ch21-ch40 · 023-ch23

Chapter 23: This is the kind of thing boys like, right?

I'll change the boss floor to no wait time.

Instead of closing after 1 minute when the first person enters, I'll make it so the gate closes as soon as it reaches the capacity of 5 people, allowing the next party to enter immediately.

While 30 minutes might be fine for Chiba, it would cause terrible congestion at headquarters and other places.

I'll also fix the past story parts.

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"I'll try challenging the first floor bare-handed to see if I can get [Monk]."

Well, not that I'm actually going to do that.

While gathering information online and posting on anonymous boards, it seems [Knight] is apparently the way to go.

They also told me to switch to a sword.

I'll hold off on that for now.

I don't have a sword.

I'll check out the weapon shop after cashing in my magic stones.

Tomorrow's Saturday, so I'll head to the dungeon in the morning like I'm going to school.

(Watanabe-san seems to have weekends off, so I can't consult with her about jobs... And I can't cash in my stones until Monday, so I guess I'm stuck with the spear until then... Wait, maybe I can cash them in???)

While thinking about such things, I'd drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

The next morning, the temperature was apparently going to reach 30 degrees again today, and it was already hot from morning.

But unlike heading to school, my mood was surprisingly upbeat.

I sped off on my bike toward the dungeon.

I entered the Adventurer's Association branch and went straight through the 'Dungeon Gate.'

The time was just past 8 AM.

"There are people... At the Chiba Dungeon of all places..."

I'd recently learned from online information that Chiba is apparently the most underpopulated dungeon in Japan.

The reason is that the Tokyo Dungeon, where the Adventurer's Association headquarters is located, is just one train ride away, and the monsters that appear there are the same as in the Chiba Dungeon.

There's apparently something called "pickup parties," where you can form temporary parties with people you meet that day to conquer dungeons.

Headquarters has so many people that you can apparently form pickup parties even on weekdays.

I'd heard it was impossible even on weekends at Chiba, but... there are people here.

But they all seem to be in parties.

They appear to be grouped in sets of 5.

Their luggage is incredible. Camping equipment.

Well, you normally need to stay overnight if you're going to the 20th floor.

When you include two days' worth of food and water, this amount of luggage makes sense.

"I guess I should buy some water too."

The general store on the first floor should sell that delicious dungeon water.

The mysterious water that for some reason tastes delicious when you drink it in the dungeon. I still haven't tried it.

There were two middle-aged men at the Association branch counter.

Not the customers in line, but inside the counter.

Just two middle-aged men on a Saturday morning when it should be busiest—this is the Chiba Dungeon for you.

If I were the branch manager, I'd have Hayashi-san working here on weekend mornings.

Then one of the middle-aged men became available, so I headed to his counter.

...It was perfect service.

From "Good morning" to "Have a nice day," completely polite speech.

He smiled throughout and didn't ask any unnecessary questions.

There was none of that "A high school student alone? Hmph, let's see what you've got" attitude, and his partner wasn't grinning either.

...They were the most normal staff members.

I guess being assigned to Saturday morning duty means they're competent.

Looking closer, both of them were pretty handsome guys.

"...I should go buy some water."

Feeling a bit defeated, I bought some water and then casually made my way to the 9th floor.

Of course, from the 2nd floor onward, it's the 'Right Gate.'

"Someone went in."

The 'Gate to Floor 10' at the boss floor entrance changed from red to black.

This means the capacity of 5 has been reached, and there's no one in the next boss floor.

Sorry for making fun of you for being underpopulated.

Hayashi-san, there really are people at the Chiba Dungeon, you know.

"I guess I'll go too."

I went through the 'Gate to Floor 10' and moved to the boss floor.

With this, the 'Gate to Floor 10' on the 9th floor should have turned red.

When the capacity reaches 5 or 1 minute passes, the boss Minotaur spawns.

At the same time, the 'Gate to Floor 10' on the 9th floor also turns black, and the next person to enter gets sent to a separate boss floor.

The Minotaur spawned.

The distance was closer than yesterday. Maybe less than 5 meters.

But it's walking slowly.

I'd like to say this is already my range, but I let it make the first move and strike at its opening.

The Minotaur raised its large axe with both hands and swung down, just like yesterday.

Then I, just like yesterday, took one step back to dodge, then thrust.

It felt more solid than yesterday.

I immediately pulled back, making a feint.

Lure it in and dodge.

Four times.

One less attack than yesterday.

The Minotaur collapsed.

Was it thanks to leveling up, or had my skills improved?

My status opening automatically was the same as yesterday.

The difference was...

'Available Jobs'

[Warrior] [Mage] [Scout]

[Spearman] [Short Spearman] [Long Spearman] [Charge Spearman] new [Javelineer]

[Staff User] [Club User]

[Acrobat]

[Knight] [Fighter]

There's a new one. [Charge Spearman].

I remember it being pretty strong stat-wise, but it only has specialized skills.

I mean, its only attack skill is [Charge・Spear].

Most of its other skills are ones that enhance this [Charge・Spear].

[Charge] is what you'd call a charged attack.

It continuously consumes MP while you're in the charging stance.

And [Charge・Spear] is a thrusting attack.

In other words, you charge and then thrust.

The more MP you consume, the higher your attack power becomes.

This suits me, since I can go outside before boss battles to recover MP.

Enough power to shatter the boss's magic stone in one hit.

A romantic weapon, isn't it...

This is the kind of thing boys like, right?

That's what the dungeon seems to be saying.