Chapter 74

Hiroki stuffed the chicken into his bag and headed for the boss on the 9th floor.

In the boss room on the 9th floor, what awaited him was a giant Cocco.

"......Huh?"

Hiroki blinked several times.

It wasn't a mistake. The boss was undoubtedly Big Cocco.

This was the 9th floor, no doubt about it.

He could see the stairs ahead, so he hadn't entered the wrong boss room.

But why was the 9th floor boss, the guardian of the middle layer, Big Cocco?

"Huh?"

Hiroki had assumed the boss would be a humanoid type.

But what appeared was Big Cocco, the same as the one that appeared on the 7th floor of the garage dungeon.

"Could it be because this is the Nakasatsunai dungeon?"

Hiroki recalled.

The Nakasatsunai dungeon was known to be the easiest dungeon in Hokkaido.

He hadn't expected that the low difficulty would be so clearly visible in this form.

"...No, is it strong?"

Still, he couldn't afford to be careless.

Even if it wasn't a humanoid type, the boss was still the boss.

It might be incredibly strong, despite its appearance.

Hiroki tightened his focus and entered a combat stance.

Rara fixed her nozzle on Hiroki's shoulder.

Esta coiled her body, gathering power.

"..."

Hiroki took a deep breath and moved with all his might.

Hiroki mimicked Itsuki's movements.

He minimized his preparatory actions and moved forward.

He didn't let the enemy notice his movement.

By the time they did, he had already completed his move.

With his graceful movement, he entered the boss's range.

"---?!"

Just as he was about to strike with his dagger, the boss finally noticed him.

It was a success.

But it was too sweet.

Hiroki had been noticed before he could attack.

Itsuki wouldn't have been noticed until the attack landed.

He gritted his teeth in frustration.

Hiroki's attack slid into the boss's neck effortlessly.

The boss didn't take any evasive actions.

With a clean cut, he severed half of the neck.

Arteries ruptured, and blood spurted out.

Rara fired a barrage of bullets.

Several shots blew off the head that had escaped the initial cut.

Then, Esta charged in.

Esta collided with the boss's body.

The boss's body was easily pushed back by Esta and crashed into the wall.

"......Huh?"

Hiroki tilted his head, still in his attack stance.

It was indeed weak.

Was this the guardian of the middle layer?

It was impossible...

If the boss was this weak, this place could mass-produce intermediate adventurers.

In fact, there were a few adventurers who aimed for low-difficulty dungeons to become intermediate.

To gain prestige as intermediates.

Once in the middle layer, they would receive a blessing.

The blessing would boost their abilities.

Strong adventurers could be mass-produced!

Hiroki was slightly excited... but his head quickly cooled down.

Well, are intermediate adventurers being mass-produced now?

---No, they aren't.

The difference in dungeon difficulty is a well-known fact.

Still, intermediate adventurers are not being mass-produced.

"Is it because the monsters are too weak?"

Even if you become an intermediate adventurer in a weak dungeon, you can't operate in a strong dungeon.

Once in the middle layer, you receive a blessing.

Only Hiroki and Kurenai knew this.

Others only spread rumors like, "I feel stronger."

The benefits are hard to perceive.

Just because you become an intermediate adventurer doesn't mean companies will automatically back you up or that the buyback price for materials will increase.

The staff at weapon shops and material buyback stores thoroughly check the customers' abilities.

Even if you claim to be an intermediate, your treatment won't change immediately.

There are a certain number of people who want to reach the middle layer even if it means lowering their level.

But even if they force their way into the middle layer, they gain almost nothing.

It's just a matter of cutting a proud figure as an "intermediate adventurer."

Adventurers risk their lives.

If they overreach, they can easily lose their lives, so it's unlikely that adventurers who boost their reached floors will appear.

Convincing himself of this, Hiroki advanced toward the 10th floor.

* * *

Kurenai, who had moved from the hotel at the usual time, ran up to Suzune, who was already waiting at the ticket gate.

