arc3 · 040-ch40

Episode 40: zoo 2

"Not only Gale Rabbits, but Suzuka-chan has also defeated the area bosses Fresh Green Great Wolf and Rabbit Demon Iron Skin. She was a monster beyond the rumors."

As Kirin watched the three whose understanding couldn't catch up, she was remembering the time she had tea with Suzuka.

Talking with her, it felt like she was being shown clearly that she herself was the common-sense person.

Kirin was born and raised in a family of elite explorers—her parents are explorers belonging to a first-grade guild. Her excellent sister belongs to a first-grade guild starting this year, and so Kirin had seen many explorers since childhood.

Among them, she had her own answer to what the difference was between those who end up as first-grade explorers like her parents and those who can reach special-grade explorers.

It was whether they operate by different common sense.

As a shared understanding among explorers, while they respect and admire special-grade explorers, there's also the idea that first-grade explorers are what you should aim for. First-grade explorers are few in number, and because of that, the scarcity value of items that first-grade explorers carry is high, enabling them to obtain enormous wealth.

On the other hand, special-grade explorers naturally obtain enormous wealth, but they have the responsibility of pioneering the information-poor frontlines and are constantly in danger of death.

Exploration is a profession, a job to earn money, so they aim to be first-grade explorers where they can expect high returns while lowering risk. That's common sense. That's normal for explorers. That's the general value system.

But special-grade explorers don't have that kind of thinking. They don't hole up in dungeons with thoughts like "I might die" or "I want money." Since there's still more ahead, they move forward. That's the kind of exploration that's become normal for special-grade explorers.

Their way of thinking is unique, and they often give interviews, but they frequently don't mesh well. That's special-grade explorers—operating with a completely different way of thinking from other explorers.

From Kirin's perspective with this personal theory, Suzuka had the aptitude to be special-grade.

The rule that you should act in groups in dungeons, the iron rule that area bosses are dangerous so you should avoid them, the common sense that if you're going to be an explorer, you attend Explorer High. She doesn't possess any of these.

She probably did know that you should hide your status and skills to some extent. When asked if she had defeated an area boss, she played it off amusingly while her eyes swam around evasively. She must be the type who can't lie.

Remembering that time, she suppressed the urge to laugh.

"Ah! What are you laughing at? Was it a lie?"

"Sorry, sorry. What I just said is true. Suzuka-chan has defeated the area boss of District 2. And properly solo, too."

"I-is that true? I mean, putting Great Wolf-chan aside, can she really defeat Rabbit-chan alone?"

Kotori's opinion is perfectly reasonable, and Kirin shares the same opinion.

In the first place, Rabbit Demon Iron Skin in District 2 is said to have too high a difficulty for District 2-level explorers to defeat, even though it's an area boss.

Rabbit Demon Iron Skin is a simple monster, with physical superiority through only body enhancement. However, powerful body enhancement that leaks mana even to the outside of the body boasts an iron wall that repels everything—slash attacks, strikes, and magic alike. Because it's simple, it has no particular weaknesses to speak of.

To overturn that iron wall, just high stats like Suzuka's or zoo's aren't enough. Powerful skills like rare skills or unique skills are essential.

Many skills have been discovered and elucidated, so the skills needed to defeat Rabbit Demon Iron Skin are somewhat clear. But without those skills, it's hopeless—there are even current special-grade explorers who were unable to make a dent in Rabbit Demon Iron Skin when exploring Floor 1 District 2 and had to withdraw.

Skill manifestation has a strong element of luck, and especially in the early stages like Floor 1 District 2, there's no one with a full set of skills. By the time you can advance to Floor 2, you'll have assembled skills to some degree, but for a skill that's pin-point advantageous to an area boss to manifest in such an early stage, that's something you can't do with just ability.

"I was curious too. I thought it was surely the benefit of a unique skill, so I tried asking."

A skill that enables solo activity. I couldn't think of any skill other than a unique skill, and I thought she must have manifested a skill that ranks high even among unique skills, if not on the level of Sword God. That's what Kirin thought.

Without knowing the details of the skill, if honest Suzuka might be able to catch at least a hint. Thinking that, she tried asking.

'Did you defeat Rabbit Demon Iron Skin? Alone?'

'N-no, that might have been a really big Gale Rabbit...'

'Actually, we were planning to fight Rabbit Demon Iron Skin too. If possible, I'd like you to tell us how you defeated it.'

'Ah, is that so? That guy was insanely tough. If you're going to fight him, be careful.'

'Right. Being super tough is famous, you know. How did Suzuka-chan defeat it? The iron pipe didn't work for attacks, right?'

