indianbanksassociation #174 - If you don’t take it, how can I take it and how can I make progress?
#174 - If you don’t take it, how can I take it and how can I make progress?
Just as Kazuma Satou was planning to sneak into the dungeon and erase the magic circle set up by Aqua, the kingdom's prosecutor, Sena, arrived with a number of adventurers.
"Kazuma-san, are you just observing?"
"Wah--! Don't arrest me!"
Kazuma Satou blurted out, startled.
Sena pushed up her glasses and stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze, "Kazuma-san, you seem a little guilty. Could it be that you have something to do with the dungeon being like this? If you confess and resolve the disturbance, I'll just give you the death penalty as a small punishment."
"Don't say such terrifying things with a straight face! And the death penalty isn't a small punishment!"
He couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He really wanted to say that seeing her arrestable face already made him flinch, but he was afraid she would become angry out of embarrassment and lose her temper on the spot, so he held back.
"Kazuma-san, since you're afraid, please step aside. I've found someone else…"
"W-Wait, wait! Let us go!"
"…To be so proactive, it's really not like you. Could it be that you're really hiding something unspeakable?"
"N-No way, I'm not! Thinking about it carefully, the appearance of mysterious monsters isn't completely unrelated to us, and protecting the people of the town who are afraid of those monsters is also the duty of an adventurer."
"I've never wished so much that there was a magical tool that could see through lies here."
Kazuma Satou spoke righteously.
However, Kazuma's past deeds as trash, ogre, and scumbag prevented him from gaining trust.
In any case, his starting point was good, and Sena had no reason to stop him.
"However, Kazuma-san, you only have one hour at most. If you don't come out in an hour, we will then infiltrate the dungeon."
"I understand."
It seemed that she didn't quite believe he could return safely.
Kazuma Satou originally planned to blow up the dungeon entrance, but Sena wouldn't allow him to do so before thoroughly investigating.
There was no choice but to sneak in.
"Yunyun, please."
"Okay."
"…What did you say?"
"I said, okay."
Kazuma Satou was originally prepared to kneel down and beg Yunyun, but he didn't expect to hear such a straightforward answer.
This was bad.
Suddenly, he didn't want to go with her anymore.
"…Is it okay?"
"Is there anyone else suitable in the party?"
His party members were all strong, but Megumin couldn't use Explosion magic in the dungeon, and Darkness was clumsy and might be a hindrance. Aqua had no combat power and would attract undead monsters.
As for the remaining two Arch-Wizards, Yunyun was clearly a superior substitute for Yuiyui.
"It really helps that you think that way."
Kazuma Satou breathed a sigh of relief.
The two headed deeper into the dungeon.
They didn't light a lamp.
Kazuma Satou was because he had night vision, and Yunyun was using magnetic field sensing and the Crimson Demons' ability to sense magic power.
Speaking of which.
This was Yunyun's first time in the dungeon.
The dungeon was much darker and more humid than expected, and the deep tunnels made people somewhat timid.
Sena told the two that this time they should not take risks. The main task was to investigate the reason for the large number of monsters appearing, but their real purpose was to eliminate the magic circle in the lich's room and erase the evidence.
There were many clay dolls in the dungeon.
And once touched, they would counterattack with self-destruction, but they often self-destructed before getting close, so Yunyun and Kazuma Satou were not harmed.
"What exactly is going on?"
"Electromagnetic force, I used electromagnetic force."
Probably because the creator found it troublesome, the clay dolls were set to act in self-defense mode.
Yunyun cleverly used the magnetic field to stimulate these clay dolls before they got close, making them mistakenly believe that they were being attacked, thereby self-destructing first.
"How amazing!"
Kazuma Satou felt that teaming up with Yunyun was the right decision, but her sharp tongue made her a little unbearable.
Of course.
In some people's eyes, this should be a plus.
The two advanced too smoothly, and soon arrived at their destination, which was near the lich's room.
But at the end of this passage, there was a figure sitting cross-legged in front of the lich's room, diligently making dolls with the mud on the ground.
He was wearing a tuxedo that didn't match the dungeon at all, and the white gloves on the hand making the dolls hadn't been removed. The mask on his face was the same style as the clay dolls wore.
The mask, which didn't cover his mouth, gave a foreboding first impression.
This person was the Hell Duke Vanir.
"…Oh?"
