kscans

Chapter 36 - Chapter 28: The Lion and the Ant

Chapter 28: The Lion and the Ant

Stepping into the dungeon, I felt the hard ground under my feet.

I looked around. It was a cave of light brown earth and rock. The walls and ceiling were rough and uneven, but in contrast, the ground was perfectly flat.

Are we underground? The air was damp and humid, clinging to my skin.

This dungeon, too, had no lights provided by the Self-Defense Force. But I knew it wasn't because the monsters here were clever enough to destroy them.

I called out to Erina-san and activated Byakuren. I lightly touched the head of the 'imperfect homunculus,' now clad in a body of rugged rock.

Last time, in the Treant dungeon, it could only withstand one or two attacks at most. I hope it can function as a tank in this dungeon as well...

With that small anxiety in my heart, I relayed information about the monster to Byakuren, then called Aira-san through my earring.

"Preparations complete. We're ready to go."

'Excellent. Then, advance. First, as always, find the Self-Defense Force's paint markings.'

"Roger."

"Alright! Let's do this!"

Erina-san's voice echoed through the cave.

I shot her a deadpan look, and the self-proclaimed ninja responded with a playful wink and her tongue sticking out. The fact that she's actually cute is what's irritating. That aside, considering the monsters here, I have to be even more careful about 'loud noises' than usual.

...But, well. If we're thinking about leveling up, a few more monster encounters shouldn't be a problem. Taking the salt, however, is an absolute no-go.

With that thought, I drew my sword and stepped forward.

"Alright, let's proceed as usual."

"Ah, wait, Kyo-chan."

"Yes?"

"Something's coming."

Erina-san's expression was serious. I matched her, turning to aim my sword in the direction she was looking.

The lantern and penlight provided more than enough light. This cave was wide enough for a truck to pass through. As long as I wasn't incredibly clumsy, the tip of my one-and-a-half-handed sword wouldn't get caught on anything.

"How many?"

"It's hard to tell, but I think it's just one. It's coming straight at us."

"Got it."

As I stared ahead, I heard the faint, rustling sound of footsteps.

At the same time, I perceived the movement of mana. Combining that with the premonition from my [Spirit Eye], I intercepted the incoming attack with my wind-wreathed sword.

A pale yellow liquid flew toward us. I scattered it with the wind, and it hit the cave floor and walls with a nasty hissing sound.

That was acid. Just like the information at the store said, the monsters here use a strong acid.

Apparently, an Awakened Person at this rank would only suffer a light burn from a direct hit, but I had no intention of taking that chance.

Then, the monster that had attacked me leaped into the lantern's light.

"GAAAAAH!!"

The roar of a beast. It was a sound you might hear on TV or from behind a cage, but a cry you'd almost never experience head-on without any barrier in Japan.

The roar of the king of beasts, a sound that stirred primal instincts, thundered through the cave.

However, the figure illuminated by the artificial light was less a king and more a ghastly specter.

Its mane, the very symbol of a king, hung limp and matted, now indistinguishable from the rest of its fur. It was so gaunt its ribs were showing, and its eyes had turned a milky white.

But if that were all, it would just be an old lion. What made it a monster was its lower half.

A giant ant. The body of an ant, as large as an ox, was connected to the upper body of a lion.

A fusion of a lion and an ant. An impossible abomination. A starving monster.

Myrmecoleon.

Letting out a beastly roar, the monster swung its foreleg down.

Not only was it simply huge, but the Myrmecoleon's physical strength, despite its emaciated state, surpassed that of an actual lion.

Against its descending claws, I raised the gauntlet on my left arm. A heavy clang echoed as a solid impact struck me.

But it wasn't unbearable. Bracing my body against the force with wind, I thrust the sword in my right hand at the creature's throat.

Parting the mane, the sharp tip of my blade pierced the lion's neck. The sensation of tearing through flesh and the blade scraping against bone traveled up from the hilt.

A clear fatal wound. But the Myrmecoleon didn't stop. It raised its left foreleg as well, bringing its claws down toward my skull.

"You...!"

Twisting the blade, I blocked the hard paw with my right elbow and kicked the creature in the stomach, breaking its protruding ribs in the process.

