Akatsuki Translations

Dungeon City of Sin: Greed, Bar -【Pond of the Fire Koi】 

Located underground, this bar was like many others, bustling with adventurers. It was particularly popular among men, perhaps due to the many young women dressed in flashy attire serving drinks and offering ample “services”. Day in and day out, these men spent their earnings from the dungeon on these women. 

In one corner of this bar, a scene that could be described as quintessential of the current adventurer lifestyle, a group of men seethed with fury, their anger a stark contrast to the merry atmosphere around them. 

“Damn that woman! She’s got some nerve!” 

“Makin’ fools out of us!” 

“We can’t let this slide… we’ll teach her a lesson!” 

These infuriated men were members of the Red Ogre. Their anger was justified. They had been “had” by that girl named Shizuku. With the innocent face of an amateur, she had not only robbed them of their money but also spread the information, diminishing its value, and even stole their opportunity to claim the bounty, successfully defeating the bounty target themselves. 

The only way to describe it was that they had been had. They had danced in the palm of a young girl’s hand. 

“……” 

Their leader, Auroch, grimaced. He understood his men’s anger. He was angry too. But he was not foolish enough to fail to recognize the reality: this was the howl of the defeated.  

They were the ones who had underestimated their opponent, planning to take advantage of her supposed ignorance. Essentially, they had just lost at their own game of deception. If they sought revenge out of anger, the reputation of the Red Ogre group would plummet. They would be seen as incompetent adventurers who had been outsmarted by a novice, then fueled by anger, sought revenge. 

If that happened, they would lose their place in this city. Rumors among adventurers spread quickly. Auroch was aware that the Red Ogre was not well-regarded to begin with but this revenge would clearly be “crossing a line.” He understood this. 

“Auroch! Are we just gonna let this slide?!” -Red Ogre Member

But his men would not be pacified. If Auroch were to suggest not seeking revenge, it could trigger a violent reaction, potentially even leading to a split within the group. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.  

That woman had really gone too far… 

Even though he knew it was just a way to vent his frustration, he couldn’t help but think that way. At that moment, he almost found himself unintentionally agreeing with his companions’ opinions. But just when he was on the verge of agreeing with his men’s opinion, she walked in. 

“Excuse me, gentlemen of the Red Ogre.” 

“…….Huh?” -Auroch

Shizuku had come to see them. Auroch was so stunned he doubted his own eyes. She had entered the tavern confidently, with a young man from her group in tow. 

Naturally, the anger of his companions reached its peak. 

“Thi-This bitch!?”  -Red Ogre Member

“You have some fuckin’ nerve to show your face here! OI!?” -Red Ogre Member

Despite the insults hurled at her, Shizuku remained calm. She didn’t seem to care at all that she was surrounded, even with a young boy at her side. It seemed her fear when she was surrounded was just an act. Infuriating. 

“So, why are you here? To mock us?”  -Auroch

“I’ve come to apologize and compensate.” -Shizuku

Sarcastically, Auroch asked her why she was there. She replied indifferently and placed her hand on the table in front of them. When she removed her hand, there were… 

“…gold coins.”  -Auroch

Yes, there were gold coins. Two of them. 

“One is for the information you provided. We unfortunately devalued it, so consider this compensation.” -Shizuku

“And the other one?” -Auroch

“A token of gratitude for our brief alliance.” -Shizuku 

In reality, Shizuku knew very well that there had been no cooperation whatsoever. Despite that, Shizuku’s claim was likely just a way to appease the Red Ogre.  

However, 

“A-Are you fuckin’ with us? You think we’ll accept this?!” -Red Ogre Member

His companions’ anger flared. They all knew it was a good deal. By accepting the two gold coins, they would profit one coin. Even a fool could see that. Moreover, they had barely done any work, so it was essentially free money. But their pride got in the way of accepting the fact that they had been “had”. 

The idiots who were arguing at the back also obviously wanted the money. However, since they were idiots and held an inflated sense of pride, they couldn’t control themselves. What to do… 

“As a matter of fact, had you guys not tried to intimidate us, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”  -Ur

At that moment, the young boy with Shizuku’s stepped forward to defend her. Despite being surrounded by much tougher men, he showed no fear. The rookie, who seemed to have toughened up after facing crystal golem head-on, confidently stared back at them. 

“It’s a bit uncool to blame Shizuku and pretend you’re innocent, don’t you think?” -Ur

“This basta-“ -Red Ogre Member 

“Also, don’t you remember when Shizuku helped you in the dungeon before the festival?” -UR

“Ah” -Red Ogre Member

One of the members of the Red Ogre gasped. This statement was decisive. The others’ momentum deflated rapidly. 

