01x08 - Demiplane Ranking

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SUBSPACE, TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

A problem? Because of us?

Yes.

Actually, our warriors appear
to have lost confidence in their training.

What? Is it because
they can't win against us?

To put it bluntly, yes.

How pathetic.

Won't it be fine
if we just don't fight them for a while?

Then they'll think
we've just abandoned them.

At least think a little.

Well, even if you say that...

Thinking about dinner
is far more enjoyable.

You just ate, Granny Mio.

Oh, my. Will you accompany me
for some after-meal exercise, Tomoe?

Don't fight here.
You'll get dirt everywhere.

Anyway, I would like to check on everyone.

In that case,
they should be resting right now.

Tomoe, go check on the Lizardmen.

How troublesome.

Hold on, Tomoe.
I'm not done talking with you.

All right. Go and check on the Alkeys now.

They don't need anything of that sort.

The Alkeys are indeed individually strong.

They only come sometimes when they're
not doing alchemy or making medicine.

Why don't you come with me, Mio?

Yes, I shall accompany you.

The vegetables have improved
after we changed the fertilizer.

Let's try adding powdered bones next.

But farm work sure is nice.

All of our efforts bear fruit, after all.
And it helps forget everything.

Sound Gathering Realm.

I feel a little bad for eavesdropping,

but they might have trouble
saying it directly to me.

This afternoon, there'll be
a combat training led by Young Master.

To tell you the truth, it's depressing.

I'm fine with Madam Tomoe and Madam Mio.

Even if you can't defeat them,
they might let you land a hit on them.

But...

The Young Master, huh?

You'll get shot with a Brid
even before you can get close.

Even if you manage to withstand it,
you'll get blown away in the end.

Am I some sort of warship?

I wonder how the Lizardmen
feel about this.

Who knows?

It's not like we've ever get to see
the other races' training.

Things are worse than I expected.

I wonder if I should've gone
easier on them.

No. That's not the case at all.

Young Master.

This vegetable is so juicy.
It's delicious.

Oh, tomatoes.

They're nice raw,
but you can also cook them

or even dry them and soak them
in oil to preserve them.

It's a vegetable that's worth cooking.

Cooking...

Tomoe, how are the Lizardmen doing?

The same as the Orcs.

And they haven't even lived up
to a tenth of my expectations.

Well, from what I heard,

the different races
aren't exchanging much information.

Indeed.

All the races tend to
keep their combat techniques a secret.

I think it would be interesting
if the Lizardmen tried

to copy the Orcs' combat style
or the other way around.

That's...

Emma, Young Master is asking

if they think they can get anywhere near
us with only their own combat techniques.

Well, I just think that
rather than keeping secrets,

we can polish our skills together.

I actually have a great idea
for that, Young Master!

Idea? It better not result in
people dying.

Dying?

We've gathered everyone here today

to see the results of your training
we wouldn't see from your usual training.

As such, the strongest warriors
of each race

will show us what they're capable of!

So we'll have them send in representatives
to fight one-on-one then.

Well, then.
The Highland Orcs' representative, Agares!

The Mistio Lizardmen's
representative, Liddy!

Please do your best
and fight without restraint!

Begin!

Barrier. Protect me.

Come forth, my power!

Wow! They split the stage! That's amazing.

Oh, right. Tomoe told me
to remain expressionless while I watch.

Let the wind rise!

That's enough.

The winner is the Highland Orc, Agares.

Young Master?

It seems that both parties
have given their all in the fight.

However, both of you
were unbelievably weak.

I am utterly disappointed.

Why is this the best you can do?

Can you answer that?

My face is getting tired...

You, over there! Answer me.

Yes, Madam...

While Young Master and Madam Tomoe
might not see it as much,

we saw that as an amazing fight.

So, since you're not fighting
me or the Young Master,

this would be considered a good fight?

You have yet come to anywhere near
the strength we wish of you!

All you amount to
is a gathering of small fry!

Tomoe, isn't that a bit much?

A warrior is expected to have
enough strength for us to rely on you!

She just ignored me.

That said, you can't measure your strength
properly with us as your opponents.

As such,

every seven days,
we will have you gather here and fight!

We will test your strength
and give you a ranking.

And it won't be just you.

The Dwarves and Alkeys
will also take part.

No way...

Our techniques and tactics
will be revealed to everyone.

