000-020 · 018-ch15

Chapter 15: A Simple Lesson

The next morning after leaving, we'd climbed about four floors and reached a familiar place.

We were able to return all the way to the deepest part of the deep layer.

"We've reached the deep layer."

"Deep layer? So this is the very back of the deep layer?"

"Yeah. We won't go up to the lower layer from here, we'll head to where the Dullahan is, so hold on a bit longer."

I urged Akane-ojou, who had turned back from Kanata-ojou's arms, to face forward again, and tapped Robo's belly with my foot to gradually accelerate.

Akane-ojou is acting the same as usual even after last night's incident, but Kanata-ojou is clearly avoiding talking to me. She's talking normally in the stream, so I guess that's not a concern.

The reason is undoubtedly last night's events. It's only natural that would make things awkward, and it's actually amazing that Akane-ojou can talk normally after what was said. I don't think I said anything wrong, but it's entirely possible they felt bad or got angry about it.

(Well, just for today.)

Among deep layer monsters, there aren't any that would even try to mess with Robo at his current speed, so while riding, I'm half-consciously supporting Kanata-ojou and the others, while my head fills with unnecessary thoughts.

(Making friends is surprisingly difficult.)

Come to think of it, I've never had anyone I could truly call a friend in a deep sense. Though that's misleading. For example, in high school, I thought the classmates in the same class were friends, and I thought the club members were friends too. We got along reasonably well. But we drifted apart after entering university, and after that, we never met or even exchanged messages.

In university, I was the only one who advanced from the same high school, and with the credit system, the members were always changing and seats were随意 changed, so naturally there was no one I could call a friend with a close relationship.

At the time, looking around and seeing people from different high schools forming groups, I keenly realized that I'm really bad at reaching out to people.

In high school, there were multiple people in the same classroom taking the same classes, and naturally common topics emerged and conversations became lively. That's why I was able to make people I thought of as friends, but thinking about it now, maybe anyone was fine as long as they could share topics. So when that disappeared, the connections naturally vanished too, and the message app lined up with talk histories that had no notifications.

And when you start thinking that way, you fall into a bad loop where it becomes even harder to interact with people.

With people who naturally get involved through some flow, or with people who approach me, I interact friendlily, and when that connection disappears, I don't initiate contact from my side. I don't have that courage or energy. Saying "I welcome what comes and don't pursue what leaves" sounds good, but it's understandable why I never could make deep friendships.

Asked if I don't yearn for such relationships, saying no would be a lie. I don't desperately want it or get depressed over it, but I've always had a faint longing for something I can't have due to my nature.

With the two of them too, I'm drawing a line using my long solitary life in the dungeon and my thoughts about the dungeon as an excuse, but somewhere in my heart, I understand that I'm thinking, "I wonder if we could become friends."

(Come to think of it, I really don't hate talking to people. Yet starting to interact with people, no, I'm basically bad at starting to interact.)

I have quite a difficult personality even by my own standards.

In that respect, streaming is surprisingly good, I think again. Especially with a small number of people like now, it's easy to pick up their reactions and easy to do. With a large number of viewers like Kanata-ojou, it must be tough. In the stream I saw when I picked her up before, dozens or hundreds of comments arrived in just a few seconds. With that volume, reacting would be difficult.

In my case, even with a small number of people, I'm grateful they come to me. I feel happy that I'm honestly being cared for. Maybe I'll continue streaming targeting a small number of people for a while.

I wryly smile realizing I thought that in my heart.

Look, again. While I was diving into the dungeon alone, I didn't notice. Before I knew it, I'm seeking human interaction.

Really, life is difficult.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

"Alright then, I'm going to take down the Dullahan now. Is everyone awake?"

"I'm awake!"

"Already bright and early!"

"I stopped exploring today thinking we'd reach the Dullahan today!"

"I interrupted my swing training to watch this!"

"I'm watching while imagining magic power. Somehow I feel like I understand it."

"I asked my childhood friend to teach me kendo, but they got angry saying dungeons are different."

"Oh, you're already doing it. That makes me happy."

Even though I spoke in such a strict way, the viewers of my stream are the same number as my subscribers. That means everyone who can watch now is watching my stream.

"Kanata-ojou, what about the drone during battle?"

"The drone has a program built in to film battles, so when a battle starts, it'll film in the same style as usual. You should be able to set things like overhead shots, first-person shots, and follow mode from the smartphone."

"I see. Hmm? But the drone couldn't keep up with Robo's dash, so can it film battles?"

"That depends on the drone's performance. If the battle is too fast, it'll probably blur."

"I see, thanks."

I don't think a drone could keep up with my sword at close range anyway, and this time I don't want to show my battle with overwhelming impact. So I'll switch to overhead filming and have them film the entire battle from a distance to some degree.

Inside a room about thirty meters away, the Dullahan was already visible, standing in a stance with a sword thrust into the ground. Area bosses up to the deep layer generally don't start moving until you enter the room where the area boss exists or attack from outside, so it's easy to prepare in front of the room.

"Well then, I'm going to fight the Dullahan now. You lot, I'll show you a proper example, so watch closely."

I told the viewers that and closed the comment window. I said I could one-shot the Dullahan, but I don't intend to do that today. There are people who've decided to make an effort because they heard my voice. I should show them at least one or two examples.

"Then, I'll fight it now."

"Yeah, I won't forgive you if you get hurt."

I lightly bump my fist against the fist Akane-ojou held out in front of me.

