episode_0065

It’s about time to enter the dungeon.

But before that, I should take a look at the faces of the teammates I’ll be working with.

I almost forgot.

Being on the same team as Silia was quite pleasant. I had overlooked the others.

So, I started scanning the guys standing behind me.

One was a male student with unfamiliar yellow hair.

Another one was taller than the average female student, sporting thick blue hair resembling the deep blue sea.

The blue-haired girl was wearing a white shirt with a black cloak draped over it.

She had a fairly long sword hanging from her waist.

Moreover, the blue-haired girl was wearing a short uniform skirt that almost revealed her thighs.

It was really hard to decide where to look.

But since her legs were completely wrapped in tight black stockings, she seemed unconcerned about it.

Anyway, seeing that girl in person felt refreshing.

No wonder, with her blue hair and long sword, she was somewhat of a named character even in the game.

Using a sword, she had long reach.

Her damage output was high, utility was good, and tanking wasn’t bad either, so she was a character I often used in parties.

However, despite being versatile in many aspects,

Even if she was a character with hexagonal stats,

There was a clear drawback.

That was the lack of outstanding strengths.

Despite being good in various ways,

Ultimately, due to the absence of unique strengths, users who prioritized performance didn’t often use this unfortunate character.

As the game progressed to the late stages, characters with such ambiguous traits found it hard to shine.

So, although not many people used her, she had a pretty face and a cheerful personality.

She had quite a solid fan base.

I just liked her character traits and used her frequently.

Anyway,

To think she’s on our team now.

If we do well on this exploration, we might just breeze through it.

Therefore, I thought it best to approach them, face them, and exchange greetings first.

I walked up to them, extended my hand for a handshake, and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Bern from Class C-2.”

Honestly, I don’t expect much.

Seeing a character I’m familiar with in real life is nice, but

My reputation is currently at rock bottom.

It seemed to have improved a bit recently.

Since I caused a scandal not long ago, my reputation probably hasn’t hit rock bottom again.

However, contrary to my expectations, the blue-haired girl approached me and shook my hand.

It was just a formality to offer a handshake. Did she shake my hand to put me at ease?

“…”

Why… isn’t she saying anything?

If you’re not going to say anything, why are you still holding my hand?

“…”

Sure, a handshake? Fine by me.

But if you keep staring at me without saying a word… isn’t that a bit awkward?

Is there something on my face?

Anyway, feeling a bit awkward staying like this,

I added, “I’ll count on you until tomorrow.”

Upon hearing that, the girl who had been staring at me intently finally opened her tightly shut mouth.

“I’m Lin Cordelia from Class B-2.”

With that, she let go of my hand and returned to her place.

Well… I knew she was originally blunt and quiet.

But meeting her in person, she seems to speak even less than in the game.

Still… well, her skills are impeccable.

So, it shouldn’t matter much.

And the boy next to her…

He seems to blatantly dislike me.

It would be nice to exchange greetings.

The way he looks at me… it’s not a friendly gaze.

This is the first time I’m seeing you, do you happen to know me?

Oh well… It’s probably because of my reputation.

Since they’re just people I’ll see until tomorrow anyway,

I’ll just be a little more courteous and leave it at that.

So, Silia, Lin, and an unnamed blond male student followed the guide to the entrance of the underground labyrinth, standing before a massive dimensional portal. Just before crossing it, the guide, who had been waiting beside them, checked our identities and said, “Everyone, while scores are important, your lives are the most crucial. Therefore, please be cautious at all times inside the dungeon. Now, good luck.”

And so, we set foot towards the dimensional portal leading into the dungeon.

…

Closing my eyes and reopening them, I found myself summoned to a different space. “Is this the interior of the dungeon?” It was mostly filled with stones, torches sparsely lining the walls, their flames flickering weakly, maintaining a precarious state. Judging by the eerie atmosphere, it seemed to match the dungeon’s interior.

As I surveyed my surroundings, I noticed that I wasn’t alone; other teams seemed to have been summoned as well. Given the vastness of the labyrinth and the slight variations in summoning locations, most of us appeared in the same vicinity.

But why was Silia the only one here? She had been summoned near me, but the others were nowhere to be seen. Due to the slightly different flow of time between the dungeon and the outside world, each person was summoned at slightly different times.

Well, there’s no helping it. I’ll just have to wait until they’re summoned.

Moving on, the maze branched out into multiple paths. As I examined the various corridors, Silia approached me and started a conversation.

