After slaying the Goblin Lord, Yuuto finally reached level five. Yet his work was far from done.
The stone gate that had been sealed behind the fallen king began to grind open, its ancient hinges groaning. But Yuuto didn't move toward it immediately.
His gaze lingered on the mound of rubble that buried the Goblin Lord's remains, and on the lifeless bodies of the mage and archer strewn in the corner. Each corpse, each fragment of battle, was valuable—resources waiting to be claimed.
"[Break]."
He began with the nearest, the goblin mage. The upgraded [Break] skill—now level three—worked far more smoothly than before. Flesh and bone unraveled in an instant, reshaping into usable materials. Shimmering text appeared in the air:
[Obtained Goblin's Cursed Staff]
[Obtained Black Sorcery Robe]
[Obtained Magic Stone (Medium)]
[Gained 15 experience points through Break]
Yuuto's brow lifted. So it wasn't just raw material this time. The staff and robe the mage had wielded had become equipment—complete, intact. A new benefit of the enhanced skill, perhaps.
He turned to the goblin archer next. Another flicker of light. Another series of messages.
[Obtained Poison-Tipped Bow]
[Obtained Light Leather Armor]
[Obtained Basic Materials]
Finally, Yuuto faced the heap of stone and dust that had once been the dungeon's master. Beneath it lay the true reward.
Piece by piece, he cleared the debris with his bare hands. His strength—STR 22 at level five—was overwhelming now. Boulders that once would have crushed him were tossed aside with ease.
Soon the ruined corpse of the Goblin Lord came into view. Yuuto didn't hesitate.
"[Break]."
Blinding light burst forth, engulfing the remains. It was the most intense reaction yet, flooding his senses with a torrent of data and sound.
[Obtained Goblin Lord's Crown]
[Obtained Lord's Mace]
[Obtained Magic Stone (Large)]
[Obtained Fragment of the Dungeon Core]
[Gained 100 experience points through Break]
Line after line of rare items scrolled across the air. Among them, one stood out: the Fragment of the Dungeon Core—the crystal heart of the labyrinth itself, a legendary material worth a fortune. Owning it meant one thing: the dungeon was truly conquered.
Yuuto packed the spoils carefully into a new spare backpack. His original one had been smashed to pieces by the Goblin Lord's strike. Preparing a backup hadn't been luck—it was foresight.
When everything was done, Yuuto slung both packs across his shoulders and stepped through the now-open stone door.
Beyond it lay a corridor that, strangely, led back to the dungeon's entrance. A shortcut reserved for those who had defeated the boss.
Outside, the evening sky was painted in gold and crimson. Yuuto walked toward the guild's management office, boots heavy with dust. At the counter, he presented his explorer's card.
"I'd like to file a conquest report."
The young clerk behind the desk blinked. "Huh? Conquest report? Which party are you representing?"
He glanced at Yuuto's card—E-rank—and frowned, as if the words didn't make sense.
"I'm solo," Yuuto replied quietly.
The air froze. The clerk stared at him, then at the card, back and forth in disbelief.
"A solo E-rank... cleared a beginner dungeon? You're joking, right?"
There was no mockery in his voice, only confusion. An E-rank, alone, conquering Goblin Cave—a dungeon that normally required coordinated parties to survive its rearguard traps? It defied every rule of common sense.
"I have proof," Yuuto said simply.
He drew a glowing shard from his pack and placed it on the counter. The Fragment of the Dungeon Core gleamed like a piece of heaven itself.
The clerk's face drained of color. "Th-that's... the real thing? A Dungeon Core!?"
He scrambled to fetch the appraisal device. The scanner emitted a confirming tone—the fragment was genuine.
"Impossible... you really did it. Alone...?"
The man's voice trembled. Others nearby began to whisper, then crowd around.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"They're saying an E-rank solo cleared Goblin Cave!"
"No way. Even B-rank teams have trouble with that dungeon's traps. Without a rear guard, you'd be torn apart before the boss room!"
"So how... how could a solo E-rank possibly—?"
The murmur spread through the hall like a wave. The man everyone had once pitied or ignored had achieved the impossible, and the revelation shook their entire world.
"P-please wait here! I'll fetch the manager right away!"
The clerk nearly tripped over himself as he bolted toward the back room. Yuuto stood still, surrounded by a crowd of murmuring adventurers. Their eyes were full of curiosity, shock, and something like awe.
(...This might get troublesome.)
He thought it with calm detachment. He had never wanted attention—only to live quietly, earn steadily, and survive efficiently. But fate rarely cared for such wishes.
Moments later, the clerk returned with a man in his fifties whose presence alone silenced the room. The insignia on his chest gleamed gold—the mark of a Guild Master.
"So, you're Tajima Yuuto?"
The Guild Master studied him with sharp, measuring eyes, then, to everyone's astonishment, bowed deeply.
"An E-rank, conquering a beginner dungeon solo... unprecedented. You have my utmost respect."
Gasps spread through the hall. For the Guild Master himself to bow to a single E-rank explorer—it was unheard of. The gesture spoke louder than any words of Yuuto's achievement.
"I'd like to request a re-evaluation of your rank," the man continued. "Leaving someone of your caliber at E-rank would be negligence on our part."
A rank reassessment. To most adventurers, it was a dream offer. But Yuuto's mind was already weighing the numbers—the advantages and the inevitable costs.
(Merit: Rank up)
• Increased credibility, easier access to restricted dungeons.
(Demerit: Rank up)
• Obligations for emergency and joint missions—high probability.
• Envy, interference, and unwanted expectations—high risk.
• Loss of the perfect camouflage that 'E-rank' provides—a strategic disadvantage in ambush or information warfare.
The conclusion came instantly. The drawbacks far outweighed the benefits.
He shook his head. "No, thank you. My current rank is fine."
"...What?"
Even the Guild Master looked genuinely confused now. The nearby adventurers began to whisper, disbelief edging into mockery.
Yuuto ignored them. "For me, the benefits of a higher rank are minimal. The disadvantages, however, are significant."
"Disadvantages?" the Guild Master echoed.
"Yes. With higher rank comes more guild involvement—emergency summons, cooperative tasks. I prefer to move at my own pace and make my own calls. For a solo explorer like me, forced coordination is nothing but noise."
The Guild Master blinked, caught off guard. This man had just called the guild's trust and expectations 'noise.'
Yuuto continued, voice steady. "Besides, the 'E-rank' label is the best camouflage I could ask for. No one fears me. No one truly sees me. In this line of work, that's better than any armor or sword. I'd rather keep my stealth advantage."
To be unseen, unbothered, and underestimated—that was his perfect environment, the quiet laboratory where he could refine his methods and chase efficiency to its limits.
For a moment, the Guild Master was silent. Then he smiled faintly.
"...Fascinating. Truly fascinating. You're right—it may be the only correct answer for someone like you. Very well, I'll respect your choice. But you'll still receive proper compensation. We'll increase your bonus and pay top price for your materials."
He kept his word. Yuuto's payment that day exceeded all expectations. His bank account balance no longer resembled that of a laid-off office worker, but of a seasoned professional explorer.
When Yuuto finally left the guild, the sky had deepened into twilight. He walked the quiet road alone, his adventurer card still reading RANK: E.
But he knew better than anyone that those letters no longer defined him.
He had survived by using so-called 'utility skills.'
That was how his first battle ended.
Yet it wasn't an ending.
It was the beginning.
Whatever dungeons or monsters awaited him next, Yuuto would face them his own way.
Tajima Yuuto, twenty-five years old. Former systems engineer.
His solitary, unglamorous, and ruthlessly efficient journey as a solo dungeon explorer—had only just begun.