Chapter 44 Interlude Two – First Dive
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Waiting in the teleportation facility’s lobby, three people appeared after finishing their preparations in the locker room.
”Sorry for the wait, Tsuchimiya-senpai.”
In the middle was Kanon, flanked by Higurashi and Himeno, both wearing combat belts.
Higurashi holds a simple yet striking magic spear called ‘Avian Spear (Tori-sashi)’, which exudes a unique aura that pierces the skin. Himeno, on the other hand, wields a splendid black lacquered Japanese spear passed down from a phantom named Fuyuki. Its double-edged blade measures about 40cm (15.75inch). With two pitch-black decorative cloths fluttering, it emanates a breathtaking sense of intimidation. Through Appraisal, only two names were revealed. One is ‘Federin Spear’, likely its formal name. The other inscription is ‘Izayoi’. Tina speculates that this was the name given by the previous owner, suggesting a strong sentimental attachment that could influence its status. Himeno carries on Fuyuki’s will by referring to it with this name.
When the tall and well-built pair stand side by side, they exude an imposing aura that matches the dignity of their spears.
Kanon, a petite and cute girl, is sandwiched between the two. Although she seems a bit out of place with her shy atmosphere, her attack power is strong. She started at level 1 and has now reached level 4 after a successful first dive. Her skills include ‘Fire Magic,’ ‘Explosion Magic,’ and ‘Rainbow Light Magic,’ a mysterious type of magic perhaps exclusive to Magical Girls.
Compared to the other two, Kanon has a slim belt with two small pouches attached and carries a beige school-designated student bag. In her hand is a wand with a design resembling a toy Magical Girl wand.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai! Let’s go quickly!”
Himeno happily runs over and takes my arm, leading me to a room with a teleportation magic circle.
It’s lunchtime. Usually a busy time, but on a Saturday with no classes, the line for diving is not too long, allowing for a little wait.
Instead, there seem to be many returnees, and now two out of the six Magic Circles are allocated for returnees.
While standing in line, I take out my smartphone and open the status screen to confirm once again that everyone is listed as a party member.
And finally, it’s our turn.
After passing our player cards through the log crystal, Higurashi hands the exploration schedule to the staff.
As everyone stops in front of the Magic Circle, they look at me.
”All right, let’s go.”
With the command given, everyone nods and simultaneously boards the Magic Circle.
This time, Higurashi stands in the center, with me and Himeno placing our hands on Higurashi’s shoulders, while Kanon holds hands with Higurashi.
The members of the party in the center of the Magic Circle usually teleport to the same place, but sometimes their magic gets mixed up and they end up in different places. To prevent this, it’s recommended to make contact with the center member before diving.
”We’re finally having our first battle as ‘The Last Surviver’!”
Higurashi is excited.
”Please watch me, Tsuchimiya-senpai! I will be helpful, I promise!”
Himeno shows her determination with a smile.
”I, I’ll do my best too! I’ve never been so excited for a dive before!”
Kanon is excited and happy.
’I can’t wait to breathe the air in the dungeon since the magic here is weak, nyururu!’
The snake says something.
”Let’s go. This is our first dive!”
I’m feeling more excited than I thought. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this in real life, outside of a game. When I think about it, I haven’t had much experience doing things with other people. Surprisingly, it’s not a bad feeling.
And when the light burst, we were already on the 4th floor.
There was a Magic Circle in the corner of the large square stone room, and there were stairs leading up along the wall in front of us.
”First, let’s head to the recovery spring on the 3rd floor!”
Himeno was really excited for a reason.
It turns out that the recovery spring water resets the number of times I’ve eja**ated.
After being milked four times in a row last night and this morning, I was on the verge of death.
Himeno must have thought it was bad too, as she said she would postpone the party dive planned for the morning and went back to the girls’ dorm to report to Higurashi and the others.
During that time, I drank the water from recovery spring and revived, then I let them know through chat that we would dive as planned after taking a shower.
After a while, Himeno came back to check on me, and when she saw that I looked energetic, she pushed me down without saying a word.
