novelraw Chapter 137
Chapter 137
Chapter 137
A few days after I left Shimaenaga-san in Shurado's care.
I woke up to a refreshing morning, all the exhaustion from the dungeon completely gone.
I opened the window and gazed at the sky, faintly lit by the morning glow.
"Gii (Translation: I'm sure Senpai is doing well beyond that sky too.)"
"Kyuu (Translation: Bird-dono, you've become a beautiful star-kyuu...)"
They're already treating me like I'm dead.
Considering my track record, I suppose I can't blame them.
I just hope I'm not causing trouble in prison.
Gii-san seemed pretty dangerous too, but when I asked Shurado, she said, "I don't sense any evil from them yet, so I'll keep them for now!"
I'm pretty sure there's some real evil in there, but apparently the kind of evil Shurado-san and the Foundation deal with is on a whole other level.
Well, compared to destroying the world and all that, being an intelligent scumbag is relatively minor.
And so begins my morning routine.
Three sets of 100 coin tosses and 100 finger snaps.
I wash my face and press a towel against it to wipe.
Be careful not to rub or you'll damage your skin.
"Daily Mission"
Yesterday's was so tough, maybe today's will give me a breather.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep working steadily every day!
'Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Wear a flower crown and dance like crazy 0/1
Consecutive days: Day 114
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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Huh, that's odd.
Lately the dailies have all been insane.
Is it broken? Is something wrong?
"Daily-kun, it's okay to make mistakes. Now show me the real Daily Mission."
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep working steadily every day!
'Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Wear a flower crown and dance like crazy 0/1
Consecutive days: Day 114
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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No good.
I'm no longer allowed to complain to Daily-kun.
So this wasn't a mistake or anything.
Now then, with a name like 'Festival Once Every 90 Years' and the task being to wear a flower crown and dance like crazy, I kind of get the idea.
This is that thing, right?
Basically a Midsummer-like situation, right?
For the record, that Midsummer-ish horror film was a bizarre piece depicting quiet and bright madness in a closed-off village. I watched it with my little sister and regretted it. Why do those kinds of things always have random erotic scenes?
Tonight I will probably grow stronger again. By losing something important.
But fine.
This is my daily life.
No, this is my peace.
I take the 'Adolphene's Holy Shroud Lv4' I had re-tailored off the hanger and throw it on. It's spring now, so I'd better wear it while I still can.
I attach the brooches resting on the bedside table to my chest.
The sleek, black, glossy brooch is the 'Proof of the Chosen One Lv4'.
Speaking of which, the 'Proof of the Chosen One Lv4' had a stat called Luck Value—what ever happened with that?
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'Proof of the Chosen One Lv4'
You are recognized by the world.
If you keep it close, good things might happen.
Luck Value 25/3,000
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My luck value has dropped.
I thought I had around 500 before.
"Gii (Translation: Most likely you've used up your luck. The reason no one died in that dark dungeon is because my lord's 'Proof of the Chosen One Lv4' drained its luck value in place of those who should have died.)"
Huh, that's my first partner Buchi for you.
Good job—thanks for always working behind the scenes.
All those mornings and nights of careful polishing really paid off.
I don't wear the rusted old brooch 'Bloodstained Comrade', the 'Traces of a Dream' representative's badge, or the ruby brooch that is the proof of an A-rank explorer.
I leave the hotel and head out to tackle the Daily Mission.
I've caused too much trouble in front of Chiba Station, so let's change the location a bit.
I head toward Chiba Port.
For this Daily Mission, flowers are absolutely essential.
A few days ago, when I dumped that burned guy's body into the sea, I came this way and I think I saw a park full of blooming flowers.
There it is.
A park within the city, yet filled with a tranquil atmosphere.
Lush greenery and lots of colorful flowers.
To hold a festival, I need to make a flower crown.
A cute little girl is playing near the flowerbed, digging in the dirt with a shovel.
"Hello. What are you doing?"
"I'm picking flowers to make a flower crown."
She's more articulate than I expected.
A bit blunt, but she answered.
If I were an adult, she'd definitely give me a suspicious glare and a "Huh, what do you want?"
"Well then, would you teach me how to make one?"
"Ehh. Then I want a reward."
I suddenly felt snapped back to reality.
"Big bro is rich, you know. I can give you a reward."
"Really?"
"Really, really. Oh, I'll buy you a drink from that vending machine over there."
"Then I want an energy drink."
"What a coincidence. I love energy drinks too."
I sit on a park bench and drink an energy drink with a girl who looks around twelve.
She swings her legs, looking bored.
"Hey big bro, do you know about dungeons?"
Out of nowhere, the girl brought it up.
It didn't seem like she expected anything, just making conversation to fill the silence.
"Of course I do. I may not look it, but I'm an explorer."
"Huh? Really?"
"Here."
I take a brooch out of my pocket.
"A ruby brooch... proof of an A-rank explorer..."
"There aren't actually that many A-ranks out there."
"I know. That means you're basically a top-class explorer, right?"
"You're very knowledgeable. Were you interested in the dungeon?"
"More like it's my job....... Hey. Do you know Finger Man, big brother? If you do, I want you to introduce me to Finger Man."
That's sudden.
Hmm, you want to meet Finger Man.
It would be easy for I to say I am Finger Man here.
But, that wouldn't really mean anything.
It's lonely, though.
"I know him."
"Really?!"
"'Yes'. He's like an acquaintance."
"Great! Okay, this might keep my life going......"
"But, before that, please teach me how to make a flower crown."
