Chapter 83 Joint Dive
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After hanging up on Zakiyama and the others from Demiurge, I returned to the classroom, but more than half of the class time had already passed.
As I looked around the classroom, I spotted Ijuuin-kun’s figure, sitting by the window on the right side, with his head in his hands and his face buried.
That’s definitely Ijuuin-kun. He looks like he’s sleeping.
He’s another introverted otaku like me, and his behavior patterns are similar too. It’s better to leave him alone for a while. Trying to rush in and get close to him would be a bad move.
Next, I need to think about how to communicate with him. Does Ijuuin-kun like jerky (?????)? First, I should research more about Ijuuin-kun.
As I was thinking about this and gazing at Ijuuin-kun’s back, his shoulders started to twitch like a small animal, and his body shrunk down. I wonder what kind of dream he’s having. If it were my dream, I’d be happy.
When I returned to my seat, Maekawa-san and the others were worried because I had gone to the restroom and suddenly disappeared.
When the 4th period class ended, many students rushed out of the classroom to secure seats in the cafeteria. Some even jumped out of the window to shortcut through the courtyard. If they utilized Evold’s physical abilities, they could easily clear a 2nd-floor height.
In the past, only male students would engage in this kind of rough competition, but now female students are also joining in, making the cafeteria at lunchtime a fierce battlefield.
It’s become a daily routine for the hardcore groups to clash with each other like a bike race in a post-apocalyptic world.
There are warning signs on the entrance lobby and teleportation facility bulletin boards saying “Please refrain from jumping from windows and balconies, as it’s dangerous!”
Hano-san the gal and Nishina-san the shy one came over to join us after the crowd had dispersed. The group in front, including Akiyama’s group and the student council, were gathered and chatting.
Then, after a while, Himeno and the other 3 arrived.
”Good morning, senpai!”
Apparently, in the girls’ basketball team that Himeno belonged to, they would greet their senpai with “good morning” regardless of the time of day.
”Hello.”
”Himecci, you’re always so energetic!”
”Hehe, it’s going to be a lively lunchtime, isn’t it?”
Himeno and Maekawa-san seemed to have gotten closer after yesterday’s party.
Then Akiyama waved his hand and called out to us.
”Higurashi-chan, perfect timing. Come over here for a bit.”
”Okay, got it.”
Higurashi went over to Akiyama and the student council group to chat about something.
After a while, everyone was chatting and laughing, and then Higurashi came back.
”Are you done, Higurashi?”
”Yeah, let’s have lunch for now.”
”Then, since the weather’s nice, let’s head to the rooftop!”
We all headed to the rooftop following Maekawa-san’s suggestion.
There were students scattered around the rooftop, eating their lunches and snacks. We moved to a spot with no one around, and Maekawa-san spread out a large picnic mat.
”Valeria, bring out the lunch.”
Maekawa-san checked to make sure no one was looking, then pulled out a large eco-bag from nowhere. This was Valeria’s storage magic.
The lunch that came out of the eco-bag was still warm, like it had just been made. Everyone received their lunch and said “itadakimasu” before eating. It was leftovers from yesterday, but it was still delicious.
”There’s still tempura and fried chicken left, so help yourselves.”
”And there’s still plenty of dessert left too.”
’Fried chicken!’
Njorn seemed to love fried chicken. Valeria, who wasn’t in her human form, had transformed into a blue-white snake with a glass-like body and was urging Maekawa-san to hurry up with the food.
Satou-san (the scout) looked uneasy, glancing at Valeria, who was wrapped around Maekawa-san’s hand.
”Tsuchimiya-kun, where did you go earlier?”
Maekawa-san asked again.
”Yeah, Ijuuin-kun actually got threatened by Demiurge, so I went to take care of it.”
”Again, Tsuchimiya-senpai is acting carelessly on his own. Even if you stand out, you don’t even bother to call for backup or contact anyone. I wanted to watch it too.”
Higurashi munched on her kimchi and rice while scolding me.
