kscans

Chapter 90 - Official Equipment

The day after being subjected to that mysterious heaven-hell-heaven sandwich, we found ourselves at yet another new dungeon.

The store, which took about an hour to reach by train and bus, had few cars in its lot, as expected. It was likely because C-Rank adventurers were still a rarity.

The total number of adventurers was on the rise, but most people seemed to be content once they reached E or D-Rank.

In terms of both income from the dungeon and a means of self-defense, reaching that level was sufficient for ‘most situations.’

More importantly, you were fighting monsters. Just because you became an adventurer didn’t mean you were prepared to bet your life on it.

Even I only went to dungeons where I was confident I wouldn't die 'barring some freak accident.' I could understand how they felt.

With the increase in adventurers came an increase in reported injuries… and recently, there had finally been a death.

It happened in a low-rank dungeon, F-Rank of all places.

A group of high school students went into a Zombie Kobold dungeon, where one died and two were seriously injured.

The news that someone my own age had died sent a chill down my spine. My parents once again suggested that maybe I should quit being an adventurer.

The National Diet was also seeing a rise in voices from both the ruling and opposition parties, arguing that ‘allowing minors into dungeons is wrong.’

But it wasn't enough. I still needed to go into dungeons.

What if I had the bad luck of running into a dragon stampede? Or if monsters like the Demon attacked in droves?

I would probably die. Unable to protect my family or friends, let alone myself. I would end up as just another corpse, like the countless victims I had seen.

After being caught in three stampedes, I couldn't just leave it all to the Self-Defense Force and the police. If I stopped leveling up now, I’d be too anxious to sleep at night.

That’s why I came to the dungeon again today. To gain the power to at least defend myself.

After changing in the locker room and making a quick trip to the restroom, Erina-san and I headed to the gate room.

My license was scrutinized more thoroughly than usual at the reception desk, but with the recent increase in forged adventurer licenses, I couldn't complain.

Some of it was due to idiots messing around, but apparently, sometimes people from 'anti-social organizations' who failed the interview or background check would forge higher-rank licenses.

Of course, they were usually caught. But as long as such cases existed, they had to be vigilant, and the longer checks were inevitable.

I’d heard that once you got past level 20, it became difficult for the police to arrest you with their standard equipment, regardless of your skills. It reached a point where the police themselves would need to deploy high-level Awakened Persons.

And the drop items from D and C-Rank dungeons fetched high prices. It would be a disaster if they became a source of funding for criminal organizations.

───An individual possessing the military might to fight an organization, gaining wealth by slaying monsters.

It was a world that, even now, seemed so much like a myth or a fairytale that I almost had to laugh.

After about three minutes, the license check was finished, and we finally stood before the white gate.

I had Erina-san take Byakuren out of her Item Box, and I channeled mana into it to activate it. I then equipped it with the ‘proper equipment’ I’d received from Ooyama-san.

'So, that is the equipment you mentioned.'

"Yeah. The iron ball and chain isn’t very easy to use in this dungeon."

I nodded as I looked over Byakuren’s new armament.

In its right hand was a battle axe with a handle roughly two meters long. It was made entirely of metal from the butt to the tip, far too heavy for an ordinary person to swing with one hand.

The tip had a sharp spike, making it capable of thrusting attacks as well. Though, given its length, that was more of an afterthought.

In its left hand was a rugged kite shield. It was large enough to completely cover a person’s torso and was seven centimeters thick—more like a plate of armor than a shield. It, too, was incredibly heavy.

Finally, on its back. This wasn't a weapon, nor was it made from dungeon materials. It was just a 'box,' a replacement for a backpack, which could be opened and closed with a small metal clasp.

Part of the reason was that a hiking backpack looked silly with a suit of knight’s armor, but more importantly, it was also a container for when I eventually got my hands on a 'Magi Battery.'

Currently, only the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club could make those. It required multiple alchemists working in perfect sync for several hours just to create the main mechanism.

…I could make one by myself using my [Sage's Nucleus], but that was a last resort. Anyone with a keen eye might realize my unique skill at a glance.

In any case, we were ready.

I took the kite shield from Byakuren and had it grip my shoulder instead. Then, I confirmed that Erina-san’s hand was on my other shoulder.

"Alright, we’re going through the gate."

'Understood. Both of you, this dungeon is a cut above the rest. Be careful.'

"Roger."

"Osu!"

And with that, we passed through the pure white gate.

The usual sense of disorientation that I never seemed to get used to washed over me. It vanished quickly, replaced by the feeling of a hard surface beneath my feet.

The stone room was illuminated by the lantern at my waist and Byakuren’s penlight. The floor and walls were constructed from yellowish blocks, with small cracks visible everywhere.

I handed the kite shield back to the golem and drew my sword from its sheath.

According to the information from the store, the ceiling was about three meters high. The room itself was about the size of a classroom.

Along one wall was a wooden shelf, its contents already collected by the SDF. I slowly scanned our surroundings and spoke into my earring.

"Aira-san, we’ve entered the dungeon. Commencing exploration."

'Right. Proceed with caution.'

"Yes."

With a short reply, I began to walk forward cautiously.

As the clank-clank of Byakuren’s footsteps echoed loudly, I gripped the hilt of my sword, as if to test its feel.

This dungeon didn’t feel like walking through corridors. It was a series of interconnected rooms; passing through one door led immediately to another.

