arc1 · 014-ch14

Episode 14: First Day's Results

After defeating the Clay Pot Turtle, which was at a higher level than themselves, Suzuka and the others decided to end today's exploration.

"The gate's over that way, right?"

"That's right. Watch out for this too. To learn the Map skill, always know your own position clearly."

"The Map skill?"

According to Yasu, there's apparently a skill called Map. If you learn that skill, you'll be able to tell which direction the dungeon entrance is and which district you're currently in. And apparently, you can only learn this skill up to the first floor.

The method for learning is almost established: constantly knowing your own position during dungeon exploration. It's tough for those with hopeless direction sense, but it's a skill you can learn if you put in effort.

However, when acting as a party, the person who's good at it inevitably becomes the navigator. Once that happens, only one or two people can learn it, and it's apparently rare for the entire party to be able to learn it.

It's fine if there's someone in the party who can use Map, but since it's a useful skill, there's nothing better than learning it yourself.

"Thanks, Mr. Yasupedia."

"Yasupedia is supported by everyone's donations. We appreciate your cooperation."

After promising to treat Yasu to juice later, the two headed toward the exit.

◇

"Good work exploring!"

"Yeah!"

Suzuka and Yasu were raising a toast on a park bench. Naturally not alcohol—what the two were drinking was milk tea in paper cartons. Seeing Yasu holding one, Suzuka also felt like drinking some for the first time in a while and got the same thing.

This is tasty. I used to drink it a lot when I was a student, but stopped because the paper cartons were inconvenient.

"Hey, is this really okay? Buying up to that snack for me too?"

As thanks for Yasu teaching him various things about dungeons, Suzuka treated him to juice and hot snacks. Especially with the Map skill only being learnable in the early stages, he was glad to learn about it before it was too late.

"It's totally fine. Think of it as your share for the magic stones."

Today, with their levels up and the two of them together, they were able to defeat 22 Drunken Sheep. Thanks to that, between the two of them they dropped 3 pieces of Drunken Sheep wool, 2 pieces of Drunken Sheep mutton, and 1 micro magic stone. No items dropped from the Kettle Raccoons or Clay Pot Turtle, but they defeated few of those so having no drops is unavoidable.

Drunken Sheep wool is 2,000 yen per piece so 6,000 yen total. The micro magic stone is 500 yen. Since the mutton we ate last time was incredibly delicious, we decided not to sell the mutton meat and for each of us to take one piece home as a souvenir.

The results of exploring together all day: 6,500 yen. Since the micro magic stone was in Suzuka's Storage, it became Suzuka's share, so this time's result is 3,500 yen. As expected, rewards are low in an area like Floor 1, District 1 that anyone can explore.

"I didn't think we could earn 3,000 yen. It's extra income!"

"It's fine to be happy, but the shovel might break, so don't waste it."

Whether it was because the shovel Yasu brought was a fine one or what, but its shape wasn't distorted and it looked like it could still be used for quite a while. On the other hand, Suzuka's metal bat was battered and dented, and it would probably need to be replaced before long.

"By the way, are you going tomorrow too?"

"I plan to. You coming too, Yasu?"

"Of course! We can earn money!"

This time, when there were Kettle Raccoons, they had avoided combat. Because of that, there were many monsters they passed by. However, now that they knew they could fight both Kettle Raccoons and Clay Pot Turtles, they would probably be able to defeat even more monsters in tomorrow's exploration.

"By the way, Suzuka, what are you going to do about a drone?"

"A drone?"

Being suddenly asked about drones is puzzling. When Suzuka tilted his head, Yasu realized and explained.

"It's hard to tell what's happening inside a dungeon, right? They actually do a lot of news stories about how there are many troubles too."

"I've heard that. Like how explorers shouldn't help each other but shouldn't get involved! That kind of thing gets written a lot."

Apparently in the past, explorers used to help each other, but in recent years, conflicts and crimes among explorers have increased, and the current explorer way is mutual non-interference.

In fact, even if you kill someone inside a dungeon, they can't tell whether it was by a monster or by a human, and if you leave the corpse, it apparently disappears due to the dungeon's self-cleansing effect. The police also basically don't want to get involved with explorers, and it's said that especially what happens inside dungeons is mostly ignored.

"So, in case something happens, explorers are always flying drones. For the record."

"Haa, I see. So it's like a dash cam."

"Dash cam?"

"Ah, right. That's a story from over there. Don't worry about it."

Dash cams hadn't become widespread yet in 2009, huh. Dangerous, dangerous.

Come to think of it, drones shouldn't have appeared until much later either. It must be supply and demand. Dash cams also exploded in popularity once reckless driving became a topic. If there's demand, that much budget can be allocated to development, and in this world, thanks to dungeons, drones were created early.

"DanChuTube also does live streaming of footage shot with drones."

"Aah, I see. So they film the battles with drones too."

