Before she left, Megumin handed me a small pouch full of a fruit called wolfberry. According to her, it was the red-eyed Rookie Killer's favorite. Does she expect me to use this as bait or something?

After seeing her off, I sat in the guild's dining area, trying to strategize.

I confidently told Megumin that I'd handle her request… but, now that I think about it, isn't this too reckless?

I'm a low-level adventurer with shit equipment. If a ton of people went after that Rookie Killer, there's no way I'd be able to take them all by myself.

… if I can't physically stop them, then I just need to make sure they don't take the quest, right?

I looked around to make sure I wasn't being watched, then nonchalantly walked up to the bulletin board and pulled off the bounty poster.

I glanced around again, but no one seemed to notice that I took it.

Huh. Guess I worried about nothing.

I walked towards the entrance, planning to dispose of the poster, but froze when a guild employee walked towards the bulletin board. Crap, was I already exposed…?

She put up another identical poster in the same spot.

… ah, I guess that's because some people take the poster off to show it to their parties. They probably have tons of copies.

So, that plan's a bust.

I need to get the quest itself cancelled…

I headed up to the receptionist counter where that busty lady was.

"Yo, I got a question about this bounty."

"Ah, the Rookie Killer bounty?"

She gave me that same smile as always.

"Yeah, I heard that this red-eyed one is actually herbivorous, so isn't this bounty total bull?"

To my surprise, her smile actually faded.

"What you heard is indeed true."

Wait, she just straight-up admitted it?

"Then-"

"But I'm afraid that doesn't matter."

"… come again?"

She sighed.

"A noble put up a request for a monster to be exterminated. Regardless of the actual threat, nothing about the quest violates our policies, so we can't just pull it down because we don't agree with it."

"Fucking hell… then, where can I find this noble guy?"

"He lives a couple towns away, but I don't think you'd be able to persuade him anyway. He's an arrogant and prideful man."

"… thanks."

I trudged back to my seat. I'm going to have to actually fight, aren't I?

Luckily, no one else seems to have seen the quest yet.

Or, rather, none of the adventurers are even looking at the board. They're all just sitting around eating and drinking.

What's up with that?

Ah, wait, a party is going up now.

They looked over the requests, then noticed the odd one out.

"50 mil for a Rookie Killer? Damn."

"Yeah, but this is still a Rookie Killer we're talking about. I'd rather not chase after something like that if I can help it."

"True, and it's not like we're hurting on money either. We're just looking for something to pass the time."

Eh, how well-off are they that 50 mil doesn't entice them?

Wait, is that why all the others are just bumming around? They're all loaded?

Was there a raid quest or something recently that everyone took part in?

At this rate, I might not even have to lift a finger… wait, that was a flag, wasn't it?

Right on cue, the door swung open, and a trashy-looking blond man strutted across the floor to the quest board. Ah, I think this is the same guy I met on my first day.

"Alright, let's find some easy money! Let's see…! Oioioi, am I reading this right!? 50 million eris for a single monster!? Hell yeah!"

Shit.

I can tell from the way this guy moves that despite his personality, he's a skilled fighter. This might be tricky.

He tore the poster down and went over to another table where three adventurers were sitting. I recognized one of them as the girl that acted as his guardian last time. That group must be his party then.

"Guys, we're doing this quest!"

"No thanks." x3

"Eh?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I won't have to fight a full party of four.

"Dammit, why won't you help a friend in need!? We're all higher leveled now, so with the four of us, there should be no problem taking it down, you know!?"

"No way, Dust. Unlike you, the rest of us didn't lose all our money gambling, so why should we do something risky like that?"

"What about you, Keith? Imagine what we could do with that much money!"

"Dude, I'm already set for a while. Find someone else to go on your suicide mission."

"Tch, you selfish bastards! When I get that 50 mil, none of you will get a single coin of it, even if you beg and lick my boots!"

"Go ahead, we don't need it."

He stomped away from the table and started looking around the guild.

