Akatsuki Translations

“Hey, Dangan, you’ve improved your skills. This is good work.”

“Yes, sir.” -Dangan

Dangan nodded, hiding his joy at being praised for the armor he had repaired.

His work assigned by his master was finished. The busiest time of evening, when adventurers return from the dungeon to bring materials and have their equipment repaired, had passed, and the sun was beginning to set. Of course, in today’s age of dungeon prosperity, the city’s interior is brilliantly illuminated by magic lights even without the light of the Sun God Zerudia, but today’s work is probably over.

But Dangan is still busy. He is still at the bottom rung inside the Golden Hammer guild, saddled with many chores. Cleaning, tidying up, maintaining tools, and even washing clothes. He finishes these tasks as quickly as possible to prepare for tomorrow and to study as a blacksmith. The work for the morning starts with the rise of the sun. Naturally, it’s early.

His days were busy enough to make his head spin, but he felt a certain fulfillment.

Recently, the weapons and armor he made had sold. And to a rising star adventurer at that. Though, these adventurers were quite an unusual bunch―

“Dangan.” -Ur

“Hmm…? Ur, huh. It’s already late you know.” -Dangan

While he was deep in thought, an up-and-coming adventurer appeared. But Dangan tilted his head. Generally, adventurers visit here either in the morning before heading to the dungeon or around dusk when they return.

Of course, the job of an adventurer is irregular and unstable, but that’s the trend. It’s rare for them to visit during the twilight hours like this. Most adventurers head out to the entertainment districts to squander the day’s earnings.

And furthermore, he had brought something strange with him. Rather, he had ‘pulled’ it.

“…What’s that?” -Dangan

“A cart.” -Ur

“I can see that. Why isn’t there anything on it?” -Dangan

A cart is meant for carrying goods.

Anyone would know that without being told. It was a rather large cart, almost no different from a small carriage. But this man had not loaded anything on the cart. He had just brought the cart here. Maybe he lost the cargo on the way?

However, he pulled the cart straight up and placed it in front of him. Then he looked over.

“I’d like to make a request.” -Ur

“What is it?” -Dangan

Dangan still had chores left to do, and even if he didn’t, he had worked enough for the day to say he was quite exhausted. But he couldn’t ignore the smell of work and money emanating from the customer in front of him, as a member of the Golden Hammer.

Above all, he was interested. What kind of request would this man, who was like a walking talking point, make?

“I want you to modify this cart.” -Ur

At those words, Dagan’s brow wrinkled.

“I’m a blacksmith, not a carpenter.” -Dangan

“A blacksmith is a place where they make weapons and armor, right?” -Ur

“That’s a rather rough understanding. It’s not wrong though.” -Dangan

So it’s right, then, Ur said.

“To put it precisely, I want you to modify this cart into armor.” -Ur

The wrinkles on Dagan’s face deepened. But it was not out of displeasure, but rather confusion, and to churn his thoughts. Armor, armor, something to protect oneself. Something to entrust the lives of adventurers to. A cart?

But it wasn’t incomprehensible. Something came to mind.

“…Do you want to make a 【chariot】?” -Dangan

The concept of mounting weapons on a cargo bed and relying on the mobility of horses is not nonexistent in this world. Before the world was overrun with dungeons, he had heard that it was a major type of armament. In today’s world, overflowing with monsters, even if you tried to have horses pull a chariot, the horses would be too afraid of the monsters to run, leading to its decline.

They still exist, but not many. In the 【City of Sin, Envy】, famous for its mechanical inventions, weapons have been created that use magic machinery instead of horses, but of course, that is outside Dagan’s specialty.

No, if one is talking about that, then chariots themselves are not really his specialty either… But Dagan’s interest was piqued.

“That’s how it’ll be.” -Ur

“You can’t take horses into the dungeon. Regular horses would be eaten by monsters in no time.” -Dangan

“I have a plan for mobility.” -Ur

“Seriously? And with that, you’ll hunt down the Poison Omen Bird?” -Dangan

“That’s right.” -Ur

Ur stated this with a dead-serious face.

