Rena's Perspective
"—— Eeeeep!!!!!!!!!"
BOSS ENEMY
Species: Onlywhenin Trouble[1] Lv.125
Status : Enraged
As I was running side by side with Hannes through the forest, the trees suddenly cleared— Up ahead was an area boss with a rather silly name. What is it, are they praying to God or something? ...I don't really understand this naming sense, but seeing as Hannes didn't say anything, is it normal?
"Geez, no matter how many times I look at it, it's just a ridiculous name." (Hannes)
Apparently I was wrong. Even Hannes thought it was a silly name. Since we're already within range, shall we ignore the boss-like prelude and just bomb them?
"——Hiya!" (Rena)
"I will never forgive you for cruelly killing my sons and daughters through telepathy," Onlywhenin Trouble-san told me via telepathy, but as if to interrupt it, I used Jun-san to throw a gunpowder ball at what appeared to be an eye hole and destroyed it. Before the smoke from the bombing cleared, we circled Onlywhenin Trouble-san and threw explosives one after another at it.
"You really have no mercy." (Hannes)
"The person who has the gap is to blame." (Rena)
As the smoke cleared and mushrooms began to sprout all over the battlefield, our pursuers caught up with us. At the same time, Onlywhenin Trouble's HP seemed to have increased, so it was probably strengthened depending on the number of people participating in the boss battle.
"As time passes, humidity and mushrooms in the field will increase. As the mushrooms increase, they'll break through resistances and cause various abnormal conditions." (Hannes)
"Oh, that sounds tricky... Should we use them as bait and dry them out?" (Rena)
Every time Onlywhenin Trouble-san got angry and steam erupted from its head, the humidity in the area increased and mushrooms began to grow rapidly. I never thought that steam coming out of his head would be an expression of anger and that it would physically affect the field. So, it seemed the best thing we could do was use our pursuers as a decoy and attack the main body while lowering the humidity in this area.
"…I’m glad you explained it quickly, but how can you understand it just from that explanation?" (Rena)
"Did it no good?" (Hannes)
Hannes had a look of surprise and amazement on his face, so I asked him if there was something wrong with him——
"——No, it's okay." (Rena)
I didn't know what he found funny, but he grinned as if to suppress a deep laugh. He then pointed in a certain direction, and immediately afterwards he smiled defiantly, looking down on me—His attitude was as if to say, "You can understand from just this, right?" and I found myself naturally turning up the corners of my mouth. Yes, yes, that would be good... If you're that shocked, then you're provoking me with the idea that you can do this too, so I have no choice but to accept.
"Please don't regret provoking me——Kageyama-san." (Rena)
A shadow erupted from below and envelops me, then multiple arms took shape as if embracing me from behind. As the black hand gently covered my breathing, we made a move while it protected me from the spores filling the field.
"Shut up—— ‹Holy Earth Armor›." (Hannes)
Ah, it seems that Hannes also has a means of physical protection against the spores, huh... I never thought he would wear full body armor that looked like it was made from the earth rising up. It looked like a moss-covered golem with trees on its back.
"Hyaah!" (Hannes)
Once both sides were ready, we charged, increasing the range of our weapons and increasing our horse galloping speed. I wielded the shadow-shrouded Great Sword, while Hannes wielded a battle axe entangled with golden chains and used it as a halberd.
"After all, insects go well with plants, don't they? ——Hanako-san, Takeo-san!" (Rena)
Together with Hannes, we cut off the cap part that branched out from the mushroom stalk of the main body of Onlywhenin Trouble, reducing the source of water vapor and encouraging Hanako-san and the others. Just as I had hoped, it led its followers and used the ‹Devouring Damage› skill to attack the small mushrooms that had sprouted across the field. Hanako-san and the others continued to slow down the growth of the spore-spewing mushrooms, while Hannes and I pruned the main body of the plant.
By occasionally switching positions with the pursuers and ‹Shadow Transfer›, they acted as a shield to protect against attacks from Onlywhenin Trouble and forcefully dragged the group into the battle. If they were to take sudden defensive action and hurt Onlywhenin Trouble even a little, the hatred would dissipate. Shall I also scatter stimulants and madness-inducing drugs among the spores to make them more aggressive?
"Hey you, it says you resisted excitement and madness."
"Hehe."
"Hehe, come on! Look here!"
"Isn't it nice? It's just a bit of fun."
Even so, I found it strange that pursuers who were in the business of assassination were so easily influenced by drugs—If they know of my existence and are trying to kill me, they must have information that I often used poison or similar drugs. ...I see, so that's why, huh... It's possible that while poison was the only thing that stood out, people didn't know that drugs that affected the mind were also used. In PvP, I mainly used poison and paralysis drugs... I often used them against non-human opponents, like when I took the monster train towards the Empire.
"But everyone seems to be having a good time, right?" (Rena)
"It's your head that's going crazy." (Hannes)
"Wow, that guy is dancing naked." (Rena)
"You mustn't look!" (Hannes)
When I told him about a man who suddenly took off his clothes and started dancing wildly, Hannes became flustered and made us switch positions so that he was blocking my view. I see, it was such a bad view that it made Hannes start speaking strangely, huh?
"You know... you haven't set up any filters or anything, have you?" (Hannes)
"That's right. At first, I only had a sexual harassment prevention function installed, but it started acting strangely during battles with NPCs, so I removed it." (Rena)
There were several moments during the fight that made me think "Huh?", and upon careful observation and consideration I realized that when attacking or grabbing a specific part of the body, the aim would be momentarily off. Therefore, I was dissatisfied with the fact that they were not able to give their all because of our unilateral reasons, so I left them out.
"Then you're in full view?!" (Hannes)
"I can even see the internal organs, you know." (Rena)
"You can see too much!" (Hannes)
Hannes was so funny, he always pointed out something new about my words and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"...That's it." (Hannes)
"Hannes, you're responding seriously, so it's refreshing." (Rena)
——If this was just some random person, they would probably just be checking my mood.
——If this were a servant of the mansion, they would quietly bow their head.
——If it were that man, he would just ignore me and tell me his business.
——If this were Yuu-san or Maria-san, they would be confused but would probably just accept it as it is.
...However, only my mother and Hannes would respond to each of my words and actions, treating me as an equal. That was why sometimes I felt happy, as if I had become a normal kid...maybe
...Well, that's all.
"Now, let's not worry about trivial matters, it's time to dry Onlywhenin Trouble out." (Rena)
"Tsk!" (Hannes)
As I watched Hannes, who was pursing his lips and starting to work, I came up with a small mischief.
"...Hehe." (Rena)
Well, it was nothing serious, but— dry forests seem like they'd burn easily, don't they?
Author's Note (Preface)
Sorry for the wait! I've almost finished work on volume 3, so from now on I'll be concentrating on writing!
Author's Note (Afterword)
Forests are meant to be burned... right?
Yay! We received fan art from "Pomeranian"!!
Rena is lovely!! So cute!!
Thank you so much for your continued support!
Volume 3 is scheduled to be released on June 5th!
Reservations have already begun at various bookstores and online shopping sites, so please look forward to it!
Translation Note
[1] コマッタトキダケ If translated literally (困ったときだけ, komatta toki dake), "Only when in trouble". If you have a better suggestion, please let me know.
Thanks to TV.Station for the corrections.