Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 16

Proof of Strength

The group hurried to reunite with Ponsuke who fell from the cliff.

They had to cross a bridge in order to go down the cliff. Then at the  opposite side of the cliff they searched for a place that headed down  and went through it.

It cost them time because they went through the roundabout way, but then they also encountered monsters on the way.

Mariela shot a flying monster before she broke into a run again.

She did that while vilifying the orc party in front of her.

「This is the fault of you guys! Be ready for a world of hurt if Ponsuke die from this!」

The orcs in front of her were strangely delighted while running through the uneven path.

「Aa, right now we are……in bliss!」

The abusive shouts weren’t effective at all. It made Alfie to be irritated too.

「Just why did you guys screw around the whole time!? Because of that Ponsuke fell off the cliff――」

Gido blew away a monster that rushed toward them with a full swing of  his battle axe, then he began to make excuse that it was a  misunderstanding.

「Certainly it’s possible you can change the friendly fire setting.  But that’s only if your friendship meter with the NPC has reached a  certain level.」

Mariela thought Just what is this guy saying? while questioning him.

「We ourselves only hired them today. If what you said is true then  Ponsuke should also get attacked. He was able to change the friendly  fire setting to be inactive!」

Dume who was holding a great sword explained about the mercenary NPC.

「That’s because Ponsuke-kun was the one who hired the NPCs. Their  friendship meter with you two is also high because they’re also human  and their affinity with elf isn’t bad, but when it comes to orc,  everyone other than their employer would become target. It’s pointless  even if we change their setting.」

After hearing that, Mariela made her screen appeared while running. And then she checked.

When she used the raid setting to check the orc party, certainly  their friendship meter with the NPCs was low. Not only that, the  friendship meter of Ponsuke with the NPCs was also low. It was only  slightly higher compared to the orc party by taking into account that he  was their employer.

「I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know.」

The leader Prey spoke with a bitter tone.

「It’s alright. It was our fault for not mentioning it.」

Seeing Mariela looking truly apologetic like that caused Alfie to  puff out her cheeks. She expressed her anger at the orcs from behind.

「……In other words, you guys already knew from the start that you will  get attacked by allies didn’t you? Why did you all keep mum about it?」

Dume twitched and his back trembled.

It seemed he suggested about hiring the NPC knowing from the start that it would turn out like this.

Although that was the only way for them to have enough manpower for  this quest, such ulterior motive caused Mariela to rapidly become  irritated again.

「Answer her!」

Then Deidada who was carrying a shield looked back and yelled.

「Were you going to shout abuse at us if we explained it beforehand!?  You absolutely wouldn’t do that, especially at the middle of battle!  That wouldn’t make us happy at all! Being abused by fellow player……that  was something that we were really looking forward to!」

Although there was no changing the setting because they were orc  race, the reason they didn’t mention something so important beforehand  was because they wanted to be insulted and scolded.

(Ah, these guys are hopeless. Completely hopeless.)

After Mariela thought that, her thought moved on from them toward POnsuke.

(If Ponsuke die after we come this far……)

That thought turned her anxious. Then Alfie who had become even more irritated kicked the orc from behind.

「Run faster you pigs!」

It was Gido who got kicked. And then he shouted with a very happy voice.

「Happily!」

They considered everything as reward.

Like that they finally crossed the bridge and searched for a place  where they could go down from. There the group found Ponsuke sitting on a  rock while waiting for them.

*

The whole group reunited.

Ponsuke showed the key item, red ogre’s horn. He said in relieve that what was left now was only to return.

「Haha~, it was really really close. I only have one paid item remaining.」

Seeing Ponsuke smiling while saying that he almost used up all of his  paid items caused both Alfie and Mariela to be relieved too.

「Thank god. If you die after coming this far, you will get revived at  the Capital of Hope won’t you? All of our fights until now would be in  vain.」

Alfie glared at the four orcs.

「Well, if that happen then we will just make you all help out again.」

Alfie’s gaze made the four orcs trembled uncontrollably. ……In bliss.

Ponsuke equipped the spare weapon and armor that he brought.

All of them got back up, crossed the bridge, and collected the NPCs.

And then they headed to orc’s village――Agu Village. The quest ended when they handed the key item.

*

Agu Village.

A festival was being held there.

Night came. The orcs congrulated Ponsuke and others for defeating the red ogre.

Although from the start the event was like a play.

The red ogre’s horn was displayed on the altar in the mansion where  the chief was living. The chief then proclaimed to the orcs to praise  the heroes before permitting the festival to be held in the village.

Ponsuke’s group ended up staying the night in the village.

The reason was for the various items that were sold in the village during the festival.

Also the Proof of Strength that the orcs received wasn’t something that increased their status.

The Proof of Strength relaxed the restriction for orc in regard to their weapon and equipment.

For example, there was a restriction if a player equipped a large  shield. While one hand was equipped with large shield, the other hand  could only be equipped with small weapon.

Weapons like short sword, small mace, and the like.

But by obtaining the Proof of Strength, an orc became able to equip one-handed sword along with large shield.

