Translator: Shizukuku

Editor: Lilia

Read at Watashi Wa Sugoi Desu!

Chapter 151 – The Scars of the Unique Boss’s Appearance

“That shop has a limit on the number of items you can buy, right? I just got back from a place called Nazka Village. They were recently attacked by monsters, and there’s only one person there who can use healing magic. Our party managed to drive off the monsters, but we’re short on healing potions, so I came here to buy some as a representative. If possible, I’d like to buy without worrying about the item limit. I’ve already informed the gatekeeper over there about the situation as well.”

“Nazka Village? Is that the one the guild staff mentioned, the one east of the canyon?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Just when I had bought some souvenirs, a monster I had never seen before appeared. Then suddenly, we got an emergency quest. It seems like there aren’t many people in the village who can fight, and quite a few got injured. Honestly, I’m glad we were there.”

“That monster, was it a Unique Boss…?”

The player nodded in agreement, and Vidello-san, Marcus-san, and I exchanged glances.

It seemed that the dangers of a Unique Boss reached even a distant small village. If it hadn’t been for this person and their party, and if it had just been the villagers, I shudder to think what might have happened.

“I’ll go to that village, too. I’ll bring all the potions I can.”

“That’d be a huge help. Even after defeating the Unique Boss, monsters still pop up here and there, so I’ve been too worried to leave the village until now.”

Vidello-san signaled to Marcus-san with a glance, and Marcus-san quickly went into the guard station.

Soon after, Blossom-san came out, accompanied by someone wearing armor that wasn’t the usual gatekeeper’s armor.

“Hey, can you come inside with us and tell us more details? Depending on the situation, we may have to send people to deal with the monsters.”

“Got it. We’d appreciate the help. We can’t stay there protecting the village forever either. Pharmacist, if you know the location, could you head out right away?”

“Of course.”

“Vidello-san, I’m going to head out for a bit.”

“Wait, I’m coming with you. Mac, you should probably let Crash know that you won’t be able to make the delivery for now, right?”

“Oh, right. But Vidello-san, can you really leave? Aren’t you on duty right now?”

“What are you talking about? I’m Mac’s bodyguard.”

Huh, wasn’t that for when we were heading to Sei?

When I expressed my surprise at Vidello-san’s words, Marcus-san explained, “Mac’s protection is a special top priority. Blossom is the one who decreed it.”

“…Am I becoming some kind of important person…?”

I shuddered at the thought, feeling overwhelmed, and Marcus-san lowered his voice and said with a grin, “Blossom has entrusted the future to you. And honestly, so have Roy and I.” 

Once again, those words felt heavy. I chewed over the words that Blossom-san had said to me before, and Marcus-san’s words just now.

In the end, it might all be handed over to the prime minister, but if the pharmacists started moving, the prime minister started moving, and even the church started getting involved, it felt like the whole world could turn upside down, and that was a bit terrifying. It was a huge project.

Wait, was I the one who was putting all that into motion? Seriously?

Realizing the gravity of the situation, I suddenly felt a heavy weight on my shoulders.

The prime minister was entrusting something like this to me… I swallowed a sigh, feeling like I might throw up.

The prime minister did say that I didn’t have to do it. But if I didn’t, Vidello-san might someday suffer from curses or corruption again. If he got seriously injured, a store-bought High Potion might not be enough to heal him. The injury could become fatal, and he could lose his life. I didn’t want that. Besides, I was the one who had decided to do this. I had to see it through so that one day, even if I could no longer come here, Vidello-san could live a healthy life without any worries.

“Hey, were you waiting for me, Mac?”

I snapped out of my reverie when Vidello-san, who had taken off his armor and was now lightly equipped, called out to me.

Behind him, another gatekeeper in full gatekeeper armor appeared, ready to take over for Vidello-san.

The gatekeeper raised the visor of his helmet with a clank and narrowed his eyes.

“It’s safe here, so feel free to take Vidello with you, Mac.”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

I thanked him and headed to Crash’s shop with Vidello-san.

When we arrived at the shop, there wasn’t a long line today.

When we opened the door and went inside, the shelf for High Potions was empty.

Crash was wiping down the now-empty shelf.

“Oh, Mac, welcome! I’ve been anticipating the delivery!”

As Crash, radiating excitement, greeted me, I bowed my head apologetically.

“Sorry, I won’t be able to make the delivery today. I’ve got somewhere else I need to take the goods. I just came to let you know.”

