Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Flags
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"Is something the matter?"
"Nothing... happened... at all!!"
"Is that so? Then, Mr. Luke, would you please come this way?"
The receptionist who had dragged me here earlier approached us due to the commotion.
She handled the situation with a practiced ease and told us to follow, so I just went along without a word.
Whether that bastard possessing Arthur was here or not, he could go his way, and I'd go mine.
As long as he didn't pull any crap like trying to kill my high-class slave again.
Following the receptionist, we arrived at a place with a platform, where about a dozen other adventurers besides us were gathered.
The receptionist asked us to wait for a moment and then disappeared somewhere.
It seemed no one knew anything aside from the fact that it was an emergency quest, as murmurs spread among the surrounding adventurers.
"The vampire event is definitely supposed to be followed by the beach event..."
The very fact that Yui was beside me meant that all the events that were supposed to happen in this county were already over.
From now on, there shouldn't be anything except the event where I laugh and have fun with the main heroines at the beach, and one sub-event.
'What the hell is this commotion?'
An urgent event like this happens just because that bastard Arthur showed up?
I really did the right thing dropping out of the academy.
'Past me, I commend you.'
After a few minutes of leaving the adventurers to themselves, a familiar face stepped onto the platform.
"Welcome, adventurers. I am Isaac Devon, the lord of Devon County."
The very person we were planning to visit had made an appearance himself.
"To get straight to the point, I have submitted an emergency quest to the Adventurer's Guild under my authority as lord. Thankfully, given the urgency of the matter, it was approved immediately."
The details of the emergency quest Isaac mentioned were as follows.
An Iron Golem had appeared outside the territory.
It was currently heading toward the territory, so he was requesting the adventurers to subjugate it.
I had no idea what kind of monster an Iron Golem was since it never appeared in the original story, but seeing as they had to gather adventurers because the county soldiers weren't enough, it must be pretty damn strong.
The reward for completing the quest was one gold coin per person.
Considering my missing person quest was only worth 45 silver coins after being tripled, this was a generous reward.
"My lord! We would like to help as well!"
Just then, a familiar voice was heard.
"Hm? And who might you be?"
"We are students from Jeomineol Academy. We were just passing by and thought you could use some help, so we wish to offer our assistance."
Passing by, my ass. It's obvious you came here to hunt vampires.
Just as you'd expect from a toilet, he's cleaning up other people's shit.
"Oh... the more talent, the better. Then I'll be in your care."
"Yes!"
Look at that count, all happy.
He has no idea whose fault it is that his territory is being invaded.
A classic case of turning a blind eye.
"Master Luke. Why are you letting this slide?"
"What about it?"
"Normally, wouldn't you kill them all or crush them mercilessly?"
Why are you talking about me like I'm some psychopathic serial killer?
"Because that toilet has a self-cleaning function."
"......?"
I was once curious about how the story would progress if the protagonist died.
But if he dies, there'll be no one to clean up the shit I make, so he needs to at least stay alive.
He just needs to be alive, even if all his limbs are cut off.
"Now then, adventurers, please move to the designated location!"
As the receptionist shouted, everyone began to move in one direction all at once.
I hadn't heard the instructions because I was lost in thought, so I just followed the other adventurers.
The place where the adventurers gathered was the entrance to the territory.
Besides the adventurers, many soldiers were nervously checking their equipment.
"Is this Iron Golem really such a big deal?"
There might be fewer adventurers here compared to the Empire, but there are still about a dozen of them.
Is it really something that requires gathering all those adventurers and even using the soldiers?
Sure, Arthur's a toilet, but he's still the protagonist. Shouldn't he be able to handle it alone?
"...It seems you weren't listening to the explanation at all."
"What did they say?"
I got the explanation I missed earlier from Luna.
Iron Golem.
A named variant of the Stone Golem monster.
It's a steel version of the Stone Golem, which has a central core with stone forming its arms and legs.
There's nothing else special about it; it's just stronger and tougher.
They said a Stone Golem is an early C-rank monster, so I guess you could think of the Iron Golem as a low-end B-rank.
Either very early B-rank or very late C-rank.
Most of the adventurers here are E-rank, D-rank at best, so it was necessary to gather all of them.
And we're one of them.
"Then if we take that thing down, won't we immediately become C-rank?"
"I wonder......"
"By the way, Luna, can you even move properly like that?"
Her walking seemed off when we left the inn this morning.
"Whose fault do you think that is......"
"Is a slave blaming her master now?"
She should be thanking me for giving her my precious seed.
Kids these days.
Back in my day! Slaves were devoted and sincere!
They served with a true and earnest heart, I tell you!
While I was whining at Luna, Arthur spotted us and came over.
With the heroines trailing behind him.
