I, Who Was Criticized as the World's Weakest S-Rank Explorer, Am Actually the World's Strongest Explorer - Episode 31

Episode 31 

(Note: Special for this chapter, dialogues through the telephone are in ‘….’)

(Back to MC’s Perspective)

In the area under my responsibility and Kanzaki’s, I had completely eradicated the abnormal species. Finally, I let out a light sigh.  

“…Alright!”  

After taking down all the abnormal species around, I was able to catch my breath. As I strained my ears to locate any remaining monsters, I heard thunderous sounds and the screams of monsters coming from a distance.  

…….If I focused, I could hear a voice too. It was Kiryu-san’s.  

To gauge the situation across the entire Akasaki City, I enhanced my hearing.  

The sounds of monsters… had disappeared.  

There didn’t seem to be any people left behind or injured either.  

……It seemed like everything was fine.  

As I felt relieved, patting my chest—  

“…What are you doing?”  

Kiryu-san’s voice reached me.  

When I turned toward the voice, I saw Kiryu-san floating in the air.  

…People with magic-based abilities casually flying around—it’s something I’ve always envied.  

Kiryu-san descended gracefully. His smartphone was floating beside him.  

…Apparently, Kiryu-san and Kanzaki, among others, could use a form of telekinesis as an extension of their abilities. That’s why, during livestreams, Kiryu-san always had his smartphone floating nearby.  

“Kiryu-san. Have you already finished exterminating the monsters?”  

“…I’ve been taking them down one by one. Now, what are you doing? This was supposed to be Rin-chan’s designated area, wasn’t it?”  

What’s with this guy? He looked incredibly irritated.  

Although his confrontational tone annoyed me, I kept my response calm.  

“Ah, well, I had already cleared out the monsters in my area. So I came over here.”  

“There shouldn’t be any monsters here either, right? Rin-chan and the other explorers must have taken care of everything.”  

“No, that’s because I defeated them—”  

“I just got a report from the other explorers. It seems Rin-chan fainted, but she managed to take down two abnormal species with five magic stones each.”  

“………”  

……..Wait a second. Were those the ones I fought earlier?  

Yuna’s words flashed through my mind.  

“If you don’t properly claim credit, someone will take it.”  

…Did Kanzaki take the credit?  

Well, I don’t really care about that.  

But for Kiryu-san to misunderstand because of that—it was frustrating.  

“I’ve also been taking down monsters, you know—”  

“While Rin-chan was fighting for her life, what were you doing?! Did you come here to someone else’s area, pick up the magic stones from the monsters they defeated, and try to pass them off as your own accomplishment?!”  

Kiryu-san shouted, grabbing me by the collar.  

……..This guy.  

“Look, I wasn’t doing that. I helped Kanzaki when she was about to be taken down… and then we switched out.”  

Even if I claimed to have defeated the abnormal species with five magic stones, he probably wouldn’t believe me.  

So, I summarized the situation as best I could. But Kiryu-san seemed too furious to listen.  

“You helped Rin-chan when she was about to be taken down? I heard from the explorers. They said you abandoned Rin-chan and ran away!”  

“…I didn’t run away.”  

There was no reasoning with him.  

This was really starting to get on my nerves.  

But since he was livestreaming, anything I said would only reinforce the negative impression of me. It was just as Yuna had warned.  

“Shut up!”  

Kiryu-san hurled lightning at me.  

I dodged it reflexively, and Kiryu-san glared at me.  

“All you’re good at is running away and slacking off. With someone like you as an S-Rank Explorer, people around you get the wrong impression. …Honestly, you’re nothing but a nuisance.”  

…..…Even I’m fighting properly.  

But no one’s going to acknowledge that.  

Talking to someone who doesn’t trust me from the start… is pointless.  

Just as I was about to retort, my phone rang.  

Kiryu-san’s gaze twitched toward the sound, but I ignored him and took out my phone.  

…It was from Miyoshi-san.  

“Hello…”  

‘Ah, good, I got through! Sorry to bother you, but there has been another dungeon surge! Where are you right now? Can you make it?’  

“…Yeah, I’m good to go.”  

I had already finished up here.  

I gave a brief reply and then turned my gaze back to Kiryu-san.  

“There’s been an activation at the Kamino Town Dungeon. I’m heading over to handle it.”  

When I said that, Kiryu-san’s expression twisted with frustration.  

“Are you trying to run away? How do you plan to explain slacking off in this situation?”  

“I haven’t been slacking off, so there’s nothing to explain.”  

“Look at the situation—it’s obvious! You… you’re unfit to be an S-Rank Explorer! I expected you to become Japan’s greatest S-Rank Explorer… Why? Why! With that much magical power, why don’t you do anything?!”  

I didn’t have time to waste arguing with Kiryu-san.  

…I had my own responsibilities.  

As an explorer, I fought to protect towns.  

…Everything else, to be honest—was irrelevant.  

I enhanced my physical abilities and leapt away to leave the area, but Kiryu-san shouted after me.  

“Wait, Haruto Amakusa! Hey!”  

Ignoring Kiryu-san’s angry voice, I headed for the Kamino Town Dungeon.  

No doubt, the internet is probably exploding with criticism of me right now. But I don’t care.  

I’ll keep fighting as an explorer for the things I want to do—for the things I want to protect.