kscans

Chapter 118 - I'll Make You Pay for This

Episode 87: I'll Make You Pay for This

"Oh, right, Yagawa."

"Yes...?"

Just as the nail-cutting was finished and we were about to leave, Ooyama-san spoke to my slumped back.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, so it seems even she was embarrassed about holding a guy's arm like that. Well, then don't do it, I wanted to say.

"Your materials... can I use them for anything other than [Byakuren]'s equipment and the [Daisharinmaru]?"

"...That depends on who's getting them."

"[Mokuren]. The Golem you gave us. And if there's any material left over, I might make something for Aika, too."

"In that case, there's no problem. Please, use them as you see fit."

I understood from Ooyama-san's reaction and my past battles that my materials were highly valuable.

However, I didn't want to distribute them too widely. I knew it would be a financial boon, but...

What if that weapon fell into the hands of the [Alchemy Enthusiasts Club]?

What if they had a way to identify the source of the materials, even after they'd been processed?

What if, from there, they discovered my [Sage's Nucleus]?

It was all 'what ifs,' but I had no intention of being captured and treated like a lab animal or a human Philosopher's Stone. Even if it led to the happiness of many, I would refuse.

In short, I wanted to avoid a situation where equipment made from my materials ended up with someone I didn't know.

"Right. Can I pay you in installments?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"Then the price will be this much. In ten payments, please."

"........."

Looking at the calculator she held out, I quietly rubbed the bridge of my nose.

Maybe I'd been pushing my [Spirit Eye] too hard. I was seeing things.

"...Are you sure you didn't misplace a decimal?"

"That's a classic line. Well, I'll give you a classic reply: was it not enough?"

"If you know it's a classic line, then you should also know I'm trying to say there are too many digits...!"

So it wasn't a mistake. Seriously? My nails and hair are worth this much?

You've got to be kidding me. I used to just cut and throw them away back when I first Awakened.

"Well, yeah. This kind of thing depends on when it was collected... or rather, it's 'your price right now.'"

"...Does that mean because my level as an Awakened Person has gone up?"

"Yep. Your [Concept Interference] aside, it has a huge effect on the output of your [Mana Conversion]. Compared to when you were LV: 1, it's only natural for the price to increase by a digit or two."

...So even at LV: 1, it would've only been two digits less.

I felt a little down, but for now, I decided to just be happy about this unexpected windfall.

"On top of that, Erina's going to use your materials for that tool, so her bill is going to be higher, too."

"Of course! It's no exaggeration to say that I work as an adventurer to create my ideal ninja tools!"

"I'm pretty sure that's an exaggeration."

"It's only natural for a ninja to be particular about their tools, Kyo-chan!"

Is she for real?

"Well, it's none of my business why you guys go into dungeons. I'll take care of the equipment, so make sure you take care of my request, too. Work out the schedule with Aika."

"Got it, Shī-chan! Look forward to it!"

"We'll be counting on you."

"Right."

And with that, we finally left Ooyama-san's place.

It had been a moment that was happy but embarrassing, and above all, a crisis for my sanity. It was, in many ways, a dreamlike time.

However, the path of life has its mountains and its valleys.

"Hey, hey, Kyo-chan!"

"Yes?"

If you've just climbed a mountain, it's not surprising for a valley to be waiting for you next.

"I might be doing this adventuring thing eighty percent for my ninja tools, but I still think professionalism is important!"

"Well, yeah. I guess so..."

"So... I'm going to steel my heart!"

Hmph! Erina-san puffed out her chest on the bus ride home. At that moment, I should have been thinking about the meaning of her words instead of her jiggling chest.

—If I had, I might have been able to avoid that 'hell.'

At that time, I couldn't have imagined it...! That something like that would happen...!

"So with that, let's go to an insect-type dungeon!"

"Okay. ...Wait, what?"

Well, the entrance to hell was revealed to me right after 'that time.'

I only realized it a moment after I'd nodded along with the bounce of her breasts.

...Wait. You don't mean something like a Myrmecoleon, do you? You mean... actual bugs?

＊　　　　　＊　　　　　＊

Two days after receiving the request from Ooyama-san's group.

"Thank you for having us today."

"...Yeah."

"Alright! Let's do our best!"

"Right."

I had already done a 'preliminary survey' yesterday and had a decent grasp of this dungeon.

Since lives were on the line, prior confirmation was a given. That said, I just have to say it.

I really didn't want to come to a dungeon like this a second time...!

"Yagawa-san seems to have a thousand-yard stare for some reason."

"Huh? What's wrong, Kyo-chan?"

"...I've got a bad feeling about this."

"It's... nothing... at all...!'"

