Chapter

arc3 · 134-ch134

Chapter 134: Maybe I Can Solo It?

After spending a fun time running tests with the president, I left Yamamoto Electronics before Sasaki-san's anger could blow up. Then again, she might already be blowing up by now...

Praying for the president's safety, I caught a taxi and headed home. Along the way, Asahi finished its patrol without issue, so I decided to send it back to the Dungeon Agency rooftop for now. I figured I'd leave Asahi there and take a little breather.

Oh, that's right — while I'm resting, let me tell Arihara-san about yesterday and about Shiden. He'd been wanting to know what happened.

By the way, I sold twenty Low-grade Potions today. Word might be getting around that I'm running patrols. That's a good sign.

Rocking along in the taxi, I piloted Asahi toward the Dungeon Agency.

▽▽▽

Once I got home, I sent Arihara-san a message. He replied right away, and we settled on doing the explanation over an online call on my PC. Camera off, just in case.

"Hello, SS-san. Good work yesterday. Are you feeling alright?"

I'd mentioned in my earlier message that I was a little dizzy, so he was worried about me. Not diving straight into business — that kind of consideration is exactly what you'd expect from a real adult. I've got to learn from him.

"Thank you. I'm doing a lot better, so I'm thinking of heading into the dungeon later to test out the Attack Units."

"Oh, so the Attack Units really did get unlocked!"

"Yes. Thanks to that, I finally have a way to attack."

"That makes SS-san even more valuable now. Now then, could you tell me what happened after yesterday's cutoff?"

"Sure thing."

I made sure to thank him properly first, then started by explaining what had been going on when yesterday's footage cut out.

"How should I put this... first, let me thank you. Thank you for saving Kokushi Musou. If they had fallen there, it would have been a tremendous loss for Japan. Of course, I've known them a long time, so please let me thank you as a friend as well."

After my long explanation, Arihara-san offered his thanks, but I noticed his voice was trembling just a little. Now that he knew Kokushi Musou's survival had come down to a chain of coincidences, it had probably sent a chill down his spine.

Thinking back on it, the fact that everyone made it home in one piece was close to a miracle. Even I think we got lucky. But if you keep exploring on luck alone, one day it's going to cost you your life.

I don't think Kokushi Musou was at fault for what happened this time, but it drove home how important it is to plan carefully and not push your luck. If anything, I've etched it into my heart all over again — even a top-tier party like Kokushi Musou isn't immune to the dungeon's "never"s.

From there, the topic shifted to Shiden. I told him about the tests I'd run at Yamamoto Electronics, though I still had no idea how it would actually hold up in a dungeon. That said, it had managed to damage Terror's Symbol, so with the right matchup, it might deal a surprising amount of damage.

"Just hearing about it, it sounds like this is going to be something else. There's the Explorer Exam next week, so I'm looking forward to it! Oh, right — I also got my hands on a katana made of Magic Steel. I'll hand it over when you come in for the exam, so let's have you head into the dungeon carrying that!"

Ohh, so the time has finally come for me to wield a weapon! My physical abilities have gone up along with my level, so maybe — just maybe — I'll be able to take down monsters without even using my drones!?

Either way, now that the Attack Units are unlocked, becoming an explorer should be relatively easy, shouldn't it?

No, no, can't get careless. If I remember right, the practical portion of the Explorer Exam is held at the Mount Fuji Dungeon. Alright, once we're done talking and I've rested a bit, I'll head to the Mount Fuji Dungeon.

"Then I'll go rest a little. Once I've tested things out in the dungeon, I'll report back with the results."

"Understood. I'll be waiting for those results too. Once everything's in, let's consult again about how much we share, and with whom."

"Got it. See you later."

I ended the call, moved to my bed, and lay down. I closed my eyes and stayed quiet for a few dozen minutes. The dizziness finally started to settle.

"Alright. Let's go."

I left Asahi at the Dungeon Agency, summoned Hayate and Shiden, and sent them toward the Mount Fuji Dungeon.

▽▽▽

(This is bad, I'm getting a little nervous.)

I got into the Mount Fuji Dungeon without any issues. The receptionist was a little startled to see Shiden, but maybe Arihara-san had given them a heads-up, because nobody said anything in particular.

The Mount Fuji Dungeon is pretty popular. The shallower floors are packed with rookie explorers, plus parties of people who didn't awaken to a combat job but became explorers anyway to earn a little pocket money. My drones seem to have gotten somewhat famous — there are even people who come over to chat when they spot Hayate.

I can't stop for all of them, so I just exchange greetings and push on. Oh — but if you're looking to buy a potion, that's a different story. Thanks for your business!

To pass the Explorer Exam, you just have to defeat a goblin on the first floor, but I can't exactly go spraying Magic Machine Cannon fire around here, so I'm planning to drop down to a lower floor with fewer people and test it there.

I flew them right at ceiling height so I wouldn't get in the way of other parties' fights, and headed for the deeper floors.

(Around here should be good.)

Once I reached roughly the middle of the fifth floor, the foot traffic had thinned out a lot. I checked the map, found a dead-end plaza that looked unlikely to get traffic, and decided it was finally time to test the Attack Units.

First, a quick check before I start. Hayate's Magic Machine Cannons cost 1 MP per shot. They can fire about ten rounds per second, so firing nonstop burns 10 MP per second. And since there are two of them, firing both eats 20 MP per second.

Shiden's Thunder Bullet Machine Cannon, on the other hand, costs 10 MP per shot. It can also fire ten rounds per second, so it burns through a whopping 100 MP per second.

At Level 20, my MP is 3800. Summoning Hayate cost 20, and Shiden cost 200, leaving me with 3580. Firing both of Hayate's Magic Machine Cannons, I'd last only one hundred seventy-nine seconds. About three minutes. Shiden's Thunder Bullet Machine Cannon would drain me dry in thirty-five seconds flat.

In other words, unless I fight in a way that wastes as little MP as possible, I'll run out of gas in no time.

In the dead-end room were three goblins. Let's try out Hayate's Magic Machine Cannons first. I summoned two Magic Machine Cannons onto Hayate's underside.

(If this can take them down, I'll finally be an explorer! Please, let it work!)

Thuk-thuk-thuk-thuk-thuk

Maybe because they're magic, there was no firing sound at all — but I could hear the sound of one of the goblins getting riddled with magic bullets.

【You defeated the goblin】

Without being allowed the slightest resistance, the goblin died under ten magic bullets per second. Hey, hey, hey, Hayate's Magic Machine Cannons pack a pretty serious punch too!? It only took 10 MP to bring down a goblin.

The other two goblins it had been with had no idea what had just happened and stood there blankly. Right then, another volley of magic bullets fired from Hayate hit them dead on.

Thuk-thuk-thuk-thuk-thuk

Both goblins collapsed, riddled with holes.

【You defeated the goblin】

The fallen goblins were quickly absorbed into the dungeon, leaving behind a single Magic Stone. And that's when it hit me — "Maybe I can solo this?"