Chapter 87

After gathering, we listened to a brief set of instructions from the staff, and then the explorers, including myself, boarded the prepared buses. With 80 people in total, including the staff, and 60 explorers alone, two large buses had been arranged.

It’s quite a grand affair just to go to the neighboring prefecture, but with this many people, it wouldn’t be practical to use public transportation. On the other hand, if everyone were to meet at the site, it wouldn’t really be a tour, would it?

It’s a delicate balance... Anyway, I boarded the second bus. This was a straightforward allocation by rank, with those of A-rank and above boarding the first bus in order.

Naturally, I was separated from Kaori. In fact, she is the only A-rank participant in this tour, so it couldn’t be helped.

Instead, I was with Mochizuki and Aizaka. When it came to free seating, they ended up sitting near me, and even the people who had been glaring at me earlier came over. Scary... please don’t cause a commotion in the bus.

“Mr. Kōhei, it’s an honor to be with you! I’ll do my best to be of service on this tour!”

“I can’t be as enthusiastic as Mochizuki, but I’ll do my best too. Please take care of me.”

“Ah, yeah. Please take care of me too.”

While Mochizuki has become a complete fanatic, Aizaka is completely normal. I’m grateful...

By the way, she has been promoted to E-rank. She’s one of us, one of us.

“In terms of strength, I don’t think I can be a true companion, but as a supporter, I’m quite confident. Please look forward to it.”

“Even this unworthy Mochizuki, if allowed to team up with Mr. Kōhei, will do my utmost! I’ve also been instructed by Mr. Kudō to eliminate anyone who opposes Mr. Kōhei!”

“What kind of enemies do I have... This person is scary...”

She has become a combatant. Kaori’s influence is intense. Even Aizaka, who was listening, and the male explorers who had been hostile towards me, started to look uncomfortable.

In the midst of this, one of the explorers who had been recoiling approached me hesitantly.

“Um, Yamanishi, right? I heard you usually fight solo, and I’ve seen Mr. Kudō’s videos...”

“Eh, yeah, well. It’s because of my skills.”

“What kind of skills? Mr. Kudō was there as a videographer, so you’re not completely alone, right?”

“Ah... Well, it’s like this...”

Of course, it’s curious. A person who usually explores dungeons alone has decided to join a tour that assumes party formation.

But this is a problem. If I explain my skill, “Walking in a Wilderness Where Even the Wind Does Not Blow,” I’ll have to reveal its poetic name and the extreme effect of a 10x buff. The reactions could be scary.

However, since he took the initiative to communicate, I don’t want to be rude. Reluctantly, I explained.

The skill “Walking in a Wilderness Where Even the Wind Does Not Blow” has the effect of increasing all abilities by 10 times when fighting alone.

The reactions from the listeners were dramatic, each in their own way.

“What’s with that name? It sounds like someone’s feelings.”

“The effect... Are you kidding? A 10x increase in all abilities? You’re not a kid, you know.”

“But I remember the guild master being flustered about his skills. It’s probably not a lie, right?”

“Still, it’s risky to be limited to solo use, isn’t it?”

“Even with someone as skilled as Mr. Kudō, if they only focus on filming, would you still be considered solo? ...Where’s the line?”

Some were completely taken aback, some thought the effect was too exaggerated, some denied it, some pointed out the vulnerability despite the power, and some even delved into the philosophy of being solo.

Everyone is so varied. The common thread is that they are seriously thinking and discussing, even about a single skill.

This is what explorers are like. Whether it’s their own or someone else’s, they always keep a high antenna for the skills and titles of their peers, constantly considering what they can do if they team up and what they can receive in return. This is the professional demeanor cultivated over a hundred years in an era where dungeon exploration is a way of life.

“Was your skill active when Aizaka was rescued? The light from Shining Yamanishi is a different skill, right?”

“When Mr. Kudō tried to help, he said it would be bad because the buff would disappear. It’s reasonable to assume it was active.”

“For example, if someone suddenly joins a solo battle, the enhancement would be interrupted... Wow, that’s scary! I don’t think I could handle it.”

“You often go around with Mr. Kudō, don’t you... Ah, the opposite. You always go with Mr. Kudō because you trust that they won’t interfere and break the buff.”

“Truly a preacher, to have such trust from the savior... I need to reach that level soon!”

It’s somehow heartwarming that they discuss my skill seriously without mocking it.

But, Mochizuki, it would be nice if you could tone down that enthusiasm for now.

At the time of posting this story,

it has received the following rankings:

- Low Fantasy: Daily 1st, Weekly 1st, Monthly 1st, Quarterly 4th

- Overall: Daily 12th, Weekly 13th, Monthly 6th

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