As expected, the afternoon lecture is almost meaningless to me.
Looking at the syllabus, most of the lectures are on applied magic, primarily long-range spells.
Some were research-oriented, but they didn’t seem useful for Dungeon combat, and I didn’t feel like going.
To begin with, my basic magical knowledge is probably the lowest in the entire school.
However, I might miraculously figure out how to use long-range magic.
Or maybe I’ll find a useful application for my unique magic!
Incidentally, I attended the lecture of my waifu (I have several waifus just in this game), but it yielded almost no practical results.
However, the true purpose—the big bouncing assets and that sweet voice—provided a wonderful feast for the eyes and ears.
I am very satisfied.
Needless to say, what’s more important: long-range magic or a lovely Onee-san?
I bet half the guys here aren’t even looking at the letters on the board; their focus is entirely on that pair of hills.
“Alright, let’s try it in practice!
If you get used to it, please call me, and I’ll test it out.”
Hearing that sweet, slightly sloppy voice, like honey draped over chocolate, makes me feel like I’m lost in a candy house.
Beyond mere happiness, I feel sheer euphoria.
Couldn’t she just whisper sweet nothings by my side for an hour?
No, it doesn’t have to be sweet nothings.
She could read a picture book aloud.
With such a beautiful voice, I’d be deeply moved instead of getting sleepy.
“Hm?
You are… Takioto-kun?”
“Owaaah!”
“…Just as I thought, Takioto-kun.”
She came up here before I even noticed.
Luigia-sensei is staring fixedly at me.
Since our first meeting was like that, she might harbor slightly strange feelings toward me.
And I only came here to recharge my energy, normally.
“No, actually… I have a constitution that makes me really bad at long-range magic.”
When I said that, Sensei tilted her head cutely, a question mark practically floating above her.
“Hrmm…”
Saying that, Sensei picks up her Tsukuyomi Traveler and checks something.
When I tried to peek, she scolded me with a “No peeking,” treating me like a small child.
KAWAII.
I used a universal language because of her sheer cuteness.
I want to hear it again; should I try peeking again?
“…I see, so that’s how it is.”
I think she was looking at my personal information.
“Well, that’s just how it is.
I wondered if I could find some kind of trigger that might allow me to start using it…”
I say this as an excuse.
The main reason I wanted to see Sensei accounted for about 90% of my motivation.
But I can’t say that out loud.
My goodness!
I was completely healed just seeing Sensei overreact like that.
If Mizumori Yukine-senpai makes me feel like, ‘I’m fired up, let’s do our best today!’ Sensei makes me feel like, ‘Hard things happened, but I’m okay, let’s do our best!’
“Sniff sniff, so that’s how it is…!
I understand!
Sensei will help you.
Please tell me in detail.”
I shoot magic while explaining the mechanics in words.
Suddenly, the students who chose the same course were staring at me.
They’re whispering among themselves, too.
Are they jealous that I’m monopolizing Sensei?
No, that’s not it, since they aren’t perverts like me.
Then, ‘Why did you choose this applied magic course when you can’t even use long-range magic?’ Maybe that’s it.
Well, whatever it is, I don’t care.
I don’t plan on attending next time anyway.
“This is… your future is going to be difficult…”
“I tried to find out if there was any precedent, but it seems the First Saint-sama, who had similar symptoms, couldn’t be cured.”
The First Saint-sama could only cast recovery, strengthening, and barrier magic.
She could only use defensive magic.
However, in exchange, her recovery magic is terrifying; she was capable of casting full-recovery magic countless times, even in a near-death state.
Furthermore, because her abilities are so broken in so many ways, she received a large number of strange nicknames from eroge ladies and gentlemen players.
The most famous one was Ultimate Weapon Saint?
“I’d like to talk to the First Saint-sama, but… she’s already dead.”
The First Saint is one of the heroes from a thousand years ago.
If you think about it normally, you’d assume she’s long dead.
But she’s alive… In the game, if you meet the conditions, she becomes a companion.
That said, I’m working so that everyone gets a Happy End in their events, including the First Saint.
I’m not strong enough right now, but I will definitely make my way to her eventually.
“Alright!
Sensei will think of some measures.
Let’s do our best together!”
Oh!
Sensei said, clenching her fists and raising them to the sky.
Alone.
“…”
Sensei looks at me while puffing her cheeks out slightly.
Eh, I have to do it too?
“Ahem!
Let’s gooo.
Let’s do our best!”
“O-oh!”
Well, it’s been two days since I declared I’d do my best alongside Luigia-sensei.
Unfortunately, I have no plans to go see her anytime soon.
If my heart breaks or things get too tough, I can ask the full-body aromatherapy teacher to heal me, but for now, it’s unlikely my heart will break.
I intend to keep breaking all the flags.
And if it’s just to take her elective classes, it’s far more valuable to go home and train with Claris-san.
“Why was Claris-san, being so strong, so cornered back then…”
“N-no, back then I was caught off guard…”
She makes a bitter face, her long ears drooping slightly.
Contrary to her expression, Claris-san’s attacks become even more intense.
However, the magic-infused scarf repels all of it.
I can only keep defending.
“Guh.”
Attacks backed by physically strengthened force carry a heavy weight in every strike.
I couldn’t stop them cleanly and was resisting to the point where my feet were almost buried in the ground.
Certainly, the defensive power of the scarf shield made her attacks sound like she was beating a taiko drum.
However, I can’t completely nullify the momentum behind her strikes.
I’ve been training daily and even acquired Mind’s Eye; thanks to that, defending has almost become my specialty, but I still have a long way to go.
Claris-san continues to attack and activates the magic she had been chanting.
Wind blows from the ground around us, and dust swirls up.
In an instant, my field of vision dropped to zero.
The magic she mixes in is also highly troublesome.
Usually, I defend with the scarf shield, but the way Claris-san fights is incredibly treacherous.
However, this time it seems she made an error in her magic selection.
Thanks to Mind’s Eye, the dust is meaningless.
