Chapter-09 · EP-143

Episode 143: Morning Practice

Yesterday, Susa's interference had left Murasakimura's leveling half-finished, and I thought I'd have to put my own desired exploration on hold for a while.

But even for the Self-Defense Forces, surely they wouldn't keep such a high-level explorer investigating the academy dungeon indefinitely without finding anything.

If I waited a bit, he should leave. I just had to be patient until then.

So, until he was gone, I decided to prioritize club activities over exploration. I planned to practice seriously with the Second Swordsmanship Club.

Thus, starting today, I decided to join the morning practice with some of the club members.

Naturally, Iori, the instructor, wasn't there. Murasakimura, who loved practice, Sendo, and a few others, including the reluctant but good-natured captain Takayama, a second-year, participated. Hachinohe (Hacchi), who had just joined, probably wanted to get stronger too; he was also at morning practice.

I practiced swinging my wooden sword along with everyone.

Before, I thought swinging a wooden sword without an opponent was pointless, but when I imagined an enemy in front of me and swung, I felt like I could grasp something.

But I tended to have too many distractions.

When I swung the sword silently, I'd quickly start thinking about other things. Seeing students walking to school while glancing at us out of the corner of their eyes would distract me.

Everyone else was swinging with complete focus. How did they concentrate so well?

Come to think of it, what about exploration this weekend?

I'd been going to the Shinjuku Dungeon every weekend, leveling up and updating floors, but if Susa was watching me again, he'd steal information about any new experiments or discoveries as soon as I made them.

Sigh, I wish he'd go home soon.

Should I just hole up in my room this weekend and play games? But I hadn't touched the games I loved in middle school since entering this academy. Dungeon exploration was more fun.

In a game, it ends when you clear it, but in the real world, there's no end as long as you're alive. Of course the real world is more fun.

Would it be okay if I just didn't update floors, even if I was being watched? Maybe I could collect items instead. I could gather monster hides on the second floor and have custom armor made. Goblins on the third floor only drop weak weapons, and the fourth floor drops Cure Gems, but now that I can get antidote for free, there's no point in collecting those…

As I was thinking about such things, I noticed Murasakimura practicing his swings nearby.

Words slipped out of my mouth unintentionally.

"Murasakimura… want to go to the Shinjuku Dungeon together this weekend?"

"Huh?"

Murasakimura's swinging arm stopped in surprise.

"Ah, well, you've seen the path to level 2, right? But to reach level 3, you'll need to put in different effort, won't you? It's a bit dangerous because the risk of injury increases, but I'll teach you how I fight. I thought it might be a helpful reference for your future leveling…"

I didn't know why I had invited Murasakimura, whom I had disliked so much. So I hurriedly thought of a plausible reason and told him. If I was going to take a break from floor progression, I thought I might as well help him level up.

Then Murasakimura, with a happier smile than I had imagined, answered.

"Really? Yes, please! Actually, I've been wondering how to keep up with everyone else for leveling in the second semester."

"Ichinose, could I come too?"

Hearing our conversation, Sendo also asked to join.

"Of course. It's better if you level up together as a party than if Murasakimura gets stronger alone. Ask Akaishi to come too."

These guys usually explored as a party of three: Murasakimura, Sendo, and Akaishi. Leveling up together would be good for them to gain experience in fighting as a party and dividing roles.

"Yeah, Akaishi-kun seems to work part-time on weekends, but if Ichinose-kun is offering to help us level up, I'll try to convince him to take time off and come."

Akaishi had a part-time job. He'd said he worked after school on weekdays too. A working student.

I could now earn a lot from potions, but just normal exploration still didn't pay much. If you needed money, working a part-time job might be better.

Anyway, it was decided that I'd go to the Shinjuku Dungeon with them this weekend. Well, it might be good once in a while.

"Thank you, Ichinose-kun."

Murasakimura thanked me even though nothing had started yet. I thought it was too early for thanks.

Looking at Murasakimura's face, words slipped out again.

"You've changed, haven't you?"

"Huh?"

"Well, around the entrance ceremony, you were all 'I'm right' and aggressive towards people with different opinions. Lately, you're completely different."

"That's probably… because I've come to think that maybe I can be wrong too…"

"That's right. There's no perfect person. It's normal to be wrong sometimes, and even if you're right, that doesn't mean someone with a different opinion is wrong."

"Huh?"

"There are all kinds of people in the world."

"Ah, yeah… I'll keep that in mind."

I, who had once strongly disliked Murasakimura, now felt a sense of kinship with him.

Without further words, we resumed our practice swings.

The refreshing morning air. The sound of wooden swords swinging. The breathing of my companions.

Not a bad morning.

That's when I thought.

"So this is where you practice! You're in the way!"

An unpleasant voice tore through the peaceful air.

Our eyes turned to the source of the voice.

It was Dokujima and Numabe.