Chapter 13: What Defines a “Rearguard”
TL: Pinky
EN Edit: Anirhapsodist
Shortly after we purchased our clothes, we proceeded towards town where the middle-ranked seekers in the Eighth-district gathered. The property rented-out for me was an accommodation that rests on a hill up the slope.
Room 304, Nornil Heights, 8th district. That is my address. The large building comprises of eight rooms for the first two stories and the third floor was a bit larger. There are no further issues, it seems. The adjacent room was unoccupied and it was not a corner room facing south [1]. With that being said, I don’t have any upcoming appointments, so it’s time to hit the sack.
A fine old lady toured me around. She resided at the inn and attended to cleaning duties together with the staff. They said that she is the manager of these facilities.
I requested her to wake me up at six-thirty in the morning so that we’ll be ready to arrive at the Mercenary guild at around eight o’ clock.
“There is only one key for the room so please be very mindful of it. Replacement requires you to pay a fine of 8 silver coins per lost key.” (Lady)
“Thank you, I’ll be careful not to lose it.” (Arihito)
Eight silver coins is equivalent to eight-hundred copper coins. A valuable price to pay. It needs to be kept safe.
“Sorry, Igarashi-san, I don’t think we can have two keys.” (Arihito)
“Uhm, do we need to make a key for each of us when we live together?” (Kyouka)
“W…Well, it’s for convenience. We might come back to the room at separate times.” (Arihito)
Never did I hand a spare key to anyone. I’m not talking from experience but it’s just for convenience’s sake to have two.
“U…Uhm, Oh, it won’t be a bother, isn’t it? We won’t go off on our own, so there’s no need to be vocal about it.” (Kyouka)
“T…That’s right?” (Arihito)
As if she would never squabble about it. Honestly, I find it hard to believe the moment you opened your mouth just moments ago.
“If you’d let me argue, are you up for it?” (Kyouka)
“No, don’t be absurd. Let’s be friendly here.” (Arihito)
“W…Well, that should be possible when there are things to talk about. Atobe-kun is surprisingly easy to converse to. I don’t know about being friendly though.” (Kyouka)
(… Interaction… somehow had really been smooth. Maybe she’s gradually opening up because I told her my honest feelings back at the garment shop.)
Although synergy is 10, it does not mean that Igarashi-san has become friendly all of a sudden. It only increased by 10.
“We need to have a meal once we secured our luggage. The tavern is going to be up until late, so I assume there would be more intoxicated high-level seekers and it’s going to be difficult if we got involved with them.” (Arihito)
“Karma increases, so we should avoid getting involved in any crimes. It’s better to be careful.” (Arihito)
“That “Karma” is also convenient, huh. Even if you don’t call the police, the guild garrison will be there involuntarily.” (Kyouka)
Perhaps the license detects an increase in Karma. Maybe it holds a mechanism that allows it to be transmitted to the guild. Not all of the information seems to flow to the guild though, but it might just be an ostensible story. Eventually, I might be able come to know more about this licensing.
When I opened the door to the room, I was surprised to find a living room. The room continues to a bedroom at the back, and it definitely had two beds.
“Wow, it’s bigger than the hotel we used to go to with my family. Atobe-kun, how did you raise your rank to be able to have this kind of accommodation? Was it because you defeated that red one?” (Kyouka)
“Don’t hesitate now, you also fought so Igarashi-san also deserves the right to stay.” (Arihito)
“W… Well, if that’s what you say…” (Kyouka)
Igarashi-san shy away while holding her luggage not knowing where to go.
I’m accustomed to these types of rooms. It’s just like being in an overnight official business. I thought she was going to fancy it more, but her reactions were unexpected.
“Igarashi-san?” (Arihito)
“Oh!?” (Kyouka)
“S…Sorry. Well, there are two luggage compartments in here so you can use this here. We’ll decide on the beds later.” (Arihito)
“Yes, understood. It’s okay here?… Kyaaah…” (Kyouka)
Igarashi-san clumsily tripped and slipped from her place. This 25-year old, lady section chief wailed an awfully, pretty cute scream. It just shows she had no experience with males.
This woman is now even more flustered than I am. There’s no magic tricks to it, but her reactions a dead giveaway…
(…Is this perhaps the turning point of my reincarnated life!?)