Claris-san’s movements are completely visible to me.
I start sprinting toward her to reverse the offensive.
Claris-san retreats the moment she realizes I’m closing in.
Then she begins chanting another spell.
Closing the gap, I attack with my Third Hand before she can fire her magic…
When the scarf extends, my vision suddenly blurs diagonally.
Apparently, there was a hole in the ground that I stepped into.
“When did you…!”
This is the exact spot where Claris-san was standing before.
Maybe she dug a hole while pretending to blind me with magic.
Fortunately, my leg didn’t seem to be hurt.
I just lost my balance from the uneven footing.
But that lost time is fatal.
I reposition myself and open the scarf in front of me.
Right in my line of sight, a massive rock came flying at me.
Gakin!
The sound of rock exploding against metal echoed immediately.
“It’s too big!”
It wasn’t a stone that flew at me; it was a boulder.
A rock the size of a human face.
I could have died if it hit me directly.
Claris-san approaches me, as I’m sitting on my butt from failing to completely nullify the boulder’s momentum.
She vigorously kicks my Third Hand aside and tries to thrust her sword into the opening she created.
I lost my breath seeing the silver blade projecting toward me.
But I won’t lose on my own.
“It’s a draw, huh…”
Claris-san said, looking at my Fourth Hand, which had stopped right in front of her throat.
It seems I managed to force a draw.
I grab her extended right hand and pull myself up.
“It’s a draw, but I feel like I was dancing in the palm of your hand from start to finish.”
“This time I made you fall for my trap, but I think it’s also because the initial distance was large and you gave up the initiative at the start of the fight.”
Certainly, if she keeps a certain distance from me, my win rate drops.
That’s because my attacks are short-range.
I can throw rocks, but Claris-san, who has fought me many times, knows they’re coming.
There’s no way she can’t deal with projectiles she anticipates.
She can also use barrier magic.
In fact, it’s her specialty.
Inevitably, I have no choice but to close the distance.
“Uun, as I thought, it’s all about distance… Should I use a bow?”
“Certainly, I think a bow could be a great match for Takioto-sama.
A firearm might be good too.
However, both are quite expensive… Though the son of the Hanamura family has no money issues.”
Well, I’m not worried about money.
On the contrary, I confirmed there are some bows and firearms when Marino-san took me to the armory before.
As expected, there are fewer than wands or grimoires.
She said I could use them, so there shouldn’t be a problem borrowing one.
“Bow or gun?
For now, I just have to decide after next week.”
“Next week?
…Speaking of which, you’re exploring the Dungeon this week, aren’t you?”
When I take my new scarf, I shape it so Claris-san can relax.
First, I harden the edges of the cloth and leave the rest soft.
Then, look at that, a simple hammock is ready.
“Takioto-sama… This might be rude, but your magic power is truly monstrous.”
Claris-san was a little hesitant, but she slowly sat down in the hammock.
She swung lightly and smiled with a bright, open expression.
I might be the only person in the world who genuinely wishes for a body-swap magic to trade places with the scarf.
I want to be placed on that butt (physically).
“Takioto-sama?”
“S-sorry.”
“Well, it’s a beginner Dungeon, so don’t worry too much.
Besides, this time there are upperclassmen, adventurers, and instructors.”
“If I may be so bold, even if it’s a beginner Dungeon, you shouldn’t let your guard down…”
Heh, I nod involuntarily.
“Um, it’s embarrassing, but in my first Dungeon, I panicked over something completely unexpected…”
“You, Claris-san?”
Sorry, but that’s really hard to imagine.
“Yes, I was saved by the party members I was with.
Therefore, it’s better not to neglect your preparations.
Please forgive me for talking too much.”
Why is she apologizing?
I was just impressed; did I look angry?
“No, no, I wasn’t angry at all, and I’m actually very grateful.
It was great advice for someone like me who tends to act carelessly.”
Well, this isn’t my first Dungeon.
“Takioto-sama is careless…?
I don’t see you that way at all.”
I’m reflecting on the various careless mistakes I made when I saved Ludi.
I don’t regret going to save her, though.
“Well, a lot happened.
And thank you for the advice.
I want to prepare thoroughly for the Dungeon class the day after tomorrow and challenge it.”
Actually, I was aware of the upcoming events and planned to prepare thoroughly just in case something went wrong.
“No, there’s no need to be grateful… Basically, there shouldn’t be any problems given Takioto-sama’s strength.
No, I think there won’t be any problems depending on the situation.”
Well, the event the protagonist triggers is no small matter, and I feel it’s quite dangerous for me since I’ll be dragged into it…
It was a cloudless blue sky shining with intense sunlight.
It’s still spring, so it’s not hot enough to sweat.
Thanks to the gentle breeze, it was incredibly comfortable.
With this weather, I’d love to invite Senpai, Ludi, and Nee-san for a picnic or camping trip, but Nee-san seems to think that “BBQs are a rank monopolized by riajuus (people with fulfilling real lives).” It’s surprisingly fun to try, and I wonder if it might be unexpectedly addictive.
I have a lot of fun imagining these things, but unfortunately, we’re heading into a Dungeon, where the weather is completely irrelevant.
Now, if the Dungeon we’re exploring this time is the beginner Dungeon, the interior will consist of floors and passages resembling a stone temple.
Hopefully, the temperature is comfortable, but that’s the only sensory experience I can glean from the game.
“…That’s it.
Any questions?”
Nee-san confirms with the students.
There were no questions because it was something they had already explained originally, so she said it more to reconfirm.
“Then, do your best.”
When Nee-san turned her gaze to me for a brief moment, she turned on her heels and headed toward the infirmary where the Healers were gathered.
“I’m surprised Hatsumi-san came.”
Ludi isn’t using the Ojou-sama speech she usually fakes, perhaps because there’s no one around, or because she thought she wouldn’t be heard over the noise.
“It seems most of the instructors are participating, you know?
