Chapter 44.45: 44-45: Reunion with Fuji-yan

TLN: SPOOOONSOOORED CHAPTEEERR!! Let's celebrate with 2 chapters instead!

Takki-dono and Lucy-dono have not returned even when a day had passed since going to Laberintos.

"Goshujin-sama, if you are that worried, I will go to Laberintos." (Nina)

Nina-dono suggests.

"Hmmm...but there was a report that a dragon appeared in the Upper Floor. Even you, Nina-dono, wouldn't be able to fight against a dragon alone." (Fujiwara)

"If it is running away, I can somehow manage." (Nina)

How vexing.

Yesterday there was an announcement of a dragon appearing in the Upper Floor, and the Adventurer City grew noisy.

There were more than tens of people added to the missing people list in just that one day yesterday.

I was astonished the moment my friends Takki-dono and Lucy-dono were in that list.

I lost the composure to do any business discussions, so I cancelled all plans for today.

However, there wasn't a single sign of my friends returning.

"Did a dragon appear on the Upper Floor because of the Taboo Dragon?" (Nina)

"That's the rumor..." (Fujiwara)

Something called a Taboo Dragon was born inside Laberintos.

An evil monster that even dragons avoid.

It is said that the Great Demon Lord employed these monsters 1,000 years ago.

Because of that thing, Laberintos's monsters began acting weird, which is what the adventurers reported.

"I hope Takki-dono didn't encounter that dragon." (Fujiwara)

"I heard that the dragon appeared around the Grand Waterfall. Takatsuki-sama said yesterday that he would be heading to the Grand Waterfall." (Nina)

"I certainly do remember him saying that..." (Fujiwara)

Aah, I am worried-desu zo.

"But Takatsuki-sama is a person that can deal with powerful monsters in a calm fashion. I am sure he is alright!" (Nina)

"Right. But just waiting around is unnerving." (Fujiwara)

"Then, let's go to the guild once mo— Goshujin-sama! I can hear the voice of Takatsuki-sama!" (Nina)

"What?!" (Fujiwara)

◇ ◇

-Makoto Pov-

"Takki-dono!" (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan runs towards us.

"Lucy-sama! You were okay?! Oh? Who is the one there?" (Nina)

Nina-san's bright face changed into a sharp gaze.

Maybe she detected the presence of a monster from Sa-san.

"She is an otherworldler just like Fuji-yan and I. It is pretty complicated, so can we talk inside?" (Makoto)

"W-What?! Isn't that Sasaki-dono?!" (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan raised a voice of shock.

Wow, he noticed in one glance?

Well, her human mode does have a lot of traces of her previous look after all.

"Even though Fujiwara-kun noticed immediately, Takatsuki-kun didn't..." (Aya)

"Don't say that." (Makoto)

I was tired from fighting monsters all night.

◇ ◇

"What... Something like that happened?" (Fujiwara)

"Sasaki-sama... You've had a terrible experience, haven't you." (Nina)

Hearing the story of Sa-san, Fuji-yan and Nina-san were in tears.

They are good people.

They apparently waited for us the whole time last night.

Sa-san has changed already.

It seems like for women's clothing, there was only the ones of Nina-san, so she was on a tank top and shorts.

When looking at her in a bright place, her skin is bluish.

Her hair color is a somewhat purplish black.

Her face has the traces of Sa-san though.

How nostalgic.

"What are you doing staring at Aya?" (Lucy)

Lucy retorted.

As if pulled by this, Sa-san turns this way.

Her dumbfounded face is the same in this world too.

"So, Sa-san, what are you going to do from now on?" (Makoto)

Well, don't even need to ask though.

"I will be avenging my family." (Aya)

I could feel a strong resolve from her voice.

She is stubborn once she decides on something.

She hasn't changed since middle school.

"But doing that all alone is just..." (Nina)

Nina-san seemed like she wanted to say something as she looked at Fuji-yan.

Lucy looks at me.

Help Sasaki Aya

Don't help Sasaki Aya ←

Don't even need to think about it. Sa-san is an important friend.

But there's one point that's piqued my interest.

It seems like this RPG Player skill's options appear at moments when I am about to face dangerous situations.

In that case, the harpies are strong enemies?