I bowed my head and apologized, and Crash looked disappointed. But that expression quickly disappeared.

He smiled and turned to Vidello-san, who was standing beside me.

“Vidello, weren’t you just standing at the gate? Is there a problem or something?”

Crash peered curiously at Vidello-san, seemingly surprised by his presence.

“Yeah. I’m heading to Nazka Village. There are a lot of injured people there, and someone came looking for healing potions.”

When Vidello-san explained briefly, Crash gasped.

“Nazka Village…? Did something happen?”

“Apparently, a mutated monster appeared. A party of foreigners happened to be staying there, so there were no fatalities, but there’s only one person who can heal, and they can’t handle all the injuries.”

“Wait, I’m coming too. Just give me three minutes.”

Crash’s face turned visibly pale. I wondered if he had someone he knew in Nazka Village.

Crash went behind the counter and began stuffing his bag with all the potions and materials he could find.

“Mac, you can make potions over there, right…? What do you think we’ll need? What kind of monster was it…?”

“Crash, do you have any holy water? There might be people still affected by corruption.”

“Corruption…! I don’t have any holy water. We don’t handle that here… Oh, maybe alcohol…”

“I’ll go grab some fire liquor. Takahashi said it could cleanse corruption. Vidello-san, help Crash pack while I’m gone.”

Crash’s hands had been trembling for a while now. Someone important to him must be in Nazka Village.

I quickly drew a magic circle and teleported to the workshop. I stuffed all the fire liquor into my inventory and grabbed the last remaining bottle of holy water.

Come to think of it, drawing the magic circle felt easier now. When I glanced at my status, I noticed that the magic circle skill had leveled up by one.

Hurrying back to Crash’s shop, I saw Vidello-san locking up the store.

“Mac, Vidello, hold on to me.”

The scenery changed the moment I followed Crash’s words and grabbed his arm.

Nazka was a small village.

A village with probably less than 30 residents.

The dozen or so buildings were scattered between fields, each one standing apart from the others.

Normally, it would have looked peaceful, but now, some of the buildings near the forest were damaged, and the fields had been ravaged.

A person in full plate armor was going around from house to house, and since they were marked as a player, they were probably a member of the same party as the player that had asked to buy my potions.

As I kept an eye on the surroundings, Crash suddenly started running. 

Vidello-san and I hurriedly followed after him.

“Grandpa, Grandma, where are you?!”

Crash shouted as he dashed into one of the houses. 

I desperately followed him inside, and there was an elderly couple sitting at the table.

They looked surprised at Crash’s sudden entrance. 

I bowed my head to apologize for intruding, but Crash had already jumped onto them, so that was the least of my concerns.

“A monster attacked?! Grandpa, you’re hurt. Don’t you have any medicine? Where’s the healer?!”

To stop Crash, the old man raised his voice, saying, “Hey! Calm down!”

“Get away, you fool! What if you get corrupted too?! I told you time and again to assess the situation calmly!”

“But I can’t stay calm when I’m worried that Grandpa and Grandma might be hurt! Look, Grandpa is injured! You’re already old, and yet you still confronted the monsters!”

“Of course! Is there a man who would just stand by and watch while his wife is attacked by monsters?!”

The old man, who had an injury on his arm, roughly ruffled Crash’s hair, who looked like he was about to cry. He had gotten hurt while helping Grandma. How cool. What a man!

“Grandma? Are you hurt?!”

“No, I’m not. Grandpa helped me. I’m fine. Grandpa just has a little bit of corruption left, so if he takes it easy for a while, he’ll be fine.”

“Ugh… I’m so relieved.”

Crash hugged Grandma’s shoulders and let out a sigh of relief.

Then the old man raised his voice again, shouting, “Hey, Crash!”

“Is there anyone who would leave their guests unattended? Those people are your acquaintances, right? What are you doing leaving them standing over there?”

With the old man’s words, it seemed that Crash finally remembered our presence.

I clearly heard him mutter, “Oh right.” It couldn’t be helped, though.

Crash, stepping away from Grandma, introduced the elderly couple to us as “my foster parents.”

The couple, who introduced themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Fondia, smiled when Crash referred to us as “my close friends.”

Finally seeing the couple’s smiles, Crash approached me, gave my shoulder a gentle pat, and whispered softly in my ear.

“They’re the former owners of the shop and Sage’s parents.”

”Eh, uh… yeah.”

I couldn’t help but lower my voice and mouthed, “Sage-san.”

Seeing my lips move, Crash squinted his eyes and smiled.