Chapter 204: Future Plans
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/
Author: Hirukuma
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
Gumihou: Streamlined the text a bit by editing small details.
Everyone had gathered at Rocky Dog Mountain Floor’s Hunter Association’s meeting room to discuss plans.
“Right, let us look over the information provided by Hakkon one more time,” said Director Bear.
Oh? So, Director Bear will be taking charge even though we’re technically on another Hunter Association group’s grounds?
Inside the meeting room were all the key members of this expedition, the various Directors of Hunter Association as well as Grandpa Shimerai and Grandma Yumite.
“Their base is located on a small island behind the Rocky Dog Mountain floor boss. If we destroy this base, it will cause a significant setback to the Ruler of the Netherworld’s plan to take control of the dungeon. However, we must take into consideration the possibility that the enemy is also in the middle of preparing their forces and that at least three of the Five Finger Generals would be there and possibly the Ruler of the Netherworld himself.”
“Huh, what are the chances of them fleeing the base?” asked the Director of the Beginner’s Floor. She was dressed impeccably in her bright red suit as usual and had taken up the position of a strategic expert.
“Indeed, the possibility is there. Even so, destroying a major base after the enemy has fled would inflict a great blow on them.”
Well, that makes sense. Not to mention, if we take control of that fortress and investigate it, we may even discover some significant information about our family. At the very least, we can make sure that the Ruler of the Netherworld would never be able to use that base again.
“But that location’s pretty tricky, you know! If you disturb that thing, well, things will get really bad real quickly!” Director of Scorching Sand’s voice rang out loudly within the room. Can he even talk without shouting?
“The Rocky Dog Mountain, huh? The boss on this floor generally won’t move unless provoked, but considering what has happened before… it is possible that it would attack at the Ruler’s order.”
This is a valid concern since we know for sure that the Elderwood on Dark Forest Floor had gone out of its way to attack the village. So, it would not be surprising if the Rocky Dog Mountain suddenly awaken to attack people.
“If that thing attacks us while we’re dealing with the Demon King’s army, our forces will suffer a great WOOFing [1] problem!” Director of Darkness howled. Everyone else ignored the lame joke.
“For now, I believe it’s best to send people out on a reconnaissance mission. I believed it would be a good idea for the Director of Darkness to be included in this as well.”
“No problemo~ Leave it to me. I’m confident that I can sneak into the women’s locker room and look under skirts without being noticed!”
All the women in the room suddenly glared at him. [1]
[1] I cannot tell what the pitch-black figure was feeling, but he sure did not act frightened or upset.
“While the reconnaissance mission is ongoing, everyone else is free to go about their business as they please. We may only hear from them by tomorrow evening at the earliest.”
With the meeting adjourned, people started leaving the room.
Ramis carried me on her back as usual, with Pitee clinging to me on the side.
“Hey, Pitee. It’s not safe for you to cling on like that.”
“I don’t… want to leave… Hakkon…”
Once again, the two of them started giving each other dirty looks. Honestly, this is the first time I found myself in such a situation. [1] Before reincarnating as a vending machine, I was never as popular…
Still, this situation can’t go on.
“Hey, you just gonna watch from the side?” Shui snickered at Hyurumi.
“Shut it.”
[2]
[1] Well, if I want to have a peaceful love life in the future. It’s best to be firm from the start. None of this wishy washy ‘dun wanna upset the girl’ nonsense.
“Pi-tee”
“What is it… Hakkon…” Pitee turned misty eyes at me.
“Ra-mis”
“Part-ner” [3]
[3] “Part… what?”
[3] “He said ‘partner’,” Ramis said almost immediately. “Didn’t you, Hakkon?”
“Ye-es”
“A… partner… I see… yes… I… understand…”
Well, well, it looks like she just backed out without a fuss. Looks like all that was needed was clarity on my part. If I had been clear from the beginning, I could have avoided all that fuss.
“It’s good that she understands the situation right away,” said Hyurumi [1] with a little sigh. “That’s great, right? Hakkon?”
“Welcome”
“What’s wrong, Hyurumi?” asked Ramis.
“Nothing, well, really, it’s nothing. Sorry, don’t mind me.” [1]
Now, I really wanted to know, but something tells me not to press things further.
“Mishael… let’s… do our best…”
“Indeed, let us do our utmost best!”
Eh, when did those two get so friendly? I watched in bemusement as two socially awkward people shook hands.
“As for you, Hakkon. Do your best, I shall too…”
“Bi-g Sis”
“I guess that you’re trying your best, but that really doesn’t make much sense,” said Hyurumi.
[3] Hyurumi has one of the hardest names for me to pronounce with my halting diction. Unfortunately, I’m running out of acceptable nickname options.
