Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Mini-Game Paradise
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After that, Spica spent her days diligently training under Eve, and come afternoon, she'd show up at the convenience store insisting on standing guard for me, staring at me with those unwavering eyes.
"Comfy?"
"Yes! Brother! I'm standing watch to protect you!"
I see. Spica's comfy. Standing watch and all.
Parasol and beach chair. A matching table with ice floating in a fruit drink.
She'd take a sip from it now and then while just blankly staring as I worked.
No matter how I looked at it, she didn't seem like she was standing guard.
That beachside camping set was something I'd made for her, too.
The funny part was, Spica really thought she was on guard duty, and that camping set had come from my own goodwill.
"Spica."
"Yes! Brother! Go. Trista Minimum No. 8!"
At Spica's command, a golem as tall as me started shoving fertilizer mixed with healing potions into a sack.
One of the golem's arms was a claw, the other a shovel, so it shoveled in the fertilizer with surprising skill, tied it off, and stacked it in the corner.
Then Trista Minimum No. 9 picked it up and hauled it to the warehouse.
"Next up's this one."
"Yes!"
It wasn't just fertilizer sacks. Most of the heavy lifting around the convenience store was being handled by Spica's golems these days.
Stuff I'd never have dreamed of tackling alone—like stacking sacks, rearranging store shelves, harvesting and distributing grown beans, reinforcing cart frames—we were knocking it all out smoothly.
Honestly.
To be straight with you.
Why's this kid only enrolling next year?
Couldn't she just start this year?
"Spica. Even if you join the student council next year, you think you can juggle the convenience store too?"
"Yes!"
"Got it. If it gets tough, prioritize the store over student council. Understand?"
"Yes!"
Good.
Sorry to Eve, just a tiny bit.
But hey, I've gotta eat too, right?
Watching Spica's golems steadily fill the warehouse, I drifted into thought for a moment.
Spica's Talent of 19 made her golem control incredibly precise, making the cleanup a breeze—not just that, but the whole warehouse organization thing was nagging at me.
There was definitely a mini-game like this.
"Anything else to do?"
"Hm. Nah."
Come to think of it, more places were opening up now, so it was about time to map out routes for mini-games and sub-quests.
What was the easiest and quickest mini-game to clear...
Sub-quests have their own timelines, strictly speaking.
For example, grinding cooking skills lets you run into Emily even in Act 2, or napping in the Frost Plains triggers Lilia—sub-quests unlock once you hit the trigger.
Mini-games are a bit trickier, though.
Sure, there are in-game encounter ones like Mix Bean Collector, but some just drop a [Mini-game unlocked. Proceed from title screen.] system message, forcing you to exit to the title screen to play.
But this is reality now—no way that's possible. From what I've seen so far, mini-games have to be things you can encounter right here in this world...
"Problem is finding where."
Mini-games aren't strictly required.
But a few link rewards to your in-game save data—clear 'em, and the items pop into your game inventory.
We call that save-scumming farming: essential materials, combo items, basics, accessories—you start your playthrough with those rewards already in pocket.
Like dual-curse accessories with magic speed boosts, or ones with skills attached.
For someone like me on hell difficulty, grabbing those would be a game-changer.
Let's see, what's the first one worth checking...
As I sketched out quest and mini-game routes at the convenience store, the door burst open with a bang that rattled my eardrums.
"Wolfram senior!"
"Nefti, huh."
"Found a money-maker! This one's a real jackpot!"
"Go home."
Same old Nefti pattern.
This guy's not falling for those hassles anymore.
But despite my firm refusal, Nefti leaned in with sparkling eyes and yelled.
"No, really, jackpot! Senior! A dungeon popped up at the construction site! Adventure! Adventure!"
"Where'd that dungeon pop? Residential area?"
"Yes! You know the Knight Division's 13th District construction site in the residential zone?"
"Yeah. The new build going up."
"Yep. They were clearing the outer woods and found a dungeon entrance!"
"...A dungeon in the woods? What'd the entrance look like exactly?"
"Had a '1' written on it, and a statue. The statue was shaped like an open book!"
Ah.
That's the one.
"I see. Does Eve know about this?"
"Y-yes? ...Oh, yeah. She said she'd check it herself..."
"Tch. So she knows. Fine. Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Where do you think? That dungeon."
Better not be too late.
No matter how much Eve hates it, seeing something gruesome like that would suck, right?
Riding the Black King Tiger driven by Partlashu, we arrived at the 13th District site to find yellow caution tape strung up past a certain point.
Couldn't go farther, so we dismounted.
"Partlashu, guard the Black King Tiger."
"Mm. Will do."
A few steps in, and there was a clear "No Entry" sign.
Kelters couldn't get past in the original, but I'm not Kelters.
"Hey, this area's..."
[Step aside. Do you not know who I am?]
"Y-yes! Sorry!"
The blocking Knight Division student jumped aside.
Right. Who am I?
The academy's worst tyrant. The imperial scion no one dares touch.
Even demoted to regular student status now, no one meets my eyes.
...I never wanted to pull rank like this, but there's a damn good reason I have to.
"...Senior. This isn't a normal dungeon? Some kinda joke dungeon?"
"From what I read in the imperial archives... probably."
"Then let me take point. Stay behind me. [Guardian Formation: Iron Wall Defense: Target Designation]"
"Thanks."
Nefti led protectively, slicing through rocks and weeds in our path. Meanwhile, I had to crank my brain into overdrive.
