would help a lot if you could
attend..."
"Hmm, I don't mind going, but..."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder how things
are going on Oragashima.”
It had been over a full day
here, meaning nearly ten years had passed there. Of course, if new dungeons had
appeared on their side during that timeframe, the time difference would be
reduced, so it would actually be less than that. Still, several years would
have passed.
I told them to contact me if a
critical emergency occurred, so the lack of news likely means they're safe... Still,
I'd like to go check on things there around this time.
"Ah, I see. Oragashima..."
"Hey, Anna, are you maybe not too fond of
the idea of moving to Oragashima?"
I asked the question directly,
noticing the subtle, conflicted look crossing her face.
"It’s not so much that I’m against it,
it’s more that I just can’t quite reach a decision... Because of the difference
in time flow, we have no idea how much the island has changed since you were
last there. And if the time flow difference has somewhat narrowed, it means the
number of dungeons over there wouldn’t be much different from here, right? And
so, I’ve been wondering… just Calming the dungeons and sweep the monsters right
here in Tachikawa instead of forcing a move to Oragashima might be a viable
option too...?"
Ah... I see. That’s a fair point. If the
dungeon density is roughly the same, securing Tachikawa is a perfectly viable
alternative…
The Guild here remains a thorn in our side as a
potential enemy, but from Anna’s perspective, Oragashima holds the same risk.
In fact, if Oragashima has managed to keep up
with the dungeon Calming work all this time and maintained its safety, their
forces likely surpass even the Guild’s.
Arguably,
their latent danger level might even exceed that of the Tachikawa Guild.
On the other hand, if Oragashima didn't have
that kind of force, the whole benefit of moving there vanishes anyway…
"Of course, Oragashima's seafood is
something very desirable, and maintaining friendly relations with Oragashima to
establish trade is very welcome. But moving to live there is another matter
entirely, I think," Anna told me.
" I should add that, from our perspective,
we're also uneasy about you transferring around to various places, Senpai. You
know, like, what if we get separated again?" Oribe chimed in.
"Regarding Ikebukuro, we understand it's
necessary for you to reunite with your father. But as for other transfers...
we'd prefer it if you keep them to a minimum whenever possible. That's our
honest feeling..."
I see...
Their fears were perfectly
justified. I’d always had a nagging worry in the back of my mind that I might
get stuck at a destination, unable to return. That was exactly why I hadn't
been popping over to check on Oragashima while I was in Tachikawa.
Given that I could move freely
between Ikebukuro and the Star Mother Association shelter, I was 99% certain it
would be fine. Still, imagining the worst-case scenario definitely put a
psychological brake on making transfers lightly.
...Well, even if transfer using the Hamelin's
Flute became impossible, I still have the Star Mother Association route as
insurance. But that is a lifeline that depends entirely on Star Mother
Association—hardly something I can fully trust.
I understood perfectly why the
two of them felt uneasy about it.
"Why not try contacting them via Card Gear
before you actually teleport? That should also tell us how much the time gap has
narrowed."
"That's true. I'll give it a shot."
Nodding at Oribe's suggestion,
I decided to send a message to Yujin-san.
Hmm, what should I write?
『You doing okay? Still alive?』
...That should do. It sorta feels like sending
a LINE2 message to an ex-girlfriend after
years, but in the current situation, there's probably no more fitting wording
than this.
About a minute after hitting
send, a reply came back,
『Alive and kicking (lol). How
about you? (lol)』
He replied in this kinda annoying
tone, probably matching mine.
『I’m good. I managed to reunite
with my friends. No luck with my old man yet though—it’s complicated. How’s the
situation over there?』
Two or three minutes passed
before the next reply arrived.
『About seven years have passed
here since you left, Kitagawa. Been through a lot, but we're managing somehow.
Dungeons have spiked lately, so the difference in time flow seems to have
narrowed a lot? I don't really feel any lag even when we're texting like this.
There’s a lot I want to catch you up on, so it’d be a big help if you could
drop by soon.』
Hmm... Looking at this, it seems like we’re
messaging in real-time. If the time flow difference were still extreme, his reply
should have come back instantly from my perspective. The fact that it took a
few minutes means the time gap isn't that big.
"How was it?"
