Ch.42Unfair Blame-Shifting NPC (1)

“Huh, really. Who would’ve thought there’d be someone who faints because his little sister is cute. What kind of disease is this?”

“…It’s not. Just, um. Yes. It doesn’t have a name, but it’s something like a disease.”

Being obsessed with your little sister, well, a sister complex. That’s what it is. I suppose it could be considered a disease in its own way…

“I don’t know when a sister complex became a disease, but could you stop saying weird things while you’re perfectly healthy?”

“I was genuinely worried.”

[Everyone was flustered. I hope this doesn’t happen again.]

“…Sorry.”

Ah, so sister complexes exist in this world too? Damn, how embarrassing.

“Hehe. Big brother~ Am I cute?”

“Yes. The cutest in the world.”

Gorg said “everyone,” but apparently Ira wasn’t included.

My sister climbed onto my lap with a bright smile and nuzzled her head against my face, and I once again endured the pain in my heart. I’m starting to get used to it now.

“Phew. Since I borrowed the boss’s bed too, I’ll pay you extra.”

“Huh? How much did you use the bed? No. Hey, you’re giving an extra 50,000 can?!!”

“…Jack, what on earth…”

“…Don’t tell me. You.”

[Is that 50,000 can for Ira’s cuteness?]

…No. I’m truly grateful.

She’s so cute, and even though it’s naturally coordinated clothing, it has sextuple enchantments to maximize defense, and even her socks match her shoes in color. Shouldn’t I take extra care of her?

“…I did her hair styling and nail coloring myself.”

“Yeah, you! I can’t accept any more. If you’re that grateful, buy this too.”

“Hm? What’s that?”

The old man pulled out a small bag and something like a small wooden box. Huh? What is it?

“A small mana battery. That staff the young lady uses, I mentioned it before, right? Once a day, he said. With this, she can use it up to three times a day. But it’s a bit expensive to bundle…”

“How much is it?!”

“…120,000 can…”

“I’ll take it! Sell it to me!!”

“…Couldn’t Nana or Ray just refill her mana since they have plenty to spare?”

[I could also charge mana into her staff.]

“No! I have to buy this!!”

When you’re not around, Ira might have to fight alone. Since we don’t know when that might happen, I need to prepare things like this. Um, I’m not buying it just to show gratitude!

“Good grief. Fine, I’ll give you a discount! Just pay over 100,000 can! It makes me happy to see someone appreciate our shop’s clothes so much.”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you~!”

As I bow my head and pay for Ira’s clothes and the battery, Ira also raises her hands high to express her gratitude.

The neat middle-aged man’s lips curl up slightly at Ira’s behavior, seeming to understand my feelings a little. Yeah, how could anyone resist someone so cute? At least I can’t!

After finishing our business at the store, we went outside, had dinner, and returned to the inn.

Originally, I had planned to go to the mountains today to level up Ira, but because I had collapsed, it was already too late.

And then.

“…I’m screwed.”

In the evening when everyone was asleep. Perhaps because I kept fainting during daylight, I couldn’t fall asleep.

I carefully detached Ira, who had fallen asleep hugging me, and got up.

[Where are you going?]

“Just outside for a bit.”

[When will you return?]

“…I’ll go register the mountain and come back.”

Right now, I have no additional stats.

These are the stats of someone in the level 150 range. Actually, with these specs, I could still be overpowered in this town, but there’s no reason to be complacent when I can immediately improve my specs.

[You mean right now?]

“I can’t sleep.”

The golem sits down next to Ira with its eyes closed, but the status window—Gorg continues to question me as it follows me out.

Hmm.

“I’ll go by myself. Stay and protect Ira and the others.”

[I should inform you that in this city, there are only two people who could physically threaten us.]

“Huh?”

Two people? Not just one? I had been ignoring even that one since there was no reason for them to appear before us, but what’s this about?

I tilted my head at the sudden report, and Gorg, perhaps having meant to reassure me, continued explaining as I began to question.

[The mayor of this city is quite powerful. Momentarily, but there have been four instances in these five days when I completely lost track of his presence. However, it’s not at an unmanageable level.]

[And the other powerful individual is someone who only frequents the casino in this city, ‘Golden Castle.’ I’ve detected them occasionally checking on us as if they sensed our movements.]

“…A casino addict? Ah.”

Right. That combat NPC.

Definitely someone whose affection meter opens in ep.3. So they’re here now too? Anyway, they’ll return to their place soon enough, and even if they’re a threat, they’re not dangerous, so I can ignore them.

Wait? Did I just understand the difference between threat and danger?

Father! This blockhead finally understands the difference!

“Well, anyway, I’m counting on you. Hold Ira well so she doesn’t wake up. She might get up if she notices I’m gone.”

[Yes. Take care.]

Gorg, who had followed me outside the inn, naturally created a clone to stay by my side, while the main body flew away with a whoosh. Geez.

This is totally like GPS. It’s not like you’re monitoring a husband sneaking out at night, what’s this about?

