The Unremarkable Man Who Fell Into The Dungeon's Pit Survives By Acquiring A Plain But Useful Skill, and Through Persistent Effort While Enduring The Absurdity, He Gradually Rises to Success - Episode 15

“Ah, ridiculous. Truly ridiculous. This guy looks so unappetizing, and he’s a man to boot. The strength he possesses is probably nothing special anyway. Ah, I was deceived.”

What appeared was someone clad in hunting clothes, wearing a mask resembling the “Waki” from Noh theater… Is it a human inside? No, the chill running down Shogo’s spine is telling him that this is a monster.

The old man’s white hair and beard swayed, and the dry voice of the old man’s demon echoed.

“I’ve been deceived.”

The monsters that have appeared in the cave so far are completely different. Above all, they can talk.

I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Shogo was bewildered, unable to understand what was happening. He could only sense the severity of the situation through the bone-chilling dread that made his body tremble.

“At least it was a different kind of life, wasn’t it? If there’s meat, I can enjoy it a little.”

The old man stroked his chin beard while gazing at Shogo and continued speaking.

“Right there, you. It’s you.”

And then, they disappeared from Shogo’s sight.

“Alright. Let’s see how it tastes.”

Without even having time to panic about having lost sight of him, the old man suddenly appeared next to Shogo.

Before I knew it, the old man’s hand was resting on Shogo’s left shoulder.

“Ah, eek!!”

A burning heat and pain coursed through Shogo’s left shoulder where the hand was placed.

Shogo, trying to escape from the pain, shook off the old man’s hand and jumped back.

“Oh? Quite a rich flavor, isn’t it? It doesn’t rot or crumble, and it seems to hold more power than it looks. In times like this, having a separate self has its pros and cons. I don’t understand the finer details at all. But that’s fine too! Kukakakaka!”

“Ughhh!”

Shogo, struck by excruciating skin pain, fell to his knees while shouting as he jumped back. The work uniform on his shoulder, where he had been touched, had a hole in it, and faint black smoke was rising from it.

“Well, the taste is bad, it’s just awful. That’s bad. But then again, being picky is not good… Hmm. Maybe I’ll eat while playing.”

The old man stroked his beard and said that, then disappeared from the spot and reappeared next to Shogo.

It’s as if they moved instantaneously.

In Shogo’s vision, flickering due to pain, the old man slowly reaches out towards his shoulder.

There’s no doubt that if things stay this way, I’ll die.

“Here. At least make some noise to entertain me.”

There’s no time to hesitate. We have to move.

Release the skill from your palm to the ground. The image of the shape is a stretching rod.

Instead of letting go, rapidly extend while holding on.

The body slightly lifts and accelerates. The old man’s hand, which was trying to touch my shoulder, pulls away—just barely grazing the WD watch device, but I manage to escape safely.

Shogo slammed his back against the rocky surface behind him with the same momentum.

“……Guh”

Due to the shock, I can only exhale and can’t inhale.

However, it’s much better than the pain in my shoulder that was touched earlier.

The WD watch device that was touched instead of the body was cracked, and the screen display had disappeared.

“Oh. Is it Tsuina (tag)? I like that. Alright, I’ll count to ten, so show me your escape.”

The old man stroked his white beard and spoke in a voice that sounded genuinely pleased. His face twisted in response, forming a mocking expression.

Shogo’s thoughts scattered chaotically as he became aware of his impending death, which might come within the next ten seconds.

What will happen to my hospitalized mother if I die? I haven’t been able to repay the kindness of those who have treated me well.

Why do I have to go through this? What reason is there for me to die?

I’ve lived seriously. No matter how much my colleagues called me incompetent or whispered behind my back that I’m a gloomy guy, I endured it.

So, is this the end? Where is the reason for ending up like this, having our lives toyed with?

Am I going to die? No.

No.

I can’t forgive this. I don’t want to die. There’s no way I’m going to let myself be killed.

Before I get killed, I’ll kill them first…

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, an even stronger impulse began to grow within Shogo than when he was almost killed by the goblin.

The cold anger, a feeling he had never experienced in his life, wells up from deep within, driving Shogo to stand up.

The pain in my left shoulder is overshadowed by my anger, making it hardly noticeable.

Disordered thoughts come together, and there is only one thing to think about.

Kill the enemy.

What I envisioned was the tip of a spear. I directed my right hand towards the old man and unleashed the skill.

“Eight… nine…—! Oh! What’s this, struggling? How amusing, how amusing.”

However, the skill that seemed to be aimed directly at the face that was grinning with apparent delight and full of openings disappeared in a flash just one meter in front of the old man.

However, Shogo does not give up. He calmly takes in the scene unfolding before him and tries again.

This time, I imagine a fist-sized cone and extend my right hand towards the old man.

There isn’t much energy left. I released it without putting in too much effort.

The skill charges towards the old man’s face.

