Surviving a Shounen Manga - Chapter 38

Guide selection.

It was simply that. Literally, the guides were selling themselves to the adventurer teams that still had capacity.

The fact that the number of people in an adventure group could be increased during the test was also related to this.

“The fourth Qualification Test! Feel free to interview!”

“The fifth Qualification Test! I know all the routes, and even some secret information!”

“The seventh Qualification Test! Let’s talk face to face first!”

There was nothing like this for decipherers or adversaries. This situation was specific for the guides, and there was a reason for this.

The three adventurer positions – guides, decipherers and adversaries, positions have different main factors that affect their abilities.

Except for unique abilities,

The factor that has the greatest influence on the guiding ability is the ‘hidden trait’,

For decipherers, it’s the ‘race’,

And for adversaries, it’s the ‘harmony’ of all the elements.

In a nutshell, the ability of a guide is very strongly influenced by the hidden characteristic of ‘pathfinding eyes’.

The problem is that this hidden characteristic is not easily revealed.

No matter how good the guides are, it’s not easy to tell them apart. Even if the route to the destination is correct, it’s difficult to know whether it was grasped by the pathfinding eyes or whether the information had been previously acquired.

Funnily enough, to find the right guide, you need the right guide.

Moreover, there was one more problem with the guide selection that was currently ongoing here.

That being, there were fakes among them, arranged by the Adventurers’ Association.

“Cocoa, that guy over there. Is he really a guide? Or maybe he has a bad sense of direction?”

“Who?”

“That bald guy over there. The grumpy one.”

I pointed to the bald man who was screaming death in a corner, who looked more suitable to be an adversary.

He was claiming that he’d failed the qualifying exam three times, but had never failed to find the treasure, but I knew at once that it was a lie.

“Forget about guiding, that guy would probably get lost on a road he already knows. Right?”

Even I, although it was weak, had the ‘pathfinding eyes’ characteristic. So I probably wouldn’t, maybe. Of course, as my rank levels up, it would too…

“No. He isn’t very good, but he’s still about five times better than Squatjaw.”

“… Really?”

“Yeah.”

“… It’s strange. He doesn’t look it.”

This was actually my honest impression. Maybe because my abilities were still low, so I couldn’t feel anything.

Compared to this guy –

I glanced at Cocoa again.

Right now, in my vision, I wasn’t sure if this was due to my ‘pathfinding eyes’ or not, but Cocoa’s eyes seemed to twinkle like stars.

Did the brightness of that light indicate the level of the ability?

‘It’s great.’

It was fortunate that there were no mirrors nearby. My eyes right now probably looked like that of a dead fish.

Hmmmm.

Anyway, it didn’t matter for adventure groups that already had a competent guide from the start, but there were only a few of such groups here.

In other words, for most of the adventure groups, this ‘guide selection’ was both a crisis and an opportunity.

A quick glance revealed that many of the adventure teams were in trouble.

Once you enrol a member, that’s final and cannot be cancelled. So do you get a helpful comrade, or will you be stuck carrying a burden – or even a bomb?

It was a real spectacle for those of us who didn’t have to worry about it.

That was then.

“This is my first time at the Qualification Exam! But I see the path ahead better than anybody else!”

…

“Don’t you want to hold a precious treasure in your hands?! Then come find Cocoa…”

“What exactly is this?”

Cocoa stopped talking and glanced at me.

“As you see.”

“… Haah.”

“Thinking about it, Squatjaw’s been a bit too harsh on me recently.”

“What?”

“I went through all that trouble of playing the referee at the amusement park, but didn’t get paid a penny for it. Not even a single word of praise, either.”

It was truly an absurd statement.

Rather, it was this girl who’d insisted saying that the host’s role was fun, and that we should play a hundred more games instead of just ending it like this. Besides, although she said she’d help me get out of trouble, she secretly pocketed the entrance fees to the amusement park.

“And when have you ever praised me? We live in a society.”

“That’s natural. You gotta be cute.”

“…?”

“I’m telling you just in case, don’t forget how precious I am. Among those shouting themselves hoarse over there, no one has better eyes than me. And there’s my explosive cuteness on top of that. So what do you think?”

“… Oh, really?”

Her words were mostly absurd, but there were some meaningful remarks among them. 

She was the best.

Therefore,

“Then how about compared to that guy? Do you have better eyes than him?”

I pointed straight to a boy far away. 

Yan.

At that time, Yan was explaining something to the party in a bewildered manner. Apparently, quite a few paths were being reflected in his eyes.

In fact, from the moment we’d arrived at the central plaza, I’d been paying attention to Leo and the others.

To see where they were going to go.

Although I’d read so many chapters of the original manga, I didn’t know exactly where Leo’s party was going. Because a lot of the scenes had been cut, and at some point the background had turned into some nonsense underground waterway. 

And I couldn’t follow them anyway.

