Akatsuki Translations

At the Covetous Hideout 

“Owner, two daily lunch specials.” -Ur 

“Please.” -Shizuku 

“You look quite worn out today… Make sure to dust off the dirt outside the shop.” -Tavern keeper 

Retreating in a disheveled manner from their battle with the Crystal Golem, Ur and Shizuku found themselves at their familiar haunt, the tavern. No matter how many failures they endured, no matter how much they agonized, as long as their physical and mental well-being were minimally maintained, hunger would always make itself known. 

“Well, as long as you’re hungry, there’s no need to worry.” -Tavern Keeper 

“Please worry. We’re quite stuck.” -Ur 

“There are others here who are also stuck to varying degrees. I can’t play favorites easily. I’ll give you an extra slice of meat.” -Tavern keeper 

“Thank you very much, Shop keeper-sama.” -Shizuku 

Grateful for the various ways they were taken care of, the pair replenished their weary bodies with energy as they eagerly devoured the meal in front of them. 

“I wonder what today’s daily special is.” -Ur 

“It’s teriyaki-style Red-Eared Bird with sunny-side-up eggs. It was transported from the ‘Production City’ today, so it’s a nicely marinated cut of meat. Dig in quickly.” -Tavern Keeper 

Without needing to be told, Ur stabbed his fork into the meat in front of him. Juices flowed from the thick slices, mingling with the sauce on top. Ur couldn’t really tell if Red-Eared Bird was an expensive or inexpensive meat, but meat was meat, and this meat was delicious. Ur savored the flavor in his mouth. 

“Tasty.” -UR  

“You don’t have much of a way with words, do you?” -Tavern Keeper 

Saying that, the tavern’s manager seemed delighted. Being able to eat delicious food until they were full was one of the few benefits Ur gained since becoming an adventurer. 

(I’d like to treat Akane to this as well. Even though she’d become juice.) 

As Ur was thinking such things, there were people approaching. Multiple male adventurers, walking in a group, completely ignoring Ur, sat down next to Shizuku and began eating their meat with a smile. And then, 

“Shizuku-san! You’re looking lovely today! So beautiful!” 

“Thank you very much. It’s always nice to be praised by Gai-san.” -Shizuku 

“Shizuku! I picked these flowers that would suit you. Would you please accept them?” 

“Well, Danji-san, thank you very much. They are lovely flowers.” -Shizuku 

“Shizuku-san! Would you like to explore with our party next time?!” 

“I’m sorry.” -Shizuku 

“She rejected us!!” 

One after another, the men approached Shizuku and were casually dismissed by her. 

It was the usual scene. 

It had become the usual scene. 

Shizuku was a highly skilled magician, or rather, she possessed exceptional “potential” as a magician. Her magical abilities were fantastic, but they were often accompanied by the remark, “for a beginner.” 

She was still a fledgling adventurer. Most of the people trying to recruit her were experienced adventurers who already possessed copper rings, skilled enough in their own right. Even if they tried to invite her, they wouldn’t be able to take her along for dungeon exploration. It would simply disrupt the balance of the party. 

But why did the men keep approaching her with invitations? 

The men who initially approached her were captivated by Shizuku’s striking appearance. They were drawn to her charm and captivated by her graceful demeanor and egalitarian kindness toward everyone, which was quite unusual for an adventurer. The male patrons of the tavern had become completely infatuated with her. 

However, Ur couldn’t help but wonder if such attention might make other women dislike her… 

“Ahaha, has Shizuku been hit on again? Hehe, oh dear, Ur must be saad~”  

And now it was Ur’s turn to be approached. It was Nana, a rabbit beastman with a well-trained and refined physique, and a second-class, copper-rank adventurer, who pressed her body against him. 

“You’re drinking again in broad daylight, Nana.” -Ur 

“Buuuut alcohol tastes sho good!” -Nana 

“Don’t cling to me, you reek of booze.” -Ur 

“Araa, are you blushing, hehehe?” -Nana 

“No, I’m just recalling the hellish scene of vomiting from last time.” -Ur 

“Don’t worry, everything’s fineee. I won’t drink mush todayyyy, hic….” -Nana 

“Someone please deal with this drunkard.” -Ur 

As Nana continued to bother him, Ur sought help from her companions, the female adventurers who were a minority in this tavern. They forcibly separated Nana from Ur. 

