Ch.153Ghost Mansion (2)

We headed straight for the hideout.

Tina had already sent the location to our phones.

The location was… perfect!!

There was only one condition for our hideout: how close it was to dungeons and hunting grounds.

This hideout was conveniently located in central Emoshita City. It meant we were close to all types of dungeons. That’s all we needed.

It was originally used as faculty housing for the school, but it seemed to be unused now.

“Ding dong! Ding dong!!”

I immediately rang the doorbell.

“Come on. You don’t need to make the sound with your mouth.”

Taiga said.

“Ringing the bell with your mouth and then running away doubles the thrill!!”

I shouted loudly.

“What are you even saying.”

Taiga said with a slight chuckle.

“Ah! Loser oppa. You’re here?”

Madoka opened the door right away.

Clunk-!!

Since the door opened without warning, it hit me right in the forehead.

“O-oppa! Are you okay?!!”

Madoka screamed immediately.

“Hnngh!!!”

I let out a battle cry.

Phew… that suppressed the pain.

“No!! They say if you hit your head, you become stupid!! My mom said she dropped me when I was little!!! I was a prodigy before that!! But suddenly became ordinary!!”

Umi shouted.

That unnecessary TMI came as a bonus.

“Sometimes I think you’re below ordinary….”

Taiga added a rude comment.

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean!”

Umi immediately started bickering with Taiga again. It was a light quarrel with them bumping into each other. But… since they both had such large breasts, it almost turned into a boob fight. I wish I could get between them…

Anyway.

“Shota can’t become more stupid!! Then he’ll really become a ‘monster’!!!”

Umi cried out loudly.

“Umi… if I become more stupid… will you still love me?”

I said to Umi.

“Hmm… if Shota becomes stupid… I’ll just have to cook him up and use him as my slave! My personal slave!!”

Umi said with a bright smile.

She definitely has a unique mindset. In a way, she was a prodigy. A genius when it comes to being perverted.

Anyway.

“Madoka!!!! Thank you for providing such an awesome hideout! Well done!!”

I immediately hugged Madoka.

“Giant swing!!”

I spun Madoka around in circles.

“Kyaaa!! Oppa!! I’m getting dizzy!!!! You should treat girls gently!!! You don’t even know that, lo~ser❤”

Somehow Madoka managed to speak without biting her tongue.

“Oppa. I did well, right? Pat me.”

Madoka whispered to me.

“Of course!!!”

I immediately patted Madoka’s butt.

And as a bonus, I gave it an affectionate squeeze.

“Oppa… that feels good…!!”

Madoka said with a silly grin.

“By the way, points.”

Madoka suddenly got serious. Tsk. She didn’t forget.

“To Madoka!! 4000 points!!!”

I shouted with a volume worthy of a magic school principal.

“Kyaaa!!! That’s 40% toward filling out the marriage registration form!!”

Madoka jumped up and down.

Really… she plans to fill out a marriage registration form when she collects 10,000 points.

But what should I do? Would Madoka be satisfied with a harem? That was a bit worrying. It seemed like there would be storms ahead in the future.

Anyway, enough thinking about that. We all entered the hideout.

“Ooooh!! So comfortable!!”

Umi’s eyes sparkled.

“Better than Shota’s mansion that doesn’t even have doorknobs, right?”

Eri said.

“Hey!! You guys broke the doorknobs!!”

When they showed such determination to devour me, I was so scared I cried for a while. For reference, those tears mainly flowed downward.

“Wow. It really feels like a hideout.”

Taiga immediately sat down on the stylish sofa. She adapts quickly.

Ding dong-!

Just then, the bell rang.

“You rascal!!! Coming to ring and run again!!!”

I immediately channeled my inner neighborhood uncle and ran to the door.

“What ring and run? It’s me.”

Sasitsu said.

“Aw… at least react properly. Kyaaaa!!! Scream like this!!!!”

I shouted at Sasitsu.

“No. Why would I…”

“Act like a model student at school but secretly has a hidden hobby of ringing doorbells and running away!! If the bell-ringing gets discovered… the school would be notified. That would end your model student career!! Despite knowing that, you still can’t resist the urge to ring doorbells! Recreate that sinful scene!!!!”

I passionately ranted.

“I won’t!! And why is it so dramatic!!!”

Sasitsu immediately got angry.

“Well, what can I expect from Sasitsu’s terrible acting skills. Come in, Sasitsu.”

I sighed and opened the door for him.

“Terrible acting skills… I’m… terrible?”

Of course, Sasitsu reacted to that comment. This guy… has an instinctive desire to appear like an all-rounder.

Click-!!

Sasitsu immediately closed the front door.

Ding dong-!

And rang the doorbell again.

“Wait… he’s actually going along with it?”

Taiga said in a bewildered tone.

I see… Sasitsu. You’re challenging me again. Then… take all I’ve got.

“You rascal!!!!!!”

I became the neighborhood uncle incarnate. I flung the door open with rage.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!! Eeeeeeeek!!!!!!”

Sasitsu screamed like a child and ran away. However, his escape wasn’t just filled with fear. It perfectly captured the sinfulness and excitement too.

That’s it! That’s it!! Sasitsu!!

“I remember your face!!!! You’re from the nearby elementary school!!! I’m going to call them!!”

