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Translator: TipToe
Translator (October 15, 2024 Version): Barnnn
Despite Tsutomu’s earlier reluctance, the team’s momentum carried them effortlessly to the fiftieth layer. With a renewed sense of confidence, they vanquished the Shell Crab once again. By the end of their level grinding, Tsutomu had reached level 28, unlocking the <<Fly>> spell.
The thought of flying had always captivated Tsutomu. Brimming with excitement, he cast <<Fly>>. Slowly, he rose into the air, hovering over the ocean… but his triumph was fleeting. His balance faltered, sending him plummeting face-first into the water.
Emerging moments later, Tsutomu slicked his drenched black hair back. His gaze snapped to Amy, who doubled over in laughter at his mishap. Annoyance spurred him on, and he promptly cast <<Fly>> on her as she stood in the shallows.
“Yay!” Amy cried out in exhilaration as she soared effortlessly into the sky, carefree as a bird.
Dragging his soaked robe through the surf, Tsutomu turned his attention to Garm.
“All right, Garm, your turn,” he said, casting <<Fly>> on him.
Garm’s brow furrowed in concentration as he levitated, unsteady at first. “Hmm… This is… tricky,” he muttered, adjusting to the sensation of weightlessness. But soon, much to Tsutomu’s surprise, Garm ascended with relative ease, leaving Tsutomu to marvel at how quickly he adapted.
Determined not to be outdone, Tsutomu attempted <<Fly>> on himself once more. He felt his body rise — then his perspective tilted as the world spun upside down. With a resounding splash, he tumbled back into the water.
Tsutomu continued to practice over the ocean’s surface for some time, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t maintain control. He wrung out his drenched robe, contemplating whether flying was even worth it. Perhaps it would be better to let Garm and Amy carry him instead.
“You just gotta do it, like, SWOOP! WOOSH! And then you go ZIP!” Amy shouted from above, her explanation more chaotic than useful.
“I have no idea what you’re saying!” Tsutomu shouted back, spreading his arms wide in a vain attempt to steady himself, resembling more a flailing tightrope walker.
With Garm offering practical advice — actual advice — Tsutomu finally managed to hover in place. But the moment he reached for a Blue Potion, his control faltered, and he crashed once more into the sea. Amy pointed at him, laughing uncontrollably, while Garm watched with a bemused expression.
Floating on his back, Tsutomu gazed up at the endless sky.
“Ahh… it’s so blue…” he muttered dreamily.
“Tsutomu’s broken!” Amy giggled as she hauled him from the water.
Tsutomu raised his dripping face. “How do you two do this so easily, while I can’t? Guess you’re just naturally talented…”
“It’s probably our DEX ratings,” Garm replied matter-of-factly. “Amy’s is at B, mine is at C+, and yours is… D+. It makes sense you’re struggling.”
“Right… Makes sense,” Tsutomu sighed. “Well, I don’t need to fly and fight like you guys. I just need to not plummet to my death. I do have a Magic Tool for emergencies, so I think I can handle the Valley soon enough. Maybe I should just… accept dying a little more often,” he added with a hollow laugh.
“You’ve only died once, after all,” Garm observed. “Might be good to get used to it.”
Tsutomu grimaced. “On second thought, I’d really prefer to skip the pain, if that’s all right…”
In this world, death wasn’t feared — at least, not by seasoned Explorers. While caution was paramount in other Dungeons, life was a currency spent freely within God’s Dungeon, pain an inevitable companion to their line of work. Sacrifices were sometimes necessary, and avoidance of death was not particularly a virtue.
Garm suggested Tsutomu jump off a cliff a few times for practice, and Tsutomu paled at the thought. Garm and Amy, hardened to the demands of their craft, could cast aside their lives without hesitation, enduring pain with a resolve Tsutomu could not yet fathom. He, on the other hand, still worried about suffering a lethal wound, with or without the Dungeon’s resurrection system.
Pondering whether a Potion might exist to dull his fear and pain, Tsutomu decided to call it a day and head to the Black Gate. Further flight practice would have to wait.
Once they returned to the Guild, the trio parted ways, leaving Tsutomu to his own thoughts. He checked the sum recently deposited into his account by Solit Company: a generous 300,000 Gold.
Earning such a hefty amount for simply sitting through a three-hour interview seemed almost too good to be true. The Large Magic Stone from the Shell Crab, on the other hand, had fetched 700,000 G — yet here he was, earning nearly half that for answering a few questions. The stark contrast wasn’t lost on him.
Tsutomu now understood why Clans relentlessly pursued records in the deepest Dungeon layers. Fame opened doors to lucrative interviews, and those interviews brought in vast payouts. Even he, who had barely gotten to speak, had been handsomely rewarded. The idea of earning hundreds of thousands for nothing more than recounting his experiences was a temptation hard to ignore.
[It’s not like I NEED the money right now, but fighting all the time wouldn’t be feasible — if I die, I could lose all my gear. Yeah… this is definitely the better way to farm Gold.]
