Ch.19First Boss Battle (2)

Honestly, the boss battle was too easy. Unlike the original game.

First of all, that Mummy Man’s weakness is fire.

In the original, only the protagonist could exploit the fire weakness. That’s because the Gladiator class had basic fire magic attached to it.

Umi, who played the healer role, never had a chance to strike at the weakness. It felt like the protagonist was fighting alone.

However, in this reality, things were different. Not only Sasix, but Taiga also wielded fire-attribute Psycho-Robos.

“Fire!!!”

Sasix excitedly used basic fire magic right away.

Whoosh-!!

As the flames erupted, the Mummy Man’s posture crumbled.

In this game, attacking a weakness breaks the enemy’s stance. This allows for an extra turn of attacks. In a turn-based game where the standard is one attack per turn, this system made combat much smoother.

“Taiga!! It’s your turn!!”

Sasix immediately passed the baton to Taiga.

“Fire!!!”

Taiga also actively utilized fire magic.

Whoosh-!!!

The Mummy Man’s attempt to stand was thwarted once more.

Whoosh-!! Bang-!! Whoosh-!!!

Flames erupted from all directions. The Mummy Man was being toyed with by the flames without any chance to get up.

Slurp-! Slurp-!

Without a Psycho-Robo, there was nothing I could do. I decided to just suck my thumb.

Ah… this moderately salty taste was practically addictive. It should be regulated by the government.

Soon after, the final phase of the battle arrived.

“Graaaargh!!!”

The Mummy Man’s body collapsed heavily.

When enemy damage accumulates, you can perform a finishing attack.

This was the moment when all teammates gang up on the enemy. At this point, universal damage that ignores elemental resistance is applied.

In other words, this was my time to shine.

“Now’s the time!! Charge!!”

I immediately pulled out my iron pipe. With physical resistance gone, it was my time to go wild.

“Just keep resting, will you?!”

Taiga grinned at me.

“Shut up!!”

If I didn’t contribute during this opportunity, I’d definitely be relegated to useless status.

“Let’s go!!! All-out attack!!”

Sasix immediately gave the order. He seemed to want to play the leader role while he had the chance.

Whoosh-!!

We all charged at the Mummy Man with our weapons drawn.

Thwack-!!!

Taiga swung his baseball bat hard at the Mummy Man’s torso.

Crack-!

With the sound of something breaking in the Mummy Man’s body, it writhed in pain.

Swoosh-!! Slash-!!!

Sasix swung his sword to disable the Mummy Man’s limbs. However, they weren’t completely severed.

“Tch. Not deep enough.”

Sasix clicked his tongue. Despite his high level, his basic close combat ability was below mine. After all, he couldn’t match me who was properly trained in swordsmanship.

In the end, I was the one to deliver the final blow. A physical attack specialist—that was me.

“The finishing blow is mine!!!”

I greedily swung my iron pipe toward the Mummy Man’s head.

I needed to contribute to the battle here to get a good share of experience points.

“Hyaaah!!!”

I swung my iron pipe.

Whack-!!

The iron pipe cleanly split the Mummy Man’s head as it passed through.

Boom-!!!

With the final strike, the Mummy Man’s body shattered into pieces and exploded. With that, the Mummy Man met its end.

“We won.”

Sasix sighed as if relaxed. Though he pretended to be composed, he couldn’t hide his elation as the corners of his mouth were turned up.

“Phew… that was nothing.”

Taiga said, resting the baseball bat on his shoulder.

“Well, your finishing blow wasn’t bad. Thumb-sucker.”

Taiga patted my shoulder.

Slurp-! Slurp-!

Filled with the sense of victory, I started sucking my thumb again. This was bad. It might become a habit.

“Hehehehe! Please stop with that fucking weird habit. Hehehehe!!”

Taiga suddenly trembled and burst into laughter.

“They’re strong. Are creatures like this crawling all over this town?”

Sasix recited a line straight from the game. Players could choose dialogue options, but Sasix naturally had a cool vibe.

“But we’ve also awakened to powerful abilities, right? Psycho-Robos… that word just popped into my head.”

Taiga muttered, looking at the translucent wolf behind him.

“What is the nature of this power? And why do monsters only appear in this town…”

Sasix, true to his protagonist role, was full of curiosity.

“Anyway, we’ve finished today’s work. It’s already 1:30 AM. Let’s head back.”

I said. After 2 AM, both the other side world and the Psycho-Robo powers would disappear. It was quitting time.

