“Kyu! Kyukyu!”
The fox is looking at me with its sparkling eyes.
A Lesser Carbuncle.
That is apparently this fox’s race.
“What the… a fox?”
“Fujita-san, it’s not a normal fox. It’s most likely a monster. Look at the gem on its forehead.” There is a red gem on the Lesser Carbuncle’s forehead. No, maybe it’s its magic stone? Fujita-san’s expression changes the moment he sees it.
“…Indeed. Hmm, so there are monsters like this one…”
While saying so, he readies his handaxes without relaxing his guard, preparing himself against his opponent. I’m impressed by his attitude. It appears that he hasn’t experienced the shuraba for nothing. (TN: I’m assuming that he’s talking about the past few days.) “Kyukyu.”
Unlike us, the Lesser Carbuncle approaches us happily whilst waving its tail. It doesn’t seem to be vigilant at all.
(Is it perhaps thinking that we saved it?)
It was wrapped by the huge spiders’ threads. It was most likely about to be eaten when we arrived and annihilated the spiders. From an outsider’s perspective, it would indeed look like we saved it… (But this is all a coincidence after all…)
We didn’t come here to save the Lesser Carbuncle, but the end result is still the same. Just in case, I load my gun, but the Lesser Carbuncle trembles in surprise.
“Kyu? Kyu, kyuu! Kyuuu!”
While trembling in fear, the Lesser Carbuncle stares at us.
I’m not hostile, it seems to say.
“…It’s cute.”
Fujita-san who has his handaxes ready says so with a serious face. He currently looks like a dad who is being looked at by a Chihuahua.
“Fujita-san?”
“Ah, sorry about that. It’s not like I’m not wary of it… But doesn’t it look really fluffy and cute?” …Is this old man alright?
The Lesser Carbuncle also tilts its head in confusion. Fujita-san is surprised by this gesture. おっさんの頬染めとか誰得だよ……。 (Wait. What if this guy also has a Charm skill like the one that the Student Council President has…) When I try to scrutinize it, the Lesser Carbuncle lies down on its back. With its belly facing the sky, it stares at me with teary eyes.
Oh, that’s not it. Its actions just serve to show how clever it is. But it’s unfortunate. No matter how cute and mofumofu you are, I already have my close partner Momo. Hence, my heart will never shake.
It isn’t mofumofu which I like, it is Momo who I like. It’s precisely because it’s Momo that I like her. No cheating. Definitely not.
(Speaking of Momo, she enjoys being rubbed on her stomach when she exposes her stomach like that.) When I stroke Momo’s stomach as she lays her back on my knees, she lets out a “Kyuu” to express her satisfaction.
Her cuteness is destructive. The destructive power is so great that it compels others to continue stroking her. Momo is cute and heals me even in my delusions… I miss her. I want to quickly meet her.
“Lesser Carbuncle looks at you as if you were a friend. Do you wish to befriend it?” Again, the voice inside my head raises an alert. How annoying. To begin with, what’s the merit of having this guy as my companion?
“Furu furu.”
The gun on my hands shakes.
(…N? Does Aka think it’s a good idea to accept the Lesser Carbuncle?) (…Furu furu!)
Aka shakes violently. Definitely! It feels like Aka is claiming so. Isn’t this the first time Aka is expressing its opinion so assertively? Un, what to do….
While wondering, Aka who is in the form of a gun shakes unnaturally for a moment. Then, the Lesser Carbuncle who has been lying on its back suddenly gets up.
“Kyu!”
The gem on its forehead shines. A pale light wraps around myself, Fujita-san, and even Aka.
“This is…”
“What’s this light? I can sense power…surging into me?”
Is this the light I saw back then during the battle with the spiders? Back then, I also felt my strength rise when I was enveloped by the light.
“Perhaps…”
I check my status.