“…Wait a minute.” -Dangan

Dangan observed the cart that Ur had brought. It appeared that the cart Ur brought was not a cheap, second-hand one bought from just anywhere. There was a mark on it. It was a high-quality item purchased from the Woodworkers Guild 【Shade of the Divine Tree. 】 Designed to withstand rough roads, it was durable and could handle heavy loads. It was not meant for use within the city but for traveling between cities, beyond human survival zones.

“It’s made from red monkey tree, the same wood used for the handles of the Dragonfang spear. I was assured that it wouldn’t even be scratched by the claws of lower-level monsters.” -Ur

“But the claws of the Poison Omen Bird would pierce through, right?” -Dangan

“That’s why it needs to be modified. Can you do it?” -Ur

Ur would have liked to ask for the modification at 【Shade of the Divine Tree,】 where he bought the cart, but they refused, saying, “We don’t specialize in modifications to withstand the attacks of bounty targets and cannot guarantee it,” leading him to come here. Of course, the Golden Hammer didn’t specialize in cart modifications either. And Dangan wasn’t particularly knowledgeable either. He wasn’t… but,

“…Hey, how soon do you need it done by?” -Dangan

“Ten days at most.” -Ur

“What’s the budget?” -Dangan

“Five gold coins.” -Ur

“Make it five more.” -Dangan

Ur made a sour face but didn’t say it was impossible. It seems he had the money. Of course, ten gold coins is a lot of money. He was targeting the Poison Omen Bird, which must have had a pretty good bounty on it, but still, if he couldn’t defeat it properly, he would be at a significant loss.

Moreover, he was going to spend that considerable sum on a weapon that no one else had bothered with, something that had fallen out of favor. Normally, no one would agree to this. Normally.

But Ur let out a big sigh and nodded with a bitter face.

“…Alright, I’ll pay. But make sure it’s worth it.” -Ur

Dangan grinned at those words.

“Ten gold coins, that’s a big job for me. And the fact that you’re willing to pay means you trust my skills.” -Dangan

The philosophy of the Golden Hammer is money. They take joy in earning money because being paid in gold means that their skills are recognized. Money is the most reliable measure of trust in this world. And now, Ur had just told Dangan he would pay him ten gold coins.

Then, he must respond with all his might, or the name of the Golden Hammer would be disgraced.

“Leave it to me. I’ll make you the strongest cart.” -Dangan

Thus, the cart modification project began.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 19

Cart Modification Project Day 1

Today, we start the cart modification project. There’s not much time, so we need to move as quickly as possible.

The big premise is that Rock will be the horse pulling the cart, providing mobility.

Using Shizuku’s necromancy, Rock’s form as a skeleton knight will be modified to become a horse. It’s the same as the necromantic horse we saw during the Island-Eating Turtle incident. I thought it was an idea that quite ignores Rock’s rights (even though he’s just bones), but he himself was,

Rock: HAHAHAHA, excellent, excellent!! Sounds fun!!

So, Rock became a horse. He was a bit fussy about wanting to look cooler.

The cart is simple. It’s a four-wheeled, mid-sized cart that a horse can pull, big enough for three adults to ride in. We could have bought a larger carriage from the start, but if it’s too big, it won’t be able to pass through the dungeon’s narrow alleys. This size is just on the edge.

First, we’ll create a barrier in the cargo area where we’ll ride. We need to maintain a certain speed, so we’ll keep the weight down and angle it to reduce wind resistance. The material needs to be light, sturdy, and strong, but we have to compromise to some extent because the price skyrockets as we pursue these qualities.

A barrier made of a metal called green heavy gold was created. We tried running it.

As a result, when we increased the speed, the balance of the cart was disrupted, causing it to become unstable.

• Lower the height of the barrier to lower the center of gravity. Reduce wind resistance as much as possible.
• Lighten unnecessary parts, except for the front.
• Reinforce the wheels.

Modify, and in the meantime, dive into the dungeon to earn magic stones. I’m busy.

~Today’s Dungeon Exploration Results: 10 silver coins~

When we returned, the cart’s condition had improved. The barrier was lower, just high enough to hide our bodies if we crouched.

Dangan: It runs fine. Other problems have come up though.

We tried riding with me, Shizuku, and Lynne.

It’s hot.

There are windows, but with three people in a small enclosed space, it’s hot.

It’s like this inside the city. In the dungeon, it’ll be like a steam bath and we might die.