“Why are you burning up!? Is there any problem?” (Kyouka)
“No… Nothing… let’s just finish the luggage and go. Let’s go. B… Because you’re broke, you don’t even have to bring your wallet. It’s my treat.” (Arihito)
“Can I beat you up!? I’m not trying to be blunt but I’m definitely angry.” (Kyouka)
“Please don’t beat me! I’m still the same living human being…” (Arihito)
I have to be careful how I treat her here, lest spring will be a distant visit. Yes, I was aware that such developments do not occur so suddenly. I’ll had to brace myself for whatever happens should I fail to control myself.
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Although meals could be taken at the inn, they were expensive. So we opted to take dinner at the tavern located down the slope.
The day came to end and the tavern was gradually filled with the hustle and bustle of seekers who finished their daytime explorations.
“Aside from not knowing what this meat is, the taste is unappealing.” (Kyouka)
“Igarashi-san, are you perhaps picky with food?” (Arihito)
“Not that much, but this dried horse-mackerel is like blue cheese. It’s not that appetizing. Is this some type of fermented tofu or something?” (Kyouka)
(Is she weak to those pungent things? Durian would probably be out of the question. I haven’t eaten that either.)
“I wonder if the seekers who come here share the same rank as Atobe-kun.” (Kyouka)
“It seems so. Seekers in the higher-rankings of the eighth-district often change their living quarters too.” (Arihito)
“The Labyrinth country is divided into eight and they let seekers compete amongst themselves. Would the other districts like the first district be different when compared from here?” (Kyouka)
“Eventually, our rank will go up. If that happens, we might be able to move to another district.” (Arihito)
And in order to do that, we must enlist party members, raise our levels and acquire good equipment.
“By the way, Atobe-kun, who was that person who looked like that of a lizard?” (Kyouka)
“She’s named Theresa, a lizardfolk. The receptionist was worried because my job was indecipherable to her, so she handed me a ticket. I used that to hire her. I’m planning to enlist her in our party permanently someday.” (Arihito)
“That’s right. She seems to be capable and it would be reassuring if she stays with us for a long time. I have to raise my level too. There’s no time to be fooling around.” (Kyouka)
“I will support you tomorrow. When we head out, I’ll explain a method to defeat the red one. The information regarding the skills of the seeker will be our lifeline, share to me that information regarding your skills too, I beg you.” (Arihito)
“A method to deal with…? I’m looking forward to it. When that red one came out, I thought I wouldn’t be able to return to the labyrinth again.” (Kyouka)
Anyone would be traumatized if the Redface will spawn so suddenly.
“Budwick’s party was the target of the Redface when you happened to be there, right? Igarashi-san.” (Arihito)
“Well rather than being there, they approached me when they saw me beat a watadama by myself. They were offering me protection in exchange for money. I was about to turn them down but then, the red one came out.” (Kyouka)
Selling services to a novice seeker. Just thinking about what Budwick is going to do will leave me disappointed.
“Igarashi san, you were using a spear but the watadama’s movements were pretty fast. How were you able to defeat it by yourself?” (Arihito)
“It’s because I know how to wield a Naginata (Japanese halberd). I chose the closest type of weapon I could get used to, but the red one was so overwhelming and it broke my weapon. Now I have to get a replacement.” (Kyouka)
“Tomorrow, shall we buy equipment at the stalls in front of the labyrinth? We need to purchase armor too, not just plain clothes. (Arihito)
“Oh, you’re right. Protective gears. I spent too much money on clothes that I forgot about it. …My weapon is damaged, too.” (Kyouka)
“Let’s work hard to stabilize our earnings, alright? We’ll be busy from tomorrow onwards.” (Arihito)
With that, the dinner-meeting was adjourned. It’s time to head back home and rest for today.
“Hey, have you heard? “Death Sword” came here at the eighth district.” (Seeker A)
“T… That came through the “White Night Brigade” and managed to escape the place? (Seeker B)
“Oh, I think she’s found a “rookie” and currently raising it to be usable.” (Seeker C)
At first I thought that it was unrelated, but when I heard something regarding a “Rookie”, I was immediately reminded of the two girls I met earlier.
(If they were Elysha and Suzuna… then “Death Sword” is Elysha?)
“Don’t you think of it as a chance? Being a top seeker’s luggage… to dispatch skillfully….” (Seeker A)
“Hey don’t talk so openly. We’ll talk about that story later.”
A man with a scar on his cheek, who was probably the party leader, told the other guy and told them to change the subject.
