Chapter 272 - The Second Conference of Heroes [Start]

I step out of the Onsen and expose my body to the nighttime breeze. While I bask in the cool air, Ren and Motoyasu get out as well.

Itsuki and Rishia are already out, and they’re cooling off together.

I can see nothing but a couple when I look at them, but Itsuki’s expressionless face makes it feel like they had just experienced a failed date.

Ren: “Naofumi.”

Ren calls out to me.

I’m not sure what Raphtalia and the others are doing, but they haven’t exited the women’s side yet.

They’re taking a long bath.

Naofumi: “What?”

Ren: “I asked this island’s count when I got here. He allowed us to use the conference room we used last time. Can we gather all the heroes there to talk?”

Naofumi: “Isn’t the village fine?”

Ren: “That’s true, but if you think about it, that’s the place where the heroes started arguing with and denying one another. That’s why I want us to gather there and talk once more.”

Naofumi: “How unnecessary.”

Ren: “I’ve already talked to Itsuki and Motoyasu. Let’s talk a bit before the women come out.”

Naofumi: “Waiting for them is a waste of time. I guess it’s fine.”

There’s nothing gained in waiting, so I’m fine with it.

It seems that Ren will be satisfied by it.

We climb the spiral stairs to the room we met in before.

Last time I climbed these steps, I was able to look out at the other islands.

When I try to look through the windows now, my vision is clouded by the darkness of night. I see nothing but shadows.

The island’s activation period is long over.

It’s like a resort’s off-season.

This island will only be lively again in 10 years.

I remember hearing it from the lord here.

Even during off-season, adventurers still come.

The area’s a tourist attraction, and the monsters have moderate strength, so hunting is permitted to a certain extent.

There are some rare monsters to be found. Are the materials rare as well?

I didn’t get too much money for them though.

Ren, Motoyasu and Midori, Itsuki and Rishia, and I enter the room and find seats around the round table.

Ren: “Henceforth, the second official conference of Heroes shall commence.”

Ren raises his hand and declares.

Ren: “There’s no chairman, I’d like to act as a representative.”

Naofumi: “Got it.”

Recently, Ren’s been overflowing with enthusiasm.

The goal of fighting the wave has ignited a flame within his soul.

My end goal is survival, so I doubt I’ll ever become like that.

The fact that he’s still obsessed with himself means that he hasn’t changed that much from the start.

Though, I think he’s on a better track than before.

Naofumi: “And? What did you want to talk about?”

Ren: “Let’s continue the discussion that was suspended last time.”

Naofumi: “I think we were arguing about reinforcement methods.”

Ren: “Yeah…”

Ren raises his sword out front and starts reading something I cannot see.

Ren: “Naofumi gave Shadow… a list of our various methods of getting stronger. We can combine them to obtain greater strength. At first, I didn’t believe it… but Naofumi was able to integrate all of them to put a stop to the calamity we caused. This points to the fact that his words were the truth.”

Motoyasu: “That’s right.”

Motoyasu and Ren both nod.

Itsuki just gives off the feeling of nodding.

Ren: “Because of my curse, I was unable to carry out smithing or enhancements well, but thanks to the daily usage of the onsens, I’m gradually getting better.”

Motoyasu: “There’s no way Father-in-Law would ever lie. I learned to put these methods to practice myself!”

Motoyasu announces this fact with a smile on his face.

Naofumi: “I know, so calm down. Itsuki, what about you?”

Itsuki: “… I understand.”

Itsuki fiddles with the icons on his status. His eyes dart back and forth.

Itsuki: “I did it.”

It’s because he can’t think for himself right now.

The current Itsuki doesn’t know how to doubt others.

I guess this makes his situation worthwhile.

Itsuki: “… So it was true. If I wasn’t so prideful at that time, then perhaps all of that wouldn’t have happened.”

Since his symptoms are slowly being alleviated, Itsuki is able to utter some words of regret.

Is this because of the curse? Or are those his true thoughts? Who can say.

Ren: “That’s why, once more, I wish to continue this talk.”

Naofumi: “Are you sure there’s more to talk about?”

Ren: “No, there has to be something else.”

Naofumi: “What is there left to say?”

I think I know everything I need to know from the other three heroes.

Ren: “Naofumi, recently, I’ve been travelling with Eclaire, Rishia, and the others from your village. During that time, I discovered something that I want to show you.”

Naofumi: “What?”

Ren: “This.”

Ren changes the shape of his sword and presents it to me.

It’s a strangely shaped sword which looks like a bundle of strings strung around each other countless times.

Honestly, it doesn’t look strong at all.

Naofumi: “What is that?”

Ren: “It’s a blade called the Comrade Sword. It’s ability is『Comrade Growth Adjustment (Small)』”

Naofumi: “What are the conditions to unlock it?”

(Note: Literally, the Nakama Sword)

Ren: “… I don’t know. Before I knew it, it was unlocked.”

Naofumi: “Fumu…”

Comrade Growth Adjustment (Small)… is it? It’s the same as my slave enhancement.

Looking at the current Ren, I have no idea how he got it.

Naofumi: “If this were a game, would the unlock condition be something like trusting your companions from the bottom of your heart?”

I start off with a vague enquiry, and Ren nods.

