Chapter-11 · EP-164
Chapter 11: Firebird Splash
Episode 164: Hikaru Kujo – Time Limit
I heard that Murasakimura-san had reached level 3 on Monday morning.
I happened to overhear D-Class students talking happily in the hallway. It wasn't just Murasakimura-san. Apparently, his party members, Sendo-san and Akaishi-san, had also leveled up together.
Congratulations, I muttered in my heart and averted my gaze out the window.
Level 3.
The same as me. The number I had finally obtained with Ichinose-san's help during Golden Week. Yet, D-Class had already caught up.
Not only caught up. They would probably surpass me soon. It was likely just a matter of time.
Because perhaps this Level 3 was my limit.
Growth limit.
It is also called the "Leveling Wall" among explorers.
Those who cannot deal a certain amount of effective damage to monsters cannot gain experience points, even if they are in a party. Those who cannot fight cannot become strong.
I was falling into that trap, which healers are prone to. Lack of physical strength. No offensive magic. With only my Analysis skill, I couldn't injure monsters.
Thanks to Takigawa-san's instruction in the Second Swordsmanship Club, I had become able to easily defeat slimes on the first floor. However, defeating monsters on the second floor was very difficult, and I could barely damage goblins on the third floor at all. My wooden sword would be deflected, and a sharp pain would run through my palms. It was the same every time.
So perhaps my current level 3 was my growth limit. I had come to think so.
Hayasaka-san, the healer in D-Class, had also hit the same wall, and she found an answer in archery.
I had also been trying various weapons. But I hadn't yet found one that felt right.
The time I could stay at the academy was only three years. After graduation, it was decided that I would marry my fiancé. The time I could move by my own will was only these three years.
Yet, even these three years – would my life not go as I wished?
My right hand naturally touched the hilt of my wooden sword, 'Benikiri,' at my waist.
A precious weapon given to me by my brother. But for me now, this sword was still "far away."
A feeling of sadness welled up in my heart. I held it back.
Level 3.
…Would my clock stop here?
Outside the window, early summer clouds drifted slowly.
"Hikaru-san… Hikaru-san."
Called by name, I hurriedly turned around.
It was Okumoto-san from my class.
"I'm sorry, I was spacing out."
"No, I'm sorry for suddenly calling out. By the way, did you hear? About Kyoya Murasakimura from D-Class."
"Ah, yes. That he reached level 3."
"Huh? Level 3…"
Somehow, our conversation didn't seem to align. When I said he seemed to have leveled up, he looked surprised.
"I see, level 3… I see…"
Okumoto-san nodded to himself as if understanding something.
Wondering why, I asked.
"Is there something else about Murasakimura-san?"
"Ah, yes. Did you hear about the clip video?"
"Clip video?"
I involuntarily repeated Okumoto-san's words.
He explained for me.
"It seems Murasakimura encountered some streamers in the Shinjuku Dungeon on a holiday. The footage of him fighting was clipped and uploaded to a short video SNS. The view count is apparently huge."
"Is that so."
I had seen Murasakimura-san practicing swings in the Second Swordsmanship Club, and his intensity had been increasing day by day. If a video of him fighting was released, it would probably look very impressive.
As I was imagining Murasakimura-san fighting, Okumoto-san took out his phone and showed me the video.
"Look. This is the video. There seem to be several others as well…"
I peered at Okumoto-san's phone screen.
It showed Murasakimura-san fighting goblins with bright red faces.
"What are these goblins? They look different from the goblins I know."
"These are called Angry Goblins. They seem to be an enhanced version."
"I didn't know that."
I had heard that the Shinjuku Dungeon had the same monsters as the academy dungeon, but I thought there were some I didn't know.
"Also, the comments are incredible. Things like 'He's strong despite being young' and 'The academy's level is high.' They're treating him as if he represents the academy."
Hearing Okumoto-san's explanation, rather than feeling frustrated, I thought, as expected of Murasakimura-san.
He had been lamenting not being able to level up not long ago, but as expected of the top student, he was no slouch.
He would probably surpass my level soon.
Before I knew it, I was comparing myself to him in some corner of my heart.
"Even though Hikaru-san's evaluation within the academy rose after being commended for the antidote, he seems to have raised his evaluation outside the academy."
"That's true."
I nodded.
But that wasn't my achievement. In contrast, Murasakimura-san's was his own ability.
"And level 3. I also reached level 3 during Golden Week, but he's already caught up. If we wait until summer break, he might surpass us. Perhaps we also need to level up on holidays."
Leveling up… Hearing Okumoto-san's mention, my heart felt heavy.
Conventionally, level 3 would be a safe number until the third semester. If we went to some dungeon during summer or winter break to level up, we should be able to stay ahead of students from other classes.
But this year's D-Class was different from usual. Even though it was only June, Murasakimura-san was level 3. I heard Ichinose-san was level 6.
If this continued – but I didn't know what to do, and I was lost.
Time was steadily running out. My youth, which was only three years, had run aground right after it began.
Even so,
I couldn't give up.
"I will try training in swordsmanship again."
"Hikaru-san, I heard you were trying other weapons…"
I gripped Benikiri tightly.
My brother must have had a reason for giving me this wooden sword.
"I couldn't find a weapon that suits me. I'll go back to the basics and train again."
The depressed me from moments ago was no longer there.
Because I had no time to lament.