Lynne: It’s hot ← I think so too

Shizuku: I’m sweating ← Don’t take off your clothes

• Ensure ventilation

   or

• Review equipment

I can’t say I have zero problems with it, but it has gained some resistance to the dungeon’s heat after further modifications. Shizuku and Lynne might suffer from heatstroke. Dangan suggested installing a 【Frost White Tag】. It’s not as effective as a barrier, but it’s a simplified version of a magic circle that affects the surrounding area where it’s installed, and it does indeed cool the interior.

Lynne: By the way, this is also Leyline magic ← You look like have mixed feelings about it.

We don’t know how effective it will be in the dungeon, so we’ll have to test it.

That’s it for the day.

On the way back, I talked about this idea to Diz after meeting Akane, and she laughed her head off.

Just you wait, damn it.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 20

Cart Modification Project Day 2

~ Today’s Earnings: 5 Silver Coins ~

Today, we tried driving roughly, simulating the conditions of using it in the dungeon.

As expected, the cart, which was originally purchased, was built with the premise that it would be used outside the city, in areas beyond the human survival zone. Naturally, it’s assumed that it would be attacked by monsters and would need to escape, so even when driven at crazy speeds and with rough, bouncy movements, it impressively absorbs the shock. It turned out to be a better purchase than I thought.

Instead, we who were riding it got jostled around, hitting our heads and nearly dying.

Rock: Cack! Did you see my splendid cornering! ← Shut up

Lynne: That hurts ← I think so too

Shizuku: Oh, Ur-sama, sorry for leaning on you ← Get off

We need fasteners. Firstly, if I move around in all directions, it’s pointless.

The assumption is that we need to be able to attack from atop the cart as needed, so ideally, we should be able to move immediately. We have to be in a state where we can pop our heads out of the top to intercept surroundings.

We installed seats and lowered the car height slightly relative to the wheel axle. We supported the body with fixed belts and made them hook-type so they can be quickly removed when moving. At least with this, it seems unlikely that we’ll die from hitting our heads on the roof before fighting the monsters.

At this point, since we had to tweak the balance of the cart’s structure itself, we ended up asking for help from the craftsmen at 【Shade of the Divine Tree】 (or rather, Dangan somewhat forcefully dragged one out).

The craftsman, Yarshi, looked like he was about to faint upon seeing the state of the modified cart that Dangan had worked on up to that point. After explaining how his creations are made with balance in mind without wasting anything, and then explaining that there was no intention to stop this modification, he gave up and started helping with a resigned expression.

Yarshi: If it’s going to be messed up out of my sight, I might as well be the one to give it proper direction.

I apologized.

I was relieved when Dangan said he would share the payment for Yarshi out of his own reward.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 23

Cart Modification Project Day 5

Lynne: If you could become anything, wouldn’t it be better if Rock became the carriage itself?

When I heard Lynne’s idea after being thrown around by the violent shaking of the cart, even with fixtures to hold us in place, leaving bruises all over, I thought Lynne might be a genius. There was a fixed idea that a cart, being a carriage, must be pulled by horses, but there was no need to separate the power source and the cargo section so rigidly.

The basic framework, wheels, and reinforced barriers were essential. However, there was no need for Rock to become a horse.

Rock himself would become the carriage, turning the wheels. This would result in less impact than being pulled by horses and reduce the necessary parts and areas needing reinforcement.

Rock: I myself become the carriage… HAHAHA, I’m incredible! ← Is this really okay with you?

Shizuku revises her necromancy. However, if Rock is to take on the role of the cart’s wheels, it would be difficult since it’s further removed from the human body than a horse, and it’s uncertain if they can manage it properly.

So, today, they won’t head to the dungeon, instead, Shizuku and Rock will adjust the necromancy.

Since it’s difficult for Lynne and I to go to the dungeon alone, we practice enhancement magic together.

【White King Formation: Epiphany of the White King】

• Unlike the usual White King Formation, this magic circle is completed by drawing on the human body.
• Time needed: 4 hours
• Duration: 3 minutes with an effective time of 30 seconds after activation
• After use, the human body’s magical power is completely depleted, causing even warriors to become temporarily incapacitated.

When she wrote down the summary again, the magic seemed incredibly inefficient, but completing it was essential for the current strategy. To immobilize Lynne and me, we prepared replacements for our legs, moved, and then quickly defeated an omen bird after completing the magic.

