Chapter 42 of 100

Chapter 42

8 min read2,033 words

Sunny returned from the dungeon about three hours after Oiso had returned to the surface.

The questioning took quite a bit of time, but it was inevitable since the perpetrators were not present.

He was taken aback at first because he never expected the special police to be watching his battle.

Would they suspect him of killing the Sibukais? Or perhaps he imagined he might lose the trust of adventurers because he was carrying Rea on his back.

But when he told them the truth, they surprisingly accepted it without much fuss.

They probably thought it was only a matter of time before someone could tame monsters.

He was lucky to have dealt with such open-minded people.

With the slimy eel, whose effect was weakening, in hand, Sunny headed to the material buyback shop.

"Welcome—Huh!?"

Why are you surprised?

Sunny frowned as he stepped into the store.

"Is Oiso back yet, Kusei?"

"…Ah, it's you, Kusei. Please, come in."

Accompanied by the clerk, he went to the back room where Oiso was sitting in a chair, head hanging down, and Kuren was lying on a pile of furs.

"How is Kuren?"

"H-Huh!? A-Ah, it's you, Kusei."

Why are you surprised every time?

"…Um"

"What is it?"

"Can you put away that eel? It's disgusting…"

"O-Okay"

So that's what you were surprised about.

Sunny threw the eel into the trash can.

Oiso then gave him a look that seemed to disapprove of throwing it in the store's trash can.

But there was no other place to throw it, so he had to accept it.

"So, how is Kuren?"

"The only injury is a laceration on her back. She had a healing potion, so the wound is already completely sealed."

"…Kusei?"

As Sunny approached, Kuren suddenly sat up, but quickly winced and fell to the side.

"Kuren, you shouldn't move so suddenly."

"…Is there a problem?"

Sunny felt a chill run down his spine.

Kuren had been hit by a greatsword on her back.

She must have sustained internal injuries.

"She had a concussion from being kicked in the jaw and was a bit anemic."

"Ah, I see."

The back, especially the central part, is densely packed with nerves.

Kuren had been cut in such a place.

He was worried that she might have suffered some lasting damage.

But it was just a lack of blood, which was a relief.

Sunny sighed in relief.

Kuren's centipede chest plate, which had been equipped, was now placed beside her.

The chitin covering her back was split open.

Lars's blow was that powerful.

It was a miracle that it was just a cut.

"Perhaps the centipede's chitin breaking reduced the fatal impact."

"Indeed."

The centipede chest plate must have been made by a highly skilled craftsman.

Or perhaps it was the result of Kuren's skill, 'Luck.'

After Sunny finished recounting the events in the dungeon, Oiso had a concerned look on his face.

"I didn't expect a Monster Parade to occur. You did well to survive."

"…Yeah…"

Sunny wasn't sure if he should be happy about those words.

He had survived the Monster Parade.

But he couldn't save the Sibukais.

Was there a better way?

The more he thought about it, the more he focused on his poor response, and he felt down.

As if sensing Sunny's inner turmoil, Oiso said firmly.

"You don't need to feel guilty, Kusei."

"But—"

"Everything has a cause and effect. Good deeds and bad deeds will always be repaid. They received the consequences of their actions. You don't need to feel guilty. And you, Kusei, will surely be rewarded. But it will be a good reward, unlike them."

"…Thank you."

When they left the store, the city of Sapporo was bathed in a crimson light.

They walked at a leisurely pace.

Watching Sunny's back, Kuren bit her lip.

Even though they had only known each other for a short time, Kuren was starting to understand Sunny's character.

He seemed complex but was surprisingly simple.

Sunny was deeply depressed.

The reason was undoubtedly that he couldn't save the Sibukais.

There was no need to save people who had strayed from the path of humanity.

Oiso had said as much, and Kuren thought the same.

But Sunny was different.

He would do his best to save any life within his reach, whether the person was good or bad.

That was his way of life as an adventurer.

If he weren't such a person, no one would have rushed into a Monster Parade to save a stranger like Kuren.

He wouldn't have charged into a stampede, risking his own safety, without fear.

Understanding his feelings, Kuren bit her lip hard.

She was the one who had caused him to feel this way.

