CH 37.2

Chapter 37.2. Business Deal

“Unbelievable! Have we done something so wrong?”

Knowing the truth, Ooki-kun and others became dejected. But it’s easier that way.

“There are downsides. But, no matter how much we make problems in the abandoned town, they won’t budge. At least not openly. While the inner city folks leisurely observe, we’ll expand our influence. Let’s increase the markets, cultivate fields, and turn ghost companies into major corporations.”

That sounds interesting. The market has just started now.

Under the scorching sun, I contemplate the future. For now, this all-black attire… I might not wear it in the summer…

“We’ll do our best too. Just tell us anything. Use us however you like!”

Ooki-kun pounds his chest. Yes, that’s quite commendable. Wonderful.

“Then, I’d like to know about the terrain around Arakawa, the distribution of dungeons and monsters, and information about other factions. It’s already been heavily encroached by the forest, but let’s survey places where we could establish new fields.”

Fields above all else. I want to create a granary. I want to take water from Arakawa and make fields. We’ll probably start selling new vegetable seeds in the store too.

“Eh? Um, you see, many insect and beast-type monsters near Arakawa. They settle near water sources…”

Ooki-kun rubs his hands together. He seems eager to go on the investigation. He’s truly a motivated guy. He told me he’ll do anything, didn’t he?

“As expected of Ooki-kun. Make sure to write your last will!”

“By the way, how tall are you?”

“Should I write a farewell poem?”

“You’re certain I’ll die! It’s impossible, Aniki! It’s impossible there! Crossing that bridge is a matter of life and death!”

Crying out and pleading, Ooki-kun clings to me. I’m impressed by his figure, ready to face death. What a man.

“I’ll refrain from teasing you. First, let’s expand the current fields. Participate in regular thinning of the dungeon monsters near the fields. We want to prevent the dungeons from overflowing, after all.”

“Leave it to me! With the support of one or two goblins and Shadow Tigers and Shadow Snakes’ aids, it’ll be a breeze.”

I laugh as Ooki-kun earnestly asks for support. Well, that should be fine.

“I’ll talk to Shingen and train soldiers. We’ll need long spears and leather armor, right?”

I give a wry smile, as if in a fantasy world. But we can’t do anything since we don’t have bullets. I wonder when bullets will be available in the store.

[Probably, based on my guess, ordinary bullets will get listed under Rank B, I think?]

As I indulge in the cake after a long time, Shizuku, swimming happily in the sky like a fish, receives my thoughts and answers me. Huh? Rank B? B Rank?!

[Of course, that’s what I think. Gun bullets have the attack power to deal with B-rank monsters. You see, think of attack power as a numerical value. Mithril Sword appears as a B-rank weapon because it possesses attack power that matches that rank, right? The same applies to gun bullets. Moreover, they are long-range weapons.]

[Ah… I see. So when you convert it to attack power, that’s how it works. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.]

No way! Let’s think about it in terms of a game. Weapons, for example, tend to be better when the monsters in the dungeon are stronger.

So, let’s say…

Mithril Sword: Attack power 200, 9mm bullet: Attack power 250. I can easily imagine that. Damn it! Armor-piercing rounds should have even higher attack power! With a headshot, it would be a weapon capable of taking down Goblin Kings in a single hit. If we consider the game mechanics of the dungeon, it would naturally be like that.

[Then, does the crafting skill work the same way? You need a high level to make bullets, right? Or even if you can make them, mass production would be impossible.]

The estimated level is level 6 Crafting Skill. And that’s just for regular bullets. It’s frustrating.

[That’s what I told you, didn’t I?]

With a calm expression, Shizuku looks at me with an innocent and childlike face. Oh well, I guess I did say something like that.

[You know, the one about humans determined to lose.]

[That’s right. That’s why we can’t rely too much on firearms.]

[Sigh, the world is tough, really.]

It’s all just a trap. It’s becoming exasperating.

I’ll have to become stronger. Well, because I have the Equivalent Exchange Store. I can grow stronger gradually.

The road ahead still seems long. Well, that’s fine.

While taking care of the enemies in the fields, let’s go on an exploration. Now that I have an assault rifle, I can push myself a little.

As Sakimori leisurely thinks about it, he returns to their homes.

“Hey, Sakimori-shan! What do you have?”

As soon as I arrived home, a young girl who had been playing on the first floor noticed the box I was carrying and ran toward me like a puppy. I told her it was a cake, and she tilted her head in curiosity, wondering what a cake was. The other children had the same reaction.

As a result, the cake was divided among the children, so I only had two left.

The hard-boiled guy couldn’t just say he would eat all the cake himself. So, I had no choice but to go for the style of trying cake for the first time in a while.

I managed to get a shortcake and a chocolate cake, so forgive me, Shizuku-san.

The smiles of the children were priceless.

Seeing the happy smiles of the children, it’s worth it, right?