Chapter 24, Now Is When It Truly Starts

Translator: Lizz

  

How do I even explain this experience so it makes sense?

 

Maybe it feels like slipping and falling into the ocean or a river?

 

I’m thrown into this super mysterious space where stars are sparkling.

 

Wait, is this space? If it’s space, there’s no air, so wouldn’t I die?

 

“U-wooooah!?”

 

Crap! I can’t breathe!

 

Or at least that’s what I think, but apparently I can breathe. Kinda embarrassing.

 

Then, something especially bright appears in this space-like place. It shines like the sun and gradually gets bigger.

 

No, hold on. Maybe it’s not getting bigger – maybe it’s getting closer.

 

Is it some kind of star!? I don’t know what’s going on, but I instinctively reach out with both hands to try and stop it.

 

Obviously that’s impossible, but I’m so scared I can’t think straight.

 

“A-ahhh!?”

 

And then I plunge into that sun-like thing. But my body doesn’t melt or get hit with anything painful.

 

Before I know it, I feel this kind of comfort, like my whole body is soaking in a hot spring.

 

<I shall grant you power. Please accept it.>

 

Huh? I think I just heard a voice…

 

I start feeling sleepy. In the haze of my fading consciousness, I sense my body changing.

 

How much time has passed, I’m not sure. When I come to, I’m staring at the ceiling of my rundown apartment.

 

“H-huh?”

 

I sit up, but nothing seems different from usual.

 

<Explorer rarity upgrade successful.>

 

AI Miria’s voice sounds gentler than usual for some reason.

 

“So that was the explorer rarity upgrade? I thought it was a dream.”

 

<Your rank has increased. Would you like to check your status?>

 

“Yeah, I wanna see!”

 

What the heck happened? I still can’t believe it actually went up.

 

I put on my goggles. The screen shows my status.

 

＝＝＝＝＝＝

 

Name: Ryuga Kagetora

 

Explorer Rarity: SR

 

Level: 50

 

HP: 667/1067

 

MP: 253/402

 

Strength: 1226

 

Speed: 810

 

Resilience: 1185

 

Dexterity: 599

 

Luck: 601

 

S Skills: Not acquired

 

Skills: Not acquired

 

Usable Magic:

Fireball

Alter Ego (Card Effect)

 

＝＝＝＝＝＝

 

“…Ah… huh…?”

 

I stare blankly at the screen.

 

It’s off. A lot of things are off.

 

“Wait, hold on! I was explorer rarity R, right? Wasn’t S supposed to come after R?”

 

<Yes. However, since you also obtained the SR material Crown of Evolution, we’ve performed a two-step evolution this time.>

 

“Two steps!? And my level shot way up too.”

 

<Level 40 is the cap for Rank R, but you had already reached it during your last dungeon exploration. The excess experience points were stored and added when your rank increased.>

 

As I listen to the explanation, I start to understand. Still, the SR status screen feels really new, something I’ve never seen.

 

And somehow, I’ve got a new magic card equipped called Alter-something. When did I put that on? Oh well.

 

“Whoa. So that’s how it works. I had no idea.”

 

<Also, from explorer rarity SR onward, both Skills and S Skills are unlocked. You can acquire them once you reach the required level.>

 

“Skills, huh. There are all kinds of them, like finishing moves or stat boosters. But what’s an S Skill?”

 

<S Skills are advanced versions of Skills, and each explorer receives their own unique one.>

 

“Oh… got it, got it.”

 

Now that I think about it, yeah, that’s true. But S Skills are usually kept secret; nobody really talks about what their own S Skill is.

 

Also, there’s this elite group of explorers called Rankers, and they almost never show their status to anyone.

 

Everyone has their own reasons, but I guess it’s kind of like not telling people how much money you have.

 

“Hey Miria, do you think I might’ve gotten super strong? I’ve barely ever seen the status of an SR explorer.”

 

<No, Kagetora-sama, you still need much more training. The power of an SR explorer is fundamentally on another level.>

 

“Ah, I see. So I’m not there yet.”

 

Figures. If an AI that supposedly has access to all kinds of data says so, then yeah, that must be true.

 

<However, Kagetora-sama, you have great potential. I guarantee it.>

 

“Seriously? I don’t think I’m that talented though.”

 

She guarantees it? That’s rare. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an AI speak with that kind of certainty.

 

<Leveling up has only just begun.>

 

“Eh, really? Haven’t I done quite a bit already?”

 

<Now is when it truly starts. A new exclusive dungeon key has been sent as a login bonus, so if possible, explore right away.>

 

Miria’s really pushing hard, but is she for real? Wait, there’s a dungeon key in the login bonus?

 

“Alright then. Maybe I’ll explore after some casual chatting… huh?”

 

Oh, my phone’s vibrating. Looks like I’m getting a call.

 

I check the screen and see the name Rena Kirisame. A call from that gyaru who’s unmatched when it comes to teasing people?

 

I get a bad feeling, but I tap the call icon anyway.

 

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