And an orc that equipped a great sword would be able to equip normal shield with their other hand.

It was something completely impossible for other race. This feature could be said as orc’s special privilege.

Ponsuke visited a blacksmith and tested several patterns before he looked toward the two.

Alfie applauded at his manliness.

「Oo~, how should I say it, now you look even more dependable than before.」

Certainly Ponsuke looked stronger now compared to before when he was equipped with a small shield and a one-handed sword.

But, Ponsuke’s face looked doubtful.

Mariela tilted her head.

「What’s wrong? You look dissatisfied despite getting stronger.」

Ponsuke checked his status in his current state.

「No, certainly I have gotten stronger. The large shield’s defensive  strength and the great sword’s attack power are tempting. But you  know……ah, can you two back off a little bit?」

Ponsuke tried swinging his weapon a little after the two backed away.

It made the two to notice it too.

「How should I say it, that look clumsy. Your movement is completely different from before.」

Ponsuke was of the same mind with what Alfie said. He returned the large shield and one-handed sword to the blacksmith.

His clumsiness just now was caused by his low proficiency with the  large shield, and also because his current job didn’t give any boost for  using large shield.

Even when he swung the weapon, it was unreliable and amateurish.

Mariela consoled Ponsuke.

「Well, it’s fine. You still have gotten a bit stronger.」

Ponsuke nodded and considered this setback as a homework that he had  to solve from here on. Then he racked his brain about what kind of job  he should take next.

(Should I just take the plunge and use even larger sword? But then  I’ll be just like a copy of Rook. Perhaps two-sword style might also be  nice.)

Ponsuke deeply pondered about the style of his new self while enjoying the lively orc village with Alfie and Mariela.

*

At the morning of the next day.

The group returned to the Capital of Hope using their cart and there  they headed to the bar right from the morning to celebrate their  successful quest.

Alfie chose a desolate bar that didn’t see much business for the  celebration venue. She did that as a small revenge toward the orcs.

They sat around a large table where plates of food covered every available surface. Then the orcs lifted their tankard.

「Then, to celebrate the success of the quest this time……cheers!」

Ponsuke said cheers while whispering into Alfie’s ear.

「They’re still having fun though?」

Alfie was also at her wits’ end.

「These people, just what can we do that can be considered punishment for them?」

Mariela’s hand reached toward the foods, and then she drank the juice in her tankard.

「I can’t believe you guys were planning from the beginning to get  attacked and insulted by your own allies……you guys are too carried away  with your fetish.」

Gido who heard that put his elbows on the table and folded his hands in front of his face.

His expression was the very picture of seriousness.

「That is our creed.」

Prey who was devouring a manga meat beside him also replied with full of confidence.

「We strive to at least not cross the line. And also please don’t  forget that your side was also partly at fault for making your own  assumption. But, I was moved when I was on the receiving end of the  insults from you two. Alfie-san……I ask you to please kick me too, hard.」

Then Dume stood up.

「Don’t screw with me! It’s my turn to get kicked next!」

Deidada also couldn’t hold back and stood up with his vein pulsing on his forehead.

「I also haven’t gotten kick myself!」

The one who was keeping his composure was Gido who was called as pig  before getting kicked on his behind by Alfie. He smiled calmly and  spread his arms to admonish the other orcs.

It made everyone around him irritated seeing him like that.

「Now now, calm down. Something like this need the right atmosphere  and also the right timing. Will you three feel happy if you get kicked  right now? Will you feel happy from getting a hesitant kick by a girl  with a troubled look? I don’t think so. Such kick will be far inferior  compared to Alfie-san’s merciless insult and kick of that time.」

Ponsuke thought.

While looking at the orcs who were starting to quarrel in front of him,

(What’s with these guys? They’re even stranger than I imagined.)

He had thought them strange from the start but, this made him  recognized anew that they were even stranger than even in his wildest  dream.

Then Alfie seemed to think of something and stood up.

And then she took Ponsuke’s hand.

「I understand the way to teach them a lesson. Ponsuke……can you help me?」

Alfie blushed while acting bashful. Someone with the appearance of a beautiful girl asking him like that made Ponsuke dizzy.

「Y-yes!」

He reflexively agreed. And then he thought.

(Eh? Come to think of it, Alfie-san……it feels like she looks similar with someone.)

Alfie said with a smile while his thought was going that way.

「Then, please become a chair!」

「……Ha?」

*

Inside the desolate bar.

There four orcs were directing their jealousy and hatred toward  Ponsuke with a look as though they were going to cry tear of blood.

「Don’t screw with me. Why are you the only one who――」

「I misjudged you Ponsuke!」

「You! You!!」

「Damn it! Dammitttt! You damn show off!」

The orcs were frustrated.

But, Ponsuke thought while he was on his hands and knees.

(Just what the hell am I doing?)

Alfie and Mariela were sitting on his back. Their feet dangled back  and fro while they were drinking juice from their tankard with one hand.

The two were making smug expression instead of scornful look.

That must be frustrating to no end for the orcs.

Prey cried tearfully and hit the floor repeatedly with both his fists.

