The Story of How I Ended Up Becoming a Hero Without Realizing It While Training in the Infinite Labyrinth - Chapter 11

“It all really fits. Just how big is that Inventory…?”

After 30 minutes of mining, we cleared the point. I stored every ore.

Minato gaped and muttered that.

“With just that skill, you could work anywhere.”

“Rui was jealous too. Oh, and time stops inside—ice-cold drinks anytime.”

I pulled out juice cans and passed them to Minato, the twins, and Rui.

“Cold drinks in a labyrinth… Young lady, recruit him now!”

“I tried. He says he can’t leave the Tōjō family until graduation—has to stay hidden and train.”

“Just a few more months and they’ll disown me themselves. I’ll get stronger in secret until then.”

“Ah, so that’s why you asked the young lady for labyrinth access…”

Minato nodded, fully understanding.

We rested briefly and resumed exploration toward the next mining point.

“Beating D-rank monsters already means you’ve leveled a lot, right? Mind sharing your level?”

“Sure. 16 right now.”

Everyone, Rui included, froze with a flat “Eh?”

I walked a few steps before noticing they’d stopped.

“Hajime, you awakened just days ago, right? That part’s true?”

“Why lie about that? Yeah, levels rise fast, but it’s just a bit quick. Rui’s over 100.”

“I’ve been diving since childhood, supporting in every labyrinth. You hit 16 in under a week. Of course we’re shocked.”

Minato and the twins nodded repeatedly.

They said I lack some Awakened common sense—better teach me now.

“Hajime, you don’t have a ton of skills, right?”

“Two. 【Swordsmanship】 and 【Physical Enhancement】.”

“Solid combat skills… Wait, you started with two?”

Most awaken with one. I’m lucky.

“Skill levels raised yet?”

“【Swordsmanship】 is 2.”

“…Young lady, isn’t Hajime a prodigy who just awakened late?”

“I heard stories, but this much…”

Skill levels rise slower than character levels.

Even with talent and training, Level 2 takes about a week.

“I thought I had no talent, but it’s the opposite…”

“If skill levels jumped in a day or two, few would need the young lady’s healing. High-level recovery skills (Level 7+) are rare in Japan.”

I relearned Awakened basics.

After leaving, I’ll study properly—gaps included.

“I’ll send you suitable materials.”

“Thanks for everything. I’ll definitely repay this.”

“Hehe, I’ll look forward to it.”

We resumed. I fought several Golems, gaining real-world combat experience.

Bored, Akari and Minato joined later. We hit the second and third mining points and returned to the entrance.

“Phew, three points is tiring… Hajime, first time and still energetic.”

“I’m beat too. Where do we take the ore?”

“My warehouse. Time okay?”

“Fine. You lent the labyrinth—I’ll carry.”

We took a different car to Rui’s warehouse.

Inside, unseen, Minato’s group guarded outside. Only Rui and I handled ore and cashed magic stones.

“You didn’t cash all last time?”

“Nope. This much piled up. High difficulty drops a lot.”

“…If sold openly, it’d cause a huge uproar.”

Rui said she’d deposit later and left.

We parted. One of her subordinates drove me home.