Ch.143New Colleague (1)

After running the dungeon loop, I headed to the lobby.

Sasith was already there, having finished his training. His upper body was… bare. Right. Just taking off your top increases your fighting power, doesn’t it? Like in “Yakuza.” It’s not just for show.

“Sasith!! How did you do with the challenge of not getting hit once by a troll?”

I asked Sasith.

“Hmph. I cleared it. It was nothing special.”

Sasith replied in a triumphant tone.

“KYEEEEEEK!! Well done!! Sasith!!!! That’s it!! Remember that feeling!!”

I immediately tried to hug him.

Seemingly uncomfortable with the hug, Sasith quickly dodged my attempt.

But… as expected of a protagonist, he was truly gifted. Even I didn’t expect him to get this strong so quickly.

“Ah. Right.”

I just remembered I had something to ask Mr. Bluebeard.

“Mr. Bluebeard.”

I immediately addressed Bluebeard.

“What is it?”

Bluebeard said, closing his book. Strangely… he always hides whatever he’s reading when dealing with me. It made me even more curious.

“You know, when I reached level 50, a lock appeared on my status window… what’s that about?”

I asked.

Just to be sure, I had done another run as an experiment. As expected, my experience didn’t increase by even 1 point.

That’s right. My growth had been blocked.

“Already… you’ve reached that level.”

Bluebeard looked at me with interest.

“Your level will no longer increase through dungeons now. Not without a special catalyst.”

Bluebeard said with a hearty laugh.

“A special catalyst…”

So, like in gacha games, do I need to push through main quests beyond a certain point? That was my rough guess. Being an otaku at heart, I understood these things intuitively.

“You… in your original world, you were supposed to be killed by monsters in the first week of March. However, you survived.”

Bluebeard said.

“He was supposed to die originally…?”

Sasith said with a surprised expression. This kid. Is he worried about me?

“In other words, you weren’t originally… strong enough to possess a powerful destiny. The hardware of Arigiri Shota isn’t that high-performing.”

Bluebeard said.

“So I was born a shut-in loser?”

“I didn’t go that far.”

Bluebeard cut me off. Damn… I was trying to bait him into gaslighting me. My plan to get another psycho-robo… failed!!

“Anyway… this is unexpected even for me. Some kind of catalyst or opportunity will allow you to grow again. Just wait patiently.”

Bluebeard said in an irresponsible tone.

This old man… he should at least give me a psycho-robo or some powerful equipment before saying that.

“It’s still June… it’s too early for the flow of fate to change based on your actions. Opportunities will come.”

Bluebeard said in a cool tone.

So basically, he’s telling me to push through more main quests.

“Then since I can’t gain experience… there’s no reason for me to come here anymore.”

I said.

“Not necessarily. For someone like you, I’ll open a new dungeon.”

Bluebeard smiled and waved his hand.

FWOOOSH-!!!

At that moment, a new door appeared.

Actually, several doors appeared in a row.

Each door had a weapon symbol on its nameplate. There were daggers, swords, axes, spears, and many other weapons.

“This is the Weapon Dungeon. A place where you can practice various weapon skills.”

Bluebeard said with a smile.

“Ooooooh…!!”

It looked promising.

Ding-!

At that moment, my status window flickered.

‘Path of the Reincarnated Hero’

A challenge category like that appeared.

Within its details, there was a quest list.

‘Path of the Weapon Master’

‘The most powerful reincarnated hero, Kunta, was a weapon master who handled all weapons like his own limbs. Use various weapons and regain your former strength.’

But… what’s this about a reincarnated hero? Is it referring to that weird dream I had before?

Anyway, there was a weapon category below my status window.

It seemed that as weapon proficiency increased, additional stats would be added. In a situation where levels couldn’t increase, gaining stat points was something to be truly grateful for.

“Well, why don’t you give it a try?”

Bluebeard said.

“Bluebeard!!! I love you!!!!”

I immediately tried to hug him.

Poof-!!

Bluebeard instantly teleported away to avoid me. How disappointing…

“Violet!!! I love you!!!!!!”

I immediately changed my target to Violet.

“KYAAAAK!!!! Get away!! You cockroach!!”

Violet hastily ran away. Really disappointing…

“Sasith. Hug me.”

I changed my target to Sasith.

“No. I won’t.”

Sasith flatly refused. To be so firm… he must really dislike it.

“Ah. Mr. Bluebeard. By the way, I took down another strong one. Can that be converted into stats?”

I said with a smile.

“Ah. Of course. Seems you defeated an interesting one. And it looks like you learned a new technique too. Good. Violet, do it.”

Bluebeard nodded.

“Fine. Let’s hold hands.”

Violet looked at me with a disgusted expression. Her face clearly showed how much she hated the idea of holding hands with me.

But… this kind of contemptuous expression is actually a reward for me.

*blush*

My face naturally turned red.

“Why are you blushing like you’re enjoying this!! You’re such a pervert!!”

Violet immediately got angry.

“It’s because Violet keeps making pretty expressions.”

“I’m not making any such expressions!!!”