”This time it’s about helping people. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, okay? Does Maekawa-san know about Ijuuin-kun? I want to know about his usual behavior.”
”Ijuuin-kun? I don’t know much about him since we don’t really interact, but he seems like a normal, quiet kid. In the previous world, he was always gathering with his close friends, and he didn’t really stand out.”
”Is Ijuuin-kun forming a party with those friends?”
”No, it was like that at first, but since all those kids were rearguard jobs, they disbanded, and Ijuuin-kun couldn’t join a new party. Now, he’s actively looking for party members and participating in spot recruitment. That’s why he’s often alone in class, I think.”
”Is that so?”
Spot, huh. It’s a style where you search for one-time party member recruitment on bulletin boards and participate in different parties each time. I remember Himeno and Kanon saying they did spot recruitment for a while too.
I’m worried about Ijuuin-kun, who’s similar to me and has communication issues. It’s not uncommon for him to not get along with normal people or have trouble communicating.
”What’s with Ijuuin-kun?”
”Well, I think he’s similar to me, so maybe we can become friends.”
”Whaaat?”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me. It’s unexpected for me, a loner, to say something about making friends.
”Is that Ijuuin-senpai the type of person who would attack delinquents and throw them away like trash?”
Kanon asked a weird question.
”Haha, Ijuuin-kun is a peaceful otaku gentleman who loves games and trains. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
”………”
Huh? Everyone’s giving me a weird look. What’s with this atmosphere? Is it that unexpected for me to make friends?
”W-well, Ijuuin-kun gives off a people-pleasing vibe, so if you’re too pushy, he might avoid you.”
Satou-san (the scout) advises me.
”Ah, I know. I have that kind of personality too, so I understand how he feels. I’m thinking of taking it slow and building a solid relationship with him.”
”Yeah, that’s right. Good luck!”
”Ah, thanks.”
Today’s our first meeting, and Zakiyama and the others are already taken care of, so my impression isn’t bad. From now on, I’ll work hard to gain Ijuuin-kun’s trust.
”By the way, Higurashi. What were you talking about with Akiyama and the others?”
”Ah, there’s another alliance hopeful coming. Apparently, 6 people have applied since then.”
”Six people in just a day? That’s quite a lot.”
”Tsuchimiya-senpai directly confronting Kibakura-senpai made a big impact. If you keep it up, you’ll stand out even more. But if possible, I’d like to get in touch before you make a move.”
It’s not like I’m trying to stand out or anything.
”Anyway, I’ll finish my business with the Student Council and then meet up with Akiyama-senpai to attend the explanation meeting. Are you guys going to dive in right away?”
”That’s the thing, we got some money, and we want to buy some gear and equipment before we dive in. Is that okay?”
Maekawa-san asks and looks at me.
”It’s fine, isn’t it? The teleportation facility is going to be crowded for a while anyway. If we head to the special zone and come back around 2 pm, that should be enough.”
”Akari-senpai, I recommend the Thief boots! They’re really good!”
Himeno calls out to Satou-san (the scout).
”Oh, is that something that exists?”
”Yes, they use special monster materials on the soles, so they make almost no noise. They’re expensive and not very durable, but you can replace just the soles, so if you have the budget, it’s better to buy them!”
”When I’m scouting, I get worried about making noise and can’t move quickly. I was just thinking of buying boots, so I’ll try those. Thanks, Asagiri-san!”
The shop didn’t have it, so I didn’t know about it either. Even when Himeno wears the school-regulated leather shoes, she hardly makes any noise.
”We should’ve bought our gear too, so this is perfect timing. Let’s get fully prepared before we dive in,” I said
After that, we finished eating our lunch and dessert, and then we all went shopping in the special zone. The main big stores are lined up on the main street in front of the school gate, so it doesn’t take much time to move around. It’s also fun to explore the small shops that are a bit off the main street when we have time.
We finished shopping and entered the teleportation facility around 2 pm.
In the lobby, I parted ways with everyone and entered the locker room. At times like this, I think to myself, “I’m the only guy in this party, aren’t I?” even though it’s already too late.