Kudou Kazuto
Level 19
HP: 210/210
MP: 58/58
Strength: 157 (+16)
Endurance: 153
Agility: 338
Dexterity: 308
Magic: 35
Magic Resistance: 35
There is something that was never there on the status before. Next to “Strength”, there is the number 16. It should mean that 16 points worth of strength has been added to my status.
“Kyu! Kyu! Kyu!”
The gem on the Lesser Carbuncle shines even brighter. In response, the glow on our bodies intensifies and the status of our “Endurance”, “Agility”, and “Dexterity” increases.
Numerically, it is an increase of around 10% to 20% of our original status.
(Support skills… something like a buff huh…)
That must be this fellow’s skill. When I look back at the Lesser Carbuncle, the Lesser Carbuncle shakes its tails as if it’s saying Impressive right? Praise me! Praise me!
“Lesser Carbuncle looks at you as if you were a friend. Do you wish to befriend it?” For the third time, I hear a voice inside my head. Certainly, this is a useful skill which is quite attractive.
(Wait. Aka, you knew about this?)
In response, Aka shakes as if to say, Yes. Somehow.
(Now that I look back, Momo reacted in a similar fashion back then when we picked Aka up.) It might be something like an instinct which animals and monsters possess. I would like to discuss with Momo and Ichinose-san, but that won’t work in our current situation… I’ll contact them later on.
(Haa… Okay, Aka.)
I select yes within my head.
“The Lesser Carbuncle has become your companion.”
“Certain conditions have been met.”
“The occupation ‘Monster Tamer’ has become available.”
“The occupation ‘Monster Tamer’ was originally available.”
“If the occupation ‘Monster Tamer’ is selected as a new occupation, it will automatically start from LV 3.” … I’m not even thinking of becoming one, but the level of “Monster Tamer” is increasing gradually. It’s as if “she” is whispering to me and compelling me to take the occupation.
No, it must just be my imagination. Let’s leave it at that.
“Kyukyu!”
The moment I choose yes, the Lesser Carbuncle jumps onto me with tremendous momentum. It’s trying to use its front legs to cling to my stomach region desperately.
“H-hey, are you alright, Ichinose-chan…?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. For some reason, it’s quite intimate with me…” “Intimate, is it…It’s still a monster you know?”
“Oh, actually—”
I tell Fujita-san about the Lesser Carbuncle becoming my companion. Fujita-san appears to be shocked.
“Looks at you as if you were a friend… That really sounds like a game…” “Yes….”
“Un, but a monster…”
Fuijta-san makes a difficult face while rubbing his chin.
“The mayor may be fine with this, but persuading the other members would be quite the task… And also, when we arrive at the Defense Force base, make sure to hide it. It’s bound to cause a disturbance otherwise.” “Um… Fujita-san, are you fine with this?”
I ask him nervously, but Fujita-san replies with a soft look on his face.
“Eh? Of course I’m fine with it. Even if it’s a monster, if we don’t have to kill it, isn’t it for the best?” He laughs it off as if it’s nothing. I’m quite impressed at his response. He is no doubt different from my former colleagues.
“Kiyu, kiyu!”
The Lesser Carbuncle takes a seat on my shoulder. Apparently it likes it there. Its tail is touching me, so it somewhat feels like there is a muffler around my neck.
“But this guy is really cute.”
He extends his hand to gently stroke the Lesser Carbuncle’s head.
“Kyu!”
Unfortunately, it dodges.
“….”
Suu
“Kyuu!”
Sasa
“………”
Suu, suu.
“Kyuu! Kyuu!”
Sasa, sasa
“Hey, am I disliked?”
“W-well…”
I fail to say anything to Fujita-san who is looking slightly…no, quite downhearted.
“Oh right. Do you want a name?”
The Lesser Carbuncle nods to my question. It wants one.
“In that case I’ll…”
“Shah!”
“…” Shobon
Leaving Fujita-san who is depressed aside, I think carefully.
“Hmm, how about Kiki?”
