arc1 · 010-ch10

Episode 10: A Lecture

　After that, Suzuka managed to find two Drunken Sheep by luck, and defeated them with more ease than the first time. Thanks to the status increase from leveling up, he had become strong enough to break an Drunken Sheep's spine in a single blow.

　However, his actual combat technique wasn't much different from the first time, so there was no denying it felt like brute force. He needs practice. His status-based brute force tactics probably wouldn't work forever, and he wants to correct that early.

　On the way back, he sold the Drunken Sheep's wool at the Explorer Association's purchasing desk. Since dungeon-produced items have no variation in size or quality for the same item, the sale price was exactly 2,000 yen as per market rates.

　2,000 yen is a happy amount for a middle schooler, but it's still low as a day's reward. Even his bat got all beaten up. He can still use it as a club, but it doesn't look like he'll be able to play baseball with it anymore. With 2,000 yen, he couldn't even buy a new bat. This exploration could be called a loss.

　He decided not to sell the Drunken Sheep's mutton. He had originally wanted to try eating it, so he never intended to sell it, but if he ate it, his family would find out he had explored the dungeon, so he was wavering on whether to sell it or not.

　In foreign countries, there are voices calling the act of defeating monsters barbaric, and there are also voices opposing dungeon exploration due to suffering caused by explorers who have gained power. On the other hand, in Japan, which achieved reconstruction through the post-war dungeons, dungeon exploration is fully affirmed, and there's even an aversion to actions that obstruct it. While this doesn't apply to people who have suffered harm from explorers, many Japanese people respect explorers who risk their own lives to improve national power, and they are a presence that is appreciated like the Self-Defense Forces.

　Thinking that his parents would be happy about such a profession is too naive. It's still a profession with the danger of losing one's life, no matter how high the status. As parents, they can't stop him, but there may be conflicting feelings with wanting him to take up a safe profession.

　He entered the dungeon with a light feeling of just checking out what dungeon exploration was like, so he had kept this dungeon exploration secret from his parents. Once he entered, he might not have been that interested and might have quit after just one time, and he felt it would be troublesome to persuade them.

　Such excuses would certainly have been no problem if he hadn't been caught by his parents. But Suzuka had defeated monsters in the dungeon and leveled up. Moreover, he had gained two levels with the maximum status increase amount. Up to level 10, changes appear in the body according to the status increase amount. The body tightens up and facial features become refined, and you become the better version of the celebrity you resemble. In other words, what he's trying to say is that Suzuka has become handsome.

　While exploring the dungeon, he didn't see any major changes in his body, so he thought the appearance changes were minimal. Originally a short, skinny beanpole of a boy, Suzuka's height hadn't changed and he didn't have any excess fat to tighten. There were only slight changes like his arms getting a bit thicker and his abs becoming harder.

　But when he looked at his face in the restroom after leaving the dungeon, it had definitely become cool. There was still a resemblance, and one could easily identify him as Suzuka, but he had become the kind of face that falls into the category of handsome.

　If he went home like this, the fact that he had explored the dungeon would be discovered instantly. So Suzuka decided to face the music. Isn't there a saying that a crisis is a chance?

"I'm home~"

　He entered the house, put his luggage in his room, and washed his hands and rinsed his mouth. He looked in the bathroom mirror, and his face remained handsome. Cool.

　He took a deep breath to psych himself up and headed to the living room.

　In the living room, there was his father watching TV on the sofa and his mother preparing dinner in the kitchen. His brother was either in his room or not here.

"Welcome back. Dinner will be ready soon."

"Welcome back~"

　His mother called out from the kitchen where the delicious smell was coming from. She was stir-frying, so she hadn't seen Suzuka's face yet. His father, who greeted leisurely while looking at him, did a clean double take and then froze, unable to find the right words.

"I'm home. I have something to talk about, is that okay?"

　When he said that, his mother also turned toward Suzuka, wondering what happened. Upon seeing his face, perhaps realizing everything, she turned off the stir-fry and sat at the table with his father.

"So, what's this about?"

　His mother asked him, trying to stay calm.

"It's about my future path... no, I'm sorry for being selfish, but I want you to hear what I've decided about my future."

　Sitting up straight, Suzuka talked about his thoughts.

"As you can see, I explored the dungeon today and defeated monsters."

　His height and body type haven't changed, but his face has changed. In his original world, there would be only two choices: makeup or plastic surgery. But in this world, there are dungeons. And it's a generally widespread method. His parents would understand at a glance that his status has improved.

"At first, I just wanted to check out what explorers are like, so I tried going. But after entering the dungeon, exploring, and defeating monsters, it was incredibly fun. I thought, wouldn't it be an interesting life if I could make a living like this!"

　Even though he time-leaped and became young again, he's still 30 on the inside. Games, manga, anime. All those things he was so obsessed with that he didn't even want to sleep, as he got older, the time he spent on them decreased day by day, and by the time he was 30, he rarely touched them. Around that time, he got hooked on FX and was so absorbed he couldn't sleep, but he doesn't want to call that being absorbed.