The locker room is relatively empty compared to when it’s crowded. I enter a small dressing room separated by curtains and get ready.
I change into my combat boots, and put on the Shin Guard +2 that I got from Sagara (the dead blond hair), which guards my shins.
I try bending and stretching my knees, but the Shin Guard doesn’t get in the way of my movements. However, it’s a trade-off that my joint defense is a bit weak, which is a demerit for my fighting style.
I think it’s fine to gradually add more equipment as long as I can get good drop items.
I put on my combat belt with added shoulder straps, take out my Kondou Spear, and head back to the lobby. After waiting for a bit, the girls come out of their locker room, all dressed up and looking cheerful.
The group of 6 girls looks lively, and I feel a bit nervous thinking about joining them alone. My otaku mindset is still stuck, I guess. I think I’ve gotten used to it, though.
”Tsuchimiya-kun, that Shin Guard looks great on you!”
”Yeah! It’s really cool!”
When they talk to me with a smile, my tension eases up.
”Thanks. You guys look great in your boots too!”
Except for Himeno, who already had her gear, everyone else bought new boots in the special zone. Himeno, Kanon, and Nishina-san got short boots, while Maekawa-san, Satou-san (the scout), and Hano-san (the gal) got long boots. The colors were all different, but since they all had a snug fit, they looked pretty cool overall.
Himeno, Satou-san, and Hano-san also bought the shoulder pad part of the Combat Belt to go with me.
”This, don’t you think it’s better to wear the chest armor too?”
Himeno asked Satou-san, looking a bit embarrassed as she covered her chest.
”Yeah, that’s true. If it’s going to chafe and hurt, it’s better to take it off.”
”Hey, Himeno, you’re being a bit too erotic, aren’t you?”
”Ugh…”
The Combat Belt was digging into the valley between her breasts, emphasizing Himeno’s large bust. Yeah, it was pretty erotic.
Satou-san had a leather armor and Hano-san had an iron breastplate, so they didn’t have a problem.
In the end, it seemed like Himeno decided not to wear the shoulder pad part of the Combat Belt.
Maekawa-san handed out a search schedule on a handheld board, and we started filling in the planned search floors and return times. This wasn’t a hard rule or anything, but if we returned too late, our names and search areas would be posted on the bulletin board as “missing persons.”
My name was already on the member list. This was a joint dive with my party, excluding Higurashi, and Maekawa-san’s party.
Maekawa-san’s party didn’t have a name, but according to the school newspaper’s investigation, only about 20% of parties had names, so they were still in the minority.
When we entered the teleportation room, it was surprisingly crowded.
As we lined up, Lugia-san, who rarely approached me, came over and whispered in my ear.
”Takeru-kun, can I have a minute of your time later?”
”What’s up? You don’t have to be so polite.”
”It’s about the abandoned floor investigation…”
”Ah! Right, sorry. I completely forgot.”
I was supposed to have a hearing on Sunday, but I ended up doing it with Monster’s Appraisal yesterday, and after it was over, I just went home. I completely forgot about it.
”It’s okay. A lot of things happened, and I totally forgot about it too…”
A lot of things, I mean, the yakisoba cup incident.
After Lugia-san left, it was our turn soon. When I stood in front of the magic circle, Himeno and Nishina-san (the shy) clung to my arms.
”Everyone, let’s hold hands properly!”
Maekawa-san called out, and while we were getting on the magic circle, everyone actively held hands, forming a circle. This was because we were too careless and got separated on the abandoned floor.
”Let’s start from the 2nd floor, okay?”
Satou-san (the scout) asked.
”Yeah. If we don’t stand out, it’s no good, right?”
I have been given a mission by Higurashi to defeat a group of goblins in front of the gallery.
Now, when the magic circle shone, we were in the safe zone on the 2nd floor, a familiar place.
The wide room was more crowded than before, giving off a suffocating feeling.
When we got out of the magic circle, everyone’s attention was on us, and the atmosphere, which was already tense, changed.
