Chapter 16
[Time remaining until Update completion: 11:50:07]
Thanks to Shion and the Contractor's personal attacks thinly veiled as a defense, the guards' misunderstanding(?) was cleared up, and the Demon of Fear's rampage incident was somehow settled.
It meant we didn't have to go to prison.
We were stuck with the dishonorable label of a crazy Demon instead, but this actually worked out for the better.
Because no one would want to mess with a Black Magician Kid traveling with a crazy Demon.
Especially if it was a certified lunatic who had been personally punished by the Goddess.
"...You were punished by the Goddess?"
The Contractor stared at me with an expression that looked as if they were seeing something bizarre.
"Indeed. She told me to reflect on my actions and banned me from entering the Dungeon for 12 hours."
"Oh...."
Of course, I hadn't actually been punished or anything.
It just seemed like a plausible enough excuse to gloss over my restricted Dungeon access, so I made it up.
No, actually, maybe I really was being punished.
Admins hate trolls, after all. I know this well because I've done it a lot.
"By the way. Crow. Was your Authority sealed too, nya?"
"Hmm?"
My Heart sank at Shion's sudden question, which flew in out of nowhere and was sharper than a cat's claws.
It wasn't an Authority seal (such a thing didn't exist in the first place), but it was true that I had been weakened.
'Magpie. Magpie. Respond. Magpie. Magpie....'
Ever since the emergency Update! notice popped up, I hadn't been able to connect with Magpie, who was essentially my controller.
I usually curse at it, calling it a bastard, a punk, or a stupid bird, but to me, Magpie is basically a lifeline.
That's because everything from manifesting wings to Regeneration of wounds and all sorts of other functions can only be used by giving orders to Magpie.
You might think that since it's my own body, I should be able to control it myself.
But until I was Summoned by the Contractor, I was someone who had lived solely wishing for death.
I had neither the thought nor the will to learn the abilities of Magpie, who thwarted me at every turn.
In the first place, how is a Human supposed to control every single cell and tissue? Do you think that makes any sense?
Even if it were possible, I'd like to say it's impossible with my brain, which is even worse than a Crow's.
The conclusion is that right now, I'm just a trashy Demon.
It means I'm confident I could have a close match with a Water Flea, or get utterly crushed 3-0 in PvP against a Veteran in a cat-ear outfit.
If only I had at least a gun at a time like this... Ah, just thinking about it is making me angry again.
'Would it be better to just tell the truth?'
If it were any other Human, I would have consistently ignored them, but Shion was a rare, kind Veteran who approached the Contractor and me first.
So I decided to just tell the truth.
With a little bit of lies mixed in, of course.
How is that the truth, you ask?
It's like calling a juice containing 0.5% orange extract 'orange juice'.
As long as there's even a speck of truth mixed in, it can be called a fact.
"It's not exactly a seal, but most of my power has fallen asleep."
The word 'most' in my dictionary means about 95%.
"Most...? It seems even the Goddess couldn't completely seal Raven's power, huh?"
"I-Is that so, nya? As expected, Crow is no ordinary Demon, nya...."
"...?"
The Contractor stroked their chin, lost in thought as usual, while Shion nodded and looked at me with an appalled gaze.
They both seemed to be under some massive misconception, but I decided to just stay silent.
I am a pufferfish. I have to puff myself up as much as possible to increase my chances of Survival.
"By the way. Thief."
"Are you not going to call me by my name anymore, nya?"
I don't even call the Contractor by their name because it's awkward. How could I call you by yours?
"Thief."
"Tsk."
"So, how exactly did you figure out that my power decreased?"
"Nya? Ah, that's because your scent changed, nya."
Scent? What does that....
"Ah. You're right. Now that I think about it, Raven no longer smells like blood."
"...."
The Contractor had suddenly started circling me with a serious expression, sniffing the air. They were practically a drug-sniffing dog.
"Adventurer. It's not just the smell of blood, nya. You don't give off that Stench like burning corpses and open sewers either, nya. When I first saw you, it was so disgusting. It was hard to even get close, nya!"
"Mmm. Truthfully, I had a bit of a hard time with it too."
"...Is that so? I ended up doing something apologetic without realizing it."
I had been consistently ignoring Shion's cat-talk nonsense, but hearing that it was tough from my employer's mouth left me with no choice but to apologize.
Did I really smell that bad?
No wonder the expressions of the people looking at me weren't so great.
So it was all because of the smell(?)
And here I thought they were scared because of my appearance! (Error in self-objectification)
"No matter how much you want to taste the emotion of fear, you shouldn't scatter your power around all the time like that, nya! That Demon at the Adventurer's Guild also purposely leaked a barbecue smell and got severely scolded by the Guild Master, nya!"
