When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 18

Chat:
Koichi, do you have a goal?
Yeah, I’ve been wondering that too.
You’re already insanely strong…

“A goal? I talked about that during the last casual stream, didn’t I?”

Chat:
Not a streaming goal.
More like, a goal as an explorer.

Hmm. Isn’t staying alive a good enough goal?

“I need money to survive, don’t I?”

Chat:
That’s not what we meant…
You can earn money without going into dungeons. Dungeons are dangerous places where you could die at any moment, so we’re asking why you choose to keep going in.
Yeah. I mean, haven’t you already made a ton of money?

“I haven’t actually made much money.”

Chat:
Huh?
What?
Why???
What about the drop items?

“Under Myoujou’s contract, drop items were supposed to be party assets and distributed accordingly. But when I was expelled from the Association, they seized everything, and I never got it back.”

I never actually received any money. I still have the items I deemed valuable, so… wait, should I have sold them?

Chat:
Wait, what do you mean they were never returned?!
Dungeon Association, do your damn job!
Isn’t this a matter for the police? Sounds like corruption to me.
Or maybe a lawyer and a judge need to handle this!

Mikawa Yumeno: Uh… That case is still in process. It’s currently under litigation, and once it’s resolved, Koichi will receive the funds in his account.

Chat:
Ah, okay. If it’s being handled, that makes sense.
But did no one bother to explain this to Koichi?

“Even if they did, I probably wouldn’t understand it anyway. Pretty sure I just left it all to my uncle. Hahaha.”

Honestly, legal procedures and bureaucracy don’t make sense to me.

Chat:
Haruka, are you sure this is the guy for you?
Hey, I’m available if you want someone reliable.
You’ll always be available, though.
Wait… are these tears…?

As we walked, lost in our usual nonsense, Natsuki suddenly slowed her pace.

“Something’s up ahead.”

“Yeah… Probably an insect-type or maybe something material-based…”

Wait. Did Yokota Natsuki just speak in full sentences? Unbelievable.

Whatever’s up ahead seems unusual, but it doesn’t feel particularly strong, so my focus naturally shifted to Natsuki out of sheer shock.

And then—

“Effie, get back!”

“Wha—what is it?!?!”

Even though I told her to back off, I wasn’t sure she’d react in time, so I grabbed her and yanked her away.

A slashing attack cut through the space where she had just been standing.

That was pretty fast.

Effie had actually been stepping back on her own, but because I pulled her too hard, she ended up tumbling backward.

…Sorry about that.

I would’ve felt terrible if she got sliced in half because of me, so I intercepted the monster’s follow-up attack and countered with a devastating strike.

“Effie, you sure attract a lot of weird monsters.”

“Why is that?!”

Chat:
Can’t see anything, but Effie’s definitely sprawled out on the ground in the background.
It looked like Koichi blocked something just now. Was that an enemy?
Wait, what floor are they on again? They’re deep enough that encountering an unknown monster isn’t surprising…
And yet, Koichi is casually continuing his stream in a place like this…
He’s just Japan’s strongest explorer, who might also be the world’s strongest explorer, that’s all.
“The world’s strongest explorer” sounds ridiculous, but also kind of badass.

The chat seemed lively.

The monster that attacked was already lifeless, so I helped Effie back onto her feet.

“Is this thing unrelated to your homeland?”

“I’ve never seen a monster like this before.”

“Still… it kinda resembles that thing from last time, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

The creature was a full-body metallic insect. Last time, it looked like something straight out of Masked Rider, but this one had a stockier build with a disproportionately large head.

What the hell is this thing?

“A… dung beetle?”

Haruka’s guess was probably right.

I vaguely remember seeing something like this in an old insect encyclopedia.

Now that I recognize it, I’ve completely lost my will to fight.

Gross. That thing’s legs have been rolling something around, right?

Disgusting.

Still, I’m the only guy in this group, and another one just popped up… Guess it’s my job.

Actually, wait. Effie is surprisingly strong.

She’s not human, more animal-like, so maybe she doesn’t have the same revulsion toward dung beetles that I do.

I turned to her with hopeful eyes, but—

“I really don’t want to get near it. It gives me a bad feeling…”

…Useless.

Why is an animal scared of a bug?!

Cats and dogs attack insects all the time. Even birds eat them.

But no, she’s absolutely refusing.

Seems like that “bad feeling” is legit.

Fine.

Looks like it’s time to draw my sword.

Not because I don’t want to touch it.

I just need to cut it down in one swing.

Chat:
Oh! Koichi just pulled out his sword and told Haruka and Natsuki to step back!
So cool♡
That effortless way he moves in front of the monster—it’s incredible. No wonder people fall for him.
Haruka is setting up a magic barrier, and Natsuki is preparing a spell. This party has great balance.
Aren’t they on the 92nd floor?
They don’t seem fazed at all…

Don’t move, dung beetle.

And definitely don’t try to kick me.

If you so much as think about it, I’ll use every ounce of my magic to erase you from existence.

Chat:
Koichi’s expression looks more intense than usual. Is he really as relaxed as he seems?
Of course! He’s Koichi!
How dare you question him? This is the same Koichi who breezed through Tokyo’s 100th floor while humming to himself!
Reported.
Why?!
LOLOLOLOL
Wait, where did Koichi go?
And where’s the monster?!
Uhh… there’s just… black dust where it was standing…

Phew.

Yet again, I’ve sliced down something insignificant.

Chat:
What the hell, that was insane?!
Did anyone even see what happened?!
Someone explain!
There’s nothing to explain. Koichi just moved at an absurd speed, swung his sword, and the enemy literally turned to dust.
That’s terrifying… A 92nd-floor monster got one-shot?! It didn’t even get a chance to fight back…

“Alright, let’s keep going.”

“””””Yes! (Yes, sir!)”””””

Chat:
This party is way too OP…