Arthur’s Request

　

"……So?　In the end, what was your goal?　You said something about your daughter."


　A few minutes after the attack from the Giant Bats.
　After confirming that no more monsters were hiding around, Akira and Nao listened to the man's story again.
　That said, it was only Akira who was asking Arthur. Nao was listening to their conversation from a short distance away, perhaps because she was still wary of the suspicious Arthur.

"Well, as you can see, first of all…… Me and Olivia got married with a big age difference. It's been about ten years since I met her…… That was when my Japanese was still poor――――"
"Leave that stuff out, okay? Get to the point, please."

　He interrupted Arthur's words.
　Only a few minutes have passed since he met this man. And even though it was only for a short time, Akira had already begun to understand how to treat Arthur.
　Arthur didn't seem hurt or angry by Akira's words, and he opened his mouth as if to correct himself, saying, “I guess so”.


"Olivia and I had a daughter together. We were together up until two days ago, but…… She was kidnapped by a monster. I'm looking for someone to go with me to that dormitory."
"Kidnapped?　Who would do such……"
"A Killer Bee."
"A Killer Bee? Those Killer Bees?”

　Akira frowned at Arthur's words.
　Arthur nodded at Akira's words and continued.

"That's right. It's an incredibly large bee monster. The station building in a town further west is their hive. Have you noticed?　There are Killer Bees in the surrounding towns, right?　All of them are soldiers who have flown out of that hive, so to speak. After my daughter was kidnapped, I went to that town many times using stealth, but…… There are just too many. It's safe to say that the city is now controlled by the bees. If I were to venture into such a place, or even into the hive itself, I would probably be killed in an instant. That's why I need comrades to fight alongside me."

　Akira nodded in understanding at Arthur's explanation.
　The fact that there was a hive meant that there was probably a queen bee or some other kind of monster nearby. If the hive was in the city, it was likely that the boss of the city was a monster living inside the hive. If the Killer Bees are worker bees, then the humans they carry around are probably food to be offered to the queen.


"…………I understand the situation."

　Akira said as he stared into Arthur's eyes.


"But if your daughter was taken by a Killer Bee a few days ago, there is no guarantee that she is safe. The monsters, might……"

　Akira mumbled the next words. He was worried about whether it was okay to say anything more than that.
　When Arthur saw Akira like this, he smiled.

"Yeah, I know. She's probably been eaten."
"Then――――"
"Even if that is so, I must go to their lair. Even if my daughter's body is inside their bellies, even if her form is no longer there in that nest, they can't eat the things she was wearing. If there is even one thing that my daughter used to wear, I want to get it back. And I want to take her to the place where my wife's remains lie."


　Akira turned to Olivia at those words.
　Olivia drifted away from Arthur and floated around the room. From time to time, she would reach into the cupboard to check something that had caught her eye. Then, the cupboard would open by itself, even though no one had touched it, and Nao, who was watching it, would jump with fright again.


"How many people are gathered there now?”
"Just one person. They have a unique skill just like me. If you help me get my daughter back, I'll introduce you to them later."

　Akira slightly furrowed his brow at the mention of the word “unique skill”. Then, he put on a blank expression so that Arthur wouldn't notice and started thinking.


(……So there's another person with a unique skill, huh? I don't know what their abilities are, but, certainly, this man (Arthur) and this woman (Olivia) are powerful. If he survives, he will certainly become powerful enough to fight the monsters. Based on what I've seen, whether we help or not, this person will definitely go to the Killer Bee's hive…… If he can survive, that's good, but if he can't, we'll lose a valuable asset.)

　It was at that moment when Akira was thinking about such a thing.


"Hyaaah!?”


　Suddenly, a high-pitched scream echoed around the room.
　Surprised, Akira immediately turned his attention to the owner of the voice. He then saw a translucent arm sprouting from the chest of Nao, who had been listening to Akira and Arthur from a distance. Upon looking closely, Olivia was standing behind Nao, and she was sticking her arm out in front of Nao as if it was a prank.
　Olivia let out a giggle at Nao's reaction.
　When Arthur saw this, he showed a slightly surprised expression, and soon began to tremble as if he were trying to suppress his laughter.


