Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 46

　Hinata-san took my hand and led me out of the room, down the hallway, and into a spacious living room.

 

　The entire wall of the living room is made of glass, and you can see the buildings towering below. I knew it from looking out the window of the guest room, but this is a pretty tall building. It’s definitely a high-rise apartment building.

 

　Living in a place like this is what you’d expect from a Yakuza!

 

　The yakuza was sitting on an expensive-looking sofa, quietly drinking coffee.

 

　He wasn’t wearing his usual suit, but a crisp, starched shirt and slacks. Maybe it was because of his height, but it suited him well. Just as you’d expect from a yakuza! So cool!!

 

　By the way, this is not a dungeon, so Yakuza Nikki’s intimidation passive skills are not working like they did when we met inside the dungeon.

 

　So I don’t freeze up in fear, but… I can’t help but feel scared when I’m face-to-face with him.

 

　What can I say, he clearly has an aura of cold-heartedness, cold-heartedness, and violence that makes him seem like he’s killing people without any connection to dungeons, and he has an intimidating aura.

 

　Meanwhile, besides the yakuza, there was someone else in the living room.

 

　A beautiful silver-haired woman in a maid’s uniform – the familiar Mito-san.

 

　It seemed that Mito-san was serving the Yakuza. I looked and saw that there were cups for each of us on the low table in front of the Yakuza.

 

　After putting all the cups down, Mito-san turns to face me.

 

“Oh my, it seems like that was a pretty long discussion, huh?”

 

“S-Sorry! Sorry for keeping you waiting…”

 

“No, no, there’s nothing to be worried about. I’ve just finished making some coffee. Hinata-san and Samejima-kun, please feel free to have a seat here.”

 

　Hinata-san apologized, and Mito-san offered me the sofa.

 

　But what kind of relationship do Yakuza-niki and Mito-san have? They’re here as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, so maybe they’re living together?

 

　No, of course I have no intention of prying into the private life of a Yakuza bro.

 

　So, trying not to think any further about it, I thanked Mito, but instead of sitting on the sofa, I headed straight over to where the Yakuza was.

 

　Then he smoothly bows down.

 

“Yakuza-niki! Thank you for helping me this time! I’ll never forget this kindness! Let me call you Aniki!”

 

“Don’t call.”

 

“I understand! Then, if that’s what you want, Yakuza-niki, I’ll offer you my virginity!”

 

“No need.”

 

“Understood!!”

 

　Arghhh!! That’s cool, Yakuza bro!!

 

　As I was trembling with emotion, the Yakuza bro jerked his chin and gestured to the sofa.

 

“Sit down.”

 

“Yes! I understand!!”

 

　Hinata and I sat on the sofa opposite the Yakuza-niki, and Mito sat next to him.

 

“First, please have some coffee while it’s still warm.”

 

“Yes! Thank you! Thank you!”

 

　At Mito’s recommendation, I took a sip of the coffee that was prepared for me.

 

“–Delicious!?”

 

　Immediately afterwards, I couldn’t help but scream.

 

　What is this coffee?! It tastes completely different from the instant coffee I usually drink!?

 

　What can I say? It’s black, but it’s very fruity. It even has a slight sweetness to it.

 

“Ufufu, thank you. It’s Kilimanjaro.”

 

“I see……!!”

 

　This is Mount Kilimanjaro…!!

 

　I tasted and drank Kilimanjaro. And then–

 

“Now that I think of it, why did you two come to the monster room while I was running wild? Did you have some business?”

 

　I suddenly asked a question that had been on my mind.

 

　Thinking about it again, it was strange that the Yakuza had teleported there at that time.

 

“Fufu, that’s it.”

 

　”That’s what Mito-san answered.

 

“Because I sensed an evil presence.”

 

“So it’s evil?”

 

“Yes. Evil.”

 

“Maybe that’s… No, it’s nothing.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“yes……”

 

　Are you saying that I, in my insanity, was giving off an evil aura?