“Nana, you really need to drink less, despite what I told you.” 

“Shizuku, you shouldn’t be so casual with these men! They’re idiots and will misunderstand!” 

“Thank you for your advice. I’ll be more careful.” -Shizuku 

Shizuku gratefully lowered her head in response to the warning from the female adventurers. Their smiles indicated that her charm resonated with women as well. At least, there had been no rumors of Shizuku causing trouble in this tavern. 

Well, as long as there wasn’t a possibility of Shizuku abandoning Ur, there shouldn’t be any problems. Ur focused on the meat in front of him. 

“Hey, aren’t you worried, kid? Your partner is getting hit on ya’ know.” -Tavern Keeper 

“What’s there to do, owner? This meat is tasty.” -Ur 

“She’ll get taken away if you keep up that attitude.” -Tavern Keeper 

“I have no right to stop her. This meat is tasty.” -Ur 

Of course, it was Ur who would be troubled if she were truly recruited. It was generally considered impolite and could lead to resentment if someone openly poached members from an already established party. However, it wasn’t strictly forbidden. If both parties agreed, a transfer could occur. 

If that were to happen, Ur had no right to stop her. It would be a painful experience for him, but he understood that it was unavoidable. They weren’t lovers or family. They were simply acquaintances who had crossed paths by chance and joined forces due to mutual convenience. One couldn’t prevent someone from seeking a better environment. 

If someone better than Shizuku, someone with more potential matching Ur’s current abilities, approached him with an invitation to adventure together, he would consider transferring as well. However, he hadn’t seen any adventurers who possessed qualities superior to Shizuku, no matter how much he looked. 

The fact that he was willing to accept “it can’t be helped” despite his own life being at stake at the hypothetical loss of Shizuku could be seen as a lack of decisiveness, according to Glen. Ur began to feel slightly downcast. 

“Want me to teach you a good way to keep her by your side?”  

That’s what an adventurer who had been rejected by Shizuku just a moment ago, said as he approached Ur. 

“No one’s listening, Jack, who just got rejected by Shizuku.” 

“I didn’t get rejected! We just had a little misunderstanding…!” -Jack 

Jack, who had been training at the same facility as Ur and was one of those who ran away, always had a sly grin on his face. It was a face that usually didn’t say anything good. But it was also a face that anticipated Ur coming to listen to him. 

“By the way, how would I go about doing it specifically?” -Ur 

Fed up with the face hanging in front of him, Ur reluctantly asked the question. In response, the person flashed a sly smile and said, “When it comes to how a man keeps a woman by his side, this is it!” 

Ignoring Jack, who thrust his hips forward and made a determined face, Ur pierced a potato with his fork and savored it with the sauce. It was delicious. 

“Don’t ignore me, damn it!” -Jack 

“I’m not denying the method itself, not at all.” -Ur 

Physical connection wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Even married couples were originally strangers. It could be considered a means of connecting people, with certain value. Although there were cases where it was overused and led to violence. 

“But is she the kind of woman who falls for that? That.” -Ur 

“Why are you so scared? I’ve already been on a date with Shizuku, you know?” -Jack 

“Oh, really?” -Ur 

Ur, who was partnered with Shizuku, wasn’t with her all the time. They spent their days exploring the dungeon and training, but they did have some free time. They could do simple shopping together, perhaps. 

Ur admired Jack for not just talking, but actually doing things properly, but… 

“Oh, I’ve been on a date too.” 

“Yeah, me too!” 

“I even went on a date with Shizuku-chan together with our group of three.” 

Hearing the claims of the men surrounding Shizuku, Ur looked at Jack. Jack was lying face down on the desk, crying. 

“Shizuku’s guard is too lax, and going on dates has become a daily occurrence.” 

“That’s not true! I went on a date! That was a date…!” -Jack 

“Don’t cry. I’m not denying it.” -Ur 

While casually comforting Jack, Ur looked at Shizuku beside him. 

