NOVEL WEB chapter 61
Chapter 61
▶You have defeated the EOD “Great Boulder Worm” for the first time.
10 SP added.
▶Acquired the title [Worm Slayer].
5 SP added.
▶Gained 51,200 experience points.
▶Acquired 12,011 reward stones.
▶Acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Orb.
▶Acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Hide.
“Nuooooooooo!”
▶Acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Blade Fang.
▶Acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Belly Meat.
▶Yamamoto’s level increased by 3.
▶[Balance] has been activated.
Adjusting the balance of acquired items.
▶Additionally acquired 39,184 reward stones.
▶Additionally acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Stomach.
▶Additionally acquired Great Boulder Worm’s Cilia.
The experience points are nearly five times more than the Crystal Dragon’s.
I guess it’s because we defeated it without weakening it?
Well, I had no idea how to weaken it anyway.
“Nuooooooooo!”
And sorry.
What’s been going on with you, Tsuna?
“Tsuna, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t suddenly shout while I’m checking the results…”
“How can I not shout! I’ve lost the chance to eat an EOD for the first time! Nuooooooooo!”
Oh, that’s right, the corpse completely turned into polygons and disappeared.
But there’s an item called [Great Boulder Worm’s Belly Meat] that dropped, isn’t there? Don’t you have it?
“Well, there’s an item called [Great Boulder Worm’s Belly Meat] that dropped, you know?”
“I got it too.”
“This is why I hate people with good drop luck!”
Oh, judging by his reaction, it seems it didn’t drop for him.
That might be cause for a bit of lamentation.
Well, I guess I could give it to him as thanks for participating.
…I don’t want to eat it anyway.
“For now, let’s leave this place. I’ll give you the belly meat later. The world announcement went out, so the people waiting for the boss might come to check what’s going on, thinking something’s odd.”
“Well, we could just say we were hunting small fry to level up, it ain’t a big deal.”
“Hmm, if I can get the edible parts, I have no objections.”
Tsuna is so mercenary!
And with that, we quickly move.
We hastily return to the town of Forzane.
“This ain’t good. My MP is pretty much tapped out. I need to sleep at the inn to recover.”
“Ah, the effect of [Magic King]? The consumption is intense because you use it repeatedly, huh?”
“That’s right. It gets more fun when you get stronger and your MP increases, but right now it bottoms out quickly, making it tricky to use effectively.”
“I see, everyone struggles with their unique skills.”
“You have a unique skill that seems difficult to use too, don’t you, Tsuna?”
Losing your self-awareness is honestly beyond just being difficult to use.
“In the beginning, I often caused trouble with friendly fire. Now I fight alone underwater, so it’s not that bad to use.”
Ah, so that’s why Tsuna is always alone…
It makes me a bit sad.
“If you ever need help with an adventure, call me. I’ll help…”
“Me too…”
“If you’re going to sympathize, give me meat. Fish is fine too.”
You’re unwavering on that point!
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“I have something to do, so I’m heading to the beach, but as far as the party goes, we’ll disband here.”
“If there’s anything I can help with at the sea, I will.”
I use the trade function to give Tsuna the [Great Boulder Worm’s Belly Meat], and receive words of gratitude from him.
But from here on is my domain.
I don’t think I’ll need Tsuna’s help.
“It’s alright. From here on, it’s something only I can do. I don’t need help. But Tsuna, could you escort Tatsu back to the inn?”
We can’t rule out the possibility that those guys might take extra precautions, so we’ll take preventive measures on our side too.
“Understood.”
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but don’t overdo it.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t push myself too hard. I’m just going to do what needs to be done.”
With that, I part ways with the two of them and head towards the sea to draw some seawater—
■□■
[Nabal’s Perspective]
The time has come—
At last, today the semi-finals and finals of the Grand Martial Arts Festival will be held.
However, the outcome of this semi-final has already been decided before it even begins.
“Boss, the venue is really lively, ain’t it? They’re so carefree, not knowing it’s going to be a walkover.”
“Hm, if that so-called Demon King had remained, we wouldn’t have known what would happen. It’s understandable that the audience has expectations.”
The second round of the final tournament.
I can’t forget the attack that little girl called the Demon King unleashed back then.
If we had taken a hit like that, I’m not confident even we could have endured it.
That’s why we tailed the girl as she tried to return to town through the VIP communication passage…
However, I didn’t expect the so-called Demon King to be such a little girl.
If she hadn’t been using the VIP passage, we wouldn’t have been certain she was the same person as the Demon King.
“But how will our opponent approach this?”
“They’re down to just one person. They’ll either fight alone or surrender immediately.”
I used one of my prized magic sword collections, [Sleeper’s Void]. Unless I lift the curse, the Demon King won’t wake up. We also destroyed their rare equipment.
