Chapter 9, Is Someone Getting Attacked!

Translator: Lizz

 

Since I lost my job, for some reason I just can’t shake the habit of waking up early. Before I knew it, I was already standing in front of the dungeon by mid-morning.

 

It’s the same dungeon Miria recommended me to try last time.

 

“Alright! Just to be sure, can you go ahead and start the stream?”

 

<Understood. Three… two… one… stream starting.>

 

“Huh, starting the stream feels faster now.”

 

<You’re getting used to it.>

 

“Oh, I see. That’s awesome. Okay then, today I’m exploring this beginner-friendly dungeon again, so here we go!”

 

Thinking probably no one’s watching anyway, I give a half-hearted greeting and head into the dungeon.

 

Alright then, looks like I’ll be dealing with slimes first. Today I’ve got a steel sword, leather armor, and a wooden round shield added to my gear.

 

Just as I’m walking in, fired up and ready to go, the AI hits me with a surprise suggestion.

 

<Would you like to use a skip ticket?>

 

“Huh? Oh, that’s the ticket I got the other day. Wait, what happens when I use it again?”

 

<You can skip floors you’ve already cleared. You warp and instantly arrive at the next floor.>

 

“That’s insanely convenient! I’m using it!”

 

Man, having a ticket like this is super handy. Subscriptions really do come with perks. Apparently there are other benefits too, and if it’s only around 3000 yen, I might keep paying for it.

 

<Then I’ll proceed with the skip.>

 

“Wha–eeek!”

 

It really is a warp. Before I know it, I’m standing in front of the stairs on the first floor. No flashy effects or anything, it just finishes like that, clean and simple.

 

“Wait, I’m already here?”

 

<Yes. You’ve arrived at Underground Level 1.>

 

Right after that, items come dropping one after another from the ceiling.

 

“Whoa! Enemies… no, looks like they’re not.”

 

<These are items you’ve obtained from the skip.>

 

“Huh?”

 

<Even if you use a skip ticket, it’s treated as if you’ve defeated the monsters along the way. You receive the EXP and items all at once after the skip.>

 

So I’ve ended up getting experience points and items without doing anything. Handy, yeah, but it kind of feels like I’m cheating.

 

“Is this really okay? I didn’t do anything.”

 

<Kagetora-sama cleared the first floor properly last time. Therefore, receiving rewards with a skip ticket is not considered cheating.>

 

“Hmm… well, I don’t really get it, but I guess I’ll just move forward for now.”

 

I have all the items sorted into the subscription box, and start walking through Underground Level 1.

 

This time the dungeon feels like a total maze. But since the monsters along the way are the same as on the first floor, I’m now at a high enough level that I can take them down pretty easily.

 

I haven’t used my summon cards, and I haven’t cast any spells either. Actually, I still don’t know how to use magic.

 

“Hey Miria, how do I use–”

 

Right as I’m trying to talk to the AI, a scream comes from inside the dungeon. It sounds like a girl’s voice, and I think it’s coming from the stairs leading down ahead.

 

“Is someone getting attacked!”

 

<Voice is detected from Underground Level 2. Also detecting a person approaching from ahead.>

 

“A person? Whoa–!”

 

Just as I’m sprinting forward, a tall handsome guy suddenly appears in front of me. I narrowly dodge to avoid slamming into him. With a pale face, he dashes past in a straight line.

 

There’s no time to wonder who he is. I rush down the stairs, searching for the one who screamed.

 

<Turn right at the end of the path. Up ahead, I’ve identified monsters not normally expected on this floor. Please be careful.>

 

“Monsters not normally expected?”

 

<An apparently higher-level monster.>

 

Miria’s warning gives me a bad feeling, and I brace myself. Around the corner, there’s a girl collapsed on the ground.

 

Seeing the monster looming over her as it creeps closer makes me gasp.

 

“What the hell is that!”

 

<An ogre. A beginner-level demon-type monster.>

 

“Demon?”

 

Yeah, it’s definitely a demon. It looks just like something out of a folktale with red skin and, even worse, horns.

 

It’s holding a spiked club, drooling as it closes in on the frightened girl. Then it raises its log-like arm, about to smash down with that club.

 

“Uooooooooh!”

 

I somehow manage to wedge myself in between just in time. With the round shield strapped to my left arm, I barely block the blow from the club.

 

But my arm is buzzing like crazy.

 

“Take this!”

 

Now’s not the time to be stunned. I slash at its belly without a moment’s hesitation, and the ogre becomes visibly irritated and tries to grab me with its free hand.

 

“Whoa! Wait, that didn’t even hurt it?”

 

I barely escape those massive fingers, but honestly, this situation is bad. It feels like slashing at solid rock, like I didn’t even scratch it.

 

While dodging, I scoop up small stones and hurl them at the ogre. That ticks it off and it starts charging straight at me.

 

At least I’ve gotten its attention away from that girl. Now I just need to make it out in one piece. Easier said than done!

 

“It’s totally chasing me! This is scary!”

 

I keep running through the maze-like corridor. The ogre chases right after me. A literal game of tag.

 

[T/N: A word play: In Japanese, orge is oni, and game of tag is onigokko.]

 

“Yikes!? Its face looks absolutely angry now!”

 

Did it hear the pun I just made in my head!?

 

<Kagetora-sama, ogres are weak against lightning.>

 

“A summon… Oh, right!”

 

I pull out the card I had tucked away and toss it behind me. The card, illustrated with a fairy, begins to shimmer, and a graceful little monster takes flight.

 

The tiny girl who appears smiles sweetly at the stunned ogre, and then unleashes a furious blast of electricity from both hands.

 

“Alright…! Now’s my chance!”

 

The ogre stumbles back, writhing in pain. Its reaction is so intense, it’s obvious just how effective the magic is.

 

But I get the feeling this won’t be enough to take it down. My instincts scream at me as I face the monster, so I draw another card and hurl it straight at the ogre.

 

A goblin bursts out from the card and lunges at the writhing orge.

 

Although I know these things only get one hit in, and that’s it… Just as I think that, the ogre stumbles toward me, breathing heavily.

 

But then, surprisingly, the goblin starts putting in work. It lands a crushing blow with its club to the ogre’s face, way more forceful than last time.

 

Then another hit. And another.

 

“What’s going on? Isn’t it supposed to hit just once?”

 

I don’t know why, but this is my moment. I close in and aim for its neck, but the ogre catches my sword in its hand.

 

“Geh!?”

 

<Kagetora-sama, use magic.>

 

Just then, the magic card in my pocket heats up like a hand warmer.

 

“How do I use this?”

 

<I’ll assist you.>

 

“Huh–whoa!?”

 

Suddenly, strange characters start flooding into my mind. I don’t know how it works, but somehow I feel like I’ve grasped how to use the magic stored in this card.

 

But the ogre isn’t waiting around. At some point, the pixie and goblin have vanished. It’s battered and beaten, yet it’s mustering its last strength, club raised to strike.

 

<Kagetora-sama, your magic.>

 

“I know! I just do it like this, right!”

 

And I raise my fist toward the monster.