Otherworld Company Chapter 225b: I Should Have First Figured Out My Strengths And Weaknesses.

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　I guess the atmosphere must have been more somber earlier.

　But we were apparently broken up by the purple lightning we unleashed.

“The flow of the spiritual vein has changed, what in the world is going on!” (Cultist)

“It’s an enemy attack! Can’t you see it!? What are the guards doing!” (Cultist)

“Hurry up with the restoration of the ritual! We can still continue!” (Cultist)

　For the most part, the place is fraught.

　Unlike other places, this place apparently has a group of reasonable people, and because we are conversing like this, information is coming in, albeit gradually.

　However, perhaps because we caused a commotion, the only information that came in was about how they are dealing with the situation.

　The important information about what they were doing was not forthcoming.

　I guess it would have been nice if there were people who could have told us what they were doing, but it didn’t seem to work out that way.

“I guess it can’t be helped, I can just follow my mother’s instructions.” (Jiro)

　Would Ms. Kirie like me to follow the same steps?

　The task given to me, and my mother was to disrupt the situation and stall for time until Ms. Kirie could get her staff together and come in here.

　My mother was ready for us to subdue the situation together, but unfortunately, I am not one to take the initiative in doing a job that does not need to be done.

　If it requires the least amount of effort, it’s the best.

　But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that need to be done.

“The situation! Ngh!?” (Cultists)

　First with one person.

　From shadows to shadows.

　Compared to that place in the dungeon where monsters with excellent senses are prevalent, it’s surprisingly easy to go on hiding now that there are obstructions and distractions even in a somewhat open area.

　The surveillance network, which would normally be on alert, seems to be in various states of confusion due to the earlier bombardment.

　In addition, there is little mechanical surveillance deep in the forest.

　We were also wary of the ancient Japanese fantasy elements such as onmyoudou and sorcery, but most of them were nullified with the first blow.

　This is one of the reasons why there is so much noise, but it is also the reason why we are able to infiltrate and abduct people like this.

“…But I wonder why these secret rituals often have such eccentric looks.” (Jiro)

　In mangas, secret organizations seem to be associated with black suits or eccentric attire, and this seems to be no exception.

　The first thing I did was to find people with a similar physique to mine and my mother’s, so I jumped out of the shadows and dragged them into the shadows where I was hiding before I was seen.

　Then, while calmly holding the person’s mouth, choking them until they passed out, stripped off their clothes, gagged them, and tied their limbs, and voila, I was done.

　I covered it with a nearby cloth, but even if there was a bonfire nearby, I ended up with a man who shouldn’t be left alone in the winter forest.

　The clothes in my hand were almost like a yukata, but thicker, like a jacket.

　It is a costume with an ethnic color scheme that I don’t think I would want to use for everyday wear, at least not as a cosplayer or something like that.

　There was a pattern of strange animals on the surface.

　I looked at the other item in my hand with a wry smile and wondered if our normal outfits were similar.

“Is this… a cow?” (Jiro)

　And a mask with a picture of what looked like a cow painted with red paint on a white background.

　The old man who appeared when he peeled it off was a middle-aged man who could be found anywhere.

　Looking back, I recall that everyone wore masks with pictures of animals on them.

　At first, I thought they were to hide their faces.

“Damn! What are the dragon guys doing!!” (Cultist)

“I don’t know! And what about the boar guys?! At times like this, those guys have to act!!” (Cultist)

“What about the snakes? They are worse than those guys!! Surveillance is their job!!” (Cultist)

　Apparently not.

　When I feel someone approaching, I immediately hide and listen.

　Apparently, every face has a role to play.

　As far as I know, the dragon plays the role of a guard, the boar is similar, and the snake is a spy.

　If this is the case, all the animals of the Chinese zodiac will appear, and this bull’s mask will also have a role to play.

　If that is the case, it would be more convenient to use the mask with the useful role if we are going to sneak into their group.

“It’s a colorful place though.” (Jiro)

　If I look closely at the people who I heard the information from, I can see some monkey-like markings and some sheep-like markings. Could that other one be a bird?

