Ordinary Person × Modern Dungeon × Summer Vacation Life = Rise to Success!? 〜A Private Dungeon Was Made at the Remains of a Secret Base From Childhood〜 - Episode 18: Playing Tag with My Childhood Friend ②

Episode 18: Playing Tag with My Childhood Friend ②

Before entering the forest, I looked back—

“Huff, huff…!”

Otama-chan wasn’t holding back—she was running seriously.

At quite a speed.

Also, since she was wearing a swimsuit under her T-shirt, her chest was bouncing wildly…

“…No, this won’t do.”

I shouldn’t be looking at my important childhood friend like that.

Besides, thinking unnecessary thoughts slowed me down.

To shake off my worldly desires, I sped up and dashed into the forest.

“Here goes.”

Just like yesterday, I climbed a tree and moved by jumping from branch to branch.

Doing this shortens the time more than following the winding path.

“Hey, that’s unfair!?”

With rustling sounds, Otama-chan followed the same route from behind.

Maybe because I’m more familiar with the terrain, I was slightly faster.

The gap gradually widened.

“Ugh, how frustrating!! Wait!!”

“No one waits when they’re told to in tag.”

If I can beat an active explorer in terms of speed, I could probably pass the general explorer exam with no problem.

As I was thinking that—

*Pichuun!!*

A water laser beam shot down a branch right in my path.

“Whoa!!”

My hand reached for it but missed. And I somehow landed while balancing in the air.

That just now…

“Hey, you used your [Water User] skill, didn’t you!?”

“Ehehe~ As an explorer, I’ve gotta master my skills! I can do this too~”

“—!!”

Otama-chan jetted forward using water from her back.

It was like those water-propelled flying gadgets that were trendy a while ago… Or maybe more like a booster from a mobile suit.

She closed the distance in no time.

“Gotcha!”

“Ah…!”

My mind couldn’t keep up, and I couldn’t react.

Her hand reached out to my shoulder—

*Shuun!!*

—I instantly teleported behind her.

“Huh!? Huh!? He’s gone!?”

(This is…)

It was the auto-dodge skill—Butterfly Dance—that I learned from that emerald green butterfly before.

Honestly, even I didn’t realize what happened at first.

As expected of a 4-star rarity capture skill.

“Huh!? Huh!? No way!?”

Watching Otama-chan look around frantically made me burst out laughing.

“—Heheh, I’m behind you.”

“Eh!? Since when!?”

“You didn’t see it, did you?”

“I-I saw it!! Totally saw it!!”

—Definitely a lie.

“Well, whatever. How about giving up on catching me?”

“Grr… Frustrating, but it seems I can’t win without going all out…”

“Haven’t you already been going all out?”

“Our real battle starts now!”

Otama-chan opened her waist pouch and pulled something out of a small pocket.

It was a ring with a blue gem.

“Heh, an explorer’s strength isn’t just about skills. The gear they have is part of their strength too.”

She said that and slipped the ring onto her left index finger.

“Is that… a present from someone?”

I thought Otama-chan wasn’t into rings.

Even though I’m not her boyfriend or anything, I felt a little shock.

…If her aim was to cause me unknown emotional damage, it worked.

“B-Baka, it’s not that! This is a drop from a Lizardman in the Ōta Dungeon. It boosts speed.”

“A drop item…”

One of those fancy ones kept behind glass in the explorer shop.

So you can get stuff like that in regular dungeons, huh?

Still, a speed-boosting ring, huh.

“…That’s cheating.”

“Ehehe, if you’re jealous, why not go get a general explorer license?”

Otama-chan showed off the ring with a smug face.

…So irritating.

“Ah! A rhinoceros beetle!!”

“Wh-Where!?”

As she pointed and I looked in that direction, I teleported again.

The dodge skill Butterfly Dance activated.

“Ah~ Too bad. I didn’t think you could see it, so it must be an auto-dodge skill. Maybe it’s got a usage limit or it consumes magic.”

“…Hey, do explorers ambush amateurs like that?”

Of course, there was no beetle.