After confirming that my sp*rm count had returned, Himeno interrogated me in the cowg*rl position.
There was no way the excuse of getting better after a short rest would work, and I ended up revealing everything about the recovery spring during the seventh eja***ion.
I had vaguely noticed the effects of the recovery spring, but I deliberately avoided verifying it. The big difference from energy supplements is that even if the number of eja***ions returns, mental fatigue remains the same.
It’s like torture to be told that you can recover physically and eja**ate a lot again when you feel like you’re being drained beyond measure.
So, despite pretending not to notice it myself, I have hidden it, but she has finally been found out.
”I’m looking forward to it! I wanted to buy an extra water bag +1 if they were selling it, but they didn’t have any in stock. It seems like a pretty rare item when I look at the rating chart. If I have the time, I could try looking for it on the first floor.
Himeno is smiling with glowing skin.
Magic items sold at the Appraisal & Purchase Counter are put up for sale at double the price at a nearby store.
Since the main appearing floor for the water bag +1 is the first floor, players who have gained some power quickly move down to the lower floors, and the remaining players don’t have enough money to pay for the relatively useless water bag, so it has become a rare item. It’s like the shield +2 in a certain game.
”But even though you can take out the Storage Box or Storage Bag almost in the same condition as when you put it in, the healing effect disappears.”
”In the storage, it seems like time slows down a lot, but no matter how many times I tried, it didn’t work. The Magic used in the water bag is common, but the processing involved is technically advanced and intricate.”
It was really lucky that I discovered the ability to retain the effects of this item and the recovery spring.
”Anyway, I think the floor boss has respawned.”
The mutated Owlbear floor boss on the 3rd floor was quite a formidable enemy. Although there probably won’t be any more mutations, the dungeon guidebook warned about encountering the floor boss unexpectedly in close proximity while retracing levels, so we need to be careful.
”I’ll go ahead, so please support me once we engage in battle!”
After Himeno equipped the Shadowstride Cloak and ascended the stairs holding Izayoi, we followed behind.
Himeno cautiously entered the boss room, sensing for any presence.
”They’re in front, 10 meters away!”
Himeno ran out while reporting. Higurashi and I hurried up the stairs.
In front of us was an Owlbear, about 2.5 meters long. It had the body of a bear but the upper body looked exactly like an owl. Its arms were large wings with sharp claws, and they were strong with unusually long reach. Unlike the completely black normal Owlbear, this one had brownish feathers and fur and was slightly smaller.
Himeno swiftly moved around to the Owlbear’s back, causing the Owlbear to turn its head to track her. The Owlbear could turn its head almost a complete circle like an owl. It had no blind spots, but once you got close, it could only focus on one side.
”Over here!”
As Higurashi shouted and closed the distance quickly, the Owlbear turned its head back to the front and raised its claws.
Almost simultaneously, the Owlbear shook its body, and a spearhead shot out from its left chest. Higurashi jumped into the stopped Owlbear’s guard and stabbed the Avian Spear into its right chest.
It was a quick kill.
By the time Kanon reaches the top of the stairs, the Owlbear collapses, spitting blood from its beak.
The Owlbear evaporates, leaving behind a few feathers. No treasure chest appears.
Usually, defeating a floor boss has a high chance of dropping a treasure chest, but if you enter and defeat the boss from a route other than the main door, there’s a high chance it won’t drop. So, this was expected.
’Is this possible with just two vanguards without using any skills? Pretty intense, huh? You guys could probably dominate even on lower floors for a while.’
Tina says, suddenly perched on my shoulder.
”I’m not alone, so we should proceed cautiously, but let’s hurry through the easy parts. But then it might be tough to return to the recovery spring.”
”‘You can now move from the Magic Circle to any Magic Circle you’ve used before. It’ll cost 45 exp points.’
”Okay, let’s do that.”
’Yes. Normally, you can’t just casually expand your abilities, but I’ve been quite numb to it. Also, you’ve learned skills like Thunder Magic and Mental Resistance, so please check your status.’