“The meat is tender and delicious.” -Shizuku 

Casually brushing off the men who approached her, Shizuku happily ate her meat with a floppy smile. She seemed almost too easygoing. In fact, she didn’t particularly refuse invitations from men who were attracted to her appearance. It might be only a matter of time before she was actually taken away. 

Before that happened, Ur should proactively get along with her… but he wasn’t really inclined to do so. Strangely, he didn’t feel any desire to get closer to her. Why was that? 

At the very least, Shizuku’s appearance should be to his liking. 

“Is something the matter, Ur-sama?” -Shizuku 

Perhaps because he had stared at her face and chest too much, she tilted her head. Ur remained silent and averted his gaze. 

“I just thought I’d like to get a little closer to Shizuku, that’s all.” -Ur 

“Well, I’m very happy about that.” -Shizuku 

Shizuku beamed with delight and smiled. It was a smile that could move not only men but also women’s hearts. Ur felt embarrassed about his petty thoughts while watching her. 

“…Shall we eat?” -Ur 

“Yes.” -Shizuku 

“Shizuku-san! Can I join too?” 

“Oh, of course. Let’s all dine together, everyone.” -Shizuku 

In this way, adventurers gathered around Shizuku, and it became a familiar scene as always. 

　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

“By the way, hey, Ur. Are you still at the training camp?” -Jack 

“Yeah, what about it, Jack?” -Ur 

“No way! You’re kidding, right? I bet on only two weeks!” -Jack 

“Don’t gamble on people. Besides, you should have stayed at the training facility and bet on yourself.” -Ur 

“Like I have the luxury to stay in that hellhole!” -Jack 

“I’m of the same opinion.” -Ur 

Jack had attended the training facility for only about five days before reaching his limit. Glen seemed to have targeted Jack’s “stubbornness” from the beginning and brutally punched him in the face, causing his nose to twist and turn. Then he forcefully fixed it and poured a healing potion all over it, providing a rough and extreme form of treatment. 

“Isn’t this ‘training’ more like just being lynched…” 

“That guy used to be in the Gold rank, but he’s such a shitty instructor.” 

“I received guidance from a Silver rank elsewhere, and they were polite and easy to understand. I cried.” 

It seemed that many of the young people here had experienced terrible things at the hands of Glen. When talking about their memories of him, their eyes would become lifeless as they looked into the distance. Ur imagined that he would have the same expression after today’s training. 

Perhaps because of that, or maybe for other reasons, adventurers who came from the training camp had a strong sense of camaraderie. They genuinely cared about Ur and Shizuku. It was something to be grateful for. 

“Speaking of which, I encountered a group called the ‘Red Ogre’ today. Do you know anything about them?” -Ur 

Without directing the question to anyone in particular, the beastman sitting behind Ur responded. Their orange fur and beast ears twitched uncomfortably at the mention of the Red Ogre. 

“Oh, those guys. Did they give you any trouble, nya?” -Cat-person 

“No, not really. We had a brief encounter after leaving the dungeon.” -Ur 

After the battle with the golem, Shizuku was invited by another group of adventurers. It was a relatively common occurrence, but this time, it was different. The group that Shizuku helped during the fight turned out to be the Red Ogre. 

That was all there was to it, but this time, they were a bit forceful. Even though they claimed to be interested in Shizuku, they completely ignored Ur. In fact… 

“They said to leave the ‘dead weight’ and choose a proper party, among other things. It seemed like they were having a lot of fun.” -Ur 

Being considered “dead weight” didn’t bother Ur, so he didn’t pay much attention to it. However, upon hearing this, the beastman wore exasperated expressions and gnawed on their dried fish. 

“Do they really think they can recruit people with that attitude? Those guys are truly idiots, nya.” -Cat beastman 

The other adventurers nodded in agreement. Apparently, the Red Ogre were somewhat famous, but not in a positive way. 

“They act like they rule the upper levels.” 

“In reality, they’re just stuck as Copper ranks.” 

“They cause trouble often. When the Guild starts to notice, they back off. They’re cunning.” 

“As much as they’re disorganized, they can kill monsters and have some power in the upper levels, nya…” -Cat-person 

I see, thought Ur. He made a mental note to be cautious of the Red Ogre as a group to watch out for. 