They can apparently refuse, but this time she decided to join because ‘Kousuke and Ludi are going, so I’ll go.'”
“Hatsumi-san seems to hate people or is just indifferent to others… How should I put it?”
“You’re asking me?
Nee-san is a bit indifferent to others, but she’s kind, beautiful, and tolerant…”
As I spoke up to that point, I sensed Nee-san’s presence, so I decided to praise her even more.
“She’s the best Nee-san who always worries about me; she’s actually very attentive, listens to my annoying requests, and just being around her is fun.”
“…I’m glad.”
Hii, Ludi shrieks in shock.
She probably hadn’t noticed Nee-san’s presence.
Until I got used to it, there were times I didn’t notice her until she was right beside me.
Even outside the Dungeon, it was definitely thanks to Nee-san that I gained the skill to detect presences.
And also thanks to Claris-san—why does she have a thief skill, anyway?
“Q-what a scare.
I-if you were there, please say something, Hatsumi-san.”
Ludi said that, and her older sister scratched her head.
“Stop, you’re embarrassing me.”
“I wonder if there was an embarrassing element anywhere in what I just said…”
As Ludi starts to fret, someone calls out to us from behind.
“O-i.
Takioto, Ludi, Hatsumi-sensei.”
The one who appeared was Yukine-senpai in her uniform, a naginata strapped to her back.
When Senpai stood beside me, she looked at Ludi and tilted her head.
“Did something happen?”
“Let’s see.
It’s like trying to think biologically about the Pythagorean theorem.”
“That sounds abnormally incompatible.”
I let that drop and change the subject.
“Speaking of which, Nee-san.
Why are you here?
It seems the groups are starting to be announced and everyone is beginning to move.”
“There was something I needed to tell you.
Something I haven’t even told Yukine.”
“What is it?”
Ludi gives up on the problem that seems unlikely to be solved and asks.
“I’ll speak now that all the involved parties are present.
The first-year Dungeon class is supposed to form a party of five people.”
“I received an explanation about that.
Or rather, Nee-san, you just talked about it yourself, didn’t you?
The party members will receive a message on the ‘Tsukuyomi Traveler,’ a comprehensive information terminal that can be used at the Tsukuyomi Magic Academy, telling them to gather at the designated location.”
I pull out the smartphone-like terminal that was distributed to everyone upon admission.
“…Un.
Due to certain circumstances, the message didn’t go to you three, Kousuke.”
“Eh?”
“Haa?”
“Hmm, Hatsumi-sensei.
What exactly does this mean?”
“Your combined strength is already excessive with just three people.
We decided to close the party members at my and Haha-sama’s discretion.”
“Could it be…?”
Ludi says, as if to prompt her.
“You three will be challenging the Dungeon as a three-man party.”
“Eeh!?”
“Tsu!?”
Our facial expressions clouded over at the exact same time.
No, wait a minute.
That’s weird.
It’s weird, isn’t it?
Why am I not grouping up with Iori?
Even though up until now everything had been moving along the game’s rails like some strange fate, suddenly it shifts to this.
And just the three of us?
“Hatsumi-sensei.
Could you explain in detail?”
Perhaps the only calm one among the three of us, Senpai asks Nee-san.
Ludi looks surprised, but I was probably the most shocked.
Ludi has also learned spell shortening and can use intermediate magic.
The two of you are more than sufficient.
If we add Mizumori Yukine to this, I don’t know what there is to fear.”
Well, I understand what Nee-san is saying.
Thanks to Nee-san and Marino-san, Ludi has recently gained tremendous power.
Furthermore, we’ve already experienced Dungeon combat before.
With that in mind, I absorbed a ton of magic essence from that Ogre of Cruelty, so honestly, going solo would be great.
Plus, if Senpai is coming along, what is there to worry about?
“I came here to explain exactly that.”
“…Okay, Nee-san.
Then, what should we do from here on out?”
“If you want to go, you can go explore.
There’s no fixed schedule.
First of all, the beginner Dungeon is programmed so that you won’t run into other parties.”
When I looked at Senpai and Ludi, they nodded, indicating they could go at any time.
“Understood.
Let’s head to the Dungeon, then.”
Even so, the Majin appearance event that happens to Iori’s party… will it be okay?
Well, it’s fine, right?
Since it’s an early-game boss, it’s a ridiculously weak Majin.
“Amaziiing…”
If I had to compare it, it’s like a stone temple that looks like it belongs in Rome or Egypt.
I knew the atmosphere from the game’s illustrations, but seeing it in reality, I was overwhelmed by its sheer presence.
“Well, Takioto has already enjoyed this area in his head, right?
Let’s get moving.”
Senpai shifts her gaze forward.
When I followed her line of sight, there was a massive stone door.
As a result of the meeting with Senpai and Ludi, I am the vanguard.
Senpai is mid-guard.
And we decided to put Ludi in the rear.
Furthermore, it seems Senpai doesn’t plan on fighting normally and will leave it to the two of us.
That’s why I’m in the vanguard… I have to move forward, but…
“Senpai, I don’t know how to open this door.”
In front of me is a heavy stone door.
It’s about 10 meters tall.
I don’t think it’ll budge even if I push it with all my might.
Was it made for giants to pass through?
This door didn’t exist in the game.
Instead, the screen would immediately transition to the Dungeon interior and exploration would begin.
It’s probably safe to say the door was omitted in the game.
“Oh, it opens automatically when you touch it.
And the monsters will start appearing from this point on.
It should be fine, but stay alert for now.”
With that said, I touch the door.
Then, the ground begins to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.
“Kyaah!”
Did Ludi panic?
She grips her wand, activating her magic power, and for some reason, grabs my arm.
I’m very surprised by the sudden tremor myself, but for me, who was born in Japan—an earthquake-prone country—and who has experienced a massive earthquake in a skyscraper, I don’t feel that shaken right now.
However, the trembling of the two fruits pressing against my arm is impressive, and it makes my heart tremble far more than the ground.
