Akatsuki Translations

The Day of Subjugation Festival. 

On that sunny day, the City of Sin, Greed, was filled with even more liveliness than usual. It was already a city bustling with people and things constantly moving, but today was different, the atmosphere was even more vibrant. 

There was only one reason for that—the Subjugation Festival of the Crystal Golem. 

The Crystal golem was an irregular bounty that had emerged as a result of ascending from the middle floors to the upper floors. On the middle floor, crystal golems were not an uncommon monster. The materials obtained from defeating rank-ten or lower monsters, though useful, were not particularly rare. 

It became a bounty due to being an obstacle for the fledgling adventurers of the upper floors, the chalk-ringed adventurers who collected magic stones. Compared to formidable monsters like dragons, medusas, or manticores, crystal golems were nothing worth mentioning. 

However, even against such an opponent, many saw the desperate struggle of inexperienced novices as a spectacle and considered it an entertainment in itself. Perhaps it was because it was a Dungeon City of Sin, where people enjoyed festivals. Those who were reveling in the festivities were drinking and laughing while the lives of the chalk-ringed adventurers clad were staked in battle. 

“We’re quite a spectacle, aren’t we?” -Ur 

“And there are plenty of food stalls too…” -Shizuku 

At the grounds in front of the training facility, Ur and Shizuku gazed at the bustling streets visible beyond the fence. The townspeople seemed to be having a great time. Perhaps they felt bitter, knowing that they themselves were one of the morsels that would entertain the festival-goers. 

However, thanks to the city residents who would revel in such festival uproar, opportunities like this one would come around. Ur couldn’t help but feel conflicted at the thought. 

Anyway, such worries could be had anytime after this. Ur shifted his focus to the problem at hand. 

“Are you ready with your equipment, Shizuku?” -Ur 

“Yes. Yours suits you well, Ur-sama.” -Shizuku 

In response to Ur’s question, Shizuku nodded. Ur, too, had prepared his equipment. 

Ur’s appearance was not much different from his usual attire for dungeon exploration, but meticulous preparations had been made in the details. The armor he always wore remained the same, but it had been carefully polished, and any fragile parts had been replaced and reinforced. The 【Chalk Shield】attached to his left arm had been purchased some time ago and had become familiar to his arm. As expected, it didn’t bring any special magical effects, but it was purely robust. The attachment to the arm was simple, making it difficult to break. 

And his body was adorned with the 【Chalk Armor】that he had decided not to purchase last time. It was inexpensive and, frankly speaking, unattractive in appearance, but its performance was reliable. 

He wore a double-layered 【Anti-Impact Amulet】around his neck. As the name suggested, it was an amulet enchanted with a magical effect to withstand strong impacts. Its effect could only be used once and it was a disposable item that cost a silver coin, making it quite expensive. Considering Ur and Shizuku’s current income, it was a considerable strain, but Ur had no hesitation in wearing two of them. 

Shizuku’s equipment had also been renewed. 

As the rear guard and due to financial constraints, she hadn’t renewed her equipment much before, but this time her appearance had changed drastically. The worn-out staff she had been borrowing from the training facility had been replaced with a【Greenwood Staff】 made from the materials of the 【Devouring Tree】that appeared outside the city. Her clothes, which were hardly different from those of the town girls’ casual wear, had also been completely renewed. She now wore【Verdant Robes】 woven from leaves and branches of the same 【Devouring Tree】. On top of that, she too had an 【Anti-Impact Amulet.】. 

They also carried five healing potions and five magic-sealing orbs. 

In total, they had spent 14 silver coins and 25 copper coins, using all the money they had earned up to this point to equip themselves. They were living on the edge, left with merely one copper coin remaining. 

After reviewing their equipment, Ur uttered a few words. 

“It cost quite a bit…” -Ur 

“We spent everything we have made until today…” -Shizuku 

Indeed, there was no turning back from this point. 

