Chapter 272 The Unreliable Adventurer ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had a problem: the monster-derived materials I’d commissioned through the Merchant Guild Canarias¹ just weren’t coming in. To fix this, I decided it was time to put a certain “unreliable adventurer” to work.
As a bit of prep work-and after spending the previous day making a round of apologies to everyone I’d inconvenienced-I headed just outside the city gates of the Royal Capital, Canarias. To be specific, I found a secluded spot away from the main road where we wouldn’t be disturbed.
My “escorts” for the day were the usual thugs-the ABC trio: Abram “The Iron Fist,” Balliston “Deadly Poison,” and Carl “The Beast Tamer”… sorry, I mean Carl “The Slaughterer.”
To be clear, these weren’t the “unreliable” ones. If the A-rankers the Guild is so proud of weren’t reliable, the word wouldn’t have any meaning.
”Sorry for dragging you guys out here,” I said.
”Zzz… Yawn… Seriously, Kento? This early?” Abram groaned, rubbing his eyes.
”Hehe! Don’t mind him. This guy’s just useless before noon-yoi,” Balliston cackled.
”Quit your whining,” Carl added. “We’re getting paid, aren’t we? Just do the job.”
Balliston and Carl kept prodding at Abram as he stood there bleary-eyed. Look, there is nothing cute about a mountain of a man acting all sleepy. Now, if it were my darling daughter Momo, she would be a world-class treasure of adorableness. But this? Just a crusty old merc.
Despite the banter, I noticed all three were subtly scanning the area. The morning air was crisp and biting, and they were already in work mode.
I remembered something Abram told me once: “The second you step outside those gates, you’re in the office. Assume a monster is trying to kill you every second you’re breathing.”
I’ve always made it a point to follow that advice to the letter, so I was on high alert too-though, compared to them, my vigilance was probably full of holes. I’d actually been tackled by a Red Slime hiding in the shadows of the gate once. If that thing had possessed fangs, claws, or actual venom… well, I probably wouldn’t be standing here.
”You moron! How are you gonna be an adventurer if you’re scared of your own client!?” Abram barked, finally snapping awake.
”Coming along like a lost puppy just ’cause you were told to doesn’t exactly make you look tough either-yoi,” Balliston retorted.
”Enough,” Carl sighed, clearly realizing they were getting nowhere. “So, Kento. What exactly are we doing out here?”
Honestly, the way these guys interact makes it impossible to tell if they’re seasoned adults or high schoolers. I mean, they’re definitely middle-aged men, but they have this “boys’ club” energy. Every once in a while, they’ll show a flash of that philosophical, world-weary adventurer side, and it honestly gives me whiplash. I guess that’s just what happens when you get a group of guys together.
”It’s nothing too crazy,” I explained. “Just an experiment with a new magic item. Something for emergencies.”
”A magic item, huh?” Carl smirked. “This isn’t another one of those things that spurts white stuff into the sky, is it?”
”Of course not. Look, Abram-I want you to punch me. Don’t kill me, but give me a good one,” I said.
”…Whoa, whoa. You finally lost it, kid?” Abram asked.
”Kento losing his mind isn’t exactly breaking news-yoi,” Balliston chimed in.
They kept talking smack, but I didn’t care. If I were in their shoes, I’d think I was crazy too. Seeing is believing, though. I pointed to my cheek and gave Abram my best provocative look.
”Right here. Don’t be shy,” I said.
”My fists aren’t exactly meant for ‘gentle’ therapy, but… guahhhh…” Abram started rotating his shoulder, his joints popping. He liked to talk about his professional “pride,” but I’ve seen him start bar fights and deck people for no reason when he’s drunk. I knew what he was capable of.
”I’ll try to pull the punch, but I can’t promise you won’t have a bruise,” he warned.
”As long as I’m breathing, we’re good. Do it,” I replied.
I pointed to my cheek again, bracing myself. The “Iron Fist” leaned in. I’m not gonna lie-I was terrified. Every instinct told me to run, but I stood my ground.
Then-
CRACK-THOOM!
”””Whoa…!? “””
The sound was like a sledgehammer hitting an anvil. Abram recoiled, his hand bouncing off an invisible surface. All three of them let out a synchronized shout of shock. Seriously, they call him “Iron Fist” for a reason-how does a human hand make a metallic sound like that? Anyway…
”And… experiment successful,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
”Was that… a barrier?” Abram asked, staring at his hand.