The Myrmecoleon's massive body lifted slightly. Contrary to its size, it retreated with a faint rustling from its hind legs, bloody foam dripping from the corners of its mouth, and turned its ant-like lower half toward me.

The Myrmecoleon took a scorpion-like stance, but before it could spray acid from its rear, a shuriken pierced its nose.

"GOBAH!?"

The monster let out a cry like air being forced out and lost its balance. In that opening, I closed the distance in a single step and brought my two-handed sword down on the crown of its head.

With a squelch, I smashed its skull and destroyed the brain beneath.

I readied my sword again and took two steps back, maintaining my guard. The headless body twitched bizarrely for a few seconds before the monster's huge form turned into an equal mass of salt.

As I let out a small breath, I felt a strange sensation in my body. This feeling...

'Congratulations, Kyo-chan-kun. You've leveled up.'

"Oh."

I hit Level 10 during the Orc stampede, but I've finally gone up again.

"Congrats, congrats, Kyo-chan!"

"Thanks. Still, I can't shake the feeling that the amount of experience, or whatever it is, needed to get from Level 10 to 11 has increased..."

'That's probably not just your imagination. Many people feel the same way. In addition, I've heard that the required experience jumps up significantly when you surpass Level 20 as well.'

"Ugh..."

Can't it just be like one of those light novels you see sometimes, where you can safely reach Level 100 by just grinding low-level mobs? Seriously.

It's just an internet rumor, so I don't know how much to believe it, but they say the 'top tier' adventurers are currently between 'Levels 18 and 25.'

It seems like it'll be a long time before I catch up to them.

'Don't be so down, Kyo-chan-kun. Your leveling pace is plenty fast. There's a rumor that the higher your status growth potential, the faster you level up... How about it?'

"Well, I wouldn't know even if you asked me. I have no way of knowing something like that."

First of all, my only point of comparison is Erina-san, and the amount of damage we deal to monsters is different. It's only natural that the experience we gain would be different, too.

"But shouldn't the Self-Defense Force's levels be insane? I heard they take down tons of monsters with machine guns and cannons."

'Hmm, I wonder about that...? This isn't confirmed information, but I've heard stories that you don't get much experience from monsters killed with anything other than 'Arcane Gear,' 'bare hands,' or 'skills'...'

"Ah, so it's not that easy, huh?"

It seems the world doesn't often go the way you want it to.

'Well, it's just a rumor, so I'm not certain either.'

"In any case, your own pace is what's important, Kyo-chan!"

"Yeah. I get that, but could you lower your volume a little...?"

"Sorry..."

"No, it's not something to apologize for..."

Erina-san pressed her hands together, her eyebrows furrowed in a V-shape. I shook my head.

This dungeon, or rather, the Myrmecoleon, hunts humans by 'sound and smell.'

Their eyesight has severely degenerated, but in exchange, their senses of smell and hearing are incredibly sharp. A voice volume that would be fine in a normal dungeon could be dangerous here, as it might attract them.

Fortunately, my matchup against them isn't bad, so a little noise won't be a problem.

With that in mind, I picked up the drop item from the salt. Unfortunately, it was just a coin.

The Myrmecoleon has two types of drops. Even the coins are bought by the research lab for a high price, but our main goal is the other one.

"Anyway, let's go."

"O-kay."

'O-kay.'

...Would it be rude of me to think Erina-san seems more like Aira-san's sister than Miyoshi-san does?

In any case, we found the Self-Defense Force's paint markings a little further ahead.

The Myrmecoleons are ravenous, like starving beasts, and will bite at anything that smells even slightly 'foreign.' The reason they can't install lighting is because it would just get chewed to pieces.

The paint is no exception, but since it's applied to the rock face, it only gets a little gnawed or scratched. It's still perfectly readable.

"Looks like A-14, Senpai."

'Right. Then proceed straight, pass the next crossroads, and turn left at the T-junction.'

"Got it."

"Roger."

I answered the voice from the earring and moved forward.

We walked through the darkness, relying on the light of the lantern and penlight. In the silence of the dungeon, our footsteps seemed strangely loud.