I pretended to chase after Sasitsu.

And with that, our impromptu play ended.

“Sho-Shota!! How was my acting just now!!!”

Sasitsu immediately asked with a flushed face.

“That’s it!! That’s exactly it!! Sasitsu!!!! You perfectly recreated the bell-ringing prank!!!! You’re a genius!! A genius of acting!!!!”

At this moment, Sasitsu and I were sharing a passion that only people in the scene could understand.

Slap-!

Then, Sasitsu and I high-fived. The sweat on our hands sprayed like dew drops from the impact. It was almost like a scene from a sports manga.

However, the excitement didn’t last long.

“……….”

“……….”

Everyone, including Madoka and Tina, was looking at Sasitsu and me like we were bugs.

“Th-this… I was just humoring Shota!! He was so insistent!!”

Sasitsu immediately defended himself.

“Sasitsu… has been corrupted too.”

Eri made a comment.

“You… were you always this kind of character?”

Taiga also looked at me with doubt.

“That oppa… looks like a cool handsome guy… but he’s just like Shota oppa.”

Madoka said.

“Urghhhh!!”

Sasitsu groaned, clutching his heart.

Anyway, the situation was settled.

———

We placed our equipment around the hideout.

“Wow… amazing.”

Madoka looked at our weapons with wonder.

“I’m thinking of moving our stuff here from now on.”

I said.

“Really?! That means you’ll come often to move things?!”

Madoka said with a smile.

“Well… that’s right.”

I nodded as I spoke.

“Come visit often, oppa.”

Madoka suddenly threw herself at me as she spoke.

Madoka looking up at me… was incredibly cute.

“Yes!! I’ll visit often!!”

I immediately patted Madoka’s head at lightning speed. The friction was so intense that her hair started to smell burnt.

“Oppa… my hair is burning.”

Madoka said. The heat was making her already curly hair curl even more.

“Ah. Sorry.”

I immediately removed my hand.

“Hoo hoo.”

And blew on her hair to cool it down.

“Kyahaha!!”

Madoka burst into laughter at that.

——

Anyway, after playing with Madoka for a while.

“Then I’ll join you today! Don’t worry! I won’t hold you back!”

Tina smiled and clenched her fist.

Well… having Tina was reassuring.

“Let’s head out then. Eri. Stay here and protect Madoka.”

I asked Eri.

“Okay!”

Eri nodded. Really… Eri is so reliable in these situations.

That’s when it happened.

Swoooooosh-!!!!

Suddenly, two doors appeared in the hideout.

A blue door… and a green door.

The blue door was familiar. It was the Soul Room with Blue Beard.

But… the green door was new to me.

These doors seemed to be visible only to me and Sasitsu.

Clunk-!!

Then, the green door opened. As if signaling us to enter.

“Sasitsu. Shall we go?”

I asked Sasitsu.

“Sure.”

Sasitsu nodded.

We headed toward the green door.

——-

As I somewhat expected, Green Beard was inside.

Green Beard, Blue Beard, and Violet were all together. The two doors seemed to lead to the same place.

“Ah. You’re here.”

Green Beard waved and spoke. Green Beard was sitting on a large food cart. Various products were hanging from the cart.

“This is……”

There was no such mobile shop in the original work. To buy items, one had to go to Green Beard’s shop.

Moreover… there was an anvil next to the food cart. Yes, an anvil for equipment enhancement. Originally, equipment enhancement and repairs would only open in August. This was unprecedented.

“Arigiri Shota. I’ve implemented some of the abilities in your subconscious. This hideout is what you’d call a ‘Hero’s Base.’ That’s why we could also blend into the cracks of the hideout. Here, you can synthesize Psychorobos, purchase items, and enhance equipment.”

Blue Beard next to him said.

“This is an exceptional privilege provided by us agents of the other world, so be grateful.”

Violet said. She’s still treating me coldly. If she keeps doing that, I might start acting obnoxious.

“Anyway, buy whatever you want. I’ll also help with equipment enhancement. Just provide the materials and I’ll enhance it for you.”

Green Beard said.

“Ooooh…!!! Then!!!”

I immediately opened the door and went out.

“Umi!! Taiga!! Let me borrow your equipment for a bit!”

After receiving their equipment, I approached Green Beard.

“Please enhance all of these.”

I said.

Typically, ordinary weapons can be enhanced up to +10. Special weapons can go up to +20. Additionally, special weapons gain additional effects as they are enhanced. The key is to use materials from monster bodies or gems for enhancement.

“Well… if you have enough materials, I’ll do it.”

Green Beard took the weapons and hammered them on the anvil.

Umi and Taiga’s equipment was enhanced to +6.

And then… I took out my beloved sword, Tomato.

“Please enhance this too!!!”

Making a strong weapon even stronger—that’s a gamer’s dream.

“You have the materials. I can enhance it up to +7, but… you don’t have enough money.”

Green Beard said.

Right. I don’t have enough money right now. But… did you think a professional troublemaker like me wouldn’t anticipate that?

“Put it on my tab. I’ll pay you back after I save the world.”

I said shamelessly.

“…What?”

Green Beard’s expression quickly soured.

To save the world… I resolved to be a troublemaker once more.

Violet, as if predicting my behavior, immediately put on earplugs. Heheh. Her actions are actually quite cute.