Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 2

“-So this is the Shinjuku dungeon?”

　March 18th.

　The day after my 18th birthday, I arrived at the Shinjuku Dungeon that had appeared inside Shinjuku Station.

　As soon as I entered the dungeon gate, I saw the black obelisk and magic circle, and confirmed that it was a “ruins type” dungeon just as the information said, and I nodded.

　It’s a dungeon.

　This is the dungeon…!!

　Ever since the dungeon appeared, I have been anxiously awaiting this day.

“It was long…!!”

　It was long…!!

　During high school, he was busy with part-time jobs. In addition to that, he was also devoted to training himself for when he became an explorer.

　I ran every day to train my stamina, and practiced swinging a wooden sword in the small garden of my house every day. I was in danger of having to repeat my high school year because I worked too many part-time jobs. I endured the nasty looks my classmates gave me for being the only one who didn’t go on to college or get a job, but I somehow managed to graduate from high school safely…!!

　The day after the graduation ceremony, I immediately applied for a two-week course to obtain my explorer qualification, and then, on my birthday, I passed the explorer qualification exam with flying colors.

　My level-up life begins today.

　The advanced information gathering and chart design for efficient leveling up are perfect.

“The equipment I bought with the money I saved from my part-time job is perfect…!!”

　I glance down at my body.

　For today, I bought a monster leather breastplate and a steel long sword. I was wearing safety boots with steel plates, a large-capacity mountaineering backpack on my back, and a helmet with a built-in camera on my head.

　For a beginner explorer, this would be a perfectly adequate set of equipment.

　By the way, the reason they are wearing helmets with cameras is that it is “mandatory.”

　This is because human corpses and man-made objects do not remain inside the dungeon for long; after a certain amount of time, they are absorbed into the dungeon and disappear.

　In other words, it is not possible to install surveillance cameras inside the dungeon, and if a murder were to occur, the evidence would disappear along with the body.

　The environment is effectively extraterritorial.

　It’s pretty obvious what will happen in this environment.

　So the government – or rather the World Explorer’s Organization (WEO) – proposed making it mandatory for all explorers to film their activities within dungeons.

　The videos captured by the cameras are uploaded in real time to “Dungeon Tube,” a website set up by the Explorers’ Association, and in the event of an incident or accident, this video data is referenced as important evidence.

　In essence, it’s like a dashcam, and this in itself acts as a deterrent to trouble between explorers.

　It is also used to determine the location of explorers who become lost or injured in a dungeon and need rescue.

　By the way, you can choose whether to make the videos you shoot public or private.

　As an explorer, there is the disadvantage of having one’s plans known not only to the Association but also to the wider audience, but for “certain reasons,” many explorers choose to make their exploration activities public on Dungeon Tube.

　Not only that, but because Dungeon Tube, which has a fairly high probability of producing bloody videos, is an R-18 site, some people have edited the videos for all ages and posted them on other sites.

　We’ll explain the benefits of this later.

　I’m not a public person, so I don’t care.

“Let’s go…!”

　Anyway, I proceeded triumphantly into the first floor of the Shinjuku dungeon.

　The first floor of the Shinjuku Dungeon is a stone ruins-like structure with square holes at equal intervals in the walls, within which candles from the dungeon structures light up, without ever going out over time.

　It was only lit by candles, so it was dim, but there were several of them lit at equal intervals, so it wasn’t difficult to see.

　Knock-knock footsteps echoed throughout the ruins.

　Perhaps because it’s underground, it’s chilly inside.

　As we walked down the passage, which felt more like a catacomb than a ruin, the many explorers near the entrance began to disappear.

“Just as expected, it’s empty.”

　This is why I came to Shinjuku Dungeon.

　Simply put, the Shinjuku Dungeon is an “unpopular dungeon.”

　Slimes and other types of monsters always appear on the first floor of dungeons that have appeared all over the world.

　It is no exaggeration to say that the popularity of a dungeon is determined by the types of monsters that appear, other than slimes.

　Dungeons with inorganic or insect monsters are relatively popular, followed by animal monsters.

　On the other hand, dungeons where humanoid monsters appear are not popular.

　The reason is that fighting humanoid monsters poses a high psychological hurdle for a novice explorer.

　Please think about it.

　In a society with a highly specialized workforce, it is rare for people to have tolerance for the act of killing living things. I think most people can’t kill small animals, let alone insects or fish.

　And when it comes to a humanoid creature, let alone a small animal, the instinctive aversion will be considerable.

　Some people may find it physically impossible to kill insect-type monsters, and so they probably don’t feel guilty or repulsed by killing them. However, there is a strong repulsion attached to killing animal-type or human-type monsters.

　What this means is that dungeons that contain inorganic and insect monsters are so popular that they are crowded, and even just finding a monster on the first floor can be difficult.

　On the other hand, in dungeons where unpopular animals and humanoid monsters appear, it is not difficult to find monsters even on the first floor.

