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00:00It all started in July 1999. The world was abuzz with prophecies. But something even stranger
00:06happened. Labyrinths suddenly appeared all over the globe. These weren't just small caves. They
00:11were vast, extradimensional spaces popping up everywhere. In oceans, on mountains, even inside
00:17people's homes. Inside these labyrinths, people found two major things. Monsters. Creatures straight
00:22out of fairy tales and games. Resources. Abundant rare metals, unknown elements, and magical items
00:29that seemed to defy explanation. The world rejoiced. These magical items included things like
00:34medicines that could regrow limbs and cure incurable diseases. Crystals that showed the future. Amulets
00:41protecting against misfortune. Makeup tools that could transform your appearance. Even food that
00:47granted perpetual youth and longevity. On top of that, magic stones dropped by monsters proved to
00:53have countless uses, from fuel to fertilizer, kicking off an economic boom. Initially, the monsters
00:59inside the labyrinths never left, and most were vulnerable to modern weapons like guns. Armies
01:04worldwide began exploring, going deeper and deeper in search of more treasures. But then, disaster
01:10struck. The deeper they went, the more powerful the monsters became. The U.S. Army, venturing too far,
01:17encountered phantom-type monsters. These creatures were impervious to physical attacks, leading to
01:22devastating losses. Ten percent of the entire U.S. Army was wiped out. Other developed nations, learning
01:28from this, halted their labyrinth explorations. About six months later, a new catastrophe occurred,
01:35the first Angolmor. Monsters, thought to be contained, spilled out of the labyrinths and attacked
01:40civilians. While military bases around the labyrinths helped limit the damage, the phantom-type monsters
01:46once again proved unstoppable, causing widespread fear. Luckily, these particular undead monsters vanished
01:52with the sunrise. Investigations revealed the shocking truth. Angolmor only happened in countries that
01:58stopped hunting monsters in their labyrinths. Countries like China and Russia, which continued
02:03their hunts, didn't experience it. This led to a critical hypothesis. If you don't regularly hunt
02:08monsters, they will overflow from the labyrinth. The first Angolmor also brought another groundbreaking
02:14discovery, how to use monster cards. These rare cards, depicting monsters, were initially a mystery.
02:21But during the Angolmor attacks, some people accidentally found out their use. Drop a bit of your own
02:26blood on the card. Strongly wished for the monster to appear. The monster on the card would materialize
02:32and obey its master. Researchers hadn't figured this out because these cards largely only worked
02:37inside the labyrinths, or during special events like Angolmor. The discovery of monster cards was
02:42a game-changer. Monsters summoned from cards could use magic, providing a countermeasure against the
02:48previously invulnerable phantom-type monsters. Plus, these cards created a barrier for the master,
02:53taking all damage while the monster was active, making labyrinth exploration much safer.
02:59Since humans couldn't level up, like in games, the military's approach to the deeper,
03:04more powerful parts of the labyrinth had hit a wall. But monsters could level up. This created a
03:10new cycle, train monsters, defeat strong monsters, acquire more cards, and repeat. This realization led
03:17to a profound conclusion. It didn't have to be the army exploring the labyrinths.
03:21The US, a land of freedom, was the first to open some labyrinths to civilians.
03:26They also established the Adventurers Guild of USA to oversee and assist these civilian explorers.
03:31This system proved so successful that it was soon implemented worldwide.
03:35Fast forward about 20 years since the first labyrinth appeared, and being an adventurer has become a
03:40dream job for many. This brings us to Yudemaru Kitagawa, a high school student feeling stuck in the
03:46mob character group of his class, either liked nor disliked. He describes his school as having a
03:52school cast, much like a social hierarchy, when natural talents like looks, athleticism, or
03:58communication skills determine your place. He and his friends, Higashino and Nishida, are at the bottom,
04:04just getting by. They see how Minimiyama, a former mob, like them, soared to the top of the school
04:10cast simply by revealing he was an active adventurer. This status, even if just from his parents paying for it,
04:16commands immense respect and fear. Yudemaru knows the risks. It costs money, could waste his youth,
04:23and might even fail. But he's seen a new path, a new way to rise that isn't dependent on innate
04:28talent but on effort and time. And so, with a quiet determination, Yudemaru whispers to himself,
04:34knowing the perilous path ahead. I will become an adventurer today. After school, Yudemaru declined
04:40his friend's invitation and headed straight for the Adventurers Guild at Hakeoji Station.