“Atobe-kun, is there something wrong? You look troubled.” (Arihito)
“No, well, just a little. It looks like they were talking about a reincarnated child… It’s okay for now. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
“Uhm… Okay, if you say so.” (Kyouka)
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Bath-houses in Nornil Heights were separated according to gender. The junior seekers would probably use the communal baths in town, so it would be much more preferable to take a bath here in the lodgings.
I went to take a bath first but still ended up arriving earlier than Igarashi-san. I was lying down on the bed while discerning the situation back at the tavern when my eyelids gradually became heavy.
(I feel so lethargic… I’m really very sleepy… I still wanted to be awake for a little bit more, but…)
I closed my eyes and dozed off. As my consciousness fell, the door suddenly opened.
“Atobe-kun … the baths in this lodging are amazing! At first I thought it was because it’s a different world, but they have things like shampoo and rinse… Oh, my… were you sleeping? Sorry… I’ll keep it down…”
(Good for you… Igarashi-san). Is what I should have said, but I was too sleepy to say it aloud.
You were so overwhelmed with the presence of rinse and shampoo that you even approached me to talk about it. –sorry, I’m already at my limit.
“See you tomorrow, Atobe-kun.” Her gentle voice pushed me to back sleep.
It’s been long time that someone was in the same room where I slept.
–While I sleep in this poorly-lit bedroom…
My awareness occasionally woke me up a little, but I was able to sleep almost immediately.
“H… hey… Atobe-kun, hey!” Igarashi-san in her nightgown modestly shook me in an attempt to wake me up.
“Nnh? Ah, Igarashi-san, Good morning…” (Arihito)
She stood at bedside with her eyes towards me in this bedroom that was lit like twilight.
My eyes locked onto her chest while she was on her nightgown, even though I got embarrassed just by looking at it when she was in a vertical sweater. Karma might go up, so I tried to divert my line of sight. – But still, I couldn’t help it.
“… Can’t sleep? It doesn’t feel like your usual dream pillow?” (Arihito)
“It’s not like that… I don’t really know… I hope you won’t feel dejected but please turn the other way while you’re sleeping.” (Kyouka)
“Turn the other way? Uhm, Did I keep on turning over while sleeping? I wasn’t facing anyone when I did?” (Arihito)
“I can’t help it. It’s not your fault Atobe-kun, but when you face me while sleeping, I feel somewhat edgy. It feels strange…”
I didn’t understand it but if it makes her uneasy, should I grant her plea? What if I rolled over again?
(…Wait, she wants me to face the other way? Do Vanguards’ and Rearguards’ positioning persist? Even though were sleeping on separate beds?”)
Impossible, there’s no such thing. Well, I suppose that’s what she’s talking about, however, I also can’t explain why she’s feeling edgy.
(Would “Aid Recovery 1” show its usual effect even while she is sleeping?)
An indication on the license that synergy has risen crosses my mind. If I slept at the back like this and “Aid Recovery 1” continues to be active every 30 seconds… then perhaps the next time she wakes up…
“Okay, I understand. I absolutely will not turn over so please rest easy.” (Arihito)
“R… Really? Please forgive me for disturbing you like this.” (Kyouka)
Igarashi-san bashfully apologized then returned to her bed. But on the moment she fell asleep, I moved out from the bed.
(I will definitely turn over in bed once I return to sleep. Will the Rearguard’s actions fail to activate if I sleep on the sofa? I would like to consider that. No, there’s still no proof that it’s because I used ’ Aid Recovery 1 ’ earlier.)
Let’s move the bed to another room tomorrow after a good night’s rest.
Although I could sleep well on a bed, I decided to lie on the sofa. I could not find myself to sleep immediately though.
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Then, morning arrived…
I woke up just before the landlady came.
“Nnh…” (Arihito)
I was sleeping without anything on me because it was not that cold but now, I have this blanket on.
(Who placed this? Is Igarashi-san up already?)
Would synergy increase just by being at the rear? What happens if it goes up too much? What happens when we’re out of the labyrinth? There are no logs. I can’t verify that.
Let’s try to sleep again on the bed today. If Igarashi-san wakes me up in the middle of the night, that’s the time to move to another room.
Raw source:
TL Notes:
A bad direction for bedroom in Japanese feng shui is South because this area has a lot of yang energy. You can’t get good sleep. Too much yang energy makes you feel irritated, easy to get upset and it influences your wealth and luck.Source:
TL Message:
I hope you enjoy our double release for the weekend. Chapter 12 and Chapter 13. Thank you for always dropping by and taking your fine time to read.
Have a pleasant weekend to everyone!!!
Cheers!