Byakuren's were especially noticeable due to its weight.

The store's website said that a little noise wouldn't be a problem... but I still couldn't help but worry.

It was an opponent I could defeat. Still, I couldn't let my guard down. I definitely didn't want to get hit by that acid.

Proceeding cautiously, we came to a crossroads, just as Aira-san had said, and after passing it, a T-junction.

'Turn left, and after a short distance, there should be a small slope. Be careful of attacks from above.'

"Yes."

I answered her, tightened my grip on my sword, and walked on.

We came to a gentle incline, and just as we were about halfway up...

"Kyo-chan. Footsteps from above. Two of them."

"Roger...!"

I replied in a whisper, but my voice was naturally tense.

The timing was almost as if they'd planned it. Seriously, what bad luck.

Two Myrmecoleons leaped out from the top of the slope. Their eyes were unfocused, but their faces were turned directly toward us.

"GAAAAAH!!"

The Myrmecoleons folded their forelegs, striking a pose like a leopardess. Their abdomens jutted out and arched, their tips pointed toward us.

And without a moment's delay, two jets of strong acid were unleashed. As it rained down, scattering droplets, I silently swung my sword in a horizontal arc.

I batted it away with the wind sheathing my blade, deflecting the acid onto the rock walls on either side. As the sound of hissing and melting came from my left and right, I charged forward in a single breath.

"VUUAH!"

Without showing any sign of distress at their acid attack being blocked, the Myrmecoleons bared their fangs. Unlike most monsters of this rank, they lacked reason.

They simply followed their instincts to tear their enemies apart. Therefore, they did not hesitate.

The one on the right leaped toward me, while the other clung to the wall and circled around to my flank.

The Myrmecoleon raised both its forelegs, preparing to crush me. I slammed the pommel of my sword into its face.

A sickening crunch echoed back. These things are 'tough,' but not 'hard.' I can shatter their skulls in a single blow.

Immediately after knocking the right one away, the other Myrmecoleon leaped at me from the left. But a shuriken embedded itself in the side of its head mid-air, causing it to lose its balance and its sharp claws to miss.

In that opening, I drove my left fist into its unguarded face. The gauntlet, armored heavily enough to serve as a blunt weapon, shattered its skull as easily as the pommel had.

I thrust my sword into the body that was slammed against the wall, just to be sure. Immediately after...

"Kyo-chan, one's coming from behind!"

"Byakuren, about-face and charge!"

At Erina-san's words, I barked an order to the golem before I could even think. Good thing we decided on this beforehand!

The Myrmecoleon that had charged at full speed collided with Byakuren. The golem grabbed the beast's swinging forelegs with its mitten-like hands, locking them in a stalemate.

In that time, Erina-san, ninjato in hand, leaped into range and thrust her blade into the eye of the Myrmecoleon that was trying to bite off the golem's kettle head.

Even if it had lost its sight, the 'hole' leading to its brain hadn't disappeared. The blade slid in, mercilessly tearing apart its insides.

The blade was twisted violently and then withdrawn. The Myrmecoleon's body went limp, collapsed, and turned to salt.

"Thanks, Kyo-chan and Bya-chan!"

"You're welcome..."

I managed to reply while keeping my eyes on the first two I'd taken down. That was seriously startling. Not good for the heart.

One lay at my feet, while the other had been blown upwards and was now sliding back down the slope. I watched them both turn to salt before finally lowering my sword.

I relaxed my stance and took a breath. ...This isn't a one-way path, so of course enemies will come from behind. I need to be able to act more calmly.

"Good work, Kyo-chan."

"You too. Are you hurt?"

"Nope! Thanks to Bya-chan!"

"Good to hear."

I nodded at Erina-san, who was flashing a V-sign, completely unharmed, and checked on Byakuren's condition.

The golem body itself was fine. But should I be concerned that its head was left defenseless when they were grappling?

It's just a modified kettle, so even a child could break it with a hammer or a rock. I might need to increase its durability or come up with another countermeasure, like dedicated equipment for Byakuren.

As I mulled this over, I glanced at the piles of salt.

"Ah."

Two of them were coins again, but the one that had slid down the slope seemed to have dropped the item we were looking for.

