arc03 · 056-ep50

Episode 50: The 【Plunder】 Holders (3)

"Hey, hold on. What's this about founding a clan?"

"Um, okay, okay, calm down. Sorry for dropping that with no warning at all, but I figure Takeru's going to be more or less forced into founding a clan sooner or later."

"Huh? Why would I go build something that sounds like that much hassle?"

"Because you'd never keep adventuring under somebody else, right, Takeru?"

"'Course not. There's no way the guy who's going to be the strongest works under anyone."

"See? But if you keep rocketing up solo, tied to nobody, the scouts will come swarming from everywhere and it'll turn into a bidding war. Probably—no, definitely."

"Ugh…… true. That does sound likely……"

"And then it comes down to two choices: keep turning down pushy recruiters forever, or found the clan yourself. Though even refusing has its problems—I don't think a solo adventurer with no backing can stand up to organizations that keep multiple upper-rank adventurers on their side."

"…………Galling as it is, if it comes to that, I might just make a clan."

I get it now. Turns out I'm the one who wasn't seeing the future clearly.

In my own head, the C-rank solo title still isn't anything all that impressive—but the world doesn't see it that way. If I go shooting up into B-rank like this, it'll be an absolute circus. Hardly anyone knows at this point, probably thanks to Sakurai-san, but that's only a matter of time too. I've got to think further ahead as well.

"So if it does come to founding a clan, I'll take all the troublesome parts off your hands. You can just lounge back in the representative's seat and conquer the dungeon to your heart's content, Takeru."

Damn. She is genuinely capable.

And she is very obviously moving all of this along for my sake.

Haah. I really ought to take this girl a little more seriously—it'd be pretty shabby of me not to.

◇

In came number three.

Mio greeted number three, as before.

"'Scuse meee!"

Number three was a young guy, university-age, with a bright, energetic voice.

Unlike the first two, there wasn't much of a gloomy air about him—no sense that he's struggling, really.

And then he looked at me and said exactly one thing.

"Whoa, shaaady~"

…………

Yeah, I get it, honestly. Just didn't expect it said to my face.

"Please disregard the gentleman here for the moment. I'll be handling all of the discussion. He is, nominally, an important person in today's matter, which is why he's joining us."

"Yessir. Gotcha."

And so the final meeting began.

"First, I'd like to confirm what we discussed over messages."

"Yessir."

"First—I, Azuma, have been searching for people who hold 【Plunder】 and are troubled by it—I wished for people like you to take part in a certain verification. And you, Hasegawa-san—you hold the 【Plunder】 skill, and you carry some manner of troubling circumstance. Is that correct?"

"Yeah. Spot on."

"Would you share those circumstances with us?"

Now then—what kind of circumstances did number three carry?

"Ah—…… I wouldn't say I'm in trouble exactly, it's more like this muddled frustration keeps piling up over my friendships, or something like that. It all started back in high school when I went to the dungeon with some buddies I was tight with—but with 【Plunder】 as my starting skill, I started getting absolutely clowned on. Couldn't keep adventuring, and even as a joke, when guys at uni go 'stay away lol' or 'straight-up trash lolol', it stings, y'know? But all I can do is laugh it off. So to blow off that stress I've been splurging on my hobby, like my bike, and now I'm broke half the time too. It's like this vicious cycle, or whatever you'd call it."

"I see……"

The money part should ease up somewhat with today's 2,000,000 yen…… the friendships are the hard part, though. If it were me, I'd have cut ties with those guys in a heartbeat……

So even with friends you're actually close to, drawing 【Plunder】 as your starting skill can turn out like this, huh. Maybe being a loner actually saved me? Well, there's no end to that kind of what-if talk, so I'm not thinking about it.

"I came because I heard Azuma-san could do something about 【Plunder】 holders, but can even a case like this be fixed? Honestly, at this point I figured keeping my distance from those guys was all I had left."

"……It is indeed a difficult problem. As for money, however—if you sign this confidentiality agreement and take part in our verification today, we can hand over 2,000,000 yen on the spot. And if the verification goes well, your situation may improve as well, Hasegawa-san."

"Wha—seriously!? Yeah, yeah, I'll sign! I'm signing!"

"Please do read it through carefully~"

"Yessir."

He looked about two seconds from signing on pure momentum, but he does check the contents properly.

"Gotcha, okey-dokey. And if nothing about the verification gives me trouble, I'm happy to take part—much obliged."

"Now then, allow me to explain the verification."

And so began the same explanation as for the previous two.

There were a few rounds of questions and answers—apparently he asked in detail about things like exactly what counted as off-limits to speak of.

Well, fair enough—if you're going to be an adventurer, hiding the fact that your 【Plunder】 vanished at all would be pretty hard.

"In any case, everything that happened today, in this place, along with everything about us, is strictly confidential. You may say that your 【Plunder】 is gone, but please don't go around broadcasting it."

"Roger that."

It might be rude to call it surprising, but he's listening more carefully than the previous two.

No—maybe it's that he's simply not desperate the way they were, so he can stay level-headed.

"So—will you take part in the verification?"

"Please, I'd be the one begging for that. If 【Plunder】 disappearing means a chance to laugh from the heart with those guys again—"

"How devoted you are to your friends. This may be none of my business, but it might be worth telling those friends how you truly felt as well. After all, unless you're the one living it, it never quite sinks in."

"……Yeah. Yeah, I'll give that a try."

I'd figured this wasn't a heavy story—but for him it must have weighed heavier than plenty.

Everybody carries their own worries, huh.

"Now then, please shake hands with this gentleman here. You'll feel something leave you for an instant, but it is harmless, so please rest assured."

"Okey-doke."

I offered my right hand and shook his.

(Plunder)

『Successfully plundered the target's skill』

『Proficiency of 【Plunder】 has reached the specified threshold—the skill will now be enhanced』

Here it comes, here it comes, here it coooomes!!!!

The skill's finally been enhanced!

The details of the enhancement float straight up into my head.

I see…… so that's the shape of it. A start-from-here kind of thing, huh.

Oh—still holding the handshake.

I let go at once and signal Mio that it's done.

"That appears to be that. Any unusual changes in your body?"

"Ah, I'm fine. There really was that something-draining-away feeling, though."

"Please check your status. Your 【Plunder】 should be gone."

"Ohh! For real! It's gone!"

"And—if you do plan on being an adventurer, we'll supply you with a weapon as well, so please get in touch again."

With that, Mio hands Hasegawa-san his 2,000,000 yen.

"OHHH, seriously, thank you so much! Thank you!!"

"No—thank you as well."

And so the last of them headed home with hope in his chest.

I hope things work out for him, too.

And then there's my 【Plunder】.

Just as predicted, it achieved its enhancement, and a whole new path has opened.

I did my best to keep up a calm front, but I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from climbing under the mask.