Chapter 7, Not a Good Match

Translator: Lizz

 

A month had passed since he made the 2nd floor his hunting ground. During that time, Masato entered the Tokyo Dungeon every single day without fail, spending his days defeating goblins and green wolves. The monsters down to the 2nd floor were no longer enemies, just routine work. His income didn’t change.

 

His physical enhancement had also stopped. Because everything was going too smoothly, his daily life had become monotonous, and Masato was bored. Even if it was unavoidable for the sake of earning money, continuing to fight silently all alone required a certain kind of talent, and unfortunately, he didn’t have it.

 

He requested documents from the Explorer’s Guild and checked the information about the 3rd floor. The types of monsters, the field map, past incidents—he went through all the information that even ordinary people could obtain.

 

Weighing his current ability against the strength of the monsters, he decided to go to the 3rd floor.

 

He hadn’t told his younger brothers. He knew he would be stopped for being reckless. Masato assumed it would be fine as long as he planned to retreat immediately if things got dangerous.

 

◆◆◆

 

Low grass spread thickly across the land, stretching all the way to the horizon. From time to time the wind blew, making it sway gently and giving a refreshing impression. The artificial sun created inside the dungeon lit up the surroundings, and visibility was excellent. There was no cover at all.

 

Yes, there was nothing to hide Masato’s figure.

 

For someone like him, who often began battles with ambushes or surprise attacks, the 3rd floor, where his presence could be seen from several kilometers away, was a poor match. If he had companions, his tactical options would broaden and he could manage, but solo here was no choice but to fight head-on.

 

Even so, he was confident he could fight the monsters.

 

He moved deeper into the area, heading for a place with few people. Since part-time explorers rarely descended this far, the numbers were low, and by the time he reached his destination he was completely alone.

 

“According to the notes, monsters often don’t appear around here, and only show up one at a time.”

 

This unpopular area was known for having a small hill nearby.

 

For parties, hunting here was inefficient, but for solo explorers it was a safe place to fight. Especially since all the monsters he would face were new to him, the priority was obvious.

 

He assembled a portable folding chair like one used for camping and sat down. Slowly scanning the surroundings, he waited for monsters to come. For a while he enjoyed a peaceful time, but sooner than expected, the monster he was aiming for appeared.

 

Thud, thud—the ground shook as the massive figure approached.

 

“Tch, an orc!”

 

Masato sprang to his feet, gripping two knives in his hands.

 

As it drew closer, its form became clear. A creature with green skin and the head of a boar ran on two legs. Two tusks jutted upward from its lower jaw, and its body was wrapped in thick fat. Beneath that layer of fat lay powerful muscles strong enough to crush a human with ease, and the club it carried could deliver a fatal blow if it landed.

 

“One minute until contact… what do I do?”

 

Throwing a knife head-on risked being deflected, and he couldn’t afford to lose his main weapons. Long-range attacks were impossible. Ambushes were out of the question. He had no choice but to fight directly.

 

He inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

 

He calmed his mind.

 

He had practiced image training thoroughly on the surface.

 

The opponent was nearly two meters tall, but Masato’s body, strengthened by magic, wasn’t that weak to be easily overpowered. If he stayed calm, he could win.

 

“Hah.”

 

Breathing out, Masato dashed forward.

 

He slipped past the orc’s downward swing of its thick club and slashed at its side as he ran through. Turning back, he checked the wound. Blood flowed, but only a little. His short-bladed knives couldn’t pierce through the thick layer of fat.

 

“Efficacy is bad, huh…”

 

A deep frown formed on his brow, his expression severe.

 

It was something he had predicted during his prior research. He wasn’t shaken, but he couldn’t hide his frustration.

 

“Guooooo!!”

 

The orc, slashed in the side, roared in fury. In the next instant, it charged at Masato, swinging its thick club wildly.

 

He avoided the storm of attacks with the smallest possible movements, watching for an opening. From time to time he stabbed his knives into its belly in counterattacks, but they had little effect. At this rate, Masato’s stamina would run out long before the orc collapsed from blood loss.

 

Resolving himself, Masato leapt the moment the orc slammed its club down into the ground. Using its arm as a foothold, he vaulted higher and landed on its shoulders as if riding it.

 

“There’s no fat here, right!”

 

He drove both knives into the orc’s eyes. As a cruel bonus, he twisted them around inside.

 

“Gwaaaaaaa!!!!”

 

The orc screamed, unable to endure the pain.

 

As Masato jumped down, the orc collapsed, curling up on the ground. Its nape was completely exposed. He approached to deliver a finishing strike, but before he could, the orc gradually faded away.

 

His body felt as though it had absorbed more magic power than ever before, leaving him flushed with heat.

 

“Haa, haa, haa.”

 

In front of Masato’s eyes, only a single red magic stone remained.

 

It was the first opponent he had truly struggled against since entering the Tokyo Dungeon, and his stamina was completely spent. Even standing was burdensome. Consecutive battles were impossible. Resting in such an open area would be nothing short of suicide. After a brief hesitation, Masato chose to retreat.

 

He had defeated the orc, but fighting multiple battles in a row would be difficult.

 

Looking back on the fight, that about summed it up. There was no doubt he could win against such an enemy, but he hadn’t considered the compatibility of his weapons. The struggle had been greater than expected, and his future plans needed adjustment.

 

“Either change weapons, or add companions. One of the two.”

 

Driving his car, Masato muttered like a sigh.

 

Even if he changed weapons, he would need time to get used to them. He had no acquaintances likely to join him as companions. Without deciding on his next move, he couldn’t advance further. With such thoughts in mind, he arrived home.

 

◆◆◆

 

After finishing dinner, Masato and Rekka watched the news in the living room.

 

“Hey, aniki. Something up?”

 

Rekka asked, his eyes still fixed on the TV screen.

 

“Hm? What do you mean?”

 

“Ever since you got back, you’ve seemed distracted. Trouble in the dungeon?”

 

“Not trouble exactly… I fought an orc and had a hard time. I’ve been debating whether to find companions or switch to new weapons.”

 

“I see. And which do you think is better?”

 

“Adding companions would be best. If I change weapons, I’d have to start over from scratch.”

 

Weapons with real power, like swords or axes, required proper training. Especially since Masato often began battles solo with ambush tactics, he would need to rebuild his entire fighting style from the ground up. That would mean halting dungeon exploration and returning to martial arts classes once again.

 

It was like being sent back to the starting square in the Game of Life. It was natural Masato wanted to prioritize finding companions.

 

“…There might be someone I can introduce.”

 

Masato turned his head toward Rekka with a movement so jerky that it seemed to make a creaky sound.

 

His eyes were wide open, his mouth gaping and closing in surprise.

 

“Seriously?”

 

“Seriously. But they’ve just turned sixteen. Is that okay?”

 

“I won’t know until I meet them. Do their parents approve?”

 

“They already have a license. That says it all.”

 

For a minor to obtain an explorer’s license, parental consent was required. Having one at sixteen meant the person had permission, so the risk of opposition from their family was low.

 

“Introduce me. Let me interview them to see if they can be a companion.”

 

“Got it. I’ll contact you once they give their OK.”

 

Masato didn’t think Rekka would introduce someone untrustworthy. At the very least, it was worth meeting. With that thought, he waited for Rekka’s arrangement.