“Oh, wow, what fancy equipment. Did ya’ spend all the money I gave ya’?” -Glen 

Glen commented with a mixture of amusement and exasperation as he observed their appearances. He seemed to have understood just how much money they had spent judging from their equipment. 

“Glen, if you still have some of our money left, give it to us for consumables.” -Ur 

“There ain’t any. I haven’t kept a single copper coin from y’all. You’re flat-out broke.” -Glen 

“You used it for drinking money, didn’t you?” -Ur 

“I don’t got an interest in using someone else’s hard-earned money for drinks.” -Glen 

Glen dismissively rejected the idea with a bored expression. 

The actual funds of Ur and Shizuku had completely run dry. They had exhausted everything for this operation until the bottom of the barrel. If this “plan” didn’t go well, they would be practically penniless. While they could sustain themselves again by delving into the dungeon and obtaining magic stones, that was only if the “plan” went smoothly. If they sustained a serious injury, they wouldn’t even be able to afford medical expenses. They wouldn’t be able to pay for their stay in the city either, and they would meet a miserable end outside the city. 

Nevertheless, Ur and Shizuku spent their money without hesitation. 

They were prepared to risk their lives on a gamble. 

“…Guess you were just about able to grow some balls.” -Glen  

“Hm?” -Ur 

“It’s nothing. By the way, what’s on your back? That thing we talked about?” 

“Yeah.” -Ur 

 What Ur carried on his back was not the iron spear he usually used. It was a long object covered in a large white cloth, and its nature was unclear at first glance. It was concealed because it was the key to the operation, to keep the information hidden in case of any eventuality. 

With this, Shizuku’s “plan” would be complete. Honestly, the so-called mission was a dubious gamble, but it was the only option they had at the moment. If they failed, everything would be over. 

“It’s tough, ain’t it?” -Glen 

《Ain’t itーー 》-Akane 

“Don’t just stand there leisurely, main culprits one and two.” -Ur 

Observing Ur and Shizuku were Diz from the Golden Phoenix and Akane, Ur’s younger sister. Akane hung on Shizuku’s shoulder in the form of a snake, while Diz watched Ur and Shizuku with a carefree expression. 

“Why did you come?” -Ur 

“To tease.” -Diz 

“Leave.” -Ur 

Akane, in particular, should go back. They were about to throw themselves into a gamble where their lives were at stake. 

“As the one who made unreasonable demands of you, I wish for you to understand the heart of a maiden that wants to witness your brave figure, perhaps for the first and last time. “ -Diz 

“I don’t see any maidenly elements in you. You only feel like an unscrupulous debt collector.” -Ur 

“Well, that is the truth… Oh, by the way, I haven’t properly introduced myself, have I, Shizuku-san?” -Diz 

“No, we have met once before ‘outside the city.’ We didn’t have a conversation though.” -Shizuku 

Diz and Shizuku exchanged glances and shook hands, speaking to each other. 

“Nice to meet you. My name is Shizuku. I have the privilege of being apart of Ur-sama’s party.” -Shizuku 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Diz. I’m the one who bought Ur’s sister. I belong to a guild called the Golden Phoenix. Nice to meet you too.” -Diz 

The two smiled at each other. Although their personalities didn’t seem to match, or rather, there didn’t seem to be any compatibility between them, they unexpectedly smiled together within a cheerful atmosphere. 

“It seems that Ur is indebted to you. Please take care of him in the future as well. If he has one.” -Diz 

“I will do my best. And Diz-sama, please take care of Akane-sama.” -Shizuku 

《Nice to meet youuu. Nee~-tan. 》-Akane 

Akane joined in, and the three of them seemed to be enjoying themselves. It would seem unbelievable if they said they were going to engage in a battle to the death with a crystal golem after this. It would have been so much better if it were a lie. Unfortunately, that was not the case. 