You fools.

As it stands, you are actually too weak
for that to actually cause you trouble.

Throw aside your pitiful pride
and reveal everything you have!

Aim for greater heights together
and encourage each other to grow!

That is the talent
Young Master wishes to see!

Me?

Winning these fights will prove
your strength in this subspace.

Those at the top
will be known as great warriors.

Those who fail to show proper results
should give up the path of the warrior

and find a profession
that better suits them.

Warriors are not the only ones
who can contribute to the subspace.

Now then...

Finally, a few words
from the Young Master.

A speech, in this atmosphere?

I agree with what Tomoe said.

You currently lack
any strength worth concealing,

but I believe there is still room
for all of you to grow.

Young Master...

From now on, there will be more training
with everyone involved,

so help polish each other's abilities.

That's all I have to say.

-Yes!
-Yes!

Still, a ranking system
based on individual scores and battles...

It'll be a chance for each race
to measure their strength in the subspace.

If we were to give it a name...

Work hard and diligently
in your training, everyone!

For the Dimension Ranking
will be here soon!

"Dimension Ranking"...

Is it all right
to give it such a blunt name?

TOMOE AND MIO
RE-REGISTRATION DAY

Miss Mio...

Your level is 1500.

Hurry up and tell me my level!

Miss Tomoe...

Your level is 1340.

What?

Where are the results from my journey?

No, it's already amazing that you gained
20 levels even after reaching level 1000.

Um... Both of you
are Mr. Kuzunoha's companions, right?

The guild has a request to ask of you.

Actually, most of our top adventurers
have left the guild

or have become injured, so we are
sorely lacking in available members.

Could that be because of us?

We hope that you'll mentor
and train more adventurers

to become top adventurers like Lime Latte.

Training adventurers, huh?

I know a group of adventurers
with members over level 100.

Please have them help us out too!

So you wish for me to train
Toa and the others?

Would that be possible?

It'd be easier to help people we know.

There's no deep meaning behind it.

I understand.

I'll look for suitable training grounds
near the guild.

Thanks, Tomoe. I'll leave it to you then.

Toa, huh?

His attitude back in Zetsuya would suggest

that she resembles
someone from his old world.

That would mean he may have
some lingering attachments to that world.

This isn't good.

It has only been a short time,
but my time with Young Master

has been so brilliant.

I must deal with this swiftly
so as to not disturb him any longer.

I'll need them to become independent
and leave Young Master quickly.

Help!

Miss... Miss Tomoe...

A swarm of Shadow Tails!

There's no way we can win against them!

Dang it!

Everyone, get back!

Where should I aim?

A barrier?

We're saved...

What did you expect
after blindly charging into their nest?

And I worked so hard to train you guys.
What did you guys end up learning?

But with these numbers...

We can't possibly keep up.

I don't want to become monkey food.

So the three of you attack while
the alchemist supports and heals you?

The Dwarf aside, why are an assassin
and an archer attacking head-on?

Well, if I attack from too far away,
I might hurt one of my allies.

It would be different
if I were as accurate as Mr. Kuzunoha.

That doesn't mean
you just charge in without any strategy.

Because of the Goddess's blessing,
you humans have gotten full of yourselves.

Alchemist.

Yes.

Why do you only use healing magic?

You can use water
and earth magic too, can't you?

Is that true?

Are you really capable of that, Hazal?

I do, but I'm too busy
healing and supporting everyone else,

so using offensive magic is...

Well, I suppose it's tough
if you have to constantly heal

those three as they charge in recklessly.

All right.

I'll teach you some basic tactics.

First, Alchemist, lay a trap.

A trap?

Use your water magic and earth magic
to create a quagmire.

Y... Yes, ma'am.

Archer, find a place
where you can get a full view.

Understood.

O earth, turn into mud.

Then, add paralyzing poison to the mud.

Now, let's release the barrier.

You now have a simple poison bog
to stop your enemies.

Archer, now that the enemy is immobilized,
you should be able to hit them.

We can defeat them now.

Don't let your guard down. They're clever.

They're using the corpses
as stepping stones!

Dwarf, draw them in.

Over here, monkeys!

Now, Toa, conceal yourself
with your thief skills

and finish them from behind.

With this, you'll only need
to worry about supporting the Dwarf.

And you won't need to heal as much.

