Chapter 85
Okay, Vladimir, ti to squeeze you dry.
Thank you for your hard work.
He's trembling in the corner, staring at us with the wide, bloodshot eyes of a salaryman on his second all-nighter, pumped full of energy drinks—but he's alive.
Well, I say "squeeze" but we didn't take all his levels. Around level 100, the EXP output dropped to nearly nothing, so there's no real grudge—let's just let him off the hook here.
"That's the exit. Don't even think about opposing again."
Go on, get lost.
"You're letting live... and setting free, Finger Man?"
"I don't need to say it again. You can go."
Vladimir heads toward the exit. He keeps looking back. Maybe he's wondering, "Can I really leave?"
"I owe you one, Finger Man."
"If you feel grateful, pay back in EXP. Or crystals, I'd take those too."
Just kidding, of course.
"EXP... crystals... I understand. I'll gratefully accept your rcy."
He finally went ho.
Now then, guess I'll squeeze the last guest.
"Shirokko, I'll be taking your EXP too."
"I'm ready. But can I ask you sothing, Finger Man?"
"?"
"With all that power, why do you still want to get stronger?"
I an, I'm addicted to leveling up... but seriously, it's because I realized how inexperienced I still am—thanks to you.
To sum it up in a word—
"Because there's a level-up to reach."
"...I see. That was a foolish question."
"Exactly."
I decided to take one level each from , Shimaenaga-san, and Gii-san as part of our routine.
One minute later.
"Wait, what? 'Phoenix's Tail Feather' can't be used anymore?"
Seems Shirokko had a limit on how many tis he could be revived. And we've barely squeezed him.
"Revival-type anomalous substances aren't omnipotent."
He says this while glaring daggers at , completely naked. Ugh, what a sha to lose EXP like this.
"What level are you at now, Shirokko?"
"Around 250."
We can still squeeze him!
He's totally viable!
"Chii chii chii! (Translation: Not enough guts—chii!)"
"Gii (Translation: Is this really all an S-rank explorer can do? Sigh...)"
"Hey, don't look at like that... It's not like I did anything wrong."
"Gii-san, can't you brainwash Shirokko? Make him one of your underlings, count him as mine, and we could squeeze even more."
"Gii (Translation: Shirokko's status is too high, and the level gap is too big. I can't do it, my master.)"
After deliberation, we decided we can't squeeze any more out of Shirokko.
What a letdown. This is all because revival-type anomalous substances don't have enough grit.
Shita Chichigasky's Ring of teoritic Iron can only be used by him, and the Phoenix's Tail Feather has durability limits—lots of restrictions, apparently.
"Do better, Phoenix."
"Don't be unreasonable. I used it so much it's completely spent. ...If you kill one more ti, you could still get so EXP... so, what'll it be?"
Shirokko is fully braced for it.
Hmm, what to do... He did kill Shimaenaga-san, but they revived and it all worked out. Plus, he's part of the Power crew, so I feel a bit of camaraderie. What? No, seriously—there's a little friendship there. I feel friend vibes, okay? (Note: I don't squeeze friends.)
But honestly, if we can't squeeze EXP from him, I don't have much use for him.
I don't even hate Shirokko. He was just standing in our way as a bodyguard for Shita Chichigasky, like Vladimir.
I've already beaten and squeezed Shita Chichigasky, so Shirokko isn't an enemy anymore. No hard feelings.
"You can go."
"You an that?"
"I've got no use for you anymore. But if you ever lay a hand on or my friends again, I won't show rcy. You'll be squeezed dry again—count on it."
Shirokko slowly stands up.
I point toward the door connected to Chiba's city center sewer system. "The exit's that way."
"Finger Man, I owe you one."
"Pay back in EXP. Or crystals are fine too."
Sa joke I used when sending off Vladimir. Whoops.
"I think I understand just a little more about the kind of person you are... See you soon."
Shirokko's heading ho now.
Feels like a fisherman who just let a giant catch escape.
But hey, he's human after all.
Even I feel stress when I kill people. Really, I do.
"Hm? Daily-kun's making a fuss about sothing... Daily Mission."
I open the window.
──────────────────
★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it, little by little every day!
'Repay'
Deliver EXP 0/66 trillion 300 billion
Consecutive days: Day 107
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
──────────────────
Whaaaaat.
That's just too cruel...
This isn't sothing a human would do...!
Frustrating, so frustrating, so damn frustrating!!
I an, sure, it did say "with ti limit"...
But once you give sothing, you can't just ask for it back. That's not fair.
I've never heard of repaying EXP before.
──────────────────
★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it, little by little every day!
'Repay'
Deliver EXP 0/66 trillion 301 billion
Consecutive days: Day 107
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
──────────────────
Whoa.
Hesitate for a second and the amount went up.
No way. This is sadistic.
What the hell is this interest? It's gone up by 100.1 billion!
This is worse than loan sharks.
"If I don't pay this back fast, I'm screwed."
"What's wrong, Finger Man? You look so panicked. I've been curious about all this mysterious equipnt around here..."
"I'm a little busy right now, Doctor. I'll play with you later."
"Oh... okay...? Then I'll just curl up in the corner for now, I suppose."
It sucks to be at Daily Mission's rcy, but long-term, losing Platinum mbership now would be a huge waste. The EXP factory only just started running, after all.
"Take it, you thief."
I place my hand over the Daily Mission window.
Light bursts out of my entire body, EXP energy (?) gushes out from within , and it gets extracted like a flood. My knees are buckling. They're shaking like crazy.
"Ugh... wh-what is this feeling of emptiness...!"
The strength drained from my entire body.
I'm too scared to look at my status.
Just a mont ago, I was easily over level 300...
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Akagi Hideo
Level 201
HP 101,741/101,741
MP 21,123/21,123
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv6'
'Phobia Syndro Lv8'
'Single Strike Lv6'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Ti: Coin Lv2'
'Super tal Assault Lv8'
'Blue Pulsation Lv3'
'Black Swamp's Severer'
'Super Catcher Lv4'
'Until the Very End Together'
Equipnt
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Mugen High-Load ver5.0' G4
'Bloodstained Comrade' G4
'tal Trap Room Lv2' G4
'EXP Lighter' G3
'Thousand-Style tal Kit' G5
'Traces of a Dream' G5
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Whew. At least I managed to stay above level 200. That's not too bad, right?
It's thanks to absorbing Vladimir and Shirokko's experience through the magic circle × Platinum mbership. I'm beyond grateful to both of them for their help. Truly, thank you so much.
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