arc4 · 069-ch69

Episode 69: Tokyo Dungeon

"Would you like a refill on your coffee?"

"Oh, yes, please."

December 25th. Christmas Day. Suzuka was enjoying breakfast with elegance at a restaurant attached to a luxury hotel.

He has a week of days ahead of him where he'll be sleeping in the dungeon, so even if breakfast is expensive today, surely he deserves it. It's like a Christmas present.

Still, it really lives up to the price. Everything is delicious, and the restaurant's high-class feel makes you feel rich.

Thinking those feelings far removed from richness, he recalls yesterday's encounter with the Sword God—Tento.

Truly a bolt from the blue. At that time, he couldn't wait to escape, but now he thinks it was really good that he met him.

That's the peak of explorers. One of Japan's foremost explorers. A monster, plain and simple. I'd been getting cocky thinking my stats had been pumped up lately. Not even close. I couldn't believe even if told a person could become an existence like that.

By meeting him directly, Suzuka was able to feel that strength with his own skin. That would be the best experience above all.

Suzuka is still level 52. His level will keep rising from here on. If he thinks he can reach that level of strength, he can accept some degree of risk.

He felt a strength so isolated that the difference between them was beyond comprehension. There's no doubt he's an existence that has transcended the species known as human.

Well, if I keep working hard, I should reach it too. Probably.

Suzuka isn't the type who thinks deeply about things. Until now, he'd been exploring dungeons casually, but by seeing the level he should aim for—or rather, the level he should surpass—he was able to more easily understand his current standing.

For now, as planned, he'll aim for level 100. Everything starts from there.

Even though Tento invited him to join Futōfukutsu, Suzuka doesn't waver.

First, aim for level 100. He'll think about what comes after when the time comes.

Until he achieves this goal he decided when he started dungeon exploration, everything else is noise. He won't join a guild, and he won't advance to Floor 2.

Sticking to original intentions. Starting today, it's level grinding again in District 4. He'll do his best to finish exploring District 4 by New Year's.

Bracing himself, he sipped his refilled coffee.

◇

"Yep, not here. Not here, nope."

While looking around nervously, he stepped into the Explorer Association at Tokyo Dungeon.

While Suzuka thinks it was good to meet Tento, he doesn't want to meet him again. Even if he does, it's too soon. If Suzuka grows to level 100, he might at least be able to understand some of the difference between them, so if they're to meet, he hopes for at least that timing.

Being a deep dungeon as it is, the appearance of the explorers walking around is exceptionally good. First-rank and second-rank explorers are all over the place. It's a frightening place.

Trying not to stand out, he hurried toward the locker. Since he stores what he'll carry into the dungeon in the "Sekitori's Paulownia Trunk" in his storage, his luggage is just a crossbody bag containing drinks and snacks. After depositing his luggage, he headed to the terminal to register his exploration plans. This area is the same as Hachioji Dungeon, so he knows the procedures and finds it easy.

"Exploration area is District 1-4. Duration is..."

His mother told him to come back on New Year's Day. She didn't say what time, but they'll be eating osechi, so he should probably be back by noon.

"Then, setting it for January 1st at 14:00 at the latest should be fine."

He plans to sleep over for a week, but he intends to return periodically. But even when he returns, he'll just take a bath and restock supplies at the convenience store, then immediately head back to the dungeon. Since he'll be sleeping in the dungeon. Once he applies for a long-term exploration, he doesn't need to apply again, so this should be fine.

Suzuka is casually applying for a long stay, but this is a gray area. There are two purposes to exploration registration. One is to manage so explorers don't concentrate in one area and cause congestion. In that sense, if he returns to the dungeon immediately, a long-term application might be good.

The other purpose of registering an exploration schedule is that it serves as a safety measure that makes emergency contact if something happens to the explorer after the exploration period. In that regard, Suzuka's behavior is out. It's exactly complacency from habit.

But even so, when asked if it's better to set it for the day he's likely to return, that's also difficult for Suzuka. Ordinary explorers act according to their exploration schedule, so they wouldn't think about such things. Since they operate in parties, it's important to match their pace in group actions. A shared schedule is indispensable.

However, Suzuka operates solo. If he sets it for two days later, he won't be able to do things like "maybe I'll explore one more day" or "I want to return after finishing at a good stopping point."

As a result, setting the absolute latest time he'll return might be the safest approach for Suzuka.

Without thinking that deeply, Suzuka finished registering his exploration schedule.

"Just in case, let me set an alarm. I'll probably lose my sense of date while in the dungeon."

He set an alarm for January 1st at 7:00 on his simple, sturdy wristwatch. Since explorers often do dungeon exploration for several days, he was recommended to buy a wristwatch that can set alarms by date, and he's glad he did. With this, he can immerse himself in dungeon exploration with peace of mind.