Thus, this tavern became an invaluable source of information for Ur, who was busy with training and adventuring. If he had questions or wanted to know something, someone who knew would willingly answer him, “in principle.” 

Of course, not everything could be gathered unconditionally. But especially when the information affected their own gains and losses… 

“By the way, does anyone know anything about crystal golems?” -Ur 

In such cases, the information became even more crucial. 

Suddenly, Ur blurted it out. In an instant, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly. 

The topic at hand was the dungeon, monsters, and bounty targets—essentially, their means of survival. No matter the context, the larger the scale of these opportunities, the higher the competition. It was no different among adventurers. The adventurers gathered in this place were familiar colleagues, but at the same time, they were rivals competing for livelihood. Naturally, everyone had their sights set on the crystal golem—at least, it was supposed to be that way. 

“Everyone’s after the bounty target… or so I’d like to say.” 

“Yeah, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Especially this time.”  

With those words, they all let out a sigh, as if a sense of relief washed over them. 

“Getting complacent, aren’t we?” -Tavern Keeper 

“Of course, we are. After all, bounty targets are proof that ordinary adventurers can’t handle it.”  

Defeating monsters yielded magic stones. The reward for subjugating monsters was primarily these magic stones. In essence, bounty targets were just a way of saying, “The magic stones alone are not worth it.” 

“And we have the infamous Dungeon of Sin that we’ve grown accustomed to.” -Cat-person  

“High-risk, high-reward, and low-risk, medium-reward. Whichever one has the most benefit, ya’ know?” said that trio consisting of a lizardman, a cat-person, and a hobbit, as they shrugged in agreement. The other adventurers nodded as well. Ur, understanding their point, nodded as well. This perspective seemed to be not only prevalent in this establishment but also shared among the adventurers of the Dungeon of Sin 

The dungeon was an enormous source of magic stones, a place where various uses of energy could be found. By delving into the dungeon, a certain profit was guaranteed. Of course, there was the risk of battling monsters, but it wasn’t usual to go out of one’s way to defeat formidable bounty targets. 

Contrary to the word “adventurer,” the preference for stability left a rather positive impression on Ur. There was no need to engage in adventuring willingly. Unless one was pressed for it, that is. And Ur happened to be in that predicament. 

“Besides, those crystal golems are a pain in the ass.”  

The speaker was a copper-ranked adventurer named Rouga, carrying a halberd made of mithril. He was soon to reach the silver rank, meaning he would join the ranks of first-class adventurers. 

“They’re unbelievably tough. Ordinary weapon magic is utterly ineffective against them. It’s best to ignore them in the mid-level floors where they appear. Dealing with them is a complete waste of time.” -Rouga 

“Are they still difficult even for a silver rank?” -Ur 

“It’s not impossible to defeat them… but then you have to consider the cost of weapons, armor, and tools that will be depleted as a result. There are ways to bypass their defenses… but that’s a different story.” -Rouga 

As Glen had mentioned, Ur recalled the explanation about crystal golems he had received beforehand. 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

“There are several means to defeat the doll golem.” -Glen 

To achieve the goal of obtaining the Copper Ring, the quest to defeat the Crystal Golem narrowed down to focusing on golems during the training session at the training facility. 

“1. Destroy the Magic Core[1] of the golem from the front. 2. Destroy the head of the golem, triggering a rampage and self-destruction. 3. Nullify its purpose, causing it to cease functioning and destroy it.” -Glen 

The first method of frontal assault needs no further explanation. The golem, a clump of earth or mineral, infused with the will of a monster, has a “heart,” a magical core, called the “Magic Core,” that, if destroyed, renders the golem immobile. Even the golems born from the dungeon possess this core (though it remains unknown why it imitates the magical core created by the craftsmen). 

Glen presented three methods, but each ultimately led to the destruction of the golem’s core. Without destroying it, the golem cannot be defeated. 

However, engaging the crystal golem head-on using conventional methods is an incredibly difficult task. 

“The durability of the crystal golem far surpasses that of an ordinary golem. It’s stupidly tough. There have been stories of hammers used for magic stone mining operations shattering when struck against it.” 