What kind of novel cat nonsense is that?
Taste emotions? How do you even do that.
And what do you mean a Demon went around leaking a barbecue smell? Are they the Demon of Maillard?
"Is that, perhaps, a story about Regina?"
"That's right, nya! But at least the scent the Receptionist gave off was a delicious one, nya! It wasn't a vomit-inducing Stench like Crow's, nya!"
"...."
This Cat seemed to think I had purposely emitted a Stench like a skunk because I wanted to taste emotions.
'That's not it at all, though.'
The reason the decades-old Stench disappeared from me was highly likely due to that.
No, it wasn't just highly likely; it was the only explanation.
The only scrap the admin, no, the Goddess, had thrown my way after the forced emergency Update.
[We deeply apologize for the inconvenience. As an apology reward for the emergency Update!, Goddess's Protection (12 hours) has been applied until the Update is completed.]
The Goddess's Protection, that is.
'You should at least tell me what kind of effect it has, Goddess...'
I still don't really know what kind of power resides within those incredibly mysterious words.
To check its effects, I tried Status Window, Status, Goddess's Blessing, and all sorts of other things.
I mentally listed out every possible word that could summon the System UI, but nothing appeared.
Ah, I suppose I just discovered one thing though? The truly subtle effect of Stench removal.
I highly suspected that I had received the Protection of Deodorization instead of the Goddess's Protection.
Right around the time the roots of distrust were rapidly growing inside me.
The highly nutritious conversation between the Novice Adventurer and the Veteran Adventurer was already drawing to a close.
"Mmm. Then, I suppose we have no choice but to return to the Base for today."
"Since the Goddess told Crow to reflect on his actions, we'll just have to come back around this time tomorrow, nya."
"That's a bit of a shame. It will probably be hard to meet another kind Sherpa like you again, Shion."
"What are you talking about, nya? Weren't we going together tomorrow, nya?"
Shion tilted her head, expressing her confusion. At this, the Contractor's face lit up as they cautiously asked a question.
"Ah. Is that really okay? I heard Sherpas are paid based on performance. We wouldn't want to be a nuisance...."
"I received something more valuable than money from Crow, and I like you, cute Adventurer, so it doesn't matter, nya! I'll help you with all my heart, so tomorrow we'll all properly prepare and conquer the Dungeon together, nya!"
Saying so, Shion thrust her arm into the sky with overflowing energy. Not an ounce of Darkness could be seen in her eyes that flashed with a golden light.
Only an overflowing confidence and a solid sense of responsibility peeked through.
A chuckle escaped me at her unchanging, passionate demeanor.
She truly is an amusing Thief.
"Ooh. Thank you. Shion."
"You're quite reliable for a Thief. How about changing your class to a Warrior while you're at it?"
"Class change my foot, nya! Stop with the crazy talk and just follow me, nya. I'm in a good mood. I'll specially treat you soft Rookies to a meal, nya! Praise me, nya!"
What? She's treating us to a meal?
"...!"
"!!!"
A brief silence, and then, a momentary exchange of glances.
The Contractor, meeting my eyes as if we had planned it, swallowed dryly for a moment.
Then, they began to praise(?) Shion with the highest energy ever.
-Slip.
Two arms awkwardly reaching towards the sky.
The sleeves naturally slipped down, revealing skinny, pure white arms.
At that moment, Shion's confident smile cracked slightly, but it quietly returned to its place upon hearing the awkward voice that followed.
"Ooh. The great Shion! I will gratefully enjoy the meal...!"
The only food the Contractor had eaten all day was a round cookie they received from the Adventurer's Guild and a single Lizard Skewer.
Was that why? The Contractor's inorganic, pitch-black eyes were shining unbelievably bright.
They're completely full of the thought of getting a free meal.
As expected of my Contractor. You should milk a Veteran for everything they've got.
"Wait, are you a Cleric and not a Thief?"
"That's enough hyping me up, nya. Then, let's go, nya! I'll feed you something incredibly delicious, nya!"
"Yes!"
"I'm looking forward to it."
Since the Contractor looked quite famished, we decided to hurry and move to a restaurant.
Because dining is a crucial matter.
Of course, I am an exception, but as long as you can eat your fill, that's enough.
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[Goddess's Protection]
[Remaining time: 11:38:59]
[Target: Raven]
[The 'Active' Status Effect will be Disarmed.]
-Status Effect: 'Binding' cannot be Disarmed.
-Status Effect: 'Error' cannot be Disarmed.
-Status Effect: 'Error' cannot be Disarmed.
-Status Effect: 'Error' cannot be Disarmed.
.
.
.
-Status Effect: 'Stench' Disarm complete.
[You are immune to (All) Status Effects.]
[A faint luck resides in you.]
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