"Dammit… and looks like that loner mage and Sir aren't around either… now what? I can't take down that monster alone with just a sword…"

Looks like he can't find anyone to hunt with him…

…

Well? This is the part where someone else walks in right when I have that thought, right?

Slam

There it is.

The guild door was slammed open, and in walked…

A Dr*gon Quest cosplayer. I didn't know how else to describe him. He was wearing way-too-shiny armor and a circlet, and had a fancy sword on his back.

And he had an annoyingly pretty face, the kind that makes you want to punch it… hm? I'm getting déjà vu for some reason.

Though, it was clear from how the room reacted to his entrance that he was well-respected. That cosplay appearance must not be just for show.

"Sorry to bother everyone, but has anyone seen a sentient suit of armor around here?"

The guild patrons all shook their heads negatively in response to his weird question.

"Damn, where could it have gone?"

As the cosplayer turned to leave, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.

Dust was approaching the cosplayer with a sly expression.

"Yo, Mitsurugi! Perfect timing!"

Mitsurugi? That sounds like a Japanese name. I guess he really is a cosplayer.

"Geh, it's you. Sorry, I don't have time for you right now, I'm a bit busy."

"Well, this concerns the safety of this town, so I think you might wanna hear this out."

Mitsurugi paused at that.

"… why should I believe you? I still remember how you tried to dupe me with those orcs."

"Come on, a real man doesn't dwell on the past, you know? And besides, this time is different. I've got the quest notice right here for you."

Dust showed him the bounty poster.

"This is… a Rookie Killer? I mean, I get that they're devious monsters, but I don't see how–"

"Look closer! This is a rare, extra dangerous red-eyed variant! See how stupidly high the bounty is!? That alone should tip you off that this is a big deal!"

Mitsurugi squinted at the number.

"… er, is 50 million a lot for a Rookie Killer?"

Is this guy for real?

"You damn rich bastard… it's more than a hundred times the normal bounty!"

"Eh, really?"

He glanced around at the other adventurers, but they all nodded in affirmation.

"I see… but, I still need to find that armor–"

"Oi, can you really call yourself a hero if you put your own desires above the plights of the people? Maybe the reason you can't find the armor is because you aren't worthy!"

"Hey, you don't know… hm. Wait, maybe you're right, and this is a test from the goddess…"

No. Come on, dude, don't be that gullible. No wonder you didn't survive in Japan.

"Yeah, sure, it's a test, whatever. So, team up with me and let's go take it down! According to the request, it was last seen heading towards the forest…"

"Alright… wait, why do I have to team up with you?"

"Your women aren't here, right? So, you need someone to watch your back."

"True, they're still off training, but I'd rather have someone like Kazuma watching my back than you."

Cough

Fuck, I choked on my drink.

Just how well known is he? Maybe I should start asking around town.

"Kazuma ain't here, and no one else here is interested in this noble quest–"

He glanced accusingly at his party as he said that, but they just ignored him,

"– so, I'm your best bet."

Mitsurugi glared at him.

"I feel like I'd be better off on my own than with you. Just stay put, I'll take care of this."

"Wha–! You bastard! At least give me the reward money, since it's not like you need it!"

"If you wanted the money then you should've done the quest yourself. Don't think you can just use me to get a free lunch."

And with that, the cosplayer walked out of the guild.

I turned to the bartender.

"Can that Mitsurugi guy really take out the beast by himself?"

He smirked.

"With that magic sword of his he'll make short work of it. Bad luck on that monster's part for coming when he's in town."

That strong, eh?

I looked back, and saw that Dust was still standing in the same spot. At least I don't have to deal with him as well.

… hold on, is he smiling?

"Seriously, that guy is way too easy. Now I just need to find Lolisa, and Operation Killsteal is a go!"

He said that and then ran outside.

Jeez, that guy's a real piece of work.

Well, forget about him. Mitsurugi seems like the bigger threat.

