Akatsuki Translations

The members of the “Red Ogre” were astonished. 

As they proceeded through the passage leading to the small room where the crystal golem and the mouse were sealed, they noticed that several adventurers were approaching from behind. At first, they thought it was Legoh and Grogg. Then, they suspected that woman, Shizuku, was chasing after them. But that wasn’t the case. It was something entirely different. 

“There they are!! The 【Red Ogre】gang!!” 

“Chase ‘em!! Kill ‘em!!” 

“It’ll be bad if we kill ‘em, right? Take everything they have!!” 

“What the hell are they up to?!!” -Auroch 

Auroch, the leader of the Red Ogre, let out a cry of disdain. “They” referred to Legoh and Grogg, whom he had left behind as a distraction. But he had only instructed them to be a roadblock for Shizuku. He had never asked them to stop such a large number of adventurers. It was only natural that they couldn’t stop them. 

But wait, why were there so many adventurers overflowing in the first place? 

The weaknesses of the crystal golem, the mouse, shouldn’t have been known to most people. If it had been, it wouldn’t be strange for the crystal golem to be taken down as soon as a bounty was placed on it. So how did the information spread? From where? From whom… 

“Ah… that woman!” -Auroch 

The only person that came to mind was that silver-haired woman. 

But why? For what purpose? It would only be a disadvantage to have more rivals. 

Could it be that she had completely given up on the crystal golem?! However, Auroch confirmed that she was participating. Could it be that her participation itself was fake?! 

“Oi! The crystal golem is in this small room! Here!” 

“Search for it!! There must be something here!” 

“Damn, we’re gonna run into each other! You lot, get out of here!” 

“Tch!!!” -Auroch 

There was no time to think now. Some individuals had already arrived at the small room through a different route. It was critical to secure the mouse. The information fee would be wasted otherwise. 

Auroch hurried his steps toward the small room of the crystal golem. 

“…” 

“…” 

Hidden in the shadows of the raging adventurers, Ur and Shizuku silently observed the scene. 

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The story goes back to the night when Shizuku confessed her actions to Ur. 

“It has been exposed,” Shizuku quietly revealed. 

“What?” -Ur 

“People who seemed to know the weaknesses of the Crystal golem were already present. Although their information might not be as accurate as ours, it had spread without me needing to leak it to the Red Ogre.” -Shizuku 

Ur stiffened for a moment, then slowly absorbed the information given to him. The information obtained from negotiations with the Magika was invaluable in defeating the Crystal golem. That much was certain. And Ur had believed that the information was absolute and unique, acquired through Glen’s connections and by beseeching Diz to lend Akane’s power. Hence, he had been convinced that the information was unparalleled. 

But he was mistaken. 

Magika had mentioned it, hadn’t she? 

――― It should have been clear with a little thought. 

Magika certainly possessed extensive knowledge about golems. However, the deductions she made didn’t necessarily require specialized knowledge. With a certain understanding of the golems’ behavior, one could arrive at the same conclusions. 

――― That woman is brilliant but cunning. 

Glen’s words resurfaced in his mind. 

” “In fact, there were even more conspicuous individuals who seemed to have noticed something. It wasn’t just the members of the ‘Red Ogre’ that were aware of us.” -Shizuku 

Even without getting hold of the information itself, people could be targeted for possessing it. The Subjugation Festival was a contest with predetermined schedules and timings. Those seeking benefits would undoubtedly trace those who had the information. 

“We’ve been exploring around the Crystal golem’s surroundings day after day, so, unfortunately, we stood out in a bad way,” -Shizuku. 

Unfortunately, the situation regarding this case made it very easy for opportunists to strike. Killing the mouse wouldn’t immediately lead to the downfall of the golem; it would merely stop its functions. There would inevitably be a time lag that would be created as Ur’s party would need to enter the room where the crystal golem is sealed, kill the mouse, and then subsequently destroy the motionless golem. 