'Yeah, that's right. No matter how much I hit it, it wouldn't die, and I was about to run out of gas. Just when my mana was at its limit and I was about to collapse, I finally learned Mana Perception. I somehow became able to tell where attacks would go through, and that's how I managed to defeat it.'

'Huh, you learned Mana Perception? Not you already had it?'

'Yeah. If it hadn't manifested there, I would have died. Maybe slash attacks or magic would be easier to get through, so if Kirin's going to challenge it too, I think you should use a weapon other than strikes.'

At those words, Kirin stopped pursuing. Kirin knows that strikes don't go through and that it has resistance to slashes and magic too—it's a famous story. She felt the same discomfort toward special-grade explorers in Suzuka, who wasn't playing dumb but was teaching her out of goodwill.

If that was actually acting and a lie to conceal her unique skill, Suzuka could become a great actress.

"—I mean. Amazing, right? She fought Rabbit Demon Iron Skin, which this much information exists about, without researching anything, and defeated it by learning a skill. And that skill is Mana Perception, Mana Perception. I give up."

Kirin showed her palms up and shrugged her shoulders.

Mana Perception is a powerful rare skill. By detecting the movement of mana, it can predict magic activation and identify where body reinforcement is weak.

But it has no decisive strength, and it's not a unique skill either.

Mana Perception is a skill whose name comes up as one of the skills needed to defeat Rabbit Demon Iron Skin. However, not only do you need to attack the thin spots of constantly moving mana, but to deal damage to Rabbit Demon Iron Skin which also has high base defense, high stats, and required levels of body reinforcement and mana control skills are demanded too.

If there were a Rabbit Demon Iron Skin conquest skill tier table, it would be a skill positioned at C or D rank. If you have it, there's a possibility of defeating it, but I have to say it's extremely difficult.

In other words, she didn't defeat it by trapping it with a powerful skill, but simply defeated it through ability. It serves as no reference at all.

And the fact that Suzuka, who soloed in District 2 and even challenged an area boss, doesn't possess a rare unique skill that could be effective even against area bosses at the very least.

"She's a monster..."

"That's right, Wanko. Suzuka-chan is a bona fide, natural monster."

To Inurakuse who voiced that involuntarily, Kirin agreed. They too understood the strangeness of special-grade explorers, but the story of someone of the same generation exploring the same dungeon seemed too close to home and had a large impact.

"D-didn't you invite her to the party? She's Suzuka, after all."

"That's right! Suzuka! I really wanted to invite her! ...But, our pace was just too different. That was alien. I decided the disadvantages were larger."

While talking, she didn't feel any obsession with soloing from Suzuka, but at the same time didn't feel the need for a party either. She decided that keeping the connection was better than stubbornly clinging and ruining the relationship.

"Geez, Iron Pipe Princess is crazy, huh. The level where even Giraffe doesn't invite her."

"That's loaded phrasing, Wanko. But you're right, she's crazy. We were made to realize we were trapped by common sense too."

First-years should stop at District 1 exploration. Train the basics, focus on studies, and if they can reach Floor 2 in three years, that's fine. Since exploration is a profession, it's better to earn money safely. Area bosses are dangerous so don't fight them. Rabbit Demon Iron Skin is not an opponent you should fight.

There are many such common sense surrounding explorers, and Kirin has been intentionally acting ignoring common sense.

What Kirin is aiming for isn't first-grade explorers, much less second-grade explorers. Special-grade explorers. She aims to become someone who conquers the frontlines.

To become a special-grade explorer, you can't grow while trapped by common sense. But listening to Suzuka's story, she reflected on how dyed in common sense she was.

"S-so then, why did Giraffe-chan get Rabbit-chan's armor from Iron Pipe-san?"

"Ah, apparently she didn't have a complete set of Green-Yellow Wolf armor, so I exchanged it with the Green-Yellow Wolf armor I had on hand."

"You're kidding? Iron Pipe Princess lacks too much common sense, doesn't she?"

The value difference between Green-Yellow Wolf and Gale Rabbit armor is too great. Since many Explorer High students hunt Green-Yellow Wolves, the armor circulates in the market quite a bit, and it's possible to purchase it.

But Gale Rabbit armor rarely circulates in the market. Since Gale Rabbits are Floor 1 District 2 monsters, only Explorer High students can obtain the items. Even if you commission fourth-grade explorers, because there's a level difference, the probability of the monster dropping items becomes almost zero.

In such a situation, you can't force students to hunt Gale Rabbits. Even if you did hunt Gale Rabbits, it's an item that doesn't have a guaranteed drop. Unlike Green-Yellow Wolves that fight in groups, you can't hunt many of them either.

There's no way such an item is equivalent in value to Green-Yellow Wolf armor.

While the Explorer Association's purchase center buys it cheaply, it's an item that would be auctioned off at prices dozens of times higher.

