Chapter 285: Invitation to the inner area

TL: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

Just wanted to let you know that I have placed a widget at the side of the main page to let you guys know which story will be coming for the next scheduled chapters.

Since my updates are really whimsical, I thought this would be for the best.

Anyways, enjoy the chapters 😀


Do~ne.

“Shii, shouldn’t you return? You are a bit–no, you are quite weird right now.” (Hokuto)

“…I feel kinda…spaced-out. My body is tingling, and I feel restless. But, it doesn’t feel bad. I don’t mind feeling like this forever.” (Shii)

“Hah…” (Hokuto)

“What’s with that sigh?” (Shii)

“I was wondering if that Ryoma infected you with something.” (Hokuto)

“Ryoma? Ah, one of the assassins that fluttered around like a butterfly, and danced like a honeybee.” (Shii)

“Yeah. Since the moment that person approached you, you have been acting weird.” (Hokuto)

“Hm~, I wonder. I only have memories of being pricked by something.” (Shii)

“Waka-sama is also in that state, so…well, let Shiki-sama or Tamaki-sama check it out. Understood?” (Hokuto)

“Yes~.” (Shii)

Looks like Shii and Hokuto are conversing about something.

Ah…but it really feels disheartening.

I feel heavy.

“Now now, Waka. Whatever the case, the negotiation has been safely turned to our side.” (Tomoe)

“It is just as Tomoe-san said-desu wa, Waka-sama. Later, I would like to ask you for permission about something in regards to Rokuya and Aznoval… That’s right, you just have to nod once, and later, I will take care of everything…” (Mio)

Tomoe and Mio seem to be saying something at my side.

By the way, Beren is stuck onto Aznoval-san on a talk about his sword.

…That’s right. It is the fault of that sword.

It is way too compatible with Aznoval-san.

Even when broken, it has enough regenerative ability to restore itself in the middle of battle and has the ability of allowing illusory beasts to possess it to obtain a variety of powers.

It was a sword just for him.

But…now that I think back, the people at their side gave several hints of him.

In the battle with Aznoval-san not that long ago, I judged him as a danger, called him without honorifics like an enemy, and was trying to finish the battle by rendering him into a state where he wouldn’t be able to speak at all.

It was the worst.

Because I thought I could defeat him.

It is because I judged he was an opponent I could defeat, that I decided on doing it.

Even though I should have acted as if I was having a tough fight against him so that it would reduce the animosity of Picnic Rosegarden, and on top of that, surrender while everyone was watching to finish the fight.

It was an easy answer.

If it was Rembrandt-san, he would have been able to draw the picture since the moment he received the proposal of fighting with Aznoval-san, and would have perfectly carried it out.

By surrendering, I would have been able to enter a positive negotiation environment with Picnic Rosegarden for the sake of our objective, and what I would be losing is nothing at all.

It was truly a ‘no risk, high return’.

I am not a battle junkie or a warrior; I am a merchant.

That should have been the case, and yet…

What I actually did had no positives at all. Not only that, I simply got injured and made everyone worry.

This is nothing but disheartening.

“Mio, don’t do anything to those two. Also, I won’t nod. Got it?” (Makoto)

“N-No way. Just a bit, it will be just a little bit. Towards the man that humiliated me to a point I have never felt before, and the man who cut W-Waka-sama’s face…… If a bit is no good, let it be only a tiny little bit. With my discretion—” (Mio)

“……Mio.” (Makoto)

I have heard of what Rokuya-san did to Mio.

I do have my thoughts regarding that.

But rather than feeling something towards him…it is more correct to say that I am feeling something towards myself.

Honestly, I am hating myself right now.

I would normally be able to get back up decently, but I currently can’t.

The negotiation has turned with Tomoe as the focus, and from the other side, there’s Vivi-san, Ageha-san, Nomad-san, who are advancing the matter, and it is practically already wrapped up.

I used the medicine of Shiki that Tomoe, Mio, and Beren brought from Asora, and treated the wound on my face and was present in the negotiations only in form.

Because I had lost quite a good amount of blood, Tomoe told me: ‘I will take the front and advance the negotiation’.

Well, in the end, my role was practically coercion. Like the scary Gargoyle statues outside mansions.

Now that I have acted in such a stupid manner, the most I can do is that much.

…Hah…

“Uh…Understood. Uhm, Waka-sama, is your wound really alright now?” (Mio)

Wound.

The wound on my head.

At the end of the fight, the Iai that was the trump card of Aznoval-san had scraped my face.

Right after…he stopped his sword in an unnatural posture, and then, closed his eyes and surrendered.

If I had been the one saying those words, all of this would have ended harmoniously.

When I heard that, I returned to my senses.

Rather than calling it ‘returned’, it was more like, I remembered.

The objective of why we came here.

It was not to fight.

My vision was completely red, and the inside of my head had gone completely pale.

His sword had cut around the part slightly above my eyebrow, and with an unpleasant sensation as if it had touched my bone, it slid and passed by.

