Chapter 41
Preparing to head to Chiba.
That being said, the first thing to do is to complete the routine.
I soak in a hot bath, and do my daily routine of 100 finger snaps x 3 sets, and 100 coin tosses x 3 sets every morning.
Well, shall we go with Today's Daily Mission to tell the fortune for today?
"Shaa......yosshaa......yaa, sshaa......shaa......Daily Mission! Ya!"
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best steadily every day!
'Suddenly! By the Time of Christmas Carols'
Suddenly sing By the Time of Christmas Carols
0/5
Consecutive days: Day 96
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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Yes, here it comes.
It's a novelty type.
I knew it.
Because, in the metal dungeon, only self-contained dailies that were convenient for I came.
I thought it was about time the bill came due.
"Suddenly sing By the Time of Christmas Carols......?"
Hmm, just from the wording, I can only imagine hell......
First of all, my little sister is on the first floor, so should I try it?
It's just a warm-up before the expedition to the peanut kingdom.
I wonder if I can make it in Chiba Prefecture without being able to do this much.
"little sister"
"Hmm, what is it. Are you going to give I money"
"~♪ ~♪ (prelude)"
"......Hmm? (Something's starting......)"
"Dun da dun, By the time the Christmas Carols~ are playing, the answer for you and I~ will surely be there──"
"No, it's already March though"
"By the time the Christmas Carols~ are playing, who I love~ even if I can't see it now......──"
"So, what is it?"
"If I extend~ this hand a little~──"
"(It's continuing)"
She listened to it until the end for the time being.
No, it feels good to sing after a long time.
It's a masterpiece.
Well, with this, the Daily Mission should have progressed.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best steadily every day!
'Suddenly! By the Time of Christmas Carols'
Suddenly sing By the Time of Christmas Carols
0/5
Consecutive days: Day 96
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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......
What.
Where is it.
Where did I go wrong.
Where was the Silent Regulation.
"......"
"Oniichan, so, what is it. Why suddenly Christmas Carols"
"Gii"
Huh? Gii-san suddenly climbed up I's leg.
"Chi"
Hmm, even Shimaenaga-san suddenly stopped on I's head......so that's what it is.
I see. The true identity of Silent Regulation.
"Hey, Oniichan, what is it, it's so scary because I don't understand it──"
"~♪ ~♪"
"Eh"
"Dun da dun!! By the time the Christmas Carols~ are playing, the answer for you and I~ will surely be there──"
"No way, it's continuing......"
After that, I sang it all the way to the end.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best steadily every day!
'Suddenly! By the Time of Christmas Carols'
Suddenly sing By the Time of Christmas Carols
1/5
Consecutive days: Day 96
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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As I thought.
The "Suddenly" part is the key point this time.
I have to suddenly carol Christmas without any introduction.
"Oniichan, hey, Oniichan, really what? I can't help but be curious──"
"~♪ ~♪"
"No, that's enough!"
I think this daily is really terrible.
In the middle of the third song, my little sister screamed "Uwaaa! Oniichan is broken!" and ran away, going up to the second floor.
"Until I can hear the Christmas Carols~, let's go back to before we met~, let's be more free~♪"
"Uwaaaaa! Don't chase I!"
While climbing the stairs, I carol Christmas, and even if I escape into the room, I slip through the gap before the door can be closed, and continue to carol Christmas.
"Stop it......Ehhh, stop carolling......I'm sorry, Ehhh......"
My little sister can only curl up in her futon and wait for the storm to pass while being scared.
In that state, I held Gii-san upright and sang a total of 6 Christmas Carols without mercy, using the mysterious object with Shimaenaga-san on top of it as a microphone.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's do our best steadily every day!
'Suddenly! By the Time of Christmas Carols'
Suddenly sing By the Time of Christmas Carols
5/5
★Today's Daily Mission Complete!★
Reward Wisdom of the Ancients B (50,000 Skill EXP)
Skill Nutrient B x 3 (50,000 Skill EXP)
Consecutive days: Day 97
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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Doing this to a complete stranger is definitely a reportable offense......