(You noticed just now?) (Noah)

I heard the amazed voice of the Goddess.

Honestly speaking, I thought it was a power that was only for the mood.

(Goddess-sama, thank you very much. Thanks to your guidance, I was able to reunite with an important friend.) (Makoto)

(Ara, is that so.) (Noah)

Saying this to the Goddess, I look at Fuji-yan.

"Fuji-yan, I will think of a way to conquer this." (Makoto)

"Fumu, for the sake of that, we would need to gather information." (Fujiwara)

We both grin.

That's my friend for ya. He gets it.

"Oh my, you are totally into it, Makoto", Lucy says surprised.

"Of course. Gotta help out a troubled classmate." (Makoto)

"Thank you, Takatsuki-kun, Fujiwara-kun..." (Aya)

Even Sa-san is making a face as if she is on the verge of tears.

"But the harpies seem to be quite the powerful opponents." (Nina)

Nina-san shows the request poster of the adventurer guild.

[Laberintos: Mid Floor.

The Queen of the Harpies and her children.

Reward; 3,000,000G (Calamity Designation Candidate)]

"Does this mean it is strong?" (Makoto)

"Hmm, fighting the whole flock would be more problematic than fighting a Griffon." (Nina)

"It is stronger than that..." (Lucy)

Lucy makes a displeased face.

"It doesn't matter. If it is just a harpie, I can defeat it in one hit." (Aya)

Sa-san with her fist tightened feels reliable.

She has become quite the brawler.

"By the way, Fuji-yan, is Sa-san really just a normal Lamia?" (Makoto)

"Eh? What do you mean by that?" (Aya)

Sa-san turns this way.

"I think you are quite stronger than the normal Lamia." (Makoto)

"I was interested in that as well. According to Sasaki-dono's story, she thought that she died, but she ended up being alive. I feel a mysterious power from that. Let's use this." (Fujiwara)

What Fuji-yan was holding was a Soul Book.

"Aren't those supposed to be given by the Church or you can't get them?" (Makoto)

Or more like, you can't purchase them unless you are from the Church.

"Fufufu, there's a lot of routes. Go ahead, Sasaki-dono. Please hold this book." (Fujiwara)

"Okay. What is this?" (Aya)

"With this, we can tell the Status of Sa-san." (Makoto)

While I was saying this, the Soul Book released light.

It looks like her Status and Skills have been identified.

"Hm? How do you look at it?" (Aya)

"Lend it here." (Makoto)

I borrowed the book of Sa-san and we all looked at it.

[ Race: Lamia

Name: Sasaki Aya

Level: 34

Stats: XXXXXX

Skills: XXXXXX ]

"Your level is above 30?!" (Makoto)

"Uwa! What's this? Her Stats are crazy high too." (Lucy)

"I lose to this..." (Nina)

Nina-san is shocked by this.

"Does that mean Sa-san has also gotten the Isekai benefit?" (Makoto)

"Is this impressive?" (Aya)

Sa-san tilted her head.

"Her Stats are crazy, but her skills are also interesting-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

"Uhm, Unique Skills: [Transformation Skill] and [Evolution Skill] and...oh?" (Makoto)

That last skill...

"Hm? This is..." (Lucy)

Looks like Lucy noticed too.

It said [Action Game Player].

"Action Game Player?" (Makoto)

"It resembles the name of your skill, Makoto." (Lucy)

"The name of Goshujin-sama's skill too." (Nina)

"Let's see here. Let's look at it in more detail." (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan looks at the Soul Book of Sa-san.

"Can use the basic actions: [Dash], [Charge Attack], [Mid-Air Jump]... Sasaki-dono, can you?" (Fujiwara)

"Uhm, there's definitely times when my running speed increases suddenly. So that was a skill, huh." (Aya)

"Dash increases the regular speed to 3 times as fast?!" (Makoto)

"With the stats of Sasaki-sama, 3 times more is quite the strong skill." (Nina)

That's nice.

DIfferent from me, hers sound simple and easy to use.

"Sa-san, you got quite the jackpot there." (Makoto)

"Hmm, is that so..." (Aya)

She is making a face as if she doesn't really feel it.

"No, the most crazy part about this skill is here-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

Remaining Lives: 4/5 ※Activates when level 30 or higher.