He seemed to sense something and looked up at the location where the two were hiding.
"I didn't expect anyone to be able to reach here. Adventurers, welcome to this one's dungeon!"
Vanir stood up and spread his arms.
Looking like he was welcoming them.
Kazuma Satou didn't understand why he had been exposed, even though he was hiding so well. He carefully took out the short dagger from his waist and asked warily:
"Are you the mastermind behind this disturbance?"
"You are right! This one is the root and mastermind of the evil! I am a member of the Demon King's army, and the Hell Duke who leads the demons! The great demon who can see through all things in the world, Vanir!"
An unexpectedly big shot.
Vanir spoke again, as if to show off his strength.
"You, one who says he wants to become the Demon King but is actually a lazy ghost with no action, and one who forms a party with many beautiful girls, fantasizing about opening a harem but doesn't have the guts to be a thief, you two… um… eh?"
He fell silent.
Hearing the title of Demon King Army executive, Kazuma Satou was already sweating profusely. He slowly retreated step by step.
"Y-Yunyun, we can't handle this situation with just us. Let's find a way to escape and plan from the long term… Hey, Yunyun? …What are you two doing? Why are you suddenly making eye contact?"
Could it be the so-called aura of experts? Are the two fighting in a different dimension that he can't sense?
But there's no killing intent or anything.
After a long time.
Vanir nodded and said, "I see, so that's what you want to do… Okay, this one will listen to you carefully."
"The negotiation was successful."
Yunyun walked forward unguarded, and under Kazuma Satou's worried gaze, sat down opposite him.
Vanir asked: "Tell me about that just now… What's the deal with you wanting this one to put on a play with you and take the reward issued by the kingdom?"
"…Eh? What do you mean?"
"It means, to cooperate for mutual benefit."
Yunyun smiled and said, "Let me introduce you. This Mr. Vanir is one of the executives of the Demon King's army, and also a good friend of Wiz."
"W-Wiz?"
Kazuma Satou remembered.
Wiz was also an executive of the Demon King's army, but he had forgotten about it because of her timid appearance, coupled with her gentle voice and always being bullied by Aqua.
For some reason, he suddenly felt that Vanir was not dangerous.
"But what does this have to do with acting?"
"Don't worry, I'm just about to start explaining."
Vanir was asked by the Demon King to investigate the human who defeated the Dullahan, but in reality, he had long since wanted to quit being a Demon King Army executive.
His dream was to taste the ultimate negative emotions and then pass away splendidly.
“First, We shall acquire a dungeon, and then set up various harsh traps to attract powerful, battle-hardened adventurers to challenge it! After countless challenges, someone will eventually reach the deepest part of the dungeon! And We will say to them, ‘Come, defeat We and you shall obtain immense wealth…’ and then engage in a desperate battle!
After a fierce battle, We will finally be defeated.
Finally, a treasure chest with a tight seal will appear before them, and the adventurers who have overcome all kinds of hardships will open that treasure chest…!”
Kazuma Sato couldn’t help but swallow.
Silently waiting.
Vanir revealed a devilish, evil smile.
“Inside the treasure chest is a piece of paper that says, ‘Thank you for your patronage.’ The adventurers will look at the paper in bewilderment, and We want to watch that scene as We head towards destruction.”
“…Okay, let’s go defeat him now.”
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Kazuma Sato took out his short dagger.
Perhaps he felt that such a method was a bit too devilish, making even a scumbag like Kazuma Sato unable to bear it.
“If thou can do it, We will gladly accept it, but it seems that a mere low-level adventurer like thee is not up to the task, Ku ha ha ha—”
Vanir laughed wildly.
Kazuma Sato then remembered that the other party was a Demon King Army executive.
“We had asked Our friend, who runs a shop in this place, to let Us work in the shop to save money, and then use those funds as capital to ask Our friend to use her power to build a giant dungeon. When We passed by this dungeon and found that there was no one here, We originally wanted to stay here and not leave, but…”
“The kingdom’s investigators have already been alerted, and she’s coming with many adventurers, planning to investigate the truth behind the dungeon monster appearances.”
Kazuma Sato interjected.
“Not only that.” Yunyun also said, “Because it was too rushed, neither the dungeon nor the adventurers were attractive, so We couldn’t taste the ultimate emotions at all. So I suggested helping him earn money and also helping him come up with ideas.”
“Come up with ideas? What ideas?”
