arc3 · 179-ch179

Chapter 179: Parties Aren't So Bad

Over lunch, we introduced ourselves to one another.

The blond was named Sakagami Kento, and his Job was apparently One-Handed Swordsman. Isn't that the same Job as that Ohsaki guy? Come to think of it, I wonder what he's up to these days — and where.

The black-haired man went by Baba Souhei, a Spear Wielder — same Job as Toomi-san. Both of them had only just graduated from university this year, and had apparently formed a two-man party to aim for floor ten.

Fresh out of university, they'd become explorers straight away, and had been collecting Magic Stones here in Tokyo Skyscraper Dungeon with leveling up on the side. For rookie explorers, they seemed to have real skill — the two of them could push through floor five. But they must have gotten impatient and pushed too far ahead. Three Bite Dogs got the better of them, Baba-san took a bite to the right leg, and they'd somehow barely escaped back to the stairs.

And there, by chance, they ran into me — leading us to right now.

"So, Sota — what rank are you?"

Once we'd finished eating, Sakagami-san asked me that.

"F-rank."

Here, honesty is the best policy. Advertise myself as an F-rank explorer, and no one would ever dream of connecting me to SS.

"Your Job's Swordsman, is it?"

"Yes, something like that."

Technically, thanks to Arihara-san's arrangements, my registered Job is Swordsman, and my listed skill is Physical Enhancement. Thanks to that, even movement a cut above any rookie has an explanation.

"Alright then, let's get going! With you on the team now, Sota, we are absolutely beating that boss before we head home!"

"Sounds good — let's give it our best."

I've no idea why Sakagami-san has such high hopes for me, but somehow I'm feeling a bit more pumped than when I was fighting alone. Maybe this is what I admired as a kid — what I imagined explorers to be.

【You defeated the Parasite Shadow】

【You have leveled up】

Oh, right — even in the middle of all this, Shiden and Hayate are still off hunting monsters. That makes level 32. Nice — the levels just keep climbing, nice and steady.

By virtue of being the eldest, Sakagami-san apparently takes point. Baba-san and I walk side by side behind him. According to the radar Gekkou puts out, there are three Crowcats fifty meters ahead, just past the corner to the right.

"Sakagami-san, I can hear something up ahead. There might be monsters around the bend."

Getting blindsided didn't appeal, so I gave him the heads-up.

"Heh. That your Physical Enhancement doing its thing too?"

"Yes, something like that."

Physical Enhancement, you wonderful thing. Everything can be brushed off as "it's the skill's doing."

These two may be rookie explorers, but they've got decent skills, it seems. The moment they sensed the monsters, the air about them changed. Careful not to make a sound, they closed the distance, and gently peeked their faces around the corner.

With hand signs, Sakagami-san signals: three Crowcats. He told me he'd picked that up from watching Hyakka Ryouran's streams — copying Kurokage-san. Knowing that the videos I filmed are actually helping rookie explorers makes me a little happy.

Hmm. Seems the plan is for all three of us to storm in at once. I lowered my stance, readied myself to dive in, and waited for Sakagami-san's signal.

His fingers folded down one by one, and the moment the last hit zero, all three of us hurled ourselves around the corner together.

"Souhei, right! Sota, left!"

Sakagami-san read the situation in an instant and snapped out his orders. Hmm — quick and accurate. He's got the makings of a leader.

I kicked hard off the ground, moved in front of the left-hand Crowcat exactly as ordered, and swept my katana in a horizontal arc. Without even time to yowl, the Crowcat's face split in half, and it dropped to the ground.

Confirming the kill, I turned to watch how the other two were handling theirs.

"Hyah! And THAT!"

Sakagami-san the One-Handed Swordsman was making fine use of the small shield strapped to his off arm, turning aside the Crowcat's swift attacks while hunting for an opening to counter.

Baba-san, meanwhile, seemed to have realized that a long spear was a disadvantage against so quick a foe: he'd stopped swinging it and was leaning hard on the thrust, which leaves fewer openings. Even a Crowcat couldn't slip inside his reach — it was all it could do to defend.

Once I confirmed both of them were fully absorbed in their fights, I took out a Mana Potion and drained it in one go. Right — mana quietly topped up. Now, whose corner should I lend a hand in?

"I'll back you up."

Baba-san looked to be struggling slightly more, so I decided to help that side.

"Appreciated."

So the Crowcat couldn't slip away, I bounded around behind it in a single leap. Baba-san seemed a little startled by the movement — but we were mid-fight, so I let it go.

With me at its back, the Crowcat could no longer put distance between itself and Baba-san to dodge. The result: Baba-san's spear began catching it, and before long he drove it clean through the beast's hind leg. At that point the fight was as good as won. Baba-san finished off the slowed Crowcat without a hitch.

Sakagami-san, too, had fought steady from start to finish, and took down his own Crowcat at just about the same moment.

"Thank you."

As the fight ended, Baba-san held out his right hand.

"Don't mention it — helping each other out is what party members do."

I took that hand firmly, and with it, finally said a line I'd always wanted to say someday — it ranks a humble eighteenth on my list.

"Sota, you're insanely strong!? Are you seriously F-rank!?"

Astonished at my strength though he was, Sakagami-san sheathed his sword and demanded a high five — so I obliged. A crisp, satisfying smack, and an indescribable sense of fulfillment filled my heart.

"Yes — F-rank beyond any doubt."

And there I made sure to sell my F-rank-ness all over again. Now that Sakagami-san knew I could hold my own, he immediately proposed changing up the formation: me and Sakagami-san walking two abreast up front, Baba-san following behind — the classic inverted-triangle formation.

I had no particular objection, so I agreed. Baba-san, too, seemed in favor — the formation would let him make the most of his spear's reach.

The first few fights were a touch clunky, but with every battle our teamwork got smoother. They even complimented me for it. Realizing that my experience diving with all sorts of parties was paying off here too — that made me a little happy.

And so, quietly sipping Mana Potions as we went, we pushed on — and four hours later, we'd arrived at floor ten.