Kays Translations

Chapter 32 “Sabotage”

Watching Glen walk away while laughing heartily 

Klaus took a moment to calm himself down. He settled down in a corner of the hunting ground, contemplating his next move.

"...At this rate, Cave Slime, Unicorn, Wandering Leather Armor, and Silk Spider are probably also being dealt with by someone else."

It seems that someone has seriously started interfering with Klaus.

Whether they were displeased with the guild's dealings or had intended to do this from the beginning, it's unclear, but the fact is that recovering Ghoul materials has become difficult.

"I'd like to get ahead of them, but..."

The members of the 'Special Bond Special Forces' have an abundance of resources at their disposal. 

Since Glen has already taken control of the 'Uncovered Graveyard' and normalized the dungeon, there's a high possibility that Chail and Mika, who were part of that 'Special Bond,' have also preempted Klaus in his quests.

Even if we assume not everyone is involved, we should consider that at least someone like Gain is supporting Charlotte. 

We should think that three or more Class A adventurers are involved in the interference. 

"For now, let's give up on monster materials. Since our hunting grounds are limited, the risk of interference is too high."

Time is also limited.

In that case, items with a wide distribution range... have a better chance of success.

Above all, Gain and the others don't know about 'automatic resource collection.'

If we have this amazing capability, we should be able to outsmart them.

"So, if that's the case—"

Status open.

Buzz...

Skill: 'Automatic Resource Collection.'"

　※ ※

《Please specify the gathering resource》

● Plants ← Selected

● Minerals

● Creatures

● Liquids

● Others

※ ※

"I found it...!"

※ ※

《Please specify the gathering resource》

●Plants

⇒Krumel fruit, phantom nuts, etc.

※ ※

The materials for the quest items were all things I had once laid my hands on. 

Thanks to that, I know the gathering times...

"Darn it...! The phantom nuts are quite far away—"

An expensive delicacy, the ‘Phantom Nuts,' is a material that grows in high mountain fields, favored by nobility. 

I've heard it can be found in the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains' nearby, but unfortunately, I haven't visited that place much."

I can manage just going, but when it comes to gathering...

Buzz...

※ ※

《Gathering resources: Krumel fruit x5》

⇒ Collection time “04:12:27”

※ ※

《Gathering resources: Phantom nuts x5》

⇒ Collection time “08:03:32”

　

※ ※

"Ugh... Even with efficient gathering, it takes half a day to cover that distance?"

Both are mountainous field locations.

These materials aren't suitable for short-term gathering... What a sneaky quest, damn it!

There, a small figure scurries, tugging at the hem of my clothes.

"Hey, hey. What are we going to do? I asked around earlier, but it seems like high-level adventurers are 'spoiling the hunting grounds' around here? Klaus, what's going on?"

"Shut up! Focus on your own situation."

Klaus, who had lost all patience even with Merim's complaints, immediately activated automatic resource collection and began securing materials."

"I don't have the luxury of going to the hunting grounds leisurely... It's risky, but should I rely on the 'Automatic Function Auto Mode' from the start?"

Grumbling...

"Hey, hey! Are you already going!? Let's take a break for a moment!"

Ignoring whatever Merim is saying, there isn't much time left.

"It's a gamble... but if I continue like this, they'll have their way."

—I'm aware of the risks.

The downside of 'Automatic Function Auto Mode' would be regaining consciousness in a vulnerable state once the skill ends.

Using the 'Automatic Function' from a distance makes it impossible to predict the situation afterward... If I'm not careful, there's a real possibility of being surrounded by monsters.

...But if I fear the risk, I won't gain anything!

"I have no choice... I'll start by collecting the relatively safe 'Krumel Fruits.'"

Fortunately, Kurmeru fruits are materials that grow anywhere in mountainous fields.

They should also be found in the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains,' where the infamous 'Mythical Nuts' are said to grow.

In that case, setting the destination as the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains' and using 'Automatic Resource Collection' there would be more efficient.

Even if Gain and the others interfere, they shouldn't be able to obstruct a quest item that involves natural gathering. 

It would be highly inefficient to interfere with material collection in such a vast mountainous field.

Moreover, the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains' are simply too far away...!

"...Alright! Let's go to the Shinonome Deep Mountains."

"Huh? Hey, hey! Are you seriously going all the way there?"

Completely ignoring Merim, Klaus unabashedly activated 'Automatic Movement.'

—Skill: 'Automatic Movement'!

Buzz...

※ ※

《Destination: Shinonome Deep Mountains》

⇒ Time required for travel: "03:46:52"

　※ ※

"Here we go────── Automatic Movement."

"Heyyyyy! Give me a ride toooo!"

Shut up!

Unique Skill: 'Automatic Function Auto Mode'

'Automatic Movement' activated!!

In that moment, Klaus's consciousness drifted away.