「Please! Grant me mercy too!」

Mariela said with a smile.

「No.」

Seeing Mariela laughing on Ponsuke’s back pushed the orcs into the  depth of despondency, but then their gazes turned to Alfie as their last  hope.

Alfie was taking little sips of juice from her tankard. She made a bewitching smile and told the orcs mercilessly.

「Everyone, all of you had really done well during the quest. Everyone is truly reliable.」

Dume’s right hand grasped his chest and clenched as though to tear out his own heart.

「No. That’s not it. This is different! What we want isn’t that kind  of words! Insult……give us insult! Please insult us with the vilest word  that you can think of!」

As a chair Ponsuke didn’t say a single word even now.

(Empty your heart. Right now we are giving these people punishment.  That’s why I have to endure……but, why do I have to go this far just for  doing that?)

Hurting others meant hurting yourself too. Ponsuke considered such a  philosophical thought while devoting himself to simply be a chair.

(But, the two of them are so soft)

But he got tired of it in the middle and the fact that the two of them felt soft on top of him dominated his thought completely.

*

Ponsuke――Aktio opened his eyes and took off the headset. He noticed that his hair was a bit sweaty.

「Haa……it’s over.」

There was his first boss fight and then the party after that.

It was a memory that he didn’t want to recall, but it was also fun letting loose like that.

He lied down on the bed with sense of satisfaction enveloping him. Then his smartphone rang.

「Who is it in the morning like this――is it from my part-time work?」

Akito dreaded that it might be a sudden request for him to go to work  while taking the smartphone. There he saw the caller was Riku.

「Why are you calling this early?」

『So you’re awake. Actually I also returned here just now.』

By here he was referring to returning to the real world.

Akito sat on a chair as he thought that and continue talking with Riku.

(He sounds somewhat excited.)

Akito thought that from listening to Riku’s tone. Looks like this wouldn’t be about some kind of unpleasant talk.

「You sounds happy. Did something happen?」

『Happy? Stupid, that word isn’t enough to express my feeling right now! Didn’t you at least hear the rumor at the other side?』

Akito recalled how he was busy with the boss fight. And even after he  returned from that quest, he went to a bar to let loose and after that  he spent the time leisurely with the others.

「No, I don’t think I heard anything. What happened?」

『The clearers finally got a lead of how to conquer the city. But even  if say that you won’t get it I guess? You know, it’s that thing that I  told you before!』

When he summarized of what Riku talked in excitement, it seemed that  the clearing progress of the World of Sloth had progressed and finally  they entered the preparation phase for conquering the city part.

『The pace of this world’s clearing is father than even the last time.  Looks like the clearers have been doing their damndest. There’s rumor  that even the dev might be in panic at how rapid things are moving.』

Riku must be extremely happy.

Akito too was also getting happy hearing Riku talking with such excitement.

「In that case the large scale update will also come soon then?」

He looked at his tabletop calendar. It was the middle of May right now.

『That’ll be impossible. It will take a lot of time to make the  preparation to take the city. It’s May right now so……it’ll be at the  middle of June maybe? It’ll depend on the preparation of the big guilds  too but, if they do it too fast then nobody will be able to keep up.』

The fight for the city would be large scale――no different than actual  war. Naturally the preparation for such undertaking would take time,  Riku said.

Although it seemed that too was one of the charms of the clearing.

『It’s fun. The price of items is going to change. Perhaps it might affect something at the Capital of Hope too.』

Ponsuke wondered if such thing could really happen in the Capital of  Hope that was located far away from the frontline. When he asked Riku  about it, it seemed there was really such effect with the clearing last  time.

Then Riku who had calmed down slightly made a suggestion to Akito.

『Hey, you guys should quickly come over here too. You already level up past 30 right?』

They had gotten a lot of experience points in part thanks to the red ogre battle. It leveled them up.

But, it would become harder to level up past level 30.

The game would stop treating player as beginner past that line.

「That will still be far in the future. I heard that the upper limit  at Capital of Hope is level 50. We still aren’t at that point.」

Riku spoke with a regretful tone.

『I see~. Come to think of it, did you defeat the ogre?』

Akito laughed a bit.

「Thanks to that the weapon restriction got slightly relaxed for me. But, that’s all.」

Riku laughed.

『The dev is harsh on orc as usual. It should be fine even if they  give the orcs some special treatment seeing that they don’t get divine  protection. ……Still, come to over here one day. You’ll definitely have  fun here.』

Akito recalled the game world.

And then he nodded.

「Yeah, I’ll do that. ……Though it will take time.」

『I’ll be waiting.』

The call was cut off and Akito looked up to the ceiling.

「The frontline huh. I wonder how long it will take us to go there.」

His play style. Then his friends.

After taking all of those into consideration, it would definitely take a lot of time for them to catch up to the frontline.

「First we got to be able to leave the Capital of Hope.」

Akito said that and stood up from the chair. He stretched his body.

But he felt there was something off.

「E-eh?」

It felt like the casual wear he was always using had become a bit tighter on him.

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