Volume 5 Chapter 22 The Envy of an E-Rank Adventurer
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Kazuki, cover me! Yuto, whittle him down!” Rikuya shouted.
”On it!” Kazuki yelled back.
”Got it!” Yuto replied.
This was the lower floor of an upper E-Rank¹ Dungeon in Ikebukuro. At the end of a dim passage, three adventurers stood with weapons leveled, facing off against a medium-sized, lizard-like monster.
Kazuki, a boy with the lean build of a mage, unleashed a small fireball to support the vanguard. Seizing the opening, a swordsman named Yuto struck with a sharp, disciplined slash from a perfect stance. Both were active adventurers, holders of “Gifts”².
And then, there was the third man.
”Rikuya! Finish it!” Yuto called out.
The man named Okada Rikuya carried no weapon. His fists were his primary tools of the trade.
”Doraaaaaah!” Rikuya roared.
He lunged, his right fist erupting in a glow of light as he drove a full-power strike into the creature’s mangled torso. The impact exploded. The lizard monster was blown back, tumbling across the stone floor before dissolving into a shimmering mist of mana.
Subjugation complete. Loot popped up on the ground instantly.
”Phew… we actually pulled it off,” Yuto said, wiping sweat from his brow.
”We did it, Rikuya,” Kazuki added.
”Heh. With my skills? This was a walk in the park,” Rikuya boasted.
”Yeah, yeah. Save the ego for later. Let’s bag the loot,” Kazuki said.
The two brushed off Rikuya’s bragging and moved to collect the drops.
”Verde Lizard³ scales, huh?” Yuto asked.
”Market price is about fifty thousand yen,” Kazuki noted.
”Not bad for an E-Rank run,” Yuto replied.
They gathered the palm-sized green scales with practiced ease. All three were still high school seniors. Rikuya had formed the Strong-Arm Guild⁴ two years ago. Ever since he’d received his Appraisal⁵ at sixteen, he’d spent his life hunting for the right crew. Now, they were E-Rank. They were far from the top-tier pros, but few high schoolers could claim to face death in Dungeons for a profit.
A single run could net them over a hundred thousand yen. Earning that kind of cash, the three of them had become minor celebrities back at school.
* * *
”Aaaah, nothing beats a soak after a crawl!” Rikuya yelled.
”Yeah… I can feel the life returning to my bones,” Yuto sighed.
”Seriously,” Kazuki muttered.
After every hunt, they hit the public bathhouse. Despite their earnings, they stuck to the cheap neighborhood spots to stay grounded.
”So,” Rikuya asked, “how are things with your girls?”
”Going well, I guess,” Yuto answered.
”Same here. No complaints,” Kazuki said.
Unlike Rikuya, the other two had steady girlfriends-relationships they’d started shortly after becoming adventurers. Rikuya, however, preferred to play the field, using his title as bait.
”Seriously, Rikuya, you should stop messing around,” Yuto warned.
”It’s a fact that adventurers are popular, but still…” Kazuki added.
”What are you talking about? I’m not ‘messing around.’ They come to me. I just have a hard time keeping them all at bay,” Rikuya said with a smirk.
It was true that girls approached him once the rumors spread. Of course, the fact that Rikuya bragged about his rank to anyone who would listen was the primary reason those rumors existed.
”Actually, there’s this guy in my class who’s really getting on my nerves,” Rikuya said, his tone shifting.
”You’re always annoyed at someone, Rikuya,” Yuto joked.
”That temper helps in the Dungeons, I guess,” Kazuki said.
Rikuya ignored the banter. He was thinking about a boy he’d ended up with after the class reshuffle.
”Listen. This guy looks totally plain, but he’s constantly surrounded by girls. He’s supposedly dating Rindou-san, which should be enough for anyone, but now he’s got Hidou-san and all the other cute girls in class following him too,” Rikuya spat.
”I don’t know Rindou or Hidou, but you’re doing fine too, aren’t you? Why care?” Yuto asked.
”I’m telling you… I think the guy has a dangerous Gift,” Rikuya whispered.
”Wait, what?” Kazuki asked.
