Chapter

arc1 · 012-ch12

Episode 12: Yasu's Weapon

　On the weekend when we decided to explore together, Suzuka had come to the lobby of the Explorer Association at Hachioji Dungeon. July had begun, and while the intense early summer sunlight beat down outside, inside the dungeon a comfortable temperature like spring was maintained.

　The lobby was cool and pleasant, but since it had been a week since he could enter a dungeon, Suzuka waited for Yasu restlessly.

"Suzuka! Kept you waiting!"

"Oh! Morning, Yasu..."

　Suzuka turned toward Yasu and froze. There was Yasu. He was wearing the school-designated tracksuit, same as Suzuka. If it's clothing that's easy to move in, he'd probably choose that. He's also wearing a cap, which I don't usually see. Since the sun outside is strong and they're going to a dungeon, a cap might be good for protecting the head.

　That's not the problem. The reason Suzuka froze. It was because of what Yasu was holding.

"Yasu... what are you going to use that for?"

"Not bad, right! This is my weapon!"

"Your weapon... isn't that a shovel! lololol"

　That's right. For some reason, Yasu was gripping a splendid shovel when he came to the association. The dried soil caked on the tip of the shovel made it feel like it had history.

"What are you coming to the dungeon for! lololol Are you going to farm a field! lololol"

"Don't make fun of shovels! This is the recommended weapon from DanChuTuber Mr. Milimani!?"

　Suzuka held his stomach and laughed for a while.

"Good job being able to make fun of my metal bat lol"

"Sigh, that's why shallow thinkers are hopeless. You don't seem to understand the usefulness of shovels."

"Usefulness lolol Please, show me lol"

　Every time the shovel moved into his field of vision, Suzuka found it funny. Like last time, he entered the exploration schedule into the terminal and headed toward the security door.

"As always, it's beautiful, the dungeon."

　The dungeon after a week hadn't changed from before, and this place in Floor 1, District 1 flowed with a pastoral, relaxed atmosphere.

"Yasu is level 1, right? Should we try defeating an Drunken Sheep solo first?"

"Yeah, I'll try by myself first."

　Since it's a dungeon, he was on his guard, but even so, seeing Yasu holding a shovel made his face grin.

　After walking about 10 minutes, they found one Drunken Sheep eating grass alone. Suzuka took Yasu's luggage and stepped back so the target wouldn't go toward him.

　Yasu shortened the distance to the Drunken Sheep and suddenly started digging a hole with his shovel.

"What's he doing... is he digging a pitfall trap? lolol"

　Yasu dug a hole about 1 meter wide and less than 30 cm deep. The hastily dug hole couldn't really be called a pitfall trap in terms of depth or shape.

　The Drunken Sheep didn't attack even as he leisurely dug the hole. Drunken Sheep seem to have clear territories, and they react and attack when humans invade that area. So, the Drunken Sheep probably saw Yasu, but it ignored him and continued munching on grass.

"Oh, it moved."

　When Yasu finished digging the hole, he approached the Drunken Sheep with the shovel in one hand. Since the hole was dug near the Drunken Sheep's territory, when he got a little closer, the Drunken Sheep stopped eating grass and glared at Yasu.

　Maybe it's not good at patience, but the Drunken Sheep let out a threatening cry and started a charge toward Yasu. Seeing that, Yasu didn't ready his shovel but started running away showing his back.

"Oh?"

　I thought he might need help and was about to put down his luggage, but Yasu went over the hole he had dug and turned around. It seems he wasn't actually running away.

"Planning to catch it in a pitfall trap? Seriously..."

　The Drunken Sheep had seen where Yasu was digging the hole, and even if it hadn't, the hole wasn't hidden so it would be obvious if it looked. However, the Drunken Sheep continued its attack as if it didn't care about the hole at all, and as a result, it got its legs spectacularly caught in the hole and rolled loudly.

"You've got to be kidding me..."

　Yasu, holding his shovel ready, went toward the rolled Drunken Sheep and continued striking down the shovel against its fallen back. After dull thud thud sounds continued, the Drunken Sheep turned into black smoke and was absorbed into Yasu.

"Oh, thanks for watching my luggage. It went according to plan."

　Yasu received the luggage from Suzuka, whose mouth was wide open from the shock.

"Did it actually get caught in that stupid hole? By chance?"

"No, Drunken Sheep get caught. Since they're drunk, when they get angry they can't see what's around them. It's a pitiful guy, isn't it."

　Is this how empty being drunk is... Suzuka felt pity for the Drunken Sheep that had rolled helplessly and been killed.

"Too bad. Even a level 1 Drunken Sheep won't make the level go up in one shot, huh."

"You didn't level up. Anyway, I'll keep you company for leveling up in the morning."

"Oh, thanks! That helps! But, next time an Drunken Sheep comes out, try fighting it, Suzuka. I want to see how you fight with a metal bat lol"

　After a moderate rest, they resumed exploration. This time, two Drunken Sheep appeared.

