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CHAPTER 74.1: SEVEN HUNTERS
Once we returned to the tent from the Xolotl tribe’s secret treasure vault, we asked Nai and Makko to give us some privacy and discuss the matter with the humans plus a squirrel.
“But still… I never thought I’d be offered a quest by a Magic Beast in the metro.” (Shuu)
The first adventure I started out on was for mithril, or a cool weapon, but I never thought I would be involved in a fight for the survival of a tribe.
The request was to defeat a golem and retrieve Kukulkan’s egg. The deadline is seven days.
Their reward is a collection of treasures that they have been collecting for generations in case they are forced to interact with humans someday (on Oyama’s advice). In an underground treasure vault (or rather, cave) set up on the outskirts of the village, Kukulkan scales, molted shells, rare ores and gems, bones and fangs of powerful beasts, and other junk of unknown origin were piled up in a messy heap.
You can do what you want with all of these things, Nia said.
Bones were what they recommended, as dogs would do, but my eyes were glued to the silvery white ore.
“It’s mithril. Mithril.” I say it again, “Mithril.”
Since they did not have the skills to process it, they only knew it as “a hard, shiny stone.”—Or rather, I cried a little. A lump of my dream that I had been chasing was just within reach.
“…Abe,” Giran opens his mouth. “Forgive me for being rude, but can you tell me your level?”
“Ah, um…” (Shuu)
I was a little unsure if I should answer truthfully, but I had no choice.
“I turned 69 the day before yesterday.” (Shuu)
“69? At your age?” (Giran)
“I can’t prove it because I don’t have a Test Sheet. By the way, Giran, how about you…?” (Shuu)
“…I am 72. I am probably a year older than you.” (Giran)
Kure is sending a passionate gaze. It’s no problem if your feelings are directed to him, so I’ll send you off with a smile.
*whisper* “He’s super strong and handsome, but my dearest is only Little Shuu.” (Kure)
*whisper* “Keep in your mind that I don’t mind.” (Shuu)
Or rather, the level is almost as estimated.
I couldn’t tell from his appearance, but is he some wannabe alpha wolf? He’d even make a move on some high school girl even though he’s around 40, right? A cradle-robber wolf. [T/N: Says the more than a century old man.]
—I was surprised to hear that they had never spoken to each other since their reunion.
Noa seems to be ignoring him, or at least showing him to stay away from her, but it’s surprising that Giran doesn’t even show any signs of closing in. I thought he liked Noa enough to throw a pickup line on their first meeting.
Did he give up on her because she was with a man?
If that’s the case, good. Let’s let bygones be bygones.
“I see. …Well, I don’t mean to be skeptical. I’m not doubting your ability to get this far into the forest and find this place. You guys came to Ouji in search of mithril, didn’t you? If that is the case, their offer is a godsend, right?” (Giran)
On the way back from the treasure warehouse, we briefly discussed the matter, but the answer to our question was almost certain.
First of all, as human beings, we can’t just abandon them and say goodbye. It would be too much of a waking nightmare.
And then there are the rewards. Even if we don’t go for the golem gacha, we can have the actual thing that we have been chasing all over the place.
Of course, our safety comes first, but if there is something we can do as part of our job, we will do it. We are willing to do our part for them. That is the consensus of the four of us.
“But if it were true, the best thing to do would be to take the treasure with us and we all go back to the surface.” (Shuu)
“Well, if we’re thinking about their safety and ours, that’s the best plan.” (Nai)
I casually suggested this, but just shook their heads. They chose to share their fate with their homeland, whether it led to life or death. Tamiko then whispers while drooling, “It’s full of delicious food, squeak.”
“But the pain of choosing to abandon one’s homeland is something outsiders can’t understand… Even if it is the right choice, it is a death sentence for those who have lived there for a long time, no matter what kind of place it is.” (Nai)
As a citizen of a former disaster-prone country, this is a painful story to hear.
“What about you, Giran? I’d be very happy to have you work with us, to tell you the truth.” (Shuu)
As for me, the risk of being exposed as an “Master Threadweaver” would be higher, but the presence of a level 72 would more than make up for it. The name “King Slayer” is a bit of a risk, but he is a great man who has risen to the highest level in one of the tribes.
“Well, their treasures notwithstanding… I have my own thoughts on the matter. If you and the others are willing to take on the task, I’ll be happy to accompany you, if only in a small way.” (Giran)
“Thank you.” (Shuu)
This is big. There is even a sense of wrongness, as if the God of Thunder who broke the game balance was on your side. [T/N: It’s another game/anime reference. No idea which Raijin he is talking about.]
For a split second, I think he glanced at Noa. Noa, however, didn’t seem to notice.
“Three boss-class golems… Since you defeated one of them, then if we and the Xolotl can cooperate well—or if we can get a little more help—If we have seven days, it might not be too difficult to finish off the other two.” (Giran)
“That’s right.” (Shuu)
We’ll have to rely on Tamiko, but I’d like to get information on the other two sooner rather than later.
“The only problem is the woman who brought the golem to this place… If I’m right, if she comes back here—even if it takes all of us, including you and me—we won’t stand a chance.” (Giran)
Huh, my eyes turned into dots.
“……demon.” (Noa)
Eyes gather on Noa who murmured that word.
“Yes,” said Giran. “There is only one known creature in New Tokyo that is capable of such feats: possessing a Metro Beast, controlling it, and bestowing powers equal to those of mutated individuals. The woman is a Demon. If there are still survivors of the war fifty years ago… This is a situation that could threaten the very existence of New Tokyo.”
The Hunter’s Guild has set the extermination of demons as one of the organization’s missions.
If the woman who appeared before the Xolotl was a real Demon, it would be a matter of national importance and an opportunity for the Hunter’s Guild and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to deploy their forces.
However, if the only witness is a member of the Xolotl clan, who has no contact with the government, it would be impossible to mobilize them within seven days without any verification.
Giran, on the other hand, has an unrivaled position in Ikebukuro. He says that he has a subordinate or a private army that can be used somewhat freely, but he needs the chief’s permission to move it, but it is difficult to bring them here before the time limit.
“It is better to make it a last resort to take care of her. If the real enemy is a demon, as I imagine, we don’t know where she is lurking. They say that demons have many forms and like to lurk in the shadows of the human world. I don’t know where she is right now, but if she gets wind of it and we call her in, it could lead to a second [Demon War].” (Giran)
I cleared my throat loudly. As expected, when it comes to national emergencies, it is inevitable to pause.
“Let’s face it, we’re not going to be able to get reinforcements at least within seven days. Let’s carry out our mission professionally, the Xolotls and the five of us—” (Shuu)
There is a commotion outside. Mau-maus and excited barking are exchanged.
I flip open the curtain at the entrance to peek in, but my face is buried in something soft. Poof.
It took a full second to realize that they were plump fleshy balloons, that is, boobies, “Pi-pigya!!!”
“Hey, virgin boy. You’re sexually harassing me as soon as we meet again?” (Midori)
“Screaming while pressing against an older sister’s sacred parts makes you a rude virgin.” (Aoi)
The four sacred mountains all shook together. The green and blue-colored jerseys are so stretched that they look like they’re about to burst, and their long, curly hair is fabulous. The Shishikaba Sisters have the exact same smile on their faces.
“…Seven people, maybe? We’ve got the noisy people here.” (Giran)
“Did you say something, useless barking wolf?” (Midori)
“Explain the situation, you sexually harassing gaze wolf.” (Aoi)