World Strongest Rearguard – Chapter 15

Translator: pinky onee-sama    Editor: anirhapsodist/Senpai    Proofread: Senpai

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Brand New Equipment

Rival’s party are stationed today in front of the stairway leading to the ‘Plains of Dawn’.

There was this young girl sending off a male party nearby. She’s the gyaru who was on the bus with Suzuna. Today she wore clothes similar to that of a parka and a skirt.

“Good luck to you out there, do your best~”

“Ou! Misaki, I’m going to earn it for you!”

She had this middle-hair perm, dyed in a bright color, and her pretty and adorable form can be likened to that of a magazine model.

“That girl, is she doing something like cormorant fishing? Is she making those men sway to her bidding?”

“That’s a crafty way to make a living, isn’t it? But it’s also risky for a seeker if they don’t go out and do exploration because their levels and contributions do not increase.”

The young girl named Misaki walked towards us, and then cordially smiled as we gradually found ourselves crossing one another.

“Good thing there are Japanese people here~ I can breathe a sigh of relief. When I arrived in this world, many were complaining about various things. There are even monsters around here~”

She has this habit of extending the end of her sentences. However, that way of speaking makes me drowsy. It’s not that I hate it. It’s somewhat sweet.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about those poeple~. I was just curious about what it’s like to be in a party, so I tried joining. It was good~ There were even people with a higher level than 2~. Anyway, they won’t be expecting me to follow them anymore past this point. I’ve decided to sit this one out.”

“Sit it out? Do you mean you’re out of their party?”

“Yes, that’s what it is. It’s better to have an all-girls party after all.”

“Then you should have done it with your friends in the first place.”

As expected of Igarashi~san. Sharp as ever. Misaki stammered for a moment, then laughed it off –realizing her blunder.

“A ha ha… you’re right.  I’m sorry to keep you. Always be careful out there. Ah… Suzu~chan. Wait for me… Take me with you…”

Elysha and Suzuna. It looks like they are heading off to the plains again today.  Misaki unexpectedly left while we were still in the middle of our conversation, and the three of them headed towards Labyrinth.

(Hey, hey, even though you just called quits with your previous party earlier, you suddenly wish to go there? You’re pretty energetic.)

I was planning to have a talk with Elysha, but my timing was bad. I may be able to see her in the labyrinth later.

Igarashi~san and Theresa stared at me while I pondered.

“It may be good company to invite her, don’t you think? But it depends on her job.”

“No, not just yet. I get this feeling that she’s more of a troublemaker. I don’t wish to have some needless worries.”

“Hmm…. But I heard that men are into high school girls…”

“M… Maybe there are people like that, but I am certainly not one of them.”

I don’t really think that way, so I answered with all honesty. However, I remember and miss the old days when I actually can see a student in school uniform.

“I’m not going to decide on my own, but if the situation calls for it, then I’ll invite her.”

“… Is that so? … then, during that time with me…”

“………”

“Oops, sorry to keep you waiting. Igarashi~san, it seems that Theresa is getting eager to depart, so let’s go and purchase a weapon.”

“Y… Yes, let’s go.”

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Madoka, who was in the stall, came to greet us when she saw us approaching.

“Good morning, onii-san! Ah, you’re the onee-san who took the spear yesterday. I heard that you were injured. I’m just glad that you’re doing okay.”

“Yes, it’s thanks to you and I’m sorry, even though you had to choose it for me, the spear broke.”

“Eh? But that weapon was suitable for demons on the first floor. I’m so sorry. I mean, maybe it’s an inferior good…”

“No, a ‘Named’ demon appeared. The weapons you sell work well on watadama.”

“N… Named demons? I heard that things could go terribly wrong if level 1 seekers encounter them. Thank goodness that both of you are safe.”

Tears built up on Madoka’s eyes. It was unreasonable to get that emotional, but Igarashi~san was ready to cry, too.

I waited for the two of them to calm down. Both turned red and then made embarrassed smiles until they were able to talk.

“Thank you for worrying about me. I’ll be more careful in exploring from this point onwards. Also, I’d like to ask for a new weapon.”

“Sure thing! I belong to a merchant shop that has a head office and two branches in the 8th-District. More than one of those weapons for beginners are available there.”

“What would a better version of the slingshot look like? Ah, never mind, it’s not available here. I’m really glad that I asked for remodeling.”

“I’m sorry but a better slingshot is not available in the 8th-District. However, you can always give materials to a craftsman and ask them for a custom-made one.”

There seems to be a low supply of weapons, and the slingshot that I got may have been the last one. This could project a shortage of weapons to supply the newcomers.