"I felt bad too so I asked several times, but for some reason, I ended up getting thanked by her side instead."

"Really? You won't get attacked by the Iron Pipe Princess for deceiving her, right?"

"I-it's okay. G-Giraffe-chan has a bad personality, but she wouldn't do something so petty."

"Kotori. That doesn't sound like a compliment to me, does it?"

To Kotori who was looking blankly and acting nervous, Kirin laughed it off as "we have a natural one here too" and let it slide.

"Anyway, there are Green-Yellow Wolves all over the place, and even though the drop rate is stingy, one will come out eventually. Why exchange?"

"Ah, Suzuka-chan said she's going to explore District 3 starting today."

Soloing District 3. Soloing District 3, which has the highest death rate for Explorer High students.

"H-haha. Anything goes, I guess."

"Yeah. Considering when the rumors started circulating, she probably wasn't in District 2 for more than 10 days."

"A-amazing, Iron Pipe-san."

It's a difficult line to call—whether to say she's amazing or say she's insane.

"...Hey. So you're not changing the schedule?"

"Hm? I won't change it, Nyako. Suzuka-chan and we are different. As planned, we aim for complete conquest of District 2 during summer break."

Nekoyashika, who had been silent until just now, asked.

zoo had set the goal of completely conquering District 2 during summer break—that is, defeating the two types of area bosses. She seemed curious if they would move up that schedule, inspired by Suzuka.

"Hmm. Then let's move quickly. At this rate, we won't finish the quota."

"T-that's right. Should we move?"

At that attitude of Nekoyashika's, Kirin narrowed her eyes happily.

◇

"Found."

At Inurakuse's short call, everyone immediately assumes a combat stance. In front. At a distance that's still just a dot, a Gale Rabbit is there.

If it were Suzuka, it would be a scene where she immediately dashes out, but zoo maintains their walking speed while forming a formation. Monsters almost never run away. There's no need to panic.

With Inurakuse at the front, Kotori and Nekoyashika in the middle, and Kirin covering the rear. A diamond-shaped formation is zoo's basic.

Once they've approached a distance where the Gale Rabbit is clearly visible, Inurakuse slows down slightly while readying her shield. Inurakuse is equipped with a large kite shield that hides half her body and a long sword.

Even a man would find it difficult to hold with one hand, but despite her height, Inurakuse easily wields the long sword. Receiving the benefits of stats from leveling up, this much is nothing difficult. In this world, concepts like women being weak because they're women or men protecting women collapsed after dungeons appeared.

"I'll go forward."

At a distance where One-Horned Rabbits, the Gale Rabbit's entourage, are about to start moving, Nekoyashika declared.

"Rare."

"T-the drop rate doesn't change regardless of who defeats it, you know."

"You two, quiet. It's fine. I'll support Nyako."

Chiding Inurakuse and Kotori, Kirin accepts Nekoyashika's proposal. For Kirin, that development was something she had expected and something she had wanted.

zoo's basic strategy is Inurakuse attracting enemies, Kotori whittling down enemies as an attacker, Kirin providing overall support, and Nekoyashika providing support with magic.

Kotori is the DPS role who skillfully wields dual swords, and even if left alone, she'll finish off monsters. Kirin is skilled with a spear, and due to weapon characteristics can attack from a distance, so she covers Inurakuse and deals with monsters that circle around.

Nekoyashika has manifested two rare skills: poison magic and recovery magic, and is a magic user role who serves as healer and applies debuffs with poison magic. However, she's not completely incapable of close-quarters.

Thanks to her stats, both attack power and agility have increased, so she can fight normally. Her equipment is a one-handed sword and a small round shield. In dungeons where you don't know what will happen, being able to focus only on magic is probably limited to large parties.

Nekoyashika, who usually doesn't stand in the line of fire, is taking the initiative to go forward. No wonder Inurakuse says it's rare.

"They'll be here soon. Wanko, use Taunt as usual to lure the One-Horned Rabbits. If there are three, then Wanko, Nyako, and Kotori each take one. If there are four, then Wanko takes two."

Quickly giving orders, Inurakuse at the very front activated her skill.

"[Taunt]"

Since the skill level isn't very high yet, she consciously activates the skill by speaking it out loud. Taunt is a skill that gathers enemy hate, an essential skill for tank roles.

One-Horned Rabbits jumped out all at once from the grass, closing in on Inurakuse. The number is four. One charges in aiming for the shield's blind spot while circling around.

But Inurakuse doesn't panic. The circling One-Horned Rabbit is nothing more than sight guidance. The main target is the bullets made of air that are hard to see with the naked eye. Magic used by Gale Rabbits.

"Mn!!"

