CH 48

[The Disagreeing Two]

Leveling was an action to grow your character.

As far as Amanai knew, its purpose could roughly be said to ‘strengthen’.

It could be said that leveling in this world, where the game had become a reality and oneself had became a character, was an action to ‘strengthen oneself’.

Wanting to become strong.

It was something that every man thought once; Amanai felt a strong sympathy for that feeling.

After all, unlike in their original world, though here there was an upper limit to the system called level, it was guaranteed that you could become stronger.

Such thought of trying to challenge the summit was by no means something that had to be found fault with.

For Amanai, the problem was that Sakurai was trying to destroy the original game for leveling.

Amanai, as the protagonist, and as a player (temp), thought that the original game was something that had to be adhered to.

The reason was Amanai was not a superhuman like the ‘protagonist (Amanai Hayato)’.

He did not have a sense of justice like ‘him’, and he could not pick up the sword due to a sense of duty.

All he, who did not have anything he excelled in, could do was ‘imitating someone’, and he did not think, even for a single bit, that he could produce a better result even though he had the knowledge of the original game.

Amanai and ‘Amanai Hayato (protagonist)’ were different people.

Amanai could not be ‘Amanai Hayato’.

Therefore, Amanai was fixated on adhering to the original game.

If he kept the flow of the original and did not deviate from that rail, no matter how many became victims, and even if he would have to throw himself into difficult battles, there would always a conclusion (happy end) beyond that.

“However, in the current situation, I can’t strive for a decent leveling, so I’m trying to beat the Diva and her lot. If it’s okay with you, I’d like you to help me.” (Sakurai)

From what Sakurai said, he must be unsatisfied with the dungeons that could be challenged as a lower-class student.

If he, unlike Amanai who for the progress of the original story trained moderately and more focused on deepening his interactions with others, devoted all his time on leveling… his level must be twice himself. As a realistic figure, perhaps he was about level 40 to 50?

If that was the case, in terms of true strength, he had stepped into the middle stage of the story.

The fact he whose level was at the point where he could accept quests outside the wall was forced into low level dungeons must be what dissatisfied him.

(So that’s why this guy turn his attention to the boss of the story, the ‘Black Sword’…!)

Experience points could be obtained by defeating enemies. This was the absolute law of this world.

Enemies were not only limited to monsters, whether they were humans or something else, one would acquire experience points as long as they were ‘enemies’.

Of course, the stronger the enemy, the greater the amount of experience points that one could get when defeating them.

Most story bosses were harmful to people, and if they could be defeated, the number of victims those bosses would cause could possibly be reduced.

However, for Amanai, that was something unacceptable.

It was because he was convinced that actions that deviate from the ‘pre-established harmony’ would definitely bring about the worst results as a retribution.

The victims might be reduced? Such a thing was too optimistic.

Rather, if, for a simplistic reason such as wanting to get experience points or such, the enemies’ strength was whittled, the actions of the opponents who was more driven to a corner than in the original game might become unpredictable.

If the scheme of the ‘Black Sword’ was moved forward, at that time, he did not know if he could prepare the force to stop them or if he could even be present at the scene in the first place.

However, if things proceeded according to the original game, at least he could prepare and respond after knowing all of the opponent’s strength and timing of action.

Therefore, by acting as ‘Amanai Hayato’, he could surely head toward the guaranteed ending.

Interfering with the original flow might produce the best result, however, it might also produce the worst result.

The only thing certain was that the more times the original flow was interfered, the more his overwhelming superiority, that was the ‘original game knowledge’, collapsed.

Amanai was not conceited to the point that he, a person who was just wearing the skin of the ‘protagonist’, could fight against the ‘Black Sword’ in that condition.

Therefore, Amanai could not accept his action.

Amanai could not tolerate the action, not in line with the ‘flow’ of the world, that would destroy the certain guidepost that led to future (ending) just for the self-interest of the one before him.

“Do you really have to do that? There are other alternatives, right? Like challenging higher-level dungeons!” (Amanai)

“Well, I’ve thought about that too, but you see, I want to earn a lot at once. With that in mind, it would be more efficient to get it from the place where there are guys who have saved up lots of them, right?” (Sakurai)

“If you want to earn them continuously, wouldn’t hunting grounds be more efficient!?” (Amanai)

“Well, that’s true, but… I don’t want to be mindful of the small things while leveling. It’s not like I hate the hunting grounds around here, but I’m the type to quickly earn it big at once as long as it’s possible.” (Sakurai)

Sakurai replied apologetically to Amanai’s words.

From his appearance, Amanai could tell that he was trying to treat him in a friendly manner. That was exactly why Amanai distressed.

