I, Who Was Criticized as the World's Weakest S-Rank Explorer, Am Actually the World's Strongest Explorer - Episode 55

Episode 55

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

In the silence of the dungeon. Rin stood poised, her sword at the ready. She was glaring sharply at the monster blocking her path.  

Her opponent was a General Orc, a monster with two magic stones. Gripping a massive axe, it growled low. Its focus was locked on her.  

On the 100th floor of the dungeon—the final level—the General Orc appeared as if to halt Rin’s progress. She aimed her blade at the creature, her gaze unwavering.  

“…It’s coming.”  

At Rin’s muttered warning, the monster charged. The sheer weight of its movement shook the ground. It made the air around them crackle with tension.  

The General Orc was not a significant threat to an S-Rank Explorer. But a moment’s carelessness could still spell death, even for someone of her caliber.  

Calmly, Rin observed the monster’s movements. Compared to the foe she had faced previously—a monster with five magic stones—this one was considerably weaker. The thought steadied her nerves.  

As the beast lunged, Rin stepped in and slashed her sword in a single, fluid motion.  

“Graaaah!?”  

Her strike hit the General Orc’s arm, sending its axe flying. Without hesitation, she activated her ice ability. Sharp icicles erupted from the ground, piercing the General Orc and immobilizing it.  

The creature thrashed, trying to escape the icy prison. But it was futile.  

“This ends now.”  

Manipulating the ice lodged in the monster’s body, Rin delivered the final blow. The General Orc collapsed lifelessly. Its massive body hit the ground with a resounding thud.  

Catching her breath, Rin retrieved the magic stones. They felt faintly warm in her hand.  

“I need to move on quickly.”  

She used her mana to scan the surroundings, ensuring she was safe. Inspired by Kiryu’s recent stream, she had adopted his strategy of descending to the next floor without delay.  

And so—  

“Finally… it’s over.”  

Her quiet words echoed in the empty dungeon. Despite her exhaustion weighing her down, Rin successfully cleared the 100th floor.  

Beyond the staircase lay a gleaming, otherworldly magic stone—the Dungeon Core. Rin unsheathed her sword and sliced through it.  

As the Dungeon Core shattered, the dungeon trembled briefly like an earthquake. A large magic circle appeared at the entrance to the room, glowing brightly.  

“……It’s done.”  

Rin whispered softly. She released a breath as if expelling all her pent-up fatigue. Stepping onto the magic circle, she felt a brief sensation of weightlessness before being transported to the dungeon’s entrance.  

Emerging through a nearby gate, Rin saw its white glow—a sign the dungeon had been successfully conquered.  

“…I’ll grab some pancakes later.”  

Recently, Rin had been indulging in a personal hobby: searching for delicious pancakes at various cafés featured in magazines.  

As she tried to shift her focus to something positive, her phone rang. The screen displayed a call from the Explorer Association. With a sigh, Rin answered.  

“Hello, this is Rin Kanzaki.”  

Before she could say much, the Association’s representative spoke hurriedly.  

‘Kanzaki-san, we’d like you to handle a dungeon tomorrow.’  

The words felt like a heavy weight pressing down on Rin.  

She had just finished clearing a dungeon. Starting in the morning and working into the evening, it was now past 7 p.m. Despite taking breaks, she had pushed herself to complete the dungeon in record time. It left her body drained.  

Such a grueling schedule was unprecedented, and Rin was taken aback.  

“…Tomorrow?”  

Her voice cracked slightly from exhaustion. But the representative pressed on.  

‘With Kiryu-san on leave, we’re stretched thin managing the dungeons in the Kanto region. We’d greatly appreciate your help.’  

Hearing Kiryu’s name hit Rin like a blow. Her body was crying out for rest, the strain evident. She exhaled softly and shook her head.  

“…I can’t. I just finished a dungeon today.”  

‘But Kiryu-san has done back-to-back dungeons before.’  

“I’m not him. If you need an S-Rank Explorer, contact someone from another region.”  

‘…I see. Understood.’  

The call ended abruptly, with the representative leaving nothing but a sigh of frustration.  

Rin felt a surge of irritation but lacked the energy to argue further.  

“…What was that all about?”  

A faint sense of unease lingered. Her instincts as an S-Rank Explorer hinted at something unusual. But Rin dismissed the thought and began the journey home. Her exhaustion was overtaking her.  

Her trembling hand gripped her phone as fatigue overwhelmed her.  

“…I’m so tired.”  

She murmured softly, closing her eyes the moment she finished speaking.