The killing of the mouse and the destruction of the golem had to be done quickly and without interference. However, with adventurers seeking leftovers lurking around, it became an extremely challenging task. 

In essence, the plan Ur was considering had a very high chance of failure. 

“The Temple offering a bounty… was the Adventurer’s Guild also aware?” -Ur 

“It is possible. However, they would benefit more if it turned into a festival.” -Shizuku 

“I see… I see.” -Ur 

Gradually, Ur began to understand the current situation and what Shizuku intended. 

The information acquired from Magika was undoubtedly valuable. But if they couldn’t effectively utilize it, they had to sell it off as soon as possible, before the information became worthless. 

“That’s why I sold it off early. Securing the weakness of the mouse also added value, equivalent to a gold coin. I couldn’t be greedy and reveal my intentions any further.” -Shizuku 

“Conveniently, there were people who tried to extort me, thinking they had a clear target,” said Shizuku as she smiled and took out a gold coin from her pocket, handing it to Ur. It was worth as much as thirty silver coins, a higher amount than what they had diligently earned over a month of desperate excursions into the dungeon. 

“With this, we can fully equip ourselves.” Shizuku  

“Equip ourselves to defeat the…?” -Ur 

“Yes, precisely. Preparations to take down the rampaging crystal golem.” -Shizuku 

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From there, it was a matter of adjusting the strategy. 

Ur and Shizuku discussed and adjusted their equipment in the remaining time while simultaneously “spreading” the information about the weakness of the crystal golem. They didn’t ask for money and kept most of the information concealed. They spread it as small rumors in various lively bars within Greed, creating a buzz. 

The result exceeded Ur’s expectations as the information about the crystal golems quickly spread. 

To be honest, there was a strong sense that this approach could become problematic. It felt like they were breaking a taboo of treating information, an intangible commodity, as a business. It was an unconventional method only possible in special circumstances like the “Subjugation Festival,” where the deadline for utilizing the information was predetermined. 

(But for now, let’s set that aside. We’ll think about the consequences later.) 

As a result, they had successfully created the current situation. 

“Uraaahhhh!! Hand over the basket!” 

“Shut up you bastard! Get out of my way!” 

Chaos ensued. A brawl erupted over securing the crystal golem’s weakness and capturing the mouse. 

『OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 』 

And then, the crystal golem burst into the scene. Everyone scrambled to escape, while at the same time, the “Red Ogre” members frantically searched for the mouse hidden inside the basket they had secured. However, they couldn’t kill the mouse. The moment it died, the surrounding adventures would attack the crystal golem and steal the credit for themselves. 

It was a chaotic stalemate. Even while everyone was rampaging, no one could bring about a change to the situation. 

“Ur-sama.” -Shizuku 

“Got it.” -Ur 

And this was precisely the situation Ur and Shizuku desired. A situation where the crystal golem had to be defeated, yet no one could risk directly attacking it. Everyone had the golem’s clear weakness right in front of them, yet no one thought of launching a direct assault on the crystal golem. 

“Let’s go, ‘Dragon Fang Spear.’” -Ur 

Ur retrieved the “thing” he had been carrying on his back. 

Unraveled from a weathered cloth, it appeared to be some sort of spear. But in reality, it was more akin to “ordnance” than a mere spear. Acquired through a coin and a negotiation with Magika, it was the cutting-edge armament she had been researching – a personal handheld cannon, brimming with tremendous firepower. 

“Opening the jaws.” -Ur 

Ur held the ‘Dragon Fang Spear’ forward and grasped the movable part prepared on the shaft, pulling it back like drawing a bowstring. The two ends of the large lance, resembling the jaws of a beast, opened wide. 

“Activating the magic core.” -Ur 

And then, without letting go, Ur twisted the shaft. The object embedded deep within the jaws, the magic core, emitted an ominous glow and began releasing the accumulated magic power. Crackling sounds, distinctly different from a regular magic core, filled the air, creating a tremendous roar. Some adventurers who had been running away from the crystal golems instinctively turned their gaze towards the source. 

