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 32: The Final Battle Begins

Episode 32: The Final Battle Begins

(Note: Special for this chapter, dialogues from the livestream are written in this bracket:『…..』. And chats from the livestream are written in this bracket:《……》)

The 14th basement floor was a vast, empty space.

There were no monsters, no branching paths—just a wide room with thick stone pillars placed here and there.

In the back, a staircase leading down could be seen.

On either side of the stairs, purple-lit torches were placed.

“…It really feels like something’s coming,”

Like you could sense that a powerful monster was waiting below.

It was probably the second boss floor at last.

“…Kou-chan, thank you,”

“What’s wrong? All of a sudden…”

Otama-chan spoke in a meek tone.

“…When I ended up alone on the 11th floor, I thought I was going to die just like that. I thought it’d be okay to give up already……… I didn’t even have the strength to grip my sword anymore…”

“…So that’s how it was, huh.”

Right before I entered the private dungeon, the last thing I saw on the livestream was Otama-chan sitting down, about to cry.

She had a look that said she had given up on everything—even herself.

I’d never seen Otama-chan look like that before.

“I never even dreamed that you’d come for me, Kou-chan. That’s why, when you came, I was shocked. But… I was really, really happy…”

“I see…”

『Omoigawa-san, do you have a moment?』

Yamada-san called out to Otama-chan through the drone’s video.

“Ah, yes, Yamada-san. I’m fine.”

『Have you been checking the comments?』

“Comments?”

I peeked into the screen as well.

《Kou-chan: ‘If I beat this boss… we’re going to get married.’》

《Aren’t the two of you dating?》

《Hey Tama-chan, at least give him a kiss already lol》

“Wha—Huh!? I knew it, there’s nothing but crazy people here!”

『Omoigawa-san! Honestly… I see you haven’t been keeping up with the comments at all.』

“Did something happen? Like the rescue team arriving sooner…?”

『No, not that. It’s about the boss monster.』

《A comment from Moonbow Hermit!》

《As expected of an A-rank.》

《Yamada-san thinks the same?》

《I don’t believe Hermit is real.》

《I’m in the loli camp.》

『Some of our viewers are also dungeon explorers. There’s a theory going around that the next floor’s boss is a Green Dragon.』

“A Dragon…!”

Even with my shallow dungeon knowledge, I knew.

They’re one of the strongest species—no matter what color, they’re a serious threat to explorers…

『I also can’t deny the possibility that the boss is a Dragon. What would you like to do? This floor is safe for a long stay. Will you wait for rescue?』

“Hmm……..… Kou-chan, what do you think? Should we wait?”

“Let’s see… Status, open.”

Name: Natsume Koichi

Level: 31

Experience: 132 / 2977

HP: 277 / 295

MP: 101 / 125

Attack: 133 (Bonus +23)

Defense: 109 (Bonus +13)

Speed: 181 (Bonus +17)

Wisdom: 84 (Bonus +2)

Skills: [Child’s Heart], [Enhanced Item Drop], [Water Resistance (Small)], [Sleep Immunity], [Water Walking], [Slash Boost (Small)], [Butterfly Dance], [Alertness], [Poison Absorption]

Special Ability: Magical Creature Encyclopedia, Swarm Attack, Magical Creature Capture Net (Lv.1), Bug Sumo (Stag Beetle), Support, Wormhole, Thread (Lv. 1 ※ Currently rented)

《Can’t see!》

《Drone, change the angle!》

《Can’t see!》

《Let us see!》

《Let us see!》

“To be honest, I still have strength left. There are skills I haven’t used. I kind of want to see how far I can push my power. And besides…”

*RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE…*

“Kya…!”

Suddenly, a tremor shook the dungeon like an earthquake.

And then—

“Huh…?”

Just ahead of us, between the pillars, a new wall had formed.

《The dungeon is changing!?》

《Is it evolving!?》

《This is rare footage.》

《Isn’t that dangerous?》

《Could someone get trapped in the wall?》

《What happens if you were standing there?》

《That’s bad!》

『Natsume-san, that floor…!』

“Yes. It seems to be growing…”

This was unexpected.

However…

“…We can’t guarantee that monsters won’t appear here either. I don’t think any floor is truly safe.”

『……….You’re right. Understood. Omoigawa-san, are you familiar with Dragon-type weaknesses?』

“Yes, I believe in Japanese dungeons, they have something called a *reverse scale* on their throat—that’s their weak point…”

『Exactly. Good. So, Omoigawa-san, if a Dragon does appear, what strategy will you use?』

“Let me think…….…”

Otama-chan thought for a moment.

“I’ll go in as the front line and aim for the reverse scale to create an opening. Kou-chan can use bugs to attack in that opening… That’s the idea.”

『Sounds good.』

Yamada-san smiled.

『Now all that’s left is to win. I believe the two of you can do it. Good luck.』

“Yes!”

『Ah, Omoigawa-san. Not just with Dragons—frontliners often don’t have time to heal. So make sure to heal up now.』

“Got it!”

Otama-chan drank a health potion and a magic potion. She was readying herself fully.

“Kou-chan, take this. Use it if things get dangerous.”

Otama-chan handed me a bag filled with potions and such.

“Alright. …Huh? This is…”

Inside the bag, besides medicine bottles, there was a ring.

『That’s a ring dropped by the 10th-floor boss. It gives poison attacks… Sorry, I thought it might come in handy. But there wasn’t really a use for it.』

“I’ll be wearing the speed ring, so I’m good. What about you, Kou-chan?”

“Does poison even work on bosses…?”

『Most bosses are immune to poison. Some rare ones aren’t… But even if poison effects are blocked, the physical damage still goes through normally.』

“I see…”

In short, most of the time it’s not useful against bosses.

『By the way, the Green Dragon is immune.』

“Well, I’ll put it on just in case. It’s not like it’ll hurt.”

I slipped the ring onto the middle finger of my left hand.

“…Alright.”

There was no noticeable change.

But that’s fine.

“Alright, let’s go. The journey isn’t over until we’re back home.”

“Yeah!”

Otama-chan and I descended the stairs to the 15th basement floor.

…Otama-chan.

Otama-chan thanked me earlier, didn’t she?

But I should be the one saying thank you, too.

It’s true that I gained the power to save her thanks to that private dungeon.

However…

—Who do I have to thank for that private dungeon appearing?

Some might say, “You just got lucky.”

—But.

If it were just a regular place, would a dungeon where you could catch bugs and play in the water really appear?

If it were like other dungeons, built of stone like here, with only lower monsters like Goblins… Even if there were insects, they’d just be centipedes or spiders.

Of course, with my supposedly lowest stats and skills, I probably wouldn’t have even been able to enter it.

………While feeding the caterpillar inside the private dungeon, I realized it again.

I was able to gain the strength to save Otama-chan because—

Because of the memories we made together at our secret base: me, Otama-chan, Manamin, and Shi-chan.

Our precious memories stayed in the mountain and gave birth to the private dungeon.

Our feelings crystallized into that place.

Even if we’re apart, we’re connected through memories.

Because Otama-chan, and everyone else, were there for me—I’m able to stand here now.

—It’s too embarrassing to say out loud, but…

“Kou-chan, let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

We descended to the 15th basement floor.

And there—

“GYAAAAOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!”

A Dragon with a deep green color was waiting. It was about the size of a two-story house.

“…Alright. Let’s do this…”

At that moment, Yamada-san’s voice echoed through the livestream.

『Mr. Natsume, Miss Omoigawa!! That’s a variant of the Green Dragon!! That individual has no reverse scale weak point!!』