Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 44

“Takeo-kun, the truth is… I was using you.”

　So Hinata-san began her story by telling us her personal story.

　It seems that Hinata became an explorer about a year ago. The reason was that she wanted potions.

　A beginner’s healing potion that instantly heals any skin ailments. It is a coveted item among women all over the world, and Hinata was no exception.

　Just as I had expected, Hinata’s family seemed to be fairly wealthy, but even so, it was quite difficult for her to get her hands on the always-scarce healing potions, which is what prompted her to become an explorer and get some herself.

　However, as soon as I became an investigator, that need disappeared.

　This is because Hinata-san had the skill [Healing Magic] available to her from the start.

　Although healing magic cannot be used on land, it can be used whenever you like in the dungeon. If you have rough skin or are worried about your skin condition, you can enter the dungeon to get treatment.

　Therefore, she could have stopped exploring there and then while still retaining her explorer qualifications. However, Hinata-san did not do that.

　At first, he continued exploring as if it were a small part-time job, and the channel he started as a DanTuber grew on both DanTube and YouTube.

　It seemed to become fun for him, and it became his motivation to continue exploring dungeons, even if not every day.

　However, things gradually start to seem fishy around here.

　As soon as it became known that Hinata had healing magic, the efforts to recruit her into the party seemed to heat up.

　This was nothing but a nuisance to Hinata, who had no intention of staying anywhere other than the first floor.

　So Hinata ends up moving from one dungeon to another.

　However, as a YouTuber, he was easily found wherever he went and was subjected to aggressive solicitation. Of course, he consulted the association, but he didn’t get many results, and it was inevitable that he would become mentally exhausted.

　So for once, Hinata decided to stop her explorer activities completely.

　However, persistent investigators and even strangers began to approach people while they were commuting to university.

　And as the number of people trying to recruit her grew increasingly bad, Hinata began to feel scared.

　Meanwhile, more bad news came in.

　The news was that a top-class explorer, even in Japan, a woman known as “Saint Belwood,” had used healing magic to regenerate missing body parts — this included not only limbs but also lost organs — and had also succeeded in curing a fatal disease.

　It has been proven that healing magic can treat things that are impossible with currently discovered potions or modern medicine, even if it is limited to the dungeon.

　When Hinata found out about this, she realized that possessing a skill like 《Healing Magic》 was extremely dangerous.

He had realized the terrifying possibilities that healing magic possessed.

　Even now, it has been established that it is possible to regenerate missing parts and cure fatal diseases, an incredible ability worthy of fantasy fiction.

　But that was the problem. As in many fantasy fiction, what if healing magic could bring the dead back to life? Or even rejuvenate or extend lifespan?

　Even now, it is such a dangerous power that anyone in power would want to have it, but it could become even more dangerous.

　Kidnapping and imprisonment become real, even probable, possibilities in the future.

　Hinata wondered what to do.

　He couldn’t throw away the healing magic skill he already had, so he had to think of a way to ensure his safety.

　The reference for this was the aforementioned “Saint Belwood.”

Saint Belwood herself is the one most at risk, as she is a healing magician who can regenerate missing body parts and cure fatal diseases.

　However, she has not been kidnapped or imprisoned yet. The reason is that she is a very high-level explorer, and it is impossible to kidnap her inside the dungeon. In addition, even outside the dungeon, she is always tightly guarded by members of her clan (a profitable group consisting of multiple parties and explorers).

　Furthermore, he is one of the top DanTubers in Japan with many subscribers, so kidnapping such a person would be too risky.

　The best thing for Hinata to do would be to join the clan of Saint Bellwood and have her protect her, but that was not possible.

　This is because Saint Bellwood’s clan is famous for being the reverse of the Harclan. In other words, all of the members other than Saint Bellwood herself are male. And they are all handsome.

　Not only was it impossible to enter, but there was even a risk that if one did enter, the Saint would view them as enemies and expel them.

　So, would it be safe to join another large clan? Not necessarily. Even among the major clans, there were many dark rumors, some true and some false, and Hinata had no way of knowing where it would be safe.

　So Hinata first tried to protect herself by becoming famous as a dance influencer.

　At the same time, he was planning to level up and try out joining various parties, carefully finding people and parties he could trust, and eventually have them add him as an official party member.

“Actually.”

　Hinata-san said.

“Honestly, I should have tried harder to find information about the clan and get into a bigger one. It would have been much safer…”

　But he didn’t.

　One reason given was that he was attending university and didn’t have enough time to devote to exploring as a clan member, but the main reason was a lack of a sense of danger.

　I certainly knew I was in danger. That’s why I was so active. However, I had only ever been subjected to aggressive solicitations and had never been directly harmed, so I certainly felt that maybe I was just overthinking it.

　This led them to refrain from taking any measures to ensure safety.

“I suggested to Takeo-kun that we form a party, didn’t I?”

“Yes”

“It wasn’t a thank you, it was for my own sake.”

　The party was annihilated by the Goblin Knights that appeared on the third floor. However, after that, he asked me if I wanted to form a party with him, but he said that the truth was that he wanted to protect himself.

　Hinata-san seemed to think that she could trust me because I helped her without considering my safety. In addition, I was strong enough to defeat a Goblin Knight by myself.

　His party had just disbanded, so he thought that if he formed a party with me, I would at least be able to protect him inside the dungeon.

“By the way, on the day after our first party, the two of you went out to eat together, right?”

“Yes, you did.”

　Thank you for the meal.

“That time, when I left the association, I thought Matsuda-san and Aoyama-san were in the station… and I felt it was dangerous, so I decided to take a slightly longer route home, actually…”

“I see”

“So… you see. The truth is, it’s my fault that Takeo-kun ended up like that. I… selfishly dragged him into trouble, and put him in danger…”

“Hmmmm…”

“So, I’m sorry! I got you involved and put you in danger…I’m so sorry! I don’t know how to apologize, but I’ll do anything I can to make up for it…!”

　Huh? Did I just say I’d do anything?

　In that case, I’ll have to help you level up every day from morning till night–―――No no!!

　It’s disgusting to take advantage of someone’s weakness and try to get them to do what you want!! I would never do that!!

　I shook my head and said to Hinata, who continued to bow her head.

“Please look up, Hinata-san. And besides, it’s fine even if it’s selfish.”

“……picture?”

“I think being selfish will help you succeed as an explorer.”

“Um… but…”

“Besides, I’m still selfish to begin with. I refused once, and then I was the one who asked you to form a party when I realized it would help increase the efficiency of leveling. So I decided to form a party with you, Hinata, and it’s nothing you need to apologize for or be worried about. And I told you I would protect you, didn’t I?”

“…Did I say something like that?”

“I told you. You know, before you went into the monster room the first time.”

“…Ah, that reminds me…But doesn’t that mean protecting it from monsters?”

“No, no. We’re friends, so if we’re in danger, we’ll protect each other, right? It doesn’t matter if the other person is a monster or not.”

“……Hmm. Well…thanks, Takeo-kun.”

“Yes, you’re welcome.”

　Hinata finally relaxed her shoulders, blushed a little, and then laughed.