The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

Chapter 114: Number One Achiever and Skirt Chaser

“The number one achiever?” (Hikaru)

“It means you are the explorer that contributed the most in the subjugation.”

You are kidding, right…?

The guild should already be aware that I was participating as a porter.

“There are several people nominated for second place, but only one for first place. I have already asked many people, and you were the one who defeated the Demon Lord, right?”

“No, I didn’t.” (Hikaru)

I denied straight.

The one who actually defeated it was Rifreya.

Alex and the other explorers contributed more as damage sources too.

Why is it going in the route where I am the one who defeated it when all of these facts are present? I would be scared of what would happen later if I were to become the number one from a misunderstanding.

“Eh? But…”

“The one that defeated it was Rifreya. I saw it with my own eyes. There’s no doubt about it.” (Hikaru)

“I have also confirmed myself that it is indeed Rifreya-san who dealt the finishing blow. However, I have also heard that the subjugation would have been impossible without your contribution, you know?”

I wonder about that. It is true that it was because of my Spirit Abilities that we managed to buy time.

It is also true that everyone was unsteady on their feet, not knowing how to deal with the Demon Lord.

However, I don’t know if to consider myself the number one.

There’s several people nominated for number two, and I think I contributed enough to be chosen in that one.

Even so, I didn’t want to be chosen in any of that.

“Anyways, you got it wrong. I am bronze, you know? Also, I was participating as a porter.” (Hikaru)

“But…”

“Have you heard what kind of monster the Demon Lord was? I couldn’t even damage it with my thin arms, you know. I was far from contributing.” (Hikaru)

I didn’t lie. My attacks barely got through.

I do want the reward.

However, if I am going to be standing out in this way, demerits will mix in.

Dark Spirit Users are simply rare around here and it is not like they are targets of persecution, but I am a Loved One. I am more scared about the chance of standing out and getting discovered.

If it had been a reward I would be conferred to among many other people, I would have wanted it, but…

“I am also aware of that, but I have also been told you were the first one that found the Demon Lord, and in the subjugation, you contributed greatly with your Spirit Abilities. Everyone that participated in the subjugation battle have all stated the same with Rifreya-san as the top…”

Looks like this guild staff member was going around asking the details about the flow of the whole Demon Lord subjugation and who exactly was fighting.

However, if the person himself denies it, the credibility should decrease.

I feel bad for the people that spoke honestly about this, but I want to drop from being number one.

I don’t want to be the center of attention in a weird manner.

“That…must be some kind of misunderstanding. They must have seen wrong. We were fighting at our utmost limits here after all.” (Hikaru)

“As in?”

“Do you really think a bronze porter can contribute that much? If I had really done that much, I would also want the reward, but I am scared of the repercussions if I were to get it from a mistaken evaluation.” (Hikaru)

I laugh it off with a friendly smile.

It is not like they have recorded the battle. The guild staff member should accept it with this, is what I thought, but…

“…No, you have partied with Rifreya-san and have sold quite a lot of Spirit Stones in a short period of time. It wouldn’t be strange for you to have the ability to perform in the battle against the Demon Lord. In the first place, with just the fact that you are partying with that Rifreya-san, it was clear that you weren’t normal.”

“…Is Rifreya that famous?” (Hikaru)

“Several influential parties of gold rank and higher have invited her. However, she declared that she wouldn’t be joining any others aside from the party she was already in, and she actually stayed true to that statement. And then, she suddenly partied with a newbie man, and it had become quite the rumor.”

“But using that as an argument to my own skills is a bit of a stretch. I might just be leeching off her.” (Hikaru)

“Well, I won’t deny that there’s staff members that think so.”

So there are.

But that’s good for me.

Now that the Viewer Count Race is over, I have to return to the numbers from when I was cooped in.

Rifreya is talking with the members of the Crimson Vials a good distance away.

Her platinum blonde hair is being shone by the light of the chandelier, making her shine like a Light Spirit.

An overwhelming sense of presence.

She is going to stop being an explorer and become a Light Templar in her homeland.

And then, I will live quietly in the dungeon in a way that I don’t stand out.

That’s what I have decided.

“…Well, I can’t refute me being a leech. Rifreya-san…is kind, so she is standing up for me, but I was actually just dead-weight. That’s why, please evaluate this correctly. The number one is Rifreya-san. I might have contributed a bit with my Abilities, but I was mostly carrying the luggage. Give me the same evaluation as the other porters.” (Hikaru)

“I see… I have a general picture of things now. Well then…”

The female staff member shrugs her shoulders with a ‘good grief’.

It is pretty doubtful whether she actually understood this, but they also wouldn’t want to evaluate a person that doesn’t seem like they would gain the acknowledgement of the other explorers.

More so with the fact that the person himself is denying it. Other explorers may appeal their own achievements, but they wouldn’t talk about other people.

The hunting horn boy might have spoken fervently about me, but I would rather he didn’t.

I should have also told Rifreya. When she said before that I could get number one, I just ignored it because I thought it was just her usual overvaluation of me, but to think it would actually turn out this way…

“Fuuh…”

…Being suddenly told about being number one, I was concentrated on that point from beginning to end, but maybe I should have touched on how bad the Demon Lord subjugation was?

There’s probably a lot I still don’t understand since I have only participated once, but this time’s subjugation left a lot to be desired. The second half team could have been wiped out.

Even if the second half team serves as watches, I think there should have been a better way of handling things.

(…Well, not like it would hold much weight. You can say whatever once things are over after all.) (Hikaru)

In the first place, I know almost nothing about Demon Lords. I don’t know just how irregular of a situation this one was, so it might unexpectedly be something like this the whole time.

Also, I myself am a bronze that has gotten his license just recently. I am not in a position where I can give my opinion.

What I can do is to prepare myself if there’s a next time.

(Everyone…seems to be having fun.) (Hikaru)

I am incredibly out of place here in this party venue all alone with a gloomy face.

I barely have any acquaintances, and I don’t really have anything to talk about.

It would be more accurate to say that there’s too much I can’t say.

“Yo! Hikaru, are you having fun?”

“Do I look like I am?” (Hikaru)

“Nyop, you look bored.”

One of the few people who I have things I can talk about, Alex, spoke to me.

Just a few moments ago, he was going around with Crabbell here and there and talking to the female explorers, but it looks like he has paused his skirt chasing for now.

Alex has waxed his hair cleanly, and with his good physique, he is quite manly.

I end up feeling dejected as an average Japanese person.