The heat, that came right after, had cooled down the insides of my head instead.

In other words, my vision was reddened because of the blood.

It seems I was bleeding real hard.

The head is an important part, so even with small things, it would bleed extravagantly, is something I think I heard somewhere, so I myself didn’t mind it much.

But, right after 2 seconds of Aznoval-san’s words of surrender, everyone from the Kuzunoha Company here had surrounded me.

It seems it was good that at least one layer of skin was still adhered to it.

Even if it wasn’t on the level of instant death, it could still be categorized as a grave injury.

And yet, what I was thinking at those last moments of the fight…was truly nothing good.

“Of course. Thanks, Tomoe. Thanks to you, I will be able to give a good report to Rembrandt-san.” (Makoto)

“Don’t mind it. I am accompanying you in this journey after all. Gotta be of help.” (Tomoe)

“…Hey, if we had continued fighting just like that, what would have happened to the negotiations?” (Makoto)

“The result itself…wouldn’t have changed much. The negotiations would become an order, and the cooperation would have become subordination instead though.” (Tomoe)

“Haha, that would have been the worst then.” (Makoto)

That wouldn’t have been a negotiation or a contract anymore.

“Don’t worry about it that much, Waka. In the first place, the proposal of that Aznoval was basically a gamble in itself. Waka is not a gambler, and you are not the apostle of good luck either. On top of that, the Adventurers of Origin are all ruffians, not only him. I think this result couldn’t be helped.” (Tomoe)

“Is that so.” (Makoto)

“Yes.” (Tomoe)

“In that case, should I be happy about this result where we have wrapped the negotiation up as a request with a reward, and see it as safely accomplishing the first step in making the defense of Tsige firmer?” (Makoto)

“That’s right.” (Tomoe)

Tomoe nods, and Mio shakes her head up and down several times.

“Dispatch their main force to Tsige without sparing anyone and have them join in the defense, accept teaching as well. A two year contract, renewal possible. Well, the price is on the high side, but personally, in this occassion, this group is worth the price. Waka-sama, congratulations on the successful contract.” (Beren)

“Beren.” (Makoto)

At some point in time, Beren had returned and spoke of the result of Picnic Rosegarden’s negotiation result and evaluated their war potential.

At his back, there’s Aznoval-san.

Even though we were fighting not that long ago, he lifted his hand and greeted with a ‘Yo’.

His sword was on his back.

The armor that had transformed into a shield, was now covering his body once again. There doesn’t seem to be any visible damage in the armor.

So this armor also has regenerative ability huh.

It is truly an equipment made for continuous battle.

Is his offensive ability reliant on the illusory beasts?

“In reality, Beren, you and the others were the ones who held them down.That evaluation you have of them is the most trustworthy one we can get. Thanks.” (Makoto)

Beren bows deeply and falls back to where Shii and Hokuto are.

The pay for the mercenary group huh.

The contract was formed between them and Tsige.

However, if Beren has evaluated them to that extent, maybe the Kuzunoha Company should also recompense them in some way in the form of an extra pay.

In the first place, we were the ones who trespassed when they were in a bad state after all.

“Hey there, we sweated real nice back there, didn’t we, Raidou–is it fine if I call you Makoto-kun? I am relieved to see that the mercenary contract went well from beginning to end. It is great that the good word we put in, counting Rokuya as the first one to start it off, helped you guys out.” (Aznoval)

“Yeah, thank you very much. Tomoe, about the pay for Picnic Rosegarden…” (Makoto)

In truth, the good word that the Adventurers of Origin added in had quite the influence in the negotiation.

The words of Rokuya-san, who was present as well, had the ability to convince Picnic Rosegarden into complying.

“Understood. I will reconsider a part of it. Luckily, we haven’t contacted Tsige yet. With Beren saying that much about them, it might be necessary to prepare a clause in the contract for extra pays. Leave it to me.” (Tomoe)

…As expected of Tomoe.

She can see right through what I think.

“I am counting on you. So, Aznoval-san, did you have business with us?” (Makoto)

“Looks like your body is already fine. So you are also sturdy. That’s great.” (Aznoval)

“You as well. But well, it looks like my left arm that has been weird since before our fight hasn’t healed yet.” (Makoto)

At first, I was bothered by it.

Because it seems it was wounded before he fought with me.

Well, even if I say that, I was fighting in such a way right as the battle began.

I stopped any reservation I had…and I even brought out my Silver Arms… hah…

How disheartening.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. On the contrary, thanks to the wounds I got, I was able to utilize the illusory beasts I can only utilize when receiving a certain extent of damage, and thanks to it, I was able to recover faster. At any rate, you look pretty down. You don’t seem to be okay.” (Aznoval)

“…Cause my decision was worth zero as a merchant.” (Makoto)

“…I see. Ah, Makoto-kun, in this kind of moments, thinking about it in reverse is also a valid way.” (Aznoval)

“What do you mean by reverse?” (Makoto)

“As a berserker, you got full points. In terms of underground dealings, I think it would also have a positive grade. When you change the evaluation terms, the grades you get are pretty exemplary, you know.” (Aznoval)

I don’t want either of those grades.

