Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 45

“-By the way”

 

　After we exchanged apologies, I said this to change the topic.

 

「What are you going to do from now on, Hinata? Like, activities as an explorer. Since you were attacked, are you planning on joining a clan after all?」

 

“Ah, that’s what I meant.”

 

　”Yes,” Hinata said, nodding immediately.

 

　It seems he had already decided what to do.

 

　But if that’s the case, then this will be the end of my party with Hinata… When I think about it like that, it feels like a waste, and I feel lonely.

 

　That’s what I was thinking in my mind, but Hinata’s response was way off the mark.

 

“I’m thinking of quitting college.”

 

“picture!?”

 

　University?! Why university?!

 

“Is that okay? Won’t your parents get angry with you?”

 

　At least if it were me, my dad would punch me.

 

“Yes. Probably… no, I’m sure I’ll get a lot of anger out of him. But I intend to properly explain everything that’s happened so far, how dangerous people with healing magic are, and everything, and convince him.”

 

“…Um, can I ask why you’re quitting college?”

 

“To focus on being an explorer and protecting myself. I don’t just want to seek protection from others, I need to become stronger myself.”

 

“Ah, I see…”

 

　When I heard that she was quitting college, I thought it was a bit out of the blue, but it turned out to be nothing more than that. In short, Hinata-san was planning to devote herself to being an explorer to join a clan.

 

　No matter how promising a student may be, the clan cannot allocate resources to a student who can only be active once a week. After all, this is still the dawn of the Explorers’ existence, and the environment surrounding them is constantly evolving.

 

　By the time Hinata graduated from university and was able to start working full-time, it would have become relatively easy to obtain skill orbs for 《Healing Magic》――If that were to happen, the value of the talent that the clan had been buying into would fall, and in fact, they would likely be persuaded to focus on being an explorer if they were to let her join the clan.

 

“Yeah, that’s why…Takeo-kun.”

 

“Yes”

 

　I knew what would come next. A word of farewell. Or, knowing Hinata, maybe a word of thanks.

 

 

“Will you continue to form a party with me? I mean, I can’t do it every day, but I’ll do my best to keep up with Takeo-kun…!!”

 

 

“Huh?”

 

　For a moment, my thoughts couldn’t keep up with those unexpected words.

 

　What does that mean?

 

“Um… with me? Are you planning on joining a clan?”

 

“Yeah, I won’t join a clan. I want to form a party with Takeo-kun… is that okay?”

 

“Well, I’m happy about it, but if you want protection, wouldn’t it be better to join a clan…?”

 

“Hmm… I thought about that too. I agree that if I join a clan, I can be sure of my safety inside the dungeon. But that’s not the case on the surface, is it? I can’t ask all the clan members to protect me on the surface like the Saintess, so it’s not realistic.”

 

“Well, that’s true… but wouldn’t it be the same if you formed a party with me?”

 

“Yeah, it’s the same. That’s why I want to form a party with Takeo-kun.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

I’m currently level 19.

 

“Congratulations”

 

　Well, that’s probably true. I thought it was at that level.

 

　I nodded, but Hinata-san continued with a slightly frustrated look on her face.

 

“You know, Takeo-kun, do you understand? Since we formed a party, I’ve only been into dungeons twice.”

 

“Yes, of course I know.”

 

“Before I formed a party with Takeo-kun, I was level 11.”

 

“That seems to be the case.”

 

“You were active for a year and were at that level, right? I should point out that for someone like me, who is a student and also an explorer, this is still quite an understatement.”

 

“Seriously…”

 

　I was thinking to myself, “Level 11 in one year is too slow to level up!!” and I’m sorry.

 

“I reached level 19 after just two days in the dungeon. There were some irregularities, but even considering those, it’s an impossible pace of leveling up. To be honest, even if I joined a clan and did some power leveling, I was told that I wouldn’t be able to level up this fast.”

 

“Wow…”

 

　I wonder who told him that…?

 

“So, for me to become stronger quickly, I thought it would be better to form a party with Takeo rather than with the clan. Also, he told me that if I leveled up, I might be able to handle being attacked outside of the dungeon.”

 

“Eh? What on earth is that…?”

 

“Yeah, Mito-san… No, that’s not good!”

 

　Mito-san? Can’t you?

 

　While I was wondering about this, Hinata-san stood up in a panic.

 

“By the way, Obito and Mito asked me to bring Takeo because he seemed to have woken up!”

 

“Eh? Obito-san is… a Yakuza bro? And Mito-san? Hinata-san, could you tell me a bit more about it?”

 

“Um, this seems to be Obito’s house.”

 

“picture”

 

　picture?

 

“Eh? Your house? Your yakuza home?”

 

　Did I just happen to be visiting my favorite guy’s house? Is this the Yakuza’s bedroom?

 

　Damn. Maybe I should try sleeping in bed one more time!?

 

“–Takeo-kun?! Why are you trying to sleep again?!”

 

“No, wait… I thought maybe I should sleep in this bed one more time since it was a Yakuza-niki bed.”

 

“What do you mean?! Besides, this room seems to be a guest room, so I don’t think Obito is sleeping here?!”

 

“Oh, what is that…”

 

　But this is still the Yakuza’s house. Should I sleep there one more time?

 

“Um, let’s hurry up because we might get in trouble.”

 

“I see. It’s certainly not good to keep the Yakuza waiting. By the way, Hinata-san, I just want to confirm something. Did you help me…?”

 

“Ah, yeah. Obito-san helped me. He healed Takeo-kun when he was nearly dead, and he carried me out of the dungeon here with him.”

 

“From the dungeon? I wasn’t conscious, was I? Didn’t anyone from the association stop me when I was leaving the dungeon?”

 

　If an unconscious person comes out of a dungeon, it could be that there is some kind of crime involved, so I think they would normally be stopped and questioned.

 

　Or was he taken there after being questioned? But in that case, I think he would have been sent home or taken to the hospital…

 

　As I was wondering about this, Hinata-san said something strange.

 

“I’m not affiliated with the Association. I came here directly from the dungeon.”

 

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

 

　To leave the dungeon, you must always go through the dungeon gate and return to the Association.

 

“Umm, I think it would be best to ask her for more details, but… if I recall correctly, she used a type of magic called 《Space Magic》 teleportation to jump here.”

 

“…………”

 

　Space magic? That kind of magic hasn’t been discovered yet…but can’t that be!? The reason why the Yakuza guys suddenly appeared in the monster room was because they used teleportation magic!?

 

　No no! But wait!!

 

　Even if we were to concede that the dungeon had been teleported using space magic, which hadn’t yet been discovered inside the dungeon, we’re still outside the dungeon!?

 

　Outside of the dungeon, magic cannot be used, with the exception of some magical tools (strictly speaking, the functions of magical tools are not magical). This should be an absolute rule in the modern world.

 

　That’s supposed to be the case.

 

　However, if we believe Hinata-san’s words, Yakuza-niki and Mito-san can use magic outside the dungeon as well…!!

 

　Hold on a second, I’m seriously confused right now!!

 

“Takeo-kun, Obito-san, and the others are waiting for you in the living room. Shall we go?”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

　With Hinata-san pulling my hand, I stood up and started walking.

 

　Then, just before leaving the room, Hinata turned around and said as an afterthought.

 

“Oh, by the way, I haven’t heard from you yet, but…Takeo-kun, you’ll form a party with me, right…?”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

　Still confused, I gave a quick reply.

 

　And so, I officially formed a party with Hinata-san.