arc4 · 064-ch64

Episode 64: Sugō Level 10

Sunday, the last day of October. Today as well, Suzuka had come to the dungeon together with his brother Sugō.

Sugō is level 9 now too. With his stats raised, he can swing a one-handed sword lightly and fight. Since a swordsmanship skill also manifested, he probably won't accidentally hurt himself.

"How's that, Suzuka! I've gotten super strong, haven't I!?"

"So-so."

After cutting down two underling foxes, Sugō boasts to Suzuka. Currently, when there were many monsters, Suzuka would thin them out, and Sugō would defeat the remaining ones alone to level up.

Although having Suzuka nearby reduced the risk, Sugō's stats had grown considerably from fighting monsters alone. Naturally more than at training centers, probably comparable to the growth of Explorer High's top students.

It seemed that changing from the "Proof of Devotion" bracelet to a similar-looking silver accessory starting from the second day, because Suzuka was dissatisfied with the stat growth on the first day, paid off. It was Suzuka's strategy victory. Since Sugō believes it's status-boosting equipment, he fights monsters with peace of mind. The placebo effect is no joke. It was a properly priced bracelet, so when he reaches level 10, I'll give it to him as a gift while revealing the truth.

Naturally, his appearance had changed to match his boosted stats. His hair had become brighter brown due to mana's influence, and matching his hair color, his face had transformed into a flashy handsome guy. The kind of face that looks like he might have piercings.

Unlike Suzuka who changed in a more androgynous direction, changing into an ordinary handsome guy like Yasu was puzzling.

"And this face! Every morning I look in the mirror, I get entranced!"

"Gross."

"The guys in class talk to me a lot, too, and the other day I even got reverse-picked up!! Reverse-picked up!! I turned them down because I had cram school, but it's like my success is promised once I pass my entrance exams!"

"If you pass."

Sugō was completely elated. But he seems to be working hard at studying, attending cram school, and working hard on exam prep, so he should be fine.

Reverse-picked up? Even I've never had that happen... With Yasu and all, is reverse-picking up popular? Outside my circle, that is?

Suzuka's guess hits the mark. Explorers have better appearances the stronger they are. In other words, handsome men and beautiful women are more promising as explorers, and you can tell just by looking that not only their faces but their internal specs are also high. Promising explorers can explore deep layers, so high income is also one of their attractions.

It's like walking handsome CEOs or beautiful CEOs. Naturally, whether male or female, people would approach them.

But that's only while their level is low. If you level up steadily like Suzuka and continue to boost your stats, an aura will inevitably emerge. Like celebrities, maybe. Ordinary people aren't strong enough to approach explorers with such a domineering aura. They'd normally be intimidated and at most watch from afar and make noise.

Therefore, low-level Yasu and Sugō are easy to approach, but once your level gets as high as Suzuka's, whether you're handsome or beautiful, people don't easily approach you.

"So, you're still level 9?"

"Hmm? Ah, yeah. Still 9."

Since he leveled up to 9 yesterday, I want him to reach level 10 today and finish Sugō's level raising around here. It's past 3 PM. If he doesn't reach level 10 soon, I'll have to accompany Sugō next week too.

That would be annoying, so I want him to reach level 10 today no matter what. Actually, I wanted him to fight the boss fox, but when Suzuka is around, the boss fox stops appearing. I can't very well tell him to go fight alone against an opponent who would make even Suzuka get hit and get injured, and Sugō definitely won't fight.

Then it can't be helped. Once he reaches level 10, he won't need to enter the dungeon anymore. So it should be fine even if he gets a little trauma. Because after that, he just needs to concentrate on his exams.

"Alright. Take a short break. I'll bring some monsters, so once you defeat those, we'll call it a day."

"Oh! Sounds good, sounds good! Actually, I'm fine with taking on 3 underling foxes next! I want to reach level 10 today!"

"Right. You want to reach level 10 today! Okay, just wait a bit."

