Ch.317Initial S (3)

As night fell, I immediately got up from my seat.

“Alright, everyone grab your gear. Let’s go, guys.”

I fastened my beloved sword, Tomato, to my waist. All of our party members stood up right away.

“Take care.”

Eri and Mika said while brushing Madoka’s hair.

“I don’t know what you’re doing… but come back safely.”

Aki said with slightly worried eyes.

“Aki. For now, let’s trust Shota and wait.”

Aiko immediately displayed the virtue of being the elder.

“We’ll be back quickly!”

After giving each waiting member at home a lingering kiss, I headed straight out the door.

———

“So… where’s the next location, Shota?”

Sasitsu asked.

“I’d prefer somewhere close by.”

Umi said.

“Yeah. Going to the zoo last time was absolute hell.”

Taiga said with a sigh.

“Don’t worry. It’s close by.”

I replied confidently.

The October dungeon was located at the campsite in central Emoshita. It was originally an elementary school that had been closed down. Afterward, it became a café with an abandoned school concept, which failed, and then turned into something like a campsite where retreats were held. There seemed to be an unspoken quota system to use this place within Emoshita, as all the kids who attended elementary school in Emoshita had apparently camped here.

“Ah… this place?”

Umi recalled her memories.

“Yeah. That’s the place.”

It was within walking distance from here.

“A retreat… what’s that?”

Tina seemed unfamiliar with the concept.

“It’s a thing. A shitty thing.”

I immediately recalled my unpleasant memories from elementary school. Yeah, not a single good memory. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call me a professional retreat-goer. Between elementary school and Boy Scouts, I was an elite tactical retreat master. Retreats are strangely military-like, you know. I went to more than ten retreats, and not once did I have a good time.

“Huh? I thought they were fun.”

Umi said.

“Tch. That’s why you’re a normie.”

I clicked my tongue. Typical of popular kids. If their last memory is good, they think everything was good. They’ve got those rose-colored youth filters over their eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?! Look at that condescending gaze!!!”

Umi immediately got angry.

“Shota, what did you do during retreats?”

Sasitsu asked.

“Huh? I just pretended to be sick and rolled around in my room.”

I answered. That’s where I mastered the art of feigning illness. I realized that no matter what activity was going on, they were just running us ragged, so it was best to just skip out.

“…I’m sorry.”

Sasitsu apologized to me.

“Don’t apologize!!!”

I immediately snapped at Sasitsu.

“B-but Shota… you’re living a vibrant, happy life now.”

Kana also strangely tried to comfort me.

No!! Why is the mood like this?! Seriously!!!

“Anyway… a place for retreats. I already hate it.”

Let’s quickly conquer this dungeon and go home. With that thought in mind, I started walking.

———–

There, I encountered an unexpected variable.

‘Emoshita English Village’

A sign that triggered my trauma was written at the entrance of the dilapidated abandoned school building.

“Shit…..”

English Village… that was the source of my trauma.

“KIEEEEEEEEEK!!!”

I immediately let out a shriek, unable to overcome my fear. A symbol of Western imperialism was right before my eyes!!! It wasn’t an English Village in the original game!!! Why did the setting change here?!!!

“W-why are you suddenly like this?!”

Tina looked at me.

“E-English Village!!! To think that this evil thing… has made its way here too!!!”

I immediately collapsed on the spot.

I recalled the past.

———-

“Oh, everybody. Hello hello. I’m Kim Richard, your guide.”

A man who looked like a thug addressed us. That’s just how retreat guides always seemed.

“There’s one rule here.”

Kim Richard opened his mouth and said.

“You must speak English at all times. If you don’t know English? It doesn’t matter. Use body language instead. Internalizing English—that’s what you’ll learn here.”

Kim Richard explained.

“Yes!!”

Of course, elementary school kids couldn’t suddenly speak English. Everyone just answered in Korean.

“Everybody. Get down.”

Kim Richard immediately started disciplining us.

“I say, I told you to speak only English.”

That was… the beginning of Kim Richard’s tyranny.

“The currency used in this English Village is the talent. If you collect talents? Then you can buy delicious snacks.”

Kim Richard said.

“If you speak Korean, you lose points. But… if you report someone speaking Korean, you receive talents. It’s not tattling. This is education.”

With those words, a hell where everyone monitored each other unfolded. If you spoke Korean, you’d be reported and punished. It was nothing short of a system of mutual surveillance.

I… got punished a lot there.

“Oh, it’s you again. Are you being defiant? Get down.”

The scene of Kim Richard disciplining me vividly came to mind.

“Keep quiet. Don’t shout.”

And Kim Richard actually hit my butt with a stick!!!!! By the end of the retreat, my buttocks had turned blue as if covered in blue mold.

———-

“KIEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!! KIM RICHARD!!!!”

I let out a scream filled with hatred.

“Geez… this guy’s acting up again…”

Even Kirtan looked at me with cold eyes.

“Who’s Kim Richard? I’ll teach him a lesson for you, Shota.”

