Chapter 5: Arms Dealer
TL: Pinky
EN Editor: Anirhapsodist
There are a lot of Star Labyrinths but it has always been the tradition for novice seekers to visit the labyrinth called “Plains of Dawn”.
After our departure from the mercenary guild, there was this large stairway covered in grass that seemed like the entrance to the labyrinth. People gathered around it. They treated it as some tourist attraction like that of a historical site.
“Are you a novice seeker? If you don’t have a weapon, you can drop by the stalls at the opposite side of the street. They won’t charge any for your first weapon.”
“Oh, that’s splendid. Thank you!”
“You hired a mercenary? Being a seeker… the course can be grueling at times. It will be difficult but stop at nothing. Do your best out there.”
This young adventurer seems to have experience, but he might have just entered the beginners’ labyrinth recently.
I caught a glimpse of Suzuna and Elicia, but my section chief was not around. Elicia is guiding Suzuna at the arms dealer. They are selecting a suitable weapon for a priestess. Starters usually wear basic stuff but Suzuna picks an oak staff which should be suitable only for magicians.
“Onii-san, what’s your job? Would you like me to select a weapon for you?”
A voice among the weapons stalls called me out. It took a while for me to locate her but she was there. She wore a turban and her ethnicity was Japanese. I could tell she was way younger than me or Suzuna. I admired her geniality, her black hair, and its bob-cut.
“You will be surprised how many from Japan resides here. It’s the same with the other nations too, and everyone just loves to transact with someone who holds a license.”
“Did you become an arms dealer after you reincarnated?”
“Yes, my parents actually owned a Sports Supply House, so I had always aspired to become a “Merchant”.”
Some seekers find jobs closer to positions held by the residents of the town.
Sadly I’m not a business minded person, so the most convenient way for me to earn right now is to defeat some demons.
“There are a lot of weapons here ranging from melee, long-range, and medium-range weapons but which of these do you prefer?”
“Let’s see… I guess I’ll go with the orthodox blade?” (TL:オーソドックスに剣)
“A blade is it? Umm, if it’s onii-chan’s job,.. I think… you can equip any and use them well? Isn’t that amazing? "All weapon” is that how they call it?
“It’s not that great of a job. If I can use anything, wouldn’t that make me strange?”
It shows that the “Rearguard” can equip a wide array of weapons. Wouldn’t that mean a rearguard need not choose a weapon? Regardless, it’s probably better to familiarize myself using bow-type weapons should I choose to help from the back. While searching for a weapon on the stall, I happen to set my eyes on a slingshot.
“Then… how about this slingshot?”
“Oh, it’s a good weapon but the problem with it is its terrible accuracy and I lack the job skills to use it.”
“Is that so? But you can still equip it, and even without skills, you can practice.”
I take the sling or rather a sturdy wooden pachinko. I don’t know what type of metal the ammo were but it came in a bag with 20 bullets.
“Let me remind you that on your next refill of ammo, you will need to pay the cost.”
“Let’s see. If I manage to use this, I’ll be in need of a lot of ammo. I’ll need to earn the money to buy them.”
“Ah… I almost forgot to hand you this bag. Place in here all the loot you acquire from the labyrinth. If you sell collected materials from the weak demons you’ve defeated, then you will be able to purchase the bullets you need.”
What if we manage to defeat a large-sized demon? Will we have a hard time bringing back those loot? When the time comes, it may be necessary to have a procedure in efficiently transporting materials from the labyrinth.
“Well then, I wish you the best of luck!”
“By the way, I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Atobe Arihito. May I know yours?”
“I’m Shinonogi Madoka… It’s been a long time since I spoke my full name properly. “
Now that she mentions it, it has also been a while for me too. In a way, introducing myself made me sure to burn into memory the kanji for my name. If I will live here in Labyrinth Country, I should always prompt myself not to forget it.
“See you… Miss Shinonogi.”
“Ah, it’s okay to call me Madoka. Everyone in town call each other by their given names, right?”
“Oh, Erm… Madoka, it’s okay. Don’t be too conscious of how to address me too just because I’m older.”
“Eh, well I would also prefer to call you Arihito. Using “-chan” just feels too embarrassing. Using “-san” feels a bit awful. So… yeah.”
Back in Japan, we were always mindful in using honorifics and how to properly address one’s name. The day might already be long due when we exit the labyrinth but I’d like to come and say my greetings once I come back to see you.
“Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go Theresa?
Theresa stares then gives a slight nod. As we approached the entrance of the labyrinth, we came across this mature guy who seems to be the guide.
“Rookies again? You’re the seventh one to enter this day. I’ve heard there were around thirty reincarnators this time around, but a bunch of them already got daunted. True seekers continue exploring.”
“Did I make a wrong choice for being a supporter?”
There stood this man with gray beard and hair. His physique is good while holding an axe. He seems to be an active seeker.
“There are times when seekers like you get exhausted inside the Labyrinth. Some seekers, like me, make a living by rescuing those who have become incapable inside this Beginner’s Labyrinth. Oh, by the way. I’m Rival.”
“My name is Arihito, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Alihi…. Can I just call you Al… or Richter?”
“Yea… No, I too find it difficult to pronounce Rival, so may I request you to keep my name as it is as well? Anyway, I have some things I need to ask…”
“What? If you’re asking me to be a guardian, that would be impossible. I’m at Level 5 and the experience we gather in this beginner labyrinth will not have the slightest effect on you. The experience of the party is calculated based on the highest level of the person. Even if I defeat a low level demon, you will hardly get any experience.”
His answer didn’t match my expectations. It’s new information for me at the very least. So as a general rule, High-level seekers cannot do Power Leveling with lower level seekers.
“Thanks for telling me that… By the way, how much is a 10-point damage?”
“Hhn?… Hahaha… Are you misunderstanding this for a game? It’s not even possible to register a number from a demons attack. If you look at the stamina displayed on your license, you can gauge the amount of damage the enemy does based on your defensive power. “
(So does that mean that numbers are not being used on the Skill Description for other positions to determine damage? Is it some kind of skill unique only to a “Rearguard”?)
“First of all, you can try to receive the brunt of attacks from some small fry demons like “Watadama”. It is not advisable to take even a single hit, but in all of the labyrinths in this country, only unprepared amateurs die from its attack. You can’t measure it via numbers. The pain inflicted on you determines the enemy’s strength. When you receive the first blow, stay strong and don’t be reckless. People die from carelessness.
“Thank you very much! You’ve been a great help.”
“That’s the spirit! So you’re with a mercenary. Arihito, both of you, tread carefully and be sure to return home. If you see some seekers who are in danger, please don’t hesitate to call me. I do patrols regularly, but some things may be left open.”
“I understand. I’ll be sure to call for relief when something gets dangerous, Rival.”
Rival inattentively laughed it off then gave me a pat on the shoulder. Several of his colleagues were with him. They all make a living of providing assistance to seekers. Wearing their best faces, the middle aged men then sent me off.
“Rival, did you notice a party composed of beginners. They dived not too long ago? It’s just that…”
“Oh, those guys…I ran into a “NAMED” before I got to them. I had to flee.“
(What then happened to the people I saw at the guild earlier? Is that “NAMED” a powerful demon? The chances of dying here is high if you’re abandoned.)
The same goes with the section chief and Suzuna, and the other reincarnators too. I also want to get acquainted with them. Now that my objective has increased by one, I can’t ruin myself in the labyrinth.
TL Notes:
My editor is a grammar nazi. I gave him a hard time with this one. :D
That’s a College English teacher for you.
Chapter 6 is still ongoing edit but it will be released soon. :D
Cheers!!!
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