Saying that, Suzuka starts moving. Sugō is left alone. Until a little while ago, he couldn't imagine being alone in the dungeon, but with his level near the limit for Floor 1 District 1, he has some leeway. Even if monsters attacked now, he has confidence he can defeat them, and in District 1-1 with good visibility, there are no surprise attacks so it's safe.

A few minutes after Suzuka disappeared. Sugō had a bad feeling. Until now, Suzuka had never left Sugō behind to bring monsters. They would explore together, and Sugō would defeat the monsters Suzuka specified. That was how the two of them explored.

"I said it, you know? That 3 underling foxes was fine. I said it. Am I stupid? My opponent is Suzuka, you know? That Suzuka whose brain is made of muscle, you know? Will it end with just 3? Is it okay? Can that guy count properly, you know?"

Sugō suddenly becomes anxious. That anxiety hits the mark. Just as Sugō sensed danger to his life and decided to flee from this place, Suzuka returned.

"Hey, Suzuka! Don't leave me alone in the dungeon! That's dangerous, right!"

"You're level 9, so you should be fine. Anyway, I brought monsters. Do your best, Sugō! I'm rooting for you!"

"A-ah, right, that was it. So, where are they?"

"Oh my."

Where Suzuka points, there are monsters. To be precise, a huge swarm of monsters. They're still some distance away. But, the monsters are all running toward here at full speed. Even an idiot could tell that the monsters' target is this place.

"Eh, what's wrong, Suzuka. Why are you being this stupid?"

"And what does that mean?"

"There's obviously something wrong with that number!! How many underling foxes are there!!"

"Ah, 8 of them. Plus 4 drunken sheep."

Suzuka calmly counts and reports to Sugō.

"Are you an idiot!? I said 3, didn't I!? Why are you bringing 12!? Did you forget how to count!? Is that status fake!?"

"I realized something, Sugō. That you can't talk about dungeons without pain. So, yeah?"

" 'Yeah' nothing! It's not 'yeah'!! Pain is fine to eliminate!! Your big brother is an exam student, you know!? If he gets injured that's bad, right!!"

"It's fine. If you can survive this hell, you should be able to survive entrance exams too."

"If you get a major injury, entrance exams are the last thing on your mind!! Thin them out! Thin them out like always!!"

"Relax. I'll defeat any extra monsters that come! And if you don't want to get injured, just do your best! Do your best!"

Suzuka's eyes are shining brilliantly. Looking like he had a brilliant idea, as if wanting to say "I'm a genius," he confidently urges Sugō on.

"Alright, it's Sugō time! You can do it! Go!!"

Saying that, Suzuka uses his Presence Concealment skill and disappears from before Sugō's eyes.

If I kept Sugō company, he'd fight forever, so if I properly ignored him and forced him to start combat, he'd work hard to fight. That's how I learned to deal with my brother during this level-raising period. Fortunately, the monsters are closing in on Sugō. Even without Suzuka intervening, Sugō has no choice but to fight.

"This is a monster train!! I won't forgive you, Suzuka! Watch out for tonight's dinner!! I'll make you go bankrupt!!"

Sugō screams. Today's dinner had been decided as going to a yakiniku place for celebration, since Suzuka had told his parents that Sugō would reach level 10.

The cost is on Suzuka. Since he wanted to eat meat for the first time in a while, and he's earning money, he volunteered to treat them instead, letting them choose the restaurant. It's also a dinner party that serves as a bit of filial piety.

If Sugō reaches level 10, Suzuka can perform dungeon exploration with an overnight stay. That way, not only would District 4 exploration progress more than before, but the daily sales profit would also be considerable. Treating to yakiniku level, he'd recover his investment immediately.

Even though Sugō is so weak-willed, his sense isn't bad. He maneuvers well so he doesn't get surrounded by the approaching monsters. Unless he spreads the monsters out, at most he'll be dealing with 2 or 3 at once. It's no different from when he was big-talking about taking on 3 underling foxes.

"Close call!! Just grazed my horn!! Help, Suzuka! Help me!!"

