kscans

Chapter 124 - An Unwanted Title

"Alright, you lot, sit down once you're done with the greetings. The new guy's got someone waiting for him."

Let's wrap this up and dismiss—Goldow clapped his hands, seeing that the introductions were over. It seemed the meet-and-greet wasn't over yet.

"Hey Gossan, where's Yurayura-san?"

"Ah, she said she'd pass for now."

"Yura-san must be overjoyed, right?"

"I can't count how many times I've heard her complain about the weight on her shoulders."

Ranked seats, and the same number of chairs. They probably each had their own designated spot.

As the Third Seat (Gossan), Fourth Seat (Mi-na), Sixth Seat (Hinayo), and Seventh Seat (Irori) headed to their respective seats without hesitation, they exchanged words without any tension.

It's like... they're really friendly. Casual, or maybe close—

"Senpai, over here."

As I stood there dumbfounded by the top rankers' unexpectedly different demeanor, I was called over by the Tenth Seat... Tetra, who had been seated from the start.

"The Ninth is here. Have a seat."

He pointed to the seat next to him—do I have to sit? I probably have to...

From a lightning-fast clear of an uncleared dungeon to defeating the Seventh Seat (sort of)... I know it's probably impossible for me to claim to be a normal person anymore, given my ridiculously nonsensical track record.

Yes, I know that... but the commoner mentality I've cultivated over eighteen years won't be overturned so easily in such a short time.

Think about it. Say you're just engrossed in a game and you happen to run into a pro gamer, and what's more, you win.

You'd be happy. You'd be pumped. But then, on the spot, you're told—"Congratulations, you're now a representative player too."

Can you accept that? I can't. In any case—

"Thanks."

"Mm."

He was kind enough to call me over, so I'll just go with the flow for now.

I thanked him and sat down next to Tetra. On the other side, the Eighth Seat, Genkotsu-san... was already seated, his arms crossed and his eyes closed, looking incredibly cool.

Are you meditating?

And what's with this incredible cushioning... I could probably sleep better here than on my cheap futon at home—

"Hey, senpai."

Just as I was about to sink into the large chair, aided by my lingering mental fatigue, Tetra spoke up again.

I jumped up with a start and turned to him. The boy in all black gave me a faint, wry smile and told me, "It's okay, you can relax."

"I'd feel bad if you were being considerate, so I'll say this first—neither I nor Yura-san hold any grudge against you for our ranks dropping or being removed... so you can rest easy."

"...Is that, so."

His words, which I heard while sinking into the cushion, touched on a small point of concern that had been forming as the situation became more real.

"Unlike the others, we didn't come here with any ambition. In that sense, aren't we the same as you are now, senpai?"

Ah... so that's how it is. I see.

"Then, what I heard earlier... about Yurayura-san being overjoyed..."

"It means that she's finally relieved of the burden of being a Ranker."

That being said, her skill as the Tenth Seat hasn't changed... but having or not having a grand title must make a difference.

Mainly, in terms of pressure and responsibility.

"Now that you're here, senpai, I'm in reach. I want to get back to a carefree life soon."

"Hah... so there are people like that, huh."

I had imagined the Title Holders to be more... aggressive types. You know, like the blonde samurai chatting away two seats down from me.

"Of course there are, the system appoints us without our consent. For someone like me who's not good at standing out and isn't good at fighting, it's unbearable."

The way he propped his cheek on his hand and sulked was, as he said, very much like a younger person—and for some reason, I felt that the slight distance I felt from Tetra was starting to fade.

"I see... Well, thanks for being considerate. Nice to meet you."

"...Mm, you can just call me Tetra."

When I held out my hand, the boy took his cheek off his hand and readily shook it.

What can I say, he seems like a genuinely good kid—

"—Then we'll shake hands too!!"

"Huh?—Whoa, what the!?"

Just as we were having a peaceful moment next to each other—two tiny intruders, or rather, cannonballs, came flying.

"Goffah!!??"

Leaping over the Round Table in succession, the Fourth and Fifth Seats' heads slammed into my solar plexus... and the immense impact sent me into a forced stun. I was thrown back with my chair and everything.

—Ah... this feeling, it's the same as 'her'...

By now, I was starting to give up on the whole chaotic situation. As the status abnormality icon began to flash, I stared at the ceiling with a blank expression—

"Why me too..."

One of the girls on my chest, the downer blue one, muttered wearily.

"Eh? I just thought we were the only ones who hadn't gotten any physical contact yet?"

The red one, on the other hand, showed no remorse.

They were both pinning me and my chair down, but... the blue one—Ri-na—had her hands on the floor to distribute her weight, showing a tiny bit of consideration for me. There's still room for leniency there.

However, the red one, who was triumphantly straddling me with a smug look on her face, you're no good.

Alright, the stun's about to wear off. Three, two, one—!!

"So come on, shake our hands too, mmmph—!!??"

Roar, AGI, rage, STR. My right hand, having gained proficiency against a certain indigo girl, shot out, and a guilty verdict with no chance of appeal found its mark on the red girl's face.

"W-wait...!?—M-my faaace is creaking, it's creaking, it's making creaky noises, nyaaahhh!!!??"

Fortunately (???), I've learned from previous experience that this level of abuse won't deplete a maxed-out avatar's HP.

No hesitation needed. Make her understand, my right hand.

"...Hm?"

Then, I felt a tremor and looked down at my chest... Ri-na was trembling with fear at the sight of moron number two's death-like screams.

"...I-I"

"...You?"

"...I was just, dragged along by Mi-na, so, I'm innocent."

"Very well."

I had a feeling that was the case, so I'll accept that testimony as the truth.

"—Didn't you say you wanted to see your partner soon?"

"Could you not make it sound like I was the one who started playing around?"

Just get on with the story already, my important partner is waiting...!!

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Rotta-san is probably the one in the most trouble right now.