She catches the wind bullet that landed first with her shield, and skillfully uses her shield to catch the attacks of the One-Horned Rabbit attacking with deflection. Without the wind bullets, she could aim for a shield bash, but just enduring while catching the wind bullets takes all she has, so she doesn't have that much leeway.

Kyiiiin

Kotori skillfully deflected the circling One-Horned Rabbit's attack with her dual swords matched to the rabbit's horns.

With four people, they can cover each other's blind spots. It's only been a few months since they formed the party, but they've spent a dense few months, more than enough to trust each other.

"...Poison magic."

Nekoyashika reapplies the poison magic enchantment to Inurakuse's shield. Because the One-Horned Rabbit collided with the shield, the poison magic that had been applied cast a debuff on the One-Horned Rabbit.

Poison magic isn't just magic that puts the opponent in a poisoned state. Its essence is magic that induces status abnormalities.

Strong status abnormalities like poison that chips away at health are often resisted, but if it's paralysis-like poison that slows the feet, it's easier to apply. By enchanting her allies' weapons with poison magic, Nekoyashika could reduce the opponent's mobility just by grazing them.

Matching Nekoyashika's movements, Kotori also dashed out.

"[Taunt]!"

Inurakuse activated the skill again, adjusting so that hate doesn't disperse. She pays special attention so the Gale Rabbit's wind bullets don't go elsewhere.

To the One-Horned Rabbit whose first attack ended in failure and is running around looking for an opening, Nekoyashika approaches.

"...Ah, this is already too annoying. What the hell is this. Shit shit shit shit shit."

Muttering to herself, the Iron Pipe Princess, whom she hasn't even seen yet, was in Nekoyashika's mind.

That guy explores the dungeon alone. She alone defeats Gale Rabbits that I can't even reach, and she alone defeats area bosses that we carefully plan strategies for and still might not be able to reach.

What is that guy. I can't even defeat a single One-Horned Rabbit without Giraffe covering my back. Without being protected by my allies, I can't even defeat a monster like this alone.

...Too weak. Don't screw with me. I'm not weak. I'm strong. Don't flicker in front of me!!

(Huh? Did my skill level go up? That's lucky.)

Watching Nekoyashika approaching the One-Horned Rabbit unsteadily, Kirin deepens her smile.

Thick poisonous mana is leaking from Nekoyashika, and the One-Horned Rabbit exposed to that mana has obviously slowed in movement. Probably not just paralysis but also in a poisoned state.

Sensing from the change in poison magic that was different from before, she realized her skill level had risen.

Kirin talking about Suzuka wasn't for information sharing or anything. It was to provoke Nekoyashika.

Neither Inurakuse nor Kotori think anything when they see excellent explorers of the same generation. They only receive it as "Ah, there's an amazing person."

But Nekoyashika is different. She compares everything to herself and intensely envies what she lacks. That envy is precisely Nekoyashika's strength and becomes the key to her growth.

For zoo to defeat Rabbit Demon Iron Skin, Nekoyashika's poison magic is indispensable. When she talked with Suzuka, she became convinced she could use it in an even more insane way than imagined.

(I need to thank Suzuka-chan.)

The One-Horned Rabbit, whose movements have slowed due to Nekoyashika's poison, doesn't seem to have the Gale Rabbit's buff on it.

(That said, Suzuka-chan is alien. I didn't get the feeling she had any special skills either, so how is she surviving?)

In Kirin's eyes, Kotori approaching the Gale Rabbit was reflected. Like a torrential downpour, she's evading all the wind bullets as if dancing.

Kotori has a unique skill called Acrobat. Kotori, who has this skill that gives significant bonuses to body control and body reinforcement, can evade any attack without being hit.

Watching Kotori moving like she's cheating, I thought she could probably solo too. But that's only because she has the skill.

I tried talking about her exploration state and skills too, but I didn't get the impression she has any special skills useful for combat. Yet she's surviving and continuing exploration. She completely conquered District 2 faster than us. And she's advancing to District 3 exploration.

Would that be possible in a dungeon where the benefits of skills are large? Kirin was holding a sense of discomfort.

But looking at Suzuka's state, she'll probably hit a wall sooner or later. The dungeon isn't a place you can get by just specializing in one thing. When her footsteps stop, I should invite her to zoo again.

"Giraffe!"

Because Inurakuse executed a shield bash well, a One-Horned Rabbit is flying through the air. Matching that, if Kirin pierces the One-Horned Rabbit's belly with her spear, the One-Horned Rabbit with low health turns into smoke.

"That takes care of the One-Horned Rabbits. Let's go support Kotori."

If things go like this, maybe we can go to District 3 earlier than scheduled. Thinking that, Kirin headed toward Kotori, who was continuing to evade precariously.