Here, it was strictly forbidden to follow other adventure groups, and if caught, severe sanctions would be imposed by the association itself. It was the association’s policy that you had to find the treasure only with the power of the guide belonging to your team.

There was also no possibility of our paths overlapping by chance.

Even if you seek the same treasure, the path for each guide changes moment by moment. There was no explanation as to how such a thing was possible, but that was the setting applied in the Adventurer Qualification Test.

Cocoa didn’t answer me immediately.

“Ummm… he’s a bit vague, but…”

That was then.

‘What?’

Leo’s party, including Yan, began to move.

“Okay, did you look for a path too? Which way should we go?”

“I found one, so if you want to hear about it, praise me first.”

“Speak quickly, sweet little kid.”

Then Cocoa seemed to ponder for a moment, and –

“The way those guys are going.”

Pointed to the direction of Leo and his group.

Judging from the fact that it was the same direction, it seemed that they’d both seen the same treasure. Of course, the path would change as you go.

‘Are you telling me that this kid is really at Yan’s level?’

I looked at Cocoa with somewhat new eyes.

She’d been with me for quite a while, but this girl had appeared in front of the readers only recently. Cocoa’s and Leo’s paths hadn’t intersected in Goldam City or in Destomb. So the amusement park could be said to be her first appearance.

Despite that, she had the same level of ability as that ‘Yan’. This, of course, was quite surprising in and of itself.

However,

“Speaking of, is there another way? A path where even more treasures await compared to the one now.”

I was not satisfied with just this.

There was one thing I became certain of while watching Haka.

As my rank rises, the ranks and abilities of those with me are also upgraded.

Of course, this would be true for Cocoa as well.

Actually, I’d even confirmed this before. Not her pathfinding eyes, but I’d tested this girl’s real power once. 

Surprisingly, Cocoa had even managed to lift that ‘Viking’ halfway from the water.

Originally, this girl already had oddly strong physical power that didn’t match her size, but now she had become several times stronger.

Maybe it was the same for her pathfinding eyes.

Listening to my words, Cocoa frowned.

After a while,

“It looks like there’s something, but…”

The girl slowly started speaking.

“Really?”

“But it’s too vague. I might be wrong.”

“No, take a closer look. Are you certain? Can you see it?”

“I can see it, but…”

“Alright then. Guide me.”

In fact, this could be called a very ‘adventurous’ attempt.

Why? Simple. What if the path was actually wrong? Not only would I look silly, but I’d even miss the chance of meeting Leo’s party who’d already embarked on the right path. It was the same as saying that I couldn’t show my face in this important chapter.

Still, it was a worthwhile investment.

In the original work, the treasure that Yan finds is equivalent to second or third place in value.

Meaning, there is at least one that is better.

What if that was the treasure found by Cocoa’s eyes?

Even if I never appeared in this chapter, incurring that kind of a small penalty was fine. If you can get a higher rank than those guys, the results might be better than just wandering around in Leo’s sight. It can stimulate the readers’ curiosity to the fullest.

So,

“I’m telling you. Even if you end up in some strange place, don’t regret it.”

“It’s fine, cutie. No regrets. Let’s go.”

I believed in Cocoa, and embarked on the road.

It’d been two hours since I’d set out in search of treasure.

I was regretting.

Because… no matter how one looked at it.

“My eyes… too bright.”

The light of the sun shone strongly through the cracks between my fingers.

Embarrassingly, we were now back up on the ground.

I secretly let out a deep sigh.

Where did it all go wrong?

When had it been the right time to turn back?

When we stood in place for about ten minutes, completely still?

When we circled back to the same path we’d already been on twice before?

When we heard Cocoa mutter to herself, ‘Huh? I think I’m lost…’ for the third time?

In the original work, no place other than ‘Old Adventium’ had ever appeared during the course of this arc.

In other words, it meant that this Adventurer Qualification Test should be held underground. Coming up to the ground shouldn’t have been in the cards.

At that moment,

“Cocoa, is there any other path? It’s too crowded.”

“Hot, too.”

Chinuavi and Haka, who were exhausted from the heat and the crowd, talked over each other.

“Don’t whine.”

“Cocoa.”

“Don’t even talk to me. I’m concentrating.”

“…”

Then, after we walked a little longer,

“Huh?”

“Uh?”

Finally, Cocoa stopped walking.

For a moment, I raised my drooping head in joy, but the moment I saw the ‘something’ in front of me, I was at a loss for words.

[Adventium Ice Cream Shop – Delicious enough to die for!]

“Should we get some snacks on the way?”

“… Haa.”

It wasn’t funny.

But in the meantime,

“Really, Cocoa. There are things you can only see when you take a breather. Well-reasoned. If you rest, you will surely find your way better afterwards.”

“Good choice.”

The two idiots joined in as well.

“…”

Yeah, it really was hot.

In the end, I too was taken in.

My plan of taking a break and rechecking the directions was shattered within a minute of entering the store.

“That’s rude.”

Chinuavi was seriously angry.

“Cocoa, don’t you think that’s a bit over the top?”