"Kurenai, you're late."

"Sorry, I kept you waiting."

"Since Airi isn't here, let's level up quickly!"

Suzune was burning with fighting spirit.

It seemed she wanted to level up Kurenai significantly and surprise her.

Originally, she was a staff member at Ichibishi Weapon and Material Buyback Store, but she also worked as an adventurer supporter (though not officially).

She directly involved herself in the development of adventurers who had the potential to be sponsored by Ichibishi, through her usual work of selling weapons and buying materials.

She was enthusiastic about showing Hiroki her skills as a supporter.

She wanted to show off to Hiroki, saying something like, "How about it, Airi? Isn't my power amazing? This is divine, divine. Worship me!" with her nose flaring.

Such desires were coiled behind her.

Despite being full of desires, Suzune's abilities were undeniable.

Kurenai had seen this when they explored the dungeon together before.

She didn't let any monsters from the upper layers get close and easily defeated the 9th floor boss, the guardian of the middle layer.

The reputation of Ichibishi's fighting staff was well-deserved.

"Come on, let's go! We can't lose to Airi!"

Suzune pulled Kurenai's arm energetically.

"Um... about the heat stone collection, is it okay for Airi to do it alone?"

"Why not?"

"I checked yesterday. It seems it might be too difficult for one person."

"It's fine."

Suzune dismissed Kurenai's concern with a carefree tone.

"Why?"

"One reason is the Magic Bag. It makes collection much easier. The other is good eyesight."

"Eyesight?"

"Yes."

Suzune nodded calmly.

Good eyesight... Does she mean vision?

Kurenai tilted her head.

"Didn't you see? He could track Itsuki's movements with his eyes."

"That's impressive, but---"

"It's not just impressive! It's impossible for an adventurer who has only been qualified for 2-3 months to judge Itsuki's initial movements. Plus, he was gradually mimicking Itsuki's movements. Itsuki changed her movements to respond, but she was probably anxious inside."

Kurenai thought, "Suzune is impressive."

Kurenai couldn't understand what Hiroki and Itsuki were doing in that battle.

She couldn't even follow their movements from a distance.

She had no idea that Itsuki's movements had changed.

To Kurenai, it looked like Hiroki couldn't even land a hit on Itsuki, but Suzune seemed to see deeper into the battle.

"Itsuki's skills are top-notch. He could mimic them even a little because he doesn't miss any small changes. Most likely, his rapid growth rate, which is as ridiculous as his, is also related to his eyesight."

Kurenai fell silent and looked down.

Suzune didn't know about the Skill Board. Kurenai couldn't let her see her current expression.

If she saw even a little, Kurenai was afraid that Suzune, who had seen many people as a staff member, would notice.

"Kurenai knows something about Hiroki's abnormal growth rate," she might think.

"...So, does his eyesight have something to do with heat stone collection?"

"Yes. Good eyesight makes heat stone collection much easier. Don't worry, he won't fail the request. ---But let's focus on hunting!!"

"Yes. Um, where are we leveling up today? I've been to the 15th floor, but you stopped at the 10th, right?"

"......Ah."

Suzune's feet stopped abruptly.

Her body began to tremble suddenly.

"Hey, Kurenai. The middle layer is dangerous, so of course, I need your help, right?"

"Indeed, the middle layer is dangerous, but---"

"But what? Ah, I need your help, right? Then, can you help me break through the 10th floor!?"

"......"

"Why are you silent!? Hey, help me. It's fine if you help me. Ahahaha!!"

After that, while being covered in Lutz's bodily fluids, Suzune clung to Kurenai and cried energetically.

Kurenai's leveling up journey seemed to be fraught with difficulties.

* * *

【Edamame】Nakasatsunai Dungeon Discussion Thread 11【Chicken Meat】

202 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

I figured out the identity behind the mask

203 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

Really?!

What is it?

A monster? A demon?