　But dungeon exploration was different. Suzuka was captivated in just a few hours of exploration.

　Going to high school, university, and getting a job just like his first life would be fine too. He has the cheat of memory inheritance, so he might be able to choose a better path than before.

　But this is his second life. He had decided to try doing what he wants to do. He ended up committing the barbaric act of melting his entire fortune in FX by going down a path he thought was a safe bet. If that's the case, he wants to go down a path he'll think was worth doing even if he regrets it. He wants to see what awaits him at the end of running full speed down the path of being an explorer.

"So I've decided my future. I'm going to become an explorer."

　It was a child's statement with his desires changing rapidly, but perhaps Suzuka's serious feelings were conveyed, because his parents were also listening seriously.

"Right. I have two things to say. By becoming an explorer, you mean you're going to Explorer High School for your further education, right? Are you planning to go to Hachioji?"

　Explorer High School is, as the name suggests, a vocational school where young people aiming to become explorers attend. Tuition is cheap and support for dungeon exploration is generous. It has a fairly long history and accumulated know-how in explorer training. Plus, with the common goal of everyone aiming to become explorers, it's a school where you can even find party members to explore together.

"At the moment, I don't plan to attend Explorer High School. I want to start aiming to be an explorer now."

　This response was unexpected, and his parents also showed surprised faces. It's like saying he wants to be a painter but doesn't plan to go to art college or vocational school. It's no wonder they'd be surprised if he said something like that.

"You're not going to school... are you seriously thinking about this?"

"Of course, I'm serious. Besides, I just don't feel the need to go right now. If I get stuck, I plan to keep school in my sights too."

　He is well aware that entering Explorer High School is not wrong for dungeon exploration. But Suzuka wants to explore the dungeon now. Like the saying "strike while the iron is hot," he doesn't want to let this impulse smolder. If he does that, by the time he enters Explorer High School, his pace, including his level, won't match the new students, and he doesn't want to take time to match them either.

　Explorer High School is a school that accepts anyone who comes, and the entrance exam isn't difficult. Since there's still half a year until the exam, it might be a good option to decide again when it gets closer whether to enter or not.

"When you say 'if I get stuck,' that means you're going to keep entering the dungeon from now on, right?"

"That's the plan. For now, I just want to try doing what I can now."

"I see... I won't stop you from entering the dungeon. However, you must attend Explorer High School. Okay?"

"If I feel it's necessary, I'll enter. Explorer High School is just a means to become an explorer, right. If I can make it as an explorer without attending, I don't intend to enter."

　School is a means, not an end. He thinks there's probably a lot to gain by entering, but he doesn't feel that much attraction to it.

"Sigh, it seems like you won't listen to anything I say. I have one more thing to say, and I'll make it the last thing. Dad?"

"...It might not be good to say this, but honestly, Dad wants you to stop."

　That line was unexpected for Suzuka. Even though his mother was telling him to go to school, she wasn't telling him not to be an explorer.

　For Suzuka, who has the common sense of another world, it would be natural for parents to oppose it if their child said they wanted to take up a dangerous profession. However, for Suzuka's common sense in this world, having dungeon exploration denied was an unexpected reaction that was shocking.

"But, Mom and I discussed what to do if you wanted to be an explorer before you were born, and we decided what to do too."

　Father continued talking, looking straight into my eyes.

"Do your best. Try your hardest. Dad and Mom are still full of anxiety. That's why you need to become strong enough that we won't be anxious."

　In an admonishing tone of voice, he pushed my back strongly.

"...Thank you. I'll do my best!"

　Tears almost came out unintentionally. Having what you want to do supported is this happy.

　At first, I thought I might get angry for entering the dungeon, or that they'd oppose me becoming an explorer, but I'm glad I talked to them.

　Into such a living room flowing with warm air, the sound of his mother clapping her hands echoed.

"Unfortunately, it's not over yet."

　Now that she mentions it, his mother was saying she had something to say at the end.

"Suzuka, you broke the promise to talk to Dad and Mom beforehand if you were going to enter the dungeon, didn't you?"

　Where did the warm air from just now go? An uneasy atmosphere began to drift.

　Suzuka didn't remember any promise. Because the one who made that promise was the previous Suzuka. He has vague memories of the previous Suzuka, but he doesn't remember them clearly. Especially since the previous Suzuka didn't have even a speck of intention to become an explorer, he would have just brushed off such a promise thinking he wouldn't break it anyway.

"You're probably thinking of going to the dungeon tomorrow too, but tomorrow you're grounded as punishment."

"What! You agreed with me becoming an explorer!"

"That's a separate matter! You've always had a habit of not listening to people since way back!"

　From there, it was a parade of complaints and lectures. If my brother hadn't come to the living room saying he was hungry, it would have continued for several more hours. Thank you, big brother.