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It was a gruelling and harsh battle for me.
Thanks to magic armor my attack power was through the roof, and my reflexes and dynamic vision were probably 10 times better than usual.
But you know, even though it was just monsters, it was my first time to kill, and the number of monsters that were coming at us was too large to count. They had almost wiped out the golems that I had brought with me; out of 32 Wonders, only 4 remained, and out of 24 Harrys, only 2 are still intact.
All of you, you’ve did your best and done a great job…
It was heavy casualties, but we were finally able to defeat the floor boss, the Thousand Ogres.
After all the monsters are dead, the wide spacious room has fallen quiet, and in the middle of it all Miina finally flopped down on her butt from exhaustion.
“It’s…done… It’s over now…” Miina said while panting.
“Yeah, and I hope I’ll never experience something like this ever again.”
I only had 238 MP left; if the fighting were still on, I’d have run out of mana in four minutes.
“What are you talking about, Okami-san? It looked like you were able to slay the monsters fairly easily.”
“That’s not true. I was feeling really nervous, I thought I was going to pass out. The Eminence Rock armor might boost my physical attribute, but it didn’t reinforce my mental spirit.”
Even though the battle is now over, I still can’t stop the shaking on my knees. Aside from being exhausted, my stomach is now bloated because of how much MP potions that I drank.
“Okami-san, cheer up! We’ve managed to defeat the floor boss! Look, over there!” Miina pointed some way ahead of us, toward a small treasure chest.
It was a white box emblazoned with gold decorations, and it looked really flashy. It’s twice as big as a cardboard box of tangerines.
I wanted to check the inside of the treasure chest right away, but the moment I released the Eminence Rock, my body suddenly felt as heavy as a stone, and I could not move properly. It’s as if I had been playing in the ocean for two hours and then went up to the beach. My body feels heavy like lead, and sweat is gushing out all at once.
“My body… it feels so heavy…”
“Here, hold on to me.”
I was swaying unsteadily, but Miina quickly came to my side and support me. I can only smile bitterly at how helpless I really am.
“You know, Okami-san. We adventurers live for such a moment like this. The moment when we manage to overcome the difficulties of the dungeon and get our hands on a treasure chest.”
With a twinkle in her eyes, Miina moves to check if there are any traps around the chest. It seems like it was also her first time to open a treasure chest left by a floor boss.
“It’s okay, there are no traps. I’ll open it now.”
For safety precaution, I re-equip the Eminence Rock.
“Alright, here goes…”
Smoothly, without any sound, the lid opened effortlessly.
“Ooohhh….!” We both sighed in wonders at the same time.
The treasure chest was filled with magic stones and gold bars. The gold bars were shaped like kamaboko (fish cakes) [1], and there were seven of them.
“Each one of this is worth 30 million lehmens–!” Miina lifts up one of the gold bars with trembling hands.
The magic stones were also lined up in rows, and on top of the gold bars and magic stones, a stone statue was placed there. It was a small statue, only about 20 centimeters tall, and looked like a young man bound by chains.
“Okami-san! Quick! Appraise it! It must be a rare treasure!”
It’s not actually an Appraise though, rather it’s a Repair skill.
####
Repair target: Captive Angel
Description: Takes the item user to any place they have visited. Can carry along one companion.
MP consumption: –
Repair time: Repair is not necessary.
####
Whoaa! This is a really useful item! Not to mention that I almost have no energy left to move due to exhaustion.
“Did you manage to appraise it? What kind of artifact is it?”
“It looks like an item imbued with teleportation magic?”
“Huh? Teleportation magic?”
According to Miina, she never heard of such magic, or anyone using it in this world. If that is true, it means this magic is even more valuable than I had thought.
“Anyway, let’s go back. There’s no telling if there will be other monsters coming here.”
“Well then, let’s use this Captive Angel right away. I don’t think I could take another step right now.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s get out of this dungeon first!”
…
At the moment, I thought it would be fine to use it right away, but it turned out that I’m terribly mistaken about it. Probably it’s because we were so exhausted, but I couldn’t think straight back then.
And so, without thinking about the consequences, I used the Captive Angel to teleport us out of the dungeon…
…right into the entrance of the dungeon. That’s right, we appeared just before the eyes of Master Elza and the rest of the adventurers standing guard in front of the entrance.
Suddenly being surrounded by the adventurers, I think both Miina’s and my face look silly at that time. Meanwhile the people around were staring at us in surprise, mouth agape.
“Okami… How did you just suddenly appear here? No, rather, weren’t you supposed to be inside the dungeon?”
“Ah… Uhh…”
How can I deceive them and keep things wrapped up here?
I was about to pretend that something unexplainable happened in the dungeon and we somehow got teleported back to the surface, but… [2]
“It’s alright now, everything’s fine! Okami-san has defeated the Thousand Ogres main body! There is no more danger of the stampede!”
Miina, you fool…! They’re going to find out that I’ve stolen the Staff of La Messeine at this rate!
I was grieving internally, but the people around me was cheering loudly.
“We’re saved!!”
“Ooooohhhhh!!”
“Okamii–, you’re the best!!”
“O-ka-mi! O-ka-mi!!”