It wasn’t a big deal to them, but to Rikuya, losing to a “normie” who wasn’t even an adventurer was unbearable.
”I’m talking Seduction or Hypnosis… maybe even Domination,” Rikuya suggested.
”No way. Even if he did, the Guild would’ve flagged him during his Appraisal,” Yuto countered.
”Exactly. If anything sketchy happened around him, he’d be the prime suspect,” Kazuki added.
It was the logical response. In Japan, high-risk Gifts were strictly regulated.
”What if the person doing the Appraisal was already under his spell? Some people figure out their abilities before they ever get tested. Nothing is ‘absolutely safe,’” Rikuya argued.
His logic was a stretch, but it couldn’t be ignored. If someone had a Seduction Gift and used it before registration, they could fly under the radar.
”The world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Criminal Guilds are a real thing,” Rikuya said.
”So, what’s the plan?” Yuto asked.
”Simple. I’m going to unmask him. If I rough him up a little, his survival instinct will force him to use his Gift,” Rikuya said.
”Rough him up? Don’t be an idiot,” Yuto warned.
”Seriously, don’t drag us into this,” Kazuki added.
Rikuya wanted more fame and more girls. That greed was blinding him. He would expose Takanashi Hirose and take everything for himself.
* * *
”Hey, Takanashi-kun. Got a minute?” Rikuya asked.
”Okada-kun? Sure, what is it?” Hirose replied.
”Come with me,” Rikuya commanded.
After school the next day, Rikuya cornered Hirose and led him to a secluded spot behind the school. Two girls watched from the classroom window.
”Okada-kun? What does he want with Takanashi-kun?” Mizobe Aya asked.
”Wait, is Okada…?” Hayase Misaki trailed off.
The Class Rep, Mizobe Aya, and Misaki from the tennis club watched them disappear. With a silent nod, they decided to follow.
* * *
”You’re an adventurer, right, Okada-kun?” Hirose asked once they were behind the building.
”Yeah. So?” Rikuya barked.
”And E-Rank? That’s really impressive for a student,” Hirose said with a smile.
Hirose spoke with genuine admiration. He had once dreamed of being an adventurer, but reality had been different. He’d almost given up until Hibiki-san reached out. Now, he was proud of his “Beauty”⁶ Gift. To him, people like Rikuya were heroes.
But Rikuya didn’t see it that way.
”Are you mocking me?” Rikuya growled.
”What? No!” Hirose stammered.
Rikuya’s voice was a low snarl. Hirose flinched.
”I’m an adventurer. It makes sense that I’m popular. People respect the risk. You get that, right?” Rikuya asked, stepping closer.
”Umm, yeah. You put your life on the line. Of course people look up to you,” Hirose said.
”Then explain yourself, Takanashi-kun. Why are you the one surrounded by girls?” Rikuya demanded.
It was the question every boy in class had been asking.
”I… I’m not really sure?” Hirose admitted.
He honestly didn’t know. That was the final straw for Rikuya.
”Don’t give me that! A nobody like you doesn’t just ‘get’ popular. It’s a Gift, isn’t it? You’re using some sleazy ability. Seduction? Domination? Or maybe Slavery?” Rikuya shouted.
”That’s not true! I would never-” Hirose started.
”Heh. So you don’t deny having a Gift,” Rikuya interrupted.
”Almost everyone has one! But mine isn’t anything like that,” Hirose argued.
Hirose had never been cornered like this. His Gift had a massive “Recoil”⁷, but he had never used it maliciously.
”Then tell me. What is it?” Rikuya asked.
”I… I can’t,” Hirose whispered.
”Hah! I knew it! If it wasn’t dangerous, you’d just say it! You’re hiding something!” Rikuya yelled.
”No! It’s not dangerous! You’re just jumping to conclusions!” Hirose shouted back.
Hirose couldn’t tell him. His Beauty skill could dismantle the entire cosmetic industry. He couldn’t trust a thug like Rikuya with that secret.
”If you’ve got nothing to hide, prove it. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. I’m a combat specialist. I was a bit of a punk in middle school, but I’m a pro now,” Rikuya said, his right arm beginning to glow with magical energy.
