ch61-ch80 · 071-ch71
Chapter 71: I'm Sure She'll Be Happy
Yesterday I reached the 29th floor and discovered the 'Gate to Floor 30.'
Which means yesterday I advanced 10 floors in a single day.
Well, it's only natural when I have a strategy video to work from—the ninja's video.
After that, I kept grinding levels right up until my MP was about to run dry, and I'm currently Level 27.
And today, once again, I'm off to the dungeon first thing in the morning.
"Up early again? What's with those clothes? Since when did you own those? If you're going to buy some, get something more presentable. Here, I'll give you some allowance, so come over here."
She's awfully eager to hand over money.
Apparently, she thinks I'm heading out on a date with my girlfriend.
(A girlfriend, huh... I do have one now, don't I.)
I picture Watanabe-san's face and start grinning to myself.
This is definitely not a face I can show my mother.
"I'm offf!"
Sadly, though, today is not a date.
Oh right, when I ask her out on a date tomorrow, it's not just the place—what day should it be?
Saturday or Sunday, probably?
"Ah, jeez. Bring her home next time and introduce her to your mother, okay?"
Wait, I can bring her home!?
I turned around in surprise.
"Take care."
I wave and step out the front door.
So that was an option, huh.
I'd only been thinking about going to Watanabe-san's place—I never considered inviting her to mine.
She did say she'd tutor me, so could the date spot be my own house, of all things?
In that case, today I'll break through Floor 30 and show her.
(Will Watanabe-san be happy, I wonder?)
No, she'll probably be surprised at first.
That's right.
I haven't told her about 【Gate】 yet either, so I'll surprise her by suddenly taking her to the spot right in front of the 'Gate to Floor 30' on the 29th floor.
And then I'll make Watanabe-san a Triple-Rank adventurer.
She's bound to be thrilled.
"Ah, I should send her a message."
Watanabe-san should still be in the headquarters dungeon.
But I did at least leave her messages yesterday—when I got out of the dungeon, and before going to bed.
'Just left the house. Heading to the Chiba Branch. I might be later getting out of the dungeon than you today, but I'll contact you as soon as I'm out.'
...There. Sent.
The wording's so stiff.
Should I try adding a heart at the end?
...No way. Impossible.
First, ask her on the date.
No, wait—the 【Gate】 surprise comes first.
We'll go on a date, I'll get treated to her home cooking at her place, and then I'll bring her to my house too.
Once I break through Floor 30, everything is bound to go my way.
"Wooooo!"
The RTA to the Chiba Dungeon that day was, allegedly, never broken.
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Right now, I'm inside the warehouse on Floor 1 of the Chiba Dungeon.
First, level grinding on the 29th floor.
"【Status】"
Name: Kasugano Haruki
Job: 【Charge Spearman】【Scout】
Lv: 27
HP: 810/810
MP: 405/405
Strength: 67
Endurance: 67
Agility: 54
Magic: 40
Skill: 【Gate】【Charge・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】【Charge・Spear・Aiming】【Presence Concealment】【Scouting】【Night Vision】
Skill Points: 8
Level 27.
I fought quite a bit even after hitting 27 yesterday, so I should reach 28 soon enough.
From there, one level in the morning and one in the afternoon—I'd like to get to Level 30 if possible.
After that, it's Floor 30.
If things look bad, I can just use 【Gate】 to come back.
There's nothing dangerous about it.
"The dangerous part is the level grinding I'm about to do."
My MP is fully restored right now.
Yesterday, it was nearly at zero when I left the dungeon.
MP apparently recovers in 10 to 12 hours as long as you're outside the dungeon.
There's individual variation here too, but people with large MP pools—magic jobs, that is—are slower to recover, or rather, the recovery speed itself is fast, but it takes longer for them to fill all the way back up.
I want to conserve as much MP as possible for the Floor 30 attempt.
Two levels in the morning, then I'll step outside during the break afterward to recover.
In the afternoon, once I've gone up one more level, I'll take another break, restore as much MP as I can, and then head for Floor 30.
For that plan to work, I need to grind levels without using super mode.
Completely avoiding MP use is probably impossible, though.
The Forest Ogre density on Floor 29 is bad enough that they're within visible range now.
I intend to level up while fleeing with 【Gate】—just enough to keep from getting surrounded.
"Now then, today's weapon is... let's go with the halberd."
Breaking magic stones from behind with the rental spear would be the smart play, but the joint near the spearhead is a little loose, so I want to keep it in reserve for Floor 30.
I pushed myself hard with the nagamaki yesterday, so today I'll start with the halberd.
Beheading them from behind with the nagamaki was easy, but today I'll be fighting head-on a lot more.
The halberd, which deals damage just by swinging it around, looks like the better fit.
Without weapon enhancement, the nagamaki doesn't cut all that well, you know.
'It's yer arm, that's what it is.'
Yes, ma'am. Sorry.
Mia-san did say she wanted to hear my impressions, but if I tell her that honestly, will she get mad at me?
I held off on the halberd yesterday because the noise it makes in combat worried me, but today there are already Forest Ogres within sight, so there's no point worrying about it now.
I'll make use of its long reach and start cracking skulls from the front.
Alright, let's go.
(【Presence Concealment】【Gate】.)
MP: 405→404
I'm not using 【Scouting】.
No enemies are stationed around 'Floor Gates.'
That said, monsters sometimes chase people and end up near a 'Floor Gate,' so normally I should use it—but this is the Chiba Dungeon.
Even the most advanced party out there is apparently still grinding levels on Floor 25.
Unless some irregular like the ninja from the video shows up, there's no one on Floor 29.
(A Forest Ogre... one right in front of me, to start.)
I tuck myself between the 'Left Gate' and the 'Gate to Floor 30,' hiding as I size up my surroundings.
Thanks to 【Presence Concealment】, the Forest Ogre hasn't noticed me. A chance for a surprise attack.
I creep up from behind and slam the halberd down on its head with everything I've got.
"Go, go..."
Its head is half-crushed with a wet crunch, but it doesn't die instantly...
Then again, it's in no state to let out a scream either.
I'd like to finish it off, but slamming the halberd down made quite a lot of noise.
I can hear another Forest Ogre coming closer.
I hide myself behind a tree and listen carefully.
One from the left and one from the right?
I can't tell which is closer, so I head right.
"Gogaaah!"
The Forest Ogre lets out a roar the instant it lays eyes on me.
(You damn idiot.)
Now even the Forest Ogres farther out have probably noticed me.
I slam the halberd head-on into the Forest Ogre charging me with its claws raised.
The Forest Ogre is tall too, but the halberd's long reach lets me hit its head.
(I can do this.)
So I can fight them head-on.
I couldn't take it down in a single blow, but the Forest Ogre is out of the fight.
I thrust into the back of the crouched Forest Ogre.
A heavy jolt runs up the shaft.
I couldn't shatter the magic stone, but the halberd sank in deep—that has to be a fatal wound.
(And then I run.)
The 'Left Gate' is still up.
I run back to the 'Gate to Floor 30.'