Chapter 129
Nishino-kun handled persuading Shibata-kun and Goshogawara-san.
Goshogawara-san accepted it without much fuss, but Shibata-kun looked at me and clicked his tongue pointedly.
“...It’s not like I accept you or anything. I’m only going along with it because Nishino-san decided. Don’t get the wrong idea, got it?”
And that was the first thing he said.
Scary. This kid’s really glaring at me.
“Kyuu...”
Kiki was clinging to my leg, trembling as if to say, “What’s with this guy? He’s scary!”
Apparently, my impersonation of Ichinose-san had really gotten under his skin.
Well, I can’t exactly defend myself on that one.
It couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t let Ichinose-san give herself away.
“Listen, if you try anything funny with Nishino-san or any of our friends, I’ll— Ow!”
“Hey! What are you doing, Shiba-cchi? Big bro’s one of us now, so no more of that!”
“Tch... I know.”
Rikka-chan scolded him, and Shibata-kun backed down.
Nishino-kun stepped forward in his place.
“All right, Kudo-san, there are a few things I’d like to confirm about what we’ll do from here.”
With that preface, Nishino-kun began.
“We’ve been calling our friends here. We’ve confirmed through Email that they’re all alive, so they should make it here sometime today.”
There were eleven people in all on their way here.
Apparently, they all had Skills and decent levels.
That would significantly bolster City Hall’s forces.
“So, about that—”
“Oh, could I ask one thing first?”
“...What is it?”
“I’ve been wondering about this for a while, but you don’t have to speak formally. You can talk to me the way you normally do, you know?”
At that, Nishino-kun looked puzzled.
“...But wouldn’t it be rude if I spoke casually while you’re using formal speech? You’re older than me, aren’t you, Kudo-san?”
“I’ll be 21 later this year, once my birthday comes around.”
Nishino-kun was a high school senior, so when I thought about it, we weren’t that far apart in age.
“Then—”
“But I don’t mind. My formal speech is more of a habit, really. It’s easier for me to talk this way.”
That’s how it is for corporate wage slaves: we use polite speech with just about everyone.
It gets drilled into you.
And the fact that Nishino-kun even worries about things like that really shows how polite he is.
He looks like a flashy delinquent, but deep down he’s serious.
“Besides, I’ll still be passing myself off as Ichinose-san here at City Hall, so it’ll probably be more convenient if we keep talking the way we have been.”
Switching how you speak is harder than you’d think.
It can just slip out when you least expect it. I’ve let it slip a few times with Fujita-san myself.
So I’d like Nishino-kun to keep speaking the way he normally does, as much as possible.
“...Does that mean she still can’t come here?”
“She probably can’t. I got an Email from her just now, but she said, ‘I’ll do my best. I’ll give it positive consideration.’”
“Oh, yeah, that definitely means she can’t make it.”
Rikka-chan nodded emphatically.
I thought so, too.
“...Got it. I mean, I understand, Kudo-san.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
Nishino-kun cleared his throat and resumed the conversation.
“All right, let’s continue. We’ll head out to explore again this evening. While we’re out, I’d like to see how we work together and get a look at each other’s Skills.”
We could explain them verbally, but we’d learn a lot more by seeing them in action.
I agreed with that.
“In that case, could I ask what everyone’s Jobs and levels are?”
“Sure, of course—”
Nishino-kun started to say, then stopped.
His gaze flicked toward Rikka-chan for a moment.
“...By the way, do you know what Job Rikka has?”
“Yes. She’s a Berserker, right? That’s what Rikka told me herself.”
“...”
I wondered what was wrong.
Nishino-kun seemed a little surprised.
“...No, never mind. My Job is Commander. I have Skills that strengthen teamwork and boost each person’s abilities.”
Oh, Commander, huh?
So that light coming from his hand earlier was the same kind of Skill as Kiki’s buffs.
It was a fitting Job for Nishino-kun, the leader. His current level was 11.
He also explained Shibata-kun’s and Goshogawara-san’s Jobs.
