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Chapter 509 – Don’t Pity Me!
On top of the slowly moving [Mizumaru], two very different groups of beings sat facing each other. On one side were the nonchalant Fer, Grandpa Gon and Dora-chan. On the other, were members of the [Ark] and myself, who looked as though our souls had been sucked out of our bodies and our existences were now completely devoid of colour and energy.
At any rate, it was my strong request to set foot on firm ground and let my nerves settle down a bit.
After experiencing such a terrible ordeal, it’s understandable that I would feel that way, right?
Ferl and the others were complaining, eager to move forward, but I rejected such requests.
Using dinner as a bargaining chip, I insisted on landing on the nearest island.
Fer & Co. reluctantly agreed, they have no choice, really.
““Aruji~~ an island~~””
“Good, go to the island, Sui.”
““Okay~””
Sui shuttled forward quickly. Not long after that, we made landfall.
I literally fell off Sui and flopped onto the sandy beach.
“Ahhhh, no more swaying, no more waving, solid laaaanndddd,” I cried, not caring about reputation or whatever.
“I’m alive! I’m alive!”
“Uwooohhh…”
“Whew, I really thought that was the end of me…”
“I wish to see my grandchild…”
Clearly, I was not alone in my gladness.
Comrades, I understand you!!
*sob*
“How wonderful it is to be alive~~”
“Indeed, being alive is most wonderful~”
“Ahh, ground, solid ground…”
“I know that being an Adventurer has its risks, but this is… ahhh, I’m just glad to be alive…”
“My grandchild… delicious food…”
“… …” well, at least Feodora-san’s priority is right.
Anyway, thanks to this trip, I felt a lot closer to my fellow Adventurers. For one thing, I learned that even real Adventurers become nervous and anxious at the sight of the things my party casually suppresses. I am not the abnormal one. You guys are the abnormal ones!!
“By the way, Mukouda-san, do you always go through such hardships?” Gideon-san interrupted my mental wailing.
“No way! I’d die!” I declared quickly.
[1]
“I think what Gideon meant is, does your party always encounter such… high-ranking monsters all the time?”
“Well,” I said evasively, “we do meet strong monsters occasionally.”
“No, what I mean is- ouch! Why did you poke me for!” Gideon-san hopped away from Gaudino-san who was glaring at him.
“Enough with your questions, it’s unprofessional to keep asking,” said Gaudino-san.
“Fine, fine, I understand,” Gideon-san looked dissatisfied, but at least the questions have stopped.
[1]
“We occasionally run into S rank monsters too,” said Siegwald-san. “As a team, we could take down one if the situation is in our favour.”
“Oh?”
“Even so, that thing just now was…”
We all shuddered.
If I had known what Fer was planning to do during his ‘little detour’ I’d never have agreed to it. In fact, I would have done everything I could to stop him.
“A Charybdis…” Feodora-san muttered.
“Oh, oh, I know this! I think I saw it in a picture book. There’s a drawing of the thing in <<Hero of the Light – Adventures at the Sea>>, right?” Gideon-san said excitedly.
Feodora-san nodded, “I read that book to my daughter many times…”
“Oh? I read the book too, I think Charybdis is supposed to represent gluttony or something, right?”
“To think that a creature like that truly exists…”
[2]
“Wait,” I said, “Do children’s stories actually contain things like… that?” What kind of horrifying stories are those?
“Indeed, it’s a common book of adventures. “
“It even teaches moral values,”
“Gluttony is bad,” Feodora-san nodded decisively.
I… can’t take her comment seriously…
“It’s one the main reason why I wanted to become an Adventurer,” Gideon-san sighed.
“… …” now and then, it truly hit me that I am no longer in Japan anymore…
[2]
Apparently, these ‘children’s stories’ follow a certain ‘Hero of Light’ who rewards the good and punishes the evil. The Charybdis is something like the boss of all boss monsters…
Wait.
If the ‘Boss of all Boss monsters’ was not the boss monster of this level, just what kind of horror is the true boss?
I was on the verge of panicking when I finally realised that everyone was looking at me?
“Huh? Is there something on my face?” I patted some sand from my cheek.
“Mukouda-san… it must have been hard on you…”
“I wonder, is this something that people could get used to?”
“Meeting S Rank monsters all the time must be pretty difficult…”
“…be strong…”
“Wh-what are you guys talking about now?” I said, exasperated.
What’s with their pitying eyes, huh?
Gideon-san came forward to pat my shoulder, “Hang in there.”
Gaudino-san patted my other shoulder, “Since it’s Mukouda-san, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Siegwald-san lightly punched me in the arm, it was closer to a light tap, but I was startled enough to feel the pressure. “Ou, live hard and live well, eh?”
Feodora-san looked at me for a moment before sighing deeply, “…don’t die.”
“Wh-wh-what are you guys talking about!? Hey!”
Before I could pursue the [Ark] and make them explain their weird behaviour, I was besieged by my own party.
“Oi, I’m hungry,”
““Hungry~””
“”Food~!! Yeah, that was an awesome way to work up an appetite!””
“Master… if you would be so kind…”
Ugh, whatever. I have the feeling that I don’t want to know anyway.
Though…
It probably had to do with my familiars…
Right?
[Gumihou: A fairly short chapter, hmm]
[1] Adjusted for clarity
[2] Adjusted details for dramatic purpose