Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 3  Chapter 4   I think the term “Bikini armor” is quite well-known

“Sigh… Well, to put it simply, it’s like a chocolate fondue. Or maybe like candy apples? It’s the idea of drizzling chocolate or honey over the thin-bladed flowers and eating them. You can also use marshmallows or commercially available ingredients like you mentioned earlier, but that’s the general idea. As for the raindrops candy, just sell it as is.”

“Isn’t the last part a bit vague?”

“It’s fine that way. Raindrops candy is just candy as it is, no need to do anything with it.”

The candy falls like rain. Its flavor varies depending on the state of the dungeon at that time, but it’s generally not unpleasant.

However, raindrops candy contains a large amount of magical energy.

Eating it can somewhat replenish magical power, but in its unprocessed state, the recovery is not significant, so it is mainly used as a material for restorative potions.

It can be profitable when sold, but not many people go out to collect it.

Why? Because the collection process is incredibly troublesome.

Once it touches the ground, it immediately dissolves and gets absorbed into the ground, rendering it useless… Oh, you can think of it as collecting hailstones.

Those can be quite painful, and at worst, deadly.

Moreover, the candy near the entrance of the dungeon is mostly just regular candy, and the higher you go, the higher the concentration of magical energy, making it more valuable. But to reach the depths, you’ll face considerable hardships, labor, and danger. Specifically, you have to travel for hours in the midst of a hailstorm.

So, as a result, it’s not a place many people go to unless they specialize in it. There are other materials that contain magical energy usable for potions, after all.

However, I mentioned these specific materials this time because they are convenient to collect.

“But why did you mention these materials just now?”

“Huh? Well, besides the fact that even amateurs can easily prepare them, there’s also the advantage of not having to worry about expiration dates.”

Although I say “materials,” it might be easy to overlook the fact that ingredients have expiration dates or best before dates. The same goes for dungeon items.

Let’s say their freshness can be maintained for three days. Do you think you can gather all of these ingredients just in time for the cultural festival? It’s practically impossible.

“Well, there are only… uh, actually, we’re just five people, so it’s impossible to gather various ingredients a few days before the cultural festival, right?”

“Oh, right. It’s not ‘just,’ but exactly five people.”

Upon hearing Asada’s words, I merely shrug my shoulders and say nothing more.

“As for the cosplay costumes… decide that yourselves. And don’t try to make me choose clothes for girls to wear.”

When it comes to choosing cosplay costumes for high school girls, I dislike the idea that it might imply I want them to wear those outfits.

“But hey, since you’re participating too, right?”

“Don’t we need to hear everyone’s opinion?”

“That’s right!”

“I-Igami-san, are you going to wear something as well?”

Contrary to my thoughts, even Miyano and Kitahara started asking about costumes.

“Huh?… Then just go with a hero party cosplay.”

It’s a theme that suits them, and above all, it’s safe.

“A hero party? Is that okay?”

“That’s right. Look, if you have shiny armor like in a game, with a sword and shield, it’ll definitely catch people’s attention. After all, you’re real heroes.”

Well, it might lack a bit of excitement.

But hey, they’re adventurers. They usually dress like that, so it would be different from what they had in mind for cosplay costumes.

However, it’s definitely not suitable for them to wear bunny outfits, Chinese dresses, or maid uniforms.

Or rather, it might give the impression that I made them wear it, which could affect their reputation and public image.

So I won’t suggest it myself. Not that I want them to wear it anyway.

If you don’t like the idea of hero costumes, come up with something yourselves. As long as it’s not something I chose, it won’t be a problem… Right?

“Abe can go with a magical girl outfit. Wear a pointed hat and a robe. Kitahara… how about wearing a white-ish monk-like attire?”

I think those choices fit the image of a mage and a support role, respectively.

“What about me?”

As Asada asked… Well, what should I do…

“Oh, you… To be honest, as a warrior, it won’t be much different from your usual attire… Ah!”

I came up with an idea for a warrior outfit that suits women… But I can’t say it. I don’t want to say it.

Because… you know? I don’t want any misunderstandings. I suggested the theme of the cosplay costumes as “hero party,” so if I mention my idea now, it would be pointless.

“What? Do you have something?”

However, seeing my reaction, Asada seemed to sense that I came up with something. She leaned forward a bit and asked.

“Well, yeah, I do have something, but…”

“Then say it. Come on, quickly.”