“Well, let’s end this enjoyable conversation here. Ur, do your best. Akane’s fate is in your hands.” -Diz 

“There’s no need to tell me.” -Ur 

“No, you probably don’t understand. So, let me give you a warning.” -Diz 

Saying that, Diz approached Ur and spoke in a voice that only he could hear, a voice so cold that it sent chills down his spine. 

“If you fail this time, the reason I had put Akane’s fate on hold will disappear completely. And what awaits her as a result is by no means an easy fate.” -Diz 

“…” -Ur 

“I may not know much about spirit-binding, but I do hold the necessary skills to investigate it. There is no way I wouldn’t be able to ‘disassemble’ her without losing her value. And I have no intention of stopping it, no matter how much you beg me next time.” -Diz 

“…” -Ur 

“Be prepared and challenge it well. I’m praying for your success. Really.” -Diz 

With that, she released her face that had been close to him. At that moment, she had her usual smile. 

Her declaration completely crushed the last escape route that Ur unconsciously hoped for. There was no way out. The place where he was standing now was truly a dead end. 

But he already knew that. Ur remained calm. 

《Nii-tan. 》 -Ur 

“Akane, it’ll be fine. Just wait.” -Ur 

Ur stroked Akane’s head. While thinking fondly of the comforting Akane, he looked at his own hands. Compared to a month ago, they were worn out and covered in wounds, but the skin had peeled off several times, making them stronger. And it wasn’t just his hands. 

He looked at Shizuku. They had only met a short time ago. However, they had formed a bond stronger than blood. He entrusted his back to her, without any hesitation or fear. 

They had put in the effort. It had been only a month, but it had been a desperate month of fighting for their lives. 

There were surely many people more talented than him. People who had worked hard. But if limited to this past month, there was no one who had been more desperate than him. 

“Now then,” he said, swallowing up his anxiety, as the pair made their way to the scene of today’s battle. 

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Entrance to the Dungeon of Sin, Greed 

Day by day, this place, where wealth and people constantly converge, known as Greed, always bustled with activity. However, on this particular day, an unusual stillness shrouded the area. It wasn’t devoid of people, though. There were fewer than usual. Normally, adventurers flowed in and out of the dungeon as if it were a seamless stream, but today was different. If one were to describe the scene, the adventurers were “packed.” Several dozen adventurers stood there, each wielding their respective weapons, lined up in silence, without exchanging a word. 

There were those fully clad in armor from head to toe, and others whose appearance was no different from ragged peasants. However, their eyes gleamed strangely, with an intense and dull brilliance. They kept their faces still but flickered their eyeballs from side to side, wary of the people around them. Murky emotions of trying to outdo one another circulated among them. 

It was an eerie sight. Even in large-scale missions to subdue monsters or conflicts between cities, it never reached such a level. It was a peculiar scene, only witnessed in a unique event known as the “Subjugation Festival.” 

“You’ve gathered here well, adventurers!” 

A voice resounded through the space, a deep voice that carried far. 

Stepping onto the podium set up in the hall was a stern man with a shaven head and a muscular build. Though dressed lightly and without any weapons, he resembled a martial artist heading for training. However, there was a silver ring adorned with exquisite decorations shining on his right finger. 

The man possessing that silver ring, a symbol of a first-rate adventurer, was known as the “Codar the Iron Crusher.” He possessed exceptional character and was beloved by his fellow adventurers. Today, he stood as the emcee for the festival. 

” This marks the beginning of the Crystal Golem Subjugation Festival. It is a competition where bounty hunters vie for the head of the bounty, all in unison! Cooperation is permitted, but each individual must make their own judgments. The bounty will go to the first one to defeat their target! As long as the rules of adventurers are upheld, any means necessary are allowed!” -Codar 

It was a rough set of rules, one might even argue they weren’t rules at all. However, when the silver ring adventurer proclaimed them, they carried an undeniable sense of truth. The power and trust that “rings” held in this world were immense. Standing behind Codar were fellow silver-rank adventurers, further solidifying the trust in his words. 