 

　…The scary thing is that we can’t say for sure that it doesn’t exist.

 

　I feel like I’ve been dodged somewhere, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get an answer if I ask any more, so I guess I should just accept it.

 

　A somewhat awkward atmosphere spread throughout the room, and the large living room was filled with momentary silence.

 

“Samejima”

 

　It was Yakuza Nikki who broke the silence.

 

“Sorry! Please call me Takeo!”

 

“Takeo”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Have you seen the status?”

 

　It was clear that he was asking me what I had seen. He was probably referring to the title and skill in black.

 

“Yes! I saw it!”

 

“Your title of ‘Pleasure Killer’ and your skill ‘Last Murderer’ have been sealed away.”

 

“sealed……!!”

 

　So that’s what I thought.

 

　I have no idea what kind of skill is required to do something like that, but he’s a Yakuza after all…!!

 

“The reason I sealed it away is that title and skill are dangerous. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes”

 

　Seeing the Yakuza’s gaze as if he was testing whether or not the subordinate in front of him was of any use, I nodded without hesitation.

 

　The moment he gained that title and skill, he lost his mind. Even I can tell.

 

“When you have that title and skill, you are overcome with a strong urge to kill… is that correct?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

　The Yakuza nodded as if it was obvious.

 

“Yakuza-niki sealed it for you, right?”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“Thank you so much!!”

 

　I bowed deeply. That murderous urge was something I couldn’t resist. Even if I had been okay on the surface, where my status didn’t work, if I had kept that title and skill, I would never have been able to enter a dungeon again.

 

　I let out a sigh of relief, but the Yakuza bro continued, driving his warning into my mind.

 

“Don’t get me wrong. They’re just sealed away for now. The titles and skills haven’t disappeared.”

 

“…Umm, well…what do you mean?”

 

“Even if it is an act of God, the next time you kill a human, your title and skill will be activated, and the seal will be lifted. So, never kill a human again.”

 

　This was a completely natural thing for those living in human society.

 

　However, if he continues as an investigator, this may be a somewhat difficult restriction.

 

　It’s not that I want to kill someone. Just like this time, there’s no guarantee that someone won’t attack you regardless of your will.

 

　And when you’re up against a malicious person with level and skill, it’s extremely difficult to end the situation without killing them, unless there’s a significant difference in their abilities.

 

　Even so, it’s a one-sided restriction that means I can’t kill the other person, even if they want to kill me.

 

“……Understood”

 

　After understanding everything, I nodded.

 

“That’s fine. However…”

 

　As if thinking something of my reply, the Yakuza gave me some advice.

 

“Even if the seal is broken, there is a way to ensure you don’t lose your mind.”

 

“S-Seriously…?!”

 

“First, his raw ability score without any enhancements is over 200 in ‘Spirit’.”

 

“O-o-oh…!!”

 

　That was a very difficult way.

 

　It seems like it’ll be possible if I level up, but I haven’t strengthened my Spirit ability at all. Even if I strengthen it from now on, it’s impossible to specialize in it. If I did that, my other abilities would be insufficient, and my level would plateau at some point.

 

　I can’t imagine at what level something like that would be possible.

 

“The other is to acquire the skill ‘Mental Abnormality Resistance’ and raise its level to the maximum.”

 

“Oh, in that case…!!”

 

　I felt hopeful.

 

I don’t know how to obtain the skill 《Mental Abnormality Resistance》. Still, it seems easy compared to getting my mental value above 200.

 

　However, the next moment, Mito-san chuckled and said something that would send me straight to hell.

 

“Oh, by the way, you can acquire the skill ‘Mental Abnormality Resistance’ by obtaining the title ‘Heartless’.”

 

“H-heartless?”

 

　Now that I knew for myself that titles didn’t just have an effect in the description, but had hidden effects as well, the title of 《Heartless》 seemed very dangerous.

 

“Also, if you maximize your 《Mental Abnormality Resistance》, there is a drawback in that you will lose all of your emotions, so be careful.”

