Chapter 6 I’ll Earn My Fortune in the Wilds!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Lately, every day feels like my last before my archrival chops my head off, Gōbu-kun,” I sighed.
”Gobu gobu?” he tilted his head, his wide green face scrunching up in concern.
”Yeah, that’s how it is,” I said, chuckling softly. “Honestly, you’re the only one I can talk to about this stuff.”
”Go?! Gobu gobu…!” He turned bright red and stammered, his claws scratching the dirt in embarrassment.
That flustered goblin—my best friend in this world, Alysphere—was Gōbu-kun. We’d become friends after I performed my grand ritual of apology: a full dogeza bow and regular offerings of honey. Not the most dignified beginning, but it worked.
You might wonder how I can even understand his goblin speech. Simple—I awakened as a [Tamer]. Once you do, you get all sorts of perks: understanding demi-human tongues, forming contracts, sharing senses, enhancing growth, and even breeding companions if you’re into that kind of thing.
Gōbu-kun’s ability to articulate more than “gobu gobu” came after I fed him a strange mushroom I found in the Phantom Forest. The first time he ate it, he rolled his eyes back and collapsed foaming. But after that? He begged for more like it was candy. Probably something in that forest warped his taste buds.
Anyway, the reason I managed to awaken as a Tamer was thanks to my gaming wisdom from my previous life. The requirements were clear: feed the target and build unbreakable trust. That’s why, when I first approached Gōbu-kun, I threw myself to the ground in a perfect dogeza, offered him my best honey, and prayed he wouldn’t gut me. It worked.
From him, my circle of friends grew—Sura the slime, Uru from the wolf tribe, and even Red, the young fire dragon. Using my encyclopedic knowledge of the game-like world, I located hidden gold veins and treasure caches across the Seyfried territory. Selling the spoils, I bought all their favorite foods from Master Raichi’s shady connections. A little humility and some gold go a long way.
Pride? Please. You can’t spend pride after you’re dead. Survival beats dignity every time. The old butler used to train me until I puked, and if I didn’t bow after passing out, he’d just start again. Compared to that, this world’s pain feels almost merciful. At least healing magic works.
”Oh, those were the days,” I muttered, stretching. “No vomit, no problem.”
I grinned. “After all, this body once completed every quest in ‘Maidens x Cross-Dressing,’ the most scandalous open-world otome game ever made. No blind spots for a one-hundred-percent-clearance man like me. The Seyfried lands are just another treasure map, Gōbu-kun.”
”Gobu?” he blinked curiously.
Laughing, I pulled a glowing trinket from last night’s haul. “Look at this—found it with Alexia and Layla. Whoever discovers treasure here owns it. I even registered it under my name using a magic oath.”
”Gobu gobu!!” he cheered, hopping with excitement.
”Thanks to that oath, a barrier keeps my treasure safe. No one can touch it except us and your friend—”
’Kyurararara!!’ A booming cry echoed overhead.
”Shin-kuuun! I brought Layla-chan back to the manor!” Alexia’s voice called.
”Appreciate it, Alexia!” I waved. “Gōbu-kun, brace yourself.”
”Gobu gobu!!”
Descending through the clouds came Red—the ten-meter-long young fire dragon—with Alexia perched proudly on his back. His scales shimmered crimson in the sun.
This region, Mount Seif, was his nesting ground. Red guarded my entire fortune, a deal sealed with a feast of mysterious demon meat. That meat, by the way, grows in a secret corner of the Seyfried domain. Thank you, past-life gaming guides.
Among my treasure trove were essentials for any reincarnate hero: a storage tool, a magic dagger, and a mana ring—all part of my standard survival kit.
Layla had to return early for her evening duties at the mansion. She’d whined about wanting to stay longer, but Alexia dragged her off by the arm. Those two are inseparable.
Our daily routine hasn’t changed much. Mornings are for brutal training—me barely clinging to life while the others spar lightly. Afternoons, I study magic and general knowledge, usually by tanking Master Raichi’s spells with my face. By sunset, we explore the Seyfried territory—locating gold veins to register under my name and splitting any hidden treasures three ways.
Alexia and Layla always claim they don’t need a share, but wealth never hurts. We split it evenly anyway.
And that’s my life now: a humble treasure hunter in a deadly world, rich in friends, broke in pride—but alive.
If Alexia and Layla ever decide to marry someday, I hope they’ll use their share of treasure for it. By then, I’ll probably have faded quietly from their lives—retired somewhere remote, living a slow life among the mountains with Gōbu and the others.
When Alexia returns to my manor and I’m left alone, I run wild through the hills like a feral monkey, leading a parade of monsters in what can only be called a real-life hyakki yakō. We scatter at ten every night, of course, because even monsters need curfew.