[Skill: Mountain Manager, Slimaim Golem Tamer.]

[Mountain Manager Effect: All stats increase slightly in mountains you manage. Current increase rate: None.]

[Mountains under management: -Ponia- -Ottoman Empire- (How to register nearby mountains: See details.)]

[How to register nearby mountains: Spend 5 hours subjugating in the mountain you wish to manage.]

[Subjugate target monsters regularly. (0/3)]

Check mountain geography (10km)

…Well. Is this saying I should just do this and come back quickly? Even displaying the status window in advance. Are you really monitoring me?

But why? The numbers are vastly lower compared to the Empire. The recognition from locals has completely disappeared.

Perhaps it’s because the Empire was an ep.5 area? That took several weeks, but it seems like I could achieve this in Aigram tonight?

“Sigh, what’s the point of achieving it? No matter how far I run, being a mountain keeper doesn’t change.”

Without additional stats, I’m twice as weak as my level suggests. And I can’t even level up with ordinary hunting.

…As for Ira…

“I definitely need to help Ira change to a different class.”

Getting the magic staff was, no joke, intentional.

From the beginning, I planned to raise Ira as a ranged backline, a wizard or sorceress who doesn’t engage in direct combat.

If possible, I’d like to raise her as a sorceress who can use teleport when she exceeds level 700. Though I’m not sure if it’s possible.

In terms of intelligence or MP, she has far more potential than me, but then again, who doesn’t have more potential compared to me? Shit. Thinking about it makes me sick again.

“Sigh. Let’s go. A mountain keeper should climb mountains.”

And so, grumbling to myself, I set out for mountain exploration in the moonlight, rather than moonlight calisthenics.

[Skill: Mountain Manager, Slimaim Golem Tamer.]

[new! Skill: Veteran Mountain Keeper.]

[Mountain Manager Effect: All stats increase slightly in mountains you manage.]

[Mountains under management: -Ponia- -Ottoman Empire- -Aigram- (Additional skills will be added as you manage more mountains.)]

[Veteran Mountain Keeper Effect: Half the continent is now under your mountain management. Your stats will slightly increase in any mountain you visit. In areas affected by the Mountain Manager effect, stat increases stack.]

[Mountain Manager Effect: All stats increase in mountains you manage. As a Veteran Mountain Keeper, you can intuitively sense what happens within a 5km radius around you in the mountains.]

[new! Title: Mountain Keeper Who Loved Mountains Too Much.]

“…Huh?”

I just experienced a massive spec upgrade without even leveling up. What, what is this? Is it because I was grumbling? Wow… this is amazing!

My body, which already felt light when receiving additional stats, now feels like a feather. I feel like I could jump over that 30M cliff I was chased down by slimes that day!

Ah!! Should I have grumbled more?! No!! That’s not right. A person should be grateful for what they’re given.

Go!!!!

After lightly tapping and clearing out the weak goblins, orcs, and ordinary wolves of Aigram Mountain, and properly surveying the mountain, the status window started saying incredible things.

The description that said “slight increase” changed to just “increase,” and the phrase “slight increase” was attached to the Veteran Mountain Keeper skill. On top of that, an option like presence detection was added.

Wow… I can really roughly see the locations of animals, plants, and monsters on the mountain.

It’s not like my view of the world has changed or a map has appeared in my head, but I can tell that there are orcs over there, goblins over there, and a wolf den over there. And.

“…Thieves? No, mountain bandits?”

A cave at the mountain peak. I can sense rough individuals with axes and knives carrying a messy killing intent. And.

“Ugh, shit.”

…Information I didn’t want to know is coming in too. I even found out what they’re doing like rabbits pounding rice cakes under the full moon.

It’s a good skill, but isn’t it too invasive of privacy? Well, I don’t need to deal with mountain bandits myself, I should return to the city and report to the guard…

[(!)Quest: Eliminate the demon worshipper’s companions hiding in the mountains!]

“…If there’s any penalty for not doing it, tell me quickly. I really don’t want to do this.”

A quest that popped up like with Ragni. Honestly, I’m not interested, and as someone who wants to avoid killing people, I have no intention of doing it if there’s no penalty.

The only good thing that came from completing quests was riding the carriage in Ponia.

When I met Ragni, I really wanted to turn everything upside down. I wonder what kind of messed-up situation I’ll face if I do this…

[Penalty will occur if quest is not cleared.]

[Penalty – If not dealt with now, someone in your party will become unfortunate.]

“…This is bullshit. Really.”

I started running quickly through the mountains after seeing the status window that seemed to say, “Will you still not do it?”

Damn it. “Someone in your party” means Ira might be involved too. The option to refuse disappeared from the start.

I really hate killing people.

I spat toward the status window rather than at Gorg and ran to the mountain peak.

As expected, it passes right through.

The faces of all my companions who would be sound asleep at the inn came to mind, surely because of my moonlight exercise alone.