”Hey, isn’t that Tsuchimiya!?”
”A mad dog that bit Kibakura…”
”And Asagiri Himeno is here too!”
”Isn’t this a harem party or something?”
”They’re ruling with power and fear, aren’t they…?”
”Hey, don’t make eye contact!”
For some reason, the path opened up as we moved forward. It’s like a tough, intimidating atmosphere has settled in. I feel an urgent need to help someone. Is there someone in trouble somewhere?
”Still, there are a lot of people. Are they all waiting for Monster’s revival or something?”
The room, about the size of 2 tennis courts, was packed with parties, and it was noisy.
”The white guy will come out nearby, and the parties heading that way will be stopped, I suppose. It’s a common thing, I guess.”
Satou-san explains.
”White Hob…”
A white Hobgoblin of the Warrior type is quite a formidable enemy for players who have just reached the 1st floor.
”Just wait a minute. I’ll gather some information.”
Maekawa-san leaves the party and disappears into the crowd, then returns after a while.
”There’s a group of 3 white ones near the east exit that won’t let people pass.”
The east side, huh? There are exits to the west, north, and east in this room, and we’re taking the north route to the 3rd floor. There are multiple boss rooms, and multiple routes to descend.
”This is usually when a volunteer party forms to take them down, but isn’t this perfect?”
”Yeah, that’s right.”
As Maekawa-san says, this is a great opportunity to clear Higurashi’s mission. Higurashi probably knew about this situation on the 2nd floor too.
I open the auto-map to confirm, and see that the east exit leads to a long straight corridor, with a fork in the road to the right.
The monster group is waiting in ambush at that curve, just like they’re waiting for us to make a move.
They’re probably targeting players who come out of the safe zone too. If players who have already gone deeper come back, it’ll be dangerous. We need to take care of this ASAP.
”Alright, I’ll go take a look. You guys wait in the safe zone.”
”Be careful, okay!”
Himeno calls out to me, but she doesn’t seem worried, looking excited instead.
”Yeah, I’ll take care of it quickly and come back.”
As I try to head out to the east exit, a girl from a nearby party calls out to me in a panic.
”W-wait! It’s dangerous! There’s a group of Hobgoblins waiting in ambush around that corner. We’re recruiting for a volunteer party to take them down right now, so please wait a bit before exploring.”
”Yeah, I know. I’ll take care of it, so just watch from there.”
”Huh? T-take care of it?”
The air trembled, and the other members tried to hold the girl back, who was trying to stop me and whispered to her, “That’s Tsuchimiya Takeru.” Meanwhile, I stepped into the corridor.
’If you use Lightning Bolt from the fork in the road, you can take them all out with one shot.’
Tina gave me a reluctant piece of advice.
”I can’t finish this without understanding what’s going on. Let’s try it without magic or martial arts.”
If I was fighting hobgoblins, I could take them out in an instant with magic or martial arts, even if there were a group of them. But I didn’t want to reveal my hand in front of the gallery. It was better to fight normally and take them down.
If I got careless and ended up in the infirmary, Higurashi would be furious. I had to be careful not to get too cocky.
I erased my footprints sounds and approached the fork in the road. But just before I reached it, a group of 8 moved. Had they noticed me?
Goblins have better hearing than humans. If I were fighting humans, my stealth movement might have worked, but the goblins were on high alert and didn’t fall for it.
I lowered my stance and suddenly sped up, then jumped out from the corner and stabbed a small goblin that appeared in front of me.
After that, a group of monsters emerged from behind. I turned sharply to the left and cut down the head of the leading goblin. I then made an emergency stop and stabbed the hobgoblin that had stopped in its tracks.
There were 2 normal hobgoblins and 3 white hobgoblins left. I saw a route that would allow me to circle around behind the group by jumping over the corpses, but my spear wasn’t suited for close combat, so I canceled that plan.
Instead, I fell back and quickly took down the leading hobgoblin that was charging towards me.
Since my reach was longer, it was best to take them down from outside their attack range.