　This is exactly the reason why Shinjuku Dungeon is not popular, despite being located inside Shinjuku Station and being very easily accessible.

　Because it’s “goblins” that appear here.

　However, the less popular areas have a higher chance of encountering monsters, making them a better place to level up. That’s why I came here.

　Well, once you’re able to dive down to the lower levels, the encounter rate is the same no matter which dungeon you go to… but as a beginner, you’ll probably end up frequenting the Shinjuku dungeon.

　–and.

“First goblin spotted…!!”

　As I was walking and thinking about this, I spotted a moving presence about 20 meters down the dimly lit corridor.

　When I squinted my eyes and looked closely, I saw a figure about the height of an elementary school student. However, it was not a human.

　He had large, long ears, a hooked nose, crooked teeth, and a hideous face that was full of murderous intent. His body was almost naked, except for what looked like an animal skin wrapped around his waist, and his body color was a mix of green and brown. In his right hand, he was holding a crude wooden club.

“……!!”

　I pull out the long sword that was hanging from my waist from its sheath.

　- Goblin.

　In games and many fantasy fiction, they are famous as minor enemies. But not in real dungeons.

　Goblins are formidable opponents.

　Indeed, the goblins that appear on the first floor don’t have any special skills, and although they are quick and agile, they don’t have much strength.

　In terms of status, a fully grown adult could defeat him without any problems, even if they hadn’t increased their level by a single level, as long as they had a weapon.

　However, the goblins are “seriously” trying to kill you.

　They are not frightened by minor injuries or damage, and even if you block an attack with a club, they will try to rip out your eyes with their claws or bite your carotid artery if they get the chance.

　Despite their small size, they have enough fighting ability to kill a human.

　Ever since the dungeon was opened to explorers, quite a few people have been killed by goblins.

　And the biggest problem of all is–

“Guuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!”

“……!!”

　The goblin noticed us.

　A roar was heard, clearly filled with murderous intent. Immediately afterwards, the goblin closed the distance with the agility of a wild monkey, which was contrary to its appearance.

　Even as I readied my sword, I felt my palms getting wet with cold sweat.

　–Whether or not you are determined to kill the enemy at all costs.

　–The hesitation and ruthlessness when killing the enemy.

　Modern people who live their daily lives in safety have lost the mindset needed to live in the wild. This difference easily overshadows the slight difference in physical ability, giving the goblins victory. Just like the many people killed by goblins,

　–10 more meters.

　–Five meters.

　The distance between us had closed in an instant, and it was past the point where I could run away. Still, I was unsure-no, anxious.

　Although they attack with a terrifying murderous intent, goblins look more similar to humans than they do to monkeys, chimpanzees, or gorillas.

　Can you kill such a creature?

　This was the first turning point as to whether I would be able to continue working as an explorer from now on.

　–Can I do it?

　I have only defeated a slime once during my training. However, there is a big difference between a slime, which doesn’t even look like a living thing at first glance, and a goblin. And the goblin is stronger.

　I’m not a psychopath, nor am I some kind of abnormal person who gets pleasure from killing. I’m just an ordinary person, like any other, who wants to level up in real life, even if it means risking my life.

　For me… No, I no longer had time to think.

“Gaaaaaaaaahhhh!!”

　With a distance of two meters between us, the goblin let out a terrifying cry and leapt into the air, swinging his club.

　With trembling hands, I raised my sword…

“–Hmmmmmmm!!!!!!”

　With all his might, and using all his soul and energy, he slammed his long sword into the goblin’s head.

“Gah!?”

“Hmmm hmmmmm!!!!!!”

　Swing it down, swing it down, swing it down.

“Experience points experience points experience points!!!!!!”

　He slammed his sword down with all his might, shaking off any aversion, guilt, or hesitation he might have felt about killing.

　I was completely absorbed in it.

“Haaah, haaah, haaah…!!”

　He had no idea how many times he’d slammed his sword down on the goblin. The next thing he knew, the goblin had fallen to the ground, dark bl00d splattering everywhere, and was twitching in a way that was a bit too much to show.

　Completely dead.

　The corpse, along with the bl00d that had splattered all over it, turned into particles of light and disappeared, leaving behind only a tiny crystal the size of a thumb.

　Magic stone.

This item is always dropped　when you defeat a monster.

　I picked it up and put it away in my backpack, then let out a sigh and smiled in relief.

“I guess that’s it. I was worried because I’d seen so many threatening statements online, but I was so nervous it was a waste of time.”

　No matter how you look at it, the pleasure of gaining “experience points” in real life outweighs the aversion to killing goblins, if you think about it logically.

　Goblins don’t leave behind corpses like “I can’t show you!”, they just disappear like in a game, so it’s not a big deal.

　It even feels exhilarating to think that every time I kill a goblin, I’m getting closer to leveling up.

“Experience points ♪ Experience points ♪”

　Seeking new experience points, I began to skip my way deeper into the dungeon.