"H-Hey, Olivia…… S-Stop…… playing pranks."


　Olivia nodded to Arthur, who was barely able to speak and pulled back the arm that had been sticking out through Nao's back. Then, with a look of apology, she put her hands together apologetically and began to float again through the room.


"Fu fufu…… Sorry about that. She's always been a prankster. She didn't mean any harm, so please forgive her."
"Listen here――――!”


　Nao raised her voice at Arthur's statement. However, her words were cut off mid-sentence. Perhaps because she realized that complaining to Arthur would be pointless.
　The interrupted words eventually turned into a heavy sigh.

"Anyway, don't play such a prank again……"

　Nao said, sounding exhausted.
　Arthur gave a firm nod in response to this and then turned to Olivia.

"Did you hear that, Olivia? No more pranks on this young lady. Don't do it."

　Olivia nodded in response to Arthur's statement.
　Arthur returned Olivia's nod and then looked back at Akira and company again.


"I'm sorry. I got distracted. ……So, what do you think?　Will you come with me to the Killer Bee's hive?　As a repayment…… that's right. This is that kind of world now. I don't know how valuable money is anymore. Therefore, I pledge to do whatever I can to help you."
"……What do you think, Nao-san?”
"I am not inclined to do it. It looks like I won't have any time to relax if I hang out with this person."

　I guess she's still feeling the effects of the prank Olivia played on her. Nao spoke with a sulky look on her face.


"Hahahahaha!!　Those are harsh words. So, you're the so-called tsundere type, right?”


　At those words, Nao turned her gaze towards him.
　Arthur's smile froze at Nao's gaze, and then he whispered to Akira.

"Hmm. It seems that I've made her dislike me. I guess I shouldn't be fooling around too much in front of her. I'll just keep my mouth shut."
"You're a bit too close. Stay away. You smell like an old man……"
"Aren't you being a bit harsh!?”

　Arthur raised his voice at Akira's comment.
　Then, as if to compose himself, he cleared his throat and turned to Akira and company with a serious expression on his face.


"I don't want much. I just want to get back the proof that my daughter existed in this world. ――――Please."


　Then Arthur got down on his knees and bowed his head as if he were going to perform a traditional Japanese prostration. Olivia, who had been drifting around the room, also approached Arthur and bowed deeply with her hands in front of her body.
　Akira and Nao exchanged glances.
　Nao looked Akira in the eye and, with a resigned sigh, said:


"What are you going to do?”
"……Let's see. Regardless, we have to defeat the boss, and I think it's okay to listen to this person's request."
"...!　Well then――――!!”

　Akira's words made Arthur lift his face.
　Akira turned to face the smile and spoke to him with a serious expression as if to drive the nail into him.

"――――However, it won't be possible right away. If we're going to the Killer Bees' nest, I want to make sure we're properly prepared first. The real danger of those guys is not their stats, but their poison needles. No matter how much we raise our status, if we get stung by those poison needles, we'll all die in an instant. So, we have to make preparations."
"I see.　That's also true. Do you have any good ideas?”
"……There are ways to counteract poison. One is to acquire 『poison resistance』, which can be obtained by spending 20 or so skill points. However, this only builds up a tolerance, not prevents poisoning. The poison will only have a slower effect, but it will still remain in the body. If the skill level is low, there is a possibility that we will die before we can get detoxified."

　And if one could add one more thought: Medicine was needed to detoxify the poison that remained in the body. In reality, there may be drugs that could break down the toxins of poisonous spiders and snakes, but this was the poison of a monster. There was no guarantee that existing drugs in this world would work.
　Perhaps the only way to counter this would be to create something using the 『Compounding』 skill.

"You know there's a skill called 『Compounding』, right?　If you can make an antidote with that skill, there is a possibility that you can detoxify yourself even if you are poisoned by a Killer Bee. ……But if we keep taking antidotes every time we get poisoned, we'll never get anywhere. So, in addition to that, there is something else we need to prepare."
"…………What is it?”
"Protective gear. Strong armor that will not be pierced by the Killer Bees' stingers. By wearing it, even if one is stung by a poison needle, the poison resistance will prevent instant death, and the antidote will be taken before the poison has had time to take effect. ……That is the minimum requirement for attacking the hive."
"Two skills, and armor…… Fumu……"


　Arthur stroked his beard as he thought, his eyes wandering.


