Chapter 3

Thanks to what seemed like a miraculous dream, I immediately decided to delve into the dungeon after obtaining a party member with considerable strength.

"Wow... I didn't know there was a shortcut like this... Big brother, you really know your stuff."

"Well, the people who taught me the basics of being an adventurer were pretty amazing. They taught me this."

And now, we had made our way to the deepest part of the upper layers of the dungeon. Normally, for a first party activity, we should have started fighting monsters in the higher layers. After all, while the monsters here weren't as strong as those in the lower layers, they were far more formidable than those in the upper layers. However, because I, a defective healer, was accompanied by an incredibly beautiful girl, we received a lot of attention and had to come to this less crowded layer.

Moreover, I was confident that this layer wouldn't be as troublesome as the lower layers, which would allow Narusena to demonstrate her true strength.

From the way she nodded without hesitation when I suggested going to the middle layer, I could tell that she was confident she could handle this layer.

"So, if you feel in danger, I'll come to your aid. Can I watch you fight the monsters first?"

"Sure, I got it! Watch carefully, okay!"

Narusena, who nodded vigorously in response to my words, wore a confident smile.

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"Haah!"

"Gur, guruga..."

"Alright! That's the fifth one!"

Narusena's battle in the middle layer was truly spectacular. She easily defeated the orcs, who were feared as the demons of the middle layer. Monsters are stronger and more resilient than humans, but humans can counter them with skills. However, orcs, being humanoid monsters, have a more robust body than humans and can use skills, making them as troublesome as the monsters in the lower layers, which is why they are called the demons of the middle layer.

...But Narusena defeated these demons with ease.

"Big brother, I'll collect the orcs' magic stones! The meat is bulky and we're only two people, so I'll leave it."

"Ah, yeah. I'll help with the dissection."

After all, she was so composed that we could immediately start dissecting the orcs after fighting five in a row. Watching Narusena, I realized I had underestimated her.

Adventurers have two main types of skills: those that constantly enhance strength or magic, and those that trigger special effects for a short period during attacks.

Narusena possessed both types of skills. Having two skills alone is considered talented for an adventurer. But Narusena was more than that. Both of her skills were excellent.

...Her talent was incomparable to mine, and she was incredibly strong, demonstrating that talent.

Moreover, from her movements, it seemed that her strength wasn't just due to her skills. Even with a foundation of talent, it would have required considerable training for the young Narusena to master these skills. Therefore, after finishing the dissection of the orcs, I made a decision.

"Wow, amazing, right, big brother! I'll protect you!"

Narusena ran over to me, clearly wanting praise. I smiled at her and said:

"Yeah, with you, we could go to the lower layers right now."

"Yep! Right... Wait, what?"

...But at that moment, Narusena's expression changed dramatically.

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"Wait, you're going to the lower layers just with me and you?"

"Yeah."

"Don't get reckless just because you were kicked out of the party!"

"Eh!?"

Narusena, who had been in a somewhat elated mood, turned pale the moment I declared we would go to the lower layers. She started to try to talk me out of it, saying I shouldn't get reckless.

No, I'm not being reckless. And to think that even a newcomer like Narusena knew about my party expulsion...

...Why did Narusena agree to form a party with someone like me? Despite my doubts, I opened my mouth to prove that my words weren't out of recklessness.

"No, I'm quite versatile."

"Being versatile isn't enough to go to the lower layers! You need a variety of classes, like warriors and thieves to detect traps!"

...But my words seemed to further agitate Narusena. Regretting my choice of words, I tried to persuade her again.

"No, I can be a tank and detect traps..."

"Giiaaaah!"

However, my words were interrupted by something that burst out of the wall behind me.

"Big brother!"

Narusena's face showed anxiety, and I realized a monster had appeared from the wall. It was probably a worm, a large worm-like creature that hides in the walls and floors of the dungeon, emerging when adventurers are most off guard, such as after a battle. Their habits are extremely troublesome, and they are thoroughly despised by adventurers in the middle layers, along with orcs.

"Ha... I was in the middle of persuading her."

Even though it was just a monster, I wished it had been a bit more considerate. I drew the short sword from my waist and thrust it at the worm.

"Giiaah!"

In the next moment, the worm, which had lunged forward, was impaled through the head by the short sword and stopped moving, letting out a final cry. But I didn't let my guard down even with the worm no longer moving, immediately checking if it was truly dead. Monsters have a lot of health, and even a fatal wound to a human wouldn't necessarily kill them. Without a skill, it's hard to kill a monster in one hit. Fortunately, this worm seemed to have died instantly, so I relaxed my guard.

"...Eh? Big brother, you're a healer, right?"

"Eh?"

Narusena, who had been in a daze, finally spoke. Her words made me want to ask, "What's so obvious about that?" but I was speechless when I saw her face. She was clearly shocked.

Well, it's true that healers who engage in close combat are rare, so maybe that's why she's surprised?

But then I realized something.

This could be a chance to convince Narusena to go to the lower layers.

"I can handle close combat a bit, even as a healer."

...But as I said this with a somewhat smug expression, I didn't understand the true meaning of her shock.

—The significance of a back-row class, unrelated to close combat, being able to kill a monster in one hit.

"...Um, big brother. I get what you're trying to say, but that's not really cool, you know."

"...Yeah, sorry, I forgot."

It would take some time for me to fully realize the extent of my own underestimation of my abilities...