Although he was selfish, he probably also did not want to futilely get into conflict with other people.

He must be a person who thought ‘getting stronger is fun, so I do it’; he must have no intention to recklessly flaunt that power.

His true nature was good, be that as it may, he was nothing more than a ‘nuisance’ for Amanai.

However, that being said, to try to eliminate him was not allowed by Amanai’s own ethics.

Because he’s a nuisance, I’ll eliminate him… or such actions, the future of someone who choose those was only ruin; that was what he believed.

“……As for me, I don’t want to do things that will disturb the original game flow.” (Amanai)

“So you want to adhere to the original game, then in no way we would clash.” (Sakurai)

“It’s not like you need to destroy those lot today, right? For example, there are field bosses outside the wall that have nothing to do with the story; you should also be able to earn from them as well.” (Amanai)

“If it was in the game era, that would’ve been fine, but they are not as good as those guys. And realistically, when you consider about going back and forth, the time efficacy is the worst in comparison. That’s precisely why it loses in terms of efficiency in leveling, so it’s just like putting the cart before the horse, you know.” (Sakurai)

“I don’t want to disturb the order and timing of defeating the story bosses. I’ll also help you, so can you defeat them in order?” (Amanai)

“At this time, defeating the first boss in April isn’t worth a penny, right? …Just saying, that guy is just a goblin series, no?” (Sakurai)

Sakurai sighed as and scratched his head as he looked at Amanai who was making a face that looked as though he just ate a bitter bug.

“I mean, the original game event is already ahead of schedule anyway. I think it’s useless to care about the order or such.” (Sakurai)

“……What? What do you mean?” (Amanai)

“Today’s opera. It’s definitely the event that should happen in September. If left unchecked, most of the people inside would probably end up becoming the dependents of Luisina Mateos and those scummy demon-kins…” (Sakurai)

“That’s not what I’m asking! What I want to know is why the original game event become ahead of schedule! Why is it happening when I haven’t done anything!? Did you do something!?” (Amanai)

“No, I can’t seem to remember to have done anything in particular though. It just happens.” (Sakurai)

Sakurai frowned, looking troubled, at Amanai who suddenly raised his voice and rattled on.

Amanai began to be confused at the information that the arranged harmony he supposed to have been protecting was broken.

If Sakurai words were true, then he would have to challenge the boss that appeared in the middle stage of the story at the low level of 20.

Naturally, there was no way he could win.

(Wait, if I think carefully, isn’t the way this guy spoke sounds like he’s not entirely sure of it? That means he’s speaking randomly… no, it’s more likely that he thought that the existences of the opera venue and Luisina means that this is the event, because he has poor knowledge of the original game.)

Furthermore, at the September event, there was a pre-event which was ‘the protagonist and his friends accidently gets the opera’s same-day tickets, and thus they head to the venue.’

Of course, Amanai had no remembrance of going through such an event, and the ticket he would be using to watch the opera today was a pre-booked ticket he got from Ethel Tyner.

Although he had not confirmed it, Amanai did not remember seeing or hearing the existence of same-day ticket either.

If there were same-day tickets for the venue at which the top artist, Diva Luisina, would appear, it would not be strange if he were to hear about it somewhere, no matter how uninterested he was in opera.

Opera, Luisina, same-day ticket.

If these three all present, Amanai would naturally consider it as a possibility, but if not, there would be not enough basis to suspect it.

(I don’t think this time’s opera is the event at September. To begin with, there’s no way that the original plot is forwarded by nearly half a year.)

Having made his own conjecture from the given information, Amanai took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Then, with his refreshed mind, he thought about making use of Sakurai’s ‘assumption’ in reverse and opened his mouth,

“Alright. I will back down this time.” (Amanai)

“Oh?” (Sakurai)

“I don’t have enough information to conclude that this is the September event, but if it is, then this is serious. I won’t get in your way… and yeah, I will help with things beside fighting, like evacuation and the likes.” (Amanai)

“Ohh, you’re so understanding.” (Sakurai)

“However, if this time’s opera turns out to be a normal performance that has nothing to do with the event, I want you to follow my way. Don’t attack Luisina and just patiently raid dungeons for the time being.” (Amanai)

“So, you want me not to do anything until something happens and it’s confirmed that it is the September event?” (Sakurai)

“Yeah. If you go rampage before a turmoil occurs, I, as the ‘protagonist’, have to think that you are an ‘enemy’. At that point you won’t be able to escape from becoming a ‘villain’. Even just to completely destroy that option, it would benefit you, right?” (Amanai)

Amanai glared at Sakurai as the ‘protagonist’.