“By the way, loser Shota doesn’t have a Psycho-Robo.”

Taiga smiled smugly.

“Shut up!! Something amazing will awaken in me someday!!! I’m sure of it!!”

I was the type to show something when the time comes!! No. I had to show something. If I couldn’t awaken my power, I might get kicked out of Sasix’s party.

“Just be our cheerleader as you are.”

Taiga teased me with a smirk.

“I’ll get you for that!!!”

“Hahahahaha!!”

A chase ensued between Taiga and me.

“Anyway, let’s talk about our… activities tomorrow. Let’s get some rest tonight.”

Sasix, like a true leader, wrapped up today’s activities.

I decided to just go home and rest.

———

“Phew……”

After returning home, I immediately took a shower. A shower after work, and a pleasantly tired body. It was a perfect recipe for sleep.

“Time to sleep.”

I was about to close my eyes.

That’s when the phone rang.

Wait, who’s calling at this hour? I picked up my phone.

‘Kiryu Umi’

It was Umi. Come to think of it, we had exchanged numbers before.

What is she doing up at this hour? I considered pretending to be asleep, but it might be something important. I answered the call.

“Hello?”

I answered.

“Shota!!”

Umi’s loud voice came through.

“What are you doing up? Children should sleep early. You delinquent.”

I said as I sat up.

A late-night phone call with a girl… honestly, it was an event I had been looking forward to, but I didn’t feel much excitement. I was too tired. I just wanted to lie down.

“I’m not a child?!! Besides… I can’t sleep because of someone…”

Umi grumbled something inaudible.

“Anyway!! Shota!! Did you… hang out with Eri?!!”

Umi asked.

“Yeah.”

I answered immediately.

“Yeah my ass!!! Y-y-you even k-kissed her… and… she even confessed to you?”

Umi shouted.

Did Eri tell her? Well… they seemed close. She probably told her everything. Girls love to chat.

“Oh. She did.”

“Why are you answering so casually?!!”

Umi shouted loudly, then continued hesitantly.

“W-what are you going to do?”

Umi’s voice was serious. And it was trembling.

Huh? This seems like a pretty important moment.

“…….”

I could hear Umi’s tense breathing through the phone.

Ah… I get it. She’s worried that her close friend might fall for some weird guy.

“Well… I’ll have to decline her confession.”

I said.

It’s not exactly rejection. Right now, I had things to do. I needed to protect this world from the invasion of the other side world alongside our protagonist, Sasix.

The setting of this game was a small city called Emoshita, but if the player’s group didn’t stop the incidents happening in Emoshita, the world would end. The corruption from the other side would spread beyond Emoshita to the entire world.

Yes. Confessions and such had no meaning. If we couldn’t stop the destruction, everyone would die equally. Therefore, my job was to help Sasix make this world peaceful. Though I wasn’t sure how much help I could be.

It was a characteristic of otaku stories. The fate of the world rested on high school students. If the world was so precarious that its fate depended on high schoolers, wouldn’t it be better for it to perish? As an adult, I couldn’t help having such cynical thoughts.

Anyway.

“Hmm…? Why? What’s your reason? Not that I’m particularly interested.”

Umi persistently asked.

“I’d like to date her if I could. Eri is cute, isn’t she?”

I said. Plus, she was a gyaru who was kind to otaku—an incredible character trait. Being an otaku myself, I wasn’t immune to such character appeal.

“Go die.”

Umi’s voice turned cold. Uh… did I come across as too frivolous?

“But… I have things I need to do right now. I’m too busy for dating.”

I said.

“Things you need to do……”

“Yeah. So I’ll put it on hold for now. Besides, teenage girls’ feelings change quickly, don’t they?”

I said casually. Love isn’t eternal.

“Then… your feelings could change too, right? Your desire to date Eri could change.”

Umi strangely fixated on that point.

“Well, yeah. You never know what might happen.”

I answered noncommittally.

“I see.”

Umi’s voice brightened a bit. Was there something in this conversation that made her happy? Teenage girls’ hearts were difficult to understand.

“So, is your question answered? I should…”

I was about to end the call.

“Just a little more… let’s talk until 2 AM.”

Umi said.

“………”

I don’t want to. Those words almost escaped my lips, but I suppressed them. Well… Umi is sensitive, so she might get upset.

After that, Umi and I chatted about various things. And before I knew it, I fell asleep.

And so, another busy day passed by.