arc03 · 053-ep47
Episode 47: Dungeons Are Fun, You Know?
At school, Golden Week talk was drifting here and there around the classroom.
So-and-so's going here, everyone's going there—voices coming from every direction.
And amid all that, a small handful were planning to hit the dungeon.
A mixed group of about five—apparently the plan was to check their skills the day before the break started, then dive Floor 1 together the next day.
I see, I see. So this is how Golden Week fills up with people from all over. Rough times ahead for Sakurai-san.
Me, I'll just take the teleport circle straight to Floor 11, so it hardly concerns me.
Most C-ranks are full-time pros who dive every day anyway—maybe Golden Week is when they actually take their breaks? Fewer people would suit me fine.
As I lazed about half-listening to all that, someone actually addressed me.
One of the outgoing girls. What was her name again...... uhh... ah, whatever.
"Heeey, Kobacchi. Whatcha doing for Golden Week~?"
"...Kobacchi's me? When did that nickname even become a thing...... eh, whatever, fine. Golden Week? Probably the dungeon—or who knows, I might have a meeting with some people coming up. Something like that."
"Hm? You're still actually going to the dungeon, Kobacchi! Did your level go up a bunch, maybe?"
"Eh, bit by bit. Nearly died a time or two, but I'm getting by."
"Yikes!? Seriously!? Dungeons really are dangerous~ I'm keeping my distance, thank you very much."
Haha... I suppose that's the normal take. Yeah, dungeons are never taking off, I swear......
"So? Oh, right—if you're free over Golden Week, there was something."
"Ohh, right, right! Me and Ogicchi and everyone were talking about doing some class get-together? or something, and I've been going around inviting people. If you've already got plans, those come first, obviously—but let's all hang out again sometime~"
"Gotcha. Thanks for thinking of me. Next time, if I can make it, I'll come."
"Ahaha, that is SUCH a 'not gonna happen' answer~"
Laughing, the girl moved on to her next target.
Right. A class get-together. 'For real next time, if the chance comes up,' huh.
So far I haven't stuck out badly in class, and nobody's giving me the cold shoulder. I'd say I've blended in rather nicely. The trouble is class-wide events, though. Might be smart to have a few more people I can talk to besides Ogi. Once Golden Week's over, maybe I'll start carving out a little time for that too.
◇
After that, I kept at the dungeon day after day, nothing much changing, right up until Golden Week began.
As for what did change—my level and skill levels went up, and Sakurai-san formally became my dedicated contact.
The dedicated-contact post came with a certain item issued, too.
A magic item called the 【Comm Stone】. Apparently it normally goes to dedicated-contact holders of B-rank solo and above. An item for emergency contact inside the dungeon.
It comes as a two-piece set, and looks like nothing more than a palm-sized stone slab. Run mana through it, and your voice carries to the other slab. A smartphone, plain and simple.
I'd guessed before that upper-rank adventurers must have something like this—and sure enough, there it was.
One's mine, the other's held by Sakurai-san—we can reach each other anytime now.
Oh, and we swapped phone contacts the normal way, too. Text goes through this one.
My rock-solid support network is coming together, bit by bit.
Strength-wise I'm still nothing special, but from here, I'm shooting straight up the ladder.
◇
So, anyway—it's the last weekday before Golden Week.
Tomorrow, as promised to Mio, I'm meeting with 【Plunder】 holders.
I'll wrap up a little early today so tonight doesn't run long.
Along with rock golems, salamanders, shadow wolves, and Swordsmen, I ran into some new faces too—Killer Ants, Poison Slimes, Evil Scorpions, that crowd.
I've cracked it, I have. This floor is poison central.
For the moment I'm managing by wearing the 【Poison Resistance】 ring from the treasure chest on my thumb.
And I've got the antidote potions Aizawa gave me, so no worries there.
That said, one solid wallop finishes them—combat-wise, nothing felt especially fresh.
By that measure, that mushroom-and-fairy duo you can't even approach remains genuinely the worst thing on this floor. Could really use a ranged option.
And—there's a level up.
『Experience points gained』
『Kobayakawa Takeru's level has risen to 27』
【Name】 Kobayakawa Takeru
【Level】 27
【Status】
・HP: 620 / 620
・MP: 72 / 72
・STR: 124
・VIT: 120
・AGI: 197
・DEX: 121
・INT: 115
・LUK: 4
【Held Skills】
・Plunder
・Martial Arts (Lv. 3)
・Movement Arts (Lv. 3)
【SP】 14
Ohh, AGI 200's coming into view before long.
And thanks to 【Movement Arts】, that's effectively AGI 400. Absurd, honestly.
Frankly? This is A-rank territory. Speed alone, I could go toe-to-toe even now.
Oh, right—【Movement Arts】 leveled up too.
But the new trick is walking on water.
Zero use for it so far. Hmm. Well, no—walking on water IS a genuinely romantic idea, though, right? Eh, either way, if some ocean-like area ever shows up, I'll manage. Not that I know if one exists.
【Martial Arts】, though, is a stubborn climb. Just like its reputation—it really is hard to level.
Now that I know 【Plunder】 stacks, if any monster's holding 【Martial Arts】 I could steal it and turn it into proficiency—except there's no telling what skills the other side has. Dammit, now I want 【Status Appraisal】 too.
Want this, want that. Picking skills keeps getting harder.
But that's part of the fun, too.
"Ahh, yeah—adventurer really is the only life for me!"
That feeling of stumbling onto the one thing you could happily bet your life on.
Honestly—there's nothing in the world that could replace it.