 

“Huh!?”

 

　What does it mean to lose your emotions?!

 

　This is an extremely dangerous skill!!

 

“or”

 

　Then, the Yakuza bro spoke again. I immediately focused on what he was saying.

 

“Any dungeon will do. Find the hidden area on the 30th floor and go inside.”

 

“The hidden area on the 30th floor?”

 

　I believe the highest level humanity has reached so far that has been announced is the 23rd level, but that’s…

 

“End of story. … No.”

 

　The yakuza bro ended the conversation, leaving me confused, but then he suddenly seemed to remember something and muttered something as he pulled out a card case from his trouser pocket.

 

　He takes out a card-no, a piece of paper – and slides it across the table to me.

 

“!?”

 

　I picked up the paper and looked at it, My eyes widened in shock.

 

　It was a business card.　It said “Explorer” on it along with the Yakuza’s contact information.dead treeImiki PeopleObito

 

　I looked back at Yakuza Nikki, wondering what was going on.

 

“I heard about Hinata’s situation. And the reason why she was being attacked. She may be targeted again in the future. Not just in the dungeon, but above ground as well.”

 

“Yes”

 

“As I’ve already explained to Hinata, there are ways to use status powers and skills even on the ground.”

 

　Looking at Hinata-san beside me, she nodded in affirmation.

 

　Seriously?… Is there a way to use status and skills on the ground?… That would be incredible information that could upset the military balance of the world, but… Yakuza Nikki told me how to do it as if it were no big deal.

 

“If you want to use martial arts skills, you need Strength and Dexterity above 200. If you want to use magic skills, you need Intelligence and Dexterity above 200. To display the same ability values ​​on the surface as you do in the dungeon, you need HP or MP above 400 and Dexterity above 200.”

 

　Does that mean… that top-level explorers can already demonstrate the same abilities above ground as they can in the dungeon?

 

　If that is the case, there is no way the government would not know about it, so perhaps this information is being kept secret from the general public.

 

　Either way, I learned something shocking.

 

“If you all reach this level of ability, even if you are attacked by a rabble on the ground, you will be able to fight back with ease.”

 

　That’s true, but… I don’t know when that will be possible.

 

　It seems that the Yakuza were also aware of this.

 

“…But if you are attacked before you can reach that level, and if, by any chance, you can’t do anything about it yourself…call that number.”

 

“!? Th-that’s…!!”

 

　In other words, Yakuzaniki is telling you that you can rely on him if something happens.

 

　The moment I understood, my heart started pounding.

 

　Ah, Yakuza bro…!! So cool…!! So kind…!! I love you…!!

 

“Th-Thank you so much!! Yakuza bro!!”

 

　I bowed so deeply that I hit my forehead on the table.

 

 

　●◯●

 

 

　Shortly afterwards, Hinata and I decided to leave the Yakuza’s house.

 

　Oh, by the way, today was the day after we were attacked by Kanzaki and the others in the monster room, and it seems Mito did a “good job” of recording the dungeon entry and exit records.

 

　It’s unclear what exactly they did, but at this point, it’s no surprise what the Yakuza are up to.

 

　And then.

 

　As I was leaving, I asked the yakuza guy who had come to the entrance to see me off something that had been bothering me.

 

　That was to sayーー,

 

“Um, Yakuza bro. Why are you treating us so well when you’ve only met us once?”

 

　It’s a natural question.

 

　I can’t remember ever doing anything to deserve such kindness from a Yakuza.

 

　However, without any sign of thinking, the Yakuza said as if it were the most obvious thing to say.

 

 

“That’s because you’re my ‘younger brother’.”

 

 

“Huh!?!”

 

“Be careful on your way home.”

 

　Just before the front door closed, I saw the Yakuza smile.

 

 

　Uwaa …

 

　Yakuza broooooooooooooooooo!!! Looks so cool!!!

 

　I could fall in love with someone like this!!!

 

 

　I decided in my heart that I would support Yakuza Niki for the rest of my life.