Heh, but you know, Daily-kun, I'm the guy who survived Power Boost Week.
I can handle this much, no problem.
Now then, time to use the old books.
Old Books-kun is the only source of income (EXP) that doesn't get skimmed off, so I'll savor this properly.
'Use it? Yes No'
'Yes'
Nnnnghhhhh, Gimo Tiii!!!
"Oh. Come to think of it, I had a stockpile of energy drinks......"
I took three 355ml cans of energy drink that popped out from the window, returned to my room, and opened the cardboard box.
Sixty cans. With the current reward, that makes sixty-three. That's an insane stockpile.
I probably won't be coming back for a while once I go to Chiba, so I should drink some before I leave.
"No good. I can't drink anymore."
Around the sixth can, it started getting rough.
Fifty-seven cans left.
This is brutal.
Come to think of it, I once saw a video on social media of someone consuming a ton of milk right before the expiration date.
I think they processed it into various dishes.
"Oh? Energy drink jelly, huh?"
A quick search brought up a recipe.
I like jelly.
Back in school, whenever we had tri-colored jelly at lunch, I'd secretly trade Harajuku dogs and chocolate puddings with classmates in advance and get more jelly on the day—yeah, I went that far.
Well then, I'll go buy a bunch of gelatin and get mixing.
——Four hours later
By early afternoon, the 'skill nutrients' had transformed into a variety of recipes.
Starting with energy jelly, then energy tapioca, energy mochi, energy ice cream, energy candy, energy burgers, energy cake, energy rice, and energy curry.
"I couldn't have made all this alone. Thanks."
"Oniichan, can you promise me now that you'll never get 'Caroled' again......?"
"I promise. I'll never get 'Caroled' again."
By threatening her, I got my little sister to help.
Thanks to that, everything was nicely prepared.
Now then, time to dig in.
Oh right, I haven't seen Shimaenaga-san or Gii-san around. Where'd they go?
"Chi, chii—"
"Gii, ii—"
Found them. On the table in the living room.
Sleeping soundly and plump beside a mountain of empty dishes.
Yep, they definitely did it. No doubt about it.
This isn't just skimming off the top anymore.
It's all skimmed off. Total middleman exploitation. Theft. Robbery. Shuradouuu!
"Aww, so cute~! So round and fluffy~! Gotta take a pic!"
While my sister enjoyed herself, I drank the last 'skill nutrient' in twilight.
(Skill level has increased)
"Hm. What leveled up......?"
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Akagi Hideo
Level 146
HP 22,523/22,523
MP 3,740/3,740
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv5'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv5'
'Single Strike Lv6'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
'Super Metal Assault Lv6'
'Blue Pulsation'
'Black Swamp's Severer'
Equipment
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
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Ah. It's here. This is it—industry.
Finger Snap has evolved, hasn't it?
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'Finger Snap Lv5'
Kill enemies by snapping your fingers.
Divert life energy to attack.
Conversion rate ATK500:HP1
Unlock condition: 1 million kills with One Snap One Kill (or 25,000 kills under same condition in a short period)
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I've already won.
Victory. I've achieved it.
I'm the strongest. Yep. Winner.
Too strong. Ahh, I wanna turn that Chihuahua into charred remains already (maniacal)
But man, it sure took a long time to get here.
Thinking back, I used to assume that the 'skill nutrients' were giving EXP to Finger Snap, but I wonder how it works now.
With so many skills, I'd hate it if Finger Snap wasn't getting any EXP...
'Single Strike' and 'Super Metal Assault', 'Probability Time: Coin' seem to level up more from achievements than EXP, and I still don't get 'Phobia Syndrome'.
'Steel Spirit' is achievement-based too......
So is 'Black Swamp's Severer'......
Huh. Looking at it like this, there aren't many that seem to take skill EXP.
'Blue Pulsation' probably takes skill EXP, yeah.
Hm.
There's something written on the side of the energy drink can.
(Note: Skill EXP is only added to growth-type skills. If there are multiple, please select one.)
First time I've heard that.
So there was a note like that, huh.
(Currently selected skill: 'Finger Snap Lv5')
So the default is set to the top one.