I am being told this by a person that actually has a skill to turn himself into a berserker, so it makes me feel even weirder.

But well, instead of calling him a berserker, it was more like he simply activated the skill and was utilizing it in a composed manner.

“But, in that case, this is good timing. This will serve as a good mood-changer.” (Aznoval)

“Hah?” (Makoto)

Now that I think about it, I still haven’t heard what business he had.

It looks like the other ones don’t know the reason why he is here either. Just what is Aznoval-san planning?

“I am sorry for Beren-kun and Mio-san, but…” (Aznoval)

“…Hah?” (Mio)

At that moment, Mio let out a voice as if it had come out from the depths of earth.

Mio looks like she is in an incredibly bad mood. And also, scary.

On the other hand, Beren was dumbstruck.

They had a look as if they didn’t understand why their names were mentioned.

“There’s a place I want to guide Makoto-kun and Tomoe-san.” (Aznoval)

“Tomoe…and I?” (Makoto)

“Yeah. In this dungeon, or more accurately speaking, in this Prison Palace’s inner area.” (Aznoval)

“…Hoh?”

“It is also the place where this sword was pierced into.” (Aznoval)

“!!”

Beren’s reaction was incredible.

His eyes opened wide as if they were going to pop out of their sockets.

“Even this floor is a pain in a lot of ways-ja, and yet, what is the merit in us going there, Aznoval?” (Tomoe)

It is true that there’s the possibility of a trap.

From what I sensed in our fight and thinking about this person’s personality, the possibility of that is close to zero though.

It is also true that he is strong and scary, and is a person that you just can’t predict what he would do next.

But his core personality is simple.

It is only his body, techniques, and mind that are weird.

…Eh? Isn’t that just saying he is weird all over?

“About a merit for Makoto-kun, just as I said before, it is a small change of mood. In terms of Tomoe-san, it is not about merits or that sort of things, it is simply because you are a Superior Dragon.” (Aznoval)

“?”

Tomoe was confused and tilted her head.

Inviting her because she is a Superior Dragon is one strange reason.

Now that I think about it, this is a place where the name of two Superior Dragons -Doma and Futsu- are mentioned.

Doma is the useless one, and Futsu is the mysterious one.

“It is true that Makoto-kun battled with his life at stake. But that wasn’t because of hatred or because of vengeance. Then, now that the battle is over and both parties are safe…shouldn’t it be possible to hold hands?” (Aznoval)

“Well, that’s true.” (Makoto)

“…”

And in reality, the battle ended and neither of us died.

If I was asked if I had some sort of personal grudge on Aznoval-san, my answer would be no.

Hearing those upright words of his, I was a bit relieved.

Tomoe simply narrowed her eyes and was staring at him though.

“…Yeah, you are like that. Then, will you come with me?” (Aznoval)

“Understood. I don’t mind. But, about Tomoe…” (Makoto)

“I don’t mind either, Waka. Please do let me accompany you as well.” (Tomoe)

Oh.

Looks like she didn’t keep silent because she was against it or was cautious?

But Mio cuts in between Aznoval-san and I.

“…”

Without making a face as if being troubled, Aznoval-san approaches Mio and whispered into her ears.

“…..There’s no lie in those words?” (Mio)

“Of course there’s none. A knight doesn’t go back on his words.” (Aznoval)

Isn’t that supposed to be a samurai?

Is it the same for knights?

I am not well-versed in that, so I’m not sure.

“Then, be sure to bring back Waka-sama safely.” (Mio)

“I promise. I would be grateful if you were to change a bit of your opinion towards us if he were to return with a healthier shade though.” (Aznoval)

“I will consider it.” (Mio)

Mio slowly gets out of my front with an evil smile.

I am grateful that you are worried about me, but at least ask for the safety of Tomoe as well, Mio.

“Then, Makoto-kun, Tomoe-san, I will be your guide.” (Aznoval)

“Have a safe trip, Waka-sama.”

“Have a safe trip!”

I am a merchant, and a teacher at the Academy.

I am not a berserker or something close to that.

My objective is by no means battle, it is simply a mean to an end.

Excluding a single being in specific, I don’t really care about winning or losing.

It is not something to be bothered with.

Hah…looks like I have now gotten a big task to fix.

Tsige is in the middle of war, and yet, I am like this.

It is true that I am interested in the inner area of the biggest labyrinth in this world.

But I really don’t think it will be something big enough to change this gloomy feeling I have.

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0 thoughts on “Chapter 285: Invitation to the inner area

  1. “About a merit for Makoto-kun, just as I said before, it is a small change of mood. In terms of Tomoe-san, it is not about merits or that sort of things, it is simply because you are a Superior Dragon.” (Tomoe)

    That should be Aznoval, with Tomoe on the next line.

