155 Episode 155 "Extra Part 14" Nagi, Iris, and Rafilias Secretly Cheat Escort Trip (Part 2) "".txt (2/2)

Then it kicks the river bottom and comes ashore. It howls again. The enemy does not flee. They are staring at us, their long crayfish whiskers quivering. Clayfish Fang runs off to remind the enemy of his lack of manners. Wielding a giant pair of scissors. Straight ahead, towards the enemy of my kind. And then...

Brother, it's now!

The moment you hear someone's voice from right beside you, the landscape changes.

The figure of my people, who had been threatening me, disappeared completely...

There was a huge, sturdy-looking tree in front of me.

''Gu?　Vaaaaaaah!?''

Thud.

The giant crayfish went head first into a large tree.

And then...

Activate.　'Delayed Combat (Delayed Arts) Lv 2', axe!

The tree that was right next to the giant crayfish tilted.

''Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

There is a cracking sound and the scissors snap. Beard bends.

The giant crayfish is stuck, head first into a large tree. Furthermore, the big tree that is on top of it.

'──── ooh, ooh.'

Then the giant crayfish, Grayfish Fang, was trapped between two trees and completely unable to move.

──────────────────── ...

Natalya!

It's time for you to finish.

'What?　Ah, yes. ''Assault Spear Breaker (Spear Charge), LV6!''

Crunch.

Natalia's spear ripped through the body of a giant crayfish.

She shot out Greyfish Fang!

''Well done! Senior!

'Wait a minute. How did this happen?

Huh?　It's funny.

Why does Natalia seem unhappy when she's completed the quest without incident?

'Why did 'Greyfish Fang' head that way so easily!　Mr. Melody!

Because I provoked you, okay?

'Why did Miss Raphilia blindfold me then!

Melody-sama's provocations can be hard on the eyes if you're not used to them!

'I saw a crawfish-like shadow!　Next to Mr. Melody!

I'm sure the magic of the land helped with that wish of yours, Marc-kun.

Melody (Iris) closed her eyes as if in prayer.

'Did the tree fall on ......?'

Still, Natalia was not happy.

It can't be helped. I'll be honest with you.

I hit it with the axe and it broke. It seems the axe I got in the village was very sharp.

No way!

I'm pissed.

The strategy this time is simple. First, Melody (Iris) creates an illusion of another ”Greyfish Fang” in ”Illusionary Space”.

As soon as the nerdy fellow pounces on me, I use the giant hatchet from Delayed Combat (Delay Arts) (25 swings) to cut into the tree.

The village chief gave me a second-hand hatchet to replace mine. It's to replace my portion of the payment.

The demon then rises to the top of the tree, damaging it badly.

And the fallen tree blocks its movement.

That was it.

''It's strange. When you take down a large demon, you're supposed to surround it with everyone, block its movements, and then struggle to defeat it, right?　Why is it so easy to block your movements?　Am I going to be able to just stab him and be done with it?　Are you sure this is the right thing to do!

Natalia-san was in a panic.

I thought I had chosen a way to beat her that was as uncheat-like as possible, but it was too irritating for Natalia's serious roots.

''It can't be helped,''

I exchange glances with Ilis and Rafilia, all three nodding simultaneously.

Okay. Let's keep on talking as if nothing has happened in the past...

'Oh, lost boy's soul. Thy desire is fulfilled: ......

I knelt down and spoke to a stone monument on the riverbank.

May your soul rest in peace.

The demon is defeated, so may he rest in peace.

Melody (Iris) chants my words.

'Nothing will disturb your sleep anymore!

And then Rafilia, and then...

Pan.

Me, Melody (Iris) and Rafilia joined hands with the monument.

And then...

”Thank you ...... everyone.

From behind the stone monument, a ghostly marque boy appears.

There's a young woman standing next to him. If there is one, it's ...... his mother's spirit.

'Now I can sleep peacefully ...... who worked the hardest to defeat the ...... demons...' ...

””This is my first victory.”

We both pointed at Natalia at the same time.

'Yeah?'

Hey, hey, hey.

Don't scare the peaceful ghosts. Natalya.

How dare they accuse me of being the hardest worker here?

Because it was Natalya who did the finishing touch.

Your friend was standing by so we wouldn't have to worry about it.

Natalia, you held back well so that Master and Lady Melody could jump out if they were in danger!

””Right?”

We hold hands and surround Natalia.

We go around in a kind of ”Kagome-Kagome” flavored circle.

And thanks to Natalia's presence, I'm certain that I could carry out my plan without worry.

Natalia's Spear Charge, LV6, accurately pierced the giant crayfish's vital points. My ”Delayed Combat” was released in order to defeat the tree, so I couldn't attack it right away.

So let's just say that it was Natalia's fault that I was able to kill the crayfish so easily.

”...... ugh. I can't do that. I ...... such a ......

Natalia doesn't seem to be convinced yet.