Seems he was distracted by the underling foxes and his attention toward the drunken sheep slipped. Sugō shouts for help, but since he still looks energetic, Suzuka doesn't move to help. He turns a pot turtle that was closing in heavily in the distance into smoke so it doesn't join the battle line.

"It's dangerous dangerous dangerous!! You guys!! Your opponent is!! Not me, you know!! Suzuka should be hiding around here so go there!! If anything, I'll help you search for him too!!"

Even while saying cowardly things, Sugō maneuvers skillfully. He never goes too deep, gradually and gradually dealing damage to the underling foxes. After landing one hit, he immediately backs up, blocks the magic iron pipe the underling fox swings down with his shield and cuts at its legs. Occasionally pushing enemies away with his shield like a shield bash, or stepping in deep to cut them, he accumulates damage to the underling foxes with every trick imaginable while not letting them read his movements. The drunken sheep that were closing in as if targeting that gap, before he realized it, 3 had turned to smoke from Sugō's attacks, and only 1 remained.

Of course, Sugō didn't get away unscathed either. He's taken the underling fox's swinging magic iron pipe several times, and each time he breaks through the encirclement by charging recklessly, so it's quite a narrow fight. But, being conscious of maneuvering so as not to get surrounded paid off, and the underling foxes haven't been able to finish off Sugō either.

Without rushing, patiently, little by little. Like tightening a neck with cotton, Sugō deals damage. Being able to fight calmly without rushing the match is Sugō's strength.

Because he was fighting cautiously, it took time, but the drunken sheep disappeared, and the underling foxes decreased in number too. As the numbers decreased, Sugō gained the advantage, and finally, after Sugō delivered the finishing blows to the injured and tattered underling foxes, there were no monsters left.

Because it took time, other monsters had also approached, but since Suzuka defeated those, nothing serious happened. If he had challenged them solo, it would have been a proper monster train. Actually, if solo, he wouldn't do something this reckless to begin with.

As a result, although he was attacked several times, he succeeded in defeating a large number of underling foxes. As the culmination of this approximately one month of level raising, didn't he finish with a beautiful ending?

"Good work. See? You did it without any major injuries, right?"

Releasing Presence Concealment, he offers tea to Sugō who is lying on the ground exhausted from fatigue. Since he was fighting for a long time, Sugō's stamina was at its limit too.

"Ough... for... give... haah haah... get... a... grip..."

Breath running out—that's what this means. Sugō, who is breathing through his shoulders, couldn't speak properly.

Although he challenged a large number of monsters alone, Suzuka was always nearby. If he got into a pinch, naturally he would have stepped in to help, so I hope he doesn't get angry. Rather, I'd like him to think positively that he was lucky to be able to fight a safe, simulated monster train.

"Phew... You! Making me fight that many monsters alone is stupid, right!? My whole body hurts!! Bring me a potion!!"

"Well, well, it doesn't look like anything's broken, and pain is something like a medal of honor. Anyway, how? Did your level go up?"

"It's not about level right now... It went up! I reached level 10!!"

"Oh! Congratulations! That's great!"

That's good. That my brother is a simple person.

Because his level went up, did his anger disappear too—he's all excited. With this, Sugō's level raising is complete. His stats have gone up plenty too, so entrance exams should be no problem.

"To think I'd reach level 10 in my third year of high school... Heh!? Could it be, since my level went up, did I get even more handsome!?"

"Then, let's go back to look in the mirror."

"Oh, yeah! What should I do. Should I quit going to college and become an entertainer?"

"Work hard on your exams."

Up to level 10 is the level where appearance changes. From there, they say your aura increases and such, but Suzuka doesn't really understand.

One thing I can say is, I'm grateful that his face won't change anymore. If his appearance keeps changing every time he grows from here, I'm scared of where it would end up.

Sugō, who was able to grow with excellent stats, probably has an appearance that stands out a head above everyone else even if he tries to enter a college explorer circle. Since his intelligence went up too, college entrance exams shouldn't end up like in the previous world.

Thus, Suzuka splendidly achieved the level raising of his brother Sugō, and received permission to perform dungeon exploration with an overnight stay.