arc01 · 033-ep33
Episode 33: Dungeons Really Are the Best
After getting home, I got my gear packed and settled in for a light nap.
I messaged Aizawa that I'd be at the guild around 7 p.m., then—until sleep took me—went over the guide sheet Sakurai-san at reception had given me, just in case.
It matched what I'd researched beforehand, more or less—with one exception. After subjugating the boss, you're required to promptly return via the Floor 11 teleport circle and file a report. That was the plan anyway, but I didn't know it was actually a rule. Well, exploring Floor 11 isn't permitted below C-rank. Fair enough, really.
In any case—just because beating the boss lets me set foot on Floor 11 freely doesn't mean I should get carried away and charge straight into it.
Sleepiness was slow to come, but somewhere between the futon and closing my eyes, I drifted off before I knew it.
◇
I confirmed on the official site that the Floor 9 entry ban had been lifted. Just like I figured.
So I added two days' worth of trail food, the tent, and the sleeping bag to my pack and headed for the dungeon as usual.
On the way I messaged Aizawa again—everything was already prepped, apparently, so all that was left was receiving it. She really is something else…
The guild had a fair number of adventurers, same as me, planning expeditions over the weekend.
Weekends really do draw a crowd. I spotted a good number of student-looking groups too. Let's all do our best, yeah?
For now, I slip through the crowd of adventurers on the first floor and make for the second-floor café.
Looks like this time I'm the one keeping Aizawa waiting.
"Sorry for the wait."
"Oh no, I only just got to the café myself. I wanted a break anyway."
"I've got the bill, so order whatever you like, Aizawa."
"Eh? Really? Th-then I'll take you up on that."
Aizawa's helped me out in all sorts of ways, so as one small token of thanks, I decided to treat her here. Nowhere near enough, mind you.
I ordered the same as last time: a sandwich and a hot dog, a café au lait and cheesecake. Aizawa ordered pasta and pizza, fries, salad, soup, pudding, and orange juice. …You can really pack it away, huh?
"I-I was just, um, really hungry…"
"Nah, don't worry about it. Eat up."
"Ehehe, then gladly—itadakimasu."
"Once we're done eating I'm heading into the dungeon, so—items, please."
"All ready. Everything's packed together right here, so I'll hand it over now."
With that, she holds out an entire pouch—the pouch itself comes with it, apparently.
"I figured potions and smoke bombs are best kept somewhere you can grab fast, even mid-emergency."
"That helps like crazy. I used to keep mine in an easy-to-reach spot in my backpack, but this is way handier."
"B-because I, I consider myself your personal supporter, Takeru-kun…!"
"Eh? Is that so?"
"Is—is that not okay?"
"No, if you're happy with it, Aizawa, so am I."
"Then it's settled!"
"Yeah. Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes!"
The meal, with chatter mixed in, wrapped up, and we split up.
Me to the dungeon. Aizawa, it seems, is heading back to the production guild's workroom.
"Dedication's a good thing, but don't stay out too late. You're a girl, Aizawa."
"Y-yes. Thank you very much—ehehe."
Not today, but from now on, if our timing lines up, I'll walk her home. I've been way too oblivious about that.
◇
After parting with Aizawa, I went to the guild reception and confirmed the ban-lift situation with Sakurai-san.
"Yes. Right around noon, after you headed home, Kobayakawa-san, a B-rank adventurer party confirmed Floor 9 had returned to normal, so the entry ban was lifted by early evening."
"So as of now, even D-ranks are fine to enter Floor 9?"
"Yes. It being the weekend, there are plenty of people, so if anything it's safer than usual."
"Got it, thanks. Well then, I'm off on my expedition. I should be back Sunday."
"…Understood. Please stay safe."
"Right—I'm off."
A big crowd is a minus as far as I'm concerned, but for Sakurai-san it probably reads as safety in numbers. Guild staff must hear death reports all the time, after all. In this day and age, it's no exaggeration to say everyone puts safety above all else—so of course other people dive in groups, seeking security. The mining crew I met on Floor 4 a while back is an easy example.
I show my guild card at the dungeon-entrance reception, separate from the adventurer guild counter, and enter.
Only two days off, and it somehow feels like ages.
Yep—it's this air that does it.
That feeling of pushing through a dim cavern is what gets my blood pumping.
Yes, yes, yes—dungeons really are the best.
"Though first up is the marathon, granted."
With the perception-interference talisman and the presence-concealment talisman active, I blaze all the way to Floor 9, unnoticed by people and monsters alike.
Right now, thanks to 【Movement Arts】, my AGI tops 300 whenever I'm on the move. It takes less than an hour to reach Floor 9. I could probably keep pace with cars on the expressway.
At Floor 9, I use a goblin as my warm-up, ambushing it. It can't so much as react—its weapon gets plundered and it bursts into light motes.
"Whoops—did that on autopilot. My pack would fill right up, though, so I'd better lay off plundering today and tomorrow."
I'll make do with just this one club.
Today's goals: leveling up and fully traversing Floor 9. The latter is nearly a done deal already—the simple map in the corner of my vision has roughly eighty percent of Floor 9 filled in, and I know where the stairs to Floor 10 are. Filling in the map is honestly just self-indulgence.
Floor 9's recommended level is 22–23. I'm level 21, which—given my high stats—puts me right about on target. Except 【Martial Arts】, 【Movement Arts】, and the talismans Aizawa gave me mesh together far better than expected, letting me take monsters down one-sidedly. Which means the leveling goes down smooth, too.
Floor 10's recommended level is 24–25. Floor 10 is, above all, crawling with monsters—every species seen so far is accounted for. No big changes to their behavior patterns, but stats scale with level, so naturally they're stronger. On top of that, monsters that used to move solo now show up in packs, so you could say the difficulty has jumped considerably.
But this is where my assassin-style—or ninja-style, if you like—fits perfectly, so solo is no problem at all. That's the strength of an AGI-specialized build. Even group fights that should demand a party just mean picking enemies off one at a time from outside, so long as I never get surrounded.
At this level band, a single level is supposed to be a struggle—but if it's me, four levels in two days should be doable. It'll take some serious effort, mind…
Hit level 25, and plundering the boss's weapon should succeed near-guaranteed. That'll be the complete clear.
All that's left is to watch out for trouble and bank my C-rank promotion without a scratch.