In front of the old man’s face, who showed no signs of defense, the skill emitted light and then vanished once again.

“Oh? You have more strength than I expected. I can’t see until I hit you, huh? This is going to be worth eating.”

“……!”

Shogo grimaced at the old man’s nonchalant attitude, but sensing a possibility, he clenched his fist.

Even though you’re defending against the attack, you can’t see it until it hits?

In other words, it’s an automatic defense, like a barrier of power… and it doesn’t activate when it touches this side.

It shows that they are using different types of powers, but more importantly, isn’t it impossible to attack and defend at the same time…?

If that’s the case, it’s our chance. We can set a trap and kill him.

However, for that, it is necessary to get close and be touched again.

Shogo shook his head at the plan that briefly crossed his mind.

There’s no guarantee. Even if I can endure that pain next time, if his power isn’t as expected, I’ll die.

If the prediction is wrong and attack and defense are integrated…

However, I couldn’t think of any other ideas right away.

I have no choice but to do it. If the old man is underestimating me and laughing at me now, it should work.

Shogo made up his mind.

“You’re making such good faces. Flesh puppets infected with the fever of life! Humans should be like that. Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!”

The old man’s eyes glowed ominously, and his figure vanished from Shogo’s sight.

Coming.

Opportunities come once. Visualize your skills and put in your full effort.

I must sharpen a blade that is sharp, transparent and thin to the point of being undetectable, yet unbreakable.

Otherwise, I can’t kill this guy

“Shall I start by tearing off that noisy hand?”

Came.

A voice clinging to my ear at close range, right next to me.

And then——a sharp pain shot through my right shoulder.

“Ughhh!”

The old man who suddenly appeared at close range grabbed Shogo’s right shoulder and spoke to him with a cheerful smile.

“Come on, don’t run away like you did earlier… Oh?”

However, the old man noticed the discomfort and stopped speaking.

“You’re giving me a nasty look, huh? You’re about to die, you know? Come on. Scream more and entertain me.”

“You’re the one who’s going to die, monster.”

When Shogo said that, a horizontal line appeared on the old man’s torso.

And then, its upper body slowly slid off, split in two, and rolled onto the ground.

“Oh? What… why am I being looked down upon?”

The trap that Shogo set with his life on the line paid off.

Just before that instantaneous movement, I positioned thin blades around my waist in a circular formation, ready to defend against attacks from either side.

When trying to touch, in other words, when being in zero distance and close contact, it is expected that barriers cannot be erected.

If the prediction had been wrong, he would have had no choice but to die, but the result was a success. The old man, without any caution, flew into the deadly trap created by Shogo and was cut off.

“Oh dear, this won’t do. We must preserve the meat.”

However, the old man, as if he felt no pain, straightened his arms and lifted his upper body, trying to get closer to Shogo while using his arms as legs.

Even though it’s dragging along, oozing dark red bl00d and what looks like entrails from the cross-section, it seems completely unfazed.

“Alright, you. Come closer. I will grant you the honor of being chosen as a sacrifice to the gods——”

As if to interrupt the old man’s story, Shogo swung his right hand.

“——Die”

He spat out the words and collapsed to his knees on the spot.

It seemed that the barrier couldn’t be maintained with just the upper body, and the old man’s head rolled onto the ground.

“Ugh! You! You! You meathead!”

I can’t muster any more strength. That was truly the last strike I could deliver. I’m barely managing to stay conscious.

It’s hard to believe that the old man, in such a state with only his head left, is still alive, but I no longer had the strength to deliver the final blow.

“Wait! You!”

Shogo glanced at the rolling head while shouting and screaming, then exhaled, slowly stood up, and walked towards the exit portal.

I’m being attacked by a terrible headache and nausea, but I push on, masking it with the joy of having survived.

I can no longer hear the old man’s cries.

Struggling with a step that he would normally climb in one go, Shogo stood in front of the exit portal.

The exit portal is flickering with a faint light.

If I touch this, I should be able to return to the entrance of this dungeon.

However, I still can’t feel at ease. Will I really be able to return to the familiar Shibuya Dungeon?

Holding my breath, I touched the orb, and the aurora burst forth.

Due to the overwhelming brightness, Shogo closed his eyes.

After a few seconds, the light felt on the eyelids gradually weakens.

And when I opened my eyes, it was a familiar sight.

Shibuya Dungeon, Basement Level 3——

“——Nakamura-kun!”

When he turned around at the familiar voice, Shogo’s strength drained away, and he collapsed on the spot.

“Manager, why…?”

“You don’t need to talk! Don’t move! Ahh, such a terrible injury…”

When was the last time someone supported my head and held me to their chest with such tenderness? At least not since I was a child…

“Yes, that’s right! It’s a serious condition! Hurry to the waiting area——”

The voice of Kyoko Sayama, contacting the outside, faded away. Shogo was enveloped in a soft sensation and lost consciousness.