I wouldn't be surprised if he was a demon

204 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

Sorry to disappoint, but he's human

205 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

No way

There's no way he's human!

206 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

No, seriously

I saw him in Chikaho and did some research

Turns out he

Was involved in the Chikaho Montparnasse extermination

207 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

See, he's a demon, right?

208 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

No way!

Sure, his actions are demonic, but...

209 Name: Kagemitsu★

Hey

Is it okay for the masked man to appear in this thread?

210 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

A great person has arrived!!

Amazing! So cool!

Why is he here!?

I'm so excited, I might nosebleed

211 Name: Kagemitsu★

Don't nosebleed just because I'm here

The masked man is

He looks really scary but is actually quite normal

212 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

To treat someone who exterminated Montparnasse as normal...

You're impressive, Kagemitsu-san

213 Name: Kagemitsu★

No, not in that sense

I mean, he's normal, but his combat ability is solid

Probably the only one in Hokkaido who can solo exterminate Montparnasse

He has good compatibility

And, about his scary appearance

Just get used to it

I can't do anything about it

214 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

A top-ranked person giving up...

215 Name: Kagemitsu★

No, it's not giving up

His outfit is necessary to suppress his abilities...

216 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

>>215

Suppress his abilities

Gulp...

217 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

If he takes off his mask, will Nakasatsunai be erased by a curse? Haha

218 Name: Kagemitsu★

I just finished reading all the replies

Sorry

His scales are my fault...

219 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

>>218

What?

...What!?

220 Name: Anonymous Bean Shooter

Kagemitsu-san

What did you do...

* * *

The 10th floor of the Nakasatsunai dungeon was built like a maze, just like the previous floors.

However, unlike the upper layers, the corridors were much wider.

The walls and ceiling had changed from a cave-like appearance to a tunnel-like one, as if it had been maintained by humans.

As a result, it felt a bit chilly.

Hiroki rubbed his arms and activated the gate.

What kind of blessing would be bestowed upon Esta?

Excitedly, Hiroki took out his Skill Board and swiped it.

"......Huh?"

Esta (0) Gender: Male

Skill Points: 2 → 3

Evaluation: Hard Shell Bug

There was no blessing section in Esta's tree.

Was it broken?

He swiped the board several times, but no blessing appeared.

It seemed that in the Nakasatsunai dungeon, even if you descended to the 10th floor, you wouldn't receive a blessing like in the garage dungeon.

"Even weak dungeons have their reasons for being weak..."

Shortcuts have their own reasons.

If you use small firearms with money, you can easily clear the upper layers. However, the weapon's attack power is limited.

Eventually, the firepower will become a bottleneck, and you won't be able to defeat the monsters.

If you use stronger firearms, you might trigger a monster parade with each attack.

(Bullets hitting the walls or ceiling are considered attacks on the dungeon due to their excessive power.)

For monsters that small firearms can't damage, normal weapons can't either.

Even if you try to switch weapons in a hurry, you can't equip powerful dungeon materials due to insufficient proficiency.

In the past, those who tried to clear the dungeon with small firearms ended up in a "stuck" state, unable to progress further.

Everything has a trap if it's too easy.

Dungeon clearing is all about steady accumulation.

"..."

Then, at what floor does the blessing appear? It was a concern, but Hiroki switched his thoughts.

He put down his bag and removed the two slimy eel figures that were tied to it.

He put the bag back on and soaked the eel figures in water, holding one in each hand.

"Esta, you don't need to attack the monsters much from here. Rara, only attack dangerous enemies. Esta, follow her example."

After giving instructions to Rara and Esta, Hiroki began exploring the 10th floor.

The 10th floor of the Nakasatsunai dungeon was a well-known cruel floor.

It was the location of the natural monster parade generator.

This floor was a place where you couldn't let your guard down at all.

Hiroki tightened his focus and cautiously advanced.

Kagemitsu, who was supposed to help Hiroki, dropped a bomb.

The suspicion only deepened...