    Wonder what was pushing Makoto to go berserk, was he drugged like Shii, or did Aznoval just release some kind of aura that releases the musclebrain in others…?

  2. Ooooh. I’m surprised Makoto realized his mistake (presumably) on his own. Could it be that it isn’t just Makoto the Creature, but Makoto the Human is actually growing as well?

    At least he gets uncharacteristically good luck when it comes to capable subordinates that can cover for him. That might be more of a credit to the incredible charisma his “power” itself has though.

    Either way, I’m a bit glad he’s kicking himself for all this. Between all his questionable actions that have been more than a little controversial in the comments and the feeling of value dissonance in general, it’s good to see Makoto take a step back and acknowledge “What was I thinking!?”

    That Aznoval, the weirdo in mind, body and technique(everything), approves of him with weird standards is the penalty he pays.

    1. true this one kinda good after rather bad taste of few chapters back, also since we talking about “MC who thinking back about his actions” this kinda rare in this genres (isekai) and platform(WN). oh well for me more important things Makoto realize his mistake if he tried to act as merchant

      1. The point presented by the story is basically:

        “Winning the battle is a mistake because the battle isn’t the goal. Since the goal is to successfully negotiate a deal, losing the battle to make Picnic Rose Garden comfortable is the “correct” answer for the sake of the objective.”

      2. @ssg
        Makoto had to lose the battle to allow that trash called adventurers to “vent” their anger. He didn’t so this negotiation is becoming something close to and order.

      3. well called it “mistake” might me to far stretch, like other had said makoto came to PRG with intention to negotiated. the problem here what kind role makoto came there ? if makoto just want to subjugate those PRG bunch and ordered them then this method might be right but makoto want to met them as Merchant, after all even he lose he didnt lose anything and at last those PRG bunch can vent little so business like negotiation can be more smooth in process

        1. The reason he is beating himself is because he loosed himself in the figth and forgot to look at things from yje perspective of the other party and draw the best outcome posible. That was the mistake.

      4. The author wanta to masturbate like azoshit wasnt buffed to atleast 200% and makoto was at 70%, as if azo could actually have beaten him, what wouldve happened ia that makoto turns him into mincemeat and scatters him in space ao he is dead forever

    2. I feel for Makoto of what he did and feel depressed forgeting the objective because an ego took over….I just remembered something disheartening from my past(sign)

  3. Thanks for the chapter.
    So Makoto thinks he’s neither a berserker or minds winning or losing… Just in case a review of Makoto’s past battles may be necessary to really confirm just how far from the truth those words are. Especially when we look into the battle with Aznoval. Nonetheless, I’m happy to see Makoto have a tough battle; that ought to put some of his ego in check.

  4. [Even though I should have acted as if I was having a tough fight against him so that it would reduce the animosity of Picnic Rosegarden, and on top of that, surrender while everyone was watching to finish the fight.]
    he didn’t even serious till the end…
    when the Muscle-brain Knight cut Makoto’s Face and suddenly surrender… probably because he saw glimpse of the “True” Makoto on that second after he got cut….

  5. Long time reader first time commenter yadda yadda yadda but I don’t see the widget :(. On the other hand I love all your stories so it doesn’t matter (but you better have an end for DEH even if it takes decades, I’ll be following).

  6. that’s why he want to make Azu in pieces for his winning term, well~ when too much blood rushing in your head is not a good thing
    thanks for chap

  7. Thanks 4 the chapter!

    Glad that Makoto acknowledge his mistake “/as a merchant, but that doesn’t make it right for Picnic Garden and the Adventurers of Origin to attack him in the first place. They didn’t recognize Makoto’s right to defend himself.

  8. Thanks for the chapter, Reigo-senpai.

    Guys, I was late because of work this time, not Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. Anywho, it’s nice to see things when it’s “All’s well that ends well”.

  9. Thanks for the chapter!

    huh…..all I can think of in this arc is screw both PRG and the AoO. No acknowledgment of the trash behind the whole tragedy, just a big entitled group. PRG were fighting to kill, Beren/Hokuto/Shii could have gotten hurt, AoO seemed to be fighting seriously enough, what happened to Mio leaves a bad taste. And they still want Makoto to roll over, let them beat him up to satisfy their ego. And still, the result seems the same as if Makoto and co. had just crushed them from the start and told them to obey.

    Plus Makoto lamenting being a beserker, I thought he learned from the school arc to embrace his strengths.

