arc2 · 073-ch73

Chapter 73: Back to University After So Long

The day after filming the Indomitable duo, I'm getting ready to head out early this morning because I have a university lecture in the morning.

While getting ready, honestly, I'm debating whether I should keep going to university at all. I originally thought I couldn't become an explorer with this job. That's why I figured getting a degree and landing a dungeon-related job would be good enough.

But now, the possibility of actually becoming an explorer has emerged. My level has gone up and there's more I can do. If I can become an explorer, I don't need any other qualifications. Actually, I'm making so much money that I absolutely have to become an explorer—or else the taxes will be terrifying.

At the same time, there's also the concern that I might be wrong—maybe even with higher levels, I still won't be able to defeat monsters. As long as that possibility exists, it might be better to keep attending university until I have solid confirmation. Having reached that conclusion, I head to university by train once again today.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning!"

I keep my head down as I slip past the greetings of the students and make my way onto campus. Geez, between the Dungeon Club the other day and now this—these energetic students are blindingly bright. Wait, I'm a student too, aren't I?

Today's lecture is Dungeon Basics. Strategy-focused lectures aren't really necessary for me. I've studied plenty on my own already. Learning about dungeon mechanics and rules is way more useful.

As always, I secure a seat in the corner of the classroom and sit quietly, waiting for the professor. And then, that guy showed up—just like the usual routine now.

"Oho! This might be the last time I take this lecture! Ga-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Ohsaki shows up with his entourage in tow.

"Satoru-san, are you taking the next explorer exam?"

"Oho, obviously! I take it every single month!"

From his conversation with his lackeys, I learned he takes the exam every month. And yet, he's still attending university lectures this whole time, which means... isn't he failing every time?!

"I've got a good feeling about this one! If I pass, I'm dropping out of this university and becoming an explorer right away! Uwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

"Yo! Satoru-san! Future explorer!"

Lately, I can't shake the feeling that his lackeys are actually dissing Ohsaki. Could it be that even they hate the guy?

"SS the cameraman filmed an F-rank explorer's expedition too, right? I get it—you're preparing for when I pass the exam!"

Is this guy seriously an idiot? Every time a request comes in, I check to make sure the name "Sword Emperor" isn't on it. Block, block, absolutely blocking that one!

"Still, how long is that guy gonna stick around? He's dragging down the class standards. Wish he'd just drop out already."

Ohsaki shoots a glance my way and makes a show of saying it loud. But I get the sense that the people around me aren't as hostile toward me as they used to be. If anything, it seems like more and more people are looking at Ohsaki with pity.

Things were starting to get a little uncomfortable, but thankfully the professor showed up right away and the lecture began.

Today's topic is experience point distribution. I'm really grateful for information like this that hasn't been fully figured out yet. After all, I only studied through books and the internet on my own. The internet especially is full of misinformation that's hard to sort through.

"Honestly, we still don't fully understand how dungeons determine what constitutes a party. However, based on various tests, it seems that even unrelated individuals who fight together are recognized as a party."

Mhm, mhm—I remember reading about that in some book.

"Also, experience point distribution appears to be proportional to your contribution."

Yeah, I know that from personal experience. To earn experience points, you either need to deal damage or contribute directly to the defeat.

After that, they also explained the experience point reduction based on level differences. I know all about that too.

One thing I didn't know, though—you apparently need to be nearby when a monster is finally defeated in order to receive experience points. Just dealing damage and then letting another party finish it off while you watch from far away means you get zero experience.

Another quite informative lecture today. I leave the classroom satisfied.

"Hey, girl! Wanna hang out with me after this and have some fun?"

"Ah, n-no, I'm fine, thank you..."

"Hah? I'm an F-rank explorer offering to invite you, and you're turning me down?"

Right after the lecture ended, Ohsaki started harassing a female student. So he's a creep with women too, huh?

"Um, I'm sorry. I have plans today..."