04:44As Yudemaru exited the ticket gate, he noticed a mix of people, some in regular clothes, others in
04:50tactical vests and military rucksacks, the adventurers. The public's reaction to Adventurers
04:56varied, indifference, envy, or admiration. The female employee at the counter outlined the
05:01requirements. 100,000 yen registration fee, d-rank or higher monster card, ID to confirm current
05:08address, guardian's consent form for minors. Yudemaru had everything except the card.
05:13Since he wasn't an adventurer yet, a staff member had to accompany him to the fifth-floor card shop.
05:19Yudemaru was introduced to Shigeno-san, a middle-aged man who would guide him.
05:24They took the stairs to the fifth floor, the only way to access it. The fifth floor was a stark
05:29contrast to the quiet fourth, bustling like a trading card store with adventurers intently
05:33examining card displays. Seated in a private booth, Shigeno-san began his explanation.
05:39Monster cards contain monsters from the labyrinth, which adventurers can materialize for combat.
05:45Cards only work within the labyrinth, in specific magical spaces, or during emergencies like
05:50Angalmor. Crucially, summoned monsters cannot harm their master, the user, and the master takes no
05:56damage as long as the card is active, as damage is channeled into the card itself. However,
06:01Shigeno-san delivered a surprising piece of information. Cards are not absolutely obedient.
06:07Personalities. Cards have varied personalities, from obedient to rebellious. Some become more
06:12compliant with use, others stop listening, and some even refuse combat except for self-defense.
06:18Resetting cards. While ownership rights can be relinquished to reset a card's level and memory,
06:23its personality remains. Incompatible owners can lead to, irrepressibly rebellious.
06:28These unusable cards are sold at reduced prices, used as, fishing bait, in card packs because
06:34they're essentially worthless on their own. Shigeno-san also explained the general market for
06:39cards. Easily usable cards are priced high, while those less likely to sell are bundled into packs.
06:45He revealed that C-rank cards can fetch 10 to 100 million yen, and B-rank cards can go up to 10
06:50billion yen, making the 1 million yen card packs a tempting but risky lottery. After the extensive
06:56explanation, Yudamaru was ready to buy his card. He showed Shigeno-san the 1 million yen he had saved
07:01from months of grueling part-time work, a crystallization of sweat, tears, and childhood savings.
07:07Seeing the available D-rank cards, which were mostly unpopular monsters like orcs and ghouls and still
07:12cost at least 1 million yen, Yudamaru made a bold decision. He decided to buy a card pack, despite
07:18Shigeno-san's strong warnings. Shigeno-san explained that while packs can contain rare B-rank or C-rank
07:24cards, the probability is extremely low, less than 1% for C-rank, about 30% for D-rank. He emphasized
07:31that these packs were designed for existing adventurers, not first-time registrants with
07:36limited budgets, as there was a 70% chance of getting unusable F or E-rank cards. Yudamaru, however,
07:43was resolute. He had invested too much to settle for a basic D-rank card. He needed AC or D-rank
07:49Monster Girl card, his minimum requirement for his grand plan. If this didn't work, he would simply
07:55give up on his ambition and lead a quiet high school life. This was his one shot. With trembling hands
08:01and a racing heart, Yudamaru reached into the box of black-painted card packs. He chose a pack from the
08:07right corner, third row, second from the back. He tore it open. Goblin F-rank, Cobalt D-rank,
08:13Cousy D-rank. This was a mix of relief, he could register, and disappointment lowers odds for better
08:19cards. Skeleton F-rank, Goblin F-rank, Zombie E-rank, Roper F-rank, Ghoul D-rank. An unattractive
08:27female ghoul illustration, not the monster girl he hoped for. Goblin F-rank. Yudamaru felt a self-mocking
08:34smile spread across his face, believing this was his lot. He had gotten two D-rank cards, which was
08:40technically lucky for a pack, but not what he truly desired. He randomly flipped the last two
08:45cards. Then he saw it. One was an ordinary goblin card, but the other. A Zashiki Warashi. A girl in
08:53a kimono, with punkish black hair, raising her middle finger while resting a foot on a tamari ball.