    1. I am kind tired of this argument but let’s give it one more go…
      You have to stop of thinking only from the MC perspective and think on the whole.
      Makoto and gang didn’t come all they way to this forsaken labyrinth to flaunt their OPness on the faces of every single person there. They came for a simple objective, to get the best mercenary group ever to defend the city they are backing (Tsige) and teach the adventures there their tactics. This whole ordeal is a big gray area between Makoto and the PRG, since neither side is fully wrong nor right. Makoto used excessive force on someone whom he could handle with easy, he could have captured then, brought then to authority and handle the situation in a way where he could have gain many favors from the country, or just simple knock then unconscious and leave then with the guys there (forgot their names). While what he did was not wrong, it was also not right too (using our world as a standard).
      In the case of the PRG they also had neither acted in a fully wrong or right manner. They sought vengeance for a fallen comrade, despite the reason. You can bet that if the same happened to someone Makoto cares he would have done the same, and we would be shearing for him the whole time.
      The whole point of this argument is because many readers can’t see beyond the point of the MC and only think about themselves

  10. .
     ∧__∧
    ( ´・ω・`)  (○) Thanks….
    ,( ヽ∩∩ノ),、ヽ|〃,,, Nepu……..
    “““ ““ ““ ““ ““ ““ ““ ““““ ““

  11. Thx for the chapter o/
    it’s good to see this side of Makoto, it’s rare to see this in WN MCs
    also, am i the only one curious about why Aznoval gave up? my best bet would be so that Makoto doesn’t go to far

  12. Thanks for the chapter.
    It is so rare to see Makoto be so tired after fighting someone or something. The last time was with Athena for fighting someone and with Root something, so… Since chapter 170 and 192. Damn !

  13. “However, if Beren has evaluated them to that extent, maybe the Kuzunoha Company should also recompense them in some way in the form of an extra pay.
    In the first place, we were the ones who trespassed when they were in a bad state after all.”

    holy shit i hate this fucking japanese MC mentality that always seem to follow isekais. why arew they always such pussies? these cunts let 3 brainwashed assassins out of prison and then you killed them in self defense, 1 of the 3 assassins was a friend of one of the rose garden so the entire guild/group decides that you need to die because you defended yourself against them. Rokuya and the other cunts of origins knows you are innocent and says “we are on your side” but then even though they said that and could help you end it peacefully they instead try to kill you and your friends then after you have finished beating all of them up baking sure not to kill anyone they still refuse to “forgive” you. they demand to “vent” by having their strongest guy fight you in a room where he has a massive buff and you a de-buff and even after winning (a very underwhelming win) you are still blaming yourself for defending yourself and you want to pay them even though you aren’t even the one who hiring them??

    holy shit japan, how the fuck have you not been taken over if you are this pussyfied? at this point i could conquer the entire nation alone if its filled with people like this.

    1. He’s trying to hire them, what do you want him to do? He’s only just barely managed to bring an ugly situation to a truce in the most back-assward, brute force way possible outside enslaving people like Tomiki. Your interpretation of events is biased to the point of being silly. This isn’t a revenge fantasy, and Makoto’s not a hapless victim. He IS trying to do business.

      It’s a bit dumb that he’s latched onto making PRG in particular work for him but given that he is, he has to give them some reason to work for him or they’ll scatter to the corners of the world or undermine his operation.

      1. – what do you want him to do?

        i want him to stop bending over for these people. they have tried to kill him so many times even though hes innocent and he just keep apologizing and bending over for them. “sorry i didn’t die. please try again if you want”

    2. I wonder, hibiki and tomoki doesn’t look “pussyfied” as you call it, neither the adventurer of origine btw.
      that give us what? 1/9 is “pussyfied”? not that big.
      I suppose you prefer them over makoto, right?

      1. i say i like X you say omg i can’t belive you like Y over Z.

        Bitchbiki and Trashmoki has nothing to do with this. how about instead of changing the subject you guys defend how MC this pussyfied and willing to bend over to the people trying to kill him this much is in any way fun or relate able.

        1. you said you disliked makoto’s behavior, so I assumed you would like characters that doesn’t have the behavior you dislike. but it look like you’re not.
          what do you want?

      2. i want Makoto to act like a normal sane human being.

        remember when he fought Sofia? he didn’t subdue her and say “sorry, lets be friends” he killed her (or at least thought he did).
        yet now when these people with the most retarded motive tries to kill him and his friends hes just ok with it, he even bends over backwards and is willing to pay them and apologizes to them…

        1. the difference is that he came to employ them
          and he is in the wrong willingly trespassing and triggering this battle.

      3. that is just horse shit on every level.
        first off its a public labyrinth, anyone can enter so saying hes trespassing is a stretch

        second he didn’t trigger shit. that annoying cry baby Pione started it by being insane and her “friends” enabling her insanity. they are mercenary’s they should be used to death.

        third the whole plot of coming al the way there to hire them is also stupid, there must have been a 100 other mercenary groups that Tsige could have hired or Makoto and crew could have gone to the Shogun and demanded he give Tsige freedom.

        fourth that doesn’t explain why hes bending over for hem so much. this whole “a better negotiation position” shit is stupid, just go all in and oyu can set all the terms instead of this whole shit show of trying to bend to their will after all they have done.

        i seriously can’t understand how anyone can like this arc, the whole Trashmoki taking over the royal family is intriguing but this part with rose garden and the origin cunts is just terrible. i want nothing more than to be dome with this arc and move on, hopefully to Trashmoki’s beatdown.