Unless the entire party was wiped out, he wouldn’t lose everything, but having a financial cushion never hurt. Moreover, being featured on the giant Monitor certainly helped with fundraising. It might even allow him to purchase his own house one day — as a base of operations for his Clan.
[Well, I’ll take it slow. No rush.]
Fatigued from his earlier struggles with the <<Fly>> spell, Tsutomu made his way toward the Guild’s exit. But just as he neared the door, three men stepped in his path, blocking his way.
“Well, well, look who it is — Lucky Boy!” one of them sneered, a smirk plastered across his face.
It had been some time since anyone dared confront him so openly, and though the sudden hostility caught him off guard, Tsutomu managed to keep his composure.
“What do you want? You know causing trouble in the Guild will get you thrown out by the staff, right?”
“Still acting all high and mighty, huh? You’re pretty cocky for an orphan.”
“Without Garm to back you up, you’re nothing but a joke,” another one taunted.
“If you’re not afraid, why don’t you just leave me alone?” Tsutomu shot back.
One of the thugs — looking every inch the typical troublemaker — grabbed Tsutomu by the collar and hauled him off the ground. But Tsutomu didn’t flinch. He knew full well that any violence inside the Guild would be swiftly punished, and he wasn’t about to give them the reaction they wanted. His unruffled expression only seemed to further irritate them.
Seeing no fear in Tsutomu’s eyes, the man spat in disgust and released him, letting him drop back to the floor. Tsutomu calmly straightened the creases in his white robe.
“Tch. Enjoy your little act while you still can,” one of them muttered under his breath.
“Can I leave now? I’m tired,” Tsutomu sighed, his patience wearing thin.
“Tomorrow’s gonna be fun!” one of them suddenly crowed.
“Yeah, better watch the news, you pathetic piece of trash!” the last one sneered as they sauntered off.
Tsutomu walked past the group of good-for-nothings without a second glance, though he couldn’t help but notice how unusually loud they were today. Their arrogance reminded him of the early days after his “Lucky Boy” moniker had spread, when provocations like these had been almost an hourly occurrence. But ever since Garm had taken to shadowing him, those pests had kept their harassment to whispers and side glances.
So why, he wondered, had they become bold enough to confront him again? The answer didn’t come to him. His mind, wearied by the clumsy attempts at mastering <<Fly>>, couldn’t bring itself to dwell on it for long. After dropping off his gear at the cleaners, Tsutomu returned to the inn, where he took a bath and promptly crashed onto his bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep overtook him.
――▽▽――
As Tsutomu lay soundly asleep on the inn’s soft Slime bed, a sudden, forceful pounding rattled the door, pulling him from his dreams. He bolted upright, eyes wide, heart racing. [What now?] he thought, still half-dazed. Slowly, with cautious steps, he approached the door.
“Tsutomu! Are you awake?”
“…Garm?”
Recognizing the voice, Tsutomu’s grip on his self-defense baton loosened, the tension in his body ebbing away. He unlocked the door and let Garm in, who, without a word, shut it behind him, turning the lock with a decisive click.
“What’s going on? It’s barely dawn,” Tsutomu asked, biting back a yawn. “Are you that eager to explore the Valley already?”
“…Look at this,” Garm said as he thrust a crumpled newspaper into Tsutomu’s hands.
On the front page was an image of Tsutomu, Garm, and Amy — taken during their photo shoot the previous day. Rubbing away the last traces of sleep from his eyes, Tsutomu quickly skimmed through the article beneath it.
Amy the Chaotic Dancer: Is She Being Blackmailed into Joining the Lucky Boy’s Party!?
The Lucky Boy has brought Garm the Mad Dog and Amy the Chaotic Dancer into his party through an agreement with the Guild. This was confirmed by an official contract issued by the Guild Master herself.
However, during a recent interview with the trio, an unsettling discovery was made: Amy appeared to be seeking the Lucky Boy’s approval, bending over backward to please him. This prompted our investigation, and what we uncovered is troubling.
Eyewitnesses within the Guild reported seeing Amy pleading for the Lucky Boy’s forgiveness, only for him to coldly turn her away. The contract’s terms are clear — all party members are to be treated as equals. Yet, according to mid-tier Clan Explorers, Amy was overheard shouting “Don’t leave me!” to the Lucky Boy, who responded with nothing but a smug smile.
After speaking to over a hundred Explorers and several Guild staff, Solit Company has confirmed these shocking allegations. It seems Kyoutani Tsutomu, the Lucky Boy, is holding some kind of leverage over Amy, forcing her to comply with his orders.
The exact nature of this leverage remains unknown, but Solit Company vows to continue investigating until the truth comes to light. We encourage any tips or further information, no matter how minor, to aid in uncovering this dark secret.
The absurdity of the situation struck him hard. Tsutomu couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle as he finished reading, the faces of the smug Explorers from yesterday flashing through his mind. The so-called “sources” were all too blatant — those same troublemakers who had been constantly meddling in his affairs.