　All of them are yellow, but I wonder if that color is necessary for a ritual.

“…should I investigate?” (Jiro)

　I would need to look into that as well but to be honest, it would be a hassle to gather that information now; it would take a lot of time and effort, and I don’t have the time.

　But it is also a necessary situation.

　If that’s the case.

“For now, if I find someone with a different mask, I’ll drag them in.” (Jiro)

　That’s what I am going to do.

　I thought it would have been more convenient if I had brought my mother along with me anyway, as I was acting stealthily again.

“Anyway, is that a snake?” (Jiro)

　All the buildings in this place are shaped like tents.

　The area is no more than a fifty-meter radius.

　In the center of the building, there is some kind of a structure, and something can be seen from a distance underneath it.

　I would like to get into the center of it, but I guess I need a costume to do so.

　Once back in the forest, I spot a figure that seems to be searching for something.

“Guha!?” (Cultist)

“Don’t worry, Bro, when you move, you have to move in pairs, otherwise you’ll be subdued like this. Please use this as a reference next time.” (Jiro)

　The movement was that of an amateur.

　He is not expecting anything to be done to him.

　It is a movement that is just trying to find something in the dark.

　It’s like a duck carrying a leek. [T/N: Idiom about something surprising but convenient, or a stroke of luck.]

　Then my move is simple.

　If I momentarily throw even a pebble into the bushes on the opposite side and make a noise to guide the gaze, they will leave their back defenseless like this. [T/N: This is so stealth game-like.]

　After that, I attack them from behind, block their mouth, drag them into the darkness, and then choke them unconscious.

　After a few moments of resistance, their consciousness flies and I peel off their mask to reveal the face of a young man, perhaps in his twenties.

　The man from earlier and the three others with whom he was conversing are all of various ages, and I wonder what kind of connection they have.

　I wondered, but I thought there was no point in prying, so I did what I had to do for now.

“Now, I have two pieces of clothing, but I can’t just move on with this one, can I.” (Jiro)

　I’ve also brought up the cow’s mask from earlier, but how big of a role does this snake at the cow’s mask have?

“…The colors are different. Do the colors change depending on the animal?” (Jiro)

　And I’m curious about the color as well as the pattern.

　The snake mask worn by this young man is a black snake.

　The usual connection is that each animal has its own color, but if that is the case, there seems to be no need to divide the animals and determine their roles.

　Moreover, it is hard to explain the trio of the same color, even though the animals are different.

　The three of them seemed to be talking to each other as if they were equals.

　What can be deduced from that?

“…hierarchy?” (Jiro)

　The environment of a dungeon has many aspects that are fatal to those who are not skilled in observation.

　To be more specific, I, as the vanguard, have to observe the characteristics of the monsters and find their weak points.

　If I find a weak point, it is easier to attack the monster, and more importantly, it is less dangerous.

　Thanks to this, I have started to pay more attention to the common features of the monsters.

“If they are distinguished by their color, then that’s it, isn’t it?” (Jirop)

　I continued to speculate on the zodiac signs, which I had guessed from the animals earlier, and the ranks I could predict from the red and black colors were the 12 ranks of the coronation.

　The 12 ranks are based on the theory of the five elements, starting from black, the lowest rank, to purple, the highest rank.

　It means that they are divided into different ranks.

　I think it has something to do with onmyoudou…

　If this guess is correct, then the red rank of this cow is pretty much the top.

“Huh, maybe I’m lucky or unlucky, but I guess I need to hurry.” (Jiro)

　It is possible that it is a high-ranking official who has been caught by chance, and if the official is missing, what will his men do?

　The answer is obvious: they would look for him.

　Then, this cow mask would be useless.

　How could we use the equipment of such a conspicuous high-ranking figure to blend in?

“Well, I’ll have to go ahead and grab another one.” (Jiro)

Once that was decided, I abandoned the cow gear as I hid in the woods and moved in a different direction, thinking that there must be someone still searching the surroundings.

　and.

“Guah!?” (Cultist)

　I easily find another person acting alone and take them down using the same method.