Haka also reacted harshly.

But Cocoa didn’t back down either.

“I will eat this. You have to eat this too.”

“…”

It was indeed a series of absurd situations.

Cocoa was trying to fill three out of four flavours with ‘mint chocolate’. And the last was ‘green tea’. She didn’t want to concede on even a single taste.

It was an incomprehensible act. Although Cocoa was young and a bit greedy for money, she’d never been a glutton. Naturally, she wasn’t that stubborn either…

Uh?

In an instant, a ‘notion’ flashed through my mind like a thunderbolt.

Ah, this was the ‘path’.

In the world of Adventure King, the path that the guide navigates is not limited to simple ‘geography’. Beyond that, it extends to ‘all kinds of methods and procedures’ that must be carried out to achieve a single goal.

In other words, it meant that Cocoa’s stubbornness here might be a necessary act to acquire the treasure. It really looked absurd, though.

Then I had no choice but to believe in her.

I didn’t hesitate.

“Three mint chocolates, please. And one green tea.”

I didn’t care about Chinuavi and Haka’s surprised faces.

“Are you going to eat?”

As I turned to Cocoa, the girl nodded quietly.

“Yes.”

Receiving the ice cream, she came to her seat and started eating, while comforting the two idiots who were sitting with grumbling faces.

“Eat it. It might be surprisingly delicious.”

Cocoa didn’t even look at the ice cream.

“I did everything I could. I don’t know what’s coming next. I can’t see. Even if it’s wrong, I wouldn’t know. I told you, Squatjaw. You’re responsible.”

“I got it…”

I was also nervous, but I had no choice but to wait. May a new path be opened.

However, nothing happened even as Haka and Chinuavi were finishing their ice creams.

‘… She must’ve been wrong.’

It was sad, but it couldn’t be helped. No adventure is guaranteed to be successful.

It was when the last bite was about to disappear into Chinuavi’s mouth.

“Excuse me…”

Suddenly, someone spoke to me.

“Have you run out of ice cream?”

When I turned around, it was a very suspicious-looking old man dressed in rags.

I looked at Cocoa in amazement.

Cocoa nodded vigorously with wide, round eyes.

“Yes, there wasn’t enough.”

“You seem to like mint chocolate a lot.”

“It’s not like that, it’s just because it’s there. And it’s so hot here. In fact, there’s this other flavour…”

I smacked Chinuavi on the top of the head.

“Ouch!”

“Yes. I do like it. It’s the best. The next best is green tea.”

“Is that so? Alright, if you want more, follow me. Of course, it’s free.”

At that moment, Cocoa, who met my eyes, gave a thumbs up.

The old man who offered ice cream took us to a hut and then went away. He left with the words that the basement refrigerator was full, so we could just take it out and eat.

“So?”

“… It’s amazing. I heard that there’s a goblin working for the Adventurers’ Association, he must’ve been the one to make something like this.”

On the door leading down to the basement were characters in the goblin language.

I’d also seen them in the manga so I knew what they were, but I couldn’t interpret them.

The author seemed to have been hiding traces of the goblins all over the place. He just didn’t manage to introduce them in time.

“Can you decipher it?”

“Who do you think I am? I’m a goblin. There probably wouldn’t be anyone here who could solve this other than me. Including that woman I met at the gambling table. This is a problem that cannot be solved without a goblin, regardless of how easy or difficult it is. It has to do with our gods.”

Of course, it wasn’t true. That only this guy could solve this.

But I didn’t say that out loud. Because it’d only hurt his pride.

“But really, this Adventurer Qualification Test… is quite difficult. Much more than I’d heard. Adventurers weren’t proud for no reason…”

Hearing Chinuavi murmur, I was convinced.

That my adventure was successful.

I’d been puzzled at the time when I’d read the original, but now I understood why Leo and the others couldn’t come this far. Because even if they did come, they wouldn’t have been able to decipher this.

Leo’s party took the most valuable treasure they could with their abilities.

“The most precious thing….”

Of course, so would I.

“Then shall we start the deciphering? It will take some time. Because the gods’ mischief, riddles, and tricks are intertwined…”

“No, wait.”

But not right now.

“Let me have a look.”

“… Yes?”

“Let me try.”

“…”

Chinuavi had an uncomprehending expression.

“What… but only a goblin can decipher this, though?”

“Alright, so let me have a look. If I can’t do it, then you take care of it.”

“…”

I didn’t really think that it would be possible. I just wanted to know the limits of my unique ability. And I’d once thought that these were the guys I’d want to meet at least once if I got the chance.

After taking a couple of deep breaths, I sat on the floor facing the basement door.

And used my ability, with Chinuavi as the target.

The unique abilities of goblins were different from those of humans, because they were bestowed by others.

Therefore, in order to mimic the abilities of the goblins, one had to meet their gods first.

After a while, I slowly closed my eyes and started the goblin ritual.

Editor’s Notes:

None for this chapter.