arc3 · 180-ch180

Chapter 180: VS Fang Wolf

"Here we go — the boss. I'm getting nervous, man."

Having reached floor ten, we didn't march straight into the boss room — we held a proper strategy meeting first. The two of them said they'd started doing strategy meetings ever since watching Kokushi Musou's streams. Popular parties really do carry influence, huh.

Waiting inside was a single E-rank Fang Wolf — assuming no Dungeon Error, that is. Normally I'd send a drone in ahead, but this time that wasn't an option. Thinking about it, explorers who face down this tension every single time are honestly amazing.

For parties with room to spare it's one thing, but for a party running right at its limit, a boss room would truly be a life-or-death gamble. Well — the odds of a Dungeon Error aren't that high, mind you.

"We've got a solid plan worked out, so I think we'll be fine."

I told them it'd be all right, if only to take the edge off their nerves.

"With you here, Sota, we'll make it."

Ohh — even Baba-san's putting his faith in me. Much appreciated!

"Alright, let's move! Just like the plan!"

Sakagami-san pushed the door open, and with our resolve steeled, we stepped into the room where the boss awaited.

"One Fang Wolf!"

Thank goodness — no Dungeon Error, apparently. This, we can handle — or so I thought—

"Here it comes! It's fast!?"

"Ugh!?"

Maybe it was because they'd only fought F-ranks until now, but Baba-san couldn't keep up with the E-rank Fang Wolf's speed — his movements locked up, and sharp claws came bearing down right before his eyes.

CLANG!

Things had gotten a little too dangerous, so I thrust out my katana and caught those claws on it.

"Ah — thanks."

Baba-san, this is really not the moment for thank-yous!

"Why you—! Take this! Take THIIIS!"

Maybe that exchange had rattled him too, but Sakagami-san went flailing wildly at the Fang Wolf. The Fang Wolf, though, dodged it all with room to spare and put some distance between them.

"Sakagami-san, please calm down. Watch it closely — it's not an opponent you can't keep up with."

Judging by everything so far, this shouldn't be a foe these two can't beat. To get them used to its movements, maybe I'll take it on for a bit.

"I'll take this one."

With that, I darted out in front of the Fang Wolf, which had been sizing us up.

"GRRAAAH!"

The Fang Wolf seemed to have made up its mind too: quick, feinting footwork — and then it snapped its jaws at me.

"Hup, hup, and there."

I slipped past each snapping bite by the narrowest of margins. Truth be told, I had plenty more room — but dodge too easily and they might start questioning my rank, so I did a little acting, playing up the close calls.

"Incredible — it looks like he's dodging by a hair, but there's not a trace of panic on his face."

Hm? That's odd. Isn't my stock going up in Sakagami-san's books?

"He's reading it perfectly..."

Ah. Now even Baba-san...

Well — setting their impressions of me aside, I had a Fang Wolf to keep busy.

"Sakagami-san, Baba-san — support, please."

Dodging the Fang Wolf's claws and fangs here, catching them on my katana there, I waited for the two of them to move in.

"Sota, left!"

And then, from directly behind me, came Baba-san's voice — loud, for once. So this man could project like that.

Following the call, I sprang left — and while I was at it, gave its right foreleg a light slash to dull the Fang Wolf's reactions.

Doshu!

A spear thrust out with exquisite timing drove deep into the Fang Wolf's throat.

"Got it!"

And from behind Baba-san, Sakagami-san burst out and took its head clean off.

"Whew, that was close! If you hadn't been here, Sota, the both of us would've been done for. Thank you!"

With the Fang Wolf down, Sakagami-san went and thanked me all over again. Sure, that first strike had been dangerous — but looking out for each other comes with the territory the moment you form a party, so being thanked so formally like that was a little embarrassing.

"You saved me. Thank you."

Then Baba-san thanked me too. His words were few, but they felt absolutely brimming with sincerity. He's probably just a good person, through and through.

"Not at all — even if only for the day, I became a party member, so helping out is only natural. I simply did what I could."

"What you could do was way too incredible, is the problem! How is an F-rank like you, Sota, trading blows with an E-rank Fang Wolf all by yourself — and holding his own or better!?"

Ah — right, rank-wise it was a step above me, wasn't it. But my level is past 30, you see. I only registered as F-rank because I'm a brand-new explorer — and level 30 puts you at roughly B-rank territory.

Admittedly, I'm not a combat-type Job, so I doubt I'd beat a combat explorer of the same level. But C-rank monsters? I feel like I could take those down.

"I did a bit of level grinding on F-ranks, maybe."

I told them the truth about the grinding. Just not the part about the drones.

"But fighting F-ranks, you wouldn't level up all that much, would you?"

Uh-oh — Baba-san had me there. He was right: against same-level or weaker opponents, the EXP barely trickles in.

"I worked hard."

Whatever form it took, hard work was hard work — so I answered with total confidence. Perhaps because I sounded so sure of myself, that was the end of the questions.

We picked up the Magic Stone and fangs the Fang Wolf had dropped and headed for the Transfer Stone chamber.

"Whoa! So this is the Transfer Stone!"

"We finally made it this far..."

Both Sakagami-san and Baba-san seemed genuinely moved by the sight of the glowing blue Transfer Stone. I was an absolute wreck the first time I saw one too, after all.

"Huh. You don't look all that moved, Sota."

Sakagami-san, who'd been drinking in the Transfer Stone with his eyes, glanced up and asked me that.

"Ah, no — I was so moved I couldn't get a word out. It's... prettier than I expected, honestly."

I answered, dredging up the memory of how I'd felt the first time I laid eyes on a Transfer Stone.

"Yeah... it really is."

"I think so too."

They agreed with my honest impression more readily than I'd expected. And then — one last three-man high five — we used the Transfer Stone and returned to floor one.