Ch.98Divine Gambler (5)

The mobs that could be encountered through random encounters now were between levels 28 and 30. They were the skeleton soldiers that everyone had commonly seen before.

This was the game company’s consideration to somehow make players reach level 30 at this point.

There was a clear intention to have players somehow raise their levels to 30 in order to tackle May’s dungeon.

My role was simple. I had to somehow help my party members level up today.

“Hi Bread Crumbs!!!”

I charged toward the group of skeleton soldiers.

“Krururururk!!”

“Grururururk!!!”

The skeleton soldiers, whose aggro I had pulled, immediately rushed toward me.

“Next!!”

I immediately ran through the alleyways of the old town. The back alleys were also teeming with skeleton soldiers.

“Pinocchio!!”

I immediately threw Pinocchio toward the skeleton soldiers.

Pububububuk-!

Flying like a disc, Pinocchio darted freely among the skeleton soldiers.

“Come back!! Pinocchio!!”

I immediately directed Pinocchio.

“Master!! I feel like I’m gonna die from exhaustion!!!”

Despite complaining, Pinocchio immediately flew back to me.

“Krururururk!!”

The group of skeleton soldiers in the old town alley, along with the ones I had originally led here, all chased after me at once.

The number was about 30. I had gathered them quite efficiently.

“Sasith!! Blast them!!!!”

After gathering all the skeleton soldiers together, I immediately called out to Sasith.

“Got it!!!”

Sasith immediately summoned his recently favored psycho-robo, Uwang 799.

“Gigantic Punch!!!!”

Sasith shouted like that and immediately activated his skill.

“Uwooooooh!!!!”

As Uwang swung his fist, a giant fist struck the ground like a meteorite.

Kwaaaaaang-!!!

With a vibration that felt like a localized earthquake, the bodies of the skeleton soldiers all turned to dust and scattered.

Ding-!!!

Perhaps because a large number of monsters had died at once, the experience bar rose steeply.

Sasith was already level 35. Umi and Taiga had just hit 31.

My level… remained at 30. While it rose rapidly in the dream dungeon, it really didn’t increase here. I almost felt like I was under some kind of curse.

“With this, everyone has surpassed level 30.”

Sasith said.

“Then let’s quickly tackle that flying dungeon. It keeps appearing in my sight and it’s bothering me.”

Taiga said.

“That… let’s do it tomorrow.”

I said.

The current time was 1:30 AM. It would soon be 2 AM. The time limit when the other world would temporarily disappear was approaching.

“Hmm… I see. Then shall we disband for now?”

Sasith said.

“Yeah. I’ll stop by Green Beard’s shop to buy some things needed for the raid.”

I said.

I had accumulated settlement money from the novel, and I still had some New Year’s money that I hadn’t spent before. I’d probably have to spend quite a bit to buy items. That’s what I thought.

It would be a painful expense, but it couldn’t be helped. If we didn’t do something, this world itself would perish. There was no time to worry about money when the world was facing destruction.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to contribute money too, but… I’m a bit tight right now.”

Sasith said in an apologetic tone.

“It’s okay. I’ll cover it.”

I said.

Yeah. Honestly, it’s a shame… but it can’t be helped. I’m the one with the most financial power here right now.

Since it was late, I sent Umi and Taiga home as well.

After that, I immediately headed to Green Beard’s shop.

During the day, it was an ordinary general store, but at night, it was a weapon shop that also sold various combat supplements. Why did Green Beard help players? The reason was simple.

‘Green Beard… a civil servant, huh.’

He was a kind of bureaucrat tasked with hiding the existence of the other world from people in our world. Similarly, Blue Beard of the Soul Room was the same. Roughly speaking, anyone who grew a beard of a strange color could be considered someone from the other world.

However, the other world had already become chaotic, and as the erosion of the other world began, incidents that civil servants couldn’t handle were occurring one after another. The situation was already out of control.

In the end, the people of the other world had no choice but to support the players and hope that they would somehow resolve the situation.

There was a reason why the people of the other world were called “Incompetent S-class” by fans of this game. They made absolutely no attempt to do anything with their own hands.

They were living proof of the “do it for me” meta, the most MZ among MZs.

“Ah… you’re here.”

Green Beard greeted me while smoking his pipe.

Clank-!

Green Beard immediately took out salt.

“You’re not going to try some ridiculous bargaining again, are you?”

Green Beard looked at me with extremely wary eyes.

“Oh no, I won’t.”

I first joked around to ease his wariness. Only then did Green Beard put away the salt. But… I did feel a bit annoyed, to be honest.

