“Shinpo, how did it go?”
“Yeah, I got the drop.”
A murmur ripples through the crowd.
After the giant slime’s defeat.
I was about ninety-nine percent sure that’s what would happen, but with Shinpo securing the subjugation reward, it was official.
It was confirmed: quest complete for the 『Acid Echo Slime』.
“Nice one!”
With this, we’ve acquired one 『Memory Inheritance』.
If it functions like the 『Return Privilege』, I’d assume it can only be transferred for free if we end up with duplicates.
When it comes to drops from subjugation rewards, members who are strong in combat usually have a higher chance of getting them.
I should probably double-check the mysterious blackboard just to be safe about that.
“It wasn’t just my power. This is thanks to all of you.”
It’s not just humility; she genuinely believes it.
Very Shinpo.
“Shion’s going to be jealous,” I noted.
Serina spoke up, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in what seemed like her version of a joke.
“Mm. Shio-chan was especially keen on inheriting memories.”
Chiyu played along.
Honestly, she might be envious, but I don’t think she’d actually feel jealous.
It would probably make them even happier to know that ‘Memory Inheritance’ was actually something they could acquire.
“A, ah… um, Kuno has…”
Mugen-gaku raised his voice with difficulty as we were chatting naturally.
“What’s wrong, Mugen-gaku?”
“It’s not about what’s wrong, but… is Kuno okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine, I guess.”
Pointed out by Mugen-gaku, I found myself facing a fact I had been consciously trying to ignore.
We were still at the place where we had fought the slime.
And currently, I was being held on by three of Momo’s clones.
One on my back, and the other two clinging to my arms, like that.
It looked like a picture of one guy getting in trouble with triplets, but they were all the same person.
The scent, the voice, the softness—it was all exactly the same.
As a normal young man, I couldn’t help but get my heart racing.
“Sōsuke-kun, do you hate it?” “It’s not like that, right?” “After all, you came to help Momo with your whole heart, risking your one and only life.”
Momo and the others cling to me like this, refusing to let go.
At first, I tried to resist gently, but even though they were girls, it was hard to break free from the grasp of three people working together.
I couldn’t just use brute force.
What might surprise Genchu is that Setsuna and Chiyu aren’t angry about it.
Fukumitsu’s face is slightly flushed, but she isn’t angry either.
“If you were just messing with Sōsuke for fun, it would be annoying, but since you’re serious, I suppose we can’t help it.”
“Mm. Once you’ve discovered that guy’s charms, you’re definitely a prime candidate for his harem.”
“Y-yes. Having feelings for Sōsuke isn’t something that should be denied.”
My thoughts tend to drift toward Chiyu’s generosity of spirit, but it is all her romantic partners who are accepting of the harem setup.
“All three of you are so nice.”
The three Momos beam with joy.
“Oh my, you’ve all become utterly smitten with Kano-kun.”
Inui smiled lightly with a chuckle, but after having just watched her so worriedly over Momo’s condition, it was her current demeanor that truly seemed endearing.
“Ne-ne, poor thing. She just can’t understand Sou-suke’s charm.”
Momo wore an expression that was half smug and half pitying.
“Heh heh, who knows?”
Inui didn’t let her composed smile falter. She likely had plenty of experience dealing with Momo’s antics.
Besides, did Momo really have a crush on me…?
It wasn’t that I was doubting or suspecting anything.
Momo was a girl who chased the joy of being acknowledged by others without ever knowing what it meant to be in love.
So she acted in ways that drew boys’ hearts toward her, yet if they confessed, she would turn them down, and never felt any guilt about it.
Even with me, she was simply looking for help to get the spotlight on her cuteness again; there were no romantic feelings involved.
And yet here we were now.
So my being confused was hardly unreasonable.
“I’m not exactly taking Momo’s side, but I think she’s serious about it.”
As if reading my thoughts, Serina spoke up.
In the sense that I pulled them from the brink of death, Momo and Yurina are in the same boat.
Perhaps that is why Yurina understands how Momo feels.
“Indeed.
Besides, it’s a joy for me as well,” Inui chimed in, following Yurina’s lead.