Even louder cheers erupted, yelling ‘Okami’, and so I have no choice but to wave my hand with a tight smile and I can feel a coming stomachache.
“Miina, I’m running away from here.” I spoke to Miina in low voice.
“Huh? What are you talking about, Okami-san? You’re a hero, you know? I’m sure the guild is going to give you a reward.”
“I never wanted to be a hero. Also, they might not see me as a hero, but a thief.”
“A thief? What do you… oh… AAH!”
Seems like Miina finally realized it.
“S-so, what are you going to do now?”
“For now, I’m going to go back home and pack my belongings.”
“Then, I’m going with you.”
“Why?”
“It’ll be troublesome if I’m getting accused as a complicit. Also, there’s still that promise.”
Promise? Which one… oh right.
“Wait, you seriously want to come with me?”
“Of course I am! And I don’t mind being a fugitive if that means I can lose my virginity with you, Okami-san!! [3] Oh, but I was guilty of forging official documents in the Kingdom of Ragusel, so I’m actually a fugitive already.”
“Miina! You were a criminal?”
“Hm? Yes. After all, most of the adventurers here are criminals, Okami-san. Rouge, too, she was wanted for murder.”
It was a shocking fact for me; I had no idea. But now that I think about it, Cecily too, was a pirate. If it was found out that she was one, she would be caught by the authorities.
“So, can I come with you or not?”
“Well… it’s fine. But let’s ask Rouge if she wants to escape with us.”
“Alright, yes! Finally, the day where I will become a real woman is coming!” Miina ran, looking for Rouge, with a happy expression on her face.
…
Master Elza waded through the crowd and came to me. “So, what happened in there actually? Tell me all about it in details.”
“I don’t mind, but this place is too crowded and noisy. I’ll come to the guild after I cleaned myself and get changed, so can you wait for me there?”
The truth is, I was drenched in sweat that my shirt has become a see through, and I made the request while pretending to make effort to cover my chest area. Seeing that, Master Elza nodded her head.
“Certainly, your appearance may cause unneeded distraction to the women at the guild. Alright, go and get changed quick.”
Good. With this, I managed to buy some time.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Back at the cave, Miina and Rouge had started packing.
“Shirou-san, I heard that you’re going to run away from the island?”
It seems that Rouge has heard the situation from Miina.
“That’s right. Miina said they might think of me as a hero, but I don’t care. Even if they do, the empire might end up using me as a tool. I like creating tools, not being used like one”
Rouge laughed hearing that.
“I understand. I’ll go with you, Shirou-san. I may look like this, but I’m confident in my ability to escape. Also, I’m confident in the size of my breast. I’ll show you the ace up my chest.”
Look, I’ve told you before but it’s up your sleeve, not up your chest. Although, I’ve seen your breast so I gotta say that you have the size to back up your claim.
…
And then, I put the golems that I left behind on the island to sleep mode. My ship is small, so I can only take two of each type.
“Thank you for everything.”
I put them to sleep while saying thank you. I don’t think I’ll ever come back to this island again.
It had been less than a year, but I’ve had many fond memories. [4]
———————————————————————————————————————
I breathed a sigh of relief as we finally reached the open sea.
The only ship available on the island was Madame Damas’ merchant ship, so I’m certain they would not be chasing us. Well, even if they did, there was no way they would be able to catch up with a ship towed by the Cimas.
“So, where are we going?”
“For now, let’s go to the Western Island.”
Since I need to get the gold and magic stones that I hid there.
“And after that?”
“Hmmm… Maybe we can run toward the direction of the Bawanda Region? Since I know someone there.”
“Someone you know, huh… What kind of person is it?”
“It’s Regalta’s War Princess.”
“Huuuh?”
However, I don’t know if it’s proper to just suddenly rely on Chris again, after all this time…
But then again, I’m not sure if I want to go on a wandering trip in search of Sierra.
“Anyway, let’s just head west for now.”
And what we would do after that… Anyway, the setting sun is shining brightly, I don’t feel like I can think and plan of anything else right now. [5]
Only one thing for certain.
Today, we’re closing down our business at the inn.
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1 Shaped like this:
Source: https://e-kamaboko.com/profile/
Seems like the rough shape of a gold bullion bar to me.
2 I don’t think that reasoning would hold under scrutiny though…
3 Miina, I see that you’re a (wo)man of culture too…
4 Only less than a year? I thought he’s on that island for at least a year and a half already…
5 ‘Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World’ – Columbus –
Additional note: This is the last chapter for the inn arc. Shirou is leaving the island, and the story will no longer be about him working as the proprietor (Okami) at the inn. The next arc will be ‘Not a Saintess, but a Saint? Excursion to the North’
This chapter feels rushed, though. I, for one, was expecting one or two chapters showcasing Shirou’s badassness in dealing with the floor boss, so it feels kinda of letdown. I see some of you guessed (incorrectly) that White Maggot is still alive and was using the artifact to control the monsters so she can capture Shirou. An interesting plot though, and should the writer go that route I think it’ll make things more interesting. I myself feel kinda sorry for her since she seems to have a tragic background and would like it if it turns out to be her redemption arc, but alas, it were not supposed to be.
Also, as of the moment that this chapter is made, the WN story is still in hiatus on Chapter 120, so we only have 36 chapters left.