”Okada-kun… what are you doing?” Hirose asked, backing away.
”My ‘Iron Knuckle’⁸ usually breaks bones. Let’s see how you like a ‘light’ tap,” Rikuya said, stepping forward.
”Stop! Gift-on-gift violence is a crime! If the Guild finds out-” Hirose started.
He’s terrified, Rikuya thought. One swing in front of his face and he’ll fold like a lawn chair.
”Shut up and show your true colors! I’m gonna free those girls from whatever crap you put them under! You piece of trash-!” Rikuya roared.
Rikuya swung.
Hirose had no way to dodge. Rikuya was an E-Rank pro; a punch meant for monsters was now flying toward a human head. Rikuya intended to stop an inch short, just to break Hirose’s spirit.
But then-
”STOOOOOOOP!” a girl’s voice screamed.
”Wha-!?” Rikuya gasped.
”Eh!?” Hirose stammered.
In a flash, a girl threw herself between them, shoving Hirose back. Rikuya’s fist was already mid-swing. He couldn’t kill the momentum.
CRACK.
The punch that was meant to stop in front of Hirose hit the girl full force.
There was a sickening, dull thud. Glasses shattered and spun through the air as the girl was thrown backward. Hirose watched in frozen horror as she collapsed onto the concrete.
”…Class Rep?” Hirose whispered, his voice trembling.
He realized Mizobe Aya had shielded him.
”KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
Hayase Misaki’s scream ripped through the silence of the schoolyard.
—
Summary:
E-Rank adventurer Okada Rikuya, fueled by jealousy over Hirose’s popularity with girls, decides to ‘expose’ Hirose’s Gift as a mind-control ability. He corners Hirose behind the school and attempts to intimidate him with a combat Skill. The confrontation turns tragic when the Class Rep, Mizobe Aya, intervenes to protect Hirose and takes a powerful punch intended to scare him.
—
Trivia:
- Hirose genuinely respects Rikuya as an adventurer despite Rikuya’s hostility.
- The ‘Strong-Arm Guild’ consists of high school seniors who have been active for two years.
- Gift-on-gift violence is specifically mentioned as a crime regulated by the Guild.
- Rikuya’s suspicion about ‘Seduction’ gifts stems from the existence of real criminal guilds.
- Hirose’s Beauty gift has a ‘Recoil’ (side effect) that he is careful not to misuse
—
Character Insight:
Rikuya is driven by an inferiority complex; despite being a ‘heroic’ adventurer, he feels outshined by Hirose’s passive charm. Hirose shows significant character growth in his willingness to protect the secret of his Gift, even under physical threat, though he is ultimately saved by Aya’s sacrifice.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses this chapter to ground the ‘Beauty’ skill’s social impact, showing that such a power is naturally suspected of being a dark-alignment ‘Domination’ skill in a world with established criminal guilds.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Kazuki – Member of the Strong-Arm Guild. A high school senior and mage-type adventurer. Gift holder.
• Yuto – Member of the Strong-Arm Guild. A high school senior and swordsman adventurer. Gift holder.
• Okada – Male student and registered Adventurer. Popular with girls due to his dungeon progress. Leader of the Strong-Arm Guild. An E-Rank adventurer and high school senior. Received Appraisal at sixteen. Has a short temper and uses his status to attract women. Uses a combat Gift that makes his fists glow.
• Mizobe Aya – Class Representative (Iinchou). Ace of the girls’ swim team. Tall, blue inner-color hair, wears thick glasses. Clumsy (dojikko) personality.
• Hayase Misaki – The class representative and a member of the tennis club. Misaki is known for being outspoken and blunt, preferring to say exactly what she thinks. Have a milk tea colored long hair ponytail, and a large, conspicuous mole near her left inner thigh.
• Misaki – The class representative and a member of the tennis club. Misaki is known for being outspoken and blunt, preferring to say exactly what she thinks. Have a milk tea colored long hair ponytail, and a large, conspicuous mole near her left inner thigh.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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