Previously, she had hoped that Momo would find someone truly unique to her.
It seemed she believed that if affirmation came from just that one person, the need to seek validation from the many would cease to exist… “Why are you so happy, Nene?” “Because she’s a dear childhood friend.” ”…Huh. I guess it’s fine.”
Momo dismissed it with a shrug of boredom, though it was clearly a brush-off to hide her embarrassment.
“If you keep clinging to that Souseki of yours like that, yet try to play the siren and seduce guys like you used to, I’ll seal you in a barrier.”
“Mm. My harem operates on pure love principles.”
“I won’t! Souseki-kun is my one true love!”
”…That’s all well and good, but it’s nearing lunchtime. I think we should discuss whether to continue exploring or return to base.”
Fukaho attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Promptly, the three Momos’ stomachs growled in unison.
「……Shion is probably making lunch, so let’s head back. We can look into the ‘Red-Black Arvank’ again this afternoon.’
「Y-es! I’ll let Ryouka know then~」
Momo’s stomach growled loudly.
Looking flustered, she replied in a bright voice. 「Please do!」
As for us, we used the walkie-talkies to contact Shion.
Since the Seiō party was already aware that our group could obtain items through special means, there was no point in trying to hide it now.
By the way, only ten people, including me, are allowed to enter the bonus area.
If we kept adding party members, we could technically bring in up to ‘41 points’ of goods per day, but apparently that isn’t permitted.
That the limit imposed by the Mysterious Blackboard was “until 10 o’clock” of a single day.
“Alright then, let’s head home.”
“Can I ride behind you on the way back?”
“No, get on that side.”
“Mm. This is the priority seat for lovers.”
“Mmm~”
Momo puffed out her cheeks at Selenne and Chiyu’s comments, but unlike before, she didn’t come back with a retort.
「I know〜. We can just cuddle up later anyway」
She said that and headed toward the fluffy Grifon, Highrow.
“Sou-kun.”
Just as I was about to head home on the micron, Chigyu called out to me.
“What’s up?”
“Mino is in first place for today’s combat achievements.”
“Oh, yeah… isn’t she?”
That seemed accurate enough, but I couldn’t figure out what point she was trying to make.
“It’s necessary for workers who have worked hard to receive a reward. It becomes the driving force for them to do their best next time.”
”…Ah, I see. You’re right, Chigyu.”
Like getting praised or having something bought for you when you got a hundred points on a test.
Whether or not there is a reward for success definitely has a huge impact on maintaining motivation.
I nodded and approached Fukaho.
“Fukaho, good work.”
“Thank you. Mr. Sousuke, you worked hard too… More importantly, are you sure your injury is okay?”
Half of me had been stuck in the slime, and my body had been exposed to acid as well.
Fukaho was worrying about that for me.
“It’s all healed up now. So, you really gave it your all this time, right? If there’s anything I can do for you, please tell me.”
「N-no, it’s nothing. It’s only natural for us to work together, isn’t it?」
「Even if it’s a given, I’m grateful to you. Or rather… is there something you need me to do for you?」
It might have been a bit of a pushy way to put it, but I felt that was necessary to coax a request out of Ka-hou, who was so reserved.
「U-uh… well, then… umm…」
After pausing for a moment, Ka-hou leaned in close to my ear and said in a coquettish voice.
「I want to spend some time alone with you doing our magic ‘training’ again.」
“Training” was a code word we had agreed upon between ourselves, a phrase used when we wanted to be alone together and do whatever we pleased.
”…I-I’m flattered, but I’d be more than happy to.”
“I’m glad.”
Ka-hou smiled with genuine joy, which made me feel happy too.
Realizing my face was heating up, I mounted Micron once more.
Having defeated two unique individuals, we all returned to our base camp together.
My schedule for the latter half of April is a complete disaster, so my update pace has been thrown off!
Sorry! This is the update for the 20th.
Also, thanks to all of you, it has been decided that a second printing will be released for Volume 1 in book form!
I am very happy to see that so many people are reading the physical books.
If you haven’t started yet, I would greatly appreciate your support as Volume 2 is scheduled to be released in May!
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