If she hadn't let her guard down near the gate, she might have noticed the Sibukais approaching.

Then, she wouldn't have been attacked from behind.

If Kuren hadn't been cut, Sunny wouldn't have been put in danger.

He wouldn't have had to bear the burden of the deaths of three adventurers alone.

He had even used his Skill Board to make her stronger, and yet this happened.

How pathetic…

Kuren had once again become a burden to Sunny.

No matter how careful she was, no matter how hard she tried, everything went wrong.

The more she moved, the more she stumbled.

Feeling ashamed, frustrated, and miserable, tears welled up in her eyes.

This time, I'll do it!

The deeper her resolve, the deeper her disappointment.

"Kusei… I'm sorry."

Hearing Kuren's apology from behind, Sunny stopped.

Her shoulders were slightly trembling.

"Why are you apologizing, Kuren?"

"Because I'm useless. If I weren't useless… this wouldn't have—Ack!"

"Don't say such nonsense. I'll hit you."

"You already are!"

"A chop doesn't count as a hit."

Sunny rubbed the side of his hand against Kuren's forehead.

"Ow…"

Kuren pulled her head back, her eyes welling up with tears.

"The ones who attacked us unprovoked were them. It's wrong to blame yourself for their actions. Besides—"

Sunny bent down, lowering his gaze to look directly into Kuren's eyes.

"This time, I was also careless. Even though they might come, I let my guard down. I relaxed my vigilance. So, Kuren's injury is my fault."

"N-No! I was the rear guard. If I had noticed the attack first—"

"If I were stronger, Kuren wouldn't have been injured! If I had been more prepared, they wouldn't have died!!"

The thoughts that had been simmering inside Sunny burst out of his mouth.

Since obtaining the Skill Board, Sunny had been giving it his all.

He believed he was doing his best.

His physical abilities were at their peak.

But there was still more he could have done.

If he had maxed out his growth acceleration from the start, he might have had the strength to save the Sibukais.

Moreover, he had excluded their skill increases from the methods to save their lives.

Sunny had no intention of forgiving their crimes.

But saving lives and forgiving crimes were entirely different matters.

An adventurer's job was to protect lives.

If he couldn't save a life in front of him, he would be no different from a broken printer. Just useless.

Not an adventurer.

He would save lives, regardless of whether they were criminals.

That was the job of an adventurer.

Thinking about saving lives, Sunny should have included the Sibukais' skill increases as an option.

He should have been more aggressive.

He had taken the lives of others lightly.

What Sunny lacked was the resolve to take one more step.

Kuren, who could use the rare skill Magic, and Sunny, who possessed the even rarer Skill Board.

There was no guarantee that they wouldn't be targeted with malice.

Even without these, trouble would come knocking.

There were times, like this one, when they would be hated unilaterally.

If he couldn't repel such malice, he was just an inexperienced adventurer.

He deserved to be called that.

He didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

So, Sunny would give it his all.

He would never abandon a life within his reach.

Or he would become so strong that even those with malice would think twice about confronting him.

That was the resolve Sunny had made.

To become stronger.

To gain the strength to protect his companions.

"I will. If I were stronger, I wouldn't have put Kusei in danger, and you wouldn't have suffered alone—So!"

Sunny took Kuren's hand, which was streaming with tears, and squeezed it.

"Let's become stronger. Together."

"…Yes."

* * *

[Serious Players] Fully clear the dungeon! 157th floor [Officially Approved]

65 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

I found it!

The masked man rumored in some adventure book

66 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

What?

What kind of guy?

Did you talk to him?

67 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

A floating cursed mask

With plants on his back

And tentacles for hands

68 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

What kind of monster is that?

69 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

It's not a monster!

He was using an IC card, so he's probably different

…Probably

70 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

Don't be so unsure lol

Did you talk to him?

71 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

No way!

That guy is really dangerous!

If anyone could talk to him, I'd respect them

72 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

He's that kind of guy…

Only someone on Masatsugu's level could get close to him

73 Name: Anonymous at the Frontline

So it's impossible for me lol

* * *

[Even Enjoyers] Thread about Chikaho 70 [Alive!]

110 Name: Anonymous Enjoying Chikaho