“Daishi-san. How about we work together?”
Satsuki-chan, now back at my side, made her proposal to defeat Gorue-chan.
The target, the Golden Emperor Slime, had retreated near the exit. And maybe it was just my imagination, but from that distance, it almost looked like it was sneering at us.
Okay, now that ticks me off.
“You’ve got a plan?”
“It’s still a monster. That means it should have patterns in how it moves.”
“Patterns?”
“Yes. When facing a strong enemy, the key to clearing high-difficulty dungeons is figuring out those patterns. Either before or during the fight and then exploiting them.”
Well, she wasn’t wrong. Even in games, the tougher the enemy, the more complex their mechanics. If you don’t read up on strategies, beating them is practically impossible. Maybe it’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s the same with salarymen, in a way. Knowing your enemy—your client—is the foundation of everything.
“Is there any kind of strategy guide for that golden slime?”
“No. After all, the only ones who’ve ever defeated it were the Hero’s party. There’s no prior information.”
…Yeah, figures.
“It’s almost impossible for us to be killed by its attacks. So we’ll gather data while fighting it. Please help me, Daishi-san. Then we can decide the outcome afterward. What do you think?”
> She’s just trying to use you, old man
> Reject that proposal
> [Oops, my bad~ I accidentally killed it. Teehee.] She’ll say something like those lines later on
> This kind of chance won’t come again
> Satsuki-chan would never do that!
> Let Satsuki-chan have it, old man!
> It’s boring if Satsuki just levels up
> Show us your dominance, old man
> You can take it solo anyway
Well, yeah. She’s probably trying to use me. From my experience so far, that much is pretty obvious.
But still…
I can’t deny I’ve been the one getting stronger this whole time. Part of me does feel a little guilty about that. A lot has happened—but Satsuki-chan has worked just as hard to make it this far. The special experience points were tempting but I decided I could let this one go. I’m an adult, after all. Honestly, if she had just asked me properly, I would’ve been happy to support her. Still… Satsuki-chan really is still a child.
“Alright. So what do I do?”
“For now, I’ll chase it around. Could you take the data, Daishi-san?”
Saying that, she handed me a notebook and a pen.
“Please sketch a simple map of the room and record the slime’s movement positions. I don’t know how many times we’ll need to repeat it, but we might be able to see a pattern from that.”
“Got it.”
“If possible, analyze the data at the same time—ah, judging by your expression, that’s a no, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Well, whatever. Let’s just focus on gathering data for now.”
With a slightly exasperated look, Satsuki-chan turned back to face Gorue-chan.
Analyze it at the same time? There’s no way I could do something like that. Just keeping up with Satsuki-chan and Gorue-chan moving at that insane speed with my eyes alone was already going to be a challenge.
No, I definitely couldn’t keep up with Gorue-chan with my eyes. And my clerical processing ability isn’t nearly that high.
> Just mark the place where the slime escaped.
> Since it’s instantaneous movement, you can’t track it with lines.
> Satsuki would probably calculate that much while fighting anyway.
> This is a trap to immobilize the old man.
> She’s a clever schemer.
> Hey, use the [Hell Gate] already.
> Data collection is boring to watch.
> A sovereign’s unique skill sounds hype.
> But isn’t that just a fart skill?
> “Open Gate” is too strong a phrase.
> That’s definitely a door you should never open.
> This is way beyond “hell” level trouble.
> I can’t stop thinking about it.
The comments practically flooded my vision, all begging for me to use the [Hell Gate].
…Seriously, give me a break.
That skill is something I only intend to use when it’s truly life or death. And there’s no guarantee it would only produce… well, gas.
“Did you draw the floor plan?”
“Ah—yeah.”
“Alright then! I’m going in! Don’t miss a single thing!”
I had already drawn it anyway—just a circle with an entrance and an exit, that’s all a floor plan really needed here. All that was left was to mark points on it.
Well, I had a few mixed feelings about this, but I figured I might as well sit back and watch Satsuki-chan’s performance.
◆◆◆
“Haa… haa… Why… why can I pinpoint its spawn positions, but my attacks still don’t land…?”
Satsuki-chan, breathless, muttered in the center of the room. From near the exit, Gorue-chan watched her as if mocking her.
About ten minutes. That was how long Satsuki-chan had been lunging at Gorue-chan over and over, only to be dodged each time. And the data I’d been collecting was already useless.
Actually, the slime was moving so fast I couldn’t record anything properly in the first place. The dots I’d randomly placed on the floor plan had turned into a mess, and I’d long since crumpled the paper and tossed it at my feet.
“Daishi-san!”
“Y-yeah?”
“Next time, it’ll appear near the entrance! Please catch it there!”
…Huh?
> lol She’s already acting like she’s soloing this
> She’s still making the old man help anyway
> Should’ve just said so from the start lol
Seriously. She really doesn’t seem to know how to ask someone properly. Well, whatever.
But… can I actually catch it?
Maybe I should just grab it the moment it appears?
With my strength, I could probably do it—but I’m not exactly into hugging monsters.
“Got it! Is this position okay?”
“Haa… haa… yes… now! Here I go!”
Satsuki-chan shouted differently this time and launched herself again.
Of course, Gorue-chan used instant movement—
Now!
It’s right in front of me!
“Fnnn!”
“Pugyaaa!”
I caught it. Pinned between my right and left hands. Good thing I didn’t try hugging it.
Also, what the hell was that sound? “Pugyaaa”?
That doesn’t fit its character at all.
“Haaaaaaaa!!”
“W-w-w-wait wait wait!!”
Satsuki-chan, with a demon-like expression, came charging in at the captured Gorue-chan.
—But her momentum looked like it might cut me in half too.
“Chesssssssssst!!”
“Pugyaaaaaa!!”
With a war cry like a Satsuma warrior, Satsuki-chan’s critical strike grazed my nose and exploded into Gorue-chan. With a final scream, it split cleanly in two.
And then—
Sparkling… glittering…
Like gold sand scattering into the air, Gorue-chan vanished into the afterlife at Satsuki-chan’s hands.
“We… we did ittttt!!”
“…I thought I was going to die.”
“I wasn’t going to cut you, Daishi-san!”
“I felt a strong grudge.”
“No way! Haha… ahaha… but more importantly—my level!”
Eh?
Wait. As usual, that familiar screen appeared before me.
This is…
No way…
《 Daishi has leveled up. 》
Why though?
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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