And this time, some kind of mechanical sound like ‘Win, win, win, win’ echoes, and the tremor grows stronger.
I manage to support myself because I use the scarf like a cane to balance, but without it, standing would have been difficult.
Ludi is gripping my arm with a lot of force, her face locked in a panicked expression.
Senpai has a cool face and casually places her hand on my shoulder to steady herself.
Senpai, arm, breast, open, I don’t mind, press it against me.
While I harbored a wish that went unfulfilled, the mechanical noise suddenly stopped, and the tremor gradually began to subside.
When the shaking completely ceased, there was a “Katan” sound from somewhere.
When I looked, a human-sized entrance had opened in the corner of the massive door.
In front of such a gigantic door, a tremor on the scale of a massive earthquake, accompanied by an unknown mechanical sound, just to create a tiny door for a person to walk through.
Was the giant door just decoration to build atmosphere?
“I don’t accept this…”
Ludi, who was still trembling, vents her anger on the door as she lets go of my arm.
Senpai beside me thinks nostalgically: I was just like that when I came here for the first time.
It’s a start completely devoid of tension, but is this really okay?
If this Beginner Dungeon is exactly like the game, we won’t be wiped out on the early floors.
As long as you have all the items, I don’t think you’ll have any problems, even against the hidden boss on the 11th floor.
Pursuing maximum efficiency and competing for the shortest real-time clear (Real Time Attack), in an RTA, you fight only the bare minimum while collecting treasure chests, rush to the 10th-floor boss, and defeat it—that’s the standard pattern.
The difficulty of this Dungeon is low enough that you can beat the boss even at low levels.
However, on the very first playthrough, a Majin summoned by an Evil God Cult believer appears and must be defeated.
However, this Majin is incredibly weak.
Extremely weak.
After defeating the Majin, one of the heroines says, “A lot happened today.
Everyone is tired, right?” but you can easily push to the bottom of the Dungeon and defeat the boss without needing to return to town to rest.
On the contrary, as an experienced RTA runner, I could never return without clearing the final floor.
It’s a waste of time to re-explore just to get to the last floor later.
Well, I’m not the protagonist, so I don’t even need to think about the Majin.
It’s better to quickly defeat the 10th-floor boss and return.
“Hrm, the first floor is just Gyoblins?”
Speaking of Gyoblins, they’re monsters that combine the head of a fish with the body of a goblin, and they are trash mobs that are super easy to defeat.
“Yes, that’s what I heard.”
Ludi answers, scanning the area.
Gyoblins shoot water pistols from their mouths, but their power is toy-class for children.
In other words, your clothes just get wet.
It’s the weakest attack power of all monsters, only dealing damage once every ten hits, even in game battles.
However, the Gyoblin is an indispensable monster for obtaining erotic CGs, and if you get a Tamer who controls monsters, it’s almost guaranteed to be a monster you’ll want to keep around.
“…!
It’s here!”
Listening to Ludi’s voice, I send my Third Hand toward a Gyoblin that just came into view.
Apparently, only one appeared.
“Let’s go!”
I start running immediately, building a wall with my Third Hand.
Then I catch the water pistol blast with the Third Hand and strike it with the Fourth Hand.
“Gyogyoo~!”
The battle… was it really that easy?
The Gyoblin, blown away, twitched slightly in place before its body eventually turned into particles and vanished, leaving behind only a tiny magic stone.
And this time, magic essence emerges, splits into three equal parts, and enters us.
“…Weak.”
“…Pretty weak, huh.”
“Well, Takioto’s attack power is just too high for a current first-year student, after all.
That’s probably why.
Plus, there’s the precedent of the previous Dungeon incident.”
Certainly, compared to the monsters in the previous Dungeon, aren’t these way too weak?
I pick up the magic stone, which looked like a dropped pearl, and put it in my pouch.
Was there even any point in collecting these in the first place?
“Alright, let’s move on.”
We proceed at Senpai’s signal.
I felt my level of alertness drop a notch.
“There’s no change in the path.
Everywhere looks the same; I feel like I could get lost…”
Ludi murmured.
That’s true.
The simple stone pillars and walls continue, making you feel like you’re seeing the exact same landscape on a loop.
However, since it’s almost a straight road, you won’t get lost.
But if it were a labyrinth, we wouldn’t know where we were right now.
But I’m almost never going to get lost from here on out.
I know.
In MagiEx, this Dungeon’s map is fixed, except for a certain floor.
And the roads I’ve walked so far perfectly match the MagiEx map.
“You’re right.
I’m horrified to imagine if this were a labyrinth…”
I stop talking and nod to Ludi.
“Ludi, I can hear a sound from over there.
It’s probably walking around that corner and heading this way.”
Ludi nods and gathers her magic power.
The sound of “Gyo, gyo” approached us at regular intervals, so the enemy arrived right in front of us without us moving, but… it seems to have been a success.
The moment it rounded the corner, it was blasted by Ludi’s magic and turned into magic essence.
I looked around a bit, but it seems no magic stone dropped this time.
I might have missed it because it’s so small.
“Let’s head to the next one.”
I agree.
Even so, why is the Gyoblin muttering “Gyo, gyo” while it walks?
Then, when everything went smoothly and we reached the second floor, monsters other than Gyoblins finally began to appear.
“Mud Golems, huh?”
What appeared was a Mud Golem, a moving mass of earth.
Looking at it from afar, it’s slow and its movements are simple; it’s easy to win if I just defend with my Third or Fourth Hand.
I thought that, and I actually defeated it exactly like that.
On the contrary, I was surprised because it was far too easy.
“Maybe it’s just too compatible with me.”
Saying that, I pick up a small magic stone.
Compared to the fights with the Gyoblins up to now, the only difference is that these guys will actually come at you with normal attacks.
Phrasing it that way might sound a bit weird, but it’s not wrong.
Well, the Gyoblin is just a heretic among monsters.
“They’re still too low-level for us.”
Ludi has also been influenced by the fact that she learned spell shortening, and it seems she had no problems with the battles around here.