08:59It was unmistakably a C-rank monster girl card. The next day, Yudamaru walked to school, humming a tune,
09:05tucked inside his uniform pocket were his newly acquired adventurer's license and several monster
09:10cards, including his prized C-rank Zashiki Warashi monster girl card. He couldn't help but smile,
09:16imagining the reactions of his classmates to such a rare and valuable card. His friend, Higashino,
09:22joined him, remarking on his unusually high spirits. Yudamaru considered telling Higashino about becoming an
09:29adventurer, thinking it would be better for his existing friendships if they knew beforehand.
09:33He wanted to climb the school cast but also maintain his good relationships with Higashino
09:38and Nishida, unlike Minimiyama, who had cut ties with them after rising to the top.
09:43Just as he was about to reveal his secret, Nishida arrived, and their conversation shifted.
09:49Yudamaru ended up missing his chance to tell them before they reached the classroom.
09:53Entering the classroom, Yudamaru, Higashino, and Nishida noticed the commotion.
09:58Ono, a member of the top cast, group, was surrounded by over half the class.
10:02Looking more excited than usual. Higashino and Nishida whispered their disdain for Ono's.
10:08Then, Yudamaru heard something shocking. Ono was also an adventurer.
10:12Ono was boasting about being a one-star adventurer. With a crappy card. But he emphasized that he had
10:18saved the money himself through a part-time job. He mentioned plans to go into the labyrinth with
10:23Minimiyama. Yudamaru realized he had been beaten to the punch. The good spot for announcing such news
10:29was only for the first or second person. Coming out now would make him seem like he was trying
10:34to steal Ono's thunder. Especially since Ono was already part of the normie group. The popular
10:40crowd. Yudamaru's rare C-rank monster girl card would still have impact. But it would be hard to
10:45turn it into a positive impression if he appeared to be one-upping Ono. He knew that the classmates
10:50would likely side with Ono and label him as attention-seeking. Yudamaru concluded that simply
10:55being an adventurer with a rare card wasn't enough anymore. Something to differentiate himself and
11:00make him unique. Then, an idea struck him. Like an electric current down his spine. He overheard
11:06Higashino and Nishida dismissing Ono as a less-than-three-star adventurer. Who can't even make
11:13it to the Mon Colorado. This was it. Adventurer ranks in the Monster Coliseum, Mon Colorado.
11:19Being able to participate in Mon Colorado meant appearing on TV, gaining a social value comparable
11:25celebrity. This was the key. Yudamaru realized that while becoming an adventurer was his initial
11:30goal, he now had to aim higher. He resolved to become a three-star adventurer no matter what it
11:36took, ideally before the next school year's class changes. This was the only way to truly
11:41distinguish himself and achieve his desired position within the school cast. After getting
11:46ready at home, Yudamaru immediately headed to the labyrinth located near Hakeoji Station.
11:51This particular labyrinth, about a ten-minute walk from the station, was now housed within
11:56a convenience store known as Dungeon Mart. Upon entering Dungeon Mart, Yudamaru was greeted
12:01by an automated voice instructing adventurers to place their adventurer license on a panel.
12:06This system ensured that only licensed adventurers could access the labyrinth entrance at the back
12:11of the store. He then proceeded to a heavy steel door at the back. Touching his license to it,
12:16the door opened with a sound. This secondary authentication verified his adventurer rank
12:22was sufficient for this particular labyrinth, which was an F-rank labyrinth, the lowest tier.
12:27Beyond the door, Yudamaru found a small, two-taught arm in that space containing a black swirling
12:32sphere, the entrance to the labyrinth. He bravely stepped into the warm, smoky-like sphere.
12:38He felt a momentary sensation of stepping off a staircase, and then found himself in the middle
12:43of a deep forest. The labyrinth was a small, another world. Eternally daytime with a surprisingly
12:50warm temperature of nearly 30 degrees Celsius, despite it being autumn outside. Realizing his
12:56heavy clothing was a mistake, Yudamaru decided to summon his monsters immediately. He pulled out
13:01three cards. Zashiki Warashi, C-Rank, Combat Power, 250. Inborn Skills. Good fortune is like a rope
13:10that ends in misfortune. Can bestow luck slash misfortune. Effectiveness depends on monster's
13:15liking for master. Hide and seek. Invisibility and presence blocking. Elementary recovery magic.
13:22Simple healing. Acquired skills. Disadvantages. Zero existence. Combat power reduced by 100.
13:29Skills may miss or be downgraded. Significantly weakened from original state. Closed mind.
13:35Rebellious heart. Negative response to commands. Positive response to free actions.