        1. I don’t remember anywhere the labyrinth being a public place being said.
          the labyrinth is under takane’s management.
          it was already said their base was in the 10th floor and it was where apple lived.
          It is their home.

          He was told by takane ( the dungeon master) to leave and wait for the situation to calm down. he didn’t, and trespassed weapon in hand.
          He triggered the battle.

          it’s rather unlikely since most mercenary would be fighting the demons in the north, all that was left in tsige was adventurers.
          So, ultimately, you want makoto to use his OP power to take a territory (pretty much what he did for kaloneon) because he want it? that’s a conquest and will trigger the war with all hyumans, and pretty sure ‘modern moral’ see conquest as evil.

          you repeat again and again “bend over” but what does it mean?

          I agree the drama around PRG is bad.

      4. do you not remember how there were tons of people on the first floor? people selling maps, people working as guides etc. this labyrinth is major source of income for Lorel.

        Tsige can’t wait around forever, its a time sensitive mission and its not a good idea to leave a gang of pissed of mercenaries behind you. if they are this dumb they might have come up with some plan to take revenge either on Makoto directly or attack Tsige.

        most mercs maybe but not everyone, there must be more and seeing as Makoto is more than willing to throw his own money in there he could probably have bought some who were fighting for the Shogun or the rebels.

        how would him supporting Tsiges independence spark a war? both the kingdom and empire knows his power and wouldn’t go to war over what happens in Aion + they are busy with fighting the demons. I’m pretty sure that Lorel has already acknowledged Tsige as a free nation so they wouldn’t jump in and i very much doubt the demons would give 2 fucks about Tsige… also whats this about seeing conquest as evil? this is medieval fantasy, these kingdoms came to be through war and once the war with the demons are over they will fight with one another. what are you getting at? that Makoto is against war? he has said himself that he doesn’t give a shit about the war ro anything like that, he just cares about his friends which is why hes helping Tsige.

        i keep saying that hes bending over because that’s exactly what he is doing, he is doing everything they tell him, hes giving them his money and getting beat up and then he apologizes for it. i know his a jap but god damn

        1. It counts as trespassing when the residents clearly tell you not to enter and you do so anyway. If you throw a party, then decide to throw one guy out in the middle for some reason, then that guy will be considered a trespasser if he stays.

          It doesn’t matter how many other people you welcome into your home at the same time or how petty your reason for throwing him out is. Makoto was indeed unreasonably invading and any argument otherwise would just be schematics.

          It’s already been brought up, but Tomoki and Hibiki are both doing everything you’re asking. Neither of them are “bending over” and both of them are using all the power at their disposal to get their enemies to yield to them and let them have their way.
          Unless you can establish what’s so different between them and a hypothetical Makoto that does everything you want, it’s a double standard.

        2. as far as we know, people make money of the dungeon doesn’t mean it’s more owned by the country than the dungeon master or people that settled in it for 1 millenium (I think it was even before lorel was founded)

          I have enough to see this argument everywhere. Because makoto is pressed by time doesn’t make his action any more right than if he wasn’t pressed. It doesn’t change anything.
          being late for work doesn’t allow you to roll over people with your car.

          there are probably not many laying around tho, and with the criteria of being more incompetents than tsige’s adventurers, the number would be enough in my opinion.

          more than supporting, him going there to threaten the king and take the land. from an exterior pov, he is a conqueror that started his conquest in tsige. The other countries will feel threatened and would want to stop him.
          And it’s justified by the way. remeber kaleneon? he got angry, and conquered a country on a whim to ‘vent’ (where 1000 demons died IIRC).
          It’s possible that the goddess will push the war against him,
          in the worst case, she can came kill him herself if she consider it broke the non-proactive stance against hyumans.

          My point about conquest being evil, is that if you are okay with declaring a war to conquer a country for your own personal pleasure, I don’t see how you can get mad at PRG, apple, and the heroes for killing for their own desires.
          btw, “it’s okay to trigger a war because in the future their will have a war” is as stupide as saying “you will die one day, so it’s okay if I kill you”

          so you want makoto to kill them all?
          and I will tell you another time: of all the ‘jap’ in the story, makoto is the only one with the “pussyfied” one, and yet you hate all other because they aren’t “pussyfied” and will do do think for their own wish rather than taking the other sides view.
          under your rule, when aznoval came back in his home, and saw people trespassed his base, beat down all his gang, tortured with illusion a guy until mindbreak and partially destroyed the base, you would call him a pussy if he were to apologise for them, and you would say the bare minimum would be to beat down the other leader, and yet you reproach him for doing so.
          is this hypocrisy?