One more thing that concerned me is that I have already deposited my slingshot for remodeling. Never did I realize that I could remodel a stronger weapon. It may be too late for those materials to be salvaged, but I feel like it’s better to reinforce the weapon’s efficiency.

“So first of all, shall we decide on Igarashi~san’s weapon?”

“Yesterday, you gave me a wooden spear, right?”

“Madoka, do you have a better spear? It does not really matter if it’s not exactly a spear. Just a long weapon will do.”

“Let’s see… How about a lance? A javelin? Or a spear that is made from bronze? We have them here. There are also those odd types like the trident. They can be effective against underwater creatures. Of course, you can use it on land as well.”

Igarashi~san scrutinized them in detail and ultimately decided on choosing a lance. However, it seems that the lance was sold with its set item.

“Lances are types of spears used for attacking while carrying a shield. A vanguard uses it.”

“Well, for now, it’s better to use this lance. Atobe~kun, what do you think?”

“Yes, yes. As a man, it shames me knowing that I always get to stay at your rear. However, as the rearguard, it is my obligation to demonstrate my skills.”

“Then lance it is. I’ll just switch to another weapon if we come across a companion who is more suitable to be a vanguard.”

“There also is a sizeable demographic of Mid-guards and Rearguards using javelins. Please let me know if you’ll ever need them.”

There was no other weapon stronger than Theresa’s short-sword since it has already undergone upgrades from the mercenary guild. We’ll purchase a buckler instead.

I purchased a chest-piece that was lightweight for an armor. A bronze breastplate that can be equipped to match Igarashi~san’s physical strength. I also bought a pair of leather greaves since there was a stock that fits her size, thus making her look more stereotypical of a Valkyrie.

Igarashi~san’s equipment totaled 250 copper coins in all, 50 for Theresa. I had no difficulty in choosing equipment since I can equip anything, but I ended up getting something acceptable for my Level 1 physical strength. I bought a pair of leather gloves and a banded armor.

“Fufu… Atobe~kun, you seem to be in high spirits, huh? How about mine?”

“Nnn, that’s fine. You’ll eventually look like a Valkyrie, so let’s put that armor over a leotard.”

“Hah!? Y, you know what? I’m not that stupid. There are a lot of Valkyries, but not that indecent compared to what you are visualizing, Atobe~kun.”

Should I present my vision in detail so that she will understand? Even if she calls it indecent? — being pragmatic will really get me beaten up.

Now, the bronze chestplate emphasized the volume of her chest. Knowing that it’s very difficult to create a woman’s armor could be well understood by looking at its artistic curves.

“Theresa’s lizard costume cannot be changed… is this stuck or something?”

“I think it would be difficult for us to remove that.”

She lost her life in the labyrinth, then ascended to demi-human. Leila previously told me that it would be difficult for a one-star novice seeker to solve her subversion.

“Onii-san, Onee-san, they match you well. I wish for your safety on your explorations and I will do my best to acquire and sell the best goods possible for you!”

“Thank you! By the way, can we hand you materials for crafting equipment?”

“Yes, we can request a craftsman on behalf of our shop. If you find ores in the labyrinth, please don’t hesitate to bring them over.”

Materials from demons, ores… there are lots of things that you can get from the labyrinth.

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The capacity of the leather bag I’m currently using is very limited, so I decided to procure a new one. However, this was quickly settled when we returned to Lye Carton’s shop.

‘Red Buckler’, ‘Red Scarf’ and a slingshot upgraded with the skill known as ‘Blaze Shot’. These were all brought by Melissa in a larger bag when we came to receive it.

“Yo! You’ve entrusted us with some pretty good materials, and that’s why Melissa was in a very good mood. This is the least that we could give you. If ever you come to hunt a number of demons or defeat a ‘Named’, we’ll be more than happy to serve you once more.”

“Oh! Thank you! I really wanted this kind of storage.”

Lye carton was concerned that my knapsack could only hold that much. But with this bag, there will be more than twice the storage capacity.

We could surely bring the demons that we have hunted here later if we manage to finish them off quickly, but it seems like there are other dismantling shops nearby, so we could as well check them out too.

“…it was good. Come again.”

Melissa said in a small voice as she vanished towards the back of the shop. I don’t know if that meant like she had fun dismantling and processing the demon, but I got to see her smile for the first time.

“My daughter Melissa said that she wants to go the labyrinth, but there are rumors that a ‘Named’ demon has appeared in the second level of the ‘Plains of Dawn’. The guild has raised a bounty for it, but it has not yet been defeated. I’m looking forward to bringing Melissa there.”

‘Named’ demons relentlessly attack the first party they encounter. To defeat them, you will need to satisfy various difficult conditions…  the basics will be useless.

I took the remodeled slingshot, checked its condition, and thought about what we needed to do to reach the second floor.