01x02 - Rirui's Talent

[bunniefuu]

Oh? Maybe this is it

"Late at night, they instantly grow

into a fully mature body."

A succubus.

Hajime

Hajime, you smell so good.

Oh, good morning.

Good morning to you!

Is something wrong, Mr. Shinonome?

Well, I had the weirdest dream

There was this huge mountain

wolf that kept sniffing me.

That reminds me. Know how you asked

me to look into Rirui's species?

Oh, yeah.

I believe she's probably a succubus.

A succubus?

Rirui's a succubus?

What's a succubus?

One of the ancient species.

Our world is divided among humani,

beasters, elves, and dwarves.

HUMANI: SMART, PHYSICALLY WEAK

BEASTERS: VERY INTUITIVE, LOW INTELLIGENCE

ELVES: LONG-LIVED, NONAGGRESSIVE

DWARVES: VERY DEXTEROUS, VERY STUBBORN

But among those races,

sometimes there are born

vampires, werewolves,

medusas, and merpeople.

Folks with the traits

of races from long ago.

We refer to these as ancient species.

Well, it means you're a rare case.

So she's a succubus, is she?

I can't be certain

The best way to confirm would

be to ask another succubus.

I do know someone like that,

but I gotta ask her, huh?

I dunno about this

DAYS LATER

What's going on?

Never thought I'd see a fine woman

like you out here in the sticks!

How much?

Veronica!

AN ADVENTURER'S DAILY GRIND AT AGE 29

EPISODE 2: RIRUI'S TALEN

How much?

More than you have!

What?

Those are bronze coins, aren't they?

You couldn't buy half an hour

of my time with that.

Quit acting like you're better than me!

From what I can tell, you're a traveling

adventurer and not a local, right?

What difference does it make?!

Y-You

Someone else in town is plying my trade.

And I'm not about to lose

any business to you.

I'm pretty sure you were informed

as much at the guild, weren't you?

Do you beasters really have that

much trouble remembering anything?

Do you realize how many times I've had

to explain this to trash like you?!

F-Forgive me!

Chair!

Yes!

I see you're finally back, Hajime.

Y-Yeah. Good to see you again, Veronica.

And this is the girl from your letter?

Yeah.

What're you doing down there, mister?

I'm a chair!

No more from you, mister!

Now, why is my chair talking?

Please forgive me!

Your name is Rirui, right?

Can I see your hand?

My hand? If you say so.

Wow, that's amazing! Rirui

turned into a beautiful woman!

Well, she synchronized with me,

so she's definitely a succubus.

I guess she is.

You're amazing, miss!

You made Rirui big! And you're

strong! You're the best!

Thank you.

Since Rirui's a succubus like you,

does that mean I can get strong like you?!

If you train as hard as I did.

Awesome! How come you trained so hard?!

Because I love the sight

of men in suffering.

She's the same blackhearted

sadist she always was.

Natalie, order up!

Coming!

Well, y'know

Sorry to ask you to come

all the way out here.

No thanks necessary.

I was curious about her myself.

All right. But I can't just

leave it at that.

How much is your time?

Seriously, it's fine.

But still

Drop it already!

Okay. I'll be real with you.

You've got a nasty personality,

and I don't want to owe you one!

No telling what you'll ask for later on!

So I'm begging you.

Let's settle this financially.

I do things out of goodwill

from time to time!

Come on, no jokes!

Let's start with the tab tonight.

Natalie, two more beers!

Coming up!

Hajime, does beer taste good?

Yeah. Too good for little brats.

What? Now I want to try it!

Eat your meat.

Hajime, you're so greedy!

Pipe down.

Who's visiting this early?

Good morning, Rirui.

Good morning to you too.

Wh-What is it?

I got a glimpse last night,

but you really are one of us.

Very promising

Why is whatever's going on here

happening at this hour?

Say, Hajime

Why don't I take Rirui off your hands?

Well, I've had so many girls quit lately,

I could really use some new talent!

And just look at her! She's got

real potential! She's a real cutie!

Come on, "potential"?

She's a succubus, just like I am!

Obviously she has potential.

Beauty is a talent, you know!

R-Right.

Hajime

Sorry, Veronica, but

Listen, I hate to do this when the two

of you were getting on so well!

L-Like hell we are!

Uh, wait What I meant was

Oh? It sure looked that way to me.

Like you really cared

for each other, y'know?

You've gotta be kidding me!

YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME

N-No, I mean That's not

Wow, really?

If I take Rirui with me,

you'll be adventuring all by yourself.

You sure you won't miss her?

Maybe even cry?

Idiot! That'd never happen!

It'd make my job easier!

It'll be smooth sailing without her!

Hey, uh Rirui?

You are too easy, Hajime.

You little

Sorry about that.

But I have such a nasty personality,

don't you know?

And the fact is I do want her!

Okay, today we're going

to be collecting ore!

Better to do it soon,

before the dungeon resets.

We're going deep today,

so don't get lost, Rirui!

Wh-What's wrong, Rirui?

Something got you down?

Rirui is useless.

N-No, you're

He's so mean, isn't he?

It's okay, Rirui.

You're not useless at all.

She seems to be making sport of you.

I'm so jealous! Please,

tell me how you did it!

Shut up!

That's right. Setting up shop

was a lot of work.