Having finished exploration registration, he passed through the security gate. While curiously observing that the design is slightly different from Hachioji Dungeon, he entered the dungeon gate.

"So this is Tokyo Dungeon! ...Yeah. Nothing's changed."

What spreads before his eyes is the familiar peaceful grassland area of District 1-1. Outside it's winter, but inside the dungeon, it's a comfortable temperature like spring as always. In the distance, Drunken Sheep are visible, giving even a pastoral atmosphere.

"Well, Tokyo and Hachioji, huh. Not that much difference, I guess."

I've heard that depending on the region, there are some differences in the monsters that appear in dungeons. Especially overseas, I've heard the atmosphere changes, but at the distance between Tokyo and Hachioji, there doesn't seem to be much difference.

Suzuka starts running toward District 4 as usual, but his speed is visibly different from before. Suzuka himself intends to go at the same pace as always, but he's become more than twice as fast.

The reason is simple. Because he passed level 50.

Explorers are strengthened each time they pass level 50. At level 50, it's strengthening as a human species; at level 100, existence evolution; at level 150, strengthening of the post-evolution species; at level 200, further evolution. Like this, benefits beyond just stats are given every 50 levels.

Especially the stat increase from existence evolution is incredibly high. Existence evolution, as the name suggests, is the benefit of being able to evolve beyond the framework of human into another species. This could mean growing long ears like an elf, growing horns like an ogre, or growing beast-like tails and ears.

Monsters, dragons, angels, demons too. It's unknown what species you'll become, but when you pass level 100, you gain the power of existence evolution.

And at level 200, you gain the power of further evolution from the existence evolution you obtained at level 100. They say you won't evolve into a different species like from beast to dragon, but rather evolution from the juvenile form to the adult form as that species.

The level 100 that Suzuka aims for as a milestone is the line where you can obtain this power of existence evolution.

There's said to be a power difference that's isolated before and after existence evolution, and Tento, whom Suzuka was in awe of, is over level 200. In other words, he's a genuine monster who achieved existence evolution twice. The fact that Tento's eyes were dyed red is probably due to the influence of existence evolution.

Since they differ not just in rank but as species, it's understandable that he possesses strength of a different dimension. Having learned that two existences can produce such tremendous power, naturally Suzuka intends to aim for it too.

While the existence evolution that comes every 100 levels allows you to obtain isolated power, the strengthening that occurs at the level 50 timing is also tremendous.

Once you pass level 50, attacks that don't conduct mana basically don't work anymore. Whether it's a knife wielded by an ordinary person, or a gun fired by the military, once you pass level 50, they lose their meaning. According to articles circulating online as rumors, it's said that even if you're shot through with an anti-materiel rifle, you receive the shock but it doesn't even leave a bruise.

They say that once you existence evolve, even weapons used in the great war lose all meaning, so compared to that, the strengthening at level 50 still has room to kill, but it's undoubtedly a major strengthening. Of course, technology has advanced too, so magical guns using magic stones are manufactured, and even if you pass level 50, in this era, you'd probably be suppressed.

Naturally, such extreme strengthening can't be obtained easily. It's said that monsters get one stage stronger every 50 levels.

Level 50 isn't that strong, so most explorers can surpass it. However, it's said that students raised at training facilities can't cross the level 50 wall.

Level 50 monsters appear from District 2-1. Therefore, it's said that those who can explore District 2-1, fourth-rank explorers, start to be called professional explorers. Strengthening as a human species. This is said to be the first step as an explorer.

And regarding strengthening as a species, it's known that the benefits change depending on the experience and stats cultivated up to that point. Between someone who barely passed level 50 and someone like Suzuka who easily passed level 50, the range of strengthening differs. They say it's a multiplication method rather than an addition method, so if the original power is 1 and you double it, it only increases by 1, but if you double 100, it increases by 100—like that, this strengthening too causes the difference to open dramatically depending on how you raised your stats.

If the strengthening here doesn't become satisfactory, you won't be able to pass the next strengthening point, level 100. The monsters that appear at level 100 are from Floor 4-1, called the middle dungeon, excluding Districts 4 and 5.

From level 100, monster strength rises another stage. That's right—they're strengthened like Suzuka felt District 4 monsters were strong. If you can endure there and fight desperately, you'll reach level 100 and be able to existence evolve. Conversely, if you can't keep up with the strength of Floor 4, that becomes your growth limit, and you won't reach level 100, making exploration of Floor 3 your main activity.

There was a reason like this for why many explorers reach their growth limit around level 100. Even if you become level 100 and obtain existence evolution, it's not like you can run wild on Floor 4. Since the accumulation of stats up to now appears prominently even in existence evolution, it's common that even though you could existence evolve, your exploration immediately hits a dead end. Even so, it's no exaggeration to say that whether or not you could existence evolution determines your value as an explorer.

