CH 148

Nishino-kun and Rikka-chan arrive a few minutes later.



“Where’s everyone else?” “They’re helping out at the City Hall. Rikka and I were able to leave because it’s our break time.” “Natsun, were you okay? I was worried.” Rikka-chan hugs Ichinose-san as soon as she arrives and begins to rub her cheek against Ichinose-san’s.



Ichinose-san protests with a flushed face.



“R-Ricchan! Don’t hug me so suddenly without prior notice!” “Fine. I’ll be hugging you right now, okay? Mugyu—” “That’s not what I meant—” The two high school beauties deepen their friendship while ignoring the men.



Oh, but it’s more accurate to say that only one person is enjoying it.



Regardless, they’re really close.



“…I’m sorry. Rikka can be annoying at times.” “Why is Nishino-kun apologizing?” “Whenever she causes a problem, I’m usually the one who apologizes.” “You have it tough.” “I’m used to it.” Nishino-kun reveals a bitter smile.



Was he dragged around by Rikka-chan’s whims when they were at school as well?



I can envision it in my head.



His smile appears somewhat melancholic.



For some reason, he looks like a working adult, even more so than me.



“Am I right to assume that the ‘Evolution’ proceeded smoothly?” “Yes, as you can see.” I spread my arms wide and make a spin.



Well, it’s not like anything has changed appearance-wise though.



Nishino-kun’s expression is clearly asking, ‘So what exactly changed?’ “We chose an Evolutionary Path that maintains our original appearances. Nishino-kun and Aisaka-san, what do you guys think? Anything strange about us?” “Hmm….”



Nishino-kun inspects me and Ichinose-san.



Unable to bear all the attention, Ichinose-san turns away.



Her communication issue lives on even after evolving… You won’t throw up, right?



Please don’t throw up, okay?



“…There’s nothing strange about you two.” “Yup. Are you any different? Ah, but I can feel that the atmosphere around onii-san is now much more oppressive and dense compared to before.” Even for them, nothing seems to appear out of place.



As for what Rikka-chan said, it should be due to the improvement in my status and the changes in my occupations.



I feel like I’ve become quite strong.



“You evolved into a ‘Newtype’, yes? From the outside, it doesn’t look like there’s any difference. Did something change?” “Yes.”



Although I’ve already explained everything via “Mail”, I reiterate about “Newtypes” and the other Evolutionary Paths.



With more than 10 Paths provided, it takes some time for me to finish explaining.



“…A little over 20% boost in status and the increase in potential? That’s quite vague, isn’t it?” “You’re right, but I think it was for the best.” I have no regrets about my decision.



…But if I’m being completely honest, it’s slightly… no, really unfortunate that I didn’t get to see Ichinose-san with cat ears.



Aside from that, I have no regrets.



Yup, no regrets.



“Personally, I would’ve loved to see Natsun with cat ears.” Ohhhh, Rikka-chan is speaking for me.



“Ricchan…”



“Ah, sorry. I’m just kidding. Don’t stare at me like that. I’m getting a little scared.” “Muu—”



With puffed-cheeks, Ichinose-san playfully hits Rikka-chan.



Poka poka.



“…Kudou-san, the fact that you chose this Evolutionary Path means that you are willing to continue working with us?” ““…””



The two girls freeze upon hearing Nishino-kun’s words.



All three pairs of eyes are concentrated on me.



“…That’s right.” “Is that so… thank God.” Nishino-kun pats his chest in relief.



Ichinose-san and Rikka-chan also look reassured.



“It’s not like I can vanish now that I have revealed the existence of my Item Box.” —Indeed, I had told Nishino-kun and his friends about my Item Box after the battles had ended.



To be more precise, Nishino-kun inquired me about it.



‘You have the Item Box skill, am I right?’ <- Like that.



Nishino-kun was convinced that I had the Item Box skill or something of that nature after watching me battle Alpha and Titan.



That alone was enough to surprise me, but Nishino-kun even managed to speculate that I was the culprit behind the disappearance of all the supplies around the Home Center .



He also came to the conclusion that I was the one who treated them when they had fainted from the attacks of the High Orc.



…Nishino-kun, you’re too smart for your own good.



As expected, it made me wary of him at the time.



I trusted Nishino-kun, but there was always that slim chance of something going wrong.



I even considered whether I should leave with Momo and Ichinose.



However, my worries turned out to be unnecessary.



“It’s okay, we won’t be leeching off of your supplies, nor are we planning on dragging you down. That said, what do you think about continuing our collaboration?” It was as if he had visited the inner depths of my heart.



He recognized that Ichinose-san and I did not want to bother interacting with the others.



Furthermore, he noticed that we didn’t want to be relied on purely for our Item Box and our skills.



…Really, how did such a considerate child become known a delinquent?



Anyway, that was how we officially joined hands.



Now that I think about it, I very much welcome a friend like Nishino-kun.



It’s also good that Ichinose-san gets to stay with Rikka-chan.



…The problem is that Ichinose-san still hasn’t gotten rid of her fear of strangers, but there isn’t anything I can do about that.