I move forward while we chat.
“Ara?”
When we advanced halfway through the second floor, we encountered our first fork in the road.
Well, saying we finally encountered one is more accurate.
If this were a national-level RPG, people would already be complaining about the straight path we’ve walked so far.
“Which way should we go?”
Right and left.
In this case, the left is the correct route, and the right is a dead end with a treasure chest.
Some people would say the right is the correct path.
Most gentlemen doing an RTA also collect this treasure chest.
It’s not strictly necessary in some cases, though.
“Let’s see.
If either is fine, let’s go right.”
It makes no difference to Ludi either.
She agreed, and we proceeded down the right path.
As expected, the destination was a dead end, and a wooden box was placed in front of the wall.
“Is it a treasure chest?”
“Probably.
Is there a trap?”
Actually, there are no traps on this treasure chest.
Or rather, none of the treasure chests in this Dungeon have traps, but of course, I don’t say anything.
“I think it’s useless to just ask, but you can’t use Scout skills, right?”
“No, I have no choice, so I’ll open it while using the scarf shield to protect myself.”
I look at Senpai.
But Senpai didn’t say anything about it.
I use my Third Hand to strengthen my defense and my Fourth Hand to slowly open the lid.
Inside was a small red magic stone with a circle carved into it.
“A fire magic stone, huh.”
“That’s right.”
These magic stones with carved circles are called Carved Circle Magic Stones.
This is an item where, when you inject magic power into the stone, you activate the circle and cast the engraved spell.
In this case, if you shock it with magic power, a flame will spout out… Or so it seems; I’ve actually never used one, so I don’t know what it’s like.
“Can I keep this?”
“Indeed, Kousuke seems to be the one who needs it most.”
Ludi can use fire magic, but I’m far from being able to use long-range magic.
These items are very useful.
I think the Carved Circle Magic Stone is one of the items that can serve as a long-range trump card for me.
Even if I can’t cast long-range magic myself, I should be able to activate this item, which is completed with just circles and magic stones.
I can’t say for sure because I haven’t used it yet, though.
However, Carved Circle Magic Stones also have their weaknesses.
First, they are “expensive.” Carved Circle Magic Stones are rare items that can only be obtained in Dungeons.
Especially at the intermediate level and above, the price skyrockets.
Second, they are “consumables.” Once used, the magic power in the stone disappears, and it becomes just a regular rock.
This is probably one of the reasons they are “expensive.”
Third, they “lack firepower.” By the time you get your hands on the strongest magic stones, characters around you, like Ludi, will be able to cast far stronger magic normally, so it’s better to just use spells.
And between a magic recovery item and a Carved Circle Magic Stone, the former is overwhelmingly cheaper.
To conclude: Generally, it’s a temporary stopgap item.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
“You’re right.”
The appearance of the 3rd and 4th floors was almost identical to the 2nd floor.
However, the monsters that appeared changed significantly.
First, Gyoblins disappear, and more than one Mud Golem starts appearing.
And another new monster began to show up.
“Common Goblins, huh.”
The monster’s appearance is horrific in terms of Japanese aesthetics.
Its whole body is covered in wrinkles, and its ribcage bones are so thin they stick out.
Furthermore, its eyeballs are bulging so much you’d suspect a disease, with about a third of the eyeballs exposed to the air.
On top of that, its tongue is lolling out, drooling from the tip.
It wears a rag around its waist and holds a club.
As for armor, it’s basically paper, but do I need to be a little careful with that club?
Actually, the difficulty level in the game spikes starting from the third floor.
Well…
I catch the swung club with my Third Hand.
Then I smash its head with my Fourth Hand.
“Gobuuu!”
“Just as I thought, the compatibility is the best.”
Furthermore, for me, who is training in combat with Claris-san, I can’t be hit by a slow, simple-moving goblin; it feels like I’m dealing with a baby.
While collecting the magic stones, I return to their side.
“It’s getting harder for me to handle them alone… I wonder if I should learn some close-quarters combat.”
Ludi says.
However, Ludi isn’t a close-combat type; she’s a mage first and foremost.
I think it’s fine if she just learns a few skills to keep approaching mobs at bay and leaves the rest to the other party members.
In the late game, she casts spell-less magic non-stop.
Now, how should I convey this?
“Well, I think the basics are necessary, but… Isn’t it better for you to specialize in the long-range magic that’s your strong suit?
I can hold off a few monsters.”
I’m speaking on the premise that I’m fighting alongside her, but… is that okay?
“Uun… You’re right.”
If I were free to train Ludi however I wanted, I’d train her in a way that could be called the absolute ideal.
But I know the ideal training for you!
is a line that, if spoken normally, would make people think I’m out of my mind.
“Certainly, Ludi’s long-range magic is quite reminiscent of the Student Council President’s.”
Senpai, who had barely opened her mouth since we started exploring the Dungeon, actually speaks up and agrees with me.
“I grew up ‘Almighty’ because I didn’t master anything and learned everything halfway.
But I think Ludi is suited for long-range combat.
Looking at your magic power, you have the prerequisites to cast the highest tier of magic, and I think it will be possible for you to stand alongside the Student Council President and even surpass her.”
By the way, Senpai isn’t “didn’t master anything and learned everything halfway”; rather, she can do everything at a first-class level, so there’s a heaven-and-earth difference between a normal jack-of-all-trades and Senpai.
“I’ll think about it a little more.”
“I’ll always be happy to advise you on whichever path you choose.
But when it comes to magic, that’s Senpai’s domain.”
I threw the whole thing onto Senpai, but she nodded with a smile.
“Oh, I’ll teach you as much as I can.
Well, in the case of you two, it might be better to be taught by the Director and Hatsumi-sensei.”
In Ludi’s case, everything will be settled there, after all.
Although Marino-san and Nee-san are a bit eccentric, they are at the absolute pinnacle as mages.
At the moment, she’s acquired more skills than Ludi did in the game, and I feel like she’s experiencing fantastic growth.