Because it has yellow fur like a fox. Just like that time with Aka, I suggest a name using my straightforward naming sense, but Kiki smiles in satisfaction.
“Kyu!”
Apparently it likes the name. Oh yes, I should check its status. I immediately check on the information regarding party members.
Kiki
Lesser Carbuncle LV 7
LV 7. That sounds about right.
Ichinose-san’s status screen should also display Kiki’s name on it, so I should contact her soon… “Now then, Fujita-san, we should leave.”
“Ah, yes.”
I restart the bike with Kiki on my shoulder and Fujita-san behind me.
“Hey, Kiki-chan, can I just have a slight—”
“Shah!”
I laugh unknowingly as I watch Kiki and Fujita-san have such exchanges.
However, at this time, I had no clue. No clue that, aside from buffing party members, Kiki has another outrageous skill and that the skill would prove pivotal in the battle to come.
On the other hand, Nishino and Rikka’s party was out to subjugate the giant ants.
“Nuoriyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The log that descended down crushed the head of an ant. Accompanied by a dull and blunt sound, a yellow magic stone fell to the ground.
“You have gained experience.”
“Goshogawara Hachirou’s level has increased from 8 to 9.”
“Fuu, fuuu. Did it work!?”
Goshogawara checked the condition of the new log. Apparently, there was a log sitting around in the office.
“Oh, Ossan, not bad. Then here as well!”
Rikka held her billhooks on both hands and charged into a group of ants. The ants that were weakened by the insecticides were not able to resist the strength of Rikka. In the blink of an eye, the ants were cut down and turned into magic stones.
“You have gained experience.”
“Aisaka Rikka’s level has increased from 13 to 14.”
“Yes! My level increased again.”
“Don’t let your guard down, Rikka. Our surrounding is dark, so there might still be ants waiting in the darkness.” “I know, Nisshi.”
They were currently at the shopping district near the City Hall — The Underground Shopping Area. After throwing in smoke pesticides into the ants’ nest, one of the holes was found to be connected to an underground shopping area in the vicinity.
When they entered with caution, they encountered numerous ants within. Since the ants were weakened by the pesticides and the attack force had Rikka, they believed that it would not be a bad idea to diminish the enemy’s force. As such, they set foot into the ants’ nest.
As a result, they were able to reap a huge harvest. By defeating a large quantity of ants, they were successful in raising the level of everyone in Nishino’s team.
(I’m afraid we have yet to enter their true nest…)
The flashlight was pointing at a direction that was even deeper in than the Underground Shopping Area. From deep within, they sensed something ominous.
(No barging in thoughtlessly. We must gradually deplete their strength before arriving at the deepest part of their nest.) This much should suffice for now. After analyzing their situation, Nishino gave instructions to retreat.
(Oh, I wonder if Ichinose-san is doing well.)
The image of the girl who left an hour ago flashed past his mind. She was Rikka’s best friend and their new companion.
(Even though she claims to be introverted, it somehow feels like she’s building a wall around her…) He thought there was something strange about the way she acted, as if she was acting. It was most likely the case of her being distrustful of others.
There’s no helping it, Nishino thought. They would have to build their trust from now on.
(Un, she would want to have an idea of how we’re doing here, so I should send her a Mail.) Ho-Ren-So was important. Report, inform, consult. Information sharing was critical in a situation where they had limited ways of communicating. It was better to know each other’s situation. Nishino casually checked his Mail address list.
“Mm?”
He tilted his head. It wasn’t there. Ichinose Natsu’s name didn’t exist on his list.
Strange. He met her yesterday at the Napping Room. Her name should’ve been somewhere around Fujita’s and Shimizu’s, but it wasn’t there.
Nishino looked for her name while tracing the screen with his fingers. Where the name Ichinose Natsu should originally have been at, what was listed there was“Kudou Kazuto?”
He had no recollection of such a name. A name which should have been there. A name which shouldn’t have been there. Confusion. Doubt.
“What is going on…?”