We’ve taken double precautions in case some whimsical high priest happens to pass by and lift the curse of the magic sword.
To begin with, this is a request from the Farland Kingdom… in other words, it’s practically a royal command. Failure is not an option, so it’s only natural to be extra cautious.
“Nabal and Hasan, please take the stage.”
“…That’s our cue, Boss. Shall we go?”
“Ah— …?”
Hm? What was that, my imagination?
For a moment, it felt like my [Danger Sense] reacted…
“Boss?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
It seems I’m getting excited because the finals are approaching. I probably mistook some pre-battle jitters for [Danger Sense].
“Heheh, looks like we can take it easy in the semi-finals.”
“Don’t let it show on your face. First-class professionals pay attention to such details.”
“Yes, yes.”
Hasan is a skilled scout, but he tends to be moody. He’s skilled enough to take on this request, but the kingdom probably doesn’t trust him enough to do more than literally cut off his head for a single mistake.
If we’re going to continue as A-rank adventurers, I might need to reconsider how to deal with this man.
Thinking about such things, I slowly ascend to the arena stage.
As always, the view from inside the arena is exceptional. I feel exhilarated by all the attention focused on us.
If this wasn’t a job request, it would be perfect…
Well, since it’s essentially a royal command, we couldn’t refuse.
In that case, all we can do is continue to play our best hand.
“Here they come! The demons of lightning-fast victories! The Nabal & Hasan combo! And when it comes to speed victories, they’re undefeated! Please don’t destroy the arena today! Here comes the Tatsu & Lily combo!”
As the announcer’s voice echoes through the venue to hype up the crowd, the audience erupts in excitement.
It seems our opponents are more popular than we are.
Than we are, huh…
Well, that’s fine too.
This Grand Martial Arts Festival is being held in the first place.
It’s understandable that the human side’s participants aren’t popular—
“Boss, that…”
“I told you not to let it show on your face.”
There, for whatever reason, our opponent in the form of the Demon King is slowly ascending to the stage.
Are they saying they somehow lifted the curse of my [Sleeper’s Void] and had a spare set of armor?
No, there’s no way they could have two or three sets of such special equipment…
Then what is this thing standing before me?
From the build to the design of the equipment, it’s exactly the same…
It makes me think as if the one we attacked was some kind of fake.
No, that’s not it…
We definitely put the Demon King in a state where they couldn’t participate in the Grand Martial Arts Festival.
Then, isn’t the one standing before us the fake?
“A fake, huh?”
I say, trying to bait them, but the Demon King just shrugs their shoulders mockingly. It seems they have no intention of answering.
“You bastard! The real Demon King yesterday—”
“Hasan!”
Is this idiot for real?!
I harshly reprimand Hasan, who nearly let his tongue slip.
“The Demon King, what?”
The Demon King opens their mouth, but it’s not the voice of that little girl.
So it is a fake after all…
“To begin with, weren’t you the ones who said you couldn’t prove who the Demon King was? Why are you now talking as if you know who the Demon King is? Isn’t that strange?”
That’s right, the Demon King’s true identity isn’t generally known.
That’s why we can’t point out here that the contents are different.
If we did, we’d have to explain how we know…
And if that comes to light, our work from yesterday might also be exposed.
That could lead to a loss of the kingdom’s authority.
That’s why we can’t point it out… and yet this idiot Hasan…
I approach Hasan, pretending to convey strategy, and whisper softly into his ear.
“Hasan, don’t worry. There’s no way they could prepare multiple sets of such equipment.”
Equipment like that—not only money, but time would be needed to make it. It’s not something you can prepare several of.
Perhaps regaining his composure at my words, Hasan returns to a calm attitude.
“Are you saying it’s just for show?”
“Probably. And if the equipment isn’t much, what we need to do is the same as always.”
“I see. Got it, Boss.”
“We just need to clearly demonstrate the power of A-rank adventurers.”
Hasan licks his lips at those words.
This guy is the type to have mood swings, but once he gets fired up, he’s unstoppable. Seeing Hasan’s increased concentration, I felt my anxiety dissipate.
At this rate, we shouldn’t make any blunders— just as I was thinking that, the Demon King’s voice rings out.
“I’ll tell you in advance because it’ll be troublesome if you make excuses later. You’d better come at me with all you’ve got, even if it means using underhanded methods. I intend to crush all of that and warn you that A-rank adventurers of the kingdom are utterly useless, so don’t interfere unnecessarily, you fools. Ah, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be sacrifices. You’re aware of what you’ve done, right?”
The Demon King’s sacrifice, huh?
That’s quite a witty remark, but whether you can actually do it is another matter entirely.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But, well…”
I take out one of my prized magic sword collections from [Storage] and quietly ready it.
“If you can do it, then by all means, try.”
“You said it. Don’t regret it later.”
As the Demon King sneers, the corners of my mouth naturally curve into a smile.