13:41Acquired from incompatible master. Elementary attack magic. Simple offensive magic. Yudamaru
13:46decided to summon his Zashiki Warashi and the ghoulur, due to her absolute obedience. Skill.
13:52Despite undead being difficult for beginners. In F-rank labyrinths, only two cards can be summoned
13:58simultaneously. He first summoned the Zashiki Warashi. A beautiful, doll-like little girl,
14:04about his sister's age, materialized. However, her demeanor was anything but cute. She had furrowed
14:11brows and a, countryside yankee, attitude. She immediately challenged him.
14:16What are you looking at, huh? Want me to kill you?
14:19Yudamaru, momentarily intimidated, retorted that he wouldn't have gotten a rare card like her if she
14:25wasn't. Defective. The Zashiki Warashi sneered and disappeared, leaving him relieved she wasn't as
14:31tough as she seemed. Next, he summoned the ghoulur. A strikingly beautiful woman in revealing leather
14:36materialized. But her beauty was marred by decaying features. Shaggy, damaged hair, black and purple skin
14:43with corpse spots, and completely bloodshot red eyes. The only blessing was the lack of odor.
14:49Yudamaru sighed, wishing she wasn't a ghoul, but held on to the hope of a future.
14:54Rank up. Into a vampire. Confident his preparations were complete,
14:58Yudamaru began walking, only to hear the Zashiki Warashi's disembodied laughter.
15:03He turned to find the ghoulur still standing in her initial position. He had to explicitly command,
15:09Ghoulur, follow me! for her to move. The labyrinth was filled with the Zashiki Warashi's
15:14amused laughter, while Yudamaru realized the challenge of handling his new, uncooperative
15:19companions. Yudamaru cautiously walked through the forest-type labyrinth. The path was about two
15:25meters wide, overgrown with weeds, and flanked by seemingly impenetrable walls of trees.
15:31Adventurers were strictly forbidden from venturing off the path into these dense
15:34fields due to the risk of getting lost, as previous self-defense forces experiments had
15:40yielded no benefits from forcing a path through them. He had Ghoulur leading the way, but a growing
15:44unease prompted him to ask the unseen Zashiki Warashi for information on nearby enemies.
15:49The Zashiki Warashi's response was sharp and disdainful.
15:52Why do I have to answer such a question? She materialized, openly expressing her hatred for
15:58humans and slaves who do as they are told, declaring, give up on seeing me as a fighting
16:04force. I don't even have the slightest bit of motivation to do something for you.
16:09She then vanished again. Yudamaru realized her hatred stemmed from her previous owner,
16:14whose treatment left lingering emotions despite the card's memory being reset upon changing masters.
16:19He considered dismissing her and summoning Kuzi, but the Zashiki Warashi's C-rank combat power
16:25offered better defense. Plus, he felt he would lose if he gave up on her. Feeling the heat of
16:30the labyrinth, which was surprisingly hot, unlike autumn outside, Yudamaru took a break to rehydrate
16:36with a sports drink and eat a chocolate bar. As he enjoyed his snack, the Zashiki Warashi,
16:41who had secretly returned, appeared and cautiously inquired about the sweet chocolate.
16:47Yudamaru, amused by her transparent curiosity, offered her a piece. She initially denied wanting
16:53it, but when he threatened to put it away, her sad eyes and frustrated,
16:57Baka, suggested she genuinely desired it before disappearing again.
17:02Yudamaru realized that despite the initial failure, their squabble was a form of communication,
17:06and he now knew her weakness, sweets. Lost in thought, he failed to notice a gray wolf,
17:12a ferocious, toasted dog-sized beast, leaping from his blind spot. It attacked Guler,
17:18pinning her down and biting her neck. Guler, due to her absolute obedience skill,
17:23was completely unresisting without a direct command. Just as Yudamaru was panicking,
17:28a bullet of light shot from nowhere, hitting the wolf and tearing its hind leg to shreds.
17:32The Zashiki Warashi, who had silently reappeared beside him, then boredly commanded,
17:38Don't just stand there. Move that little wooden doll, quick.
17:42Yudamaru finally understood. The Zashiki Warashi had attacked the wolf,
17:46and Guler hadn't fought back because she hadn't been given an order. He immediately commanded,
17:51Guler, if you can get up, fight back against the wolf right now. Use all your available skills.
