Chapter 24 (2/2)

──But, this is necessary for me to play my next “card”.

「Oh. When we have 10 minutes left, I want us all to mean in front of the auction house. From there we will all focus on crafting」

「But then, what will we do if we can’t get enough ingredients?」

「We will have enough. No matter the cost」

Yamabuki timidly asked that question, but Edgar gave a firm response.

I can’t hand over Suzu-san to Yos.h.i.+ no matter what.

My Second Card is extremely risky, but I will use it. I will even use my “Aran Card” if I have to.

Edgar decided that he would save his「Using Aran to get the ingredients」Card for last.

It’s true that with Aran I will be able to gather the ingredients one way or another. But in order to do that I need to log out of Edgar for a while.

If I log out of Edgar while we’re in such a critical situation I’ll probably be scolded for it later. But, that isn’t the main problem with that plan.

If I log back into Edgar suddenly carrying a large amount of ingredients, then the others will likely grow suspicious of how I got them. And if instead I came back with a ton of money to buy ingredients then the result will be the same.

I can basically only use Aran when all other options are closed. In other words, I have to save it as my Last Card.

「Nothing is for sale, huh」(Suzu)

「Yup」

The atmosphere at the Auction House felt like it was filled with static as players were itching to buy「Lizard Skin」and「Crab Claws」as soon as they were on sale.

Standing among the crowd was Edgar and Suzu who came here a second time.

10 minutes have pa.s.sed since they arrived here, and yet the auction showed no signs of moving.

The players who were lucky enough to get items from hunting Lizardmen and Crab Scissors by the coast are likely in the plaza where Yos.h.i.+ is, that was the natural place to be.

「…… If, if we end up going over the time limit, then you don’t have to feel responsible for it, Edgar-kun」

「Eh?」

With her gaze set on the Auction Board, Suzu’s quiet voice brushed against Edgar’s ear.

「The one who decided to have a contest with Yos.h.i.+-kun was me… so you don’t have to worry about it」

If only… If only I rejected Yos.h.i.+-kun clearly, then none of this would have happened.

Suzu was trapped by her feelings of guilt.

But, Edgar shook his head at those words.

「No, that’s not right. I’m the one who urged Suzu-san to accept it. The responsibility lies with me」

However, it doesn’t matter who’s to blame, there’s nothing we can do about it now.

Since the both of them understood that fact, they continued to gaze at the Auction Board that was being swarmed by other players, all the while remaining in silence.

「…… Even, even if I have to make a clan with Yos.h.i.+-kun」

As if being weighed down by that heavy silence, Suzu again let out a few quiet words.

「That sort of thing will never happen, so don’t worry」(Suzu)

「…… “that sort of thing”?」

「 I will have to join Yos.h.i.+-kun clan because of the promise, right? Even if I am in Yos.h.i.+-kun’s clan, I will still play together with Edgar-kun…… With you and everyone else, same as before」

Still staring at the Board, Suzu said those words.

That was Suzu’s true feelings── Her one desire.

In order to show their affection, a male player would invite a female player into his clan, but that had no binding effect from a system’s standpoint.

Other MMO games had systems that implemented「Marriage」, but that sort of thing didn’t exist in Dragon’s Krone. Joining some guy’s clan did not have a lasting effect, it was nothing more than a verbal promise.

That’s why, if perhaps… Even if Suzu made a clan with Yos.h.i.+, she would still play together with everyone.

「…… I don’t like it」

「Eh? Don’t like……」

Edgar let out a harsh and heavy voice. Suzu was stunned by his tone.

「Don’t misunderstand. As long as I say things will be all right, Suzu-san will be making a clan with the me and the others…… and we will continue playing together like we always have. You joining Yos.h.i.+’s clan, I definitely won’t let Suzu-san experience something horrible like that. Even if you are not bound by the system, I will never allow that to happen」

「ッ!?」

Those words caused Suzu’s heart to stutter.

However, the one who was most surprised by those words was not Suzu; it was the person who avoided human contact, the popular livestreamer who said he would live in this world by himself. The person most surprised, was Edgar.

In the past I never wanted to play Dragon’s Krone with real life friends.

Human relations.h.i.+ps bring nothing but trouble; they only weigh you down.

Even now, Edgar felt that statement still held some truth. But if he were to be honest with himself, those bitter feelings no longer clouded his heart.

「E, Edgar-kun……」

「It’s alright. The Second Card, is already set in motion」

The person Edgar had called, was someone who he hesitated to contact even more so than Usa. A Player with a whole different level of “risk” involved.

「…… Card? What “Card”?」

「You’ll know soon enough. A ‘Helper’ other than Usa」

I already put out the bait.

It was「That Guy’s」 favorite. Such alluring bait that only I can cast.

Now, eat it up. Bite on hard.

While continuing to pray, Edgar waited for「That Guy’s」response.

The auction showed no movement. No matter which ingredient, the last one sold was an hour and a half ago.

One minute pa.s.sed, and yet another minute pa.s.sed. The time was drew ever closer.

And the Time Limit, was fast approaching.

And, it was then.

In the corner of his eye, a notification popped up; the notice of a message.

Edgar immediately opened it.

When Edgar read the name of the sender, his cheeks curled into a grin.

──It’s Him.

『「Lizard Skin」and「Crab Claws」,「Animal Hair」and「Leather Straps」, Got it. I’ll bring you everything you need』

That was his reply to Edgar’s message.

「That Guy」ended his reply with only this:

『I will arrive in 20 minutes. In exchange for the ingredients you better prepare my reward, “Aran”. You better be ready to tell me「The Secret Behind Moon Step」』

The name of the sender was「Chrono」──

He was the Leader of the Clan that Aran had joined in the past. The Clan where Strength was Absolute:「The Grave Carpenters」.

Footnotes:

1.

TL note: I took some liberties with the translation of “cash shop items”. The original text says Yos.h.i.+ boosted his level by [going full force with micro-transactions]. Basically he bought a bunch of things such as exp boosts or perhaps even used a paid “gacha” system to get rare items. The specifics aren’t explained but I went with “Cash shop items” because it’s easier to understand.

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