New chapter of Ordinary Person is out! (3/3 chapters)

 

 

Chapter 169

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

(POV switch – Jessica)

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, I had already been able to approach the target that had been instructed from above. Yet frankly, I was bewildered by the unforeseen circumstances.

“Do the two of you have any deficiencies in your equipment?” (Jessica)

“I sent everything for maintenance, so we are fully prepared.” (Rena)

“…Per-fect.” (Kayo)

Rena and Kayo seemed to be fully prepared. If only my equipment were lacking, it would be difficult indeed to offer any excuse.

Even if it was an instruction from above, I did not want to approach alone an opponent who in recent intelligence circles had been called the “Tōyō no akuma” in Japanese, meaning the “Devil of the East”, or “Antatchable Kouta,” and so forth. Having volunteered, I wondered whether there was any way I could escape.

The manner of death of the American intelligence agent Chuck, probably an alias, was certainly not something I could attribute to human handiwork.

He had contacted me the previous day and we had shared lunch, yet I was interrogated at length by the Japanese police as someone who had been tracing the victim’s movements. At that time, he had asked for Kouta Fujikawa’s personal data. Afterwards, Chuck disappeared.

Then, the last thing the police showed me had been photographs of his murder scene, his body no longer holding its original shape. Meat scattered throughout the room, and bone fragments and teeth were driven into the walls and ceiling as if by shotgun blast. I did not immediately realize that the coloration of the room had been produced by blood rather than by tasteless décor. It was as though a human being had been burst from within, an abject spectacle even avant-garde art would find extreme.

The Japanese police identified the remains as Chuck himself from circumstantial evidence and fragments of clothing, pieces of spectacles, and so on that had been flung about. Moreover, it was a locked-room murder. At that point, I could not tell whether I should praise the investigative skill of the Japanese police or praise the monstrous nature of the thing itself.

When I remembered it, I felt queasy. I nearly vomited.

“Jessica-san, your equipment was that set of Norwegian leather armor, was it not? Then, you have nothing to worry about on the defensive side. Well then, let us leave at once.” (Kouta)

Huh? The conversation has moved on without asking me? They had inquired about the others’ equipment but not mine.

What? I cannot slip away? No, really? I may not?

“Then, first I will cast Support Magic. While we move, notice the difference from normal and get used to it. We will run to the third layer. We must depart immediately.” (Kouta)

“Support Magic?” (Jessica)

Wait. This is vital information. We must contact headquarters immediately. If I attempt to back out now, it will look suspicious.

I chased after the three of them in a state verging on panic.

They were fast. What is this? I can run very quickly. Is this what Support Magic is? A skill that various organizations would desire even if they had to abduct someone for it. This is dangerous. With this effect, I feel I could do anything.

My body moved better than usual. The sensation was so effective that I felt genuine awe. The pleasure of slaying goblins that had previously required great effort with a single flick of a knife was intoxicating.

It was irresistible. The feeling of omnipotence was supreme.

“Yahoo!” (Rena)

“Jessica, you are going too far. Do not break the formation.” (Kayo)

“Jessica, calm down.” (Rena)

No good. I had gotten carried away and Rena had scolded me. I repented.

“Let us take a short break.” (Kouta)

“Right. Jessica-san needs to calm down a little.” (Rena)

“That is right. If she gets carried away and is injured, that would be a problem.” (Kayo)

Rena and the others agreed with Kouta’s proposal.

Although we had been slaying well, I felt remorse for having gotten carried away before Rena and the others.

“Oh, I am sorry. I just got a little too excited.” (Jessica)

Kouta essentially left things to us. When goblins increased in number he would join appropriately and thin their ranks. He was completely the escort. Watching him overwhelm goblins without even drawing a weapon was extraordinary.

If the information is correct, he starts dungeon exploration only this year. Yet he displays an unshakeable composure. Merely watching him makes one feel the overwhelming difference in level. Now the difference in explorers’ abilities is directly linked to national power.

Direct differences in force and the ability to recover resources from the dungeon begin to affect the economic balance among nations. No wonder various countries wish to obtain information about him.

“About the reward from the last expedition, are you sure it was all right for us to take it?” (Rena)

“Yes, I do not mind.” (Kouta)

“Well, for Kouta-kun it may be trivial, but I still feel uneasy about it.” (Rena)

Is Kouta not participating in the division of the acquired goods? This, surely, is a reason to continue being an explorer.

“Well. I can earn more in the time it takes to divide spoils.” (Kouta)

What level of earnings does he enjoy? I have heard that the USA wanted to buy a skeletal staff from him. Was it nine point two billion yen? I am unsure of the exact sum.

I, for my part, become thrilled by a mere Goblin Knife.

“Besides, when you two work hard, it motivates me too. Well. It is a sort of self-satisfaction.” (Kouta)

“That sort of thing…” (Rena)

“…is not like that.” (Jessica)

I also think he is not that kind of person. He has a little bit of a faux-misanthropic manner, but he does not seem wicked. Conversely, given the extreme defensive measures I have considered, he is not simply an overbroad do-gooder. I only hope that my country will not choose a path to oppose him.

The day’s income exceeded my monthly salary, and I genuinely thought from the bottom of my heart that perhaps I should retire from being an agent.

 

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)