"What is it now, toilet?"
"Just watch. I'm going to show you that a protagonist is on a whole different level from an extra like you. I came to tell you that."
"Really!?"
I asked with a delighted expression, and Arthur answered, flustered.
"Uh, yeah...? Th-that's... right!"
As expected of the toilet!
It's not my shit, but to think he'd take the initiative to clean up such a troublesome mess!
Well done! The people's flesh-toilet!
Having said his piece, Arthur took the heroines and left to prepare, just like the soldiers.
"Since he says he'll take care of it, I think I'll go rest in the VIP seats."
"Where are you going to rest? There's no place to rest around here."
"Luna, lap pillow."
"......"
***
"Who on earth is that man! Calling someone a toilet!"
Tia said, seemingly angry, questioning Arthur.
"Don't be so angry, Tia. It's natural for people to get jealous. He's probably just envious of us."
"Hmph."
"We just have to show him our skills this time."
He had grown stronger than before.
Stronger than in the last battle against the demons, he had found more fortuitous encounters and had trained harder.
The protagonist's body was truly amazing. He could grow twice as much with the same amount of training as others.
At the same time, he had interacted a lot with the heroines and raised their affection levels significantly.
Thanks to that, even though it was early, he was able to come to the region of the vampire event with them.
The vampire event had been snatched away by some pathetic extra transmigrator, but that was fine.
The world was on the protagonist's side, after all. An event that didn't even exist in the original story had popped up.
This was clearly a divine revelation, telling me to show off my power and build bonds with the heroines at the same time!
All he had to do to prepare was draw his sword.
Still, Arthur composed himself and waited for the signal, positioned among the adventurers and soldiers.
"C-Can... Can I really be of any help?"
"Stella. Have some confidence."
Stella.
A very cute character with a petite frame, a large chest, and a timid personality.
She had a good personality, and being a commoner like Arthur made it easy to gain her affection.
And finally, there was Liche, who he had half-forced to come along.
When he'd asked her to come, she had flatly refused, but Tia had managed to persuade her.
Fortunately, it seemed she was willing to cooperate.
'It hurts to be hated by my favorite character, but I believe she'll open her heart to me someday!'
And why wouldn't she? I'm the protagonist, after all.
We're destined to be together!
"I think I see it."
-*Thud!*
As Liche spoke, a colossal monster came into view in the distance.
It was roughly four meters tall. The brilliantly shining orb in its center was its core, and around that core, a golem made of steel had formed, complete with arms, legs, and a head.
'C-Can we really take that thing down...?'
Its sheer presence made even him, the one possessing the protagonist Arthur, have his doubts.
Arthur, who had been momentarily frightened, shook his head vigorously to clear his thoughts.
"Alright, everyone. I'll take the vanguard. Liche and Tia, watch for the right timing and fire your magic from the rear! Stella, block any attacks coming from my blind spots!"
"You can count on me!"
"Okay!"
"......"
Liche didn't answer, but assuming she would help anyway, Arthur started running at the count's signal.
Around him were not only Arthur but also soldiers and adventurers from other parties who were serving as vanguards.
As the vanguard advanced, the mages' spells flew through the air, signaling the start of the battle.
Fire, lightning, earth, wind, water, ice.
A variety of elements surged toward the Iron Golem, and the heroines' attacks, in particular, were far stronger than the adventurers'.
Recognizing the attack, the Iron Golem raised its arm straight up to guard.
-*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
Acrid smoke billowed up with ferocious sounds.
The smoke soon cleared, but if it had been defeated by something like this, there would have been no need for an emergency quest.
The Iron Golem was completely unscathed.
As expected, they had to destroy the core in the center to defeat it.
After the mages' attack, it was the vanguard's turn.
As the Iron Golem raised its arm to attack, the soldiers and the vanguard adventurers defended together.
-*CLANG!*
It was a blow that took several people grouped together just to block.
Seizing this brief opening, Arthur climbed its arm and closed in on the core.
Arthur, having imbued his sword with the mana of fire and water, thrust it toward the core.
However, the Iron Golem immediately protected the core with its other arm, nullifying the attack and forcing Arthur to retreat.
Immediately after, an attack flew toward Arthur's side.
Just when he thought he was in trouble, a rock wall shot up and blocked the attack.
It was a rock wall from Stella, whose specialty was defense.
The battle raged on like this for several tens of minutes.
The Iron Golem finally began to fall.
All that was left was to destroy the core.
"Did we get iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Just then, a voice called out from far behind.
The owner of the voice was Luke, who had been just watching from the back the entire time.
'That crazy bastard...!'
As soon as the flag was raised, a *thud* sound was heard, accompanied by a vibration.
When he looked forward again, the Iron Golem was getting back up.