[Reberu] ga Arunara Agerudesho? Mobukyara ni Tensei Shita Ore wa Gēmu Chishiki o Ikashi, Hitasura Reberu o Age Tsudzukeru - CH 114

[Talking to a Friend]

The next day.

I’m in front of the entrance of the academy dungeon.

A stone wall that seems to have risen from below as if to refuse anyone’s intrusion is blocking the entrance.

From my palm that is touching the stone wall transmitted the feelings of hard, cold, and rejection.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been two years since I first entered inside you. It wasn’t long, yet it wasn’t short, either.” (Sakurai)

Leaning my back against the stone wall, I sit on the spot.

What comes to my mind is the spring when I was 13 years old; when I first reached my level upper limit.

Having sneaked into the academy dungeon through the secret path, I made an explosive using the materials I stole from the academy and destroyed the ceiling to get a ‘Star Seed’.

Even now, I still think that I really did well back then. While feeling satisfaction from singing my own praises, I begin talking gently and lovingly to the dungeon.

“I also think that it was a little bad of me to blow up the ceiling. It was my first time invading a dungeon, so I didn’t know the ropes. But thanks to that, I was able to get my hands on a ‘Star Seed’, and established ways to invade you, Dungeon… it was only because of those ways, that I made the decision to keep coming and going into you. When I thought about how we would have met much later without all that, I unexpectedly feel that it wasn’t such a bad thing like the saying ‘adversity strengthen the foundations’.” (Sakurai)

I don’t care even if there’s no reply.

After all, this is just a nostalgic feeling that comes from myrecalling the old days.

So I don’t care even if I don’t get a reply, I just want it to know my feelings out of my egoism.

“It sure is nostalgic. Every day I worked hard on leveling with Monster-Luring Perfumes I got from the academy’s school store by bartering. It was only because I had felt that the encounter rate was decreasing, unlike in the game, that to improve it, I sneaked into the academy’s alchemy room, read the item-crafting recipe and researched for ways to concentrate the perfume.” (Sakurai)

“Hey, that guy sitting at the entrance to the dungeon, wasn’t he there yesterday too?”

“Hm? …You’re right. He was the guy who got grabbed by the scruff and dragged away by Higaki-san.”

“From there, I succeeded in concentrating the perfume upto 6 times after numerous trial and error at home! Well… I ended up having to deal with the knights because the sweet smell coming from the failed potions I threw in the garbage dump all at once spread to the surroundings and caused a disturbance.” (Sakurai)

It was fortunate that I came to realize that the failed ‘Monster-Luring Perfumes’ were still classified as potions, and that even when they hit the ground and the content spilled, it was still recognized as I ‘having used an item’ at that time.

Thanks to that, I was able to hone my ‘Potion Arts’ skill by throwing failed perfumes from the window into the garbage dump.

“Potion Arts’ was a skill that improved the effect of potion items according to the skill level, but with the game turning into reality, it has transformed into a skill to use potions skillfully.

It increases the speed of using potions, allowing you to ingest potions naturally and smoothly in battle.

It’s now no exaggeration to say that this skill is an unsung hero who has been propping up my way of fighting.

Without it, I wouldn’t even have been able to have practice-crossing swords with Uncle who was hailed as the ‘Sword Saint’.

And without that practice, there would be a problem with my growth in anti-personnel combat, and I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to trade blows with Higaki and would have died all by my lonesome.

Had I not decided to go to the academy dungeon, I wouldn’t have been able to find a way to concentrate the ‘Monster-Luring Perfume’, and my acquisition ‘Potion Arts’ would have been delayed.

Considering that, it can be said that the source of my strength came from the academy dungeon. It helped me not only in terms of gaining experience points, but other aspects as well. Gratitude well up from the bottom of my chest.

“Speaking of the perfume, Dungeon’s 24th floor! The effect of the concentrated perfume made it a good farming spot unlike in the game! It was like a maze where multiple small rooms were connected by multiple passages and because there was no landmark like in the game, it took me a lot of time to find the way back once I got lost— it was a really troublesome place. But once I grasped the layout and realized that I could go around all the small rooms in one go, I unintentionally ended up smiling! ‘Cause I realized that I could just spread the perfume that I’d normally use on myself in each small rooms and kill the monsters that gathered after smelling the concentrated odor!” (Sakurai)

“If I remember correctly, didn’t he monologue the same thing yesterday?”

“My memory isn’t that good, but I’m sure that each and every word he just said are no different from what he had said yesterday…”

“You’re also scary for remembering each and every word of his…”

Thanks to that, I was able to earn lots of experience points and train my ‘Alchemy’ skill.

Moreover, many of the materials dropped by the monsters on the 24thfloor could be used to make the perfume, so for a while, I continued hunting in the 24th floor like I was possessed.

“Speaking of which, it seems that it was my hunting in the 24th floor that made Higaki noticed my existence, but, although sometimes I got chased by the members of the Disciplinary Committee, I don’t remember ever leaving anything that Higaki could possibly use to trace back to me. Hey, do you have any idea of it?” (Sakurai)

“He’s talking to the wall as if it’s his friend. The guy’s bad news.”