"This is..." (Makoto)

By remaining lives, it must mean the remaining lives that you can see in action games?

That means...this is a cheat skill!

"Sasaki-dono, we now know the reason why you survived the boss of the harpies." (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan says this while sighing.

"Eh? What skill is this?" (Lucy)

"Goshujin-sama, please explain." (Nina)

"Hey, Takatsuki-kun, what does this mean?" (Aya)

"No, Sa-san, at least you should know!" (Makoto)

If you are a gamer, you should understand.

"Remaining Lives is a word that's used in our world. It means that you can redo the number of times it is said there-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

"Redo?" (Lucy)

Lucy still isn't picking it.

"By Remaining Lives: 5, it must mean that she can most likely revive 5 times at most." (Makoto)

"Aah, so that's why it has gone down to 4." (Aya)

Looks like Sa-san has understood now.

But Lucy and Nina-san were in shock.

"R-Revive?" (Lucy)

"In other words, it has the same effect as the Light Saint Rank Magic: [Resurrection]?" (Nina)

"Well...most likely." (Makoto)

""HIEEEEEEE?!""

It seems like Lucy and Nina-san finally understood.

"You would need several hundreds of thousands of G if you were to request for a resurrection from the Church..." (Lucy)

"Being able to resurrect yourself is already in a sacred treasure class..." (Nina)

The skills of our classmates really are cheats.

"Now that we understand the cheat-like strength and Skills of Sa-san, let's rest for now. I am already at my limit in sleepiness." (Makoto)

"Yeah, I am woozy." (Lucy)

"Right. Let's rest first before making a plan." (Fujiwara)

Lucy and I fell asleep as if we had dropped dead.

◇◇

"Now then, let's form a plan to defeat the Harpy Queen." (Makoto)

"Alright!" (Aya)

Sa-san is pumped up.

The remaining ones are clapping.

"First, let's share information. While Takki-dono and Lucy-dono were sleeping, we went to the Adventurer Guild to report that you two have returned." (Fujiwara)

"Ah, forgot to report." (Makoto)

That's Fuji-yan for ya.

His consideration is polished.

"While at it, we gathered information regarding the unsavory adventurers that tailed you two at Laberintos." (Nina)

"It looks like they haven't returned yet." (Fujiwara)

"That means..." (Makoto)

They couldn't escape from the dragon?

"They were bad people, so that's obvious!" (Lucy)

"It hurts my heart a bit, but it means that there's no need to worry about being attacked by them in the future, so I suppose that will give me peace of mind." (Makoto)

I give my thanks to Fuji-yan and Nina-san.

"Next is Sasaki-dono." (Fujiwara)

"Me?" (Aya)

Sa-san still had energy even when coming out from Laberintos, so she went shopping for clothes with Nina-san.

She is currently wearing a one piece.

"This here is an Adventurer Card-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

"Eh? You can get those even outside from the Adventurer Guild?" (Makoto)

There's no way that's possible.

An Adventurer Card can't be issued anywhere aside from the Adventurer Guild, and anywhere else aside from the Adventurer Guild is against the law.

But we are talking about Fuji-yan here.

He must have some back routes.

The wry smile of Fuji-yan is testament to this.

"Uhm, name's Sasaki Aya, and...race is Demi-human?" (Aya)

"If we do this the regular way, the fact that she is a monster will be discovered after all." (Fujiwara)

"Aah, that's true." (Lucy)

Lucy nods.

"Is it bad to learn that she is a monster?" (Makoto)

"Takatsuki-sama..." (Nina)

Nina-san looks at me with an amazed face.

"Monsters and demons can't be issued an adventurer card. They are subjugation targets in this world of humans after all." (Nina)

"Is that so." (Makoto)

Hm?

Then what about Lucy?

When I glanced at Lucy, our eyes met.

And then she averted her gaze.

(If I remember correctly, Lucy said she is a half elf and demon.) (Makoto)

Her adventurer card only said elf.

She must have used a back route.

"Then, I just have to hide the fact that I'm a Lamia, right?" (Aya)

"Yes. Your skin is bluish, Sasaki-sama, so it should be fine to answer that you are a fishkin if you are asked what race you are. There's rarely any unless you are in the southern region, so there's no need to worry." (Nina)

As expected of Fuji-yan and Nina-san.