Goshogawara-san’s Job was Adventurer. His level was 9.
Apparently, he mainly fought with a log as his weapon.
“Um... why a log?”
“Hahaha! Well, obviously, it’s because logs are the easiest to use and the strongest weapon.”
The middle-aged office worker said it with a smile, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
O-oh, I see...
And the surprising one was Shibata-kun’s Job.
His Job was none other than—Doctor.
(With that look, I thought he’d have a combat Job!)
Well, it’s a pretty important Job, though.
But I couldn’t help thinking it to myself.
His level was 10. He’d also learned Spearmanship, so apparently he could fight monsters just fine.
When I asked why he’d chosen Doctor, he said his family had been doctors for generations.
He’d studied a little medicine himself, so Doctor had appeared among his starting Jobs.
Apparently, he’d wanted to choose Spearman or Brawler, but the others—especially Nishino-kun—had urged him to pick Doctor, so he’d reluctantly gone with it.
(Sounds like there might be some complicated family stuff going on...)
I decided not to pry. He didn’t seem to like talking about it, either.
Apparently, the Doctor Job let him create medical equipment and medicines by consuming MP.
It also let him identify a patient’s condition, determine how to treat them, and figure out how to administer first aid.
Doctors are incredible. That could dramatically improve a party’s chances of survival.
Yeah, it’s a far better Job than Brawler.
“All right, I’m up last. My Job is Ninja, and my current level is 22.”
At that, Nishino-kun and the others began murmuring.
I heard things like, “Ninja...?” and “Level 22...?”
“Yes, Ninja. As the name implies, I can use Ninjutsu. It’s very convenient.”
I also explained the Skills I’d acquired, as much as I could without revealing too much.
Just as I had with Rikka-chan.
Their reactions were much the same, too.
(Early Bloomer really is an incredible Skill...)
I had multiple Jobs and a whole lot of Skills.
And our stats were probably worlds apart, too.
(But that doesn’t mean I feel superior or want to brag about it.)
Besides, I don’t fundamentally believe I’m the only one who’s been chosen.
I just happened to meet the conditions.
(The condition for getting Early Bloomer was defeating my first monster... right?)
I think that was what the announcement said.
If so, then there might be conditions like your first murder or your first use of a Skill, for example.
There must be people who’ve met some kind of condition and gained powerful Skills or Jobs.
Even monsters might have unique Skills of their own.
Thinking you’re the only one who’s special could cost you your life.
(Besides, all I want is for Momo, Ichinose-san, and the others to survive.)
I want nothing more than that.
I’ll just do everything I can to make it happen.
That’s why I decided to team up with Nishino-kun and the others, who seem to share the same outlook.
...Oh?
“It’s about time. Let’s head outside and—”
“Wait.”
I raised a hand to stop Nishino-kun as he started to stand.
I immediately used my Transformation Technique.
“Kudo-san, what are you—”
“Search picked up something. Someone’s heading up to the roof.”
“Huh?”
At that, everyone turned toward the door at once.
The door flew open.
Chief Shimizu appeared.
“Good work, everyone. Any trouble?”
“Good work. No problems to report. We haven’t seen any monsters.”
Nishino-kun answered on everyone’s behalf.
“Good. Then could everyone come to the conference room right away? Something urgent has come up.”
“...Did something happen?”
He must have sensed something was seriously wrong with Chief Shimizu.
Tension ran through us.
“Kamome-chan... I mean, Nijo-san’s group just got back. They said they found a creature that looks like a Queen Ant.”
“...!”
We all held our breath at her words.
The Queen Ant, like Titan, was a target that had to be eliminated.
If they’d found one, then this really was an emergency.
“We’d like to discuss it with everyone here and verify the information. If it’s true, we’ll have to put together a team to take it down right away. We’d like to hear your opinions, too.”
“...Understood. If you want our input, we’re happy to help.”
“Thank you. We’ll have someone else take over the watch, so please come with me.”
We headed to the conference room with Chief Shimizu.