Anna asked as I stared at my
Card Gear, deep in thought.
"It looks like the time gap has largely
closed up. They’re safe, but he mentioned wanting to talk about various things
and wants me to visit as soon as I can."
“Humm... The time gap is closing up, meaning
the number of dungeons is probably about the same as here, but the connections3 Senpai left behind are still intact?
Is that it?"
" Personally, I’d like to see it with my
own eyes once, but..."
My words were met with
“”Hmm…”” as the two of them crossed their arms, letting out a troubled groan.
"...Well, since you are able to travel
back and forth just fine, perhaps we're worrying too much," Oribe said.
"Even if the worst happens, there are still
Freyja and Yomotsu-Ōkami. And although it's better not rely on them, but the
Star Mother Association option is technically an insurance, after all."
They nodded, albeit
reluctantly.
...But, well~,
yeah. Let’s be extra, extra cautious.
"If you’re that worried, how about I just
send a card over to see first?"
The moment I suggested it,
both of their faces lit up. ““Oh!””
"That sounds good!" Anna chirped.
" While we're at it, maybe we should send
cards too?"
"Yeah, why not?"
Seeing it ourselves through
the eyes of our card would definitely give us a better grasp of the situation
on the there.
“The problem is, while the cards are sent out,
we’d need to stay outside Hesperides to keep the isolation from breaking...” I
noted.
“We can just wait inside your Fensalir, Senpai.
It shouldn't take more than a day at most... or wait, if the cards can’t make
it back, that would be a disaster, wouldn't it?" Anna’s face fell.
“If we’re planning for the worst-case scenario,
we each need to use a card that we’re willing to let commit suicide or abandon
ownership of..." Oribe remarked.
Ugh, that’s a bit much... I’m not comfortable
with either forcing a named card to commit suicide or treating a card as
disposable.
Oribe seemed to share that
sentiment as her expression soured the moment she voiced it.
Is there any other good way... Oh, wait!
“How about using the Scroll of Doppelganger?”
Scroll of Doppelganger: When
used, it will create a copy of yourself for 24 hours. You can have it perform
tasks on your behalf, and its experiences and memories will be integrated into
your own after it disappears. However, it cannot speak, so it is not suitable
for work that involves meeting people. One-time use, set of three scrolls.
With this, memories and
experiences will integrate back into the user after use, so it should be no
different from seeing things with their own eyes.
Plus, perfectly enough, it
came in a set of three—one for each of us!
"Ooh! There’s that!" Oribe shouted.
"You're a sharp mind, Senpai!" Anna
complimented.
As I basked in their
unreserved praise, Oribe suddenly said after remembering something,
"But, weren’t the clone created by the
Scroll of Doppelganger unable to speak?"
...Was that part of the specs? Uhh, that is a
bit of a problem. And I have quite a few things I want to ask too...
“What about communicating via writing?”
"I've never used a Scroll of Doppleganger
myself, so I can't say for sure, but if the clone can't speak, doesn't that imply
it lacks an ego or communicative capacity altogether? " Oribe replied.
"Yeah, that’s possible. So it’s just a
magic item meant for simple labor based on the original's memories and
experience, huh..."
"In that case, even if we send the clones,
wouldn't they be limited to just wandering around the island and looking at
things?” Anna asked.
"Mmm, well, that’s better than nothing,
but......"
I racked my brain while
listening to their exchange.
Isn’t there a better way?
『Master, may I have a moment?』
Audrey spoke up then.
『Hm? What is it?』
『 How about applying Dress's
Equipping skill to a Nameless Goddess Handmaiden4
and having her assist the clone?』
"Oh!?"
I let out a surprised
exclamation at Audrey's unexpected proposal, causing Anna and Oribe to turn
toward me with startled expressions.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Anna asked.
"Ah, well, Audrey suggested applying
Dress's Equipping skill to a Nameless Goddess Handmaiden subordinate to assist
the clone."
Upon hearing this, the two
exchanged a look.
“Using a subordinate to assist the clone? …That
could work,” Oribe said.
"May we hear the details? Why choose the
‘Nameless Goddess Handmaiden’ and why equip Dress-san?"
"Audrey."
