Kays Translations

Chapter 173

“Take that!”
“Too bad, Melt. That brings your total score below zero—so you lose.”
“Ehh!? Ahh, right… just getting a high score isn’t enough, huh…”
It had been three days since we arrived on Yasha Island. Melt and I had been spending most of our time hanging around the game room of the old tavern that now served as the Glory Knights’ base of operations.
Of course, that didn’t mean we were just goofing off all day.
Both Melt and I had been accompanying patrols around the city, properly contributing to maintaining public order.
Recently, people had even started calling me “the Gentle-Faced Demon.” Just walking through the streets now, I could feel all sorts of eyes on me—hostile glares from men, and… let’s just say, quite a few suggestive looks from women.
…Well, can’t say I blame them. Same does have a pretty nice face.
I was just doing my job cracking down on troublemakers, but people started screaming and cheering… which somehow made me even more of a target.
Meanwhile, Melt had been working with veteran Glory Knights members, focusing her patrols around the camps where dungeon explorers gathered.
Since everyone there was at least moderately skilled, unnecessary fights didn’t happen too often.
Even so, disputes over loot shares or trades between individuals still popped up—and sometimes those incidents got even tenser than anything in the city.
In fact, on her first day patrolling, two Ruby-ranked explorers got into a fight that escalated into a duel.
Melt immediately intervened, subdued both of them, and dragged them back to the clan house in full restraints.
…Honestly, even though they were the same rank, Melt’s on a completely different level.
After all, promotion to Sapphire rank is ridiculously strict—you practically have to be involved in a major event to qualify. No matter how skilled you are, you’ll stay Ruby forever otherwise.
“Alright! That gives me exactly the right score this time! So it’s a draw with you, Same!”
“Oh, nice! Same number of moves too. It’s really a tie.”
So yeah, us relaxing and playing games here? We earned that fair and square.
“Hey, you two… I mean, not that I’m complaining, but you sure it’s okay helping out with our work like this?”
“Of course. You’re letting us use this place to unwind, and honestly, it’s one of the few spots where we can eat in peace.”
“…Well, personally I think it’s kind of your own fault, Same…”
“…Ha ha.”
Breaking news: “Same’s newfound fame stems from his excessively brutal combat style and terrifying behavior.”
Yeah… to suppress rioters quickly, I did use the Crimson Howl.
And somehow—maybe it was the crowd, the setting, or just the mood—I was in top form.
I’ve realized something: that skill is probably just like Hash’s Auto-Poemer.
In other words, it’s powered by Seim’s emotions—his inner voice, his will.
It might actually be a manifestation of the noble-turned-underground-rogue side of him, surfacing as a skill.
Normally, he’s calm and gentlemanly… but if you make him mad, who knows what could happen.
“Yeah, the rough types seem to hate you, but the ladies love you.”
“That’s exactly why I’m hiding out here. Anyway… time for my next patrol. I’m heading toward the dungeon area today, right?”
“Yep. Shouldn’t be much trouble, but be careful out there.”
“Same! Bring me some grilled shrimp shells from the camp stalls, okay?”
“Ha ha, got it. I’ll see what I can do. Sorry, I’ll leave Melt in your care.”
“Please don’t! If we end up betting again, she’s going to strip me of everything!”
Ignoring the desperate complaints of the clan members, I made my way toward the southern side of the island to the shallow sea leading to the dungeon known as “The Dead Sea That Devours the Land.”
“Same-sama! Please insult me toooo!”
“Same! Come have a drink with usss!”
It was around 4 p.m., the sun beginning to dip, and women were calling out as I walked through the city.
And then—
“Same! Look at me, damn it! Don’t ignore me, you smug bastard!”
“Hmm? As long as you don’t cause trouble, I’ve got no reason to arrest you. So sit down and drink quietly.”
Drunken hecklers shouted, but I didn’t take the bait.
After all, I was technically acting under Glory Knights’ authority as a law enforcement aide.
…If I weren’t, I’d probably have drowned them to teach a lesson.
Passing through the busy streets, I reached the harbor—and beyond it, the stretch of shallows where the sea glowed beautifully in the setting sun.
At the end of that shining path, the dungeon entrance yawned wide, like a massive sea serpent rising from the waves.
Whether due to the dungeon’s influence or not, this whole area never flooded, even at high tide.
Some even theorized that the entire sea zone was gradually turning into part of the dungeon itself.
A small hill overlooking that sea had been turned into a massive campsite.
Weaving through the maze of tents set up by countless explorers, I began my patrol, checking for signs of trouble.
“…Yeah, the number of explorers here is on a completely different scale than Lindblum’s Nest.”
It was probably the announcement about the use of a dungeon core that inspired so many to come—
people eager to make their mark.
And with the artificial dungeon, Lindblum’s Nest, now gone,
everyone who’d been based there had likely migrated here as well.
“…So that’s why the rank disparity became so obvious, huh.”
People who holed up in artificial dungeons couldn’t really be called stronger than those who’d been exploring natural ones.
To be honest, we’d gotten pretty comfortable in an easy environment, so now and then, we got looked down on.
No open fights broke out, but that kind of tension definitely existed.
Well… it’s not something I can officially crack down on, though.
“Hm… yeah, but even so, that kind of behavior isn’t acceptable.”
And just like that, I found myself running toward a dispute that was very likely rooted in this same prejudice—people looking down on anyone who’d come from Lindblum’s Nest.
Time to brace myself and handle it properly.
“We were here first, damn it! What’s your problem!?”
“Yeah, yeah, but we’re not as weak as you lot. Don’t lump us together with the kiddies splashing around in the shallow levels. Go to the back and line up again.”
…Yeah, these kinds of problems happen a lot.
And when you actually see it happen right in front of you, you can’t just ignore it.
The situation seemed clear enough:
“A group of explorers from Lindblum’s Nest were waiting in line at a makeshift tavern that served drinks, when local Yasha Island explorers cut in and shoved them out of the line.”
Alright, in that case—you there. You’re coming with me to the Glory Knights headquarters.
“From where I’m standing, both sides look bad. But hey, you’re the one who disrupted the peace, so that makes you my responsibility. Cooperate quietly.”
“The hell did you just say!? You with that adventurer clan, huh!? Don’t stick your nose in our business!”
“Hostile intent confirmed. Proceeding with suppression.”
…Educational gut punch. Disciplinary stomping.
Case closed.
“Alright, anyone else in on this idiot’s little stunt? Step forward now, or you’re all complicit.”
“—!”
You, the guy already drinking over there—let’s have a chat.
“Hey, you. This guy’s your buddy, right?”
“N-no! I don’t know him!”
“Then show me your guild tag. I’ll confirm later.”
“—!”
“Just so you know, giving false information earns a heavy penalty. Don’t worry, I’m not planning to beat you up or anything. I’m taking this fool in, but I’ll need you to file the report in his place. You cut the line too, didn’t you? Let’s go quietly.”
“…Got it…”
And that’s pretty much how my days have been going lately.
With a mix of jeers and words of gratitude from onlookers, I left the camp once night had fully fallen—dragging along one unconscious troublemaker.
…Anyway, I heard Shuris went to the guest mansion today to finalize the schedule for the upcoming banquet.
Once I finish up my shift, it’d be nice to sit down and actually talk about the details—
Ah, but first… I need to buy those shrimp. Right, shrimp.