Then I guess I don't need to worry too much about it.
"Oniichan."
"Hm, what is it, foolish little sister?"
Oh? Dere-with-tsun removed upturned eyes, huh?
I hear those are super effective on older brothers.
"Let me have Shimaenaga-san. I promise I'll take good care of them!"
"Nope, not happening. That one's my business partner. Hey, stop snuggling and hand them back."
Not even the cutest little sister gets to make that request.
Shurado put me in charge, you know.
That one might destroy the world.
Do you even understand what's at stake here?
"Okay, Calamity-sans, please line up over here. It's time for a baggage inspection incident~"
"Chii-chii"
"Gii"
I've been bingeing on Skill EXP, so I might've accidentally leveled something up.
As their guardian, I have to properly check.
First up is Shimaenaga-san.
They've gotten so soft and puffy, I'm starting to worry the collar (ring) won't fit anymore.
"Chii~"
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Shimaenaga-san
Level 29
HP 12,486/12,486
MP 11,563/11,563
Skills
'Blasphemous Morning Star Lv2'
'Blasphemous Pact'
'Blasphemous Gaze'
Equipment
'Calamity Beast'
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Hm. Looking good.
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'Blasphemous Morning Star Lv2'
Rebellion against the world.
A guiding star that ravages the dark world.
Resolves death and restores 3,000 HP.
Usable once every 720 hours. Stock: 2
Cooldown can be resolved with 10,000 MP.
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Looks like it now has stock and the revived HP has been increased to 3,000.
Alright, you may pass.
It's not an offensive-type skill, so not guilty.
"Gii"
"You're next."
"Gii~"
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Gii-san
Level 0
HP 5/5
MP 10/10
Skills
'Call of the Black Swamp Lv2'
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Oh. You're doing your part too, huh.
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'Call of the Black Swamp Lv2'
Summons and attacks with a fragment of the Black Swamp monster.
Usable once every 2 hours. ATK 1–100,000
Stock: 999
Cooldown can be resolved with 200 MP.
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Dang, that's strong (deadpan).
Isn't this high-frequency, high-firepower support?
At least make it either low frequency or low firepower.
The fact that it has 999 stock and fires off repeatedly, and you can reload with just 200 MP—that's totally a Calamity Point.
And if this kid levels up, they'll probably have HP and MP grow rapidly like Shimaenaga-san... which means endless tentacle spam...
"Gii-san, you're out!"
"Gii......"
"You can't just go getting this strong... Those black tentacles are already—"
The space behind Gii-san warps, and thick black tentacles emerge.
"Yes, that. That thing has a hidden brainwashing effect as a secret status."
"Gii"
"Wanna grow? You wanna grow overwhelmingly strong? You sound like some ambitious new hire fresh out of college... Hmm, fine, just be more careful from now on, okay? (Super lenient.) I'll put in a good word with Shurado for you."
"Gii♪"
Man, they're disgustingly cute.
I don't know why, but when I look at Gii-san, I get this weird feeling they've been bullied a lot in the past, and it just makes me want to be nice to them. There, there. Good kid, good kid.
"Ew, the tentacles came out too. Seriously gross..."
"Hey! Don't say that to Gii-san!"
"Waaah, run away!"
"Leave Shimaenaga-san behind, foolish little sister."
"Chii♪"
This brat—I swear, I'll tame her someday.
——Evening
I pack my travel gear into what I call a privacy bag, which is actually just a school bag.
Since I'm the type of sharp-witted businessman who only wears plain black short-sleeve shirts or white dress shirts, all I have to do is stuff in the same plain black clothes I stocked up on during Black Friday and some plain shirts, and I'm all set.
I wrap myself in Adolphene's Holy Shroud, tighten my tie, put on my sunglasses, and place the Proof of the Chosen One—also known as my other partner, Buchi—against my chest.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Oniichan, make sure to get Finger Man-sama's autograph!"
"If Finger Man's even there."
"Add the -sama."
"...Finger Man-sama."
That night, I successfully entered the peanut-independent state—also known as the Chiba People's Republic of 'Let's Slap Tokyo on Every Building.'