      5. owned by the state or not its open to people to go in and kill monsters in. being late for work and being late to save your city from an invasion are slightly different…

        “it’s okay to trigger a war because in the future their will have a war” is as stupide as saying “you will die one day, so it’s okay if I kill you”

        that is fucking retarded don’t try bullshiting, Tsige is already at war and you pretending that somehow its all roses and sunshine as long as mokoto isn’t involved is retarded. war happens all the time and will keep happening and makoto can end this war right now, if you really are just such a “give peace a chance” person then shouldn’t you be 100% for him storming the shogun and demanding an end to the war?

        yea i want makoto to kill them all. after all they have done, after how they acted, after almost killing his friends and even after finding out exactly why he killed those 3 and why it all started BECAUSE HE FUCKING DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST 3 DERANGED ASSASSINS WHO THEY LET OUT OF PRISON they still refuse to listen and want to “vent” on him. i don’t hate them because they aren’t “pussyfied” i hate them because they are terrible characters with terrible motives.
        did Aznoval rush in and fight Makoto? no he stopped, listen, learned that he was innocent and then decided to “vent” on him so fuck him too.

        “dystopia of edgelords” oh fuck off. you think just because you want a character to act like a normal human and not get beat up and apologize for hurting the bullies fists you’re an edgelord?

        i can’t understand how any of you can defend any of these character not the any of the shit in this arc.

        1. We’re not defending anyone here.
          Frankly speaking, I find Makoto, the Adventurers of Origin, and Picnic Rose Garden to all be in the wrong for starting a fight that had no reason to come to murderous intent. PRG for letting the assassins escape and acting on an unreasonable grudge, AoO for supporting it, and Kuzunoha for pushing it anyway.
          The labyrinth half of this arc has been “meh” for me in terms of plot, but I’ll let it slide as a necessary path towards the good stuff.

          Aznoval is the only one I have a decent impression of because he proposed the fight mainly to clear up the bad blood and make any sort of decent exchange possible. Call this “venting” horseshit, bullshit, or whatever the hell you want, but the bottom line is that something like this is necessary if there’s any hope of a negotiation with good results that doesn’t leave PRG grumbling on some level.

          And this is where we’re in disagreement with you. Unless I’m grossly misunderstanding you, you find the fact that Makoto has to compromise at all to be insulting and prefer for him to give no quarter after how he’s been treated, while at least Redcolonel and I would not approve of Makoto acting any more aggressively than he already has and approve of him acknowledging that his part in escalating conflict in the first place.

          I find that it’s a perfectly reasonable attitude to strive to fix and improve relations now that Kuzunoha and Picnic Rose Garden’s conflict is over. A “normal human being” wouldn’t try to start another fight or intentionally leave dissent brewing.

          …Well, maybe “normal” is a stretch, and Makoto isn’t really normal anyway. Rather, a “mature person capable of functioning in human society” would try to avoid further conflict where it’s reasonably avoidable.

    3. You…do realize that the reason Japan developed this current mild culture is because they were sick of the exceedingly violent one that preceded it, right?

      From what I understand, pre-modern Japan was an exceedingly fractured one not unlike a medieval Europe crammed into a tiny island. Everyone was constantly killing each other over one loyalty or another, spouses and children were executed to prove a parent’s loyalty, and samurai were held to a standard of loyalty-not honor-that meant killing anything their masters wanted them to kill.

      And the main reason the U.S. and Japan don’t have much bad blood despite the WWII bombs is because their soldiers and civilians were forced into the war by leaders with too much power to begin with.

      So yeah. I’ll take a “pussyfied” country over a violent dystopia run by edgelords who think killing is the best answer to everything any day.

      1. you do realize there is a middle ground right? you don’t have to be a pussy that thanks the bully for hitting you and apologizes for hurting the bullies fists with your face & a school shooter. you can actually be a nation that stand up for itself but i guess that’s to much to ask?

        1. Of course there’s a middle ground, but your definition of “middle” is clearly different from ours. (And my point was more to answer why Japan has that culture at present, not what they “should” be.)

          From what I see, this is the middle ground. Makoto and the Labyrinth residents were both in the wrong, and Makoto is choosing to use money-which he has an absurd abundance of-to generously compensate Kuzunoha’s new business partners and make the whole situation easier on them.
          He does this because, firstly, Beren’s evaluation convinced him that they’re worth it, secondly-a more emotional decision, he recognizes that he had a part in the problem and wants to make it up to them. It also serves to make sure they’re content with the deal and perform their duties properly afterwards, but I’m fine with assuming Makoto didn’t consider this.

          You’ve been equating this to some sort of emasculating sexual subservience, but it’s really just basic compromise and damage control. Anything less than this and the other side won’t be happy(well, after factoring in Makoto’s distorted sense of the value of money).

