Volume 2 Chapter 1 Everyone, We’ve Finally Made It This Far
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I visit a quiet corner of the base where a single small gravestone stands.
Of the eight classmates who died or disappeared, only Iizuka-kun and Sakasaki Rumine-san rest beneath this stone. The other six—the missing members of the former Third Division—are still unaccounted for.
I lower my head and speak softly, more to them than to myself.
”The twenty-seven of us who remain won’t let anyone else die. We’re going to survive in this world. So… please, keep watching over us.”
Though this site is technically within the base grounds, I had never taken the time to visit before now. It wasn’t just a matter of opportunity. Emotionally, I hadn’t been ready. And somewhere deep inside, I feared that facing this place too directly might pull me toward the same end.
”Oh? That’s rare,” says a familiar voice from behind.
I turn and see Haruka-chan, approaching with a vase of freshly bought flowers.
”Didn’t expect to see anyone else here,” she adds as she kneels beside the stone. “I had a bit of extra money, so I splurged on something nice.”
”Haruka-chan… Yeah, I’ve finally come to pay my respects too,” I say, walking over to her side.
”Glad I picked these flowers,” she says with a small, satisfied smile. “Takumi-kun, don’t you think they suit everyone?”
”Eh? Ah… yeah. I think they’d be happy to see them.”
”We never did hold a proper funeral,” she murmurs.
Her expression darkens a little. I’m reminded that Rumine-san, who ended her own life, had been one of Haruka-chan’s closest friends. And the other—Kahoru-chan—had fled the base and fallen into desperate circumstances. Haruka must have endured more than most.
We stand together, offering a moment of silent prayer.
Back when we first arrived in this world, it all felt like a game. Unreal. Iizuka-kun, caught in that illusion, truly believed we couldn’t die. That misplaced confidence cost him everything. And even now, I regret not stopping him before it was too late.
”Next time, let’s come together as a group,” I suggest. “I think everyone’s finally found enough space in their hearts.”
”Yeah,” Haruka agrees. “That sounds like a good idea.”
* * *
As we return toward the building, my thoughts drift to the unique ability we’ve been analyzing—’Ageman – Max’, which turned out to be Hikari-chan’s skill.
Its effect seems to bring good fortune—enhancing item drops and rare finds during labyrinth dives. We’re still unsure about its activation conditions, but its influence is undeniable. With it, we gained Chisame and the Agilaus Staff, both priceless assets.
The name, however, is peculiar. ‘Ageman’ is old slang, and if Rira-chan and I hadn’t seen it referenced in a cheesy late-night cable movie, we might’ve dismissed it entirely. Hikari had known of the skill from the beginning and even consulted Chinatsu-chan—but they’d misjudged it as a minor enhancement to physical strength. Given the ambiguous name, that’s understandable.
When we step inside, the three girls who had been analyzing the past dungeon records call out to us.
”Takumi-kun,” Kurumi-chan says, “we found something interesting.”
Hikari-chan had been keeping a detailed diary, and they’d started reviewing patterns between our exploration days and our income. It still feels strange to think that we now have the luxury of days without any dungeon dives—something unimaginable just weeks ago.
”At first,” Kurumi says thoughtfully, “I thought the ‘Ageman’ effect triggered when you and Hikari-chan got a bit… close. But that doesn’t match the data. The ones who actually found rare items were Chinatsu-chan and Hikari herself—one got a sword, the other a staff.”
”And when I cross-checked the diary,” she continues, “there were regular spikes in loot every month—about two to three times.”
She shows me the marked dates. Now that I see it, the pattern had been right under our noses.
”And here’s the odd part,” she adds. “The peak days are the opposite of Hikari-chan’s cycle.”
I blink. “You mean…?”
”She has a 30-day cycle. Which means the boost happens about two weeks after her period ends.”
Hearing that, Hikari-chan’s face turns bright red. She lowers her gaze, obviously uncomfortable. It’s not an easy subject to discuss.
”So,” Kurumi presses on with academic enthusiasm, “if we focus our dives during that particular week, we might see a big increase in returns. Of course, we’ll need to test variables—like who receives the benefit, whether it applies to just one person or the whole party…”
”Or whether the effect gets stronger depending on who’s in charge,” adds Rira with a teasing grin.
”Please don’t say that right now,” Hikari says in a small, embarrassed voice.
Kurumi giggles, clearly enjoying Hikari’s reaction. Despite her boldness in private, Hikari is surprisingly modest when others bring up these topics. The contrast is… well, undeniably charming.
Thinking back, she had been particularly intense last night. The kind of passion that leaves you drained but satisfied. Once she initiates, she doesn’t like stopping midway. And even when we pause, she always finds a thoughtful way to stay close, to show affection in her own way—quiet, but deeply devoted.
Her soft-spoken murmur, her quiet wish to be closer—to give herself more fully—had lingered in my ears even afterward. There’s a vulnerability in her intensity that makes it hard to turn away. And of course, I responded with equal sincerity. How could I not?
* * *
”By the way,” Rira says suddenly, “when my ‘Intuition’ skill lit up yesterday, I got a strong feeling Hikari should be in the labyrinth with us.”
”Yeah,” I agree. “She’s going to stay in the newly formed First Division.”
Ginga-kun and the others are expected back tomorrow morning. Once they arrive, we’ll officially restructure the party.
”Once that’s done,” says Kurumi, “let’s visit Shiori-chan’s shop to test out your skills, Takumi-kun. I want to see what they can really do.”
”Especially the discount one,” adds Rira. “If it really reduces prices by ninety-nine percent, we could get just about anything.”
”And I’m curious about ‘Recognition Obstruction,’” Kurumi says. “That one sounds really powerful.”
”Let’s keep it between us for now,” I say seriously. “At least until we fully understand how it works.”
”Yeah,” Kurumi agrees. “Especially with Haruka around. A rare skill like that could cause a lot of trouble.”
Keeping something that valuable secret is no easy task. And when it does get out, it won’t be long before someone tries to exploit it.
But that’s a challenge we’ll face another day.
Notes:
• Haruka-chan – 3rd Division leader. Aspires to be Takumi’s GF.
• Haruka – 3rd Division leader. Aspires to be Takumi’s GF.
• Kaho – 3rd Army leader. Worried, ceremonial magic.
• Hikari-chan – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Hikari – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Chinatsu-chan – Hikari’s party. Frustrated, jokes about prostitution.
• Chinatsu – Hikari’s party. Frustrated, jokes about prostitution.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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