Ren: “Probably…”

With a bitter expression, he continues.

Ren: “As I thought. I didn’t fully trust my previous comrades. If only this sword came out earlier, then perhaps they wouldn’t have died.”

Naofumi: “That’s one possibility. But that doesn’t make it useless now.”

Ren: “… As expected of Naofumi. That’s why, like this, I want to discuss any new things we may have discovered.”

Naofumi: “I see. I understand where you’re coming from.”

I think there are plenty of things I haven’t discovered yet, so asking around may be useful.

There may be materials I have yet to feed my shield with highly desirable abilities.

Comrade Sword… It seems to have an ability like my Slave Use Shield.

… Wait a second. Do the effects stack?

I mean, Ren’s trusted comrades are Female Knight and Taniko, right?

Female Knight’s another case, but Taniko’s my slave.

If his comrade growth correction stacks with my slave one, then it would be really useful.

I’ll need to carefully look over Taniko’s status later.

By the way, I’m also doing a bit of research on my own.

Naofumi: “Then, should I teach you something?”

Ren: “What is it?”

Naofumi: “Yeah, when I fed my slave’s hair and such to the Shield, more Shields with growth corrections came out. In Ren’s case, I recommend feeding Kiel or Taniko’s weapon to your sword.”

What I found were racial Shield systems.

But, there are plenty of skill-trees I’m unable to unlock as of yet.

Atlas, Fohl, and Sadina’s races are currently impossible.

What I unlocked were race Growth Corrections.

Ren: “Recommend… Naofumi even knows that much.”

Naofumi: “But it’s not like I’ve tried feeding meat and bone.”

As if I could do something that insane.

The Heroes must remain as humans.

Naofumi: “Right. Ren, try Female Knight’s hair too. Perhaps you’ll get a Comrade Sword II.”

Ren: “Eclaire is a bit…”

She looks like one who would complain a bit.

That girl seems like the type who would say, ‘A girl’s hair is her life’ or something.

(Note: A Japanese saying)

Motoyasu: “Father-in-Law, I’ve also tried absorbing everyone’s feathers into my spear.”

Naofumi: “I’ve already unlocked all of the Filo Rial series.”

Motoyasu: “As expected of Father-in-Law! How did you get them all!? Please tell me!”

Naofumi: “Motoyasu, you’re being loud. Think about it by yourself.”

My base stats have risen a considerable amount.

Now that I think about it… Sadina said that Raphtalia was not of the Raccoon tribe.

Though she’s of some relation to them.

There was a Raccoon Shield on my shield tree, but it never unlocked.

I’ve always wondered why, but it must be because Raphtalia is a subspecies.

I guess I’m satisfied with that explanation.

By the way, Sadina’s didn’t unlock either.

I fed her materials to the Shield too, but the Luka Shield didn’t unlock.

She said she was of the Sakamata Race, I think.

Taniko was of the Nui Race, and when I inserted Kiel’s fur into the shield, the Wanui Shield was unlocked.

From a glance, they both have dog ears and tails, but it seems they’re a little different.

I mean, Kiel can transform.

Anyways, with all the subspecies and relatives, even if I know the basic traits, I can’t tell apart the specific species.

Raphtalia’s race is pretty much like the difference between a Balloon and an Orange Balloon.

If I took some Raccoon hair, would I understand something?

No, it didn’t help at all.

An icon did light up, but it didn’t unlock.

I should have been able to see the name of her racial shield, but I couldn’t figure it out.

Though several shields lit up, even if I knew the race, I could’t change to it.

The Shields linked to Raccoon are ones like High Raccoon and East Raccoon. There are quite a few.

Perhaps it would be good to look at the Filo Rial tree for reference.

After I received Fitoria’s feather, though it unlocked the series, after a certain point, the names showed up as ???.

It’s like that.

The Filo Rial series has had all the material requirements met, so as long as I raise my level, I should become able to use them. Even now, there are a few locked ones.

In Raphtalia’s case, the materials are insufficient.

Is hair not enough?

But it’s not like she’s a monster, so I can’t get any meat or bone.

… But if you think about it, could I use humans as materials too?

What exactly are these legendary weapons?

Motoyasu: “Father-in-Law?”

Naofumi: “… What?”

Is he going to talk about Filo Rials again?

Motoyasu: “How about feeding death row prisoners to your weapon?”

Naofumi: “………………………………………… Ren, how about it?”

Ren: “Nonono! I get the feeling that’s a line that should never be crossed…”

Naofumi: “That’s right, let’s give up.”

Motoyasu. You’re getting quite dangerous.

I think it’s best to carefully distance myself from him.

I forcibly change the topic.

Naofumi: “Ah, right. The Hero Inscription on this island, did you people read it?”

Itsuki is still learning. His magic doesn’t recover, so he can’t read magic words.

Even so, he’s learning the written language.

That’s why I address this question to Ren and Motoyasu.

Ren: “Yeah, I read it.”

Motoyasu: “Of course, Father-in-Law!”

Naofumi: “What magic did you get?”

There’s a possibility that the magic learned depends on the individual.

I learned Zveit Aura, but it’s not certain that Ren and Motoyasu learned the same.

“Zveit Magic Enchant.”