She was trying to distract me and get a touch in—a dirty trap.

Then Otama-chan wagged her finger and said:

“Tsk tsk. You’re too naive, Kou-chan. Explorers are done for if they die. You have to win by any means necessary.”

Another smug face.

Also—

“…Were we in a life-or-death match?”

“Ehehe, just a figure of speech. Think of it as advice from a senior explorer.”

“Hm…”

Makes sense. Good lesson.

I do think what she’s doing is sneaky and childish. But maybe explorers need that kind of mindset.

—Alright, in that case.

“Alrighty, I’m gonna catch you now~ With the speed boost from my ring and my [Water User] skill, there’s no escaping~”

“…Okay, then I’m gonna copy Otama-chan and use a dirty trick too.”

—Of course, I wouldn’t use an attack skill, though.

“Heh, whatever it is, go ahead. I’ll beat it.”

“Then I’ll say it…”

I lowered my eyes and said:

“When you run full speed, your chest bounces like crazy. Maybe be a little more aware.”

“Eh!? Eh!? Oh, right! I’m wearing a non-wire swimsuit!! Uuugh~!!”

Otama-chan covered her chest with both arms and glared at me.

“Kou-chan, you perv! Were you watching the whole time!?”

“I tried not to… Anyway, give up. You can’t run full speed now, right?”

“Uugh… So unfair!!”

“Didn’t you say explorers win by any means?”

“That’s totally different! Ugh~! So frustrating~!”

Otama-chan blushed and glared at me.

“Alright, let’s just play normally now. Like last time…”

“Oh, right!”

“—!!”

Suddenly, Otama-chan shot water at my face using her [Water User] skill.

I dodged with Butterfly Dance and widened the distance.

This was the third skill activation…

I’ll need to check later when I can use Butterfly Dance again.

“Too bad. I dodged that last surprise attack too.”

As I was about to declare victory—

“Heh, who said that was the last?”

“Eh…?”

—White mist formed in front of Otama-chan’s chest, covering her body.

“This is…”

“—[Water User] skill: Mist Veil. I just developed it.”

Like that random fog you see in hot spring scenes in boy’s manga.

Since it hides her, it somehow feels more inappropriate…

“Now I’ve got no weak points! Prepare yourself!”

“—!”

Otama-chan rushed in at full speed.

Faster than before, and yet the mist perfectly covered her chest.

A waste of skill control technology.

But if used properly in dungeons, it would be strong.

“…I won’t lose!”

I turned and escaped into the trees.

Running at full speed.

*Rustle rustle!*

“Huff, huff…!”

Otama-chan’s footsteps stayed close behind.

We were running at almost the same speed.

Grabbing trees, I dashed through the air.

Probably too busy controlling the mist, she didn’t use her water gun.

It was a pure test of physical ability.

—One slip would decide the winner.

That’s how close the match was.

I entered the shrine grounds and tried to pass through to the back forest.

—At the edge of my vision, I saw something black.

“Ah…”

The moment I got distracted—

“Tag!!”

Otama-chan’s hand touched my back.

I stopped and slowly turned around.

Otama-chan greeted me with a beaming smile.

“Ehehe… I did iiiiiit!! Did you see, Kou-chan!? This is the power of an explorer!!”

“…I lost. You’re strong.”

I didn’t mention the speed ring—just admitted defeat honestly.

“Ehehe, I’m super happy. Well, you did great too. I’ll be looking forward to your performance on the exam.”

“Yeah… Oh, right.”

“Hm? Kou-chan, where are you going?”

“Something caught my interest…”

I went back to the tree I passed earlier.

When I checked the trunk—

“A rhinoceros beetle…!”

There was a black beetle with a magnificent horn.

Otama-chan’s lie came true… I thought as I reached out.

*Poof!!*

Name: Black Rhinoceros Beetle

Rarity: ★★

Capture Skill: ??? (Condition: Capture 3 types of rhinoceros beetle), Support (uses MP to temporarily boost summoned bugs), Defense +5 (first-time bonus)

Capture EXP: 450

Drop Item: Magic Stone (Large)