So, what I had to do then was

Stupid Veronica. Is she serious

about recruiting Rirui?

I mean, the kid's free

to do what she wants.

It's none of my business.

Don't step on that stone!

A warp trap?!

Oh well.

sh**t

I screwed up!

AN ADVENTURER'S DAILY GRIND AT AGE 29

AN ADVENTURER'S DAILY GRIND AT AGE 29

It's no use! It won't

activate again! Damn it!

Easy now. I can't start losing it

inside a dungeon!

First of all

Are there any monsters still

inhabiting this dungeon?

It has ten descending floors.

The monsters on the lowest level

have yet to be dealt with.

If they were sent into the depths,

there could be enemies tough

enough to threaten Veronica.

I see. In that case,

let us head for the lowest floor.

You're right.

Yeah. If they weren't sent that deep,

it shouldn't be a problem.

Damn. Can't believe I needed

help making that call.

I guess adding a little kid to the team

really has thrown me off my game.

I appreciate it, man. I lost my cool.

It's quite all right.

I never did get your name.

Please, refer to me as a swine!

Yeah? Well, thanks swine.

Rirui! You're an adventurer too!

Do what it takes to survive!

Since Rirui got you into this, and it's

dangerous, you should stay behind me!

My, thank you.

I've never been down

here before, though

Sorry, it was nothing!

I-I see!

Well, this is probably scary since you're

not used to the dungeon like Rirui is.

I really need to stop.

Playing around like this in the

dungeon can get you k*lled.

Sorry about that. I must've been mistaken.

G-Gosh! You're a real

scaredy-cat, huh, miss?

What about you, Rirui? You're not scared?

Not at all!

B-Because Rirui's an adventurer! No fear!

Really? That's impressive.

Fear makes your body and mind freeze up!

Did Hajime teach her that?

He's actually been doing a good job.

That's why adventurers need to contain

their fear and make calm decisions—

HER BODY AND MIND HAVE BOTH FROZEN

Strong is beautiful!

M-Miss, you're amazing!

I'll have you know Miss Veronica

isn't just another pretty face.

Now, Rirui, didn't you just freeze up?

I-I did not!

Oh? You sure about that?

Of course I am! I didn't freeze up!

Rirui, maybe you shouldn't yell so—

Rirui can fight too! Let's go!

Rirui?!

Oh no, I teased her too much.

I really ought to be more

mindful of the circumstances!

Such a bad habit of mine!

Huh?

Rirui, if you make a fuss, even more

monsters are going to show up!

But it's scary!

You're an adventurer, aren't you?

I'm an adventurer

Which way is the exit?

To the left!

And

Why do you think that?

Because

Because of my instincts as an adventurer!

Y-Your adventurer's instincts, huh?

Yeah. You got a problem?

Look! I bet the exit is just ahead!

Rirui's adventurer's instincts

are worthless.

The treasure chest is even empty!

But I can't afford to be sad.

Because Rirui's an adventurer!

Miss, hide in the treasure chest.

What are you going to do?

Rirui will lure the enemy away—

What was that for?!

We should both hide, shouldn't we?

But the monster

You lure the enemy away, and then what?

Do you think being a good adventurer

means throwing your life away?

Come on, hurry. We need to hide.

O-Okay.

My sword!

Leave it! Now get down.

Sounds like it's not very smart.

I think we're gonna be okay, Rirui.

Why do you want to be

an adventurer, anyway?

I don't really think

you're cut out for it.

Rirui is still young, so I'm

not sure what I'm cut out for.

But you and I are the same species.

I think you could earn money

a lot safer in my line of work.

Beauty is a talent, after all.

A talent

It'd make my job easier!

It'll be smooth sailing without her!

Did Rirui get in Hajime's way

because I don't have a talent

for adventuring?

A cyclops baby, huh?!

Whoa!

I don't have time to deal with you!

Now, where are they?

This is Rirui's sword!

Did that dunce get into a fight?!

Encountering a monster in a dungeon

Fighting it Dying

It could happen to anyone. Even Rirui.

And that's what went down here.

Well, it comes with the

adventuring territory.

Happens all the time

Took you long enough. How dense are you?

You two

H-Haji—

Rirui is not going to cry

over something like this.

Because Rirui is an adventurer!

Hajime, let's get that ore!

You sure you don't need

a break to rest up?

I'm good!

Yeah? Then you better keep up!

I sure will!

Wait, where's

And we're back!

Coming!

Excellent work.

That is good!

What's up? You not hungry?

W-Well, Hajime

Rirui doesn't have any

talent as an adventurer,

so I might get in your way, but

Rirui still

Oh, come off it already!

Your talent is being stupidly loud

and smiling all the time.

Hajime

Now eat your food already.

Gosh! You didn't have

to say I was stupid, though!

Well, you sure ain't smart!

I might really have

a talent for adventuring!

Not likely. Now eat before it gets cold.

Right! Thanks for the food!

Looks like I've been rejected.

Still

A succubus with a talent for being

stupidly loud and smiling all the time?

Well, I'd say you pass.

Pass what, exactly?

If you'd tried anything untoward

with my kin here

I was going to cast a curse

that would rot your thing off.

D-Don't, Veronica!

You'd be asking for w*r!

What?! Are we going to w*r?!

Rirui will fight too!