”Mental Resistance? Is it related to Shitone-senpai?”
I suddenly got charmed, so maybe that’s why I learned it. It would be helpful if I could resist that.
And then, the status screen appeared in front of me.
Tsuchimiya Takeru (16 years old)
Level 1
Exp points: 1797/30
Class: Magic Spearman
Magical Girl C (Magic +3, Defense +3, Magic Defense +3), Magic Spearman C (Spear +2, Magic +2, Defense +1), Magician C (Magic +1, Magic Defense +1, Defense +1), Warrior P (Attack +1, Defense +1, Body +1)
Skills: Lightning Magic, Blue Thunder Fang, Phoenix Temple Spear Technique (Hououin-ryu), Basic Spear Techniques (+2), Inner Spiral Reversal, Magic Power Increase (Small), Mental Resistance (+1)
Magic: Lightning Bolt, Flare Bomb
Special: Lightning Resistance (+3)
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’Learning Lightning Magic affects the use of lightning-based magical techniques. While Lightning Magic itself is somewhat rare, Lightning Bolt is a pretty handy attack spell. It’s a mid-level magic, so being able to learn it at this stage means—’
”Wait a sec! Why do I have the ‘Magical Girl’ title?”
It wasn’t there before, and besides, I’m not a girl.
’Hmm… looks like something sprouted, huh?’
”Get rid of it! Erase it now!”
The moment I saw it, I felt a shiver down my spine. This was bad!
’Oh? At this stage, that’s clearly a powerful Title. It’s likely that the ‘Magic Power Increase (Small)’ skill you learned is associated with this Title, so it might disappear too.’
”Just delete it! I have a really bad feeling about this!”
’I see. It’s a shame, but I’ll really delete it.’
”Please, do it as soon as possible!”
And then, the ‘Magical Girl’ Title disappeared from my status. The ‘Magic Power Increase (Small)’ remained.
I hadn’t checked my status for a while, but when did that appear? It’s terrifying that it grew without Tina even noticing. Watching Kanon transform and suddenly finding myself transformed too isn’t funny.
”Is something wrong, Tsuchimiya-senpai?”
”N-no, it’s nothing. I was just chatting with Tina after a long time.”
We started walking towards the recovery spring. It’s about a 15-minute walk straight ahead.
’Asagiri-san is a Level 4 Thief, right? Higurashi-san is also strong at Level 5, but Asagiri-san is clearly stronger. I always thought she was amazing, but her movements aren’t those of a low-level player. What’s going on there?’
”I don’t know? She defeated a Level 18 Necromancer from another school. Is she a genius?”
’Really? Is that true?’
”Yeah. She said she got that spear from a phantom. She’s really amazing, isn’t she?”
’She’s not just amazing; she’s a monster. I simulated the battle between a Level 4 Thief through spearman and a Level 18 Necromancer about 2000 times. The Thief never wins. Please, don’t make Asagiri-san angry and get stabbed.’
”Alright…”
I agreed. I’m already experienced what it’s like to make her angry. Anyway, I should be careful not to provoke Himeno.
With Himeno and Kanon easily taking down the monsters we encountered along the way, we reached the recovery spring.
In front of the entrance wall stood a statue of a goddess, and water bubbled up from its base. Within a semicircle of stones with a radius of 5m (16.4ft), the area was filled with clear water.
”It feels nostalgic.”
Higurashi looked around the room with deep emotions. We had been staying here for a while, so we felt a strange sensation, as if we had returned to our own room.
”Senpai and Asuka used to spend time here, right?”
Himeno seemed to be thinking too.
”Wow… It’s a really beautiful place.”
Kanon said with sparkling eyes, as Njorn, who had been floating near Kanon, jumped into the spring.
’Ohhh! My magic that was running out is being replenished!’
Njorn swam around on the water, twisting its body.
”Come to think of it, I was worried if this guy could enter this room, but it seems to be okay. Aren’t you considered a monster?”
’What!? How rude! Njorn claims to be a noble spirit! Besides, why is an ordinary human like Evold here anyway!?’