17:58As if a switch flipped, Guler sprang up and attacked the injured wolf with surprising
18:02agility. She bit and devoured the wolf in a gruesome scene, leaving Yudamaru stunned.
18:08He thanked the Zashiki Warashi, who initially gave no reply, but then he remembered her fondness
18:13for sweets. Offering her the chocolate bar, she snatched it with its sundera.
18:18It's not like I really wanted this. Yudamaru checked on Guler. The wolf's bite marks on her
18:23neck had vanished, thanks to her corpse eater skill, which allowed her to self-heal by consuming flesh.
18:28He instructed her to fight back immediately if attacked in the future, and to use all her
18:33skills. He then looked at the Zashiki Warashi, who was sadly staring at the empty chocolate wrapper.
18:39Amused by her childlike behavior, he promised her more sweets as she helped him again.
18:44Her response?
18:45Once in a while, when I'm in the mood for some snacks, I'll think about it.
18:49Showed a surprising willingness to cooperate.
18:52Mentally exhausted from the unexpected battle and the demands of the labyrinth,
18:55Yudamaru decided to head home. He realized his initial plan to fight ten times and clear the
19:01first floor was naive. The mental strain of labyrinth exploration was far greater than
19:06he anticipated. He needed to refine Guler's commands and, more importantly, buy more sweets
19:11for his new, sundera C-ranked companion. After the school bell rang, signaling the end of class,
19:17Yudamaru sighed. He dreaded his next class, gym. As soon as the girls left, he started changing
19:23into his gym clothes with a grim expression. His dislike for gym class stemmed from the dreaded,
19:28form pairs, instruction, which always left him, as part of a trio with Higashino and Nishida,
19:34as the odd one out. Today, Yudamaru lost that rock-paper-scissors to Higashino and Nishida,
19:40meaning he was once again left to find a partner alone. He felt the familiar discouragement and
19:45misery, compounded by the perceived condescension from classmates. He silently cursed Minimiyama,
19:50who, by leading their group of four, had ruined their perfect pairing setup,
19:55forcing them into awkward trios. The irony was not lost on him. They had formed a group of four
20:00precisely to avoid such situations in school life. His frustration deepened when he saw Minimiyama
20:05casually partnering with Ono, the very person who had stolen his thunder by announcing his
20:10adventurer status first. As Yudamaru desperately searched for a partner, he realized everyone else
20:16had already paired up. He was the only one left, feeling like an idiot under the imagined scorn of
20:21his classmates. Just then, his classmate Kenari burst in, late but boisterous, immediately looking
20:27for a partner. Yudamaru's heart sank. Someone who tried to be part of the popular group but wasn't
20:33fully accepted. He was disliked for his condescending attitude towards those outside the normie group.
20:39When Narakin saw Yudamaru was the only one left, he openly showed his disappointment,
20:44grumbling about his. Bad luck. Most classmates looked unsympathetically, but Narakin's group
20:50and Minimiyama smirked, clearly enjoying Yudamaru's plight. After school, Yudamaru declined an invitation
20:56from Higashino and Nishida to go karaoke. The humiliating gym class experience with Narakin,
21:02far from deterring him, fueled his determination. He realized that Narakin's condescension stemmed from
21:07perceived social hierarchy. If Yudamaru could rise to the top of the school cast as an adventurer,
21:13he knew Narakin and his kind would flatter him, just as they did Ono and Minimiyama.
21:18This thought invigorated him. He immediately headed to the labyrinth. His resolve solidified.
21:24His companions for the day would be Gula and Kuzi. Upon summoning Kuzi, a cow-sized dog with
21:30beautiful emerald green fur and a swirling tail appeared. Kuzi, a Scottish dog fairy and protector
21:36of fairies, greeted him with a slightly nervous but polite demeanor, a stark contrast to Zashiki
21:41Warashi. Yudamaru then turned to Gula, who appeared staring blankly. He had prepared a detailed list of
21:47commands during class, aiming to program her for more independent action, as ghouls, though not
21:53intelligent, possess some memory. He reset her previous orders and began meticulously dictating
21:58new ones. Always follow him in the labyrinth. Always use her pheromone skill to mask her scent.
22:04Constantly search for enemy signs. His goal was to prevent situations like yesterday,
22:09where Ghoulos stood idly unless given explicit instructions. He feared contradictory orders and
22:15continuously checked his memo to ensure consistency. With Ghoulos' new orders in place, Yudamaru asked
22:21Kuzi to spot four enemies, relying on her keen sense of smell, despite her nervous.