"Yeah, yeah. Even if you don't stream, it serves as evidence if something happens, and you can watch it back later to review your battles. It's an essential item for explorers. Well, since it's expensive that much, you probably can't buy one right away."

A drone, huh. I once bought a small hand-sized drone, and that was fun.

If it serves the same purpose as a dash cam, it wouldn't be a loss to buy one. Dash cams also lead to preventing reckless driving. If having a drone is the norm, conversely speaking, explorers without drones become perfect targets for criminals, so maybe it's better to buy one early.

"Hey, Suzuka. As a near-term goal, why don't we aim for level 10?"

Yasu said that with a serious face. While I think I'll work hard as an explorer, I didn't have any clear goals. Level 10 as a near-term goal is a reasonable one, and I agree. But that alone isn't enough.

"Hey now, Yasu-san. Isn't it defeating the Boss Fox?"

Since it was a lower goal than I expected, I couldn't help but interject.

There are a total of 5 types of monsters that appear in Floor 1, District 1. We were able to defeat Drunken Sheep, Kettle Raccoons, and Clay Pot Turtles today. The remaining two types are Underling Fox and Boss Fox.

Underling Fox are levels 8-10, making them upper-tier existences in Floor 1, District 1. And the Boss Fox is level 12. It's an area boss existence in Floor 1, District 1. Area bosses exist in each district—one in District 1, two in District 2, and in the outermost District 5 there are 5 area bosses. Literally, it's the boss that exists in that area.

"Hah!? Are you seriously saying that?"

"Of course, right? We're doing dungeon exploration, aren't we? If there's an area boss, we want to defeat it, right?"

It's not like we can't proceed without defeating the area boss, but if there's a boss, defeating it is what explorers do, isn't it?

"Sigh. This is why idiots who charge into dungeons alone with a metal bat in one hand are..."

"What's that? You seriously planning to skip the Boss Fox?"

Yasu shrugged his shoulders with a "good grief," and Suzuka couldn't help but criticize him.

"...You're seriously planning to defeat the Boss Fox? It's an area boss, you know?"

"Of course. If you're not going, I'll go alone."

I just decided to work hard at dungeon exploration. I can't imagine skipping the boss of Floor 1, District 1, the very first area. Suzuka is the type who wants to clear all missions set for each area before proceeding to the next.

Once again, Yasu looked at Suzuka with a serious face, but Suzuka also had no intention of yielding. While I don't intend to force him, if he's not coming, I plan to go alone. Their gazes crossed for several seconds. The one to break first was Yasu.

"Fine! Fine, fine, okay! Okay. I'll go too."

"You don't have to force yourself. It's dangerous."

"I know better than you what's more dangerous than me! If I leave you alone, you'll charge in by yourself and die, so I'm saying I'll come with you!"

"What's this? What's this? Tsundere? lol"

"I'll seriously punch you, you know."

Yasu's tone is harsh, but he seems to have made his resolve. Yasu isn't the kind of man who breaks promises. Since he said he'd do it, he'll probably come along.

"Now that it's come to this, let's defeat the Boss Fox and completely conquer Floor 1, District 1!"

"Oh! Nice, that! I'm getting fired up somehow!"

When you have a goal, you get motivated. I thought I'd defeat it eventually, but doing it together with Yasu makes me fired up.

"Then tomorrow is leveling up! Underling Fox use weapons and always act in groups, so let's avoid fighting them tomorrow."

"Okay. Even if our levels go up, let's avoid challenging Underling Fox tomorrow."

When your level goes up and your status increases, you create leeway. Having leeway is a good thing, but leeway creates carelessness and complacency. Now that Yasu is with me too, safe strategies are essential.

"Alright! We've decided what to do, so let's go home."

"Nah, I wonder what everyone will say when they see my face."

"If that good-looking face of yours gets all smirky, it's ruined, Yasu."

Yasu also received the benefits of status, and his appearance had changed. His originally narrow eyes remained as they were, but his face had tightened up and the acne specific to puberty had disappeared too. A narrow-eyed handsome man had explosively appeared. Since this guy is also tall, he'll probably be someone who makes the class buzz.

"Nah, I'm actually looking forward to going to school."

"With that face, you could probably get a girlfriend, couldn't you?"

"You too! ...No, wait, in your case, a guy?"

Yasu said something ominous.

That's right. This time too, Suzuka's level went up. Receiving those benefits, even more changes appeared on his face. As a result, while he's handsome, the vector is different, or what should I say. Simply put, his face was gradually becoming more androgynous. With the fineness of his features and his pale skin, it was becoming a face that could pass for a woman if you said woman.

"Don't say jokes I can't laugh at... please."

"I don't deny that way of living either, you know. Yeah."

Even though it's not an era where the word diversity is used a lot, Yasu was tolerant.

"Sigh... I wonder if I can't get a bit more muscle."

Suzuka looked at his arms, which were thin enough that you wouldn't think he was beating monsters to death with a metal bat, with resentment.