"That's the reaction you have when something's wrong!?"

My mouth formed a grim line as I averted my gaze.

I envied Mia-san, who wasn't here today. Only three to four people can enter a dungeon at the same gate. According to the store's website, this one's limit was four.

So, she had the day off. Damn it.

Suppressing the urge to turn around and go home right now, I turned my gaze back to Busujima-san and the others.

"Before we go to the gate room, I have a question. Do you two know what the monsters here look like?"

"Yes, to some extent."

"I heard they're like giant bugs."

"...I see."

I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but Erina-san's 'theory' she told me yesterday was starting to make sense.

We might as well just go into the dungeon. With us here, there's not a chance in ten thousand they'll die. At least, not physically.

Physically, that is.

"Alright. Let's go."

"Hey, Kyo-chan-kun. Erina-kun. Am I really needed this time? I mean, you did a preliminary survey, right? Then you should be fine without my navigation, shouldn't you?"

"What are you saying, Pai-sen! Carelessness and overconfidence are forbidden! A ninja must always be at their best!"

"Ugh..."

Poor thing. I could tell Aira-san was slumping over on the other end of the earring, defeated by Erina-san's enthusiasm.

I forced myself to straighten my back and stop myself from trudging along, and strode confidently toward the gate room.

We finished at the reception and stood before the white gate. [Byakuren]'s equipment was just something I'd made from some steel plates from a hardware store, but it should be fine if it's just playing the role of a tank at this rank.

Everyone except Busujima-san deployed their [Arcane Gear] and checked their equipment.

Just then, I couldn't help but do a double-take at the sight of [Mokuren] standing next to Busujima-san.

"...Ribbons?"

Somehow, red ribbons had been attached all over it. The most noticeable were the large ones on either side of its bascinet, a helmet with a visor that jutted out like a beak.

From a distance, it might look like a girl with twintails had her hair sticking out of her helmet.

"Should I take them off after all? I attached them where they wouldn't affect its range of motion, but..."

"No, I think it's fine, but..."

"I think it's cute!"

"No comment."

I gave a wry smile in response to Busujima-san, who was looking at me a little anxiously.

[Mokuren] was their Golem now. They seemed to have thought about the ribbon placement, so it probably wouldn't be a major hindrance in battle.

It just made things feel a little less serious, though.

Come to think of it, I remember on the [Alchemy Enthusiasts Club]'s website, when someone asked why they were making tanuki-shaped Golems, the vice-chairman replied:

'A dungeon is a place that inflicts various kinds of stress. We gave them the form of an adorable tanuki so that they might bring even a little comfort to the hearts of the adventurers who spend hours inside.'

...or something like that.

If [Mokuren] could serve as a source of emotional support for them during their explorations, then I had nothing to say.

...Especially in this dungeon, something like that was probably necessary.

"Alright, we're going through the gate. Everyone, grab a shoulder."

With me at the front, everyone, including the Golems, formed an arrowhead formation, each placing a hand on the shoulder of the person in front. After a quick glance back to confirm, I touched my earring.

"Preparations complete. We are entering the dungeon."

"Understood. Well... do your best."

"Yes, ma'am."

Nodding at Aira-san's unusually hesitant words, I stepped into the gate.

After experiencing that familiar, strange sensation, we found ourselves in a desolate stone corridor. LED lights attached to the wall by the SDF illuminated the cracked floor.

The passage was about four meters wide and three meters high. The atmosphere was that of an abandoned, ancient castle. It was a common type of dungeon interior.

I drew my sword from its sheath, held the blade, and offered the hilt to Busujima-san.

"Please use this. The plan is the same as last time."

"Yes. Understood."

"You really become a different person inside a dungeon."

"This is work."

Yes, this is work. And since it's work, I have to be professional about it.

But still...! I really don't want to do this...!

My mouth formed a grim line again as I touched my earring.

"We've entered the dungeon. Commencing exploration."

"I've attached Pai-sen's mirror to Byak-chan!"

"Ah, yeah. I really didn't want to see the exploration this time..."

"You're coming with us, Aira-san...!"

"Ugh, that's cruel, Kyo-chan-kun...! Is this you turning to the dark side...?!"

"The dark side!? You mean... a rogue ninja!?"

"Shut up."

"Kyo-chan!?"

After spitting out that single word at the self-proclaimed ninja, I took a deep breath. Musty, somewhat damp air filled my lungs.

There's no point in complaining. In that case, let's just get this over with efficiently.

"Well then—"

"Wait. I hear footsteps up ahead."

"Eh, already?"

"Already. Three of them. They're coming this way."

"Understood. Erina-san, you take one."

"OK."

