I, Who Was Criticized as the World's Weakest S-Rank Explorer, Am Actually the World's Strongest Explorer - Episode 94

Episode 94  

“Well, if that happens, it happens. Do your best, explorers!”  

“…That’s so irresponsible.”  

“Well, we can only hope for the best.”  

If it had been a monster or something similar, I had no idea how strong it might have been.  

If it had been an opponent we could defeat, great. If not… bringing those two along might have been a mistake.  

……..…We could only hope we wouldn’t encounter it.  

Saotome-san muttered to herself. She was stringing words together as if lost in thought.  

“If that girl does exist… there’s a possibility she could be the dungeon’s administrator… or perhaps this dungeon itself created a human-like entity. If we can meet her, we might learn something about the Kamino Town Dungeon… Oh, this is just too exciting!”  

Saotome-san seemed entirely unconcerned about any danger to her life.  

“There might be risks involved, you know?”  

“I’m fully aware of that. Don’t worry—I’ve already entrusted my will to someone.”  

Not reassuring at all.  

I just hoped that girl wasn’t hostile towards us..… though from Kiryu-san’s tone, it had sounded like he was attacked.  

To ensure those two stayed alive, I needed to remain vigilant.  

As we walked, a low growl echoed from afar. Turning to look, a bipedal monster emerged from behind a rock.  

It bared its fangs, locking its gaze onto us.  

A wolf monster. It had two magic stones. A General-type monster.  

For a typical explorer, that would have been an opponent to approach with caution. But Rin and I were far from ordinary.  

…There was no need to even use my Bullet Sword there.  

I lightly enhanced my physical abilities with my special power and focused on the wolf.  

“Mind if I handle this?”  

“Sure. If I don’t let you, will Saotome-san take care of it?”  

“I’d just become its meal.”  

It didn’t look like she was planning to help. Saotome-san didn’t seem to have had any special abilities.  

“Here it comes.”  

The General Wolf charged at us with a roar, but its movements appeared slow to my eyes.  

I matched its charge with a kick, delivering a perfect counterattack that took it down in one hit.  

“Impressive as always, Amakusa-kun.”  

“Thanks. …Rin, can I leave that one to you?”  

“Got it.”  

On Rin’s side, a General Orc appeared. It also had two magic stones and swung an axe as it attacked.  

Even while holding her gear, Rin summoned ice around her.  

The ice formed into spears that flew toward the General Orc.  

It tried to escape, but its movements halted as its feet froze to the ground.  

Her ability was as incredible as ever.  

Unlike my power, hers was flashy and visually striking. It reminded me of that time during a shoot when her abilities were admired for being so eye-catching—she had teased me about it endlessly.  

The General Orc’s final cries were silenced as ice engulfed its entire body. It shattered into pieces moments later.  

“Impressive as always.”  

“This much is manageable.”  

Despite her modest response, Rin smiled warmly when I praised her.  

“You were amazing too, Haruto.”  

“……..Well, that much was nothing.”  

Being complimented felt nice. Working alongside someone my age to explore a dungeon like that was unexpectedly enjoyable.  

I could see why some explorers went on “dungeon dates”. Maybe I understood the appeal a bit now.  

Watching our exchange, Saotome-san nodded in admiration.  

“You two are amazing……… The skills of S-Rank Explorers are truly in a league of their own.”  

“I’m just A-rank, though.”  

“Ah, right. Still, your abilities are exceptional as always.”  

With a sarcastic jab at the Association, we continued onward.  

After steadily progressing, we descended a long staircase and came across a wall with the number “101” written on it.  

In front of us lay a vast forest.  

Listening closely, I could hear the sound of a flowing river and the calls of monsters.  

I was familiar with that area, having been there a few times before. But Rin’s expression was tense with caution.  

…We had fought monsters with five magic stones along the way, so it was no surprise she was on edge.  

“This is the 101st floor…!”  

Saotome-san exclaimed with childlike excitement.  

It was as if she had arrived at an amusement park. Her eyes sparkled as she looked around eagerly.  

“Amakusa-kun! Amakusa-kun! I’d like to start investigating right away—is that okay?!”  

“That’s fine, but let’s first find a spot to drop off Rin’s gear.”  

“Ah, right. Would leaving it near the stairs work?”  

“…As long as we don’t stray too far, that should be fine.”  

Monsters generally don’t venture near the stairs.  

Occasionally, abnormal species are the only ones capable of traveling between different floors. But encountering them within the dungeon is exceedingly rare.  

Therefore, we placed Rin’s gear near the staircase leading to the 100th floor.  

“…Phew. That’s light.”  

“You okay?”  

“Yeah, I’m fine.”  

I readied my Bullet Sword, and Rin prepared her katana. Then, we turned our attention back to the 101st floor.