The door creaked open with a groan. The next room had SDF paint on the wall.

"Aira-san, we’re at D-11. Requesting navigation."

'Let’s see… You see an empty shelf on your left, right? From your position, proceed through three rooms to your right. Then, in the fourth room, take a left.'

"Understood."

I replied and had Byakuren open the right-hand door and go first. This dungeon wasn’t supposed to have traps, but it was better to be safe.

I kept my eyes peeled, determined not to miss any flow of mana with my [Spirit Eye].

A bead of cold sweat trickled down my cheek from the tension, and in that instant—

"—!"

"Kyou-chan."

Erina-san and I sensed the enemy at the same time.

Though she used her hearing and I used mana, our gazes fixed on the same spot: the far right of the room ahead.

"…Two of them. What do you want to do? Take another route?"

"…No. Two is a perfect number to get a feel for ‘this dungeon.’ Let’s do it."

"Okay."

After a brief, whispered exchange, I gestured for Byakuren to open the door and advance. I didn’t forget to have it raise its shield.

With the sound of scraping armor, the knight pushed open the ancient door.

Instantly, a wave of suffocating heat washed over us.

'GYYYYYYYYH!'

A roar, followed by a blast of fire. A gust of wind erupted from Byakuren’s shield, deflecting it.

I followed the golem as it stepped through the doorway and into the room.

My gaze fell upon the source of the fiery welcome. It was a lizard the size of a donkey.

To be precise, it was a ‘lizard made of fire.’ A roughly triangular head, thick limbs, and a long, swaying tail. All of it was composed of blazing flames.

Salamander.

In alchemy, it is the spirit that governs ‘fire.’ Its breath is hot enough to melt iron, and its body of flame cannot be harmed by conventional weapons.

However, weapons imbued with mana, like my Arcane Gear, were a different story. It was also said to be weak to large amounts of water.

As the fire lizard prepared to breathe another blast, the ‘other one’ launched a blade of wind at me.

A blade of vacuum, faster and sharper than the one from the Kamaitachi I had fought before. I tracked the invisible attack with my [Spirit Eye] and knocked it aside with my sword.

I shifted my gaze and my eyes met with those of a fairy floating beside the Salamander.

A palm-sized pixie with an androgynous face, neither boy nor girl. Its unclothed body had no visible reproductive organs, and a pair of translucent wings sprouted from its back.

Sylph.

In alchemy, it is the spirit that governs ‘wind.’ Contrary to its fairytale appearance, it was a monster that would slice people to ribbons with a doll-like, emotionless expression.

Like the Salamander, it was difficult to harm without a weapon infused with mana.

The fire lizard’s throat swelled, and it spat out a torrent of scorching flame, just as the Sylph whipped up a gust of wind.

Fire and wind merged, surging toward us to swallow us whole.

That’s right, this dungeon featured ‘four types of monsters that appear and coordinate their attacks.’

"Hah!"

[Concept Interference]!

I slashed my sword through the approaching inferno, wind and all, and charged the Salamander. The Sylph tried to interfere with another gust of wind, but its movement was halted as it defended against an incoming shuriken.

I dodged the fire lizard’s counter-bite and, as I passed it, severed its right foreleg. With a reverse slash, I tore open its flank.

There was no spray of blood. Instead, flames erupted from the wound and rushed toward me.

'GAAAH!'

I backed away from the screaming Salamander to avoid the flames, and in my place, Byakuren charged in.

An overhead swing was difficult due to the ceiling height, so it opted for a horizontal slash from right to left, which sliced off the lizard’s upper jaw.

'■■…!'

Letting out a high-pitched shriek impossible for a human to produce, the Sylph zipped around, launching blades of wind.

Just as I parried one with my sword, Erina-san closed the distance without a sound and bisected the wind fairy with her ninja sword.

Again, there was no blood. It dissolved as if the wind itself had come undone, and a pile of salt of equivalent mass fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Since the amount of salt was small, the sound was mixed with the clatter of a drop item hitting the floor.

"Kyou-chan, you okay? Not burned?"

"I’m fine. You look okay too, Erina-san… and Byakuren doesn’t seem to have any damage either."

I placed a hand on its armored shoulder and replenished its mana. In the meantime, Erina-san quickly picked up the drop item.

The drops here were marble-sized stones in red, blue, green, or brown.

Surprisingly, research labs would buy these for 30,000 yen each. Quite generous.

Well, I needed some for personal use, so I wasn’t planning on selling all of them.

'Erina-kun, your body seems unharmed, but how is your spirit? The Sylphs have a rather adorable appearance, so some people feel pained by attacking them.'

"An enemy is only for cutting. That is the way of the ninja, Paisen…!"

"She seems fine."

'Agreed.'

I felt a sense of relief seeing Erina-san strike a strange pose, her ninja sword held in a reverse grip.

Would I feel a sense of guilt for cutting down that wind fairy?

…Probably not.

After everything I'd been through, I couldn't bring myself to feel that way about monsters anymore. Discomfort, maybe, but not guilt.

"Resuming exploration. The next room after this one, then left, correct?"

'Yes. Proceed, but do not let your guard down.'

"Understood."

"Osu!"

Erina-san sheathed her ninja sword and continued scouting, her posture relaxed and natural.

After checking my own sword, I began to walk once more.