A guy that can defeat a Rookie Killer singlehandedly is way out of my league, so I'll need to tread carefully.

I paid for my drink, then headed out to tail Mitsurugi.

"Let's see… if I were a cunning, murderous beast, where would I be hiding…"

Mr. Dr*gon Quest was strolling somewhat aimlessly through the forest, while I followed about 50 meters behind, keeping low and moving from cover to cover.

He hasn't seen me yet, but he also doesn't seem to be making any progress. He might be powerful, but it seems that woodcraft isn't his strong suit.

"Okay, there he is, Lolisa. You remember the plan?"

"Of course I remember, but isn't this way too dangerous!?"

And it turns out I wasn't the only one tailing him.

That Dust guy was a couple dozen meters to my right, and had… what looked like a young girl in tow.

Though, she was wearing super inappropriate clothing, and had a pair of little bat wings on her back, so I got the feeling she wasn't an ordinary girl. A devil of some kind?

"Once he and the Rookie Killer tire each other out, you put them both to sleep with your magic, then I swoop in and finish off the beast. It's not dangerous at all; in fact, it's a foolproof plan."

Such a dirty plan. In fact, it sounds just like something he would do…

But I can use this to my advantage. Once Mitsurugi is out of the way, I can ambush Dust and drive him away. The girl doesn't seem to be combat-oriented, so if I take them by surprise, I should be good.

"You make it sound easy, but I can think of at least five ways it could go wrong… wait, why's he stopping?"

Sure enough, the cosplay warrior had paused his trek, and was now standing in the middle of a small clearing.

He seemed to be pondering something, but then came to a decision and drew his sword.

He raised his left hand above his head, and a strange light emanated from it.

"Greater Taunt!"

The light burst out in a wave into the surrounding area. At first, it didn't seem to do anything.

But after a few moments the effect became clear.

"GRAHHH!"

"Chi, chi, chi–"

"Snarl…"

All sorts of monsters starting flooding into the clearing from all around. Some even passed right by me, completely focused on the one that had drawn their attention.

Mitsurugi calmly faced the incoming horde and got into a fighting stance.

"RAHHH–"

Slice

Some kind of wolf-like monster leapt at him, but he cleanly split it in half with a single swing of that massive sword. He then pivoted around and parried a goblin's attack, before stabbing it in the chest.

"Chi…"

Several more monsters attacked from multiple angles, but he spun around with a sweeping slash to fend them off.

In the last few years of my life in Japan, I ended up getting into plenty of fights with other delinquents. I'm not exactly proud of it looking back, but I did end up developing a good battle sense as a result.

And from what I could see, this guy's moves felt… mechanical. There was no soul or passion in his attacks, and he simply reacted to each enemy move as it happened, rather than seeing several steps ahead as an experienced fighter would.

It was like he had no formal training and just experimented with random moves, and once he found something that seemed to work, he started repeating it rather than trying to understand the mechanics behind it.

Normally such a fighter would be amateurish at best, but the sheer power and speed of his actions easily compensated for the lack of skill. Add the power of the imposing magic sword on top of that, and he became a potent force as he cut down the dozens of monsters swarming him.

I'm suddenly really glad Dust and his friend are here. I'd hate to have to face this guy on my own.

After about a minute, the constant motion of the magic sword died down, and Mitsurugi stood silently in a field of monster corpses.

The red-eyed Rookie Killer was not among them.

"Not here. I'll try further in then–"

"Hey, what the hell's gotten into you!? Chill out!"

"I can't help it! I just have an overwhelming urge to beat that guy up!"

A commotion came from the other two stalkers. Dust had the girl in a full nelson, trying to keep her from running right at Mitsurugi.

"Who's there?"

Naturally, the target noticed them.

"Shit, we're busted! Forget it, we're bailing out! Come on!"

"Let me at 'em, let me at 'em!"

"Shut up, you defective devil! If I let you get killed, I'll probably be banned from the shop for life!"