“And look at his eyes, they’re completely dead. Shouldn’t we call the Disciplinary Committee members?”

The words I say with a smile permeates the stone wall, but Dungeon shows no reaction. It must be shy.

I’m not ashamed of showing others the depth of the bond between me and Dungeon, but it looks like the same can’t be said for Dungeon.

In that case, let’s eliminate the factors that make Dungeon shy. That should make our communication smoother.

“You bastards, this ain’t a spectacle! Kyaaaak!! Kyaaaaak!!” (Sakurai)

“He started screaming all of a sudden!”

“He’s coming over here! Run!”

“Humph, fools.” (Sakurai)

When I swing around my one-handed sword and slide using a movement technique while screaming like a monkey, all the spectators around us scatter and run away.

After confirming that no one is around anymore, I stand in front of the stone wall and tap the wall that still refuses me.

“We sure have gone through a lot, don’t we? Although I have a lot of unpleasant memories like when I was chased around by the Disciplinary Committee members and like when stepped into a place with a lot of monsters who have little experience points despite being strong. I think I’ve made memories that are many times more fun.” (Sakurai)

To wake a sleeping child, you have to pat them as you whisper words of affection to them.

“To me, you are… no, not only me. Everyone in this academy needs you. Hundreds and thousands… no, including those in the future, millions of people need you. Don’t you think that’s crazy?” (Sakurai)

I stop my hand and push my forehead against the wall.

I feel coldness transmitted from the stone wall. It’s kind of comfortable and I end up smiling unconsciously.

“Right now, many people are running about for you. I honestly don’t know what you’re thinking about. But, we want to continue to live with you. So, even if it’s just for a short while… just a little short while, can you give us a chance to talk to you?” (Sakurai)

*Knock* I hit my forehead, *knock* I hit my forehead, *knock* I hit my forehead.

The coldness turns into faint warmness. Right now, I don’t have the time to feel the pain that starts to appear on my forehead.

“You blocked the entrance… the same with the secret path… I can’t go inside this way, you know. Just what are you dissatisfied about… ain’t inviting adventurers to fight monsters the reason you dungeons exist…!?” (Sakurai)

The knocks have changed to thuds before I know it.

Something lukewarm drips from my forehead, but I don’t care about that. This is the least I need to do to overcome this shit-like wall.

“Open up, open up.” (Sakurai)

Love turns into hatred.

Even though I only want for the best for (to make use of) it, this dungeon ain’t answering at all!

“Open, open, open, open uuuuuupp!!!!” (Sakurai)

I hit the stone wall with my head over and over again.

No, not only with my head, but also with my fist and body. I hit the stone wall with my all.

My skin gets torn and blood flows out from it, whereas my flesh screams and bones squeaks from the impact.

Still, I don’t stop my attack. My mental distress from not being able to challenge the dungeon is dozens of times worse than this level of physical pain.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself! A dungeon that can’t be challenged have no value! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you, you piece of shiiiiiiit!” (Sakurai)

“There he is!” (Higaki)

“Sakurai-san! Please stop doing this!” (Iris)

“Let go! I’m busy right now! Don’t bother me!!” (Sakurai)

Higaki and Iris who have came from somewhere grab me to stop me, who have turned into something which comes straight out of horror movie of sorts.

But I’m busy working to get to the other side of the stone wall right now. Shaking off the two who don’t get that, I continue to force the attack on the wall.

“What the heck are you doing, Sakurai!?” (Amanai)

“Hey, Tōru!? You’re bleeding all over, what are you doing, stupid!!” (Ethel)

“More importantly, we have to stop Sakurai-kun!” (Reika)

Eei, don’t stop my attack, you main cast (main characters) riffraff!

I have to go beyond this wall! For my sake, for everyone’s sake, I have to solve this problem on behalf of all those who seek dungeons!

It is my responsibility as the one who is planning to take personal possession of this dungeon!! Don’t get in my way!!

“Let goooo! Let go of meeee!” (Sakurai)

“You’re gonna die if you keep doing it, you fool!” (Higaki)

“Sakurai-san, please calm down! The way you’re firing up is not the good kind!” (Iris)

“Someone bring a potion! If we try to forcefully stop Tōru now, his injuries will only get worse!” (Ethel)

“I have toooooooo!! Get beyooooooond!! This objeeeeeeeeeect!!” (Sakurai)

“That’s enough, Sakurai! Don’t be absurd!” (Amanai)

“Sakurai-kun, stop it!” (Reika)

I wiiill! I wiiiilll!! Get inside this dungeoooon!!

–

–

–

“So, you shook yourself free, hit your head in a bad way, and came to ‘Netherworld (here) again.”

“Wassup, Dr. Thoth.” (Sakurai)

“It’s good that you luckily got drifted here, but you really have a screw loose in your head, don’t you? Want me to open it up and fix it? Hm?” (Thoth)

“No, I deeply apologize.” (Sakurai)

Without making an excuse, I bow to the doctor who looked after me the previous time I was in ‘Netherworld’, Dr. Thoth, the Magic God.

I’m Sakurai Tōru. 15 years old.

This is my second death in my second life.