Simply put, if attacks don’t work, there is no way to find the core. The exceptional resilience of the crystal golem, which exceeds that of regular golems, leaves many adventurers at a loss. Moreover, if the core is not discovered and destroyed, the golem’s physical body gradually regenerates over time. It seems there is no end to this cycle. 

The strength level of a regular golem is classified as Level 12, whereas the crystal golem is Level 10. This indicates that the crystal golem poses a challenge that adventurers of at least “Copper” or “Silver” rank should handle. It is not an opponent for adventurers without even a ring. 

“Especially the chest, where the magic core is located, is exceptionally thick. Therefore, ignoring Method 1 is a given. It’s impossible for y’all. You lack the strength and equipment.” -Glen 

Ur nodded. Although the success rate of the extermination plan was incredibly low, it was out of the question to choose a path that would result in zero possibilities. 

“In other words, there are two options left: ‘Rampage’ and ‘Functional Shutdown.’”-Glen 

Targeting the golem’s other weakness would be the Rampage option. Ur was already aware of it. Even before discussing countermeasures against the crystal golem, it had been hammered into his head during Glen’s basic course. The golem’s other weakness was its… 

“Head.” -Ur 

“That’s right. In essence, golems, including those produced in the dungeon, have an enchantment inscribed in their head that commands their actions. It’s like a brain for humans.” -Glen 

However, even if this brain-like part, which serves as the brain like in humans, is destroyed, the golem does not die. Instead, if it loses its head while the magic core is still intact, it goes into a state of “Rampage” rather than “Shutdown.” 

Losing its restrictions, it becomes willing to self-destruct and relentlessly destroy its surroundings. 

“I think it’s just dangerous, but is there any benefit?” -Ur 

“When it goes into Rampage, its defensive capabilities drop. To be precise, it becomes unstable. It reallocates its body’s materials to unnecessary parts or exposes its own weak point, the magic core. Even the minimum self-preservation ability that golems possess becomes ‘deranged.’ That’s why it goes into a Rampage.” 

“Moreover, the head is fragile when compared to the body. Rampage makes it an easy target… but I don’t recommend it.” -Glen 

“Why not? If the conventional methods are difficult, isn’t it an option?” -Shizuku 

“Just imagine that massive body going on a rampage. With about 50% more speed than usual.” -Glen 

As instructed, Ur tried to imagine it. 

That giant, which was several times larger than Ur, was made of that rigid material. It would continue destroying everything indiscriminately, attempting to kill him. It wouldn’t be the slow, leisurely attacks of the past. It would be an all-out assault, with its very existence thrown into madness. 

Now, try to run away from such a being. Would it even be possible? It had been a struggle just to run away in its normal state. 

“I’d die.” -Ur 

“It’s likely that we would die at least ten times before the opponent collapses.” -Shizuku 

“With your current abilities, yeah, that’s probably what will happen. If you had better equipment, maybe it would be doable.” -Glen 

“I don’t have money.” -Ur 

“Right, I guess,” Glen said, scratching his head with an expression of boredom. And when that happens, the remaining method is… 

“Then, there’s the third option.” -Glen 

“And what does ‘nullifying its purpose’ mean?” -Ur 

“It’s a sort of secret technique, but if it succeeds, it’s a game-changer. Essentially, it’s about ‘accomplishing the golem’s purpose.’” -Glen 

A golem, originally created by humans, is not inherently capable of independent thought. It is nothing more than a doll that imitates life, solely existing to carry out monotonous commands inscribed in its head, such as “Protect this place” or “Attack enemies,” which it will faithfully follow for hundreds of years, even as time passes. 

And when the target of those commands is “lost” or “achieved,” the golem ceases to function. It loses its role to fulfill. 

If the place they were supposed to protect vanished without a trace, 

Or if there were no enemies around them, 

The golem would cease to function. They would become motionless. 