Suzuka is growing while maintaining the best stats. Therefore, the benefits of strengthening as a human species at level 50 are naturally large.

"Really no different from Hachioji."

Saying that, Suzuka cuts down a Speckled Spider. Until now, he'd been firing water blades to knock them out of their nests and defeat them, but now he can leap up using the trees as footholds and defeat them while they're still in their nests.

Being used to Speckled Spiders is also a factor, but the benefits from level 50 strengthening are huge. Until now, he'd been attacking the soft joints, but now even the torso covered in hard shell can be easily cut.

Having finished defeating two Speckled Spiders, Suzuka was already thinking there might not be much meaning to the expedition. Yesterday, when he was checking Tokyo Dungeon's appearing monsters in the reference room, the monsters that come out are no different from Hachioji's. Since he doesn't frequently return outside the dungeon, and basically sleeps inside, he won't enjoy the differences outside the dungeon that much either.

If it's like this, it's no different from what he's doing at Hachioji Dungeon.

"Well, it's a matter of feelings, I guess. The feeling that the place has changed is what's important. Yeah."

Actually, if that tightens his resolve, that alone is a plus. Yesterday, he even got to meet a special-rank explorer, so there's probably meaning in coming here.

"Today, I'll try exploring deep into District 4. Now then, will it work or won't i——"

He couldn't finish the rest of the words.

Something that appeared at the edge of his vision.

He didn't know what it was.

Just seeing it for an instant, he was so shocked that his whole body stood on end like goosebumps, and he shivered faintly.

He turned his eyes toward the thing that emitted such tremendous presence.

Such intense pressure that he felt his heart might break just looking at it.

Chaotic emotions mixed with chills, hatred, terror, joy, and madness surged like a muddy torrent.

It wasn't the same pressure he felt from Tento, the special-rank explorer.

It's not about whether that existence is strong or weak.

It's not about winning or losing.

It's like it's questioning whether you can face it or not.

That existence turned on its heels and ran away. As if inviting Suzuka. It escaped toward the dungeon's depths.

At that moment, Tento's words somehow floated through Suzuka's mind.

"If you enter this dungeon and a trial visits..."

Tento stopped his words there. Whether what followed was something that would push him forward saying go without hesitation, or something to stop him warning him not to go.

That Suzuka doesn't know.

But, Suzuka took a step forward.

To pursue that existence.

He took a step forward.

That was everything, and it was the choice Suzuka made.

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Life is a continuous series of choices.

No one teaches you the answer ahead of time. There are times when you choose appropriately and succeed, and times when you fail no matter what you choose.

There are times when choosing a choice filled with compassion results in your own death, and times when choosing a ruthless decision allows you to protect the one you want to protect.

Choices are cruel.

They relentlessly thrust themselves upon you even if you don't want to choose.

If you don't choose, you're just choosing the choice of not choosing.

"GGAAAAHHHH!!!!"

Suzuka is smashed against a wall with tremendous force. Whether his internal organs were damaged or not, blood that had spilled out reversed and sprayed out like a fountain.

While spewing a massive amount of blood, Suzuka stands up. Otherwise, he'd just die.

Before his eyes was a giant monkey. Three heads, six arms. A giant monkey with an appearance like an Asura statue. If it stood on two legs, it would probably exceed five meters—the monkey was muscular and covered in hard-quality fur that probably wouldn't let half-hearted attacks through. The breath leaking from its mouth carried color and seemed poisonous, contaminating the surrounding air.

Such a monster-like monster looked down on Suzuka with a hideously distorted face. Chuckling keta-keta, as if trying to pamper a lost lamb.

But, Suzuka couldn't escape even if he wanted to. The tremendous pressure emitted by the monster before his eyes. Whether due to the level difference between them, he couldn't imagine either a vision of winning or a strategy for escaping.

Suddenly, his body began to convulse.

This is bad, I'm being attacked.

Intuiting that, before he could move, poison had circulated through his whole body. His skin rotted, blisters formed all over his body, and as they burst, the rotting progressed further.

"GYAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Pain like needles piercing his whole body, and an intense itch that made him want to scratch attacked him. The more he scratched, the more blisters burst, dyeing his whole body in blood.

The rotting showed no sign of stopping. Before he knew it, the hand he'd been scratching had crumbled away, and triggered by that, his right arm and left arm too began to melt away.

In Suzuka's ears, distorted by pain, the giant monkey's laughter as it enjoyed that spectacle echoed, along with the beast-like groan leaking from Suzuka's own mouth.

And then, the erosion from poison passed from his arms to his whole body—and mercilessly took Suzuka's life.