Tropical Islander Style

 

「It seems Sheryl-kun also had some issues.」

 

Romina and Sheryl are shaking hands.

A common enemy, perhaps?

It seems the time has come for the crafter union to impose sanctions on the ruthless merchants.

 

「Alto-kun said he was my proxy seller, but without asking permission, he resold the weapons I made at a 50% markup from the price I presented. He’s sensitive to the smell of money, and I don’t know who called him this, but he was known as the Merchant of Death.」

「I might have been the first to call him that.」

「I see. It seems you and I are quite compatible, Kizuna-kun.」

 

Does Romina dislike Alto?

Well, if she really disliked him, would she have called him here?

 

「I think it’s about time to call him in for a bit since his rampant behavior has been getting out of hand.」

「Isn’t it Alto who’s been selling all sorts of things to those frontliners?」

「Probably. Fufufu… I also want to play a prank on those frontliners. Well, Alto-kun isn’t a bad guy either. Let’s forcefully teach him a lesson, shall we?」

「W-Why don’t we just enjoy the game?」

 

So she’s angry at Alto and the others, I see.

Speaking of which… what kind of people are these frontliners?

Shouko also seems to hold a grudge, and wasn’t it the same with the permanent death roleplay?

I knew they seemed like an unpleasant bunch, but I thought it was just them.

Are they the only ones like that?

 

Well… I’ve heard that there are people who mistakenly think they can do anything as long as they’re strong.

But fundamentally, there’s no PvP in Dimension Wave.

It may be implemented somewhere eventually, but for now, there isn’t any.

In that state, to act so arrogantly and run amok is quite something.

I’d like to think it’s just the bad ones that stand out.

Those guys playing the Death Game were somewhat painful, but we were able to communicate.

 

Besides, looking at the Wave results, Yamikage and others who aren’t even frontliners have good scores.

Either way, it comes down to the quality of the people…

If Alto becomes the victim of Romina’s venting… it’s his own fault, and he did stow away on our ship before.

Well, I guess it’s okay to call him.

He’s one of our party members after all.

 

「Alright, I’ll call Alto as requested.」

 

After entering the name, the Santa Hat Peckle turns his back.

 

「Got it-pen. I hope you can meet them soon-pen.」

 

The usual line as always.

 

「Now, with Alto-kun coming, we need to prepare a few things.」

 

I wonder what she’s planning to do?

Well, I suppose it’s time for the Merchant of Death to be punished.

 

†

 

That evening, Shouko and the others returned from the Instant Dungeon.

 

「I’m back, Onii-chan!」

「We’re back.」

「Ah, welcome back.」

「Kizuna-san, there was an underground lake on the 60th floor of the dungeon. It was quite a fantastical and wonderful spot.」

 

What!?

An underground lake?

 

「Shouko-san! You shouldn’t have told Onii-chan about that!」

 

Tsumugi frantically warned Shouko.

Hey, why are you trying to hide it?

Well, whatever.

 

「Hmm…」

 

An underground lake, huh.

My instincts, honed from playing that ranch management game for 200 years, are telling me something.

I sense the nushi presence there.

And since it’s an Instant Dungeon, I can fish there as much as I want.

This is good news.

 

「Um… maybe it was a slip of the tongue?」

「Yeah. These eyes are only thinking about going to that underground lake to fish.」

「Fishing is my soul life. The timing is perfect too.」

 

If I can fish in the dungeon, I might be able to resolve the Peckles food problem in one fell swoop.

This isn’t just for my hobby, but also to solve the island’s problems.

That’s right, it’s not just my hobby.

 

「It’s about time to build a castle-pen.」

 

The Santa Hat Peckle blurts it out again.

Shut up already! I get it.

Anyway… an underground lake, huh.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

 

Why tomorrow, you ask?

Because Shouko and the others need to rest, and I need to talk to Alto.

I also need to prepare thoroughly for some serious fishing.

So Romina made me camping gear in addition to fishing equipment.

 

†

 

The next morning.

