Chapter 30, I’ve Come To Like You a Little

Translator: Lizz

 

As her consciousness faded, Rika looked back on her life.

 

In modern society, where the elderly were favored, young couples raising children faced difficulties beyond imagination.

 

Expenses increased year by year, yet even at 30 or 40, they were still called young, and their salaries did not rise for that reason. Many struggled to afford food, and their children were also forced into a life of poverty. It was so common that it was not even reported as news.

 

With no room to care for them, it was no wonder some parents used ‘the child’s future’ as a justification to escape the growing burden of childcare, leaving their children in institutions.

 

Rika was also raised in such an institution after being left there by her parents.

 

She had been placed there at birth, and had never met her blood relatives.

 

The environment of the institution was far from good, but at least food, clothing, and shelter were guaranteed. She never lacked meals; three were provided each day. The portions were somewhat small, but for a girl like Rika, they were sufficient. That was all, though.

 

In a world where older children looked after the younger ones, there was no expectation of parental affection. They were only taught what was necessary to survive, and apart from learning combat skills, they received no proper education.

 

Those with obedient personalities were not scolded by teachers or seniors, escaped corporal punishment, and were allowed to keep living.

 

Since no one was expelled from school no matter what they did, many turned to delinquency, and some sought freedom in high school by joining semi-gangs.

 

But no matter how much the children struggled, in the end, they had no choice but to become explorers.

 

That was the reason such institutions existed.

 

Children kept alive by taxes had no freedom to choose their occupation. Of course, outwardly it was different, and a very small number of exceptional individuals could advance to university. But most were forced to become explorers while still in high school or right after graduation.

 

‘Why is my future closed off?’

 

It was no wonder Rika thought that way. The gap between the reality before her eyes and the outside world was far too great.

 

On television and in videos, there was a glittering, radiant world filled with promising young people. They enjoyed freedom, and infinite possibilities spread before them.

 

Meanwhile, the teachers at the institution said that middle-aged and elderly people should be protected, respected, and cherished, and told them, ‘You live for that purpose.’

 

‘Am I meant to exist for others?’

 

That was what Rika had always felt.

 

While her peers played, she studied desperately. But as an ordinary person, she had no power to defy fate. The institution judged her as having no value for investment.

 

The result was that she left the institution, stood on her own, and worked as an explorer.

 

Her one stroke of luck was attending the same high school as Rekka.

 

Her fate of dying alone as an explorer changed drastically, and her life began to turn upward.

 

For the first time in her life, she experienced the feeling that her world had opened.

 

Rika knew she would never forget it.

 

The time she spent dreaming had been short, but when she remembered the days when she could not even dream, she felt that at sixteen she had already enjoyed life enough.

 

“――――――san!”

 

A voice she had grown used to hearing recently echoed in her mind.

 

At once, her awareness shifted from the past to the present.

 

‘That’s right, I leveled up, and then… So, I was going to die, wasn’t I?’

 

What she remembered was Seiji’s face, twisted in anger.

 

Since she had attacked her companions, she thought it was only natural for him to be angry, and she accepted it under that misunderstanding.

 

She did not feel pain, but she sensed the heat of life draining away.

 

“――――Rika-san!”

 

Toward Masato, she felt nothing but guilt.

 

She had never imagined she lacked the ability to withstand leveling up.

 

She had not wished for talent greater than others. She had not wanted to remain ordinary either. She had only wanted the minimum ability necessary to live as an explorer.

 

‘I finally become close with him, and I want to try harder.’

 

It could not be called a satisfying death.

 

Overflowing regrets remained.

 

“Open your eyes! Survive!”

 

That was why she naturally obeyed the voice of Masato, her benefactor. Or perhaps it was a reflex born from her obedient childhood in the institution.

 

Either way, this moment became her turning point.

 

She lifted her heavy eyelids.

 

That simple act was painfully difficult, but if she didn’t hurry, she would never escape the darkness.

 

She gathered the last of her strength and opened her eyes, and Masato was there.

 

“Thank goodness!! We can make it in time!”

 

He cried while rejoicing—such a skillful person.

 

Rika, struck by the odd thought, looked up at the dungeon ceiling. It still gave the same cold, inorganic impression, like death itself had taken form.

 

From within Rika, the desire to live—’I want to live more’, ‘I don’t want to die yet’—exploded in intensity. But wishing alone did not erase the small hole in her abdomen.

 

“Hold this, then strongly think of learning it!”

 

Guided by Masato in her hazy consciousness, Rika wished with all her might to learn.

 

[Self-Recovery: Consume internal mana to heal wounds.]

 

The method of using the skill flowed into her mind.

 

In an instant, she became able to use it unconsciously, like moving her arms and legs.

 

Following her survival instinct, she focused her mana on the wound and began to heal it.

 

It did not close immediately like the ogre’s, but the bleeding stopped, and slowly the hole sealed. Within a few minutes, no scar remained, only smooth skin.

 

“Ah, I’m alive. Being alive is nice…”

 

A single tear flowed from Rika’s eye.

 

“I… caused trouble…”

 

Rika said weakly, and was lifted into Masato’s arms as he shook his head twice.

 

“It looked like the rampage ended, don’t worry. We defeated the ogre too, so it seemed everyone could return safely.”

 

“Seiji-kun…”

 

“He already calmed down.”

 

Masato’s gaze fell on Seiji, who sat cross-legged with his head lowered. On either side stood Reika and Hinata, ready to restrain him if he made any strange move.

 

“You’ve recovered. We need to head back to the surface, but I have no intention of returning together with someone who shot a party member. I want to dissolve the joint party here. Is that alright?”

 

“Yes. There’s no need to listen to his demands anymore.”

 

“Good. Then we’ll leave the room first.”

 

Masato turned his back on the other three and started walking away while carrying Rika.

 

“Ah.”

 

Reika called out without meaning to.

 

She did not have anything specific she wanted to say, but for some reason, she felt she did not want to part ways like this.

 

Masato stopped and looked back.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Ah, no… Please be careful on your way back.”

 

The words that came out were not what she wanted to say, but since nothing else came to mind, Reika fell silent.

 

“Thank you. Please be careful too. There might be another large outbreak of orcs or goblins.”

 

With that, their conversation ended.

 

Masator started walking again toward the iron door that had been tightly shut during the battle.

 

“Let’s explore together again!!”

 

As his figure began to disappear, Hinata shouted loudly.

 

Masato did not stop, but he raised one hand in response.

 

“That’s great isn’t it, onee-chan!”

 

Hinata spoke out Reika’s feelings for her.

 

Only after that did Reika finally realize her own feelings.

 

Her first adventure had been filled with hardships, dangers, and moments when fear froze her body. Even so, Masato had faced difficulties head-on and fought with all his strength. His figure shone so brightly that she wanted to see him again by her side.

 

For the first time, Reika understood the feelings of the classmates who chased after the popular explorer Domyoji Hayato.

 

“Yes. It would be nice if we could explore the dungeon together again.”

 

Answering her lively sister, Reika tried to force Seiji, who was still sitting on the ground, to stand up.