22:26Yes. They ventured deeper into the labyrinth. Soon, Kuzi's trembling voice announced.
22:32Em, master, I—I can smell the enemy. They are heading this way.
22:36Yudamaru, confident in Kuzi's, even halved, combat power against F-rank monsters,
22:42prepared for battle. Two green goblins, riding wolves, emerged, their faces snarling.
22:47Ghoulos swiftly attacked, but then abruptly stopped. Yudamaru realized with frustration that his orders
22:53were flawed. Ghoulos, faced with two enemies, didn't know which to prioritize. She became a
22:58punching bag, until she mechanically started counterattacking only those who hit her.
23:03Yudamaru tried to involve Kuzi, yelling. Kuzi! What are you doing? Help Ghoulos!
23:10But Kuzi, crippled by her cowardice skill, merely coward, her combat power halved.
23:16Yudamaru grimaced. This skill was worse than he thought. With Kuzi useless, Yudamaru swapped
23:21her for Zashiki Warashi. But the Zashiki Warashi refused to help, stating.
23:26I don't want to. Why should I listen to your orders? She even rejected his offering of new
23:32convenience store pound cake, turning away with a pout. Frustrated, Yudamaru decided on a desperate
23:38measure. He pulled out a baton he had brought as a last resort. Ignoring the Zashiki Warashi's
23:44bewildered questions, he charged the goblins. The impact of hitting a goblin's head with the baton
23:49sent numbness through his hand. Even small monsters possessed tremendous physical strength.
23:54He commanded Ghoulos to prioritize the wolves, while he faced the goblins. Terror gripped him
23:59as the goblins snarled. But he reminded himself of his card's barrier and his longer reach.
24:05He dodged one attack but blocked another with his baton, numbing his hand and forcing him to drop it.
24:10Realizing the danger, he almost fled. But seeing Ghoulos still fighting the remaining wolf,
24:15he knew he couldn't abandon her. He bit his lip, retrieved his baton, and braced himself,
24:21vowing to buy Ghoulos ten more seconds. Suddenly, light bullets pierced the goblins' heads,
24:26splattering brain fluid. Yudamaru looked around, confused, then realized Zashiki Warashi had made
24:32a move. Ghoulos, meanwhile, had finished off the first wolf and was now devouring the second.
24:37Yudamaru slumped, exhausted and shaken. He reflected on his naivety, realizing that exploring
24:43labyrinths was a fight for survival, not a lucrative RPG game. He laughed at his self-mockery.
24:50The Zashiki Warashi, now sitting on the ground, looked grim. When Yudamaru tried to offer her
24:55sweets again, she sharply cut him off, demanding to know why he fought for Ghoulos, calling cards.
25:01Expendable items. Yudamaru patiently explained that Ghoulos was an important asset and that his own life
25:07wasn't truly in danger thanks to the card barrier. After a moment of thought, Zashiki Warashi,
25:12still grim, simply said. Is that enough? Then it's time to go home. I'm already tired today.
25:19Yudamaru was surprised by her sudden exhaustion after just one fight, but he knew he needed to
25:23refine Ghoulos' orders and figure out how to use Kuzi effectively. As he slowly got up, Zashiki Warashi,
25:30with a grin, reminded him. I haven't received any sweets as a reward. Yudamaru sighed, recognizing her
25:36predictable. Sundara. He decided to prepare more snacks for her next time. He checked Ghoulos' condition.
25:43The wolf's bite marks were gone, thanks to her regeneration skill. He reiterated her new orders,
25:49and she nodded. The school bell chimed, signaling the start of lunch break. Yudamaru, fighting off
25:55sleepiness, was eating lunch with his friends, Higashino and Nishida. What's up, Maro? You look so
26:01sleepy. Higashino observed. Nishida added. You always look sleepy these days. Are you that busy
26:08with your part-time job? Yudamaru hesitated. He'd actually quit his supermarket job right before
26:14becoming an adventure, as it offered no real benefits beyond many shifts. He couldn't tell
26:20them the truth without inviting questions about his sleepiness, so he fabricated a story.
26:25I've recently been assigned to supervise three new employees all at once.