“Of course, ideas for designing the dungeon! What about ‘If you’re a man, go down a hundred floors,’ ‘If you’re a man, go up a hundred floors,’ who says dungeons have to be underground? A sky city isn’t impossible… I have so many tricks to torment adventurers! After all, this is the Demon King—a required course on how to design a Demon King’s castle!”
Yunyun boasted.
Vanir was also very excited.
“We must hire thee as a consultant!”
“No problem! I will definitely design a dungeon that Mr. Vanir is satisfied with!”
The two shook hands tightly.
Kazuma Sato was completely speechless.
“Then what does that have to do with the bounty?”
“Kazuma, you’re really stupid. Whether it’s hiring people or building a dungeon, it requires a lot of money, and you know Wiz’s business skills. If you want to save enough money to build a dungeon, who knows how long it will take.”
“Hmm… indeed.”
When it comes to squandering, Kazuma Sato is willing to call himself the strongest!
The more he works, the poorer he gets—he doesn’t know what to say about this magical ability.
“So, at this time, I suggested killing Mr. Vanir to split the bounty.”
“I see… wait, no! If we kill Vanir, he’ll be dead, so how can we split the bounty!”
“…Ah, Kazuma, you didn’t know.”
“Know what?”
“Demons can be resurrected.”
The people of hell can all be resurrected. As long as they prepare a body for resurrection in advance, they can die as many times as they want.
Kazuma Sato finally understood.
Yunyun wanted to exploit a loophole, using Vanir to earn the kingdom’s bounty.
“Isn’t this fraud!”
“What are you saying! What are you saying!
I call this rationalizing the use of resources to achieve the goal of saving the country through indirect means!
Although Mr. Vanir is a demon, he only tastes negative emotions and does not harm humans. He is wanted because he served as a Demon King Army executive.
And after we kill him, Mr. Vanir will no longer need to serve as a Demon King Army executive, and at the same time, Mr. Vanir will have the capital to build a dungeon.
As for us.
In addition to getting a portion of the bounty, the Demon King’s castle’s barrier will weaken, and your Kazuma’s crime of national subversion will also be revoked for defeating a Demon King Army executive, proving your innocence and getting money.
We all have a bright future!”
Yunyun’s mouth is indeed very powerful.
In addition to being sharp-tongued, she is also top-notch at bewitching people, and even Kazuma Sato is tempted.
But Kazuma Sato, who prides himself on having a bottom line, although he is cruel, a scumbag, lewd, and trash, still feels a bit… hesitant to deceive people.
“Kazuma! Think about it, if you don’t take it, how can I take it? If I don’t take it, how can Mr. Vanir take it? How else can we improve! And we’ll split it three-seven!”
“…Why only seventy percent?”
“Seventy percent is for him! Mr. Vanir has to die once!”
“But…”
Kazuma Sato looked hesitant.
This guy is troublesome enough!
He’s obviously an incurable, despicable scumbag, but he doesn’t dare to do anything at the crucial moment. Calling him a coward is absolutely right.
There’s no other way.
I have to use the ultimate move!
“Kazuma, you might not know, Vanir is very popular.”
“What does his popularity have to do with me.”
“It just so happens that he’s especially popular with succubi.”
“Ugh!”
Axel is almost no different from other ordinary beginner towns, but this unremarkable town has a beautiful scenery that makes people’s eyes light up, and even many high-level adventurers are willing to loaf around here.
That’s right.
It’s the succubus shop!
“The big sisters there will definitely give you a great experience if they know you’re willing to help Mr. Vanir.”
“A great experience!? Okay, I understand, then I’ll reluctantly agree.”
As expected, he’s an incurable scumbag.
“Then…”
Yunyun looked at the clairvoyant demon in front of her and said, “Then Mr. Vanir, you can possess Kazuma.”
“Wait, wait! Why possess me?” Kazuma Sato was very unwilling.
“I don’t mind being possessed, but…”
“This person has a repulsive smell. To be honest, if We didn’t know that thou art not one of those annoying fellows, We would really think that thou art a goddess from the lower realm.”
“That’s right.”
Yunyun spread her hands.
“Also, Kazuma, if you’re possessed, you can completely blame Mr. Vanir for anything bad you do.”
“Okay, let’s possess me now.”
Kazuma Sato didn’t hesitate at all.
…I don’t want to say anything anymore.