Good luck, Ichinose-san.



If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll be able to acquire skills like “Shyness Resistance” and “Communication Disorder Resistance”.



If it’s at all possible, I hope you prioritize in acquiring “Vomit Resistance”.



Quickly.



“Even so, evolving at LV30? We still have a long way to go.” “Yup.”



“What are your levels?” I haven’t confirmed with them yet, but their levels should have shot up after their battle against Alpha.



“I’m at LV21. My level rose by a lot after that battle. I also got a new skill.” “LV15 for me. The gap between Rikka and I is steadily growing.” Rikka-chan is at LV21 and Nishino-kun is at LV15… They should’ve obtained an explosive amount of experience, but I guess it wasn’t nearly enough for them to reach LV30.



What skill did Rikka-chan learn?



Was it a bonus for slaying Alpha?



I’m curious.



“I’ll be the next to evolve. I’ll be widening the gap between us even more, Nisshi.” “Tell me about it. Just make sure you consult with me before you choose your Evolutionary Path, alright? You’re the biggest source of worry here.” “I get it, Nisshi. You’re such a worrywart.” Rikka-chan gets slightly angry at Nishino-kun, but the latter brushes it off.



They’re truly good friends with one another.



By the way, when I asked about the other people’s levels, I was told that Shibata-kun reached LV13, Goshogawara-san reached LV12, and the others have reached around LV8 to LV10.



Nishino-kun also told me about the levels of the City Hall members.



The mayor is at LV3, Fujita-san at LV16, Chief Shimizu at LV19, and Nijou at LV12.



Since he can’t leave the City Hall, I expected this to be the case, but the mayor’s level is really low.



On the flip side, Chief Shimizu’s level is decently high… Isn’t she second only to Rikka-chan?



When I asked Nishino-kun how he knew, he said that he just asked them normally.



He also informed me about their occupations.



Nijou’s occupation was quite unexpected. To think she would have such an occupation… “I’m thankful that you provided us information about the Evolutionary Paths prior to our evolutions. I’ll reference them.” “Please do. If some other races appear as options, please let me know. I will search it up.” “Thank you in advance… by the way, Kudou-san.” “Hmm? What is it?” Nishino-kun’s expression turns serious.



Well, he’s serious most of the time, though.



“Have you decided on what to do from now on?” “…Hmm…”



A plan for the future.



“For now, we have to immediately help Aka recover. If Aka doesn’t regain its strength, things can become problematic in the future.” “Furu furu.”



With Aka’s newly acquired skills, the number of strategies we can employ has increased exponentially.



However, before that, we’d need to let Aka absorb slimes again.



To regain all the power it has exhausted, we would need to go to the sea and hunt slimes.



Hunt, hunt, and hunt some more.



“After that, we’ll be checking out our new skills and occupations, seeing how well we can cooperate as a party, and testing out the skills by hunting monsters. Then, we’ll gather information and secure supplies. Lastly, we’ll raise our levels.” Our plan is the same as before.



It’s just that we can act more daringly thanks to the “Safety Zone”.



Hearing my plan, Nishino-kun puts his hand on his chin.



“…Then what about Fujita-san?” “What about him?” “Of course, I’m talking about the Item Box.” “Oh, right…”



I fold my arms and look up at the ceiling.



To be honest… I’m at a loss.



At first, I planned on telling only Fujita-san about it, but then I realized that the information would inevitably be leaked to the mayor, Chief Shimizu, and the other members.



Fujita-san is a trustworthy person, but the same cannot be said about the people around him.



…Considering what happened with my ex-colleagues who went out of control, I can safely assume that the City Hall isn’t completely united.



“I think it’s better for you to remain silent if you’re struggling to decide.” Watching me struggle, Nishino-kun gives me such an advice.



“Currently, there are only disadvantages to telling the City Hall members about the Item Box, Fuijta-san included. It should remain within our circle… for now at least.” “…And by that, you mean?” “It’s too early. I think you should reveal its existence when the situation changes. Fujita-san and Shimizu-san are making a move as we speak.” “I see… so that’s what’s happening.” I understand what Nishino-kun is trying to tell me.



Certainly, that will be to our benefit as well.



“Huh? What do you mean?” On the other hand, Rikka-chan remains as oblivious as ever.



“Rikka. How many residents do you think there are in the City Hall now?” “Hm? Uh, about 120 people?” “128. Ever since we completed the quest, some more have joined.” Did it increase again?



As a side note, Ichinose-san has turned pale upon hearing the number of people in the City Hall.



Increase in the number of people = Ichinose-san’s despair intensifies.



…Don’t throw up, capiche?



“Isn’t it a good thing if we have more people? We would need to gather more to raise the level of ‘Town Development’, right?” “You’re not wrong. It isn’t a bad thing in itself. The problem is that the number of people who have defeated monsters and obtained skills is too small.” “Is that so?”



“Weren’t you next to me when Fujita-san told us about it? Do you remember the number of skill holders in the City Hall right now?” “Well… about 50 people? Wait, I remember! 48 people.” “…How unexpected. You did well.” “Ehehehe.”