”Njorn-chan, Tsuchimiya-senpai gave me a Shining Luminous Baton. He is like a Prince Lord-sama.”
’Nyonyo!? He’s a Prince Lord-sama! I-I’m sorry for my mistake!’
”No, you’re mistaken.”
Prince Lord? I’ve never heard of that title before.
”Kanon should also drink the water from the spring. It should fully restore your magical power.”
”Yes! If we make this our base, we won’t have to be scared of anything.”
As Kanon said, as long as we stay active around here, as long as we don’t die, we’ll be fine. It’s really convenient.
Himeno took out plastic mugs for everyone from the Storage Bag. She bought them at the shop earlier.
Scooping up the spring water and drinking it, it felt like refreshing, pure water was soaking into the body.
I’m happily watching as the operation unfolds. I take out the water bag +1 from the storage room, empty out the remaining water, and fill it up again.
”It’s all good now, right?”
Himeno asks.
”I would like you to refrain from using it during s*x.”
”Don’t worry, I will prioritize Tsuchimiya-senpai’s wishes.”
”If Tsuchimiya-senpai does it elsewhere, it’s a relief for us, knowing that we won’t have to compete for limited resources.”
”Higurashi, do you approve of that, too?”
”We didn’t enter this arrangement with Tsuchimiya-senpai for that. If we were to forbid it in the current situation at the school, it would impose significant restrictions on your freedom. Let’s turn a blind eye to some things.”
”I’m sorry. No, thank you.”
”In exchange, don’t ignore us.”
”Of course! I promise!”
At night, I have enough on my plate, so I don’t want to increase my burden or even think about cheating.
I’m grateful that Maekawa-san and others have been open with me and accepted the situation. I feel really relieved.
”Now it’s up to them to see how they react…”
”Hmm? What’s wrong, Higurashi?”
”Oh, it’s nothing. Instead, why don’t we go collect the treasure chest we couldn’t open before?”
”Good idea. Himeno is with us now, so we don’t have to worry about that.”
Before, when we didn’t have a lockpicker, we had to give up on more than half of the treasure chests. Once they were locked, we were out of luck, and we couldn’t disarm the traps. If Tina appraised it and found harmless traps like sleep gas or paralysis gas, we would play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would open it, and the loser would carry the healthy one back to the healing spring. It was quite reckless.
”Leave it to me! I became a thief for this reason, so I’ll do my best!”
It’s helpful to have a class in the party that can handle treasure chests.
Let’s go around and check all the rooms with chests marked on the map.
While collecting the six scattered chests over a period of nearly two hours, monsters dropped chests twice.
There’s a possibility of failing to disarm low-level traps or unlock doors, but Himeno, equipped with the Divine Craftman Ring, did a perfect job.
As a trend, it seems that the chests that pop up in the rooms are more luxurious than the ones dropped by monsters. Probably the most extravagant ones are the chests dropped by the floor boss.
For now, I’ll put the contents in the storage and appraise them all after returning to the recovery spring. It’s convenient to know the number of coins when they’re stored in the storage.
The harvest is 11 gold coins, 183 silver coins, and 3922 copper coins.
We have various potions like Resist Fire +1 x1, Strength +1 x1, Protection +1 x2, recovery potion (small) x5, recovery potion (slight) x3, magic recovery potion (slight) x1, antidote potion x2, poison potion. ×1.
We also found two scrolls: one for wind magic called ‘Blast’ and another for fire magic called ‘Tinderfire’. You can use these scrolls only once, but sometimes you can learn the magic permanently.
In terms of weapons, we have a +1 Broad Sword, some arm guards, a dagger, and a knife.
Additionally, we found some gems, decorations, and meat blocks dropped by monsters. We’ve gathered quite a lot!
Himeno also leveled up to level 5 as a Thief.
Let’s distribute the potions to everyone and keep them for emergencies.
”As for the scrolls, using one related to your magic type might help you learn it faster. Anyone want to try?