”Thank you, ...... sister.

Marc, the ghost boy, came to Miss Natalia and knelt down.

Then he took her hand and kissed it lightly.

'My mom and I were swept away by the rising river, and we were separated and died. ...... When I thought I had finally found my family, a demon nearly destroyed the stone monument .........' ...But now we can sleep together: ......

...... woo ......

Natalia stared at the kneeling Marc boy.

'...... You're not afraid of me, are you?'

”Why?

Because all kids are afraid of me: ......

”Hey, sis. I know you're a good person.

The Marc boy smiled vaguely.

'...... I was just surprised yesterday. ...... I'm glad it was your sister who found me...' ...

With that, the boy Marc disappeared.

When I noticed, the motherly ghost also disappeared. The only thing left on the ground was a single word: 'Reward is here. In the dirt.” was left on the ground.

When I dug up the place where the words had been, I found the 'Skill Crystal' in an old wooden box. Enclosed is a piece of parchment. It said ”For when Marc becomes an adventurer”... They must have intended to give me this when they met.

When I touched the skill crystal, I understood the contents. This is the ”Surprise Level 4”.

”Surprise Level 4”.

A so-called back attack skill.

It increases the probability of a back attack on an unwary enemy and damage.

...... Please give that to Lady Iris.

Natalia said.

She had soothing, gentle eyes.

'It's only because Iris-sama allowed me to take the quest that I was able to get this. So it would make sense for me to give it to Iris-sama.

I understand.

I have found something else to treasure.

Ginsu.

Again, Natalia-san's gaze becomes sharp.

Me and Iris - it wasn't me and Iris - I stare at Melody, and for some reason, I'm holding my face again.

'I'm going to become an 'adventurer to protect children' from now on!　I know that I won't be scared, so I'm going to keep an eye on them for a moment and protect them from all kinds of obstacles - and precious things!

Sorry, I'm a little scared, Natalia.

It's good to see your confidence growing, but something is spiraling out of control in the direction of the day after tomorrow: .......

”Miss Melody!

Okay.

You want to be with Souma-Nagy, don't you?

Of course!

Melody (Iris) grabbed me by the arm and announced, ”When your brother dies, that's when I die.

...... When my brother dies, that's when I die. My body and soul, down to a hair on my head, belong to you. The best thing about being born in the port city of Ilgafa, is that I got to know you!

'Then I'll fight to keep that kind of happiness.

With a gleam in her eye that even felt like pressure, Natalia declared.

'Thank you for this fight. And let me go on to a new path: ......

It was the moment when the port city of Irgapha saw the birth of the ”Children's Specialists (mainly for little boys) Adventurers”.

Then we reported our defeat of the monster to the village chief...

We had a late breakfast of crawfish soup for everyone.

Then we went straight back to the port city of Irgafa.

Natalia and I parted at the entrance to the town.

She finally said, ”I'm going to tell my father of my decision,” and ran off with a smile like a different person from when we met. She said that she dreams of helping to rebuild the Adventurer's Guild from now on, and making it a place where people in need can go to for help.

After that, he wants to make sure that the clients of some age group have a monopoly on him.

I feel like I'm biased in some ways, but I'm sure Natalia would take care of her clients, so I guess that's okay ......?

After that, I went home and Iris and Rafilia went back to the Ilgafa lord's house.

All that was left was to wait for Cutlass and the others who went to the recreation area to open the 'Transference Portal'.

─ The next day after I thought that ─ I was suddenly summoned by the Ilgafa lord's house.

I'm sorry for causing you trouble. ''Sea Dragon Hero'' which.

In the reception room of the lord's house, the lord lord bowed to me.

''As a matter of fact, my lord's family's budget application form had this mixed in with it.

Saying that, the lord held out a piece of parchment.

What was written on it was...

”Summoning Budget for the Mysterious Adventurer.

Budget for hiring a mysterious shifu who hides in the dark and conducts espionage activities (Chouhoukaku) in the port city of Irgafa.

100 arsha per dispatch.

May be accompanied by a mysterious elf ”name undetermined at the moment”.

When summoning them, you must draw a designated coat of arms in the yard of the lord's house and utter the ”Mystery Melody”.

''──What shall we do?''

I'll... try.

I tried.

I got him.

”Let me go, big brother. You're not going to get your chance to play the role of a mystery shifu, are you, kiddo?

'I don't think it's possible when you're caught by me. Active ......

I'm sorry, Mr. Iris. I've fallen for the master's clever trap. ......

That's why.

It's been decided that I will summon the mysterious shifu Melody...

Instead, he promised to ”rebuild” Iris's skills on the road...

''So, when you activate that skill, Iris will transform into 'Melody'!

Excellent idea, Mr. Iris!

...... Well, that's why.

The first quest of ”Mystery Thief Melody”, aka Iris, was over and she had a new goal in mind.