Just as I thought, the environment is good.
The environment is incredibly important for sports and studies.
Well, I’m not saying it’s absolute.
“Should I ask Marino-san and Hatsumi-san for advice… Wait, that’s obviously just maintaining the status quo, isn’t it?”
Ludi says this while looking at me.
I don’t know what she wants me to say.
“From my point of view, I think you’re already producing more than enough results in your current situation…”
When I said what I was thinking, Senpai said “Ah,” and I wondered if she had realized something.
“I understand what Ludi is trying to say.
I can relate to that feeling a lot.
I have a similar experience.
It’s an embarrassing story, but sometimes I get frustrated.”
“…”
Ludi didn’t say anything.
Just looking at Senpai, she clenched her fists and remained silent.
“In my case… well, I’ll talk about it later.”
Senpai said.
I haven’t confirmed it yet, but it seems a monster is heading this way.
After a while, I spotted a group of goblins.
I tell Ludi to use magic, and she immediately begins her incantation.
“Storm Hammer!”
After finishing the incantation, she activates the spell.
Then, a massive green hammer materialized in front of the goblins and came crashing down.
A gust of wind blows from the point of impact, accompanied by a deafening sound.
Storm Hammer, just as its name and appearance suggest, is an intermediate attack magic that leans closer to a physical strike.
It’s a spell that can’t be learned unless you can use both wind and earth magic, and if you don’t care about the amount of magic power consumed, it sits at the very top of intermediate spells.
It’s such a powerful technique that you wonder why it’s even classified as intermediate magic.
To begin with, it’s a spell you normally can’t learn at this point in the game unless you’re on your second or third playthrough…
Now, the main strength of this magic is the descending sledgehammer, but the wind that blows afterward is also highly problematic.
The two goblins hit directly by the hammer seem to die instantly, turning into particles.
Furthermore, the goblins near the impact zone were blown against the wall by the gust and the shockwave.
Those who were thrown violently didn’t move an inch.
“And, it’s over.”
The remaining goblins are crushed by the Third and Fourth Hands swinging down, turning into particles while letting out death cries.
“Just as I thought, I envy Ludi’s magic.
I can’t do something like that.”
If possible, I’d love to use something like this.
She’s used it several times in mock battles against me, and it’s extremely difficult to block.
Above all, it’s exceptionally good at flipping up the skirts of Nee-san and Claris-san, who were acting as referees nearby.
Black panties are the best.
As I envy Ludi’s magic,
“The grass is always greener on the other side, huh.”
Mizumori-senpai, who had been observing nearby, murmured that.
─Yukine’s Point of View─
The first time I wondered if such a human could even exist was when I looked at my older sister.
My sister was a first-class mage and, as a warrior, an absolute monster.
Because of that, I was always, always losing.
There was a two-year age gap between us, but I grew skeptical when people asked if I’d be able to reach her level of strength two years from now.
My sister seemed to be growing even faster than I was, and I even reached the point of thinking that for the rest of my life, I would never be able to catch up to her.
“Yukine is a genius, I guarantee it.”
My sister always said that.
But even as a child, I realized the truth.
Because my father and mother were pouring their hearts and souls into my sister, not me.
My parents had probably fallen in love with my sister’s katana.
I could understand, even if it hurt, that they didn’t care as much about me.
Above all, I was the one who was most fascinated by her swordsmanship.
My sister is a genius.
If it were magic, maybe, but I could confidently say I would never surpass my sister with a katana.
I don’t think I lacked talent entirely.
But precisely because of that, I picked up a naginata.
Just because I had questionable talent for the katana, my sister’s greatness was only emphasized and transmitted to me more clearly.
This was the first time I ran away.
The first person to surprise me was my sister, and the fourth was Takioto.
When I arrived at the school and was surprised to see the Student Council President, who wore a human skin suit, and the Director of the school, whose name would undoubtedly go down in history, I thought I wouldn’t be surprised anymore.
Even so, I was utterly astounded.
He is abnormal.
Physically and mentally.
Takioto used to be self-deprecating, calling himself a magic tank, but it’s not something so simple.
His magic power, which just keeps growing endlessly, can be likened to a “dragon vein,” the original source of magical energy.
To be honest, I was relieved when I found out he couldn’t use long-range magic.
Now that I know he’s genuinely troubled by it, I feel bad and hope I can help.
But sometimes I think: What on earth would happen if magic were cast maliciously with magical power equal to or greater than the Director’s?
Well, even if he could use long-range magic, I can say now that he would never do such a thing.
Assuming Takioto’s magic power is monstrous, what about his weapon handling?
The katana he wielded, frankly, showed zero talent.
It was the same with other weapons.
It was the movement of an absolute beginner using a katana, completely ordinary.
I was the one who recommended it to him, but I actually thought about stopping him.
However, I’m incredibly glad I didn’t.
He possessed skills that no one else had.
It was the ability to improve efficiency and optimize, and a courage that could only be described as abnormal.
I still remember that day.
It was when he asked to borrow the wooden sword; I handed it to him and watched him swing it.
Perhaps it’s just my high standards from watching my sister, but he had no talent.
That’s what I thought.
But a few days later, I was astounded when I watched him.
His swing had transformed into something that looked like he had been swinging it for years.
Yet, when we had a wooden sword sparring match, I could see that, just as I thought, he truly had no innate talent.
I was surprised and asked him why he had gotten so good.
“Eh?
I was just swinging it.”
Surprised, he says it as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
There’s no way that’s possible.
I held my head.
Even though he’s usually so astute, he’s incredibly dense at strange moments.
The Director taught me about his abnormal learning speed.
“He spent the entire day swinging his katana the exact same way.
Ah, sometimes he filmed himself and corrected his posture.”
Involuntarily, I ended up asking, “Just that?”
“Even if it’s ‘just that,’ Kou-chan would swing the katana whenever he had free time, and he’d swing it right up until he went to sleep, you know?