“Hey, you two. Save your lover’s quarrel for later.”

Bluebeard finally intervened between us.

“What lover’s quarrel?!”

Violet immediately flared up.

Anyway, I took Violet’s hand.

SWOOSH-!!

My status window immediately responded.

‘Memory of the Strong: Natural Man’

‘With the sole determination to become a celebrity, he climbed to the top of the ecosystem in a treacherous forest. However, he ultimately failed to achieve his dream of becoming a celebrity. That’s life.’

Ding-!!!!

My Strength stat increased by 5, and Speed by 5. Quite a generous stat boost.

Anyway, with this, my stats improved.

“I’d like to enter the dungeon right away… but dawn is approaching. That’s enough for today.”

Bluebeard was ready to call it a day.

Right. I need to wake up early and play a lot at the beach today.

“See you tomorrow then, Sasith.”

I smiled at Sasith.

“Yeah.”

Sasith replied in a slightly shy tone.

And with that, today’s hustle in the dream dungeon came to an end.

———

At that time, in the deep dawn.

Saito Kana and Thumbs-up Man had just finished a difficult battle in the forest.

“What… is this?”

Thumbs-up Man and Kana had also encountered monsters from the hidden world.

Honestly surprised, but if it was an enemy, they would cut it down. Born as swordsmen, they immediately drew their swords and charged.

“They don’t cut easily, but somehow we managed.”

Kana said, sheathing her sword.

Shwiiiiish-!!

The slain monsters dispersed into mist.

“These aren’t real-world creatures…”

Thumbs-up Man said, wiping sweat from his bald head. Unlike normal living beings, when cut, they immediately dispersed into mist.

“Is this also part of the training? Like… the forest’s grudge or something?”

Thumbs-up Man asked.

“No. I’ve never heard of anything like this…”

Kana said.

“Well, as long as we can cut them, it’s fine.”

Thumbs-up Man said dismissively.

“……..”

Kana, lost in thought, seemed not to have heard Thumbs-up Man’s words, maintaining her silence.

“Are you perhaps upset that Shota didn’t come despite saying he would?”

Thumbs-up Man asked.

“N-No, I’m not!!”

Kana shouted, her face reddening.

“Well… he sang about coming to train in the forest… but he didn’t show up, so I just feel contempt. He’s probably having a wild time with his girlfriends. Really… he’s so into women that he’ll surely ruin himself. That guy.”

Kana then muttered very quickly.

“……….”

This is definitely it. Thumbs-up Man had a pretty good idea of who Kana had feelings for.

‘Shota… you sinful man.’

Thumbs-up Man decided to support his master Kana’s love.

———

Morning. Back to Shota’s perspective.

“GOOD STRONG MORNING!!!!!!!!”

I jumped out of bed.

“If someone asks my name!! My name is Arigiri Shota!”

After finishing my line, I immediately got up from the bed.

But… my girlfriends weren’t there.

“Sulk.”

Usually when I wake up like this, they’d say things like ‘Stop being crazy. Hehehe,’ and hit me affectionately…

Mika was already up.

“What’s this, Mika? You haven’t slept?”

I asked Mika.

But… Mika’s attire was unnecessarily free. Having tossed aside her t-shirt and dolphin pants, she was fiddling with her laptop in her underwear. It was… kind of arousing.

Looking closely, she even had a mole on the underside of her butt. Really… she had moles on all the arousing parts.

“Don’t stare so openly.”

Mika said, blushing.

“Well, it’s hard not to look when you’re dressed so prettily.”

I said flatly.

“D-Don’t say such embarrassing things so directly!!”

Mika shouted.

“Anyway… your girlfriends are making breakfast. Go to the temple. I’m working.”

Mika said.

“Mika… did you quit the serialization?”

I immediately brightened up.

“Ah… I rushed to end it. And I started a new work.”

Mika said.

“Hey!!!!”

A rushed ending… well, it’s better than serialization, but it wasn’t a fundamental solution.

“Anyway… I’m glad you didn’t give up writing.”

That was my honest feeling.

“After all… friends who are peers and in the same line of work aren’t common.”

The existence of a comrade walking the difficult path of web novels together was precious.

“……..”

Mika stared at me with a red face. What? Did I say something wrong?

“Really… it’s unfair. Always saying nice things.”

Mika muttered something, then turned her attention back to her laptop screen.

Anyway… does this mean Shotaro’s request is resolved?

Then… let me wait for the cooking while appreciating my wives’ butts. With that thought, I headed straight to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Shotaro was there.

“Shota!!!!! Well done!! You did it!!”

Shotaro immediately rushed to hug me.

“Uh… what?”

“Mika’s new work…!! It’s amazing!! It might become one of the all-time great works on our platform!!”

Shotaro shouted with an expression of almost divine enlightenment.

“Shota must have done something! Like conquering Mika-chan!! Hahaha!”

Shotaro laughed gleefully.

That’s when it happened.

“Brother… what do you mean by ‘conquering’?”

Eri immediately turned her head with a creaking sound.

Ah. We’re screwed. Shotaro’s expression immediately froze.