The problem is, how much can we move during the creation of the magic circle?

Lynne: Because I’m 【concentrating】 my consciousness, I can’t do anything but complete the spell.

She’s out of the question. So, can I move during that time?

Lynne: Try not to move the part where I’m drawing too much.

The place to draw is on the back. It seems she’ll have to cling to my back as if stuck to it to draw the magic circle. So, even though I don’t quite get it, I give it a try.

Result:  Apart from the immorally peculiar situation of being stuck to the back of a scantily clad hobbit girl in a cramped space due to the heat, no major troubles occurred until the completion of the spell.

However, there’s one issue. If Shizuku alone isn’t enough for the attack, I need to join in, which means I have to stick my face out of the hatch at the entrance. But then I have to stand up, and the hobbit Lynne isn’t tall enough, and she can’t reach my back. Naturally, she can’t create magic during that time.

・ Ideally, it would be better to participate in the attack while sitting to complete the magic without interruption.

Should you open a window on the front barrier to create a line of fire for throwing?

– Dangan suggested, but the prospect of continually facing the wind pressure of the moving cart head-on is honestly frightening and would hinder the completion of the White King Formation. Moreover, if a monster jumps in, it would be fatal.

Attacking from a side window. It’s not impossible. But it might be difficult while sitting. Maybe it would be better to equip something that just needs to hit to be effective, like a magic orb.

Just in case, I’ll consult with Dangan.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 25

Cart Modification Project Day 7

~ Today’s Dungeon Exploration Results: 13 silver coins ~

Dangan: Found something good.

What Dangan brought was what’s called a ballista. It seemed he had bought one that was used for city defense. When asked what he intended to do with it,

Dangan: Attach it.

Dangan had a great smile. He was definitely having fun with this.

Dangan: Originally, weapons on chariots included things like this, but it should be much easier to attach to a self-propelled cart without horses.

That makes sense. But then couldn’t a cannon be used instead?

Dangan: Wouldn’t want to stuff gunpowder balls into something that shakes like crazy on the inside, you might die

Die. Let’s not do that.

So that’s how the ballista was installed. To penetrate the bodies of monsters, it had to be quite large, so the front end jutted out beyond the shield wall. The shield wall was modified, and it was completed as a fixture that also served as a barrier. The mechanism of the ballista used a metal spring and was a wind-up style operated by a handle, which could be used without any problem with the enhanced strength from within the dungeon.

However, the issue was with the ammunition.

Apparently, it could fire not only arrows but also stones, yet it’s not feasible to pick up stones while inside the cart. Having Shizuku, who would be riding along, create ice spears like during the fight with the Gashadokuro might be an option, but it would be better to conserve magic. If arrow balls can be bought with money, that would be better.

I’ll test it.

It can only shoot forward, so the range is limited.

Make the axis movable so it can rotate, enlarge the holes in the barrier, and expand the shooting angle. The attack range widened. It started looking even more abnormal. Rock was pleased.

That day, upon returning from exploring the dungeon, I was called over by the guild leader.

It seems that the city has decided on a policy regarding Lynne’s case and the treatment of the Lautaro students. To put it simply, if one can demonstrate a certain level of combat ability to the Adventurer’s Guild and be recognized, then and only then is one allowed to leave the city while maintaining official city rights.

Q: Meaning? A: Just defeat the omen bird.

The matter became extremely simple. To avoid complications, it seems Aransa worked incredibly hard in negotiations.

I couldn’t be more grateful. Next time, I should bring some sweets as a thank-you.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 27

Cart Modification Project Day 9

~ Today’s Dungeon Exploration Result: None ~

Today we did a test run in the dungeon. There are risks with the monsters, but there’s a lot we can’t know without a trial run.

Result: The cart… sinks.

The increased weight of the cart and the humid environment inside the Dungeon of Sin are a terrible match. The wheels sink deep into the ground, and it doesn’t move as intended. Gravity magic has been applied for overall stability, but the output is insufficient.

It’s the worst. Very bad. Extremely bad. A setback in the plan at this critical juncture is fatal. We must think of a countermeasure no matter what.

My stomach hurts. Why didn’t I realize this sooner?