And he didn’t stop his physical strengthening for even a single second.”
I was shocked and bewildered hearing the story.
Physical strengthening isn’t something you can keep active 24/7.
It’s difficult even for me to maintain it continuously, and not even Director Marino could keep it up all day.
Yet, he kept swinging.
It’s strange.
It’s like running at full speed all day long.
Every single day?
However, I thought of something.
It’s said that you gain more experience swinging a katana while maintaining physical strengthening than swinging it normally.
It used to be something like a folk rumor, but now it’s fully proven.
I suddenly thought:
What if he keeps doing this all the time?
I realized I was gripping my clothes tightly.
As I slowly uncurled my fingers one by one, I found my palms were sweaty.
He might be able to master one of the greatest secret techniques of the Kyohachi style.
Due to the technique’s extreme difficulty, even my older sister said it would be impossible for her to learn it.
So, after that, I desperately recommended the katana to Takioto.
I’d like to think it was just my imagination when I saw him step back slightly from me.
No, I have to face reality.
He had stepped back a little.
But even if he did, I’m glad I recommended it.
He manipulates the scarf freely, repelling the club swinging toward him.
Then, using the right side of the scarf as a shield, he deflects the incoming sword with the left side, and draws his katana toward the completely defenseless torso.
‘Iai.’
It’s a technique that is both the absolute basic and simultaneously called the great secret technique of the katana.
Almost anyone can use this technique.
However, the power is completely different between beginners and experts.
Some beginners can’t even cut iron, while other katana users can slice through dragon scales and mithril.
Some masters can cut iron with wooden sticks.
Did he really start using the katana recently?
Me, who used to watch my sister’s master frequently, can barely follow his blade with my eyes at this distance?
I knew it, Takioto is weird.
“Eh, no way?
With a single attack?”
Ludi, who was safely hunting the goblins around her, lets out a voice of surprise.
The Hobgoblin, beautifully bisected before it could even feel pain, vanishes into particles and turns into magic stones.
A dry laugh escapes my mouth.
The Hobgoblin, the 10th-floor boss that gave Shion and me so much trouble, seems to have been defeated in a single strike.
What’s more, he did it on his very first Dungeon exploration.
However, this result was easy to predict when even the 5th-floor boss was completely dominated by him.
Now, although this should be an event worthy of praise, Ludi addresses Takioto in a slightly sullen manner.
“Leave a little bit for me too!”
“No, you know it’s not a sweet treat…”
Apparently, Ludi doesn’t seem to have accepted that.
It might be inevitable since Takioto defeated it with a single blow, even though she was so fired up before the battle.
However, I think even Ludi’s Storm Hammer would have been a one-hit kill if it landed directly.
Thinking about it, Ludi also possesses tremendous skill despite being a first-year.
We have the Student Council President and the Director here, so I’m not easily surprised anymore.
I call out to Takioto, who had promised to buy Ludi ramen to make up for the earlier incident.
“I’ll pay for the ramen for both of you.
Truly, that was a magnificent capture.”
When I say that, Takioto smiles broadly, and Ludi looks happy but still a bit unsatisfied.
I scold Ludi lightly, and we head toward the back of the Dungeon.
In front of us was a wooden box.
Ludi opened it, took the magic stone inside, and after confirming with Takioto, placed it into her own extra-dimensional storage pouch.
On the way to the return teleportation device, Takioto mutters something mysterious while holding his Tsukuyomi Traveler.
“…I don’t know how much it can be shortened, but let’s try an RTA?”
I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but for now, I stepped into the magic circle without asking.
Well, I’ll just ask him at the ramen shop after we get out.
When we returned, we reported to the teacher, who seemed incredibly restless.
Looking around while I spoke, it seems he isn’t the only one acting strangely.
“─And we have captured all 10 floors.
That concludes the report.
…Everyone seems to be in an uproar; did something happen?”
The teacher secretly informed me, adding “since you are the Vice President of the Public Morals Committee.”
“This is… It seems a Majin appeared in the Dungeon.”
It looks like I’ll have to postpone treating them to ramen for another time.
With the teachers running around in a panic, Ludi and I decided to head home immediately.
Of course, Senpai paying for our ramen was canceled.
Well, it’s probably inevitable in this situation.
As one might expect, the problem must be the Majin.
In the game, the text “A Majin appeared and became a hot topic at school” is simply displayed.
Immediately after getting home, I changed into my running clothes.
Then, while putting on my sneakers, I told Ludi I was heading out; she, who had been relaxing, furrowed her brow.
“…Don’t tell me, you’re going running?”
“Yes.”
It’s only natural.
“Even after going to the Dungeon?
Aren’t you tired?”
If you ask whether I’m tired or not, then yes, I’m tired.
But.
“I don’t think I’m so tired that I can’t run and swing my katana.”
She shook her head as if bewildered, stretching as she stood up.
“What is it?”
“I’m going to do my own training.”
She called Claris-san and left the room with a wand in her hand.
Mizumori-senpai wasn’t at the running track or the waterfall.
Of course.
Seeing her serious expression while she was there, she won’t leave until the situation is resolved.
Well, only the protagonist’s party was attacked, no one else.
I hope she can go home soon.
“The protagonist gets the attention of the Three Committees there, huh.”
If it’s the first playthrough of the game, it ends with just him receiving their attention.
It’s an amazing feat in itself to get their attention (Takioto says this in the game).
Furthermore, on the second playthrough, he can be recruited in some cases… but probably not this time.
If he has been recruited, I’m going to have to hurry.
When I reach the base of the waterfall, I train the movements of my Third and Fourth Hands, and after a certain amount of time, I move on to swinging the katana.
For now, at least a thousand times… After that, I’ll swing until it gets dark.
Then, I swing the weighted wooden sword Senpai gave me.
Next, I swing again, keeping Senpai’s form in mind.
I feel a slight discomfort on the right side of my body, make fine adjustments, and swing again.
When my swing starts to stabilize, I reflect on what I’ve done so far.
