| 【Retribution】: Returns cause and effect with a special wall of light |
> Retribution? What’s that?
> Is it like karma?
> The explanation is way too simple, I don’t get it
> And… isn’t Burial Power stat way too high?
> Mm. It makes no sense
> Feels like it might hit the max level any second
As I explained my new skill and updated stats to the viewers, the comments flew by so fast it was almost impossible to read them all. It seemed like everyone was confused as there were just too many unknowns to process.
“…I can’t just let this slide.”
Satsuki-chan had also heard the breakdown of my newly increased stats and skill descriptions. Her expression was serious, clearly showing that her focus and concern were on me, rather than the chaotic excitement of the viewers.
“Eh?”
“This dungeon aside, you… you’re completely abnormal, too.”
The words of an S-rank adventurer carried serious weight.
“…Yeah. At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if an emergency capture quest gets issued for you at any time.”
Satsuki-chan spoke that ominous prediction in response to her viewers’ comments.
Hey… give me a break. I just became an adventurer, and now I’m being treated like some kind of freak. Sure, my abilities are… unusual, to say the least, but so far I haven’t caused anyone any real trouble. I’d really rather not become the target of a quest and end up hunted by every adventurer out there.
> With the viewer count skyrocketing, that’s actually possible
> Don’t you dare report him to headquarters
> Satsuki Channel alone has 10,000 concurrent viewers
> Looks like the old man’s getting pretty famous
> The SNS feeds are already buzzing
> A few threads have popped up too
> Highlight clips will probably spread fast
> Widespread sharing is inevitable
The concurrent viewers finally exceeded 100. And just as they’d said, my heroic rampage through the monster house—obliterating everything with [Requiem]—was probably captured perfectly on Satsuki’s channel.
…Yeah, I might have seriously messed up.
“…Change of plans.”
“Huh?”
“I was in a hurry before, but we’re changing the plan!”
Uh… I got a very bad feeling about this….
“This beginner-level dungeon normally goes down to the tenth underground floor. Once you reach there, you can use the warp point to return to the surface.”
“O-oh.”
“So, how about we go there together for now?”
Well… I kind of expected her to say that.
“But… I’m just a beginner. I’d probably just slow you down.”
“You’ve been far too flashy for that excuse to hold.”
“That was just… luck…”
“There’s no such thing as a beginner who accidentally wipes out an entire monster house, let alone the monsters in one blow.”
Yeah… I don’t think I can refuse her. That smile… it’s way too genuine. And cute.
Great… I’m doomed.
“And… I’m a little worried, too. Running into a monster house and the Goblin King this early… I don’t even know what’s ahead. I really shouldn’t go alone…”
I thought, “Well, then we can just turn back.” but that thought only lasted a moment.
Satsuki-chan’s eyes were glistening as she grasped my hand while saying that.
And so just like that… I was already caught in her trap.
She probably wants to complete her dungeon exploration quest, but at the same time, she’s plotting to capture me immediately if an emergency quest to capture me is issued and hand me over to the guild headquarters.
Having lived a little in the real world, you start to get a feel for what other people are thinking. My former corporate life’s sales skill—“Understanding Customer Needs”—was apparently functioning perfectly.
But even if the logic is sound, emotions are another story entirely. Especially when a cute girl’s bare skin touches yours, all the reasoning an old dude has painstakingly built up can be obliterated in an instant.
“…Okay. I’ll do my best.”
“Yey! Thank you, Mister!”
Satsuki-chan swung my hand that she’d grabbed up and down, feigning excitement.
I knew I was being fooled by her bursting smile, but… I didn’t mind it one bit.
“By the way, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m—”
“You’re Amane Satsuki, right?”
Well, the viewers already told me.
“Come on! Isn’t it a rule of thumb not to say anything even if you know? That’s the thing about you…”
“You think I’m old? Well, I am older than you are, so I guess it can’t be helped.”
“That tone… like you’re some sage or something… it’s not cool at all, you know?”
I wasn’t trying to act cool… but I guess that’s how I must look. Maybe this is the very first step of “old man vibes.”
“I’m Daishi. Ajiri Daishi.”
“Can I call you Daishi-san?”
“Ah… yeah. And… can I call you Satsuki-chan? Is that okay?”
“Yes! That’s perfect!”
Yeah… I guess that was the right call. I really don’t understand the way young people think these days.
“For the first floor of this dungeon, normally there should only be two rooms—the one we just came from and the monster house. If we follow the corridor ahead, we should reach the stairs going down.”
The room where I’d fought the orc and the monster house seemed to follow the same basic layout. So I understood that the passage Satsuki-chan was pointing to led further in.
Aside from knowing that the West Tokyo 4th Beginner Dungeon is for absolute beginners and goes down ten floors, I didn’t know anything else. Thanks to the viewers and Satsuki-chan, I could piece together some of the situation, but beyond that, it was completely uncharted territory. I had no idea what might be waiting for us.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Honestly, all I felt was anxiety—but I had no choice but to follow along.By now, the number of viewers had risen to 202.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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