Chapter-09 · EP-140
Episode 140: Request for Cooperation
First thing in the morning, Murasakimura came to my seat.
His expression was completely different from the other day; he looked far better. He seemed to have shaken off his doubts and come to terms with something.
That Murasakimura, who had been so down until yesterday—what happened?
Then suddenly, Murasakimura bowed his head in front of me.
"Ichinose-kun, I want you to help me level up!"
At this unusual event, everyone in the class looked over.
"Wait! Everyone's watching! Don't bow your head and shout like that! It looks like I did something to you!"
"S-sorry!"
Murasakimura hurriedly looked up.
But why had Murasakimura suddenly changed his mind, when he had been so resistant to others' help? When we visited him, he was so depressed I thought he might kill himself.
"You've been leveling up faster than anyone else, right? I know you work harder than others, but I'd like you to give me advice on how to level up quickly too."
He was honestly surprising. A bit scary.
But his eyes were serious. He hadn't given up. He was still trying to fight.
Seeing that look in his eyes, I felt a little relieved.
"Of course, I'm not unwilling. But, you know, everyone's watching. Let's talk details after school."
"You'll help me?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Thank you!"
Murasakimura smiled broadly and again bowed his head, shouting loudly.
"That's why I said don't shout!"
"S-sorry!"
Man, this guy was really extreme. When he's down, he sinks to the bottom, but when he recovers, he faces forward with all his might. But I didn't dislike that about him.
And—
"Maika! Are you free after school today?"
I spotted Maika a short distance away and called out.
Hearing her name, Maika immediately came over to us.
"Yeah, I'm free. Are you going to the dungeon with Murasakimura-kun?"
"That's right. Lend us your strength."
"Okay!"
We were going to use Maika's Water Magic to lure slimes and level up Murasakimura.
If we did it normally, just searching for slimes would take time. But with Water Magic, we could just defeat the slimes that gathered. Even if Murasakimura's leveling was slow, he should surely level up.
Murasakimura, unaware of our plan, looked puzzled as to why I invited Maika.
To the confused Murasakimura, I smirked.
"That's a surprise for later."
"Huh? Ah, okay…?"
Seeing Murasakimura's completely bewildered face, I felt a little excited.
Well, he'd understand when he saw it.
After school, the four of us – me, Murasakimura, Maika, and Sendo – came to the dungeon.
Sendo, of course, came along. His eyes sparkled at the thought of helping Murasakimura level up.
Man, this guy really loves Murasakimura…
At the dungeon entrance, Murasakimura tried to invite us into a party.
"Mamoru, Ichinose-kun, Momota-san, please join the party—"
"Wait!"
I interrupted Murasakimura.
"We're not forming a party today."
"Huh?"
Murasakimura looked surprised. Sendo also seemed taken aback.
"But wouldn't it be more efficient if we all defeated a lot?"
That was one way of thinking. But today, we wanted the experience points to go only to Murasakimura.
"If we don't form a party, instead of the experience being distributed, it's concentrated on the person who defeats the monster. That's better for today."
At my explanation, Murasakimura and Sendo looked at each other.
"You mean… I defeat them all myself?"
"That's right. I said I'd help, but the one who needs to work hard is you! We'll focus on supporting you."
Murasakimura and Sendo seemed to understand.
Murasakimura clenched his fist firmly.
"Okay. I'll try."
His eyes held fighting spirit again.
Good. That's a good look.
To be honest, I also had the ulterior motive of wanting to copy their skills by forming a party, but I held back. Today's main character was Murasakimura.
So, without forming a party, we entered the first floor.
As we walked through the dungeon, Murasakimura spoke to me.
"Ichinose-kun, actually, I met Kazuma-san yesterday."
"The final boss?"
I muttered the nickname I secretly called him.
"Final boss?"
"No, that guy looks like a final boss, doesn't he? I wouldn't be surprised if he had a second form where he transforms into a dragon."
"…Do you always think about things like that?"
"N-no, not that. What about Kazuma-san?"
"Well, Kazuma-san told me. That I'm a magic warrior."
"Magic warrior?"
It was an unfamiliar term.
Walking, Murasakimura explained. A person with aptitude for both mage and warrior. And that the experience needed to level up is twice the normal amount – in other words, 200.
"I see, a magic warrior… It can't be helped that an advanced class needs more experience."
At my reaction, Murasakimura looked up in surprise.
"Ichinose-kun, can you understand Kazuma-san's explanation?"
"Of course. In games, there are classes that grow quickly at first and are easy to use but struggle later, and classes that grow slowly and struggle at first but become strong later, right?"
"Sorry, I don't really play games…"
"Seriously…"
I was trying to give an easy-to-understand analogy, but this guy…
Well, fine. I'll change the wording.
"Well, in terms of game balance, it's the slow-growing ones that end up strong. A magic warrior means you can use both magic and swordsmanship, right? That's incredibly powerful."
"You can become strong in the end…"
Murasakimura clenched his fist tightly at my words.
Ah, I understand. Guys our age like words like "strongest."
"Kazuma-san also said, 'You just need to put in twice the effort of everyone else.'"
Murasakimura's voice was full of energy.
Ah, so that's why he looked so relieved this morning. Kazuma-san must have said something to him.
"Those are good words. If you need to work twice as hard, then today is the first step."
"Yeah!"
Murasakimura nodded firmly.
Beside him, Sendo also smiled happily.
"Kyoya, I'm glad."
"Yeah, Mamoru. I've caused you trouble too."
"Trouble? Not at all! I'm Kyoya's best friend!"
Watching the two of them, I felt somehow warm. This must be popular with the girls.
I checked Maika, the only girl with us. She was watching them with a happy, smiling face.
So you like this kind of thing too.
We advanced a certain distance into the dungeon, to a place far from the path to the boss room, where few other students came.
"Well, let's do it here."
I stopped.
I'd heard that Dokujima and his gang had interfered with Murasakimura during exploration before. They didn't seem to be here today, but I didn't want to be seen by them. Not only that, I didn't want to be seen by other students either. So I chose a place that was as inconspicuous as possible.
"Alright, let's start here."
When I said that, Murasakimura raised his wooden sword.
Sendo also straightened his posture, as if refocusing.
"But Ichinose-kun, there aren't any slimes at all."
Murasakimura said, looking around.
Indeed, there were no slimes in sight around here. That was natural, since I'd deliberately chosen an unpopular spot.
"It's okay. We're going to lure them."
"Lure them? Slimes?"
Murasakimura and Sendo looked puzzled.
I turned to Maika.
"Maika, I'm counting on you."
"Okay!"
Perhaps happy to be relied on, Maika floated a water sphere even larger than before.
That water sphere began to glow pale blue.
"Huh? Momota-san, that's…"
Murasakimura's eyes widened in surprise.
Sendo also stared blankly at Maika's water sphere.
Now, this was the main event.
Murasakimura, we'll support your leveling with all our strength.