“And rejoice, everyone! In honor of the Subjugation Festival, our generous Adventurers Guild has added five extra gold coins to the bounty! If you win, you’ll receive fifteen gold coins!” -Codar 

A murmur ran through the crowd at those words. The stagnant heat intensified, and morale soared. Simultaneously, the murderous intent directed toward fellow participants surged even higher. 

“Fight! Seize victory! Be triumphant! The almighty god Zerudia blesses the valiant!” -Codar 

The words of the ritual prayer based on Zerudia’s teachings became an igniting spark for the adventurers. The pent-up fervor within the adventurers exploded, engulfing the hall in cheers. 

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With passion still lingering within him, Codar stepped down from the stage after delivering an impassioned speech. The energy behind him was vibrant. To be honest, he wasn’t particularly adept at being a “spark” in these situations, but he found it satisfying to incite enthusiasm with his own words. 

“Well done, Codar! It was a great success!” exclaimed a fellow guild member with excitement. 

The name was Alei, if he remembered correctly. She was a sincere and adorable girl, but Codar would have been happier if she had introduced herself by saying, “I’m more fitted to do this!”. 

Lately, the new recruits lacked the heart of an adventurer despite their sincerity. Codar believed that being an adventurer meant risking one’s life, which was why he gave them the pep talk earlier. However, it was quite challenging to convey that message to those close to him. 

Lost in thoughts like an elderly person as well as feeling a discrepancy between the current trends and his own beliefs, Codar’s expression suddenly turned serious as he noticed a familiar face standing before him. 

“Well, well, Codar, it must be tough work pushing those wanna-be adventurer scum to their limits,” remarked Glen. He was an old friend, the notorious leader of Greed’s Training Facility, and the most disliked figure in the adventurer community. There were three reasons for this: his training methods for those “wanna-be” adventurers in the facility were outrageously nonsensical, he sarcastically criticized adventurers left and right, and yet he possessed extraordinary skills and held the title of a gold-ranked legendary hero. These were the three reasons. 

However, Codar didn’t particularly dislike the man. 

“Well, well, the habitual slacker shows up! You never used to bother with these festivities. Especially not the Subjugation Festival.” -Codar 

“Does it look like I enjoy watching my students kick the bucket?” -Glen 

“That’s funny coming from you. You delinquent teacher!” Codar retorted playfully. 

Glen didn’t seem to mind being called a delinquent teacher. That’s what Codar thought, at least. However, Codar didn’t think of the man as terrible. At least, his teaching, although excessive, wasn’t completely off the mark. In fact, anyone who endured his training for three days had a significantly higher chance of survival. Only about half of those who underwent three days of his training could continue for the whole duration, which was still a significant achievement. 

Glen often joked about his job of crushing the dreams of aspiring adventurers, but Codar believed it was commendable. After all, once they died and journeyed to the realm of the One True God, they would never be able to dream again. 

“So, what brings you here of all places?” -Alei 

“What’s the matter, Alei? I can do whatever I want, can’t I? Or do you want to cry and get kicked in the ass again?” Glen chuckled, as he stared at the red-faced Alei protecting her rear end. 

Glen seemed to have an oddly dutiful side, remembering the names of his students. In summary, he was just a twisted individual. 

“So? What’s the rare occasion that brought you here?” -Codar 

“Just came to satisfy my twisted hobby.” -Glen 

“Twisted hobby… what, did you come to see your students? Truly, there are strange things in this world.” -Codar 

Codar turned around and watched as the adventurers, led by the current staff, were guided away. 

“Usually, you let the graduates go and forget about them, right? Do you have some kind of sentimental attachment?” -Codar 

“They haven’t graduated, so I came to see.” -Glen 

“Haven’t graduated… wait a moment, how many days has it been since those students came to you?” -Codar 

“Just over three weeks.” -Glen 

In response to that answer, a slight pause ensued. Alei was the first to react. 