Then I turn my gaze toward Kanata-ojou, and she approaches with an expression of determination on her face.

"Go... good luck. I'm cheering for you."

"Yeah, alright. Well, I won't lose to something like a Dullahan."

"And also."

"Hm?"

After a slight hesitation, she continues while looking straight into my eyes.

"Last night, I'm sorry. I really am grateful that John-san saved me. There's no lie in those words. So, if possible, please don't get hurt.

At those words, I can't help but look dumbfounded. She seems to have been seriously concerned about the words I said intending to hammer in the point last night. Well, I was saying it pretty seriously too, so that probably became a factor in the misunderstanding.

"Hahaha, I understand that properly."

"Eh?"

This time, unlike before, I consciously place my hand on Kanata-ojou's head and lightly pat her head, pat-pat, infusing it with the thought "don't worry about various things." It's not so much dealing with a girl as dealing with a child, as I pat her head. The expression my cousin showed when I said I was going to the dungeon was similar to her current expression.

"Well, I got cheered on by a girl, so. I'll do it properly."

Leaving behind Kanata-ojou who tried to say something in a panic, I start walking alone toward the boss room where the Dullahan is. The two drones that followed me descend and stop around my shoulders at the same time I stop my feet in front of the boss room.

"The Dullahan is a monster that defends with its body using sturdy armor and attacks with a great sword swung with tremendous power. The size is about the same as a human, but if you let your guard down, you'll get seriously injured.

I explain with the viewers ahead of my stream, not Kanata-ojou's stream, in mind.

"Simple, but strong because it's simple. At least for explorers at the level who challenge here, they probably couldn't take a proper hit. Well, that's the whole point. You can handle such things with technique.

At the same time I step into the boss room, I flow magic power into the bracelet on my right hand, and this time I materialize not a knife but a straight sword. At the same time, the drones that had been hovering around both shoulders flew up to near the boss room's ceiling.

The materialized straight sword, too long to be called a one-handed sword and too light to be called a two-handed sword, is a type of sword called a bastard sword. Among the phantom weapons that can be materialized from the bracelet, it's one of my favorites.

With that sword in my right hand, I don't suddenly charge into the Dullahan. The moment I entered the boss room, the Dullahan started moving and pulled its great sword from the ground. First, I bow. With my right hand holding the weapon in front and my left foot pulled back, my body slightly facing forward, I tilt to the left and bow. It's a bow that knights give to knights before battle, learned deeper in the dungeon.

And then contact begins. The Dullahan's foot speed isn't fast, or rather, it's slow even compared to explorers. If you're lightly equipped and reasonably fast on foot, you could probably keep running as long as your stamina lasts.

Into such a Dullahan's guard, I step in with a straight sword in one hand.

"First is basics. Don't take attacks from enemies more powerful than yourself, parry them.

The great sword swung down from directly above with its right hand. I catch that great sword with my straight sword held in both hands, and instead of resisting directly from the front, I tilt the sword just before impact to send the momentum of the slash to the left side of my body. Furthermore, by moving my body to the right side with footwork at the same time, the great sword that was swung straight down slightly changes its course and is slammed into the ground on my left side, gouging the earth.

"Don't try to parry with just your arm. Use your whole body to parry. And then use footwork to secure your next position.

Since I've stepped in up to the area of the Dullahan's left arm which swung the great sword down, its body full of openings is exposed in front of me. First, one hit—I swing a slash not intending to cut the neck at all.

"Against the enemy's weapon arm, take the inside rather than the outside. The enemy's next attack will be weaker from there, and you can capture the front of their body.

I duck under the great sword that was swung up toward me from where it was slammed down.

"If you can dodge, dodging is fine too. However, make your intention for the next attack clear. Carelessly taking distance isn't dodging, it's running away.

I swing the sword through while crouching, scratching the armor on the Dullahan's shin. And then, as if passing by the Dullahan's arm pulling back the sword, I slip through its armpit and head to its back.

"Sometimes it's easier to avoid near the base rather than the tip. Surprisingly, there are monsters where sticking to the body is safer than being at an intermediate distance.

Continuing on, I also avoid the Dullahan's attack of swinging its sword behind it by sticking to its body, maintaining my position at its back.

"Attacks from behind are certainly safe. However, most monsters have sturdier backs compared to the front. Once you get used to battle, be aware of the risk of battles dragging on.

After that, matching the Dullahan's speed, I exchange blows with the Dullahan at a speed even deep layer explorers can manage, and insert explanations as appropriate.

"When you get used to it, be aware not just of the enemy's current attack, but the next one, and the one after that.

I then predict and speak all of the following three attacks in advance, and demonstrate parrying all of them.

"And finally──"

I parry the Dullahan's great sword swung sideways diagonally upward, and just before the great sword slides along my straight sword and leaves near the base, I also put strength into my sword as if to boost that momentum, making the Dullahan stagger significantly.

In front of my eyes, the Dullahan's body is opened wide, knocked back so that its great sword reaches its back.

"No matter how many moves it takes, attack intending to finish it off properly.

Gripping the sword hilt with both hands, I step in vigorously. I cut through the Dullahan's armpit with momentum.

Behind me, having moved several meters in one step, the Dullahan was split cleanly in two vertically from head to crotch.

I dismiss the swung sword and deliver the final words.

"It's absurd to attack because you hit. Make the aim of each attack clear. It's fine to take away the enemy's ability to move, it's fine to take away their means of attack. Be conscious of finishing it off, and deal necessary attacks.

And thus, my first lecture stream ended.