We could add wheels to distribute the weight. But given the size of the cart, adding just one wheel to each side might be the limit. Even if we increase the number slightly, if the wheels get stuck in rough terrain, it makes no difference. If we’re not careful, we might even end up in a swamp.

Apparently, the mechanical chariots in Envy are designed for rough terrain, connecting countless wheels with a “belt” and rotating them.

I can’t picture it. I understand the principle, but not the intricate mechanism.

After consulting with Dangan and, incidentally, getting input from the guild leader and other craftsmen, a plan was decided.

Six wheels. It will be heavier, but it’s unavoidable. And the wheels themselves will be replaced. Wheels made of a special type of rubber used in magic tools in the 【Production Cities】. They are very thick, resilient, have excellent impact resistance, and are strong against rough terrain. The weight is distributed. It has become wider, but is it still within acceptable limits?

Additionally, we’ll lay the cloak 【Green Wings of the Wind】, which we had put off purchasing, under the body of the cart to reduce the overall weight. It’s a bit unstable, but overall it’s lighter.

As a result, the cart no longer sinks in the dungeon’s marshland, and it’s possible to drive.

The worst-case scenario has been avoided.

Good.

Really scary.

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Poison Omen Bird Subjugation Day 29

Cart Modification Project Day 11

“It’s done.” -Dangan

“It’s done indeed…” -Lynne

“It’s done, but this is…………” -Ur

Before Ur and the others was the final product of the cart modification they had been fully engaged in for the past several days. Gazing upon it, Ur let out a remark.

“…What is this, I wonder?” -Ur

Ur, the originator and, for all intents and purposes, the proverbial parent, voiced his extreme confusion. What they had completed had transformed from the original cart into an enigmatic object.

It was supposed to be a 【chariot】, but there was no horse.

The horse had become one with the chariot. Ur thought to himself, what the hell was I thinking?

『Hey, don’t I look cool? Isn’t this cool?!!! 』-Rock

“Don’t let the cart talk.” -Ur

The wheels were massive, thick, and black. Not many carriages that venture outside the city have wheels like these. The ramparts were set as low and slanted as possible to avoid wind resistance and were rounded. In addition, a large ballista protruded ominously from the front.

The entryway was at the rear. Because the vehicle’s height was lowered and its expandability increased, the inside was quite spacious. Here, Lynne would “work,” and Ur would conduct attacks based on the outside conditions.

Ur had wandered here and there, but now, an object unlike anything he’d seen before sat before his eyes.

“My baby has…” -Yarshi

Next to him, Yarshi was face down, crying. It was unclear if it was out of emotion or despair. Probably the latter.

“If we had more time, we could have modified it further.” -Dangan

“You planning to spend more money on this? You better be making a profit, Dangan.” -Yarshi

“……….Ah, yes!!!” -Dangan

The evasion was decidedly sloppy. It had been suspicious since Dangan got into the spirit halfway through, indulging in obviously excessive equipment cramming and rampart modifications, and it seemed the costs had indeed overrun. However, since Ur had agreed to the payment and was satisfied, he had no right to complain. He only thanked them inwardly.

“For now, the preparations are complete… probably.” -Ur

They had used almost all their funds. They had done all they could within the time they had. There was nothing more to do. The only thing left was to execute the plan.

“So, will this work?” -Lynne

“I have no clue.” -Ur

“Oh.” -Lynne

Ur ignored Lynne’s gaze.

『Hey, Ur, by the way, what’s this thing called? 』-Rock

“…Do we need a name?” -Ur

『We do. 』-Rock

“We do.” -Dangan

Rock and Dangan spoke in unison. Their timing was needlessly perfect. Honestly, Ur had no interest in a name, and it seemed utterly irrelevant, but it was hard to ignore the two people who had contributed the most to this project.

“…Shizuku, got any ideas?” -Ur

“I’ll leave it to you, Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

Shizuku smiled sweetly. Her attitude of always stepping back and deferring to others seemed particularly cunning this time. Faced with the excited gazes of Rock and Dangan, who were looking at him expectantly, Ur began to think.

But he quickly reconsidered how ridiculous it was. There were already too many issues causing him headaches, so why agonize over this? Something casual would be fine for this sort of thing.

“Then, let’s call it 【Rock ‘n’ Roll】.” -Ur

The reason for the name: because Rock rolls.