Kana spoke to me kindly, seeing an opportunity. Her intention to score points as the official wife was obvious.

That’s when it happened.

“Ah!! You’ve come!!! Sasitsu’s cheerful comrades!!! The boss is waiting.”

A group of aliens blocked our path.

Shriiiing-!

However, they didn’t seem inclined to let us pass peacefully. They all drew their weapons.

“The boss wants to test if you’re tough enough.”

They immediately assumed combat stances.

“Shota!! Snap out of it!!! Fight!! Come on!!”

Taiga slapped my cheeks repeatedly.

“Kieeek……”

I got up and examined the aliens. They had blue eyes and large noses.

“Westerners…!!!”

These guys are the same as Kim Richard!!!

“Defend the king and expel the barbarians!!!!”

The flame of righteous xenophobia ignited within me.

“Die!!! Kim Richard!!!”

I immediately drew my beloved sword Tomato and charged at them.

Paaaaat-!!

In an instant, I closed the distance and swung my sword.

Pushaaaaak-!!

I blew off one of their heads. Blood gushed like a fountain from the alien’s severed neck.

‘…Interesting.’

The enemies’ levels were in the mid-70s. Quite high. But they felt extremely weak. Each of their movements was slow. This was without even using my Blazing Stance.

That’s right. It’s because I’ve become too strong.

‘Is it because… my stats increased dramatically after defeating Dopli?’

With my strength and agility stats having increased by three digits, I could clearly feel how much stronger I’d become.

Fine by me. It meant I could kill more Kim Richard-like creatures.

“Uryaaaaat!!!”

I swung my sword again.

Pushasasasasasasak-!!

As my sword swept horizontally through the enemies in front of me, the aliens were almost pulverized and scattered.

Pushuuuuuuk-!!

The aliens’ blood rained down on me. The blood of Westerners… has a fishy taste.

“No… Shota. What did you just do?”

Kana looked at me with surprised eyes.

“Huh? What?”

“No. You suddenly became too strong. Even I had trouble following you with my eyes.”

Kana looked at me with bewilderment.

“You didn’t even use the Blazing Stance. Did your physical abilities suddenly improve this much?”

Thumbs-up Man also seemed perplexed.

“Well… I powered up.”

I glossed over it.

“No… it’s not just that level…”

Kana looked at me with extremely suspicious eyes.

Anyway, with just two sword strikes, I dealt with the aliens blocking the entrance.

“Hiiieek….!! Run!!”

“Call the boss!!”

Realizing they were no match, they immediately fled inside.

“Let’s go.”

I said, resting my sword on my shoulder. We all headed inside.

——–

At the entrance of the abandoned school, there was a makeshift dimensional gate. After entering through the gate, a different landscape unfolded before our eyes.

Vrooooom-! Vroom-!!

There was a massive racing rally point. Sleek go-karts were lined up at the starting line.

“…….”

Sasitsu’s eyes were sparkling. Well… he likes that kind of thing.

“Ah!! You’ve come!! Sasitsu, ranked 2nd in the galaxy!! And his vicious comrades!!”

Then, an alien wearing a racing suit approached us.

This was the dungeon boss, the Stunt Master.

“2nd…? Me?”

Sasitsu was confused.

“Ah! News travels slowly to Earth. Pink Beard killed the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranks. As a result, you lot, who were 5th, moved up to 2nd! Congratulations!”

The Stunt Master said while dancing lightly.

“No… what…”

Sasitsu’s expression grew rapidly tired.

“I heard there have been many aliens visiting lately… so that’s why.”

Frill said while massaging Sasitsu’s shoulders.

“To think I’m 2nd without doing anything…”

Sasitsu seemed to have mixed feelings. But who cares? Isn’t winning by default still winning?

“Racing or whatever, let’s just fight. Why waste time like a small fry?”

Taiga pointed his baseball bat at the Stunt Master.

“Taiga… I agree, but it’s too late now that we’re here.”

I said to Taiga.

Click-clack-! Click-!

All the aliens sitting in the rally point’s stands simultaneously raised their guns and aimed at us. Everyone here was a subordinate of the Stunt Master.

“Cowardly…”

Taiga clicked his tongue. Well… we might be able to win if we fought, but someone could get seriously hurt. Umi, for instance, is just a regular person except for her psycho-robo ability. A chaotic battle would be dangerous.

“I could easily win against the likes of you with sheer numbers… but that’s no fun. Let’s settle this with racing.”

The Stunt Master said, pointing to the go-karts.

“Ten of my guys, all of you participating in a race with your lives at stake. If you lose there, you’ll withdraw cleanly. How about it?”

The Stunt Master said with a smile.

“We don’t have a choice to begin with.”

Sasitsu said with a sigh.

“That’s right.”

The Stunt Master said with a vile smile.

“Can’t be helped. Let’s do it.”

Sasitsu said resolutely. He had a very serious expression, but… the corners of his mouth were twitching enormously. Sasitsu… just say you’re excited.

And so, the conquest of the October dungeon began.