They thought a lot about it and made preemptive moves.

"So, the main topic." (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan spreads the harpy request poster and other papers.

"The weak point of harpies is fire magic?" (Aya)

"Well, their feathers burn well after all. We are counting on you, Lucy." (Makoto)

"Yeah, leave it to me!" (Lucy)

Lucy rotates her arm.

Fire magic really is handy against monsters.

"How many harpies are there?" (Nina)

"The family of Lamias was around a 100, so they are probably around the same." (Aya)

Sa-san answers the question of Nina-san.

"It would be best to avoid fighting that amount of monsters." (Fujiwara)

"Can't we wipe them all out with a surprise attack when they are all gathered together?" (Aya)

"With the fire magic of Lucy-sama, if it goes well..." (Nina)

"It is better to not rely too much on the no-control magic of Lucy." (Makoto)

"Wa?! Makoto!" (Lucy)

Lucy grabs my arm and shakes it.

"Hey, your water magic was amazing too, Takatsuki-kun." (Aya)

Sa-san who is at my other side is slapping my shoulder.

By the way, I am in between Lucy and Sa-san in the seatings.

"Water magic isn't suited for attacks. The Water Dragon magic that I used at the time when we were surrounded by monsters only blew the monsters away. It didn't defeat them. There might have been some who drowned though." (Makoto)

"Water Magic: Water Dragon?! Isn't that a Superior Rank spell?!" (Nina)

Nina-san raises a voice of surprise.

"I asked the Spirits to help me use it. It is not like I can use it." (Makoto)

"Even so, that's impressive." (Fujiwara)

"Yeah, Takatsuki-kun was amazing." (Aya)

Sa-san says this while sticking to me.

"I will do the attacking. The problem is where the harpy boss will be." (Lucy)

Even Lucy grabbed my arm and stuck to me.

Lucy's body temperature is high so it is hot here.

"I think they have a lair somewhere just like the Lamias." (Aya)

Sa-san sticks even closer and closer to me.

I don't know if it is the trait of Lamias, but her skin is cool.

The complete opposite of Lucy.

Or more like, stuck in between these two is incredibly tight...

Cramped.

"Hmm, we tried asking around the Adventurer Guild, but there was no information regarding the harpy's nest." (Nina)

"There's no choice but to search for it on our own, huh..." (Makoto)

"Then, let's divide in two groups today. Sa-san and I will explore Laberintos. Fuji-yan, I am sorry, but can you accompany Lucy? Lucy, I am counting on you to ask around the Adventurer City with Nina-san and Fuji-yan." (Makoto)

"Eh?! Why? I will go to Laberintos too." (Lucy)

Lucy objects.

"Lucy-sama, Laberintos is in a state where it isn't strange to encounter a dragon anywhere. Exploring is dangerous." (Nina)

"Uh, that's true... But in that case, Makoto would be in danger too!" (Lucy)

"As long as I have water around, I can manage to escape. Also, I have to meet the Water Spirits every day in order to use Spirit Magic." (Makoto)

"Is that so. That sounds cumbersome." (Fujiwara)

"Thanks to that, I can use Superior Rank Magic." (Makoto)

"I just have to guide Takatsuki-kun in the dungeon, right?", Sa-san says.

"Yes, and while at it, let's train your skills. It would be best if you were to learn Stealth." (Makoto)

"Got it. Takatsuki-kun, you look like you are having fun." (Aya)

"Eh?" (Makoto)

Really?

But it is true that this situation of preparing before defeating a boss is a first and it is exciting.

"Sorry, Sa-san. I have to go about it more seriously." (Makoto)

"No, I was at a loss on my own. It is nice to have everyone help me out." (Aya)

Saying this, the expression of Sa-san softens compared to yesterday.

"Hey, Makoto. Don't do anything weird just because you two are alone, okay?" (Lucy)

"What do you mean by weird..." (Makoto)

Lucy pinches my cheek and I brush it off lightly with my hand.

"You are training with me at night." (Lucy)

"Of course. Your fire magic is going to be the core of this time's plan after all." (Makoto)

"Yes!" (Lucy)

Now then, it has mostly been decided.

"Alright then, let's begin moving." (Makoto)

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