What I picked up was a dried internal organ... or rather, a 'mineral' that looked exactly like one.

"Aira-san. The stone we're looking for has dropped."

'You did it!!'

Her voice is so loud.

'That is an unknown mineral, you see. It's close to copper... or it should be, but it doesn't match any metal on Earth. It's a real treasure!!'

"Um, could you keep your voice down?"

'Oh, my apologies. But with your brute strength, a Myrmecoleon is a one-hit kill, isn't it?'

She's really hyped up, isn't she, Aira-san?

"No, it's just that you're loud."

'Erina-kun, Kyo-chan-kun has been so cold to me lately.'

"It's just 'cause he's used to ya! It's proof you're good friends!"

'I see, so this is the banter between friends...'

"........."

It's hard to jump in. Considering Aira-san's family situation, even an exchange like this feels fraught with meaning.

But this is a dungeon. I need to switch gears and recognize this thought as an unnecessary distraction.

"Anyway, Erina-san, please take this."

"Okay."

As I handed the drop item to Erina-san, I noticed Aira-san on the other side of the mirror attached to Byakuren, staring at my fist.

'...Still, Kyo-chan-kun. Your punch packs a truly unbelievable amount of destructive power.'

"Is it really that much?"

'Yes. I'd say it's more powerful than firing a shotgun at point-blank range, wouldn't you?'

"No, that's an exaggeration."

There's no way a simple punch could surpass a gun.

'Oh? You're awfully quick to deny it.'

"Huh? Well, I mean, it's a gun, right? I'm sure it's way more powerful."

It's true that if I threw a serious punch, I could easily kill a person.

But a shotgun has to be stronger. Well, I've never seen a gun fired outside of a screen, so it's just a guess.

'...To me, it seems your attacks are more powerful than any clumsy firearm, though.'

"Is that a compliment? You're not getting anything out of it, you know..."

'No, well, I suppose it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that you're a walking weapon, Kyo-chan-kun.'

"A walking weapon... a ninja, after all...!"

"Let's stop messing around and continue the exploration."

I said to the two goofballs and started walking again.

But, one minute later.

"Ah, Kyo-chan. More enemies. Two of them."

"There are a lot of them here..."

'That's because it's a so-called 'unpopular dungeon' that adventurers don't go to very often.'

Though it might be a good place for leveling up and earning money.

Weary of the beastly roars and insectoid footsteps, I readied my sword once more.



Although there were many battles, the dungeon exploration itself ended without incident. We returned after about two hours.

Twenty-eight gold-like coins. Sixteen dried organ-like minerals. I never would have thought we'd encounter over forty of them in a single run.

Thanks to that, my level went up again, to '12.' I'm happy about that, but it's exhausting. Mentally, mostly.

"Wow, what a huge haul, Kyo-chan! Should we raise a flag?"

"Don't."

Why does this person have a fisherman's 'big catch' flag in her Item Box?

As my cheek twitched at the self-proclaimed ninja's antics, it seemed the process at the store's buyback counter was finished. Our number was called, so I headed to the counter.

"So, all of these drop items will be sold to the designated laboratory... is that correct?"

"Yes, please."

Even though they call it free trade of drop items, only some have been approved. Things that are plant-based, poisonous, or could disrupt the ecosystem are prohibited. Well, some are permitted. The saplings that drop from Treants should be okay, for instance.

"Please understand that there will be a fee for the appraisal of the drop items and other services."

"Okay."

...And yet. While they call it free trade, they take a decent cut in fees and other charges.

I guess it can't be helped when you consider the store's operating costs, but it's a little sad.

"Aira-san. Erina-san is bringing them to you, so please confirm them later."

'Yes! I'll be waiting!!'

"Also... this is a bit of a crass question, but..."

'What is it, Kyo-chan? The color of my panties? You pervert!'

"Huh? Senpai's panties today are white with a blue ribbon..."

'Kyo-chan-kun! What was your question!!??'

Your voice is still too loud. Also, white with a blue ribbon, huh...

Feeling a little flustered, I managed to keep my voice calm.

"About how much will the reward be for this run?"