“Uh…”

I absolutely, and I mean absolutely, don’t want to say it. But it seems like the other members, besides Asada, are curious about what I thought of. They’re looking at me.

Hey, don’t look at me with those kind of expectations. Isn’t your expectation of me too high? I don’t always come up with sensible ideas, you know?

Well, I mean, it’s not like I always think of weird things, but for this particular situation… How should I put it?

…Should I say it? Should I really say it? Is it necessary to say it? Uh?

I have no choice. I don’t want to say it. I really don’t want to say it, but if I don’t, it seems like the conversation won’t progress. Asada and Abe, who are like those who watch manga and anime, might understand the costume I came up with. Probably.

In fact, if they don’t understand, my reputation will suffer.

If that happens… Huh? Hmm, wait a minute. Is it really necessary for my reputation to… No, no, wait. It’s probably not a good idea after all.

I briefly thought that it might be okay if my reputation dropped a bit, but no, that’s not an option.

Although a drop in reputation might help me leave this team, based on their attitude towards me so far, that wouldn’t be a reason for them to let me go.

So in that case, I would have to remain in this team with a lowered reputation.

Unless there’s a very compelling reason, they probably won’t let me leave.

A compelling reason, huh? Like if I were caught peeping on them?

If that were the case, they would definitely let me go… Right? No, they would definitely let me go. They wouldn’t keep someone around who would peep on them, right?

Well, in that case, not only would I leave, but I’d also get in trouble.

Ah, wait, no, I’m getting off track here.

The point is, I don’t want to talk about what I came up with, but if I don’t, we won’t move forward.

But you know… if I were to talk about my earlier idea and my reputation were to drop, it would be really tough to continue being together while being looked at with disgust by high school girls.

But I can’t avoid talking about it, so I’ll just pray that my reputation won’t suffer. That’s all I can do!

“………………………………Bikini Armor.”

The moment I mustered my courage and uttered those words, the atmosphere in the room became silent.

…Hey, stop it. Why did it suddenly become so quiet? We should be more lively. It was just like that a moment ago!

Or rather, someone please say something!

“………..Huh?! Haa?!”

Breaking the silence with her voice was Asada.

“W-What?! Are you telling me to wear that?!”

Asada stood up with a frantic voice, looking down at me while throwing the cushion she had been holding nearby.

I raised my hands to shield my face from the incoming cushion, inadvertently holding onto the magazine I was reading at the time. The cushion bounced off the magazine, making a thud as it fell to the floor.

Perhaps Asada had imagined herself wearing the bikini armor.

While it may be inevitable for her to think that way, I also have a counterargument.

“You made me say it even though I didn’t want to!”

That’s right. I didn’t want to say it. That’s why I hesitated, but their expectant eyes made me speak up.

Wait a minute, weren’t you the one who tried to make me say it first?

“Hey, what exactly is bikini armor? It doesn’t sound normal based on the reaction and the name…”

Miyano and Kitahara, who were beginners in the world of two-dimensional culture, sensed the strangeness from the sound of “bikini armor,” but they didn’t really know what it was and why Asada reacted so strongly.

“Um, this is it.”

Hey, stop it, Abe! You don’t have to go through the trouble of looking it up and showing us! It’s fine if you don’t know!

“This…?!”

Seeing the image that Abe showed, they finally understood what bikini armor was.

Miyano and Kitahara were both surprised, their gazes shifting between the image, Asada, and me.

Well, of course they would react like that! Damn it!

“But, um, if you suggested this idea… Does that mean you want Kana-chan to wear it, Igami-san?”

As I was thinking about how to explain, Kitahara suddenly said something like that.

What the hell is she talking about?

“What?!?”

“Hey, Kitahara, don’t say stupid things. I simply mentioned a costume for a female warrior, and that’s what came to mind. It’s not because I have a personal interest in it. This costume is just well-known among gamers, that’s all, no hidden intentions.”

That’s right. I’m not at fault here. Bikini armor is a term that’s quite well-known among gamers and in related online communities. It could be considered common knowledge at this point.

“But still, you…!”

At that moment, Asada’s words trailed off, and she squatted down, then readjusted herself back into a seated position just as before.

However, due to the forceful movement, her skirt—no, let’s stop thinking about what might happen next.

I didn’t intend to look; it just happened to catch my eye. But even so, I realize it’s not appropriate.

So let’s bury this matter, not think about it, and not mention it again. Abe is looking at me, but it’s probably just my imagination.