Loop Mob – A Mob’s Interdimensional Travel Caught in a Loop

Chapter 63: A Date with Bruno

Coming to the fourth loop, things are getting quite hectic. You’d think life would get easier as you gain more experience, but it’s not necessarily the case. However, out of the initial objectives:

1. Firstly, dealing with Camille-senpai in the early stages.
2. Avoiding touching Charlois as much as possible.
3. Finding a way to enter the capital quickly and gathering information.

I’ve achieved the first one. As for the second, well, I’ll be careful to avoid it, and I’ll focus on the third goal. Regarding my brother, he’s secondary. I’ll assist him within my limits but refrain from getting too involved.

Trying to break free from this loop, I’ve been struggling with various things, and it makes me realize how leisurely I was living before starting these rounds. I used to just go to school, graduate, and then work at my family’s business. But in reality, the world is vast, and I can be anything. I’ve been an adventurer, conducted research at the “Tower,” served as an advisor in other territories, and even dabbled in alchemy. I used to casually think about cute girls in school and visiting brothels someday, but now I know the fear of women, I’m tired of arranged marriages, and somehow I’ve become engaged to an elf. I didn’t know, or rather, I didn’t even try to find out.

It’s the same for my brother. Just because he’s the eldest son of the Apel Trading Company doesn’t mean he had to inherit the family business. After all, I, in the first loop, became an adventurer under the pretext of “helping the family,” and that’s it. He could easily grasp the adventurer lifestyle he admires with just that. All I need to do is change his perspective a bit. After that, it’s up to him what he chooses. So, I’ll just try to work with the somewhat troublesome society of the darkness attribute.

Since the story has been jumping around a bit, let’s organize it.
On Tuesday, October 1st, the loop started with the entrance ceremony. Bought wood pieces, scrap magic stones, and crafting tools.
Until Friday, October 4th, attended school while making fire magic tools.
On Saturday, October 5th, unlocked the inventory in the Slime Dungeon, got a large amount of magic stones. Made a Stone Blast magic tool.
On Sunday, October 6th, hunted dragonflies in the Beginner Dungeon. Got Mithril alloy and installed an Aetherizer.
From October 7th to 11th, attended school while making magic tools like the Autumn Leather Boots + Max, Fire Hellfire, Blizzard Blizzard, and Sound Collection.
On Saturday, October 12th, organized the warehouse at home. Tracked my brother.
On Sunday, October 13th, organized the warehouse at home. Bought weapons and armor. Got the Appraisal skill in the dorm room.
From October 14th to 18th, attended school while making magic tools, occasionally monitoring the pleasure district.
On Saturday, October 19th, hunted rats in the Advanced Dungeon, applied to Camille-senpai’s spear.
On Sunday, October 20th, circled the Intermediate Dungeon, gathering materials.
And today, Wednesday, October 23rd. I have a date with Bruno at a certain cafe.

“Hey! You’ve been skipping the research club lately. What’s up, Alexi?”

When we meet like this, it’s always the cheerful Bruno. Well, it’s been about nine years since the first loop through the third loop, since I’ve distanced myself from the economics research club. The expressionless guy I saw in the pleasure district the other day doesn’t seem to be the same person at all.

“Thanks to you, I’m doing great. Just been helping out at home a bit.”

“What’s up with you, being so serious, Alexi? So, what’s the favor?”

“Um, it’s about my brother.”

I told him about how my brother has been going to the pleasure district every night and frequenting the prostitutes.

“Oh, I’ve heard that story before. But why me?”

“Why not? I thought maybe you knew something about that Rose girl.”

“So, why me?”

“Because you’re Bruno. I thought maybe you knew something.”

As he tried to play dumb, I stared at him seriously, and he gradually lost his expression.

“Why me?”

“I’m also the son of a merchant.”

That’s right. For a merchant, trust is more important than customers or products themselves. And actually making money depends on information. My father also knows that my brother has been frequenting prostitutes. And prostitutes tend to have troublesome connections. Knowing this, he told me to learn from the experience. My mother may think she understands the situation, but as it’s her own child, she doesn’t want to see them get hurt.

However, this is not about your average prostitute. Rose-chan, she’s beyond that. Her primary tool is “Enchantment Charm.” Moreover, she’s a pro who is proficient in all kinds of dark attribute skills. And her level is high. Rather than being just a prostitute, it would be more accurate to call her a mage. And a highly skilled one at that. Not only the clients, but even that guy caught up in her honey trap, he’s just another pawn in her hands. He’s completely under her enchantment. This is something an ordinary merchant wouldn’t understand. You wouldn’t know without appraising it.

“Rose-chan is dangerous. She’s gone too far. Do you understand the term ‘cover-up’?”

“Could it be…”

Bruno now looks like a ruler of the pleasure district. Right. In the pleasure district, capable bodyguards are always hired. Being able to blend into the brothel without arousing their suspicion indicates that she’s stronger than them. Cover-up only works on those of lower levels than oneself.

“If you want to eliminate her, I’ll help. What’s your plan?”

“Wait. First, we need to investigate and gather information.”

That’s right. She’s quite skilled, so why would she come to a remote place like Marol? She’s still a dangerous entity, but depending on the situation, we may not need to eliminate her as an enemy.

“I thought you’d say that. So here, take these.”

I handed him three ordinary-looking rings.

“These are…”

“I found them while organizing the warehouse at home.”

With that explanation, I gave him the rings for status ailment reduction. I went through the intermediate dungeon on Sunday for this purpose. To grant perfect status ailment immunity, you need to gather materials from dungeon bosses in units of 1,000 and grant them at max. However, for reduction, you can combine drop items from minor enemies efficiently to craft them. And also, a few potions of “Sanity” to dispel enchantment and regain sanity.

After staring at the rings and potions for a while, he suddenly changed his expression and said loudly, as if announcing it to the surrounding customers,

“Thanks a bunch! I’ll gladly take these!”

Then he slapped my shoulder with a bang.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s for my own reasons too!”

We left the shop, joking around like usual students.

Some time later, Rose-chan and several others disappeared from the pleasure district. Bruno and I still greet each other with a “Yo” whenever we pass by at school, but one day, after being whispered “This favor must be repaid” in my ear, he slapped my back. I returned his grin with a smirk.