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 9

Shogo was eating a grilled fish that looked like salmon with such gusto that it seemed like he might make a crunching sound, all while in the safety zone.

Because I’m starving, I’m devouring it eagerly.

It is one of the symptoms that appear when the concentration of magical elements in the body decreases due to the continuous use of skills.

Every time he used the skill, he noticed an increase in power, range, and accuracy, making it hard to know when to stop. Before he knew it, Shogo was staring intently at the fish he had caught, to the point where he was about to take a bite out of it due to his hunger.

If left alone, the symptoms would soon settle down, but Shogo couldn’t hold back.

If it weren’t for the warning “At least cook it” written in the text chat box, I would have eaten it raw as it was.

“Ugh, ugh, so good…”

In the taste of the perfectly grilled skin, Shogo felt that the effort of starting the fire to grill the fish was worth it.

I gathered the dead wood scattered along the lakeshore and tried to start a fire with the fire starter I had in my emergency kit, but it wouldn’t catch.

Without the various tips for starting a fire and the words “don’t rush, stay calm” written in the text chat, Shogo alone would not have been able to enjoy a feast in such a short time.

“Ah… Huh. For some reason, I’m tearing up. Everyone, thank you so much.”

Kemomecho: “You seemed so eager to eat raw fish from such an unfamiliar place, so I desperately researched it too. By the way, you did an impressive job using your skills to catch and cook it.”

“Well… um…”

Shogo scratched his head a bit shyly.

The skill that showed the most versatile changes was catching and cooking fish.

The skill that was merely released from the palm is now held, extended, and thrust.

Not only that, but it is also transformed into a harpoon with a barb at the tip to prevent the fish from escaping.

I gave my skills the sharpness of a blade and cleanly extracted and processed the entrails.

And since there are no nets or skewers to grill with, they even developed a technique to weave the fish into a net-like shape and roast it over an open fire.

“I’m so hungry…”

Shogo felt an indescribable embarrassment at the fact that his skills had drastically improved due to his involvement with food.

Night’s Main Cannon: “It’s good that the type of fish was the same as the ones previously discovered in the dungeon and known to be edible when cooked. Well, there was still an element of risk involved. By the way, how did it taste? Only those with magic resistance can eat the ones from the dungeon, so I’ve always wanted to ask. Hunters don’t often stream that kind of thing.”

The popular content in streams is, after all, the flashy monster hunts. There are other genres like cooking, but interest in dishes that can only be eaten by those with magic resistance is quite low, and the number of viewers hardly ever increases.

To earn money through streaming, you need to attract viewers with battles and get super chats. Otherwise, collecting rare materials is a more or less established way to earn.

“The taste is… just regular salmon. Since there’s no saltiness, the flavor is a bit mild, and it doesn’t have much fat for its size, but right now, you can really taste the ingredients, and it’s incredibly delicious.”

Night’s Main Gun: “Oh, that’s good. I wanted to hear such a realistic answer.”

Passerby Tanaka: “Now that we’ve secured some food for the time being, how about taking a short break? Rest is important.”

Kemomecho: “Agreed.”

“I will do that…”

There was no reason to resist. Above all, as my stomach filled, an irresistible drowsiness overcame me.

Shogo used his backpack as a pillow and lay down on the ground.

The safe zone is invisible but not inviolable, so I don’t sleep without caution.

Considering the worst-case scenario, I stacked the stones I had cut with my skills and set up a barricade at the entrance. I also took the precaution of ensuring that if it were to collapse, it would make a loud noise and wake me up.

Thanks to the skillful preparation of the ground, it was surprisingly comfortable. Exhausted, Shogo soon fell asleep.

◆

Kemomecho: “It seems like we can somehow survive the night.”

The time is 11 PM. The text chat frame is displayed on the wall of the nook where Shogo sleeps in the safe zone.

Fortunately, the temperature around the lake is high, so there is little worry about freezing to death. If nothing happens, Shogo should be able to sleep until morning.

Passerby Tanaka: “Next, our goal is to find the exit portal, but we’re scared of encountering the Black Ogre.”

Night’s Main Gun: “Test [Red Super Chat]”

Kemomecho: → Night’s Main Gun: “…Could it be that you’re trying to probe external access?”

Night’s Main Cannon: → Kemomecho “That’s right. Even though I hadn’t completed the hunter registration, the stream was set up to allow donations.”

Passerby Tanaka: “I see. So, it was an action with meaning.”

Night’s Main Gun: “I was wondering if there was anything else, I could do besides reporting.”

Reporting to the management bureau was no longer meaningful. Moreover, the content about the workers in the Shibuya Dungeon being on the 533rd floor underground could be deemed a prank, and there was even a risk that the entire broadcast could be halted.

Even if it spreads to the general audience, it will first be suspected of being fabricated.

The field of view of the WD watch device provided to the workers is narrow, and it can only grasp limited situations, so it looks like a fabricated video.

Without the suspicious notation of “Level 533 underground,” if it were a drone broadcast, the footage would be aerial, making it seem unlikely to be fabricated on such a scale.

Kemomecho: “So, what’s the deal? Any withdrawal records or transfer destinations? Did you get a refund?”

Night’s Main Cannon: “I just found out the recipient of the funds. It’s [Dungeon Resource Development Co., Ltd.]. It matches Mr. Shogo’s explanation. I couldn’t reach them by phone outside of business hours, so I plan to inquire tomorrow morning. Since one of the workers is missing, they should be willing to talk… probably.”

Workers are like golden eggs. Even if they are not growing, if they go missing, the loss will be significant. If we explain it along with the recordings, we should expect a different response from the management bureau.

It’s just a hope, but…

Kemomecho: “Understood. What should we do from here? How about we take turns every two hours until around six in the morning, and we can take breaks in between?”

Passerby Tanaka: “Old people wake up early, so I prefer to go last.”

Night’s main cannon: “I’ll take the center.”

Kemomecho: → Night’s Main Gun “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that. Sorry for the throwaway email, but if anything comes up, contact me here.”

When the Kemomecho finished exchanging their contact information, the text chat came to a halt.

Occasionally, the sound of fish jumping would echo with a splash, but Shogo continued to sleep like a log without moving.

However, this momentary peace was suddenly shattered.