“Sorry for interrupting your fun, but is it alright for me to borrow Hakkon for a moment?” Director Bear suddenly appeared, putting an end to this increasingly absurd scene.
“Welcome”
Not that I wanted to run away or anything, but the situation was starting to get more than a bit awkward.
“I shall take Hakkon to the back room. As for Hevoy, Shui and Pitee, will you come as well?”
It has been a while since Director Bear carried me around. Right now, the people who were able to transport me alone were Ramis, Pitee, Hevoy and Director Bear.
The room we went to was rather sparse. There was not even any furniture in place. Director Bear set me in the middle of the room, and the elderly couple approached us.
“We heard your report, Hakkon. But from your point of view, what are the chances of Leader Keryoil defecting and coming back to us?” asked the old lady.
“I’d given some lessons to that idiot, you know? So, I guess I feel a little worried,” said the old man with a little sniff.
“That’s not very honest of you, Grandpa. As a parent, we cannot deny our children’s actions.”
Were the elderly couple and Director Bear much closer to Leader Keryoil than expected? Their concerns had been quite evident in the questionnaire too.
“If there is a way to lift the curse on his son, he would leave the Ruler of the Netherworld right away.”
“That’s right, he’s completely reliant on Sulrim, so, unless we can properly lift the curse. That would be difficult.”
“Also, that Sulrim… seems to really like the son…”
I had shown them a video of how Sulrim doted on the son and… aside from Pitee, everyone else had a shadow cast over their expressions as they watched with tightened cheeks and furrowed brows.
The strange atmosphere in the room was quite palpable.
“Well, at least there’s no need to worry about his life-su,” said Shui.
“Indeed, that is the best thing about the situation,” said Hevoy.
The words were positive, but their expressions remained uneasy.
“This is quite an unusual thing, isn’t it? Do you know what it’s called, Old Man?” Grandma Shimerai hummed.
“It’s paedophilia.”
Wow, I never expect the old man to say it just like that. Normally, people tend to tiptoe around such sensitive topics.
“I believe it is because Snow Spirits spent a long time in their child form. Therefore, they may develop an affinity for many young-looking beings,” Director Bear said carefully.
Well, that may be right.
Fortunately, Leader Keryoil’s son has a good head on his shoulders. I believe he will continue to maintain a delicate balance between affectionate and distant without crossing any boundaries.
Sulrim may be fond of the boy, but since she professes to hate all humans, I believe she would not, uh, go for him too easily.
“It is said that Snow Spirits possess the power to break or alleviate curses. If that’s the case, losing Kikoyu is quite the blow.”
“But if we get Kikoyu involved, wouldn’t that mean he cannot separate himself from little Kikoyu?” said Grandma Yumite.
“That’s right, Kikoyu has her own goals; we cannot keep her by our side forever,” said Grandpa Shimerai.
In other words, having her here would only provide a stopgap solution. We still have to properly solve the curse issue in order to bring Leader Keryoil’s party back into our ranks.
“Fumu, we can’t carry the crystal casket around, so let us properly consider the best way to get them back,” said Director Bear.
Everyone nodded solemnly at Director Bear’s words.
In short, we need to come up with some sort of plan for this situation.
“That aside, I am more worried about who would be held responsible for Hakkon’s escape. It is most likely that Sulrim will be held responsible for letting Hakkon escape, which could be dangerous for Leader Keryoil and, more importantly, his son,” said Director Bear.
“Fumu, that’s quite possible. I have no idea what discipline is like in the Demon King’s army, but losing an important key prisoner like Hakkon would likely be bad for her,” said Grandpa Shimerai.
“Even though she was the one who caught him?” asked Grandma Yumite.
“Maybe would just be scolded a little,” said Shui with a thoughtful hum.
No one knew quite how to answer that question.
From what I have heard and seen of the Ruler of Netherworld’s management system, he seems like the type to look down on people, and most likely won’t even spare his own subordinates.
While Sulrim did say that she owed her life to him, it sounds more like an opportunistic ‘rescue’ on his part just so that he could have a tame Snow Spirit to assist him.
“Even if we do look into that, there’s nothing much we can do about it,” said Director Bear in the end.
Well, since Sulrim was the one who [1] organised the rooftop barbecue, I don’t think Leader Keryoil’s party would be blamed. However, there’s still his son to consider.
In the end, it came down to two choices: Either we rescue the child somehow or abandon him.
Personally, I would like to find a way to save him, but as a mere vending machine, what more could I do?
Since he and his entire family helped me escape, I owed them. No matter what, I will try to repay this debt, Leader Keryoil.
[Gumihou: Well, things just got complicated]
[1] Edited details
[2] Deleted some details
[3] Language barrier-related translation fix
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