“But… aren’t you being too stingy? You’re an agent dispatched under special orders from your side, the other world, to help us. Providing free equipment to help us…”

I was thinking that this much should be possible when we’re trying to save the world.

“Look. Our world doesn’t have a well-established bureaucracy like here. I’m a bureaucrat, but I don’t receive a salary. Plus, I don’t get any support funds. I have to procure everything locally. There’s a reason why I sell things for money.”

Green Beard said.

“…I see.”

I didn’t know about this setting. It’s almost no different from the ancient military colony system. No wonder it’s a mess. I roughly guessed why the other world had become chaotic.

“Anyway, what did you come to buy? Weapons… probably not. You’ve got a pretty good sword. Yoto Tomado, is it?”

Green Beard stared at the sword on my waist. He immediately recognized the name of the sword.

“I need to tackle a dungeon. Please give me healing potions, SP recovery items, and… Doradogang.”

I immediately made my deal.

Doradogang.

It was a consumable item in this game. Once used, it would teleport you directly to the entrance of the dungeon. It was convenient to think of it as an emergency escape device.

As befitting such a convenient item, the quantity available for purchase was limited, and it was supposed to be obtained mid-game. It would appear around the June dungeon raid. Normally, it couldn’t be bought at this timing.

But… I needed it now. Because I had a use for it in that spaceship dungeon.

“H-how did you know about that…”

“You do sell it, don’t you? I’ll pay. Hurry up and give it to me.”

I wiggled my fingers.

“I’ve received orders from above, so that’s impossible. I was instructed to sell it at the June point.”

Green Beard said.

“Who’s your superior? Tell me straight.”

I said.

“Even if I tell you, you won’t know. Now go. I can’t sell that.”

Green Beard said.

“Tell me. I know everyone through connections.”

I said with confidence.

The head of the Earth branch of the other world was “Blue Beard.” He could be considered the boss here.

“Pretending to have wide connections… it’s Blue Beard. Satisfied?”

Green Beard looked at me like I was a troublemaker.

“Blue Beard?! I’m close with him!! I’ll get permission from Blue Beard later!! Hurry up and give it to me!”

I immediately pestered Green Beard.

“No!! Orders are orders!!!”

Green Beard shouted loudly. Really… he’s so inflexible. That’s why he can’t get promoted.

“I!!! From Blue Beard!! Huh? I received such a cool psycho-robo!!! And special privileges to enter secret dungeons at night!!! Huh? You can’t do this for me?!! What? Do you know how close I am with Mr. Blue Beard?!”

I immediately went on the offensive.

I was determined to get Doradogang by any means necessary.

“Even if you say that…”

“Call Blue Beard right now!!! Ask him if it’s possible or not!!”

“Calling my superior so casually is a bit…”

“Make the call!!!!!”

I immediately drew my sword and shouted.

“A-are you threatening me?!!”

Green Beard immediately rolled up his sleeves and said.

“Oh… planning to stop me?”

I said with a smile.

“You… you’re underestimating me too much… I can easily subdue someone like you.”

Green Beard looked at me threateningly and said.

“Sure. If we fight, you’d win.”

I readily admitted that.

“But… even if I’m subdued by you, I can still smash a few expensive items in this shop, can’t I?”

I smiled slyly. Even if I get hit, I won’t take it gracefully. That was my principle.

Yeah. Hit me all you want. But does that mean your wrecked shop will return to normal?

“You… you little shit…!”

Green Beard grabbed the back of his neck.

After a brief exchange of glances, Green Beard sighed and took out his phone. A smartphone used by people from the other world… is this Earth’s technological prowess? This is what scientific victory and cultural victory look like.

Anyway, their conversation continued.

“Yes. Yes, yes. That… Arigiri Shota wants… Doradogang…”

“Dealing with troublemakers is tiring… just give it to him. It’s the same whether you give it in May or June. I’ll write the report somehow.”

Blue Beard’s tired voice could be heard.

“Ah. Yes. Understood.”

Green Beard hung up the phone.

Sighing, Green Beard took out something shaped like ginseng from under the counter. This was Doradogang.

“It’s 5,000 yen each.”

Green Beard said with resignation. His face was full of the self-loathing unique to self-employed people who had been defeated by a troublemaker.

“Give me three!!”

I immediately handed over the cash.

And so, I acquired three Doradogangs.

With that, my preparations for the dungeon raid were complete. Having finished my business, I immediately returned home.

Preparing for the investment competition, protecting the world, being a troublemaker… I was living a fulfilling life in many ways.