That night—after dinner, and after handing over the troublemaking explorer to the Yasha Island Guild staff—I sat across from Shuris in what used to be a VIP room, now serving as our temporary command office.
“Three days from now, the Consold Empire’s delegation will arrive on the island. After a day of rest, the banquet will be held the following evening.”
“So you already know the exact date of arrival? I thought long voyages like that often ended up arriving earlier or later than planned.”
“That’s true, but this time, we’ve been getting regular reports through the falcon courier system managed from the ship. The information’s reliable.”
“I see, so that’s how it is.”
Makes sense—in a world without long-distance wireless communication, using trained birds for correspondence is the next best thing. Come to think of it, I heard the Kingdom of Golda used a similar system too.
“Anyway—apparently there’s a troublemaker among the Empire’s explorers. And…he’s said to be skilled, too. A freelance explorer, not affiliated with any clan, who’s cleared two of their homeland’s natural dungeons. If anyone’s likely to cause a ruckus, it’ll probably be him.”
“I see…that sounds troublesome. And he’s cleared two dungeons?”
“Most likely they’ve deliberately brought someone clearly stronger than me. Father said that part of the reason I was assigned here might have involved a bit of pressure from other nations.”
“I get it. So on the day, the person I might have to deal with could be this guy. Do you know his name?”
“He’s a man called ‘Angares,’ listed under the Imperial Adventurer’s Guild. Age unknown, reports say he’s in his thirties. Apparently he caused a brawl on the ship and left members of another explorer clan bedridden.”
“What a violent sort. Got it—Angares, huh? I’ll keep my guard up.”
“…Well, I’m not the one to doubt your ability, Same, but be careful. If you judge strictly by achievements, he’s above you—at least on paper.”
That was true. I’d cleared one dungeon; he’d cleared two. But—
“That’s only because they have more dungeons over there, right? If I went to their side, I’d clear three or four in no time.”
“Heh, you say the darndest things, Same. …Honestly, it’s frustrating for me too. If only I had more power, none of this would be happening. But I can’t go on a warrior’s training tour to get stronger—that’s not a possibility for someone in my position. That kind of dilemma follows a clan leader.”
Shuris said it with a little frustration, a hint of chagrin. But that’s not the whole picture. Yes, she can’t move freely—but she’s surrounded by many reliable comrades.
“…Don’t worry. I already live in Lindblum now, and I’m your partner. Helping is natural, and compensating for what you lack is only right. After all, we live in the same town. Borrowing strength from allies is only natural. Shuris, you don’t have to become stronger on your own anymore.”
“Heh. You’re right. I’m not alone anymore… I’d forgotten because I’d been acting as Shuris, not as the clan leader. I can freely borrow strength when I need it.”
“Yes. So let’s face the banquet with confidence. Let’s draw every man’s gaze in the room—my pride will be absolutely satisfied if that happens.”
“Haha, same here. I heard you’ve been popular with the city girls lately.”
“Haha…well, it looks like we’ll both be attracting attention. Trouble seems inevitable.”
“Right. Then—leave it to me on the day, Same.”
I’ll give everything for this friend.
…Above all, we need to make the Empire understand:
“There are fighters in the Holy City of Lendia who don’t even consider our explorers worth a thought.”
This country is my home now. I won’t let it be underestimated.

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