What we got from the store, including subjugation rewards and other things, was '30,000 yen.' Honestly, it feels a bit low for the risk involved.

However, the drop items are another matter. I wonder how much they'll buy them for...

'Let's see. Probably around a million yen?'

"A mi- a milli-?!"

Crap, my voice came out louder than I expected.

I hastily looked around, then moved to the side of the store wall and spoke into the earring in a low voice.

"A-are we really getting that much...!?"

'It's an unknown mineral, you know? If anything, this is on the cheap side. Well, the market price is the result of discussions between universities and various other parties. You'll have to put up with it.'

"Put up with it? I feel like I should be apologizing."

'Ah, Grandma... the Professor will cover the handling fees. I'll deposit it tomorrow, so look forward to it.'

"Y-yes. Thank you very much."

...Wait, what about taxes and stuff? And will this affect my tax return?

I-I'll ask Dad when I get home. If he doesn't know, I'll look it up online... I wonder if Aira-san knows about tax-related stuff?

'I'm glad you're satisfied. I'll be counting on you in the future, Kyo-chan-kun!'

"Yes! I'll do my best!"

"I'll do my best too!"

In any case, it's better to get it than not. It's written in the Kojiki, too.

Earning a million yen in two hours... it feels like it's going to mess with my sense of money. With this, could I really aim to become a millionaire as an adventurer? Maybe I should quit high school and focus on this...

As my mind was consumed by greed, I frantically shook my head to regain my senses.

This exploration, while it had an unusually high number of battles, went too smoothly. I have to remember that it won't always go this well. Overconfidence and carelessness are absolutely forbidden.

I take a deep breath to calm my mind and heart. After coming out of a dungeon, my thoughts always seem a little clearer... I think. Probably.

Should I say my concentration is higher? In any case, because of that, something occurred to me along the way.

It's about Aira-san and Miyoshi-san.

After changing in the locker room, I boarded the bus with Erina-san.

Aira-san's telepathic link cut off as she went to report to the professor, so I immediately turned my gaze to the girl sitting next to me.

...That aside, she's still as close as ever.

Why does Erina-san always sit next to me? Our shoulders are almost touching, and it makes my heart beat a little faster.

"Um, Erina-san."

"Hmm? What is it, Kyo-chan?"

The solution I came up with is a very ordinary one. But it's probably something that hasn't been properly attempted yet.

Aira-san has that personality, and her grandmother and Erina-san are too close to her positionally.

Because I'm mostly an outsider, I might be able to create some 'room'... maybe. A method.

But really... can someone with a 'communication skill of only 5' like me pull it off? It's a daunting thought. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt.

Honestly, it feels like sticking my nose in will just be an unwelcome nuisance... but Aira-san is my benefactor and my colleague.

I want to help, even just a little.

Clumsy intervention will only make things worse... but I don't think this method will make things worse.

I told myself that and opened my heavy mouth.

"Do you know Miyoshi-san's... Miyoshi Mia-san's contact information?"

"Huh, no."

...Wait. My plan just hit a wall at step one.

"I mean, Senpai changed her phone number and email address when she got a new smartphone a few years ago. I don't think Grandma knows either. Senpai's parents might know, but I wonder if they'd tell us. Anyway, what's up all of a sudden?"

"...No. It's nothing."

"Oh! Kyo-chan, your mouth looks like Mt. Fuji! It's the advanced version of a frown!"

"Please don't mind me."

"You're being formal again! What's up, Kyo-chan! Is it a greeting! A greeting before a duel!?"

"It's not."

...It's a secret that I was a little relieved that the plan failed before it even began, thinking, 'Oh well, can't be helped!'

I don't think I'll be able to get Miyoshi-san's contact information on my own from here on out. So I guess I'll stop thinking about it.



'Yagawa Kyouta' LV: 12 Race: Human/Awakened Person

Strength: 37 (Growth Potential: A) Durability: 37 (Growth Potential: A) Agility: 40 (Growth Potential: A) Mana: 40 (Growth Potential: A)

Skills

[Spirit Eye]

[Mana Conversion: Wind]

[Concept Interference]

Unique Skill

[Sage's Nucleus]