“This is a rule on horror movies, right?” (Jiro)

　It suddenly jumps out of nowhere and pulls you into the darkness, and when you look behind you, the person who was with you just a moment ago is gone.

　“Shadows creeping up from the darkness” is something that might be used in a warning message of a horror movie.

　The actions they are taking, and the eerie forest setting are perfect for the situation.

　Aokigahara is a place that seems to suit the atmosphere of eeriness, and in order to change my mind about what I’m thinking, I tighten my grip on the person in my arms who is still struggling and make them lose consciousness for now.

　Then, I bound third person and checked the face.

　The snake pattern there is black.

　If my guess is correct, it’s on the lower end.

　Having achieved my goal, I run to my mother.

　On the way back, I evade the guards and make my way back to the forest where my mother is hiding.

　I feel a presence for a moment and send a hand sign in the direction I feel it.

“Jiro, you’re late you know?” (Kirika)

“It took more time than I expected.” (Jiro)

　As I did so, a bag came down from the tree.

“Looks like you got what I asked you, huh?” (Kirika)

“I got it, but… will we fit with this?” (Jiro)

　Originally, the plan was to steal their clothes and infiltrate so as not to be found out, but I feel that a disguise is unnecessary to be hidden.

　That’s why mother looks confused while wearing a yukata-like costume that is not suitable for combat, which is convenient for hiding her face.

“Good job, good job. Now I’m going to change.” (Kirika)

“Are you going in that? How are you going to take the bomb? There’s no place to hide it.” (Jiro)

　If they can see the bulge, it’s an outfit that will make it stand out.

　No matter how thick the clothes are, it doesn’t mean you can hide things in it.

“It’s okay. Just trust your mother.” (Kirika)

　Mother said that with a smile on her face as she shooed me away so she can put on her clothes and change.

“Jiro.” (Kirika)

“Yeah.” (Jiro)

　The expression on her face that had been smiling until just now suddenly became stiffer.

“Did you mess up?” (Kirika)

“Maybe. Sorry.” (Jiro)

“Hey, I’m also responsible for being greedy. Don’t worry about it.” (Kirika)

　Either the man who I first knocked out had been noticed, or they had searched the surrounding area beforehand.

　All I know is.

“It looks like we’re surrounded.” (Kirika)

“Yeah.” (Jiro)

　It seems that the infiltration cannot be completed, but I can feel their determination not to let us, the target, slip by.

“And it looks like they’re here to greet us.” (Kirika)

“Troublesome.” (Jiro)

　The muzzle of the gun was shining brightly, and I could see it was aiming at me.

　As expected, mother doesn’t seem to want to move carelessly in this crossfire.

　It seems like they are slowly narrowing down the enclosure and intending to capture us.

“Should we just get captured?” (Jiro)

“If it was someone who could guarantee what would happen after that, it would be possible for me to get caught, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.” (Kirika)

“I guess so.” (Jiro)

　I was sighing inwardly, thinking that if I knew what would happen after I got caught, I wouldn’t do something like this.

“Are you ready?” (Kirika)

“Is this how it’s going to be after all?” (Jiro)

“I don’t dislike this kind of thing. What about you?” (Kirika)

“Unfortunately–” (Jiro)

　Lowering to a crouch.

　I grin widely.

“I’m my mother’s son.” (Jiro)

　Without timing ourselves, we all started running at the same time.

“I’m having fun!” (Jiro)

“Ahahaha! That’s great!” (Kirika)

　To the center of the square.

　My mother, laughing with amusement, throws something behind her as if to say it’s a souvenir, and uses her phone.

“Come on! Let’s make bang!!” (Kirika)

　It explodes.

　Behind us, all hell broke loose.

　Then we charged into the ritual area with an explosion behind us.

Note for the Day

Don’t do anything you’re not used to doing.

T/N: That’s terrible advice. Don’t do anything you’re not prepared to do.

In my job I did so many things I wasn’t used to doing. But I did it under the guidance and supervision of superiors or the more experienced. At the very least, they give me ways on how to troubleshoot and fix potential problems.

So, don’t be scared to try new and difficult things. Just prepare yourself as much as possible.