The female student is clearly uncomfortable. The other students are watching from a distance, but nobody's stepping in to help. I guess this is my cue.

I look around, spot the professor, walk over, and whisper quietly.

"There's a student causing trouble over there."

"What? Where? Over there?"

The professor walks in the direction I pointed, finds Ohsaki, and gives him a proper warning.

Even Ohsaki apparently didn't have the guts to talk back to a professor. He clicks his tongue and walks away. Good, good—this is what they call handling things like an adult. Even if my physical abilities have improved from leveling up, I have no interest in fighting someone equivalent to an F-rank explorer.

Anyway, I should get out of here before any splash damage hits me. That guy seems pretty irritated. He said he's taking the next explorer exam. Hope he fails. Oh—is he heading straight home today? If so, I think I'll grab lunch at the campus cafeteria.

Having watched Ohsaki leave the university while grumbling complaints to himself, I head into the cafeteria feeling relieved.

"One chicken tatsuta bowl, please."

I order my favorite chicken tatsuta bowl, find an empty seat, and sit down. Since it's lunchtime, the cafeteria is steadily filling up with people. Thank goodness I snagged an empty seat first.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Maybe because I was sitting alone at a four-person table, two female students came over looking for open seats.

"Ah, go ahead."

I answered while keeping my head down, but...

(Wait? I just talked to them normally!?)

Somehow, I managed to speak perfectly normally to young women I don't even know! What happened to my social anxiety?! Wasn't that supposed to be a passive skill!?

"Thank you! Good thing there was an open spot, huh!"

"Yeah!"

The two female students sit next to me. Even if my social anxiety didn't kick in, this situation is still pretty tough. I keep a little distance.

"Hey hey, have you seen this video yet?"

"Ah, I saw it, I saw it! This one's super educational, right?"

The female students are squealing over their phones. Looks like they're watching a dungeon exploration video. Studying to become explorers even during lunch—they're really dedicated.

"Did you know this party is made up of seniors from our university?"

"Ehh, really? I had no idea. So cool—I'm so jealous!"

Huh, so it's a video of a party from this university. Balancing being an explorer while attending university—there are some pretty hardworking people out there. I wonder if there are a lot of people like the Dungeon Club I filmed the other day?

"I've been recording this and watching it over and over. For reference when I dive into a dungeon someday."

"I recorded it too! But man, SS isn't just good at filming—they know a lot about combat too! I'm seriously in awe!"

Bfhah!?

That was close—my tea almost went down the wrong pipe. The two female students look at me with concern as I suddenly start coughing.

So the video they were watching was the Dungeon Club video that I filmed. It makes me genuinely happy that current students are watching it and saying it's educational.

"Ahh, when I pass the explorer exam, I want to ask SS to film me too."

"Ehh, I want to ask them too!"

What's this, what's this—is SS popular among the students? Curious, I glance around the cafeteria—and see tons of other students watching the Dungeon Club video while eating their meals.

Oh man, I'm starting to feel a little embarrassed. I quickly shovel the last remaining bites of my chicken tatsuta bowl into my mouth and leave the cafeteria.

"Phew... Even if nobody knows it's me, getting praised that much makes it hard to stay there."

After fleeing the cafeteria, my eyes land on a bulletin board next to the entrance. I'm always looking down, so I never even noticed this thing was here.

Posted there are small requests from local residents. Being a university with a Dungeon Studies department, they're copying the quest system that explorers take on. It's just a copy, sure, but completing these requests accumulates points over time that apparently get factored into your rank-up evaluation when you become an explorer.

That's probably why students seem pretty enthusiastic about taking on these requests. It's a well-thought-out system, if you ask me.

I was browsing through the requests when I noticed a huge poster plastered on the bulletin board next to it.

"Special Lecture by an Active Explorer! The one and only Hyakka Ryouran's Hanazono Himehana-san is coming to this university!"

Bfhah!?

What was written there was an announcement that Himehana herself had been invited as a guest lecturer at this university.