Chapter 54

After completing the large-scale extermination, we started moving towards Shuting on the same day. Noll couldn't move as expected, so I had to carry her while we traveled.

The others, including Deus, were worried about her, but I reassured them that she would be able to move again in half a day.

Estel said she would try to walk on the way back, so I let her, but she eventually got tired, and Sisaha carried her in my place.

To think she could move normally even after fighting so fiercely against the kobolds and carrying Estel... I'm starting to think that being able to use healing magic is just a bonus.

We set up camp after it got dark and returned to Shuting in the evening of the next day.

Honestly, I wanted to return immediately using Beacon, but that wasn't possible.

The item gacha celebrating the completion of the large-scale extermination started today, so I had to endure. If I pulled out my smartphone and did the gacha in front of Deus and the others, it would look suspicious. I did my best.

I wanted to go straight to the inn, but I had to report to the Adventurers' Guild.

"Welcome back, Mr. Deus, Mr. Oogura. How did the kobold extermination go?"

"It's finally over... I'm pretty exhausted."

"I'm sorry about that."

When we entered the guild, Wijji greeted us. Unlike when we arrived, there were fewer adventurers inside.

They said there were signs of large-scale exterminations elsewhere, so many people must have gone to participate. Even though I don't know them, I hope they return safely.

Deus sighed, looking very tired. I felt bad and apologized.

"Estel and the others... it was way beyond what I imagined..."

"Oh, you did a great job too!"

"Yay! Thank you!"

"Um... Could you please stop hugging me suddenly?"

Miguru looked down, dejected, but as soon as Estel praised her, she looked up and hugged her.

She's being squeezed so tightly that she looks a bit uncomfortable.

Still, Miguru really likes Estel, I guess. I can understand the urge to hug her; she is cute after all.

"... Sisaha, I want to thank you this time. Thanks to your support and healing magic, I could take more hits than usual."

"I'm glad you're satisfied. I had a lot of fun too. If there's another similar opportunity, please call me."

"... I don't want to be around these people anymore."

Sisaha and Gauss are smiling and shaking hands. It looks good, but what they're saying is strange.

This group seems to be a bit dangerous. Sumika is nearby, but she's staring at a blank wall, seemingly in a daze.

Come to think of it, Sumika is often around Gauss. Maybe they get along well... I'm curious about their relationship.

"Mr. Oogura, I'm sorry for troubling you again."

"No, you used it to help me, so there's no need to apologize. I'm the one who should apologize for using it."

As I watched this exchange, Noll spoke to me.

I think it's about me carrying her while we moved, but I was the one who was helped, so there's no need to worry...

"Excuse me, I know you're busy, but may I ask you a question?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"Was the core of this group the Kobold Lord?"

"Yes, that's right. This is the drop item that fell when we defeated the Lord."

While talking to Noll, Wijji interrupted to confirm if the core of the group was the Kobold Lord.

So I took out the Lord's crown, spear, and red cloak. She picked up the red cloak, which seems to be the proof of the Lord's defeat.

"Of course... I'm really glad you went, Mr. Oogura. I'm sorry, but I'll have to keep this as proof for a while."

"I also think it was helpful to have you with us this time. We might have been a burden, but..."

Wijji and Deus sighed in relief, feeling really good about it.

After that, Deus muttered, looking a bit down. If he says they were a burden, what about me, who got thrown around by spears and missed a lot of enemies...?

"That's not true. If Deus and the others hadn't protected us, Estel wouldn't have been able to use her magic effectively. Even if Sisaha can fight, she couldn't have handled that many enemies."

"Thank you... I feel a bit better now."

When I replied to Deus, he smiled and responded.

It was my first time fighting so many enemies, but thanks to them, I didn't have to worry about the backline being overwhelmed, which made it mentally easier. Having a larger party is definitely better.

I heard the Lord also appears in the dungeon, so I want to increase our party to have more stable battles.

Next time, I hope we get a tank. I don't want to roll on the ground or fly in the air again.

●

We finished reporting at the Adventurers' Guild and returned to the inn.

The reward for completing this mission was 12.5 million G for both me and Deus.

We picked up some drop items from the kobolds as evidence, but we couldn't bring everything.

We could have fit more in our bags, but we didn't want to get caught, so we only brought what we could carry.

Deus and the others said they couldn't take half the reward, but I insisted they take it since we fought together. In exchange, I took the Lord's drop items.

The golden spear was romantic and I wanted it, so I'm satisfied just with that.

"Ah, finally finished the extermination!"

"Indeed. But, Mr. Oogura, aren't you in high spirits?"

"... It's the gacha."

"Gacha? What do you mean?"

Yes, I can finally do the gacha now that we're back at the inn.

It's a bit disappointing that I couldn't do the gacha at midnight, but it's fine. It's still early in the evening, and I've been looking forward to this.

Estel noticed I was about to do the gacha. She's quite perceptive.

I haven't told them about the gacha festival yet, but I'll tell them later.

"To notice that... Estel, you're doing well."

"Hehe, my hobby is watching you, big brother. I can tell a lot about you, you know? I can even tell if you've done something just by looking at your face."

"What did you do?"

"Don't ask! And stop that hobby immediately! No, please stop it!"

What, "watching you" as a hobby? Estel was often around me even on days we didn't go hunting. Was it just to watch me?

And what "something" did I do? I don't want to be known for that. I want it to stop.

To others, she looks very cute, but to me, her smile is unsettling.

I begged her to stop, but she just smiled without saying anything. It's a silent refusal...

"Well, anyway, the gacha festival has started, so I'm going to do the gacha."

"What do you mean... and when did it start?"

To avoid any strange comments, I changed the subject.

Noll looks a bit suspicious, but she's going along with it, so it's fine.

"It said something about a large-scale extermination commemoration. By the way, I also got some strange items."

Did it end up being a large-scale extermination? I think it was, but I'm not sure.

In addition to the item gacha, I should have received 50 magic stones and an SSR item.

I opened the item list and checked the items I received.

――――――

● SSR Cost Down

Lowers the target's cost by 1.

It's a one-time use, so choose carefully.

――――――

What is this...? Lowering the cost by 1 doesn't seem very useful...

But if you get multiple, it might be good in the long run.

"Hmm? Does this mean that if you do a large-scale extermination or something like that in this world, you can get items like this?"

"You're going to do another large-scale extermination!"

When Sisaha heard about the large-scale extermination, she sounded excited. I don't think that's something to be excited about.

Still, if you can get magic stones and other items by meeting certain conditions in this world, like defeating monsters, it's interesting.

For example, the dungeon seems to have something obvious, so maybe you can get something for clearing it. It might be worth looking for other places like that.