”Shin-kun! I missed you so much while I was gone. As a reward for taking care of Layla-chan, pat my head, please?”
’Kyuraraa~!’ Red’s rumbling cry followed as they landed. Alexia hopped off gracefully and bowed her head before me, Red mimicking the gesture beside her.
”Yes, Alexia. You did wonderfully. Thank you,” I said, ruffling her hair.
”Gobu Gōbu!” Gōbu-kun beamed mischievously, grinning like he knew something. That smug duffufufu laugh of his was getting concerning.
’Kyurarann!’ Red chimed in.
”Yes, yes, you too, Red. You did great,” I said, stroking the dragon’s warm cheek. Honestly, that mysterious demon meat still amazes me. Who knew feeding it to a fire dragon could force instant friendship? Maybe it’s laced with hypnotic spice.
”Muu! That’s unfair, Red-chan’s the only one getting attention. My turn—pat my cheek too, Shin-kun!” Alexia puffed her cheeks and pointed insistently at her face, stepping closer. Lately, she’s been finding more and more excuses to make me touch her. Not that I mind—she’s adorable. Loli-Alexia really is unfairly cute.
”Ehh, no thanks. The Churidince family might misunderstand, and I’d rather keep my head attached, thank you very much.”
”Neck… chop?” she blinked.
(((…))) Oh no. I could feel the stares. Hidden in the shadows—probably her personal maids. Assassins by the look of their presence. Their loyalty runs deep; they guard her unseen, even now. As expected from the ‘hidden heroine triplets.’ I still remember trembling during their dramatic route in Maidens x Cross-dressing.
According to certain legendary stories—yes, the ones about seven magic orbs—people sometimes unlock latent potential when they face death. Turns out this world follows the same principle. Survive near-death without losing your body, and you can trigger magical amplification, bodily awakening, or even Job evolution. No one here knows that, though. Only I do, thanks to my past-life gamer brain.
I suspect the sword demon, Orphen-san, went through that very process. There’s no other explanation for his absurd power in the real world of Alysphere.
Even Alexia, the ‘protagonist’ of this world, has had her share of close calls—moments in the game where enemies nearly broke her, and each time she rose stronger. Only later, after reading the Maidens x Cross-dressing Complete Guide, did I realize those were instances of bodily resurrection awakening her potential.
”Gobu go! Gobu gobu!” Gōbu suddenly pointed toward a hollow in a nearby tree, chattering excitedly.
”Huh? The princess returned, and now we’re going to the ‘Fairy Kingdom’? Wait—wasn’t that the location unlocked during Alexia’s… let’s call it the mentally unstable pleasure route?”
”Gobu gobu!” he insisted.
He says the Fairy Queen herself invited us—apparently I’m a ‘close friend.’ That’s news to me. And who exactly is this ‘princess’ he’s been referring to? The puddle-shaped slime, Sura-chan, maybe? Could she be… royalty from the Slimefolk village? Ha-ha, no way. Alexia’s the noble here, not her. So then—who does he mean?
”Gobu gobuu~!”
”Shin-kun,” Alexia tugged at my sleeve, voice trembling. “Gōbu-kun just went into the hole in the tree…” She pointed at the dark opening, eyes wide. Poor girl—she’s braver than she thinks.
”Let’s follow him, Alexia. Maybe we’ll receive a ‘blessing’ if we’re lucky.”
”…Blessing?” she repeated softly.
”In this world, spirits sometimes grant blessings to those they favor,” I explained. “That was revealed in one of the game’s darker routes, actually. Fascinating stuff, really—uh, but never mind that.”
If memory serves, that route was… very heated. Alexia and her three maid-guard sisters… right, not going there. Focus, Shin.
Behind us, the three hidden maids scrambled. The tree’s hollow was barely large enough for me and Alexia, and their muffled frustration echoed behind us.
”Wait! My hips are stuck!”
”Our beloved Alexia-sama is getting away!”
And so, just like that, with laughter and panic in our wake, we followed Gōbu into the glowing hollow.
Light shimmered inside, pulsing like a heartbeat.
A new chapter of madness was about to begin.
Notes:
• Raichi – Shin’s magic tutor. A former elite instructor at Alys Magic Academy, expelled for “creative misconduct” (embezzlement, harassment, etc.). A reckless mentor whose unorthodox methods, combined with Shin’s knowledge, fast-tracked his magic mastery.
• Layla – A maid-in-training for the Seyfried family. She is observing Shin’s dramatic change in behavior after the incident with Alexia.
• Orphen – The Seyfried family’s head butler and Shin’s swordsmanship mentor. He is a retired legend—the Demon Knight of the Kingdom and a former Holy Knight. He agreed to train Shin only after the child abandoned his pride and groveled.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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