Auroch knew about this incident. His men had attempted to take down the crystal golem and had failed. They had claimed that other adventurers had interfered, but it seemed the other party had a different story. And it was clear who was telling the truth by the look on the faces of his companions. 

“Do you want to be known as the dumbasses who got angry after being outsmarted and used by the person who saved them in the dungeon, or as savvy adventurers who gained a gold coin without lifting a finger? Which do you prefer?” -Ur

“Fine… just leave the money and get out.” -Auroch 

Auroch said just that one sentence. Some of his men grumbled and began to protest, but with little energy. Before their words could fully form… 

“We’ll take our leave, then.”  -Shizuku

Shizuku bowed deeply, left the gold coins, and departed. The Red Ogre members, having lost their opportunity to vent their anger and retaliate, were left in disbelief. Their mood was a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere of the bar. 

“You fine wid’ dis, leader?”  

The one who spoke up was Grogg, one of the more level-headed members of the group. Auroch nodded in response. 

“There’s no better way out of this. He’s right. We were faced with a lose-lose choice and a win-win choice. It’s better to choose the latter.” -Auroch

“But…” -Grogg

“Besides, disputes among adventurers during non-festival periods is taboo. We can’t let that woman lead to interferences with our lives.” -Auroch

Auroch calmly stated the facts, carefully extinguishing any remaining resentment. Some still grumbled, but their previous energy had completely dissipated. 

Auroch felt a cold sweat and a sense of relief. The moment they saw the gold coins, he felt their anger fade. They were hot-headed, but they had a weakness for money. 

So, all it took was one final push. 

“So, leader, what’re we gonna do with the money?” -Red Ogre Member

“What else? Easy money’s meant to be spent on women and alcohol!!!!” -Auroch

At Auroch’s words, the members of the Red Ogre let out a cheer. 

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“Thankfully, everything resolved smoothly,” Ur murmured, a wave of relief washing over him as he heard the distant cheers of the men in the bustling tavern behind him. 

“I apologize, Ur-sama, for the trouble I’ve caused,” Shizuku said, her head bowed in apology. 

Ur, however, shook his head at her. Having claimed the bounty for the crystal golem, the first thing they had done was settle their score with the Red Ogre group. This also included Shizuku’s apology to the adventurers she had deceived in order to gather the necessary equipment to defeat the crystal golem. 

Yet, it wasn’t as if Shizuku had done anything wrong by dealing with the Red Ogre. Offering not only a refund but an additional gold coin might have been excessive, but Ur viewed it as a necessary expense to completely eradicate any lingering resentment. Glen agreed with this sentiment when it was explained to him. 

　――― Don’t provoke unnecessary grudges, yall’re already weak as is. 

“The gold coins we obtained back then were essentially debts we had forcefully created. It’s only fair they earn some interest. It was fortunate they let it slide.” -Ur

If they hadn’t, it would have led to a troublesome situation. The resentment of humans runs deep and lingers for a long time. 

“Anyway, what’s done is done. We have things we gotta do, annoying as they may be.” -Ur

“I’ve already contacted the tavern.” -Shizuku

Indeed, the apology to the Red Ogre was merely the prelude. The real task, the “traditional obligation” that the victor of the subjugation festival must carry out, was about to begin. 

This referred to the feast they were obligated to host with the bounty reward they had acquired. 

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There was a time when adventurers were reckless hedonists, living for the moment without a thought for the future. Those days are long gone. 

Even though their jobs in the dungeon brought the constant threat of death, the promise of a steady income led adventurers to think constructively about saving money and planning for the future. Adventurers who spent all their earnings the day they got them were becoming a rare breed. 

However, when they struck it rich—such as when they defeated a bounty head—there was a custom of extravagantly squandering the prize. One might even say it was an “obligation”. 

“Especially the subjugations festival, you’ve outdone your fellow adventurers, right? Even if it’s a fair competition without hard feelings, it’s only human to harbor some resentment deep down.” -Glen

 “So that’s why the winner of the festival traditionally throws a party at their usual tavern and treats everyone…. It’s customary… more like a pain in the ass.” -Ur 

As Ur remembered Glen’s explanation, he looked up. He was at ” Covetous Hideout “. This tavern, located a bit off the main road but always bustling, was more crowded than usual today. There were many familiar faces, but also quite a few unfamiliar ones. Some might be hoping to get in on the action. But Ur didn’t care. 

Everyone in the tavern was staring at him, as if waiting for him to speak. No, they were indeed waiting. After all, Ur was the star of the show. 