Mitsurugi watched them leave, then turned and continued on into the forest.

… I really want to go home now.

I thought that, yet my feet seemed to move forward on their own.

A few minutes later, Mitsurugi found another clearing and used his taunt skill again. And once again, dozens of monsters attacked him.

This time, a Rookie Killer was among them, but thankfully it was just a regular yellow-eyed one.

On the other hand, he managed to dispatch it with just three strikes, which only filled me with more dread. I'm struggling to figure out how I'm going to complete Megumin's request, other than hoping ol' Red-Eyes had already left the area on his own.

This time, though, the warrior was a bit sloppier; he took a hit on the arm during the scuffle.

For a moment I hoped that he'd have to turn back because of the injury, but he reached into his pack and pulled out a bottle filled with red liquid.

He downed about a quarter of the contents, and the wound on his arm closed before my eyes.

A magic potion, eh. This really is a fantasy world.

He set off again, and once again I followed, despite still not having a plan.

…

A few minutes later.

Sniff sniff

Something was sniffing at the pouch of wolfberries on my hip. I waved behind me without looking.

"Hey, shoo, I'm busy."

…

Sniff sniff sniff

"I said shoo!"

Nudge

It pushed its nose into the pouch.

It was a rather large nose.

… I had a hunch, but I looked behind me anyway. A pair of big red eyes stared back.

"You know, you really have a knack for picking the worst time and place to appear."

The massive feline was as imposing as ever, but the lack of bloodlust on its face as it glanced repeatedly at the berry pouch calmed my nerves.

I slowly reached into the pouch and pulled out a handful of the fruit. The beast's eyes tracked my hand as I moved it back and forth, and it licked its lips, its huge fangs on display.

Steeling myself, I held out the berries on my open palm.

The Rookie Killer lowered its head…

And gently ate them off of my hand.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

"You really are just a big pussycat."

The question now is how I'll get it out of here.

"Hey, listen, I'll give you all the berries you want if you get out of town right now."

It looked back with a blank stare. I'd heard it was intelligent, but maybe it's not to the point that it can understand human language…

Wait.

I took out my adventurer's card. I remembered something on the list of Cavalier skills that I had no use for.

… there it is. "Beast Comprehension." It costed 5 skill points, which was almost all of what I had left.

I bought it without hesitation.

"Hey, can you understand me now?"

It tilted its head in a puzzled expression as if to say, What are you talking about? Of course I can.

… I understood all that just from a head tilt? This skill is amazing.

"Okay, listen, there's a really strong guy up ahead that wants to lop your head off, so you need to get as far away as possible."

It nonchalantly licked its paw. He won't find me. I'm stealthy.

"No, you don't understand! He has a skill to draw you out! Now come on, run–"

Suddenly, a wave of light passed through the area.

Shit, he's doing it again already!?

The Rookie Killer looked agitated, like it was struggling to resist the taunt.

So… annoying…

"Come on, resist it! If you go over there you'll die!"

… can't resist!

"NO!"

It dashed ahead in the direction that Mitsurugi had gone.

"Dammit, not when I was so close!"

I sprinted after it. After a short time, I came to a clearing–

SNARL

"Shit, this one's crafty! But I've got you now–!"

YELP

A trail of blood flew through the air as the sword sliced into the Rookie Killer's foreleg. It stumbled, struggling to compensate for the sudden loss of strength in that leg. The magic sword was raised into the air, poised for a killing stroke.

"NO!"

CLANG!

Grabbing both the hilt and tip of my blunt sword and holding it like a quarterstaff, I jumped in between the two and blocked the downstroke. The sheer weight of the blow caused my knees to buckle, but I managed to remain standing.

Mitsurugi took a few steps back in surprise.

"Hey, be careful! I'm trying to kill a dangerous monster here! You could've gotten hurt by jumping in like– … eh?"

His initial surprised expression turned to a face of shock.

He shakily raised a finger and pointed at me.

"What are you doing here!?"