Nishino-kun pats Rikka-chan on her head.



“It’s just… the number of people who can explore and fight against monsters properly is even smaller. There are only around 30 in total, even if we include ourselves.” Isn’t that less than a quarter of the total population?



It’s lower than I anticipated.



No, there were more of them.



It’s just that a lot of them perished when they faced Alpha.



“There’s no point in presenting ordinary people with food from the Item Box if they don’t have any power to fight. It would only go to waste and you won’t get anything in return. ‘Sharing with good intentions’ can only hold true at times of peace.” “….Yes.”



It’s harsh, but it’s as Nishino said.



We aren’t trying to do charity work.



If I have to provide food that hasn’t rotted and can be further preserved, I want something of equal value in return.



It might seem calculative and petty, but it’s what we have to do in order to survive in the current world.



Nishino faces me again.



“Fujita-san and Shimizu-san are also concerned about this issue, so in addition to the post-war cleanup, they are urging residents to change their mindsets as well.” “Hee….”



They’re trying to persuade them to fight monsters?



It’s true that we can expect a sufficient return if all the residents become skill holders.



A return known as “Strength”.



“What is the ideal situation for you, Nishino-kun?” “…At least 70% of the people becoming skill holders and having them train to fight monsters. That’s just my ideal, though. When this is realized, then the City Hall will be able to function as an actual base. Perhaps other Item Box owners will step forward, reducing the need for Kudou-san to keep it confidential. Wouldn’t that be a sufficient return for the food?” “Yes… that certainly makes sense.” I hate one-sided relationships.



Parasitic relationships are bound to crumble at one point.



Well, if it’s Fujita-san, he might be able to control the situation one way or the other, but… “Then let’s keep the Item Box a secret for now. Is there a way to hide it?” “You don’t have to worry about confidentiality. Kudou-san and Ichinose might not have been informed about this, but private spaces are now available after the expansion of the ‘Safety Zone’.” “Is that so?”



That’s news to me.



Oh, did this happen while we were asleep?



“However, they’re only provided to the skill holders and core members. Our group was also assigned some vacant houses towards the North of the City Hall. Gas, water, and electricity are all working properly.” That’s rather amazing.



In that case, we can keep the existence of the Item Box secret by keeping it away from other people’s eyes.



“By the way, there are female-exclusive rooms. Natsun, let’s live there together.” “That… will that be fine with you? Won’t you find it annoying to stay with me?” “What are you worried about! Of course it’ll be fine. We can sleep and bathe together like we did when we were in middle school.” “Uh, yeah, thank you, Ricchan… but it’ll be embarrassing to take baths together… After all, Ricchan’s style is so good.” “Nah, you don’t have to think about it. Let’s go in together.” “No, uh….uuu… okay.” Ichinose-san gets pushed to a corner.



She’s blushing, but she seems to be in favor of living with Rikka-chan.



“Of course, a room has been prepared for Kudou-san. It’s a place which receives lots of sunlight.” “…That’s sounds fairly attractive.” “Isn’t it? It wouldn’t matter how much food you take out there. Others won’t be able to notice it.” “Fufu, you’re right.” Our stomachs growl at the same time.



I’m hungry.



It makes sense since I slept for 2 days straight without consuming food.



“It’s turning dark outside, so let’s eat something. Do you have any requests?” “Will that be okay?… To be honest, I haven’t had meat for some time… Of course, I’m not saying we must eat meat, but…” Naïve, Nishino-kun.



I have more than enough meat stored in my Item Box.



“I have thick slices of unseasoned steak, seasoned steak, and even some salted steak. Naturally, there’s rice to go along with them. Since we’ve just become official companions, why not commemorate this day by eating a little luxuriously?” There is enough meat for everyone in Nishino-kun’s group to eat.



Chewing on those hot, juicy steaks with white rice in my mouth… No, garlic rice might be a better fit.



As a side menu, we can have shiitake mushrooms dipped in a mixture of oil and soy sauce.



Dangerous. Just thinking about it is making me drool.



“Kudou-san… I’m really glad we met you.” We shake hands firmly.



“Won’t you feel guilty about having meat while the other residents are starving?” “No.”



Nishino-kun says so resolutely.



It’s hard to resist the charm of meat, isn’t it?



We grin evilly at each other.



“So you understand where to draw the line.” “Can’t the same be said about Kudou-san? You wouldn’t have joined hands with only us otherwise.” “You’re absolutely correct. We’re both terrible people.” “Indeed.”



After that, we confirmed our future plans and headed for the vacant houses that Nishino-kun and his teammates were assigned to.



I’ll be taking a proper rest today and begin working in earnest from tomorrow onward.



*****



-That night-



Momo is eating more meat than any of us.



She deliciously devours the thick, unseasoned steak meat and asks for seconds.



Who do you think is doing all the cooking?



It’s a lot of work, you know?



“Wan!”



Stop hitting your plate with your paw!



Stop looking at me with those pleading eyes!



…Only one more, alright?



I’m worried that Momo’s tongue will become spoiled.