“….Umm” -Ur

Ur repeated the standard speech that Glen had taught him in his mind. He was nervous because this was the first time he had done something like this. But he calmed himself by reminding himself that it was much less nerve-wracking than facing the crystal golem. 

Next to him was Shizuku. Seeing her usual calm demeanor and soft smile made him feel even more at ease. His nervousness felt silly. 

Clearing his throat, Ur announced in a loud, calm voice that everyone could hear. 

“Thanks for the prize money!!” -Ur

There was a chorus of booing from the tavern. 

“In exchange, tonight’s on me! Drink to your heart’s content!” -Ur

An instant later, cheers and toasts echoed throughout the tavern. 

“Hooray, Ur, our leader! Cheers!” 

“Ur, the Big Game Hunter! Ur, the Golem Slayer!” 

“I’m gonna drink up all the bounty money you got!” 

“Shizuku! A mighty budding magician!” 

“Shizuku-chaaaaan! You’re so cuuute~!” 

They’re lively, thought Ur. Of course, that was something to be thankful for. If they could let loose and have a good time without leaving any hard feelings, that was all that mattered. 

Once he saw that everyone was gulping down their ale, Ur relaxed and took a seat. Seated at his table were Shizuku, and… 

“Wooow, Ur, you’re so cool.” -Diz

“Diz.” -Ur

The young debt collector, Diz. She held Akane on her lap and smiled happily. Akane looked around curiously at the many people. 

“Akane, do you want some fruit water?” -Ur

《Yeah. 》 -Akane

Ur handed Akane the sweet drink he had ordered from the owner (a blend of several fruit juices and milk), and she began to drink it eagerly. When Ur stroked Akane’s head, she squinted as if tickled. 

“How adorable.” -Diz

“She’s my little sister after all.” -Ur 

“Well, she’s mine right now~… hey, don’t look like the world is going to end. It’s fine, she can be your sister. Now cheer up.” -Diz 

Diz nudged Ur, who had slumped onto the table, and… 

“You really love your sister, don’t you? And Akane loves Ur.” -Diz 

《I love nii-tan. 》 -Akane

“I don’t really understand likes and dislikes, but she’s family.” -Ur

“If that’s what you want, you’ll have to keep doing your best. But it would be tasteless of me to talk about that now… So with that being said, here’s a gift for the two of you.” -Diz

“…What is this?” -Ur

What was handed to them looked like a simple small bag with a belt to attach it to your waist. It was made of deep navy fabric, simple without any flashy decoration, but it exuded a functional beauty with unnecessary parts removed. 

Even Ur, who didn’t possess any appraisal skills, could tell it was a quality item. It was… 

“An 【expansion bag】?” -Ur

“It’s what you might call a ‘magic stone storage bag.’ It has expansion magic applied to it, so it can hold several times more than your old tattered pouch. It’s a lightweight luxury item that is surprisingly light and has an automatic magic stone collection function. Take good care of it.” 

Looking at it, in addition to magic stones, it had compartments for magic tools, medicine, maps, and other items, making it very practical. When Ur tried attaching it to his own waist as a test, it fit perfectly. As Diz said, it didn’t feel heavy at all. 

“Is it okay for me to have this? It must be expensive.” -Ur

“You responded to my unreasonable demand head-on. The least I can do is prepare a reward.” -Diz

Diz smiled and clapped her hands. Akane copied her. 

“Congratulations, Ur, Shizuku. You did a great job defeating the crystal golem. It’s a wonderful achievement.” -Diz

《Congratulations~~.》 -Akane

“Thank you, Diz-sama. Thank you, Akane-sama.” -Shizuku

“Thank you… you don’t have any more unreasonable demands, right?” -Ur

“All that’s left is to be evaluated by the Adventurers Guild, get a copper ring, and become a gold rank in three years!” -Diz

In the end, the big problem that had been left was still there. However, since it was an impossible challenge that Ur himself had set, he couldn’t complain. 

“…Somehow, I have a feeling I’m going to be dealing with you for a long time, Diz.” -Ur

“I hope so, Ur. Akane would be lonely otherwise.” -Diz

With that, Diz gently handed Akane over to Ur. Ur perked up. 

《 Nii-tan, you okay~?》 -Akane

“Akane, how have you been? Has Diz been bullying you?” -Ur 

《I like the bald uncle~.》 -Akane

“Stop calling him bald. Anyway, we need to thank and apologize to him later.” -Diz

《This is pretty. 》 -Akane

“No alcohol for you, Akane. It’s too early for you.” -Ur

As Akane talked about “what was fun” while wriggling her crimson body, it seemed clear to Ur that she hadn’t been mistreated so far, which relieved him. He was determined not to let anything upset this happy little girl. 