"Yeah, I don't mind that at all. But, why a flower crown?"
"I want to put it on my head and dance like crazy."
"......(If I just listen to her story, it's probably best not to get involved anymore.)"
I crouch down near the flower bed with the girl.
"Now that I think about it, you shouldn't pick these, should you? These are flowers from the flower bed."
"It's fine. It's not like we're being charged money, right? We won't get arrested, and we definitely won't be chased by people in power for the crime of subverting an organization, either——"
The girl says that and tries to pluck the flowers like weeds.
"You can't do that. Someone might have spared their time to plant them."
I lift the girl up and decide to pick the clover colony behind the sandbox. Let's forgive the people in the flower bed. Just the petals. Huh?
"You're particular about things that don't matter, aren't you, big brother?"
"Things that don't matter have meaning. That's the turning point that ultimately divides people in terms of meaning."
I don't know, though (IQ3)
"I see...... Yeah, you might be right."
Just as the girl learned something, the clover flower crown was completed.
"It's complete. That was unexpectedly difficult."
"Gii (Translation: Not a bad result. My lord is skilled in many ways because his technical precision status is high)"
"Kyu (Translation: As expected of Hideo-dono kyu! He can do anything kyu!)" "Huh? Something came out...... A slug, a hedgehog?"
"Kyukyuu (Translation: I am a dragon kyu! The great ancient dragon kyu!)"
"These are pets. Please don't mind them."
"Gii"
"Kyukkyu"
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best every day!
'The Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Put on a flower crown and dance like crazy 0/1
Consecutive days: Day 114
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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The items are ready.
Next is the turn to step on Silent Regulation.
Remembering the movie, I decided to put the clover flower crown on my head and run around the park.
I run cheerfully while humming a tune.
After hopping around alone for a good 20 minutes, let's check the daily mission.
─────────────────
★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best every day!
'The Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Put on a flower crown and dance like crazy 0/1
Consecutive days: Day 114
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
──────────────────
'Yes', useless. But, this much is easy.
Not at all, it's all within expectations.
How many trials do you think I've overcome so far?
That's right. Based on the trends so far, is it that? A Silent Regulation from a witness?
"You"
"(Ugh, they're coming this way......)"
They're making a really unpleasant face.
I'm completely being treated like a pervert.
"Come on, come on, don't be so scared. Okay? (Smirk)"
"P, please stop, forgive me...... I'm sorry......"
"I'm just kidding. I'm going to dance now, so please watch."
"I've been watching the whole time...... Or rather, are you still going to dance, big brother?"
"I told you, I'm going to dance like crazy (cool voice)"
I jumped and ran around the park again.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best every day!
'The Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Put on a flower crown and dance like crazy 0/1
Consecutive days: Day 114
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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Hmm. Something's different.
It's not a witness, either.
Then...... what is it?
I'm starting to get confused.
It's getting pretty late, and it's probably the time of day when the girl has to go home soon.
"Gii (Translation: It might be a new rule)"
"Kyu (Translation: Maybe it's not being judged as dancing kyu!)"
I see.
I see, it's not being judged as dancing.
Come to think of it, in Midsommar, the women were holding hands and dancing happily.
I see. I've got it.
"Hey, hey, young lady"
"What is it this time? I've been watching more than I want to."
"Shall we dance together?"
"Absolutely not"
"Please! I need your help! This is a battle to save the world!"
"Even if you lie that boldly... Fine, just for a little bit."
The girl put on the other clover crown we made earlier and took I's and each other's hands.
"Your hand's really hard......"
"I'm an adult, after all. Now, let's dance!"
"(What am I even doing, I......)"
Together, having fun.
In the evening park, I and the girl danced until the sun went down.
It was just a simple side-stepping spin while holding hands, but surprisingly, goofing around with someone else was pretty fun. Even if the other person was an elementary schooler I didn't know.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it every day, step by step!
'The Festival Once Every 90 Years'
Wearing flower crowns and dancing wildly 1/1
★Today's Daily Mission completed!★
Reward: "Elixir"
Consecutive days: Day 115
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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Ah, this is the one I wanted.
You're so thoughtful, Daily-kun.
"Gii (Translation: But, since My lord has the skill 'Black Swamp's Severer', wouldn't the MP/
HP full recovery item 'Elixir' just rot in your inventory?)"
Now that you mention it......
"Of course I knew that, Gii-san. I wanted to get the 'Elixir' so I could give it to the Doctor and synthesize it into some amazing medicine."
"Kyu! (Translation: Amazing-kyu! As expected of Hideo-dono-kyu! Thinking a hundred steps ahead-kyu!)"
The little hedgehog's pure gaze hurts.
"Thanks, little girl. You really helped me out."
Over to the girl who's been lying down on that bench since earlier.
I sense a fatal weakness in stamina. Kids should be more energetic than this.
"I sent a message to Finger Man's DM, but he hasn't replied... If you don't mind, could you give me his contact info?"
"I don't think it'll do much good."
"What do you mean...?"
"Even if you know his contact info, you're the one who'll delete it. Your unconscious self pushes Finger Man away. That's just how this world works now."
Meme pollution—I asked Jigokudo about it.
It's a little sad, but if that's how it is, then it can't be helped.
I accept it coolly. That's why I won't struggle needlessly.
I'll be forgotten anyway.
"Well, still, a promise is a promise. I'll tell you. I'm Finger Man—the one you were looking for."
"...Huh? What do you mean?"
I snapped my fingers twice, and created a rainbow-colored firework in my hand to show her.