Blast is a magic that releases compressed air all at once, enough to blow away a single person. Tinder Fire is just for starting fires, handy for camping.
”I seem to be a fire type, but if all I need is to light a fire, then Flame Sword should be enough.”
”I just learned dark magic skills earlier, so it’s a different type.”
”Oh, really!?”
Himeno casually says something amazing.
”Yes. I also learned a magic called ‘Darkness.’”
”Dark magic is as rare as holy magic. Maybe you learned it because of the influence of Shadowstride Cloak, but it’s definitely your aptitude.”
Will she become like Darth Vader?
’Master’s lightning magic is an advanced type of wind magic, so there’s a decent chance you can learn it.’
”I see, so lightning is like a higher level of wind. So, can Kanon use ‘Tinder Fire’ and I use ‘Blast’?”
””Yes.””
”Sounds good.”
After that, Kanon easily learned how to use Tinder Fire. It’s a small magic that creates a flame about the size of a ten-yen coin in the air.
I decided to try using a scroll. I channeled my magic into the scroll and confirmed that it was in sync with the sealed magic, then chanted the magic’s name.
”Blast!”
I focused my consciousness on my outstretched left hand, and there was a sound like “whoosh!” as if something had been released. I could feel the air moving intensely, but there was no visual change. I guess it’s just air.
’You’ve learned Blast. If you keep using it, you might be able to learn wind magic skills too.’
”It looks like I’ve learned it safely.”
”Congratulations!”
”You’re amazing. This is the strength of level 1.”
It seems like an attack magic, but I’m not sure how powerful it is. Maybe I should try it out.
”Blast!”
When I chant the magic name, I focus my mind in front of my chest and swiftly reverse direction.
In the next moment, it feels like I’ve been hit in the chest with a giant hammer. My body lifts up, and I’m sent flying backward several meters, rolling on the floor.
””Tsuchimiya-senpai!?””
”Cough!”
I try to respond, but air is forced out of my lungs, and I cough violently. Without the defense barrier, I might have broken ribs. I underestimated its power, thinking it was just air.
”I-I’m okay… I need to understand its power better, or it’ll be hard to use in a real fight.”
”But does that mean you have to try it yourself? Please don’t be reckless.”
”Suddenly, it’s bad for my heart.”
Himeno rushes over and helps me up.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai! Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
”Yeah, I’m okay.”
Himeno helped carry me to the edge of the spring, and when I tried to scoop up water with a mug to drink, she let me drink from her mouth. In an instant, all the numbness and pain in my body disappeared and I felt better.
”Please don’t do anything reckless.”
”Don’t worry. I’m fine now.”
Himeno looked worried and peered at me, so I petted her head and she hugged me as if seeking comfort.
The recovery spring is really convenient. As long as you don’t die, most things should be okay (not learning my lesson).
Himeno also tried using some Dark Magic.
The first thing that appeared was a completely black sphere about 2m (6.5ft) in diameter. It didn’t have any particular texture when touched, and when I went inside, it was pitch black and I couldn’t see anything. This seems to be the largest size, but it can also be made smaller or change shape.
The black interior is a complete darkness that doesn’t let light through, but it seems that Himeno, equipped with the Shadowstride Cloak, can see through this darkness.
If I think of it as a wall that only blocks the view of others, it might be a very effective Magic in close combat.
I feel like things have settled down a bit, but I’m still energetic thanks to the recovery spring.
By the time we returned to the Magic Circle, it was 4 PM. we explored the 4th floor from there.
After two hours of exploration, we found two treasure chests, with one dropping a monster. I acquired a scroll of ‘Gain Speed’, successfully learned it, and also obtained the title of ‘Support Mage’.
We found what seems to be the boss room, so we’ll save it for tomorrow.
Finally, near the safe zone, we tried hunting some undead, but a lot of swift undead called Ghouls appeared, attacking with paralysis. Although we were able to defeat them without issues, it was getting late, so we decided to retreat.
We collected a total of 10 treasure chests that day, resulting in an income of almost 400,000 yen per person.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.