Chapter 12, I’ve Made Up My Mind

Translator: Lizz

 

“Tachibana, is there really nothing that can be done?”

 

“No. Thank you for everything.”

 

“The one to blame is the government’s policy, I suppose… Haha, coming from a man over sixty, it carries no weight.”

 

A dry laugh echoed in the staff room.

 

His face, carved with deep wrinkles, twisted as he gazed at the withdrawal form Rika had submitted, holding it in one hand.

 

Two weeks had passed since the party was formed, and in that time a new home had been found. She had decided to drop out of high school to devote herself fully to the new environment.

 

If she had been born into an ordinary family with both parents alive, such recklessness would never have been allowed, and she would have been urged to pursue university. But unfortunately, that kind of normal future would not come.

 

A sixteen-year-old girl could not make time to attend high school while earning rent, living expenses, and tuition. Even if she could, a human-like life would be impossible. If she were to attend school in such a half-hearted state, it would be better to quit cleanly and focus entirely on being an explorer, which would be more useful for her future. That was the conclusion she had reached.

 

“If I gain competency as an explorer, it won’t be impossible to succeed overseas.”

 

“That’s right. If you have ability, you’ll be in high demand.”

 

Dungeons existed all over the world. By building up achievements as an explorer, she could seize the chance to escape Japan, where no government support could be expected and only the elderly were favored. If her body continued to be enhanced, she could suppress the decline of aging and maintain a youthful appearance, which was also appealing. If she could overlook the fact that her life was being wagered like a chip, it was not a bad choice.

 

“You still have that loan, don’t you? Just be careful not to get hurt.”

 

“Yes. Then I’ll excuse myself.”

 

The low-quality double-edged one-handed sword, the tuition for the swordsmanship classes—these were not amounts she could pay alone, so she had taken out a loan and was steadily repaying it. Only this teacher, who understood her family circumstances, knew this fact; neither her classmates nor even Masato had been told.

 

Earn more. And quickly. For that, the danger to her life didn’t matter. Such was the recklessness of youth. There was no one to stop her.

 

As Rika left the classroom, the teacher let out a deep sigh and muttered,

 

“Japan’s future is bleak… sinking together, perhaps.”

 

◆◆◆

 

Having successfully dropped out of high school, Rika visited a ‘dungeon shop’ used by explorers. Masato had forced about 150,000 yen on her as a congratulatory gift, so she planned to buy the equipment she lacked.

 

She placed leather chest armor, gauntlets, and boots into her cart. Beneath a sign reading ‘Extremely Popular! Miyazawa Ai Model!’ were clothes and expensive weapons priced close to 100,000 yen each.

 

“The performance must be good, but…”

 

No matter how much she had, it wasn’t enough. Gathering beginner equipment was her limit. Moreover, Rika didn’t want to owe Masato any more favors, so she left without picking up any of those products.

 

She called out to a nearby store clerk.

 

“I’d like to try these on.”

 

“Right this way. Do you know how to put them on?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

She entered the fitting room and closed the curtain. She stripped off her uniform, leaving only her underwear.

 

The mirror reflected her toned body. Her abs were faintly defined, with no excess fat at all. Her chest was somewhat large, sometimes getting in the way of movement, so the chest guard would be important.

 

After checking the condition of her body, Rika put on the sturdy clothing for explorers, then layered the leather chest guard and gauntlets over it. She also pulled on long boots that covered her knees, testing the fit.

 

“The size is perfect. It seems good value for money.”

 

Her chest was firmly secured, making movement easy. The boots and gauntlets were solid, and though made of leather, they could withstand attacks from goblins. Her safety had greatly improved. Comfort was sacrificed  for the thick, durable clothing, but simply wearing it gave her a sense of reassurance.

 

The size and performance were fine. Rika decided to make the purchase.

 

After changing back into her uniform, she added exploration essentials like a rope dozens of meters long and an electronic lantern to her cart before heading to the register.

 

“145,000 yen in total.”

 

Satisfied that the amount matched her plan, Rika paid and prepared to leave.

 

Just before stepping out of the dungeon shop, a voice called to her.

 

“Tachibana-san?”

 

Recognizing the voice, Rika decided to ignore it.

 

She tried to walk on, pretending not to notice, but her shoulder was grabbed.

 

Turning back, she saw Koizumi Seiji. One of his female followers had grabbed her shoulder, her brows furrowed in anger.

 

“Isn’t it horrible to ignore me?”

 

With a sigh that showed her annoyance, Rika reluctantly replied.

 

“Sorry. I didn’t notice.”

 

“Oh really? Even though I was this close? You must be awfully hard of hearing.”

 

“I was lost in thought.”

 

The quiet exchange sparked like visible static. Rika disliked running into a classmate she intended to cut ties with, especially one who had once tried to persuade Seiji to accept her as a companion.

 

If it came to an actual fight, Rika at level 1 would undoubtedly win. But explorers with a license were forbidden from using violence against ordinary people. It was a restriction similar to that placed on boxers. Words could be exchanged freely, but raising a hand was not allowed. Knowing this, the girl’s insults toward Rika did not stopped.

 

Rika usually didn’t care about insults from people who didn’t matter to her, but even she had limits. Just as she was about to reach the edge of her patience, Seiji stepped in.

 

“Calm down.”

 

“But—!”

 

“I don’t mind.”

 

That single statement silenced the girl. Once things settled, he looked at Rika.

 

“You bought equipment, so you’re heading into a dungeon?”

 

“What if I said yes?”

 

“Going alone is dangerous.”

 

“Sorry, but I’m not alone. I’ve found a companion I can trust.”

 

Seiji’s eyebrow twitched.

 

The girl who had once clung to him had been taken away. That selfish thought soured his mood.

 

“Trust…? Enough to entrust your life? There’s no way you found someone like that in just a few weeks. You’re being tricked. Let me meet this person, and I’ll tear off their mask.”

 

“You really are the type of man who says rude things. Disappointing.”

 

“You think that just because you don’t know the reality of dungeon exploration. There are plenty of people who run away when things get dangerous. You’ll be attacked by monsters and abandoned. I don’t want a classmate to go through that.”

 

Rika almost told him he was meddling too much, but decided against it. If his follower caused a scene, it would be troublesome. She closed her half-open mouth.

 

“Compared to them, I would never abandon you. So please wait for me. I’ll be independent from my senpai soon.”

 

Mistaking her silence for hesitation, Seiji kept talking. He tried to persuade her, mixing in examples he had seen and heard, attempting to win her back. What he said wasn’t entirely wrong; forming a party with someone you just met carried risks, especially if that person was of the opposite sex.

 

But the truth was, Rika didn’t trust Seiji, who lived only for appearances in the eyes of others. Becoming his companion was out of the question.

 

“We’ve already explored together many times, so it’s fine. Thanks for worrying. Anyway, I’m in a hurry.”

 

She forcefully cut off the conversation and left the dungeon shop.

 

Still unsatisfied, Seiji followed, but Rika ignored him. She climbed into a minivan parked out front. It was Masato’s usual car.

 

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

 

“Is that person behind you an acquaintance? He’s staring over here…”

 

“It’s fine. Let’s head to the dungeon.”

 

With the sliding door still open, Masato and Rika exchanged a brief conversation.

 

Seiji unconsciously ground his teeth, producing a faint sound.

 

“So that’s the one…”

 

Beep, beep, beep—the warning tone sounded as the door automatically closed.

 

“Goodbye.”

 

It was the word that severed her ties with a classmate.