“Hey, Dillbong.”

“What’s up?”

“If we only need to get the tokens, can’t we just go by ourselves without those guys from earlier? Besides, it seems like they haven’t been summoned yet.”

“And besides, I can handle all the monsters on my own without them. Plus, it would be faster, right? What do you think, Dillbong?” Silia remarked.

She was right. Silia was a half-breed born between a vampire and a human. Even so, she was ultimately a vampire. So, if she exerted her strength, she could easily crush lower-level monsters like a blender.

However, that wasn’t an option. The goal of this exploration was ‘cooperation.’ For Silia to achieve the normalcy she desired, this dungeon exploration was a great opportunity for her to learn cooperation by interacting with others.

Therefore, I replied to Silia, who was waiting for my response beside me, “…that seems like it would be tough.”

By the way, this Silia girl is getting too close, isn’t she? Big women lack caution.

Anyway, having heard my response, Silia seemed slightly crestfallen. With a pouty expression, she looked up at me and said, “..why?”

Wait, why that expression? I haven’t done anything wrong, but it makes me feel somewhat sorry.

Nevertheless, I have to say something. In a soft voice just enough for her to hear, I began speaking to her.

“Silia, how long do you plan on pretending to fit in with everyone else?”

“What do you mean?”

Life, they say, ultimately cannot be lived alone. That’s why people rely on others and live by leaning on someone different.

Although there’s a saying that life is ultimately solitary, I don’t believe that. People can’t live without relying on someone, whether it’s family, friends, or lovers.

So, for someone like Silia who desires normalcy, she needs someone she can trust and rely on. That’s what I’m trying to say.

Silently, Silia listened to my words. So, I continued speaking.

“So, what I’m trying to say is, you need someone you can rely on too. But you keep avoiding getting close to others.”

“Ugh… Dillbong, you sound like our mom again.”

“….”

“So, Ttilbang. What do you want to say? Isn’t it time for you to get along with the others during this exploration? Isn’t that the point?”

Well… In the end, fostering teamwork is also important.

Getting along is necessary, right? It’s a reasonable thing to say, isn’t it?

Therefore, I nodded and replied to her.

“I suppose so.”

However, Silia shook her head vigorously and continued speaking.

“But, Ttilbang. What if I don’t want to get along with those guys?”

“….”

“Ttilbang, who are you to tell me what to do?”

“Well…”

I wanted to say that I’m saying this out of concern. But the words wouldn’t come out easily.

Indeed, what she said was true.

It’s not right for me to tell her what to do.

So, I just kept listening to her.

Silia raised a teasing tone, tousling my hair as she added,

“Oh, Ttilbang. Are you worried about me? That’s kind of cute, isn’t it? I’m fine~. You should worry about yourself, Ttilbang. You always act all tough but end up getting scolded.”

Is that why she called me Ttilbang?

Do I really act that way?

Did I really seem that way?

As I pondered over my nickname, Silia added,

“And, Ttilbang. If you need someone to rely on… that person you can rely on… it should be you, right?”

“····Ah, anyway!! Even if there are no other guys! Still… well… I’ll think about it!” shouted Silia.

“….”

“What, what’s wrong with you? You just smiled! With such an unlucky expression! Just now, you really looked like you were smiling in a very unlucky way?”

Anyway, it’s time to move forward into the dungeon.

So, let’s turn around to see if the others have arrived.

Just then, the remaining two individuals were being summoned.

I approached the two who had just been summoned and spoke.

“The other teams have already set off. Let’s depart immediately.”

….

Around the round table, seven beings are discussing a certain individual.

“Even in that state, their growth rate is incredibly fast.”

“But it’s not enough. They’re too fragile. They’re still too shaky.”

“We don’t have many ways to help besides watching. Ultimately, that child has to become stronger on their own.”

“Still, we haven’t done much for that child. I think they’re doing well at that level.”

“…..”

“By the way, the Forgotten Labyrinth. It’s been a long time. 100 years ago, didn’t they say no one except that kid reached the 10th floor?”

“Originally, that labyrinth wasn’t built to be broken. It was made to confine, wasn’t it?”

“…..”

At that moment, everyone at the round table fell silent.

And one being broke that silence.

“So, who will go first?”

“I will. Trials always exist in adventures. And at the end of those trials, there’s always a reward.”

“Then, let’s continue to watch. Let’s see how that child overcomes the trials.”