“Newbies who haven’t even been adventurers for a month are challenging a bounty head?!” -Alei 

“That’s right. By the way, they’re about fifteen-year-old kids.” -Glen 

“What are they thinking?! Rather, stop them!!” -Alei 

Indeed, there was no other way to describe their actions except as foolishness. According to Codar’s guild, and indeed, the general consensus among adventurers, one needed at least a year of training before attempting to challenge a bounty. The rewards might be substantial, but the risks outweighed them in the case of bounties. 

It seemed insane, and Alei’s point was valid. However, Glen laughed without a trace of remorse. 

“You can get carried away sometimes. It’s only natural. After all, we’re ‘adventurers,’ right? What’s the point if we don’t gamble our lives?” -Glen 

“What era are you talking about? Is that some inciting phrase to get Nameless to jump into the dungeon without thinking?” -Alei. 

Alei was furious, but Glen acted as if it was nothing new. 

Certainly, there was a time when such things happened. When dungeons flooded the earth, land for settlements became scarce, and in order to protect the cities from the threat of the dungeons, people who couldn’t bond with spirits, the so-called “Nameless,” were excessively provoked and pushed into the dungeons or dangerous areas outside the human survival zones. It was an era filled with recklessness and foolhardiness. 

Codar didn’t particularly approve of that era. While it was to suppress the threat of the dungeon, the value placed on human lives during that time was far too low. However, it was true that many heroes who survived those reckless tightrope walks were born during that era. 

“That’s quite rare. Your disciples are a part of that endangered species. What’re they like?” -Codar 

“One hates adventurers and the other is busty villainess with the face of a saint.” -Glen 

“Hahaha! Not very adventurer-like, are they? Can they handle it?” -Codar 

“Who knows? You should ask them.” -Glen 

Glen shrugged off Codar’s response and leisurely followed the adventurers as they were guided away by their current handlers. It was part of the rules of the Subjugation Festival that capable adventurers would provide assistance in case of any emergencies to prevent casualties. 

Glen was there as a supporter. In other words, he was deeply involved. 

“This is going to be an interesting festival,” Codar muttered to himself, sensing that despite the rumors, this Crystal Golem Hunt was about to become far from a “boring outcome.” 

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The Underground Chamber of the Dungeon 

Contrary to the bustling energy that overflowed from the grand hall outside the dungeon, the adventurers who had ventured into this place remained silent. They stood still, gripping their weapons tightly in one hand, patiently awaiting the moment without uttering a word. 

The heat was not dissipated but contained within the adventurers, and only their eyes gleamed in the dimness. 

At the entrance to the grand hall, a group of supporting adventurers stood in formation, sealing off the passage. Once they confirmed that all the participating adventurers had gathered, one of them stepped forward and spoke. 

“Now, let the Crystal Golem Subjugation Festival commence! Aside from the prohibition of murder between participants, there are no rules! The one who can exterminate the Crystal Golem first shall be the winner and receive the prize money!” 

With that declaration, the tension among the adventurers reached its peak. It was no longer mere heat but an atmosphere of hostility. The pressure was so intense that it seemed they were about to break through the barricade that sealed the adventurers in. It was dangerously close to inciting a riot. 

The supporting adventurers must have sensed the atmosphere as well. As soon as they finished their brief explanation, they signaled to the others who had also been blocking the entrance. Then, they turned around and announced, 

“Now, let the Subjugation Festival begin!” 

With those words, they opened the entrance to the dungeon. 

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!” 

Roars filled the dungeon, and the adventurers rushed into the entrance all at once. 

Leading the charge were the dominators of the upper levels, the Red Ogres, followed by a steady stream of adventurers who flowed in and dispersed into the intricate and bizarre passageways of the dungeon. 

And among them, Ur and Shizuku were also present. 

“Let’s go, Shizuku.” -Ur 

“Yes, Ur-sama.” -Shizuku 

And so, the Subjugation Festival, where numerous desires and ambitions intertwined, began.