“Even the ability to preserve their own bodies diminishes, making them fragile.” -Glen 

“Whether it’s something created by humans or born in the dungeon, is there some sort of ‘command’ that’s been defined?” -Ur 

“There is, but only the creator, that is, the dungeon, knows its contents.” -Glen 

It seems that the “commands” themselves always exist, even for dungeon golems. They are engraved with seemingly meaningless orders, such as protecting a certain room in the dungeon (even if there is nothing in that room) or eliminating external threats (not only adventurers, but also monsters that appear nearby). The golems faithfully follow these orders. 

“Well, this time it’s probably just ‘eliminate intruders’.” -Glen 

Ur shook his head with a sense of absurdity. It was utterly unrealistic. 

Letting out a deep sigh, he organized the situation. Repelling the enemy head-on would be extremely difficult. Even if they tried to use a trick, another obstacle would stand in their way. 

In other words, they were trapped from all sides. 

“Well, it’s already a bounty target. It’s not that easy to come up with a way to defeat it.” -Glen 

Glen’s observation was spot on. Understanding that it is extremely difficult to defeat them is the first step. Anyone can see that. The problem lies in how to defeat them. 

“…How about letting them go berserk and waiting for them to exhaust themselves?” 

Ur suggested his thoughts. 

Although the golem is not a living being, it must have limits to its physical and magical abilities. Moreover, if they continue to operate in a rampaging state, consuming far more magical power than usual, shouldn’t it reach its limits? 

But Glen shook his head. 

“If they were outside golems, that would have been a viable option. But they are in the dungeon. It is a treasure trove of magical power that endlessly produces magic stones, which are a source of energy. Energy is everywhere.” 

As long as they were in the dungeon, their physical strength was boundless. Annoyingly, 

“You can’t stop the supply. As long as you leave them alone, magical power will naturally flow in. Otherwise, other monsters would eventually starve to death too. They are living beings after all.” -Glen 

“At least ‘enough magical power for maintenance’ is supplied, even in a berserk state.” -Ur 

“How about luring them out?” -Shizuku 

This time, it was Shizuku’s suggestion. However, once again, Glen shook his head. 

“Unless unavoidable circumstances arise, deliberately taking monsters out of the dungeon violates the laws established by the Grand Federation. In the worst case, it leads to the deprivation of rights and being sold as slaves.” 

In order to prevent monsters from being released outside the dungeon, these dungeon cities were created. It would be counterproductive to bring the monsters out to defeat them. 

One after another, they presented ideas, but each time they were rejected by Glenn, leaving Ur dejected. The scarcity of options for the duo became painfully apparent. There were too few things they could do. 

“At the very least, we could update our equipment a bit…” -Ur 

“We’re barely getting by with living expenses, training fees, and purchasing consumables.” -Shizuku 

“We were able to make some updates to our equipment, but a bit more would be nice…” -Ur 

Ur had purchased the “Chalk Shield,” while Shizuku, a “Magic-Storing Accessory,” but the rest of their equipment was borrowed from the training facility. While it was properly maintained, it was woefully inadequate. They could manage against monsters in the upper levels, but it was insufficient for facing a bounty target. 

(Gold, or perhaps skill, I wish I had a little more time to prepare. Just until the very last moment that Diz had allotted.) 

“…Thankfully, there are few rivals.” -Ur 

Bounties often turned into fierce competitions among adventurers. However, as previously mentioned, the troublesome nature of the crystal golem had been discussed extensively. Currently, there were no individuals actively targeting them. Even if there were, they would all end up defeated. There should still be time left for that side, or so Ur thought. 

But then, Glen looked at Ur with a disappointed expression while stroking his scruffy beard, and a sense of foreboding washed over Ur. 

“…What’s wrong, Glen?” -Ur 

“I’m just pitying you.” -Glen 

“…If my plans fail… what awaits?” -Ur 

Glen’s unpleasant warnings in moments like these were usually accurate. Unpleasant, indeed. And for that reason, Ur couldn’t ignore them. 

“In this world, the extraction of magic stones from the dungeon is crucial. The protective barrier of the city, the ‘Barrier of the Sun,’ is sustained by the prayers of the priests, but the maintenance of other infrastructures relies heavily on the use of magic stones.” -Glen 

“So?” -Ur 

“The nuisance caused by the crystal golems in the out-of-place upper layers, annoying the weak adventurers, must be eradicated; otherwise, it would be troublesome for the city. Although a bounty has been placed, and a considerable amount of time has passed, there are still no reports of the golem being defeated. The temple that governs the country is not foolish. In other words…” -Glen 

Glen pointed to the posted bounty notice and the ten gold coins mentioned. 