Tch.
Vision's shaking a bit, head's dizzy. Wolfram von Loengrin's Intelligence isn't low, but his Will stat sucks. Too much thinking at once brings headaches.
The Imperial Bloodline—what they call mental immunity—is barely holding it at bay. Without it, I couldn't think straight.
Anyway, by the time I'd sorted my thoughts, we reached the dungeon entrance.
And there was Eve, staring it down.
"Go any farther, and even you won't get out unscathed. Eve von Loengrin."
"...Wolfram?"
What was this girl planning to waltz in alone?
Does she even know what kind of dungeon this is?
"Step back. Eve."
I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her behind me.
But only my arm budged. Eve stood rooted like stone.
What kinda pathetic strength and stamina is this? For real.
"Uh, um... okay."
"......"
Eve yielded to my pull, stepping back two paces with that look—like, Is that all you've got? For real? No way this is happening? Don't give me that tender pity. It hurts my heart. Stop.
I shoved Eve back and eyed the dungeon.
Yup. Book with a "1" beside it.
"Mind if I ask—do you know what this dungeon is, Wolfram?"
"I do."
"Explain clearly. Not another 'I read it in the imperial archives'? This was dug up today. You don't seriously think that'll fly?"
"It's the great ancestor's arrangement."
"Huh?"
"Hark von Loengrin. The great ancestor's arrangement."
"......You just."
"I know. But if I don't say it like this, you'll keep prying."
To imperials, the founding emperor Hark von Loengrin is a name too sacred to utter.
He's that revered. We call him the Great Ancestor, never daring to speak his name outright. Unspoken rule.
"Hah, fine. Where'd you get that info?"
Hm.
Official setting booklet?
"...I'm the former student council president, the one who pulled off the most villainy in all Jefrin. You really want me spilling every shadow I've seen, every secret I hold? You ready for that?"
"Ugh. Anyway, so this is... a dungeon left by the Great Ancestor?"
"Yes. Six dungeons total. Each with unique features."
"Then we should seal it off first. Form a raid party after, or just scrap it entirely. Nefti. Contact the Knight Division students now..."
"No."
I shook my head, startling Nefti and Eve into staring.
"We're raiding with this group. Now."
"Huh? Didn't you just say it was dangerous? By your account, it's risky even for me."
"Yeah. Dangerous. Even deadly for you."
"Doesn't make sense. You're saying you're safe? How?"
"Simple. I know the clear method. It's literally just an 'arrangement' if you do."
"......Huh?"
"Nefti. You in?"
"Of course! When else do I get an adventure this fun?"
Nefti bounded to my side with shining eyes at my words. I nodded to Eve; she sighed, hand to forehead.
"Wolfram."
"What."
"What if I knock you out with a flash bang right here and block you from going in?"
"Word's already out. Even the Black Flag boys'll come sniffing. Gonna let those curs trample the founding emperor's arrangement? Hand it off to another imperial? Or a third party?"
"Ugh. When you put it like that... obviously we have to."
"Exactly. It's our duty."
Eve pondered, then stepped toward me twice over.
"Fine. Let's go in."
"Mm."
Stone dungeon. Flat corridors wide enough for ten abreast.
Weird patterns etched on walls, unlit torches at intervals.
Not too dark inside. Every step lit the flanking torches with flame.
And with each step forward, Eve started staggering hard.
"Ugh, urgh..."
"President Eve! You okay?"
"I'm fine. But this... what... my mana... it's dispersing...?"
"No force allowed in this dungeon made by the ancestor. Your mana too."
Official stats put founding emperor's mana at 22, but loaded with gear? Easily over 25. His dungeon—no slouch even for stat-heavy Eve.
"Hah, let's pull back. Senior Wolfram. Too risky here."
"No backing out in this dungeon. Check behind."
"...St-stone wall!?"
Nefti glanced back—the way out was sealed by stone.
"Forward. Eve, you good?"
"Yeah... this much!"
Eve straightened up as she spoke.
Soon the corridor ended, blinding light spilling into a plaza.
Simple terms: stone circular arena.
Exit visible opposite, but walled off.
"This the... dungeon?"
"More like a plaza than a dungeon..."
"Everyone to the arena center."
"W-wait! Going ahead's dangerous, senior!"
"Wolfram! Together! Come on!"
We three gathered at center. I looked up at the endlessly high ceiling.
"Wolfram von Loengrin and two others. Commencing trial."
A rumble—entry sealed shut, arena plunged into silence.
"Ah... the door?!"
"Ngh... stay sharp! No telling what'll come!"
Yeah. No telling what'll come.
Except I do.
Soon static crackled across the arena.
Then a voice boomed, unimaginable for the space.
"......Huh?"
"......What?"
Hearing that penalty, Nefti and Eve shuddered.
"......Just kill me!"
"Stats below Wolfram's...? C-can you even live like that?"
I agree, but aren't you exaggerating? I've survived on Stamina 2.
"J-just answer carefully. Right, Senior Wolfram?"
"Wolfram reads a ton. We can listen and think it through slow!"
Eve and Nefti looked to me hopefully.
Well, yeah. True enough.
"Speldiarabi."
"Senior!?"
"Wolfraaam!?"
"......"
"......"
Hm. Just as I thought.
The pattern's random, but total questions fixed.
From memory... around 500 total?
"Next question, please."
Been ages since this nostalgic mini-game.
Time to test if I remember 'em all.