Akatsuki Translations

Have you heard the rumors?

Rumors?

Yeah, rumors about the rising star.

You mean the story about Gouren, the silver-ranked adventurer?

No, not that! I heard he died! I’m talking about the Golem Slayer!!

Oh, you mean the Immortal Killer?

Wasn’t it the Omen Bird Butcher?

I heard that very recently, he became known as the Slime King Exterminator.

Huh? A slime king isn’t something a copper-ranked adventurer can kill, right?

Apparently, he killed it. That’s why the upper echelons of the guild are in a panic now.

How do you know so much about the situation of the upper echelons?

This guy’s girlfriend is a regular employee of the guild.

What? I’m so jealous. Is she leaking top-secret information?

If she did that, they’d both be kicked out of the guild. That’s why the information gets around quickly.

So, what’s going to happen to this Slime King Exterminator?

If it’s a Slime King Exterminator, I can do it too! I heard he might be promoted to silver rank soon.

…When did he become an adventurer?

From what I’ve heard, it hasn’t even been a year. That’s why there’s such a big fuss.

Damn! I’m so jealous of geniuses!!

Moreover, I heard he seduced a priestess and got an incredible familiar.

What’s that? I don’t really understand. Is it strong?

Rather than strong, it’s huge? Apparently, it’s as big as a city.

No way, that’s ridiculous… You’re joking, right? It’s not a joke?

And I heard he’s racking up even more achievements by mowing down supergiant class monsters with that familiar.

…At that point, it’s doesn’t feel realistic at all.

I don’t even feel like being jealous anymore, seriously, how did he end up like this?

I’ve seen that Slime King Exterminator before.

Oh, really? What kind of guy was he?

He was just an ordinary kid. He was a good guy who would treat me to drinks when he won big.

How does such an ordinary kid make it so big?

But you know, the woman with him was dangerous. She was a silver-haired girl.

Oh, I know about that too. I heard there’s an incredibly beautiful woman with him.

What? That kid has such a beautiful woman serving him? I can’t tolerate this even more.

I heard that girl is a bewitching woman who plays with all men. And she’s also a super-genius magician.

Aha! So the twist is that the kid is actually being controlled by that woman?

But then why doesn’t the woman take the lead?

That’s because she doesn’t want to stand out, right?

She lets the man take the envy and backlash, while the woman reaps the sweet rewards. Cunning.

I’d rather receive the fame and be pampered, though.

An idiot like you would be the first to be manipulated.

What did you say, you bastard?!

You wanna go, huh?!

You’re both idiots.

　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

In the tavern, a gathering place for adventurers, a fight breaks out again today, as usual.

A big brawl between drunken fools. However, both of them are adventurers who have delved into the dungeon countless times. They are strong, and if one gets caught up in the power unleashed by the loss of inhibition from alcohol, it won’t end with just injuries, and few can stop them.

Rather, there’s no one who would bother to stop them in the first place. It may be in poor taste, but the sight of drunks making fools of themselves is a form of entertainment for adventurers, and bets start right away. The store owners are used to such things as they continue to do business with adventurers. Since a portion of the profits from the bets goes towards repairing the damaged store, they don’t get angry even if the store gets somewhat destroyed. They don’t put expensive items in the interior because it always ends up like this.

Those who complain about the creaking chairs and cheap liquor don’t come to this store.

And so, the usual fights and foolishness had no restraint. The usual flow was that either one of them would give in, or they would both become groggy as the alcohol kicked in. However, today, the flow was a little different.

“Sorry to interrupt your fun. I have something I’d like to ask…”

Along with the sound of a bell announcing a new customer from outside the store, a large beastperson with a deep, lustrous voice approached the two men. The two men, their heads filled with blood from alcohol and injuries, glared at the intruder with a crazed look on their faces and tried to pounce on him. But,

“You’re in the way.”

Saying that, he easily pushed the two men to the ground with one hand each, from above, as if suppressing a rampaging child. Being treated like children, the men sobered up completely and stared blankly at the beastperson with jet-black hair and ears.

He had a masculine face but didn’t look young. Yet, there was a strength about him that didn’t make him seem old. And they realized.

“…You’re【King】, aren’t you?”

“Oh, so a young guy like you knows my name. It’s been a while since I’ve been out.” -King

At that moment, a stir and cheers erupted in the tavern.

“Black!! Black!! The Nameless King!”

“He crawled out of his hole!! No way, this is big news!!”

The man called the King raised his hand with a slightly exasperated look. The two drunks who had been interrupted from their fight and knocked down seemed to have completely forgotten about being subdued. He grabbed both of their shoulders and said in a cheerful voice like a child’s,

“Hey, can you tell me about this kid, the 【Slime King Exterminator】?” -King

New arc!