Don-doko-don-doko-don-don-don….

A lively rhythm resonates.

The sounds of the Tropical Islander-style costumes, masks, and instruments made by Romina and the others echo on the beach.

 

「Yaa-haa!」

「Hee-haa!」

「Ho-hoh!」

 

Tsumugi, Romina, and Sheryl are in an oddly energetic mood as they huddle together.

They really get along, don’t they?

And sure enough, Alto is lying on the shore, straight like a pencil.

I wonder if there’s anything we can do about that.

 

「Alright! The briefing is complete. Kizuna-kun and the rest, are you really not going to wear these islander costumes?」

 

Shouko and I declined to participate.

Well, these pranks are a bit… no, they do look fun, but still.

More importantly, why did they think I would wear it?

 

「Well…」

「To go this far just to prank Alto-san… I struggle to understand…」

「Shouko-kun, didn’t you also say you were wronged by those frontliners?」

「Y-Yes.」

「Sheryl-kun and I have the right to prank Alto. That’s why we’re playing like this.」

「I see…」

 

Shouko is being roped in.

Well, I can understand their feelings.

Alto does have some rather extreme aspects too.

 

「Then why is Tsumugi-san participating as well?」

「Doesn’t it look fun?」

 

Ah, Shouko looks at me.

 

「If Tsumugi didn’t do it, I might have joined in. Dancing in rhythm with a spear in hand!」

 

I was supposed to be in charge of drumming with the ‘don-doco-don’ rhythm.

Whatever the case, I don’t hate these kinds of pranks.

Since I have a strong older sister and younger sister in games, I’ve done my fair share of friendship-destroying party games.

 

「Yeah!」

「We’ll surprise Alto with our convincing acting!」

「I’m now convinced that Kizuna-san and Tsumugi-san are sisters.」

 

Oh? Did she notice something?

But we’re not sisters, we’re siblings.

 

Well, we’ve already finished the filming.

There was a bit more distance compared to the others, but still.

After this, Shouko and I will continue rhythmically drumming from inside an enclosure made of large leaves, without Alto noticing.

It seems these musical instrument types require skills, but it seems skill levels aren’t necessary for just drumming.

As long as it seems like it, it should be fine.

 

「Alright, here we go. Yaa-haa! NPC Atsukai Ugaa!」

 

Is it really okay to use that line?

Won’t she feel bad about herself?

 

「It’s purge for a mortal merchant!」

 

Sheryl’s pronunciation is surprisingly good!

But that’s English, so stop, you’ll be found out!

 

「Whoo-ho! Ha-ha-ha! Iya-ho!」

 

They move at this tempo based on their briefing.

It’s clear at a glance that we’re just doing what we want to do.

It’s an online game, so let’s have some planning too.

But if I say that, I’ll probably get myself in trouble, so I’ll keep it to myself.

 

「It’s about time to build a castle-pen.」

 

Peckle is persistent too!

Here comes the fun part!

 

「Ugh…」

 

Alto’s movement restriction is lifted as Romina and the others approach.

 

「NPC Atsukai Ugaa! Shokai Hito Erabe!」

「Hee-haa!」

「Ho-hoh!」

 

Surrounding the rising Alto, Romina and the others continue speaking in their Tropical Islander style, complete with rhythmic chanting and masks.

They’re encircling him like primitive people with wooden spears…

 

「U-Uwaaaa! Wh-What is this! What’s going on!」

 

Yeah, I’d be scared too if I were in his position.

It might even be a bit too much.

 

「Bain Bain Do!」

「So So!」

「Hare Hore Sa-Ssa!」

 

In the end, they skillfully tie Alto up with ropes and point towards a large cauldron set up, as if performing some demonic ritual.

It has the atmosphere of them about to toss Alto into the cauldron and cook him.

Shouko and I continue drumming rhythmically from our hiding spot.

 

「J-Just who are you people! What do you intend to do to me! I was supposed to be resting in my room, so why am I in a place like this!? S-Someone, help me!」

 

He’s being awfully explanatory again.