          Sure, Makoto could take the berserker/dominator route and just force everyone to bend the knee for having the audacity to challenge him, but that reaches the opposite extreme to me. Pushing for a fight when nobody is looking for one anymore is pretty “edge” to me.
          He already did defend himself from the escaped assassins and attacks in the subsequent battle. Then it ended. The “bully” was stopped a while ago when Azu-sensei walked in. So Makoto dropped the hostilities in turn and tried to move on to negotiating a business deal.

  14. Thanks for the chapter, well I feel you Makoto, just give up on the merchant gig and go your marry way into the Berserker path, you know you want it. So any explanation why Aznoval ended the figth, was it to help Makoto or he really couldn’t keep going???

  15. Thanks for the chapter. I am surprise and glad that Makoto lost, now he has good reason to seek other ways to get stronger. Maybe use the talking sword in new fighting style, use powerful beast as form of weapon, or make the talking sword into a new bow.

  16. Huh, I was sure someone would have noticed and commented but apparently no one has. Everyone got caught up in the business of Makoto.

    We have found the source of the charm that reinfected the assasins and led to them going after Makoto. Can anyone else tell the source?

      1. I just hope Mio takes a look at Shii before things get bad.

        (Try and remember what happened just before they invaded the 20th floor)

  17. Why all people want makoto to berserker state?
    Y know when makoto into that route shiva will destroy that world

  18. Why Azunoval? Just slice it deeper, end Makoto and show the truth! Kill the idiot who dared to defend his life from three people who attacked first!

    Because ONE of these people were friends of ONE person who was not immortal but part of your gang is sufficient justification to kill! Why? Because the gang is powerful compared to low level humans outside and they are led by immortals! Power means you can set what’s fair and that means you die obediently like the slave you are when they decide you should die.
    /r
    This storyline was immensely idiotic in the first place. The author should really have skipped most of this because the logic of this sort of storyline only works if the author forgot that the world he or she built has magic (hence hiring a mercenary group was never needed), bullying (using immortals) is perfectly acceptable and after being builled, you should accept that your should have been meeker and accepted it more.

  19. I’m quite pissed reading this chapter.
    All the shit Makoto has been through and how they acted towards him. Bitch just wanna talk and go back home if it doesn’t work. Now they acting all friendly around him after making him go through all that work when he just wanna simply talk.. What the fuck is with that? Fuck.

    I wish Makoto started to hate these bitches and reject them whenever they wanna meet up or shit. Fuck the PRG.

  20. If you try to kill someone than expect that someone to defend themselves and try to kill you in return. I don’t give a SHIT about making a deal crap! Also they shouldn’t get cocky with the “Immortal” thing. Cut up the immortal and transport the pieces to different parts of the world with the head in a dark box at the bottom of the fucking ocean. See how long that goes before Muscle idiot surrenders. What kind of a stupid bitch is a true team mate by going waaa waaa waaa my buddy got killed so could you all please risk your lives and fight for me?! She is the one that has a prob than duke it out yourself with the MC instead of getting someone else to do it for you! SUCH BS!

  21. what’s he so sad about? Aznoval used a cheat 2x strength buff, is immortal, yet fought to kill him, and he’s sad about fighting back with the same intensity? He needs to prep to fight a goddess, this is perfect practice for him. Why would he even care about “thinking like a merchant”. His soft attitude is what ended up letting Tomoki get away with ruining the lives of thousands of girls with charm. I really want to hit Makoto sometimes.

  22. thanks for the chapter sensei!

    “Honestly, I am hating myself right now.”
    please just kill yourself already, make Mio the MC or something

  23. Accept Makoto’s role as punchbag for PRG dudes & dudettes … so they would behave more cooperatively during negotiation …. oh really, SERIOUSLY REALLY ???

    From the way i see it, PRG doesn’t have any reason to hear MC words at first, now fueled by Blind Zero Sense Revenge their willingness to talk become BIG ZERO.

    Now, hypotetically even if PRG succedd in their venting their Unreasonable anger … will they willing to talk with Makoto after that ??? …. the one that they believed killed their precious one …. the one that they believe could beat up when they feel like it.

    I don’t see it gonna happening …. very-very low chance …. might be happen after 1000 years though

    Yeah, Makoto action is somehow acceptable by context …. creating the possibilty of talk when it already hit the BIG MINUS.

    This situation kinda reminds me of what Allied did during WW2 to japan, creating possibilty for peace talk by showing [“It’s gonna get way more bloody for you if you inetent to continue as it is”] in form of tragedy in Hiroshima & Nagasaki

    Also why Makoto is so affraid with ‘so called subordination ?’ …. isn’t his Slave pact with Tomoe, Mio, Shiki, and Tamaki is another form of subordination …. but what mattered is after the pact right, his treatment toward them can’t be considered as Slave treatment at all (at least in my opinion).

    It would be utterly ridiciolous if it’s negoitation/partnership in paper only, but treated like slave in the practice of it …. just like a certain hero from limia that planned to tric- *ehem* gain partnership of makoto during hyuman-demon war, then have him face gritonia until both sides turned to ashes …. well, that’s her definition of partnership anyway.

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