"Since the poison needles don't work on Olivia, to begin with, and I can just hide in Stealth, I never really thought about it, but………… Yes, I think those issues should definitely be resolved. ――Very well. Let's try to solve these problems first. Will it be to earn points, or to protect you from their poison needles?　I'm going to go ahead and assume that you're not looking for protective clothing for beekeeping, right?　That stuff is useless against Killer Bees, you know?”
"I know that. It's a proper one, made specifically for use against monsters. ……I have some ideas. Well, I'll have to talk to that person to find out, but……"
"What about the points?　Steady level-up?”
"Is there any other way?”

　Akira asked Arthur.
　Akira had the quests. If he died once against a higher-level opponent and triggered a quest, he would be able to gain a large amount of points in addition to leveling up.

　However, it was not clear whether the same method was also given to Arthur, who also had a unique skill.

　To find out, he asked a question that was half-like a trap, to which Arthur replied with a grin.


"Well, that was a foolish question. Then, I'll also try to earn points by raising my level."


　Akira gazed steadily at Arthur's face.
　There was no sign that he was hiding anything. After all, are the quests only for me? After all, were quests only for himself?
　It was when he was thinking about this. Suddenly, Akira realized that the hem of his clothes had been pulled. When he looked, Nao, who had been standing nearby, was holding the hem of his clothes.
　Nao moved her mouth close to Akira's ear and whispered.

"Hey, Ichijou. Are you really going to help this guy?”
"Well, if what he's saying is true, then the boss must be in that hive, right……? If we can destroy their hive, the Killer Bees that are invading the city may disappear. Sooner or later, we'll have to deal with it, so I thought it would be better to do it early."

　Akira whispered in a low voice to match Nao's.
　Nao frowned slightly at Akira's response.

"That's true, but…… Can we trust that guy?”
"That's…… I don't know yet. However, they do make a good fighting force. If they fight alongside us, it will definitely make it much easier to survive against the monsters."
"What if you get betrayed?　It would be the worst if you were left behind in the hive."
"I don't think there's any merit in that for that person, but…… If he betrays me, I'll immediately return from the dead. I don't know yet whether the place I return to after dying has changed again, but at least I'll be able to return to a time before I was betrayed."
"…………I don't want you to throw your life away so easily."


　Nao murmured softly at Akira's words.
　Akira smiled at Nao in a way that seemed to be trying to avoid the issue and then turned his attention to Arthur.
　Arthur waited patiently for Akira and company to finish their discussion. He noticed Akira's gaze and, for some reason, he smiled and waved at him. Akira smiled wryly at this gesture, and looked away from Arthur and towards Nao.


"……For now. I'm also curious about the other person with a unique skill, so let's talk to them. It's hard to read his true feelings because of his attitude, but he doesn't seem to be a bad person after all."
"Well, if you say so……"

　It seemed that Nao reluctantly agreed with Akira's suggestion. As she spoke those words, she let out a deep sigh and stared at Akira with piercing eyes.

"But if they're too suspicious, I won't hold back, you know?”
"Yes, of course. Although I hate to say it myself, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you could cover that for me, Nao-san, that would be great."


　Akira, with a smile on his face, looked at Nao, who was staring at him in disbelief.
　But there were no further words.
　After checking this, Akira called out to Arthur.


"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Have you come to a conclusion?”
"Yeah. We will officially accept your request. We will go with you to the Killer Bees' hive. I look forward to working with you, Arthur."
"Oh yes, the same goes for me!!　Well then, let me first show you to my companion. You can really depend on her!　Look forward to it!!”

　Arthur looked around at Akira and company and laughed out loud.
　At the sound of his laughter, Nao held her head as if to stifle a headache and slowly exhaled.


"Haaa, seriously…… Looks like it's going to get noisy now."


　It was probably a heartfelt remark, but it only reached Akira's ears, which were right next to her, and was drowned out by Arthur's laughter.

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