When the resonance of the magic core reached its peak, Ur shouted. 

“Take cover! Everyone!” 

Initially taken aback by the voice and not understanding the meaning of the words, the adventurers soon witnessed the destructive light emanating from the weapon gripped in Ur’s hands. They quickly moved away from the light, creating distance between themselves and the crystal golems. 

“【ROAR】!!!!” -Ur 

Coinciding with that roar, the unleashed light from the charged magic core surged forward, directed straight at the crystal golem. 

The light surged forward, engulfing the crystal golem in an instant, while scorching its surroundings with immense heat. 

“Uoaaaaaa?!?!” 

“What the hell?!! Over there!!” 

The adventurers screamed as the scorching rays of light grazed above their heads. The once chaotic scene transformed into a nightmarish tableau of chaos and despair. However, Ur, the one responsible for this spectacle, had no time to observe the scenery. 

“…Guuh…” -Ur 

He was bearing the brunt of the searing barrage, his hands tightly gripping the Dragon Fang Spear, trembling with effort. If he didn’t exert all his strength to restrain it, the spear would fly out of his hands, causing havoc. He braced himself, planting his feet firmly, gritting his teeth. The blazing flashes singed his cheeks, but his aim remained fixed on the crystal golem’s head. 

『OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!!! 』 

A roar echoed as the crystal golem started moving, straight toward them. It recognized them as enemies, driven by its self-preservation instinct, separate from its duty to protect the mouse. However, its head remained intact, yet to be destroyed. 

“The most vulnerable spot… is here…!!” -Ur 

“【Sing, O Frost, and Pierce】!” -Shizuku 

A colossal hand approached, and he had no time to dodge. Shizuku’s incantation resounded from behind, as a massive arrow made of ice materialized above his head. Just before the crystal golem’s hand reached him, the colossal blade was complete. 

“【Ice Needle】!” -Shizuku 

『O』 

The enormous pillar of ice pierced through the cracked head of the crystal golem. 

“Ah…” 

“Ohhh…” 

『oooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… 』 

An eerie, ethereal voice echoed throughout the cave like the wind passing through, emanating from the peculiar and mystifying mechanical workings of the crystal golem. But this initial, mesmerizing sound was soon overshadowed by a screeching noise that grated against the ears. Trembling violently and roaring deafeningly, the colossal golem collapsed to the ground. 

“Is it….defeated?” 

Someone among the adventurers spoke. Indeed, it seemed so. Regardless of who witnessed it, the enormous destructive light and the pursuing magic seemed to have destroyed the crystal golem. The chaos from before gave way to an eerie silence. 

“…Kikii…” 

The silence was shattered by the squeaking of a mouse, which the adventurers had fought fiercely over just moments ago. It was the weak spot of the crystal golem, the “mission” it had been assigned: the sound of the mouse’s squeaking――― 

“―――It… it’s still alive?” -Auroch 

The leader of the guild, Auroch, exclaimed at the fact. It was alive. The guardian target, the very purpose of the crystal golem, was alive. 

“If the head is damaged without the destruction of the magical core, the crystal golem will go into a ‘rampage.’” 

The knowledge in his mind issued a warning, and the events unfolding before him confirmed it. 

『O… OO』 

At first, it was the sound of small cracks forming in the stone. But gradually, everyone understood that it wasn’t their imagination. The sound of something large creaking, grinding, and continuously shattering. All of those sounds emanated from the fallen crystal golem. 

Its form was changing. The humanoid figure, already lacking a head, was undergoing a metamorphosis. Its arms twisted into misshapen legs, the headless neck deformed and transformed into a cave-like mouth, distorting and contorting. It was mocking them, becoming something entirely different—a “monstrosity” that bore no resemblance to its previous form. 