As seriously and as intimidatingly as possible.

What did it mean to turn the ‘protagonist’ into an enemy in a story?

It meant preordaining oneself for a definite defeat.

Even though Amanai did not have the quality, the body he resided in was unmistakably was that of the ‘protagonist’.

In ‘Frontier Academia’… no, not only in the original game, but in most stories, if one knew just how powerful the existence called the protagonist was, they would surely understand that Amanai’s words were a threat.

“……Well, I got it. So, since we’ve come to an agreement, you can do whatever you want as long as you don’t get in my way. However, don’t get back on your words, okay? If a turmoil occurs, you also have responsibility for it after all, right?” (Sakurai)

“I know. It is as I wished.” (Amanai)

Having succeeded in persuading Sakurai, Amanai made a gut pose inwardly without changing his expression.

He managed to find a common ground between his and Sakurai’s seemingly conflicting stances. It could probably be said to be a blessing.

However, with the possibility of such conflict of interest occurs again in the future, he had to end the talk with him seizing the initiative over Sakurai.

The point was that he must not get himself be underestimated. With that in mind, Amanai deliberately sighed with relief, and the tension floating around them was released.

“I’m glad we could come to an understanding. Well then, I’ll go to the opera venue first. I probably have made Reika bored to death waiting, you are so too, right?” (Amanai)

“I wouldn’t have, if someone hadn’t called out and talked to me, though.” (Sakurai)

“Sorry, that was my bad. But it was fruitful for both of us, right? Then, let’s have a nice chat again later.” (Amanai)

Amanai started walking away with leisure, convinced of his victory.

Having gotten a great deal of harvest from this time’s matter, Amanai found that this encounter was ten thousand times better than the boring opera.

“……Fumu. He’ll help with things beside fighting, is it.” (Sakurai)

Sakurai, seeing off Amanai walking away, looked at his back and muttered, sounding surprised.

“That guy, he’s more understanding that I expected.” (Sakurai)

Sakurai interpreted the words “I’ll help with things beside fighting” that Amanai said as “I’m good with taking care of only a part of Luisina’s subordinates.”

For Sakurai, just having Amanai reduce the number of enemies he had to deal with was already plenty enough help.

His purpose this time was not exp, but the rewards and various things that could be obtained by defeating the members of the ‘Black Sword’ anyway.

It was one thing to suppress the penniless riffraff, and it was one thing getting to corner even one of Luisina’s subordinates.

“I was thinking of having Higaki and Iris to take care of that side, but that guy looks strong anyway… if the event does occur, let’s have him deal with Yang Lan or Valov.” (Sakurai)

In addition, that intimidating feeling.

Sakurai could not accurately measure the strength of the other party just like that, but he thought that since he was acting that confident, he must have quite a high level and equipment.

“Though not as high as mine, he’s the protagonist after all, I’m sure his level is about 40 to 50.” (Sakurai)

Sakurai thought that since he was a player, the same as himself, there was no way he did not raise his level before enrollment and get a head start; if there was level, you would naturally raise it after all.

In any case, the other party was the protagonist; even if he did not spend as much time in raising his level as himself, there was a difference of heaven (100) and earth (50) in their talents (level upper limit). There might also be a difference in the obtainable experience points through actions.

Rather, if he was not at that level at this point, it would make Sakurai wonder what in the world was he doing with his life until now.

Sakurai, whose purpose to live was leveling, could not imagine such a life.

Based on that, he viewed Amanai to have reached at least level 40-50. If he had the heroine, Akano Reika, by his side, he probably would have no trouble dealing with just a subordinate demon-kin.

“The rest is depending on the situation, huh. Some of the demon-kins is absolutely cannot be let to escape from the venue, however, the meat-head shitty lizard definitely won’t escape… After all, it must be Yang Lan, right?” (Sakurai)

While muttering words that no one could understand, Sakurai decided to follow Amanai’s proposal and take a wait-and-see approach.

In any case, letting the turmoil grow and the incident more widely known, making the rewards bigger and yielding more return in the distant future could be said to be his secret motive.

“Dammit, if it isn’t to Uncle, I’d definitely ignore the debt with all my might… Haah, to only suppress those people, a part of the experience points will be wasted… Haah, so wasteful…” (Sakurai)

After Amanai’s back disappeared from his sight, Sakurai rotated his shoulders and neck in an attempt to change his melancholy mood and began to walk.

He, who originally did not intend to hurry, rented opera glasses from the receptionist at the entrance to give to Higaki and Iris and headed for the second floor where they were waiting.