※ Meanwhile... In the 'Special Bonds' faction... ※

Gacha!

"Hey! I've wiped out all the nearby hunting grounds."

"Ah, good job."

Saying so, Gain, who had rented a conference room within the guild, welcomed back Glen, who had returned from the hunting grounds.

With a smirk, Gain made him sit down, checked the report, and added check marks on the parchment in front of him.

"Nice. Efficient workers are excellent."

"Of course, right? Lower-tier hunting grounds are too easy. I was practically yawning... I wanted to show him his face, too, Gain."

☆ Gain's Notebook ☆

? Krumel Fruits ⇒ 'Small Lookout Post,' 'Morning Dew Grasslands,' 'Shinonome Deep Mountains'

× Ghouls ⇒ 'Desecrated Graves,' 'Tiny Ancient Battlefield'

× Cave Slimes ⇒ 'Cave of Stench,' 'Mossy Shrine'

? Phantom Nuts ⇒ 'Shinonome Deep Mountains'

? Unicorn Deer ⇒ 'Forgotten Path,' 'Red Mountain Stream'

× Wandering Leather Armor ⇒ 'Tiny Ancient Battlefield,' 'Abandoned Merchant's Road'

? Silk Spiders ⇒ 'Morning Dew Grasslands,' 'Misty Forest'

? Salazar's Hairpin ⇒... Town??

☆ ☆ ☆

"Nice. Everything seems to be going smoothly—"

He chuckled with satisfaction, confirming the destruction of undead-type hunting grounds.

...By now, adventurers on-site were probably lamenting at the normalized hunting grounds, once filled with confusion.

Of course, Klaus was no exception.

"—I'm done here too."

Entering with a firm tone, the woman warrior adorned with a steel prosthetic hand and clad in a slim armor that emphasized her body lines appeared.

She was Rain, the formidable female warrior responsible for the combat of the 'Special Bonds'—also known as the 'Red Arm.'

"As expected, you're fast!"

Gain, in high spirits, added more notes to the parchment.

"I appreciate it."

☆ Gain's Notebook (Latest) ☆

× Krumel Fruits ⇒ 'Small Lookout Post,' 'Morning Dew Grasslands'

?'Shinonome Deep Mountains'

× Ghouls ⇒ 'Desecrated Graves,' 'Tiny Ancient Battlefield'

× Cave Slimes ⇒ 'Cave of Stench,' 'Mossy Shrine'

? Phantom Nuts ⇒ 'Shinonome Deep Mountains'

× Unicorn Deer ⇒ 'Forgotten Path,' 'Red Mountain Stream'

× Wandering Leather Armor ⇒ 'Tiny Ancient Battlefield,' 'Abandoned Merchant's Road'

× Silk Spiders ⇒ 'Morning Dew Grasslands,' 'Misty Forest'

? Salazar's Hairpin ⇒... Town??

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

"Hmm... Everything seems to be going well, doesn't it? What about the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains'?"

Almost every hunting ground has an "×" mark.

What's the deal with this hunting ground information?

"Ah... Sorry about that. It was just too far, and I couldn't manage to get there."

"...If you give the order, I can go right now."

Seeing the contrasting reactions of the two, Gain chuckled and said, 

"It's okay. I sent Chail over there for you."

"Haha! Him?! I bet he was grumbling the whole way, wasn't he?"

Glen could easily imagine Chail complaining, so he couldn't help but smile wryly.

"That's right. —He was complaining about 'sweating too much' and 'not liking mountains,' and well, he was pretty much being as selfish as he could be."

"Hehehe. Sounds like I can picture it."

"Haha. Leadership has its perks. But in mountainous fields, Chael's unique skill is more than enough."

Gain settled into the luxurious chair prepared in the conference room, sipping wine to quench his thirst.

"Hehe. It's quite a sight, isn't it?... That worthless Klaus guy, he'll be stuck in the lower ranks for a while, right?"

"Come on, don't be so harsh. He's an 'ex' comrade, you know? We just happened to... accidentally clear out the hunting grounds to collect our comrade's dropped items. That's all it was. Yeah... just accidentally... that's it."

Saying this, he imagined Klaus heading toward the last hunting ground, the 'Shinonome Deep Mountains,' and chuckled sardonically.

"Hehe, you're right. He's busy interfering, going as far as to stop time with 'Temporal Manipulation' just to peek at Klaus's exam paper during the exams, and yet..."

"Hahaha. Just happened to see it, completely by chance."

"Gyahaha! There happened to be a conveniently timed 'chance' too, you know!"

Ahahahahaha!

The intermediate promotion certification exam was still only in its mid-stages.

And as Klaus had anticipated, the interference operations of the 'Special Bonds' faction seemed to be proceeding smoothly...

--However, they are unaware.

Even with their exceptional skills,

Certainly, it would be unexpected for Klaus's unique skill to undergo unforeseen evolution...

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