『OOO…OOOAAAAGAAAGAGAA』 

It stood on all fours, effortlessly supporting its massively heavy body. Its physical form grew even larger, losing its humanoid head to be replaced by the enormous, twisted head of a beast with grotesque horns, far from resembling anything human. 

The “former” crystal golem stood up, and then roared. 

『GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! 』 

The crystal golem, now in a state of rampage, appeared before the adventurers, right before their eyes. 

The adventurers were startled by a roar that tore through the temporary silence. Yet, despite that, most of them still struggled to fully comprehend the situation and came to a halt. They stood there, dumbfounded, as if they were mere spectators, gazing at the bizarre sight before them. But… 

“…Ru, RUN AWAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!” 

Whether it was one person or everyone who screamed, the adventurers took it as a signal and swiftly fled from the room, as if a dam had burst open. 

“Run! Run! Run!” 

“There’s no doubt that’s bad!” 

“What the hell is going on!?” 

“Get the fuck out the way!” 

“Nothing but screams. The Subjugation Festival.” -Ur 

The one responsible for this chaotic spectacle, Ur, remained surprisingly unperturbed as he leisurely surveyed the scene. Almost resignedly, he returned his Dragon Fang Spear to its original form. 

It was a relief that the adventurers were fleeing one after another. At this point, only they remained as the fools who would not give up on subjugating the crystal golem. There were no rivals left, after all. 

Of course, it was Ur and Shizuku who had spread the rumor that “rampaging golems were extremely dangerous and should never be engaged.” They had also used this opportunity to threaten others.  

“You damn brat!” 

In the midst of his thoughts, Ur felt a strong grip on his shoulder, and he was confronted by the Red Ogre member, Auroch. Ur didn’t even flinch as he turned around. Auroch was furious, his face flushed like a true embodiment of the name ‘Red Ogre’. 

“What’s wrong, Red Ogre-dono? Aren’t you gonna run?” -Ur 

“Do you understand what the hell you just did?! Did you know this was going to happen? What the fuck are you thinking?!?” -Auroch 

“Ur-sama!” -Shizuku 

Shizuku rushed over, and Auroch, seething with rage, was about to unleash a torrent of insults. However… 

“Thank goodness! It worked out perfectly!” -Shizuku 

To his astonishment, Shizuku wore an ecstatic smile, her radiant expression a sight to behold. 

Not just Auroch, but all the adventurers who were still trying to escape were struck dumb by her clear voice and lost for words. Shizuku’s cheeks flushed, excitement spreading like blossoms in full bloom. She was genuinely delighted, reveling in the aftermath of this scene of carnage and the birth of this monstrosity. 

Amid the splattering blood of the adventurers thrown aside by the rampaging crystal golem, she stood, a silver-haired beauty exuding a sinister aura. Yet, it was as if she were a painting, basking in jubilation while the world around her wailed in agony. The sight was both unsettling and mesmerizing. 

“Yeah, that’s right.” -Ur 

Ur gathered strength in his trembling legs. He clenched his teeth to suppress his impending laughter and twisted his smile, agreeing with her. She was insane, there was no doubt about that. And he had already made up his mind to embrace her madness. Therefore… 

The time had come to abandon normalcy. 

The time had come to cast aside the word “but.” 

The time had come to embrace madness. 

So, laugh, go mad, and prepare yourself. Charge headlong toward the inferno before you. Everything is for the sake of “self.” Plunge into the depths of hell for the unassailable self-satisfaction of using your life for your own sake. 

Ur laughed. Loudly. He laughed at the fact that their insane plan had succeeded perfectly and shouted, 

“Oh, this is the greatest! It’s perfect! Now, all that’s left is to win!!!!” -Ur 

“Yes!!!!” -Shizuku 

And thus, the two madmen laughed in the midst of hell. 

『GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! 』 

—The Battle with the Crystal Golem begins—