26:28So I'm probably feeling a little more tired than usual. Higashino sympathized, finding the idea
26:35daunting. Nishida, with a nasty smile, asked if the new employees were cute girls. Yudamaru internally
26:43acknowledged they were indeed cute girls, a sassy loli, zashiki warashi, a corpse beauty,
26:49ghoulor, and a non-humanoid form, koozie. He simply said. They are girls indeed. Higashino,
26:55eager for a girlfriend, pressed for details. Oh? And what about the face? What about the face?
27:02Cute? Pretty? Yudamaru replied. Eh, well, on the outside. One of them is the beautiful type and the
27:10other two are the cute type. He secretly thought. I'm not lying. His friends reacted with excitement,
27:16calling it, the best, and joking about it being like an, eroge, erotic game. Yudamaru complained that
27:23it wasn't good at all. One was a jerk, who wouldn't listen. Another remembered orders but lacked
27:27independent thought, and the last was earnest but lacked confidence and courage. Higashino and
27:33Nishida looked sympathetic, noting his, handful, of new hires and making them reconsider their own
27:38part-time job aspirations. Yudamaru, wanting to encourage Nishida, added that his workplace was
27:44tougher than most, and a two- or three-day-a-week job would be fine. Ugh, I'm so sleepy I'm dizzy.
27:51I'm going to sleep in the infirmary for a while. I'm sorry, but please tell the teacher.
27:55He told his friends, waving them off. He arrived at the infirmary, hoping for a beautiful,
28:01erotic nurse-like in light novels, but found the typical older woman absent. As he debated
28:06whether to simply lie down, a curtain opened, revealing Kij Shinomiya, the most beautiful girl
28:11in his grade and a member of the Normie group. At the top of the school cast, Shinomiya-san,
28:18rumored to be an amateur model, was a gyro-type girl with daily makeup, ash-gold hair, and
28:24stylish scrunchies. She was the leader of the gyro-faction, and Yudamaru, shady mob, felt
28:31intimidated by her, partly because he was a cherry boy, inexperienced with girls. To his surprise,
28:38Shinomiya-san smiled innocently and pointed to the bed next to hers.
28:41You're not feeling well, you should take a rest. She said. Yudamaru timidly laid down,
28:47unable to sleep with his... natural enemy. Beside him, the silence was agonizing.
28:53Yudamaru felt pathetic, acknowledging his fear despite his desire to become an adventurer to
28:58overcome such anxieties. He wondered if he was a... incapable of becoming a... normie.
29:04Shinomiya-san broke the silence, making him jump. She laughed, then asked.
29:09What's that? That's funny.
29:12Um, if it's not wrong, your name is Maro, right? That's an unusual name, isn't it?
29:17Yudamaru flusteredly explained, Maro, was a nickname, and his real name was Yudamaru Kitagawa.
29:23She recognized the name, associating it with the Edo period painter, a common misconception.
29:28He clarified that his parents, Aika and Shoma, combined characters from their names,
29:33only realizing the painter connection after his birth. Shinomiya-san found this amusing,
29:39and as they continued talking, Yudamaru felt himself relax. He found her surprisingly easy
29:44to talk to, shedding his usual, different creature, perception of her. She asked if she could call him?
29:51Maro. To which he agreed. She then asked if he had a part-time job.
29:55Yudamaru, momentarily stunned, admitted he did.
29:59Shinomiya-san confirmed she'd seen him working hard and sweaty at the supermarket she frequented,
30:04noting how often he was there. He admitted to working five days a week at the supermarket
30:09and other jobs on weekends, which shocked her. When she asked why he worked so much,
30:14Yudamaru hesitated, then decided to be more open than he was with his male friends.
30:18I've got a goal. I want to invest in that. He stated, looking at the ceiling. He reflected on
30:25his life, always on the periphery, never at the center of the class. He'd never felt dissatisfied,
30:31believing he wasn't meant for the spotlight. But then Minimiyama, a definite mob character,
30:37in terms of looks, academics, athletics, and personality, became an adventurer and ascended
30:42to the normie group. This truly shocked Yudamaru. While Higashino and Nishida felt disgust,
30:48Yudamaru felt a grudging respect for Minimiyama breaking through his inherent mob, nature. He
30:53realized he harbored a longing to be a... normie. For the first time, he decided to push his limits
30:59and try to change. His attempt was ongoing. As these thoughts drifted through his mind,
31:05his eyelids grew heavy, and he finally succumbed to sleep. As he drifted off, he thought he heard
31:10Shinomiya-san say. It's kind of cool to say something like that.