130-CHAPTER 129




Let's get this straight.

The winner is the team that kills the most rock worms.
If both teams are strong enough, the one who encounters more rock worms wins the game.

This means that if we had just explored the tunnels normally, both Glenn and us would have the same conditions.
The winner is the one who 'accidentally' encounters more rock worms as a result of both of us strolling around at random.

What can we do to reverse this situation?
To do this, we need a way to actively search for rockworms, rather than relying on chance.

However, if there is such a useful spell, I would have used it as of yesterday.
I don't use inefficient means such as searching the tunnels aimlessly in the first place.

Wizard's Eye, Alert, See-Through, Sense Magic... There are several other spells that are useful for searching for enemies, but none of them have a decisive effect in this situation.

However, there is one spell that is an exception.

This is the spell of the "tame monster".
This is one of the highest-ranking spells that I am currently able to cast, and I have only recently been able to cast it while helping the elves kill orcs.

This spell has the effect of allowing you to control any living creature, including those classified as monsters.
It is difficult to successfully control unless the opponent is of a very low rank, but given my current level of magical power, I thought that I could probably handle a rock worm, and in fact, it worked ( ).

Incidentally, this spell can also control humans in the extreme.
However, if that is the case, there is a spell called Charm, which is of the same rank and consumes less mana, and that will suffice for controlling humans and similar creatures.
In other words, the charm spell is a limited version of the tame monster spell.

However, the charm is not a spell that can control the target at will.
Charm is just a spell to make the target think that you are a close friend or lover, and if your best friend or lover would not be willing to do it, it will not work.

This is also the case with monsters, which are basically the same thing.
It is a spell that makes the target think that you are a companion or a superior of the pack, and makes the target follow your suggestion or instruction.

The real beauty of this spell lies in its ability to communicate a certain intention even to less intelligent creatures such as rockworms. ...... But that's a bit of an academic topic, so let's leave that aside.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I'm talking about.

I tapped the head of the rockworm that was slithering towards me with its huge body with my hand, and checked with Satsuki, Mee, and Cyril.

The three of them were a bit distant from me.

As usual, we're in a mine shaft.

As I continued my search, I came across a suitable rockworm, so I used the spell of a tame monster to tame it.

I'm not sure.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help.

I'm not sure what to make of that. ...... No, that's what I'll do.
I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.

'I'm sorry,......, I can't do it either,........ I understand, but I can't do it physiologically. ......'

Cyril was much further away than the other two, shaking his head reluctantly the whole time.
He looked a little teary-eyed.

Now that I think about it, Cyril seemed a bit reluctant when she was fighting the rockworm yesterday.
Maybe she's not good with this kind of creature.

'It's not that I can't handle Mee, but it's not something I want to get too close to.

Mee was unconcerned, but she still kept a certain distance.
As for how to treat her, her attitude is fine.

'Oh, you don't have to be friendly with this, nor do I recommend it. The effects of the monsters will wear off in about half a day. Eventually, you'll have to kill it too. If you get too attached to it, you'll suffer.

When I explained this...

'Huh? Is that okay with William?'

Mee poked her head in.
She's as perceptive as they come.

So she was worried about me.
I wondered if it wouldn't be painful for me to have to defeat the thing that loved me.

'It's true that it's not a spell I'd like to use much, because it's a little hard on my feelings. But it's not a situation where I can afford to be extravagant. I thought that if I prioritized what was important to me, this would be the best choice.

When I answered, Satsuki tilted her head.

'...... Hmm? What's important to Will? It's not 'adventure' in this case, is it?"

...... This girl is always so perceptive in these situations.

It's no use.
It's not something you should lie about unnecessarily.

I cleared my throat and said to Satsuki and the three of them.

''In this case, what's important to me is... you guys.

'''......What?'''

Hearing what I said, the three most beautiful girls in my party blushed at once.
And to add insult to injury, the person who said it to me must have been in a similar state of shock.

I cleared my throat one more time and continued with my statement.

'So, when I was honest with myself, I realized that I really don't want to lose you guys. I don't mean to sound selfish, but it seems that the ...... presence of you guys has become quite a big part of me.

'''Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

This time, the three of them shouted in surprise at the same time.

I thought it would be in their usual attitudes anyway,......, but is it really that surprising,.......?

'Hey, hey, you're not hallucinating me now, are you ......?

'No, it's not. I heard it too. It's astounding.'

'Oh no, what should I do? My heart is starting to pound here.'

The three of them began to scream and shout in yellow.
Then, Satsuki brought up the following story.

'Hey, Will, didn't you say in front of Glenn and the others that you were worried about 'my girl'? Does this mean that you're okay with us now? We're Will's girlfriends, right?

'......! No, no, that's .......'

Oh no, I forgot to explain that.
I was flustered, and Cyril walked up to me and gave me a hard time.

'You're so vexing! Now answer this question with a simple yes or no. Either William likes us or he doesn't like us!

Cyril comes close to me and asks me a question.

It's not a yes or no question, and there's a lot of things I could say to him about his dislike of rockworms, but I'm not in a mood to say anything about it.
I was under pressure, but I had no choice but to answer.

'Well, that's .......'

'That's!

'...... Well, if you have to choose between the two, 'like' is the answer.

'Nyaa! You're really stubborn, aren't you!

This time, Mee started screaming.
Oh no, there's no one to keep her still.



I thought it was .......

'Okay, okay. Satsuki, Cyril, I'm coming over.

Mee called the other two over and began to have a secret conversation with them a short distance away.
...... I have a bad feeling about this.



'At any rate, I'm in the middle of a game and I don't have much time, so I won't pursue the matter. But after this adventure is over, Mee and the others will also play a game, so please keep that in mind.

'Ah,......, I understand.

That's the only way to answer.
But what is a 'match'? .......

On the other hand, Satsuki, unconcerned with my confusion, starts to wrap up the conversation.

'Okay, then we're done here. Then let's get this adventure over with. We can't afford to lose!

'Of course not!

'Yes, sir!

'............'

The three girls, their mysterious unity was growing stronger.

It is not a bad thing that they are motivated, but the direction of their motivation seems to be strange. .......
It's not a bad thing that they are motivated, but the direction of their motivation seems to be wrong,.......