“Well, this is a disaster,” he muttered, folding the paper. “I never trusted them, not after they screwed me over the first time — but I didn’t think they’d twist things this much. Maybe I should’ve just flipped them off and headed straight for the Dungeon yesterday.”
“Tsutomu!” Garm’s bark snapped Tsutomu from his monologue, causing him to flinch before turning to face Garm’s fiery gaze. “How can you laugh at a time like this!? You’ve been dragged through the mud!”
“Well… honestly? What else can I do?” Tsutomu replied. “It’s so ridiculous, it’s hard not to laugh.”
“……”
“At the very least,” Tsutomu continued, “we’re going to have to drop Amy from the party until this blows over. Though with a reputation like this, we probably won’t find a replacement anytime soon. This article’s already in circulation, right?”
“…Right.”
“Then it’s out of our hands. The best we can do now is push Solit to publish a correction in the next issue.”
Sighing, Tsutomu neatly refolded the paper and moved to change into his regular clothes. As he did, a stray thought nagged at him — Mirul, the reporter, had seemed a little off after the interview. Perhaps he should have noticed something then — should have been more vigilant.
“So, what brought you here, Garm?” he asked, looking up from buttoning his shirt. “Bodyguard duty?”
Garm nodded grimly. “That, and the Guild Master wants to see you. The Security Team will be stepping in to handle any potential situation, too.”
“Got it. Just give me a minute to brush my teeth.”
Garm watched as Tsutomu made his way to the washbasin, his frustration barely contained. The question had been simmering inside him, and now it finally spilled out.
“…Tsutomu, how are you so calm?”
Tsutomu swirled water in his mouth, spat it out, and shrugged.
“It’s not that I’m calm — more like I haven’t fully processed everything yet.”
“I’m ready to storm Solit right now and make them retract that article,” Garm growled.
“Huh!? Okay, I get the urge — yeah, that’d feel great, and honestly, they deserve it. But it’s probably not the smartest move.”
“…I figured you’d say that. You’re the kind of guy who would still be considerate to those useless Explorers calling you ‘Lucky Boy.’ If you weren’t so against unnecessary violence, I’d already be out the door, on my way to break a few noses…”
Gaem’s hands clenched around the folded newspaper, crumpling it with a sharp rustle before tossing it into the trash. Tsutomu dried his face with a towel, offering a small, weary laugh.
“Whoa, slow down. No need to go that far.”
Garm’s expression darkened, his voice dropping into something more serious, almost pleading. “Tsutomu, listen. When I first joined your party, I was only following orders from the Guild Master. Back then, I thought I’d be teaching you everything from scratch. But after we got through that Swamp… I realized something. I see you as my equal.”
Tsutomu’s light-hearted demeanor faded as Garm’s words settled. He turned to face him, feeling the gravity of the moment.
“…Same here, Garm — for what it’s worth, I’ve never seen you as beneath me.”
“Then stop selling yourself short. You deserve more credit than you give yourself. We couldn’t have made it past the fiftieth layer without you. Two years ago, I was stuck — I couldn’t beat that crab. You showed me the way. You’re stronger than you think.” Garm’s fists trembled as he spoke. “But now, the world mocks you. It kills me to see them treating you like this. So, I’m asking you, Tsutomu… get angry. Let me help. And I’ll handle the rest.”
He dropped to one knee, his face taut with emotion.
[Good God, this is so melodramatic… and he’s not embarrassed at all, is he?] Tsutomu thought, caught between admiration for Garm’s sincerity and an awkward discomfort at the dramatic display.
Most of his friendships back in Japan had been surface-level, built on convenience rather than genuine connection. People sat beside him in university lectures to copy his notes, but never bothered to really know him. He’d grown used to those shallow exchanges. Now, seeing Garm kneeling in front of him, so raw and open, left Tsutomu feeling… embarrassed.
He stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Garm’s shoulder, nudging him to stand.
“I get it, Garm. I’m upset too.”
Garm’s ears perked up immediately, a flame flashing in his eyes.
“Then there’s no time to waste! Let’s–”
“No storming their offices.”
Garm shot to his feet, excitement bubbling up, only for his enthusiasm to deflate at Tsutomu’s calm refusal. Tsutomu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“We’re not going to go that far. But Solit will take responsibility for this mess. And if things don’t go well, Garm, I’ll ask for your help. Deal?”
“…All right! Leave it to me. I’ll make sure they pay for humiliating my teammate.”
“Ahahaha… Thanks, Garm. Now, first things first — let’s go meet the Guild Master.”
They exchanged a look, both wearing mischievous grins. With a sense of resolve settling over them, they strode out, their steps firm as they headed toward the Guild.
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Damn, that isn’t even stating it like an opinion. Blackmail is a crime. Arbitrarily accusing someone of blackmail, especially through a format like a newspaper, is straightforward slander. Does the Solit company not face consequences for illegal slander? That’s worse than a cheap tabloid.
Thanks for the chapter.