What a welcome. At Erina-san's words, I lowered my center of gravity and prepared for the approaching monsters.

I could hear Busujima-san's group tense up behind me. But an even louder set of footsteps was approaching from the front.

Normally, a creature like that would be nearly silent... but maybe because it was a monster, or because of its size, an unpleasant sound echoed through the corridor.

—SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER!

They appeared from around the corner.

Four pairs of black eyes. A massive body, reaching up to my knees, encased in a gray exoskeleton.

Eight legs moving at high speed, and a large mouth that opened in a way no mammal could.

[Giant Spider]

Just as the name implied, it was a giant spider.

This is physiologically repulsive!

"Kih—"

A strangled sound came from behind me.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"

Ooyama-san let out a bloodcurdling scream.

...It's a secret that I thought Busujima-san would be the one to scream.

I didn't have the luxury of looking back, so I focused on the spiders coming at me. Two were running on the floor, and one was on the wall.

Erina-san threw a bo-shuriken from diagonally behind me at the one on the wall, piercing its head.

That one flipped over from the impact, its legs flailing wildly. The remaining two charged forward without a second thought. I stepped in and released the wind I'd gathered in my right hand in an upward arc.

The [Giant Spiders] were lifted into the air, exposing the joints of their legs. I slipped through the gap in an instant and grabbed the part where their head and thorax seemed to connect from behind.

I dug my fingertips into the exoskeleton to hold them steady. I grimaced at the skitter skitter vibration of their eight thrashing legs.

I've never liked bugs, but this was seriously rough.

But it seemed someone was having an even worse time than me.

"You, you, you guys! You never said anything about spiders!"

"But that information is on the store's website, isn't it?"

"Leaving the intel gathering to your teammates is a no-go, Shī-chan!"

"Fine! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, but this is too much! I'm going home! Let me go home!"

Ooyama-san clutched her warhammer like a security blanket and hid behind [Mokuren].

But Erina-san grabbed her by the shoulder and forcibly pulled her forward.

"I'm sorry, Shī-chan. But I'm steeling my heart and making you face forward!"

"Why!? There's no need for this!"

"You never know when a stampede will happen in this world. If you get scared just because the enemy looks like a spider, your life will be in danger!"

"In that case, I'll just run away with my tail between my legs!"

"Running away is also a part of battle!"

"Shut up, you idiot!"

—SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER!

"HIIIIYAAAAAAAH!?"

Um. I'm the one feeling the vibrations of these spider legs.

I could feel my face becoming expressionless from the unpleasant sensation. I wanted to go home just as badly.

"A-anyway, why are you guys so calm...?!"

"Eh? Spiders are pretty cool if you look at them closely."

"Maybe because of my skill, I've become okay with poisonous bugs and the like..."

Well, I'm not okay with them.

"Come on, we can't keep Kyo-chan waiting forever! Golem-chans! Forward, march!"

"[Mokuren], I'm counting on you."

"[Byakuren], shields up and advance."

The Golems approached the spiders, blocking their flailing legs with their shields and armor.

The plan was for Busujima-san's group to attack through the gaps.

"Not many other adventurers come here, so we can kill a lot! Come on, let's level up!"

"Nooo...! I can't...! Nooooo...!"

"Shizuku-san. Crying won't make it end, you know?"

Heh heh heh... Seriously, that scuttling sound is stuck in my ears. What am I going to do?

"Aaaaargh...! This is so gross, so gross, so gross! If Byakuren-kun gets close, I'll inevitably have to see it in close-up! I'm getting goosebumps...!"

"I honestly feel like I'm going to throw up."

"...I swear, Kyo-chan-kun. I will be the one to choose Erina-kun's swimsuit. And it will be a risqué one, just on the edge of what Grandma will get angry about...!"

"Please do. I'm serious."

The self-proclaimed ninja grabbed the sobbing Ooyama-san's shoulder and started lecturing her about the ninja code or something, her eyes sparkling.

I get what she's trying to say. In an emergency, you can't choose what your enemy looks like. As someone who's been caught in stampedes many times, I know that mindset is important.

And it's also true that this dungeon is perfect for leveling up at 'E-Rank.' There are few people, and lots of monsters.

On top of that, these spiders, like huntsman spiders, don't build nests, so they come to you. It should be more efficient than [Lesser Treant]s.

It was killing two birds with one stone. I understood the logic. I really did.

But.

—SKITTER SKITTER! SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER SKITTER!!

I'll make you pay for this.

"Come on, Shī-chan! A ninja doesn't choose their target!"

"Ugh... sob... sniffle...!"

"Shizuku-san! I'll buy you sweets later! Erina-san and I! Okay? So please stop crying...!"

I wanna go home already...!!