The 3 white hobgoblins behind noticed the situation and stopped in their tracks, giving me an opening to take down the last normal hobgoblin.
Now there were only 3 white hobgoblins left.
There was a swordsman on the left, a shield bearer in the middle, and a spearman on the right.
I moved to the right to avoid being attacked simultaneously by the 3 of them and thrust my spear at the shield bearer’s neck.
The moment the shield went up, my spear drew an arc and swept their legs.
I took a step back to create some distance while the spear-wielder charged at me. I moved the spearhead in front of me, drawing an “8” shape with the decorative cloth on the tip. The moment the spear-wielder’s gaze was captivated by the cloth, I struck, and the spearhead was swiftly sucked into their throat.
The remaining one panicked and brought its shield forward to defend itself. However, its gaze was unsteady, darting back and forth, seemingly searching for an escape route.
White Hob, who had noticed its companion being slashed and struggling on the ground, moved to get behind it, intending to use it as a shield. The moment it did, I spun my spear and took a step forward.
With a powerful thrust, I knocked the shield upwards from below, and then spun my spear again, using my body to deflect the attack. As I did, the spearhead drew a large arc behind me, slicing through White Hob’s groin and up to its shoulder in one swift motion.
This White Tiger (Byakko) technique may look flashy and leave openings, but it’s a combat-oriented skill that allows me to respond to attacks from any direction by moving my gaze 360 degrees.
It’s not just about mastering the form; it’s about using it in real battles. And for someone like me, a hobgoblin with low combat skills is the perfect practice opponent.
After confirming that White Hob had fallen, I finished off the other goblin that had been slashed.
I collected the sword and shield before they disappeared. It’s a gamer’s instinct to want to earn money without being too picky, but it’s common to take a detour to grab treasure chests that seem worthless, especially in the depths of a dungeon.
However, using “Storage” here would make me stand out, so I reluctantly decided to carry the loot for a while.
’It’s a piece of cake to defeat goblins, isn’t it? Master should practice fighting with sword intervals while you can.’
”Yeah, you’re right. I haven’t had much real combat experience, have I?”
There might be even stronger monsters that will try to get close to me in the future. I need to be prepared so I don’t panic when that happens. I do have techniques for dealing with them, but my usual style is to take them down before they get too close, so I tend to focus too much on actual combat. When it comes to sword fights, my spear techniques become more like staff techniques, and if I only practice thrusting, my level will drop. Sagara, who fought with me on the abandoned floor, is a good example. As soon as he got close to me, he was overwhelmed by my defense and couldn’t keep up.
When I returned to the safe zone with my sword and shield, I was greeted with applause and cheers, but it felt awkward and uncomfortable.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai, you’re so cool!”
Himeno and Kanon rushed over to me, beaming with excitement.
”Amazing! Did you see that? He took down 8 of them in no time!”
”That’s right, and it was just one person doing it! If I level up, can I do something like that too? It’s hard to imagine…”
”This is the Mad Dog Tsuchimiya…”
”Tsuchimiya-senpai is amazing!”
Kanon puffed out her chest, looking smug, as she faced the cheering crowd.
”Anyway, this means we can continue our exploration now!”
”Thanks, Mad Dog!”
”We owe you one, Mad Dog!”
”Stop calling me Mad Dog!”
”Whoa, did you just growl?”
”Kyaa!”
Uh-oh, I think I scared them. I need to respond like a gentleman.
”Don’t worry, Tsuchimiya-kun is very kind.”
”Tsucchi isn’t scary at all, yeah!”
Maekawa-san intervened, and Hano-san (the gal) started petting my head. It was like they were saying, “My dog is smart, so it won’t bite.” It’s better than being feared, I suppose.
The students who were waiting started thanking me and leaving through the east exit one by one. Still, about half of them remained in the room, having meetings or taking breaks. There were probably many parties active in the west and north, waiting for their turns.
”Alright, I’ve cleared my quota, so let’s head to the 3rd floor while we’re at it.”
And with that, we headed towards the 3rd floor through the north exit.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.