So you can cast offensive magic instead.

But I still can't exactly cast
large-scale spells.

There's no need.
They're living creatures too.

You just need a little magic
to cover up their mouths and noses.

W... Wow...

It's headed to your side!

Leave it to me!

Over here!

This is...

the last one.

We did it...

Look. The tails from a Shadow Tail Lord
will fetch a good price!

And the poison in their claws
is a rare valuable too.

The poison...

Are you an idiot?

Now, then.

You'll be taking out another of these
monkey nests on your own after this.

Huh? But we're not at that level yet.

Levels are just numbers.

You are all strong enough.

Miss Tomoe.

Get recognition through your work.

And continue to challenge your limits,
without being reckless.

You're not just some lucky adventurers.

Prove to everyone
that you are the best of Tsige.

There will be about 100 monkeys
in the next nest.

So you should think of
a proper strategy tonight.

Tonight? That means...

In the morning,
you'll begin subduing them.

I'll wait for you at the guild.

I look forward to your results.

No way...

Huh?

Wh... What did you just say?

I had Toa and the others
take out the Shadow Tail nests.

No way!

For a level 100 adventurer to take down
a single one of them is already a lot!

And the area around their nests

is what they usually call
the Death Wish Path.

It's so dangerous, a number of parties

have even gone missing
in the nearby Tinarac Forest.

Miss Tomoe,

we've completed the request
to subdue the Shadow Tails.

We used up all our medicine and mana too.

My arm and shoulder hurt.

This is beyond just muscle pain.

Two tails of different Shadow Tail Lords.

That means they actually destroyed
two nests within a day.

All right. You pass.

After that, Toa's party's achievements
became well-known

and perhaps tales of
their great adventures were passed down.

Mio, can you help me find
the habitat of that Ambrosia flower?

The ingredient that can be used
to create that medicine, right?

Yes. We used Ruby Eyes
as a substitute last time,

but the original ingredient of the cure
is actually Ambrosia flowers.

It could become our signature product.

If we think of the habitats of
Ruby Eyes, who mainly feed on them,

there's a high chance that those flowers
grow within this forest.

The Tinarac Forest, right?

Understood.

But where will you be going then,
Young Master?

I'm going to make preparations
for opening the store.

It will be a problem if we don't have
a place to sell our products.

TSIGE, REMBRANT COMPANY

Now then, what did you wish to discuss?

I'd like to rent a store
from the Kuzunoha Company.

Would that be possible?

I would be more than happy to do that.

Is it really all right?

We actually have an empty shop right now.

Moris, contact the manager in charge.

Yes, sir.

Now then, which shop would
be best to offer to Mr. Kuzunoha?

We don't actually have
any empty spaces right now.

Mr. Kuzunoha, would it be enough
for you to only rent a shop?

The reason you did not wish
to purchase a shop on your own must be...

As expected of Mr. Rembrant.
He already saw through.

Spy activity?

It's easy to rent a shop to do business,
but if I want to purchase a shop,

I'll be tied to the land and
will need a permit from the government.

Do you mean to say the government
would ask you to assist them with spying?

Back when I picked up my merchant's card,
the lady at the guild told me about this.

The Aion Kingdom, which Tsige falls under,

is especially enthusiastic
about spy activities.

I could refuse, but it wouldn't be good
for the growth of our business.

Renting seems to be our only option.

And so I came here.

Since Mr. Rembrant has many stores here,

he must be involved with
spying activities as well.

Well, it's true that there are
a lot of obstacles to starting up a shop.

But there are ways around it.

There is a city that is still neutral
and not tied to any country.

I believe that place will suit your needs.

A neutral city.

I know someone over there.

I'll get in contact with them.
So could you please give me some time?

Of course.

Thank you so much for the help.

Was it because he was indebted to me?

Things went so smoothly.

The Kuzunoha Store
is one step closer to its opening.

I'm sure things will be a lot busier
from now on.

So this is the Tinarac Forest.

It doesn't look like
there's anything delicious here.

I heard the ecosystem
around here was messed up.

But it's a lot quieter than I expected.

What a pain.

They shouldn't trespass
and do as they please.

Stealing is all humans know.

What would you expect of the race
that the Goddess loves so dearly?

What a joke.

How naive of these arrogant humans.

The ninth night. "Eat or be eaten."