“Soon, the reward will increase. And then, the ‘Subjugation Festival’ will begin.” -Glen 

                            ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

　　　　　　　 ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

　　　　　　　　　 ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

Perhaps, at this pace, it might turn into a “Subjugation Festival,” Ur muttered to himself, reacting subtly to the remark. 

“Subjugation Festival… Will everyone participate?” -Ur 

“Yeah, I guess it’s your first time, Ur. Of course, they will.”  

“It’s a characteristic of this city, nya.” -cat person 

The Subjugation Festival was a peculiar event exclusive to the city of Greed, known for its high amount of appearances of small and medium-sized dungeons and the consequently high frequency of troublesome monsters. Although the word “festival” was attached to it, it was nothing particularly special in itself. 

Essentially, it was about the skyrocketing bounties. That’s all there was to it. However… 

“This city has a lot of adventurers, so when the bounty increases, it becomes a big uproar.” 

 “People rushing to buy equipment or hoard magical tools start coming out in droves, while the opportunistic merchants set up shop and such, before you know it, it becomes a festival.” 

It seemed to be a naturally occurring festival, separate from the temple festivals that took place seasonally. 

In essence, adventurers would make a ruckus, and the city residents would profit from it. That was the story, but in this city, it became a major business on its own. A lot of money was exchanged, and the city thrived. The temple had no reason to condemn it, so as a result, it became a semi-official festival. 

And once it became a festival, there were rules or rather, regulations. 

“First, if it’s a bounty target with urgency, it’s prohibited from the Subjugation Festival. Second, it’s limited to bounty targets that appeared in the vicinity of the city of Greed and the upper levels of the dungeon. Third, once the Subjugation Festival is decided, the subjugation of that bounty target is prohibited until the festival begins. Fourth, adventurers who are below the appropriate rank for the bounty target’s monster are prohibited from interfering.” 

“Seems pretty strict, huh?” -Ur 

“It’s the city’s time to make a profit. They didn’t want it ruined, so they kept adding more and more rules. When I was active, it wasn’t this rigid,” the tavern keeper reminisced. 

By the tavern keeper’s account, it seemed that this Subjugation Festival was still relatively young in terms of years. 

“By the way, what happens if you fail to subjugate the target?” -Ur 

“Then the reserve silver-ranked adventures take care of it. Though, the bounty becomes higher, so I suppose the Temple would prefer it to be handled by the younger ones.” 

“I see…” -Ur 

Ur nodded while organizing his thoughts. According to the information he heard from Glen, the announcement of the Subjugation Festival would be made within the next few days, followed by its actual commencement in about a week or so. 

In other words, no one would be able to subjugate the crystal golem until the Subjugation Festival began. 

This was good information. 

However, during the festival, rivals other than Ur and Shizuku would begin targeting the golem all at once. 

This was bad. It was very bad information. 

The number of enemies would increase. To fulfill the conditions presented by Diz, the pair had to defeat the crystal golem no matter what. If someone managed to steal the golem’s subjugation, their goal of obtaining the ring within a month would become impossible. 

The problem was how many rivals would emerge. 

“Well, count me out! It’s foolish to get carried away by the festival’s excitement and misjudge your own abilities!” Jack exclaimed, raising his voice even though no one had asked. Since an increase in rivals was not something Ur welcomed at all, he quietly rejoiced at his declaration. However, those around him looked at him with a profound expression, seemingly observing his statement. 

“Yeah, those fools get swept away by the fervor and jump right into it…” 

“There were some idiots like that, and they ended up going to the other side.” 

“I won’t do it. I won’t, okay? Got that?” -Jack 

It didn’t seem like they placed much trust in his declaration. 

In essence, rivals multiplied. That was an undeniable fact. Ur muttered curses silently under his breath. He hadn’t intended to show it on his face, but the experienced individuals around him had already sensed it from his previous question. 

