**Day 37 Night Inn White Weirdo**
"That was delicious～!"
"…It was delicious, but he escaped again?"
Yes. We set up the perfect encirclement in the dining hall this time—determined not to let him slip away, to finally give him a proper talking-to.
And it collapsed.
Because of rice. After a whole month. Because of onigiri.
Everyone was crying.
It tasted so good. So nostalgic. Just a month ago we ate it every day, but we thought we'd never have it again. Yet he searched and found it. Brought it back.
Somehow Haruka had been making insane money again. Loaned funds and supplies to the general store and weapon shops, then apparently went around town and country making even more insane profits. No wonder the town felt lively—he was quietly taking economic control. No blind spots. And today we learned one reason: rice. He made onigiri for everyone to eat. Could've asked for help, but he wanted to surprise us, so he single-handedly made 30 people's worth.
That's why we can never stay mad. We just laugh.
Truth is, if Haruka hadn't come up, we'd all be dead. Fact. Completely our—my—judgment failure.
He should've waited underground. He's Lv12. Weak. Always says "one clean hit and I'm dead." The one who shouldn't fight at all. The one in the most danger. And he was alone.
So we should've gone to rescue him. He should've waited. We should've gone to get him.
Yet he came up anyway… even though it's dangerous. He's the one in the most danger. No way he was "totally fine." Absolute lie.
He definitely did insanely dangerous things. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of near-death moments.
Because he got stronger again.
Lv17. Up five levels. The guy who was slaughtering every monster in the forest and still stayed Lv12… gained five levels in one week? He went somewhere insanely dangerous. Didn't wait for rescue at all. Just casually… came up. Like always.
We saw it clearly on 56F. He was on the verge of collapse, battered.
But we all watched his back as he leaped into that sea of mummies. Never let a single one near us. Stood like a wall. Slashed, scattered, tore them apart—never letting them approach.
That wasn't just level-up or skills. That's strength forged through endless, insane, life-threatening repetition.
You don't get that strong without billions of near-death clashes. Impossible otherwise!
So yes—he was doing insanely dangerous things.
That's why I was determined to talk seriously today.
But then… onigiri.
We couldn't help it. Happiness overwhelmed us. Everyone laughed. Too happy.
Even though he shouldn't do dangerous things… he protected us again. Made us so happy we laughed. Gave us everything again.
"No, I was planning to lecture while eating onigiri! But then—out of nowhere—'If there's no onigiri, just eat grilled onigiri!' Marie never imagined that! Survive regular onigiri? Fine. But grilled onigiri is impossible!!"
""""The soy sauce smell there was totally unfair!!""""
Exactly. Everyone was too happy to stay mad. The moment Haruka started handing out onigiri, we were done for.
But it's dangerous. The power gap is hopeless. Even after doing such dangerous things nonstop, his stats are pathetic. HP barely over 300. ViT under 300. Level teens. One solid hit and he dies. Can't trade blows at all.
So he specialized in speed and magic. Can't block, so he dodges. Getting hit = death. Specialization made him even more fragile. Still brittle. Can't let him fight. Can't let him do dangerous things.
Oda-kun called it "distorted strength." Strong enough to want to protect us, but he's actually the most fragile. Not stats or skills—just Haruka's own power. Back when he had nothing and mixed speed/skills to punch things. Evolved from there. Still weak underneath.
"If you compare it to running… Haruka's legs are fast. Getting faster. But everyone else—this world—gets bikes, cars, planes as levels rise. Only Haruka keeps running on his own feet. Can't ride anything, so he just runs faster… that's all it is."
Oda-kun said it bitterly. That's why it's distorted.
Right now he's just barely overtaking them in the gap before they master vehicles. But not forever. When he can't anymore… he dies. Forcing himself to run that fast can't be healthy. Really dangerous. Shouldn't fight at all.
"Maybe with the Labyrinth Emperor it's fine? She was super strong!!"
"""She was amazing～! And still only Lv10?!"""
Yeah… employing her is questionable, but safety should be guaranteed. Top-class bodyguard. She's the Labyrinth Emperor.
But she can't protect him alone. Absolutely can't endure prolonged physical defense. Neither of them can take hits. Both are pure offense-specialized now. Made him even more vulnerable.
"Haruka's item cheating went crazy too?"
"Looks the same, but villager gear so it looks unreliable, but it's bottom-layer Great Labyrinth class with insane special effects, right?"
"Safety should've skyrocketed. Actually, his danger level went up!!"
"That magic he used on 56F isn't something you cast solo!"
"Normal MP 200 can't even activate that. Annihilation power definitely jumped again."
Stronger again. Distorted, destructive power increasing.
That's exactly why it's dangerous.
Getting stronger while still brittle. Body can't handle the vessel.
Using that much power at his level… body will break.
We keep saying don't do dangerous things… yet he always saves us.
We keep saying it's dangerous… yet he'll definitely try to save us again.
So he does dangerous things to get stronger. Definitely. Absolutely.
He'll keep doing it.
To protect us.
Even though he's the one who needs protecting most.