118 Episode 118 "When I was moving at high speed in a crowd with full skill, I was challenged by a mysterious group.".txt (2/2)

The enemy is... a group of so-called pickpockets.

The offensive power of this group won't seem to be of much consequence, so we'll have to chase them off as naturally as possible.

So we'll just put our feet up.

Now that you mention it, your boots are starting to hurt.

Let's see if the laces are untied. Let's see if they're untied.

Let's just squat down.

I shouldn't do that. We can't just sit in the middle of a crowd. Let's get up.

That's it. I can't see it, but my balance is good. You have Iris or Aine working on your behalf.

...... is about to run out of skills.

My vision is starting to wear off. Let's see. Let's see what's going on.

'Ooooooooooooooooooh!

They were cheering.

As my five senses returned, I saw four small men shoving their heads into the stall in front of me.

All of them holding small knives in their hands. They're small, like the cutter knives of the original world.

There's a cloth-like substance clinging to the tip of the knife's blade. It's a piece of wallet you've cut so far.

'...... Naa-kun, these people are a pickpocket army.

Really?

What do you mean? You fought them off.

What do you mean by that?

'Yes. My brother put his foot in front of him to crouch, and someone who was just about to jump on him got caught and fell.

Iris tells me, waving her finger at me.

'Nah-kun crouched down, and the two of them, with knives out, rolled with all the momentum they could muster.

Aine indicated the fallen man with a spit stick.

'I thought this was a bad man,'

The last one, Nay-kun grabbed her arm and held her down, so Aine used her 'magic stick technique' to sneak in and poke her.

So that's why you're holding a spit roast stick.

But you still activate the 'magic stick technique', right?

''Brother ...... who are these people?''

”They're a proud group of high-specification pickpockets, the West Wind Penny Hunters.

I don't know if it's a cool name or a cheap name.

I felt like I was trying to pick a fight with Aine and Iris.

I accidentally used the 'transcendental sense'.

Sometimes that happens.

'...... Huh. We win.

The man who collapsed in the shop, said.

'The girl is already in the pause of her master's 'steel'. We have been distracted, but it's an opening for you guys. In the name of 'The West Wind's Penny Hunt,' we've got our wallet!

Nah!

I heard Aine's voice.

When I turned around - before I knew it, a small old man was standing behind Iris.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time. You're going to be able to find out more about the best way to get the most out of this project. It was like a martial artist. If you master pickpocketing, it will reach the martial arts level.

The old man has a knife. It reaches into the leather pouch Iris carries. He's going to cut the cord and take it off him.

...... That's a dangerous thing to do.

I don't know what to do if my kid gets hurt. I don't know what to do.

”Sent by: Nagi

Recipient: Iris.

Body: Iris, we have an emergency. Use that skill.'

”Sent by Iris.

Recipient: Nagi

Text: I understand!　Activate ”Counterattack Point Hole (Point Counter) LV 1”!

with a plop

Iris's fist struck the old man's arm.

The counter went in.

It didn't seem as if it was strenuous. But...

'Guggenheim!

The old man collapsed, holding his arm!

'Scorpionfish!　Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

As it is, I roll around blowing bubbles.

That looks painful. The 'counterattack point hole' doesn't disperse the impact, you know.

Counterattack Point Hole Lv 1 (4 Concept Cheat Skill)

The skill to increase the damage dealt to a part of the body with the counterattack.

This is an enhanced version of Iris' self-defense technique. The Self-Defense Lv 3 (a skill that increases the damage dealt by the counterattack) and an extra concept called ”Body Part” was added to it.

Originally, Self-Defense was just a skill that increased the damage you dealt to your opponent when defending yourself, but because it was made into a 4-concept cheat skill, it became an automatic counterattack-type skill.

It's like what they say in fighting games: ”After you enter a command, if you're about to be attacked for a few seconds, you'll automatically counterattack.

I triggered it at the right time, so the counter is neatly set.

”Whoa, whoa, my arm!　My eagle arm ah!

The old man's arm is vibrating in a strange way.

The 'Counterattack Point Hole Lv 1' doesn't disperse the impact.

The damage done by this skill stays on the part of the body and continues to cause pain and impact.

...... This is because you can suddenly point a knife at a person.

Each time the old man rolled, coins scattered from his body. I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the same thing from my hand, my bosom or my hair.

”This guy ...... could be the head of the intercontinental pickpocketing army 'West Wind's Penny Catcher'!

'I know. A former adventurer sifu who was expelled from the Adventurer's Guild ...... you know?

Wait. My wallet's gone. Huh?　There will be a hole in your wallet before you know it!

The people around them start to make a commotion. Perhaps they heard it, the guards are coming towards us.

There's no need to stay for a while.

”Wait, wait for ....... Our mission is to take the wallet and ...... the girl who has half of this coin.

From his pocket, the old man took out a golden coin.

It was a half-moon shaped coin. From the middle, it was neatly plumped up.

”...... request ...... you guys can ...... have this ...... with you. ......

I don't have it. Bye. Bye.

We were once again in single file formation.

We went into crowd infiltration mode and quickly left the area, slipping between people.

The 'counterattack point hole' my brother gave me is great!　With this, Iris will be safe!

'I'm so glad I got the soap. Now I can travel in peace.

The shopping is done.

Iris and Aine put the ”solid soap with seaweed” on their hands and looked satisfied.

But ...... what was it with those people earlier?

Like a pickpocket. Was someone looking for that special girl?

He was looking for someone who had half of these coins.

I sent Iris and Aine the image of ”Shared Consciousness, Revised”.

I took the picture of the old man's hand and the golden coin.

I took it because I thought it might be useful for something.

Is this ...... 'Royal Coin'?

A royal coin?

'Yes, brother. I've seen it in books. When a prince or princess is born in this country, a special coin is sometimes made to commemorate the birth. But they don't circulate to the public, so very few people have them.

'Is the girl wearing the ...... crown engraved on this coin?　I'm half way there, so I don't really know.

Aine took over Iris's words.

The ”Royal Coin”, huh?

That means that that 'High Speculative Army' was looking for the owner of the other half of the coin.

If that's why they were pickpocketing in the marketplace .......

...... I wonder if someone from the royal family was in that place. In a way that no one would notice.

Well, the guards will find out about that.

There's nothing we can do for now. It's enough to get the shopping done.

Then we took our purchases from the market and went home.

While I was helping Iris, Aine and Rafilia prepare for their trip, the sun was setting and...

Now, let's try out the ”Solid Soap with Seaweed

We're having a feast.

How did you get to me?

”(Nai-kun) is practicing before making it shinier.

No, you can't. I did say I was interested in it, and I'm happy to bathe with you guys. But if you get washed, I don't want you to go to ...... or any of that stuff, I want you to know that I like it!　Preferably not for you, but for you!

I watched as Iris and Aine washed Raphilia up to a glossy finish - and the day of rest passed.