“Are you going to participate, Ur? The crystal golem,” the cat-person asked with a hint of amusement. 

Ur let out a deep sigh, but nodded. “…Yes, I will.” 

“You know you might die, right? It hasn’t even been a month since you became an adventurer”  

“I think the same thing. But I will do it.” -Ur  

Why did he have to mimic such foolishness? Whose fault was it? His father’s fault. Ur hurled another curse at his deceased father. But he had to do it. He had no choice. 

“For my sister. There’s no turning back.” -Ur  

“You mean the one who was sold to an illegal human trafficking organization?”  

“Huh? I heard it was to buy back a lost lover from an evil, corrupt noble.” 

“Isn’t it to purchase the elixir that can save your frail sister?”  

“It’s different in many ways, but anyway, I will do it.” -Ur  

Ur repeatedly made declarations to steel himself against his fears. The reactions of the other adventurers were similar to when Jack had gone through the same thing. They looked at Ur with eyes of disbelief and resignation, sighing, but there wasn’t much dissent. 

There was no escape. No other option. 

The others somehow understood Ur’s circumstances. The desperate situations they found themselves in were scattered throughout. Ur wasn’t particularly pitied, so there was no reason to stop him. It was his responsibility alone. 

They were good neighbors, but not family or friends. They all knew they shouldn’t get too involved. At most, they could offer some advice. 

“It’s good to be enthusiastic, but hey, don’t involve Shizuku-chan.” -Jack. 

This one remark from Jack was merely a well-intentioned (with a hint of jealousy) piece of advice. However, upon hearing it, Shizuku smiled and put down the lunch she was eating. 

“Oh, I appreciate your concern, but I will join as well. It is to the point where I would ask for the opportunity myself.” -Shizuku  

Shizuku showed no concern for the glances from the other adventurers as she stood up and made her declaration. 

“If we defeat a mighty monster, we can gain great power, can’t we?” -Shizuku 

“Well, yeah, that’s true. The magical power gained from defeating a big monster is enormous.”  

“In that case, there’s no reason to hesitate. And if we obtain the ring, we can challenge even stronger enemies. It’s a win-win situation.” -Shizuku. 

There was no fear or excitement in her demeanor. Calmly, she, who had already found her “determination,” was convinced of the actions she needed to take. The surrounding adventurers fell silent. However, it wasn’t the exasperated resignation they had shown toward Ur before. 

They were simply overwhelmed by the sight of a girl who had made up her mind about what she needed to do, without any trace of hesitation or excitement. 

“Well, well, you’re much bolder than the men, Shizuku.”  

Breaking the tense atmosphere with his carefree demeanor, the drunkard directed her laughter towards Shizuku and the men who had been intimidated by her. The tavern returned to its rowdy state. 

“You too, Nana. Aren’t you the same?”  

“No wayyyy. I’m about to challenge the Blazing Volcanic Region of the middle-layers soon. By the time I’m back, I’ll be a Silver Rank!! Right, Shizuku? Let’s have a competition!” -Nana 

Upon hearing Nana’s exclamation, the rest of Shizuku’s group raised their voices in response. Shizuku smiled broadly and nodded. Other adventurers joined in the cheering. The atmosphere among the adventurers was vibrant as the festival approached. 

Except for Ur. 

“Hey, hey, it’s great to be young, isn’t it? What about you, Ur? Are you fired up?” the tavern owner asked, laughing and looking at Ur who had a somber look on his face. 

Ur’s enthusiasm remained unchanged.  

“I don’t have that luxury.” -Ur 

“Young as you are, if you keep talking like that now, you’ll become a boring adult.” -Tavern Keeper 

“Just leave me alone.” -Ur 

With a sullen expression, Ur complained, and in response, the tavern keeper chuckled, placing a dish of salted boiled beans on his head. Ur cast a look of bewilderment, claiming to have never ordered such a thing. “It’s on the house,” the tavern keeper waved his hand and vanished into the kitchen. 

“…Shizuku, huh.” -Ur 

Ur reached up and plucked a handful of beans from atop his head, nibbling on them as he gazed upon Shizuku, who sat beside him, engaging in lively conversation with the drunken Nana.