“Oryaa, Urr~! You did’a great job not dyin’nya~!!” -Nana

Then a drunkard approached them. As Akane pretended to be a familiar and fluttered into Diz’s lap, Nana, whose face was ruined by alcohol, climbed onto the table. 

Her face was bright red. She had discarded her armor and was scantily clad, with patches of skin visible here and there. She held a bottle of alcohol in each hand and was making a scene. This was not a good influence for Akane. 

“nNya!! I’was so moved by’ya’! Ya’ guuysss! Thu cr,ystaall gooolemm!” -Nana

“You should worry about losing your ring with your drinking habits.” -Ur

“I’m’fiiiiiine~~! Look, I’m oberflowin’ witgood behabyor~!!” -Nana

“What’s overflowing from your mouth looks like vomit. Dangerous, dangerous, wait, wait, wait!” -Ur

In the end, the “good behavior” that overflowed from her mouth was contained in a bucket, and somehow, the situation was managed. Nana, unaware of Ur’s sigh, giggled and murmured incoherent words, turned a smile toward Ur, and… 

“Heheh, I’m glad ya didn’t die~.” -Nana

“…Yeah, sorry to worry you.” -Ur

She must have been worried. Ur sincerely thanked Nana, who was completely drunk. Watching this exchange, Jack, who was drinking at the next table, shouted loudly with his drunken eyes. 

“I didn’t care if you died!!! If you did, the bounty woulda been mine!” -Jack

“Yer dreamin’! You’d be no match fer it! Yer nothin’ more than a punk, ya’ lil’ shit!” -Random Adventurer

“Whadya say?!!!” -Jack

A fight broke out. Suddenly, the tables nearby were quickly cleared by other adventurers, creating a ring around the two. Some had even started taking bets. Fights were apparently a common occurrence among adventurers. The owner sighed and brought out a broom to clean up the broken bottles. 

“That buncha idiots are lively, aren’t they?” -Glen

“I guess it’s all part of the party… Speaking of which, what are you doing, Glen?” -Ur

In the midst of this chaos, Glen was quietly drinking and nibbling on his food, not getting involved in the ruckus. What he was doing was like a luxurious evening drink for a single man. 

“Hm? Just enjoying my drink and food.” -Glen

” Freeloading, huh?” -Ur

“Why do you think I taught you how to throw a party?” -Glen 

“So you’re freeloading after all.” -Ur

Despite his gratitude, Ur felt that Glen was not worth thanking. But this was typical of him. Ur refilled Glen’s empty cup with ale and bowed his head. 

“Thank you, Master. Thanks to you, I ended up not dying.” -Ur

“That’s good.” -Glen

“That all you have to say?” -Ur

“That’s enough. Look, if ya have time to be bothered by a drunkard, you should be goin’ somewhere.” -Glen

When Glen mentioned going somewhere, Ur could only think of one place. He realized that he hadn’t had a proper conversation with her since he woke up. Ur turned his face to his partner who had been sitting quietly at his table since earlier. 

“Shizuku?” -Ur

Normally, she was quiet and airy, but today she seemed even more subdued than usual. When he called her, she looked up, but unlike her usual gentle smile, she gazed back at Ur with a serious expression. 

“…What’s wrong?” -Ur 

“Ur-sama…” -Shizuku

After a moment’s pause, she stood up as if she couldn’t contain herself, rushed over to Ur, and… 

“We did it.” -Shizuku

With that, she tightly grasped Ur’s hands with her own. 

Suddenly, it felt as if her feelings had been transferred to Ur, and a surge of emotions erupted from deep within him. Joy, a sense of accomplishment, relief, overwhelming gratitude for the girl in front of him—all the feelings he had kept under wraps until now overwhelmed him. 

Surely Shizuku, smiling in front of him, felt the same way. 

“…Yeah, we did.” -Ur

“Yes.” -Shizuku

“We did it. We did it. We were able to do it.” -Ur

He repeated the words over and over. But words alone were not enough to express his overflowing emotions. Unable to handle them, Ur acted on impulse, hoisting the Shizuku in front of him from her waist, and shouted with all his might. 

“We won!!!” -Ur

“Yes!” -Shizuku

At Ur’s roar, the adventurers raised their glasses again and praised Ur and Shizuku. 

【Subjugation Festival – Crystal Golem Subjugation Battle: Result】 

• Crystal Golem’s Defeat Prize Money: 10 gold coins 
• Crystal Golem’s Magic Stone Acquisition: Equivalent to 20 silver coins 
• Subjugation Festival Special Reward: 5 gold coins 
• Drop Item: Fragment of the Crystal Golem 

• Absorption of the Golem’s Magic Fragment