Chapter 48 – Re-verse-the-real
After rising to D-Rank, Menew and Ralph tried to accept as many C-Rank quests as possible, in order to get the next promotion.
Apparently, Adventurer Rank-E was just a trial period.
Once you rise to D, you are given your own license plate. It had your name and rank, and was made of metal that monsters disliked. This way, even if you died in battle, they would still be able to recover it.
It was a thin rectangle with holes to attach a chain, so you could wear it as a necklace.
While Totto had been a little behind, he had completed several E-Rank quests through gathering, and was able to receive his D-Rank plate as well.
Aside from hunting, C-Rank also had some escort quests, but Menew disliked them as they ‘took too long.’ and so they continued to only accept hunting quests.
The average hunting level was 35 to 40, and most of them were monsters that wielded weapons and came in large numbers, much like hobgoblins.
The Hammer Inn had now become their main base, and the innkeeper seemed to have taken a liking to them. It probably had something to do with the fact that they gave her lizard meat and paid on time. Regardless, she started to pack them lunches on the days they went out on hunts, which greatly improved their diet.
Once they were able to accept B-Rank quests, they would be able to enter dungeons.
Currently, Menew had just finished a quest, and was now at the library.
While only the capital city had schools, there were many workshops here, and people who wanted to learn. Also, due to the dungeons and monsters in the area, it was important to share knowledge.
The closest dungeon to Muzeria was Labyrinth Kanon. And it had a divine beast. However, the last recorded person to have reached the bottom floor, did it over a hundred years ago.
In order to make a contract with a divine beast, they had to complete seven C-Rank quests. With this resolve in his heart, Menew did not leave the town’s library until it was quite dark outside.
(Damn it. The others will be waiting for me.)
As Ralph would be there, perhaps they would have gone ahead to the usual dining hall.
As he rushed through the crowded streets, lights started to turn on in the stores.
And then he bumped shoulders with a man who wore a low cowl over his face.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
They both apologized quickly and continued on. …Or so it seemed.
With a shiver, ‘his sitting body’ jumped up.
In front of him, there were two monitors and one tablet. There was a tabletop calendar filled with his schedule. His progress. And numerous pens and pencils.
He looked at his smartphone. August 27th. 09:25.
Yes. The day he had died.
The room smelled a little damp, and he could hear the sounds of the air conditioner. While the room’s curtains were closed, he could hear the crying of the cicadas outside.
His breathing became hoarse.
His heart beat so fast that it was painful. The blood seemed to rush loudly through his head.
(I know this room.)
He started to sweat all at once. Even though it was quite cool in the room.
He moved to wipe the sweat and felt that his arms were strangely heavy.
“Ah…”
There was callus from holding pens, but the hand was strangely soft. And bony and white.
He let out a small scream.
Menew… Kazuya Yamamoto, moved his creaking body and rushed to the bathroom. His feet kicked the empty bottles of energy drinks, scattering them on the floor.
He threw up in the toilet bowl. Though it was just water and saliva. Then he closed the lid and flushed.
Like a machine, he washed his hands and gargled. Then his eyes caught his reflection in the mirror.
The terrible, sunken eyes and cheeks. His skin drooped, creating a double chin. His back was curved and tilted to the right. He noticed that his hair was also falling out.
To end up looking like this. It would happen after the way he had treated his body. He thought as his hand reached up to touch the mirror.
The cicadas were still crying. His heartbeat was still fast. And his breathing was rough.
“Hah…hah…”
What about Ralph? Totto? Menew? Seker?
The floor was cold under his bare feet. Even though he was sweating, he felt that his core was freezing.
He had never wanted to return.
It was so late. He did not know what he was supposed to do.
He had finally been able to thank Seker wholeheartedly. Had finally been able to enjoy eating with other people. He did not feel like he would feel alive if he stayed here and just drew.
(I’m scared…)
Yes, scared.
Even though it had been his reality.
He didn’t want to face it now.
The only thing he had built up here was his achievements at work and trust. But his connections with people, taking care of himself, dealing with his past, and everything else that had changed… If he suddenly had to return to this spot. He did not know what to do.
Something moved in the corner of his vision.
He looked and saw that it was a scarab.
Yamamoto’s eyes widened.
He forced his sluggish body to move and catch the scarab. Though, it did not seem like it wanted to run away in the first place.
And then he held the scarab and lay down on his bed, which had not been washed in a long time.
Even though he tried, he found that he could not make a sound.
And so he chanted in his mind.
(Seker…Seker…Seker…!!)
And then he slowly started to lose consciousness.
There was no feeling that he was being pulled up. Only falling.
Even though his head hurt so much that he couldn’t scream, his consciousness left him.
Was it no use then? He wondered one last time. And so, on that bed, Yamamoto died once again.
His weakened cerebral blood vessels, unable to withstand the extreme state of excitement, had caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
UNEXPECTED.
Thanks for the chapter!