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 7: Level Up

Episode 7: Level Up

When the magic clock (from the Eayon Explorer Beginner Set) showed 6 PM, 

I had caught 53 dragonflies and 83 grasshoppers.

As expected, catching 100 grasshoppers in one day was too much…

I had 136 magic stones — if calculated at 40 yen each, that’s 5,440 yen.

Converted to hourly wage, that’s about 1,200 yen.

In my previous job, if you include unpaid overtime, my hourly wage was around 700 yen.

Thinking like that, this was a good result for the first day.

No, more than that…

“…That was actually pretty fun.”

As soon as I caught them, the bugs went *boing!* *boing!* and turned into magic stones. That was a great feeling.

Toward the end, maybe because I got used to it, I could catch dragonflies with just my fingers. And I could even snatch grasshoppers out of the air.

I couldn’t do that when I was a kid. But maybe this means I’ve grown up.

I didn’t feel any physical exhaustion and caught bugs to the point it might’ve been too much.

“Hmm…?”

Come to think of it, I had totally forgotten.

“Status, open.”

I displayed my own status.

Name: Natsume Koichi

Level: 6

Experience: 29.5/162

HP: 32

MP: 10

Attack: 12

Defense: 11

Speed: 39

Wisdom: 10

Skill: [Child’s Heart]

Special Ability: Magical Creature Encyclopedia

“Whoa!”

Checking it, I had leveled up by 5 without realizing.

Being able to catch bugs easier toward the end must’ve been thanks to the level-up. It wasn’t just about getting used to it.

Only my “Speed” stat had grown a lot — probably because I personally think being fast is cool.

“If I’ve got these stats…”

I’m pretty sure the entrance requirement for the Ōta Dungeon was a total stat of over 50.

I easily pass that now.

“Heh…”

Ever since taking the national dungeon aptitude test ten years ago, 

I had been denying myself all this time.

My MP was zero, and all the other stats were at the lowest.

I thought someone like me wasn’t needed either inside or outside a dungeon.

But that complex was cleared up in just half a day.

I gained enough stats to start as a regular explorer.

Once that happens, I start wanting more and more.

“I’d like to try going to a normal dungeon like Ōta. If I go with Otama-chan, it might be fun. But I don’t want to be a burden. So I want to learn an attack skill first…”

Still, for now, becoming stronger in this dungeon is the priority.

Today’s results came from just walking around the rice fields.

My HP has gone up too. So, tomorrow I want to try going into the forest area.

I’m a little worried about bees. But I really want to find a rhinoceros beetle.

☆★☆

When I stepped out the dungeon gate, it was pitch dark outside.

The summer scenery inside the dungeon felt like a dream world.

Only the feel of the magic stones in my item pouch reminded me it was all real.

☆★☆

The next day.

I came to the Eayon Explorer Association to exchange the magic stones I collected yesterday.

I could’ve waited until I had more. But I wanted to report my first day’s results to Yamada-san and maybe get some advice.

When I got to the association’s office, Yamada-san wasn’t there — only Otama-chan was.

“Yo. Where’s Yamada-san?”

“Good morning, Kou-chan. Yamada-san is off today.”

“I see…”

Actually, ever since I discovered the dungeon on the first day, Yamada-san’s warning — “What if the dragonflies are poisonous?” — had been on my mind.

I wanted to exchange the magic stones. But I also wanted to tell her my current status and ask if it was safe to explore more of the private dungeon.

“What’s up? You’re here to exchange magic stones?”

“That’s part of it…”

I explained why I came.

Then Otama-chan acted overly shocked.

“Ehh!? You’re already level 6!? In a normal dungeon, even if you stayed in it non-stop, it would take about 20 days!?”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, Goblins only give 2 experience points. And when your level is low, you can’t push yourself too hard…”

So one grasshopper gives the same EXP as a Goblin…

Looks like my private dungeon gives pretty good returns.

“Hey hey, put your hand here for a sec.”

“What’s this?”

It looked like a device with a black panel and a small display connected by cables.

“It’s a magic status measurement device. I wanna see your status too, Kou-chan.”

“Fine, but don’t use it for anything shady.”

“Ehehe, I’ll think about it after I see it.”

“Geez…”

I placed my palm on the black panel.

The display showed the same status I had seen inside the dungeon.

“Whoa… You’re really level 6. This is a shock. I worked so hard to get there… So? There weren’t even monsters — how did you level up?”

“Well…”

I took a small bag of 136 magic stones out of my item pouch.

“While catching bugs in the dungeon, I leveled up before I knew it. Catching grasshoppers gives you 2 EXP. Apparently, that’s a bonus from the [Child’s Heart] skill listed on the display.”

“Ughh… Struggle more, will you…? I’m gonna cry here.”

“Don’t cry yet. Actually, I was planning to level up more in the private dungeon today.”

“Ehh, that’s not fair~”

“Also, I was gonna ask Yamada-san if it’s okay to explore the whole dungeon with these stats. Oh, and I brought an antidote too.”

“Hmmm…”

Otama-chan nodded dramatically.

“Well, the explorer job is based on self-responsibility, but… I’ll give you my opinion.”

“Thanks. Please do.”

“…If you ask me, there’s nothing to worry about. Yamada-san just wanted to scare you since you didn’t take the beginner class.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Monsters with poison almost never appear on the first floor. Plus, if something doesn’t get caught by Yamada-san’s [Presence Detection] skill, it’s not a monster. It’s something else that’s safe.”

“What do you mean, something else?”

“I don’t know, but… well, I’m an explorer too. Trust an explorer’s instinct!”

I didn’t really get the logic. But she was super confident.

“Heh…”

Well, probably fine then.

Let’s go explore the forest area of the private dungeon today.

☆★☆

—In the end, the 136 magic stones were bought for 5,500 yen after tax.

It was higher than I expected. Lucky.

“Alright, I’m going back in today.”

As I said that and was about to leave the Explorer Association, Otama-chan spoke up.

“Hey, I’ve got a request… Next time, can I go into the dungeon with you…? Honestly, I’ve hit a wall as an explorer. I want a hint to get to the next stage.”

“Sure, come on your next day off. I’ll be waiting. It’s our secret base, after all.”

Then Otama-chan smiled happily.

“Thanks, Kou-chan! I’m looking forward to it!”

And so, I ended up making plans to hang out (or something like that) with Otama-chan again after a long time.