I called Audrey’s name,
passing the baton to her. Audrey revealed herself and began explaining,
"Certainly. First, the reason for
summoning the Nameless Goddess Handmaiden is because I possess the Subordinate
Maintenance skill. A typical subordinate would only last about an hour, but
with my combination of Subordinate Maintenance, Magic Recovery, and Magic
Consumption Reduction, I am capable of maintaining the subordinate long enough
for the clone to scout the island.
Next, the reason for equipping
Dress is for the clone’s protection and to share acquired skills. Dress
possesses Subordinate Enhancement and Maid Master skills, which inherently
include the Secretary skill. The Subordinate Enhancement skill will elevate the
mid-level dependent body, the Nameless Goddess Handmaiden, into a high-level
dependent body with an ego equivalent to the original. Furthermore, the
Secretary will allow her to handle communications with the islanders on the
clone's behalf."
"""Oooh~"""
The three of us let out a
collective sigh of admiration at Audrey's logical breakdown.
...I see. Having a clone that can't speak
assisted by someone with Secretary skills makes perfect sense.
Using the ‘Nameless Goddess Handmaiden’ because
she benefits from Subordinate Maintenance buffs, then reinforcing her with
Dress, was a rock-solid plan.
Plus, with this method, I can still collect
Garnets from the secret dungeons I discover during my travels at the same time.
All I'd have to do is use Eliza's Hamelin's
Flute to send over subordinates equipped with the Celtic Trinity Deities or
Kimaris.
If they're subordinates, even if they somehow
can't return, it won't be a loss.
"Sounds good to me? Though I guess I
should give them a heads-up that a clone is coming instead of the real me."
“Yes, this way we can scout the situation over
there with zero risk,” Anna agreed.
"As for why a clone is going, you can just
say that there’s some unavoidable reason preventing your real self from leaving
Tachikawa," Oribe added.
And so, it was settled. The
two of them were clearly satisfied that I wouldn't have to leave for the island
personally.
Still, who would have thought
that the Scroll of Doppelganger—which had been sitting in my inventory
gathering dust—would prove to be so useful in a situation like this?
Seems like even the magic items I've left idle
might hold some unexpected potential.
Next time I hole up in the Tamatebako for an
extended period, maybe I should have everyone research different ways to
utilize our magic items.
Or maybe creating a dedicated department for it
would be a good idea.
Those were the thoughts
drifting through my mind as we wrapped things up.
【Tips】Absolute
Skills
As the name suggests, these
are skills with absolute performance.
They are currently considered
the highest-tier skills, with only a select few cards possessing them even at
B-rank.
The six Absolute Skills
currently confirmed are:
・Absolute Hit (絶対命中): A skill that guarantees a hit on any target,
except those within a pseudo-safe zone. It is nullified by Absolute Evasion and
blocked by Absolute Defense.
・Absolute Attack (絶対攻撃): A skill that pierces through any defense,
excluding pseudo-safe zones. It is nullified by Absolute Defense, and while it
doesn't hit Absolute Evasion, the skill also doesn't count as having been used.
・Absolute Release (絶対解除): A skill that can dispel the effects of all
other skills, excluding the pseudo-safe zone. Since it does not negate the
effects of skills after they've been applied, it cannot nullify damage already
taken or revert healed wounds.
・Absolute Evasion (絶対回避): A skill that allows the user to evade any
attack. It is nullified by Absolute Hit. Although its function overlaps with
Absolute Defense, it is count-based (usually once per day) unlike the
duration-based Absolute Defense.
・Absolute Defense (絶対防御): A skill that can defend against any attack.
It is nullified by Absolute Attack and can block Absolute Hit.
・Absolute Barrier (絶対結界): A skill that creates a barrier completely
separating the inside from the outside. While it prevents interference from the
inside as well as the outside, it can block even Absolute skills, with the
exception of Absolute Release.
***
Notes:
1 The raw of the idiom is 獅子身中の虫になり(Shishishinchu no mushi). A similar idiom in English is ‘a snake in one's bosom’.↩
2 The LINE app. A lot of Japanese people use it for communication ↩
3 The raw is 伝手 (tsute), which can mean 'connections' or 'influence'. We are not so sure which one it is, but we decided to go with ‘connections’. ↩
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