”Exactly,” I replied.
Cold sweat was prickling down my back, but I kept my cool as I inspected the ward. It felt like I was encased in a sturdy, transparent eggshell.
”Hehe! When did you learn a trick like that-yoi?” Balliston asked, narrowing his eyes. “With your puny mana pool, I thought you couldn’t even deploy or maintain it…”
Balliston was the smartest of the bunch-or at least the one who wasn’t a total muscle-brain. He was right; defensive magic isn’t a “set it and forget it” spell. It’s an active drain that requires massive reserves. Most adventurers know that much. The three of them were looking at me like I’d just handed them a riddle with no answer.
”It’s not magic,” I said. “Well, it is, but like I said-it’s an ‘item experiment.’”
”Are you kidding me!?” Abram shouted. “A magic item that can tank a hit from me? Mages are gonna be out of a job-yoi!”
”Not quite. Right now, it’s only possible using an insanely rare, incredibly expensive Ouguru Stone². Plus, it uses tech that’s technically a state secret, so keep this under your hats, alright?” I added.
”””…You’ve gotta be kidding me.”””
The looks on their faces said it all: What kind of mess have you dragged us into this time? I knew I was walking a dangerous line here, but I trusted these guys to keep their mouths shut.
For the record, the “magic stone” in question was an Ouguru Stone. It was a gift from Her Highness, the Princess Consort of Ierse, sent via my sister-in-law Flearis after that whole headache with Martin and the lead court mage, Kushe.
A single Ouguru Stone is worth enough to build several mansions. They have an absurdly high magic conductivity and, so far, they’ve only been found in the Coalmine Kingdom.
By etching a micro-magic circuit³ directly into the stone, even a “magic-lite” guy like me can deploy a top-tier barrier. The materials and the tech are so specific that this is currently a one-of-a-kind prototype.
”Haaa… fine. I get it. I mean, I don’t get it, but I get it,” Abram sighed. “Basically, we just keep swinging at you and pretend we don’t know where the toy came from?”
”Exactly. I knew you were a quick study, Abram,” I said.
That’s when the “experiment” really started. Abram started ramping up the power-CLANG! CLANG!-slamming his fists into the barrier from every angle to see if it had any weak spots.
Once he was winded, Carl stepped up with his two-handed blade. I wanted to see how it handled a slashing edge versus a blunt impact. Carl didn’t hold back either, his blade screeching against the barrier with a shower of sparks.
Finally, it was Balliston’s turn. “Deadly Poison” Balliston. We’d done the physical tests; now it was time for the “special” stuff. He checked the wind direction and started filtering a non-lethal but potent toxin toward me.
The result? Nothing touched me. At one point, the three of them got a little too into it and started coordinating their attacks to see if they could actually crack the shell. I’ll admit, I panicked for a second, but the barrier held firm. Scared the crap out of me, though.
If you’re wondering about magic attacks, don’t worry-I’d already confirmed the shield’s effectiveness against spells through… let’s call it a “different method.”
Anyway, with that, the stage was set.
Now, you might be wondering how any of this helps me get an “unreliable adventurer” to do their job. Just be patient. You’re about to see exactly what I have in mind.
—
Summary:
Kento struggles to obtain monster materials for his adult goods shop. He recruits three A-rank adventurers (Abram, Balliston, and Carl) to test a prototype defensive magic item powered by a rare Ouguru Stone. The test is successful, surviving physical and poisonous attacks, setting the stage for his plan involving an ‘unreliable adventurer.’
—
Trivia:
- The ‘unreliable adventurer’ mentioned at the start is NOT one of the three A-rankers present.
- Kento has already tested the barrier against magic off-screen via a ‘different method.’
- Balliston is the only one in the group who isn’t a ‘muscle-brain’ and understands magic theory
—
Character Insight:
Kento displays his typical blend of cowardice and technical brilliance—he is terrified of the punch but remains steady to verify his invention. The A-rankers show their depth, transitioning from high-school-style banter to professional combat vigilance instantly.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘white stuff’ joke refers to a recurring theme in the novel regarding Kento’s specific inventory of adult items.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Balliston – An A-Rank adventurer known as ‘Deadly Poison.’ Has a kidnapper-like face and a servile laugh. Specializes in toxins.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply