Lily's Observatory

Our journey continued with the conversation between Arisa and me unresolved. The atmosphere stayed strained. Kanehama and Mimori looked uncomfortable, and every attempt I made to speak with Arisa was smoothly avoided. Nothing improved. In that mood, we finally reached one of our destinations: the domain capital, Waynesvale City. Arisa had said she wanted to meet the lord of Waynesvale, Marquis Roosevelt, so we sent word immediately upon arrival. A messenger from the marquis came the same day, saying he could meet us at once, so we headed to the mansion. On the way, I tried asking Arisa. “Arisa, what business do you have with the marquis?” “Leave it to me. It’s something I have to do.” She wouldn’t give details. Still, Arisa is a trustworthy subordinate. If she says to leave it to her, then that’s what I’ll do. More importantly, she has the skill « Calculator ». She doesn’t make mistakes. We arrived at the mansion without incident, and soon the meeting began. “It’s a pleasure to see you...

After a short while, only Mimori returned. Arisa kept walking ahead alone. “Um, Otogi-san. I talked with Arisa-chan. May I tell you what she said?” “Yes. What did you two talk about?” When I asked, Mimori looked at me with sad eyes. “She’s no longer misunderstanding what happened that night. She said that when she thought about it later, it didn’t make sense, so she realized she was mistaken. She told me not to worry, that she’s not mad at me at all.” So that misunderstanding had already been resolved. But if that was the case, why did Mimori look so down? “So I asked her why she’s been acting strange lately. And she said she was the one who was wrong.” “Wrong…?” “Yes. She said she’s been watching you all this time, so she knew perfectly well how you felt. At first she was excited, thinking she had a chance. … But no matter how hard she tried, you kept rejecting her. And that hurt her even more.” Her words struck painfully. There was no denying it — my choices had hurt Arisa. “She said...

Staring down at the corpses of the two men, I thought through what came next. Their master, the leader of「 Demon-fist Raiders 」, had ordered them to bring me in. If they didn’t return, he’d naturally suspect me. And if that happened, he’d either come himself or send subordinates even stronger than these two. I had zero intention of joining「 Demon-fist Raiders 」, so that would be a nuisance. The simplest solution would be to go directly to the master, tell him their recruitment attempt was coercive, that I had no intention of joining, and that I wanted no further involvement. “But with guys like this, talking it out probably won’t work. It’d just turn into a brawl.” Thinking about that possible outcome made it clear that going myself would be a mistake. It was obvious these two had been killed by me, but there was no concrete proof. They’d probably send people to question me. If those people tried anything rough, I’d respond accordingly. After losing manpower once or twice, the clan wou...

The man I had kicked went crashing into a tree and slid down its trunk, his body limp. His companion tried to call out to him, but the man pressed a hand against his broken arm and forced himself upright. “Tch… damn it… half-killing you is off. I don’t care what it takes, I’m gonna murder you!” He pulled an expensive potion from an ordinary leather pouch and chugged it all at once. After checking that his arm could move again, he spat out words filled with pure killing intent. The moment he did,〘 Serial Killer 〙activated. I hadn’t intended to kill him at all, but a murderous impulse boiled up from deep inside, impossible to suppress. My thoughts and emotions were swallowed whole by the urge to kill. The instant I drew my short swords, I triggered【Stealth】and closed the distance. The man registered that my figure had vanished— …and by the time that thought surfaced in him, his decapitated head was already spinning through the air, a spray of blood marking its arc, as his body crumpled t...

To be honest, I was uncertain. I hated the idea of hurting Arisa. But keeping things vague forever while staying close to her was a problem too. That was why I’d been pushing her to give up, even if the method was harsh. Yet after seeing her earlier, looking strangely pained and distant, my resolve wavered. Maybe that’s why I ended up confessing all sorts of things to Kanehama. What Arisa feels for me. Why we’d come on this trip. How I’d been trying to make her give up. Even the misunderstanding during Mimori’s care — though I left out her preferences. Kanehama listened quietly, thinking things over, then asked: “So in the end, what do you  think about Mikimoto?” The question made me grimace. “Whatever I think, the answer is the same. I’m her uncle, and she’s my niece. The conclusion doesn’t change.” “You sure about that?” When I tried dodging the heart of it, he dismissed it without hesitation. “We came to another world. You don’t have to cling to Earth’s, or Japan’s, morals anymo...

…It felt strangely nostalgic. Following behind those guys, I let myself sink into the memories. It was in this very place that I first gained the ability to view my status, awakened a ridiculously rare Unique Skill, and became a true hunter. Back then, I forced myself to strangle down the fear boiling inside me just to fight a goblin. I threw up again and again until I could stomach the dismantling work. A lot happened after that… and now here I am, an A-rank hunter, just a step away from conquering an S-rank dungeon. Lost in those thoughts and mentally patting my younger self on the back, I noticed the men ahead of me stop walking. “This spot works.” They turned, cracking their knuckles and necks in a way meant to intimidate. “Alright. I’ll give you one last chance. Apologize for your attitude, get on your knees, and maybe I’ll just rough you up a little. What’s it gonna be?” “I’ll give you a chance, too. If you apologize for that condescending attitude and kneel, I’ll let you return ...

Whether safe  was the right word or not, Mimori eventually woke, and by the next day her condition had recovered. After that, time passed uneventfully. The soldiers at the base thanked me again and again. I made inspections around the facility to gather ideas for new magic tools. Colonel Gavein even presented me with an official letter of gratitude. During all this, Arisa wasn’t depressed, but she wasn’t cheerful either. She kept staring off into the distance, as if lost in thought. Her usual intense physical affection had completely stopped. If anything, she’d begun putting an odd amount of distance between us. (E/N: Whose damn fault is that?! Hah?!) It stung more than I expected, but I reminded myself that this was the plan from the beginning. This was how things should be. After spending several days at the base, the day finally came for us to return to the capital. Since it was a good opportunity, Kanehama and Mimori decided to return with us, making it a four-person trip. On o...

I told the Guild employee my decision wouldn’t change, picked up my hunter license from the counter, and left the Hunter Guild. “Alright, time to head straight for the S-rank dungeon—” “Hey!” Someone barked at me from behind. I turned to find two rough-looking guys standing there. Judging from their gear, they were hunters. Great, more clan trouble? “What is it?” “You’re Matsubara Yuito, right? You were all over the news for that Stampede, and it looks like you just got promoted to A-rank.” “You were eavesdropping? Whatever. So, what do you want?” “We’re hunters from the「 Demon-fist Raiders 」. Same, A-rank as you. Our master, Daiki-san, told us to bring you in. Don’t argue. Just come.” As expected, another recruitment pitch… but why is every one of these guys so arrogant? These two are even worse than the ones from「 Blaze Empress Brigade 」. “I am considering joining a clan… but there’s nothing I need to discuss with you. Tell that to your master.” The veins bulged on their foreheads. ...

The next day, I woke up early as usual and picked at my breakfast while scrolling through my phone. I’d cleared every A-rank dungeon in Tokyo as of yesterday, so I was trying to figure out my next move. If I wanted more A-rank dungeons, I’d have to cross prefectural borders. If I wanted new skills, there were still a few untouched dungeons within the city. While I was mulling it over— Purururu~ purururu~ purururu~ (E/N: I'm always amazed by the amount of onomatopoeia Japanese language has. They're also cute!) My ringtone went off. I checked the caller’s name and answered. “Hello.” “Good morning. This is Shimizu from the Hunter Guild. Your hunter rank has been raised from B to A. Congratulations!” Perfect timing. Honestly, I figured it was coming soon. “Thank you. If I’m A-rank now, that means I can challenge S-rank dungeons, right?” “That’s correct. We’ll need to update your hunter certificate, so could you stop by the Guild once?” “I’ll head there right now.” “We’ll be waiting...

Unable to find the right words, I stayed silent. Mimori continued. “Originally, I adored my father. I was a total daddy’s girl. And at some point, I started liking his scent too. The smell of older men, that sort of thing. … I realized I… enjoyed it. I’ve always had this embarrassing kink where sniffing a man’s body odor makes me feel good.” “That is… how should I put this…” “Yes. I’m still a girl, you know. I’ve never told anyone. Not in Japan, not after coming to this world. But because of « Mercy », I’ve been having a really hard time. … Back home I could just enjoy it quietly, but here the effect got stronger. It became hard to even stay sane.” Her voice trembled. It must have been a burden she’d carried alone for a long time. “If anyone found out, some corrupt noble might try to exploit me. If they used scent as a substitute for drugs… I could end up chemically dependent without breaking any laws, and forced to obey someone. … Thinking about that terrified me. So I kept it secret....

After carrying Mimori to the infirmary, I took responsibility for watching over her. Keiichi had duties as a Hero. And besides, she collapsed the moment I approached her. I couldn’t rule out the possibility that I had triggered it somehow. So it made sense for me to stay by her side. Mimori remained unconscious for more than half a day. Late at night, when the base had gone quiet, she finally woke. “Huh… where…?” “You’re awake. How do you feel?” The moment I asked, Mimori suddenly stiffened as if remembering something. She sat up straight in bed. “I’m so sorry, Yuuichi-san! I showed you such an undignified sight!” “Think nothing of it. But… what exactly happened? Is there a chance you were struck by a curse?” “N-no! That’s not it! This is, um… well…” She squirmed with embarrassment, struggling to choose her words. “It’s… my body. A kind of… constitution, I guess.” “Your constitution?” “Yes. It’s extremely embarrassing, so… please don’t tell anyone.” Her expression was so serious that I...

After defeating the Dullahan, I proceeded to open the treasure chest that appeared. Inside were the boss materials and a leather pouch. “What!? This is…” At first glance it looked like any ordinary pouch. Something that could barely hold a phone or wallet. But nothing that comes from a dungeon is ever normal. Clutching the boss materials and the pouch carefully, I returned outside via the magic circle. I immediately requested appraisal along with selling the materials. “The magic stones from Living Armors, plus the magic stone, helm, and full armor from the Dullahan come to sixty million.” The Dullahan’s equipment didn’t fit my size and would restrict my movements, so I decided to sell it. “And this pouch is a《 Magic Pouch 》. Despite its appearance, its storage capacity is one billion cubic meters. Time does not pass inside, so items will never deteriorate. … Even in upper-rank dungeons, obtaining one is extremely difficult. It’s a very valuable item.” (E/N: 1,000,000,000 m³ = 1 km³, a...

The battle , if it could even be called that, had ended. Aresvelg was defeated. There were still several dragons circling in the sky, but with their commander gone, their formation was already collapsing. One after another, they veered off in random directions and fled. Once I confirmed it, I judged that the base was now safe. I let out a short breath and turned toward Arisa. “This seems to be the end of it.” “Yeah. But seriously, old man. What was that black stuff!?” Arisa stared at me with wide-eyed disbelief. “If you mean what it looked like… I suppose those were the skills I use when I’m fighting seriously.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean? That— that was…” She dropped her gaze, trembling a little, then suddenly grabbed my shoulders. “That was insanely cool!” With sparkles in her eyes, she practically shouted it. “It was all black and creepy and had that dangerous vibe! Like a stylish villain! Seriously, that was sick! You gotta show that side more often!” “No, using that o...

I stepped toward the collapsed Aresvelg, thinking about which skill to test first. I should begin with something unlikely to kill him instantly. “Well then, Aresvelg. Let’s start by testing the combo of « Calamity » and « Body Odor ».” I activated both skills at full power. First, I used « Calamity » to curse myself. My body strained under the dual torment of curse and plague, cold sweat pouring down my skin while the diseased patches began to emit a foul odor. I then amplified those microscopic particles of stench with « Body Odor ». The curses and pathogens leaking from my body thickened into black smoke, drifting outward around me. And at that moment, I felt it — my skill advancing to the next stage. “I see. So this is the potential that the « Calculator » predicted for « Body Odor ».” What I had originally used as nothing more than a foul deterrent for monsters had evolved. When combined with « Calamity », the amplified particles became a genuine miasma capable of cursing and infec...

When I entered the boss room, it was the same as the corridor leading up to it — orderly stone walls enclosing all sides. Ten orbs of light dropped from above, followed by one slightly larger orb. All of them shone brightly at once, revealing eleven monsters. Ten were the Living Armors I’d defeated countless times, and the last one was wrapped in a sinister jet-black full suit of armor, gripping a greatsword as tall as itself. The most striking feature was that it had no head on its neck — it carried its own head in its hand. “Its name is Dullahan, huh. Its stats and skill levels being higher than the Living Armors is expected, but there’s one skill that stands out.” As I thought it over, the Dullahan tossed its own head straight up. Instead of falling, the head hovered in the air, its gaze fixed on me. A red glow filled the slit of its helmet, and from it spread a wave of red energy. I waited to see what would happen, but nothing affected my body or mind. “What was that supposed to be...

I continued deeper through the stone corridors. The Living Armors always appeared in groups of three, keeping the battles coming without pause. The first one swung its longsword in a sharp downward strike. I caught the blade with my short sword, then severed its arm with my other blade, disabling its ability to swing. I moved to finish it, but the round shield blocked my strike. The shield split in two, yet the armor underneath remained unscathed. The second and third Living Armors were about to move, so I kicked the first one aside to throw them off. They shoved the first aside and advanced. The second swung at me; I deflected the longsword and slashed off its sword arm the moment its stance faltered. Just as I was about to finish it, the third Armor slashed diagonally. I jumped back to dodge, then instantly closed the distance again. I twisted my body to slip past the incoming sword and countered with a swing of my own. But again, the round shield absorbed the blow. My raw stats were...

When I entered the dungeon, stone walls neatly surrounded me on all sides, with torches lit at even intervals. Relying on the light, I advanced carefully, keeping my guard up toward the walls and what lay ahead. No monsters attacked, and just when my vigilance began to loosen— CLANG!! “Hm?” A nasty sound rose from beneath me. When I looked down, the floor had vanished, replaced by a forest of metal spikes, and I began falling straight toward them as if being swallowed. While falling, I shifted my posture, used the momentum, and tried to destroy the spikes with my fist. DOGAN!!! They shattered easily, giving me solid footing. I sprang back up to the original path in one leap. “Is this a trap-focused dungeon?” If so, this place offers little benefit for me. Still, I'm only at the beginning. There’s a chance monsters appear deeper inside. Holding onto that hope, I continued forward. Another click sounded, the ground sank slightly, and the next moment, poison arrows fired in unison fro...