If I were to grade the flow from the start of the game up to the Dungeon, it would be close to 100 points.
I’ve already acquired most of the skills I can get, and securing the presence detection skill—definitely thanks to Nee-san—was an unexpected bonus.
Mind’s Eye, a skill that can be considered indispensable, was obtained, albeit through a slightly strange method.
Iori seems to be getting stronger in his own way, so I have no complaints there.
What a smooth start.
Everything is going so well that I end up feeling worried instead of relieved.
If I plan for the future, I should prioritize completely clearing the Beginner Dungeon.
Maybe it’s good to go to Dungeons outside the school after acquiring all the skills available from clearing the 11th floor?
I should have qualified to explore other Dungeons since I’ve already completed the 10th floor of the Beginner Dungeon.
So, where to explore?
Personally, I want to explore one of the Dungeons that give an initial special bonus.
It’s a small special bonus, of course, so it’s possible I might not get it.
In that case, it might not be very rewarding.
It was after dinner, right when the late-night anime was broadcasting, that Marino-san and Nee-san returned.
They rarely came home with such unusual exhaustion on their faces (Ludi still couldn’t seem to read Nee-san’s expressions and thought she looked the same as always).
I served them a carefully made coffee, heavy on sugar and milk.
They both thanked me and started drinking.
“Even after investigating so much, in the end, I couldn’t find the cause.”
“It’s a relief that the students were safe.”
It seems only the protagonist’s party encountered the Majin.
Well, it’s the same as the game.
The Student Council President, Monika-kaichou, was one of the party members, so it seems she took care of everything.
With Monika-kaichou, the enemy would have vanished before the protagonist and the others could even do anything.
That person is a cheat from beginning to end, unlike Mizumori-senpai.
On the contrary, Mizumori-senpai is the only one among the Super Trio who isn’t a cheat in the early stages of the game, making her one of the few exceptions.
But the problem is.
“The Beginner Dungeon will be closed for safety reasons.”
Nee-san says this indifferently.
Apparently, they caught someone moving suspiciously, and it seems they are investigating whether there is still any danger in the Dungeon.
Well, reasonable.
It’s reasonable, but I’m dissatisfied.
I want to get the skills I need before moving on to other Dungeons, so this will likely delay me a bit.
The captured person seems to be under investigation now.
However, since they mentioned they’d be working with the Trefke Empire to handle the matter, they might suspect he’s an Evil God Cult believer, or it might already be confirmed that he has ties to them.
Since it was the day after the incident, the main topic at school was the Beginner Dungeon.
According to Mizumori-senpai, normally we would be the center of attention.
The first clear of the 10 floors is a rare achievement, but it seems the capture rankings won’t be opened to the general student body because of the Majin.
Originally, it was posted in a ranked format and also displayed on the school-provided information terminal, the Tsukuyomi Traveler, but this case was special.
And it seems they were supposed to keep the identity of the party that encountered the Majin a secret, but Iori’s party was drawing attention, and the information seemed to have leaked from somewhere.
Especially the leader, Iori, had become the center of attention.
It seems some upperclassmen are already paying attention to him, and the signs are already showing.
“Oh, there’s another guy who came to see Iori.”
When I say this, an orange-headed boy responds to my words.
“Man, he’s so popular!
So, which one is your type?
Those guys over there are pretty handsome, you know?”
Saying that, I drape my arm over Iori’s shoulder and nudge him.
It seems Orange-head became a companion instead of me in the Beginner Dungeon, so they became friends there.
I can’t feel any hesitation between them.
He’s also a character who can become a companion in the game.
When the two of us ask Iori, he furrows his brow as if in trouble.
“Both of them are men.
Besides, half their goal seems to be Trefke-san…”
Certainly, they’re looking at Ludi, pretending to pay attention to Iori.
It seems they used Iori as an excuse to come see Ludi.
I don’t know if Ludi is aware of the situation or not, but she was chatting with Katrina.
For those who wanted to see Ludi, it’s a bonus, as they can see not only Ludi but also another beautiful woman together.
“Speaking of which, Orange, you explored the Dungeon with Iori and the others too, right?
How was it?
Especially the Majin.”
“Huh?
Orange?
…Well, whatever.
Um.
I was a little scared at the time, but… Wait, Iori was unexpectedly reliable.
Katou wasn’t bad at all either.”
“Unexpectedly?”
Well, judging by his looks, he doesn’t seem to play an active role.
Usually, he’s too normal to leave an impression.
“So, how was the Student Council President?”
“Kaichou, huh?
That’s dangerous.
She’s a monster, right?
Iori?”
“Yeah, even though the opponent was a Majin, it was like an adult fighting a child.
It reached a point where I actually felt sorry for the enemy.”
Hmm, the Kaichou’s cheat is alive and well.
“She’s also incredibly beautiful and kind.
I can accept why the fan club is the way it is.”
“I even thought about joining the MMM.”
The two of them shower her with praise.
But Orange.
I’m pretty sure your taste in women is…
“Orange prefers the Kaichou?”
“No, the Kaichou is great, but she doesn’t excite me.
They need to be at least over thirty.”
Iori stiffens with a serious look on his face.
Right, right?
I was also terrified when I found out about his taste for the first time.
Well, in eroge, characters in the friend/companion position usually have some quirk that prevents them from being tied to the heroine.
In his case, it’s his fetish for mature women.
“Just as I thought, the best is the math instructor.”
“H-heh.
I-is that so!?”
Hey, Iori, your face is twitching insanely, you know?
“She’s incredibly sexy; I plan to shoot my shot with her!”
“I see… Just take it easy, okay?”
Still, it’s interesting, isn’t it?
In shoujo manga, a rival character seduces the boy or eliminates the other women, but in an eroge, a friend character almost always has a defining line that goes, “I won’t lay a hand on the heroines!” It’s more or less the exact opposite.
Well, the player, who is usually an older guy, and the actual girl in the game have opposite perspectives, huh?