"I'll do both this time. From next time, one each."

"Okay. Can you handle two?"

"Of course. Watch my bat handling."

　Suzuka left his luggage with Yasu, lightly took a practice swing, then approached the Drunken Sheep.

　Drunken Sheep: Level 2

　Looking at the Drunken Sheep, both seemed to be level 2. For Suzuka, who had reached level 3, level 2 Drunken Sheep were not a threat.

　Yasu is watching too, so should I defeat them smartly.

　Suzuka tightly gripped the metal bat that had become battered and twisted from the previous exploration. The metal bat looked miserable, but since he didn't have money to buy a replacement, he couldn't help it. The shape was warped, but it should still be able to hit things. Believing that, Suzuka brought his battle comrade metal bat again today.

　Since Drunken Sheep only do charges, combat simulation is easy. He roughly decided how to handle the two, and the Drunken Sheep started charging at the same time.

　The opening charge attack with speed that was all he could do to just avoid at first can now be handled with ease. Since his stats went up, his body's movements improved dramatically. He can move exactly as he imagines.

　Dodging the first Drunken Sheep's charge to the side, he swung the bat down toward the back of the Drunken Sheep running past. It was an attack aimed at the spine, but the timing was slightly off, and it landed on the Drunken Sheep's buttocks. It crushed the tailbone, and perhaps it gave enough damage because it turned into black smoke in one hit.

　He was relieved that he could defeat it in one hit even though it was an attack on the buttocks, but the second one was approaching close by. In response, Suzuka didn't even dodge, pulled the bat back, and fully swung at the Drunken Sheep's face with all his might.

　The timing was perfect this time. However, the side of the Drunken Sheep's face was protected by horns curled like a vortex. Suzuka's bat and the Drunken Sheep's horns collided.

　The shock of hitting something hard came back as a reaction to his hand. Involuntarily almost letting go of the bat due to the numbness in his hand, he desperately gripped it.

　Meanwhile, the Drunken Sheep received Suzuka's attack with its splendid horns... but the shock was probably too strong. It didn't just shake its brain—the neck bone apparently went. Its face was twisted in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

　Just like that, the second one also turned into black smoke and was absorbed into Suzuka.

　He was able to finish the two with two shots. He feels he's gotten considerably better at handling the bat. Fine-tuning attack position, putting strength into the moment of impact, he's probably improved more than when he played baseball.

　The fight where he defeated the second one was a battle of pure power. This is a technique possible only because the stat increase amount is high. Eventually, a limit will appear, and he needs to improve his skill while holding back on the forceful attacks like when he defeated the second one.

"You're amazing, Suzuka! You're super strong!!"

　Yasu, looking excited, approached carrying his backpack.

"Right? A metal bat's not something to throw away either."

"Honestly, I looked down on you. I didn't think you'd do such power plays with such a thin body."

"It's amazing, stats. I'm surprised too."

　Even though Suzuka has gained some flesh thanks to the stat benefits, he has a thin build. With his white skin, he looks like a weakling. Such Suzuka swinging a metal bat vigorously and defeating monsters probably has a big impact.

"I haven't leveled up either... hmm? I feel like I learned a skill!!!"

　He has defeated a total of four Drunken Sheep since the last level up, but he hasn't leveled up. Even knowing that, when he checked his status wondering if he hadn't gone up, a skill was written in the ability field that had been blank until now.

　Name: Suzuka Jozenji

　Level: 3

　Vitality: 23

　Magic: 22

　Attack: 27

　Defense: 22

　Agility: 28

　Dexterity: 26

　Intelligence: 24

　Storage: 10

　Ability: Swordsmanship (1)

"Oh! Congratulations! What did you learn?"

"It says Swordsmanship."

"Do bats get classified as swords lol"

"That's right lol no, that's not it! I learned a skill even though I didn't level up!"

　He had checked his own status even after going home, but at that time the ability field was blank. Why? he was wondering, but Yasu taught him.

"Skills are often learned by leveling up, but I've heard you can learn them without leveling up depending on your technique."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. There are people who have learned skills when they received the dungeon's blessing, right. Those guys haven't leveled up either."

　Certainly, though rare, there are people who have skills from level 1. If you say that, then skills aren't related to leveling up, are they.

"Well, basically they say you learn by leveling up, so you got lucky. If you're going to be an explorer, you should study by watching DanChuTube and such."

　DanChuTube is a streaming site specialized for dungeons. It corresponds to what YouTube was in the previous world. In the previous world, I thought YouTube wasn't that popular around this time yet, but dungeon streaming was showing popularity.

"That's true. Maybe I'll try watching when I get back."

"I'll send you recommended DanChuTubers."

"No thanks. I don't want to hold a shovel."

"Don't make fun of Mr. Milimani!?"

　While Yasu earnestly explained the virtues of DanChuTubers, they went to search for the next prey.