This is my first dungeon attack.
This work will eventually have the protagonist as the strongest, but I want to strengthen him step by step.
Every time I post, I’m so happy to see my favorites increase!
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend, occupation: Dungeon Tester (full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
“So this is a dungeon.”
The passage is brick-lined as far as the eye can see, and the same scene stretches endlessly before me.
“No discomfort in my body.”
I was startled when my body glowed the moment I entered, but this must be a procedure to transform the body into a magic body.
Moving my body while being wary of my surroundings, I feel no particular strangeness.
I’ve only gone a few meters into the dungeon, so I haven’t encountered any dungeon monsters yet.
In that case, it’s better to get used to the magic body sooner rather than later.
Starting with stretching exercises, I move my body through its range of motion.
In that process, I sense something different from usual.
The air feels heavy, or rather, oppressively so.
“It seems true that the magic is dense.”
During training, I was taught in lectures that the magic here is incomparably denser than in the company, but I never expected to feel such a difference.
For now, I just have to get used to this air.
“If I’m going to challenge one first, the Dungeon of the King of Machines General is recommended, right?”
Taking a deep breath, as if to absorb the magic, I feel a bit more accustomed to the atmosphere.
I came to the dungeon as advised, but I won’t know if it was a good choice until I challenge it.
“Alright, let’s get motivated.”
I lightly pat my cheeks and step into the dungeon.
Rewind about thirty minutes earlier.
“If you’re going to challenge one first, the Dungeon of the King of Machines General is recommended.”
“Why? Is it the easiest for beginners?”
“No, it’s simply a matter of weighing efficiency against danger.”
“Efficiency and danger?”
I was called over the counter by a vampire girl, a shop employee, who was telling me about the dungeon, which I hadn’t learned about in lectures.
“Since I’m also an employee of this company, I’ve heard some things about testers. I’ve heard rumors, accounts from teachers who actually witnessed training, and the nature of people on this side, and I think the Dungeon of the King of Machines General is probably the best loophole.”
The employee holds up a finger and continues.
“First of all, no one will likely visit the dungeon of Lord Undead, our superior. Even if they did, they would probably turn back from fear. We exclude the dungeon of the Insect King General for the same reason.”
When asked if I had experience being attacked by giant insects, I immediately imagined it and got goosebumps.
When I shook my head, the vampire girl replied, “Yes, I thought so.”
“In addition, these two dungeons are not compatible with you at your current level. If you prepare your equipment and increase your stats, it will be different, but it’s impossible now.”
She explained that the undead army is simply resistant to physical attacks, and the insect army is hard and reproduces quickly, making it difficult to challenge alone. Many individuals of that species have hard bodies.
“Next, regarding the dungeons of the Tree King General and the Giant King General, you humans do not know how to fight against each other. Given their appearance, you may not be ready to fight them, as they are the closest to humans.”
Now that she mentions it, that’s true.
I might be able to fight if it were just a fight, but in a dungeon, you have to kill them, not just defeat them.
I might even have to fight people who resemble Suella.
“I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your complexion, so please listen to me calmly. We’ll exclude these two as well.”
“That leaves three, but the Dragon King General’s dungeon is composed solely of dragonkin, so the quality of their forces is undoubtedly higher than in other dungeons. If you go now, you’ll just be bitten to death.”
This vampire girl is good at stirring up anxiety in the human species. As I listened, I began to hesitate.
“So, out of the remaining two dungeons, I suspect most testers challenge the Dungeon of the Demon King General.”
“Why do you think so?”
“It’s simple. People fear the unknown. It’s easier to challenge something you know than something you don’t. Plus, during the joint training, you were able to overpower goblins.”
Her words, which sounded like she was calling us fools, reminded me of the training I participated in. Indeed, there weren’t many dropouts when fighting goblins. Things started to fall apart from the skeletons. Moreover, I was able to overpower goblins to some extent.
“On the other hand, most testers probably don’t challenge the King of Machines General’s dungeon. It will be an unknown experience, but you can challenge it efficiently without being disturbed. Furthermore, the King of Machines General’s dungeon is mainly composed of golems, and their numbers are considerably fewer than goblins, so you’ll be less likely to be surrounded. The quality is higher, but if you’re using the provided equipment, it’s fine. However, judging by your current gear, if you don’t get carried away, you should be able to fight without any problems, and the danger should be reduced.”
“Moreover,” she continued, “the spoils from golems fetch a higher price than those from goblins.”
“That’s important.”
It’s a mercenary thought, but when I hear about profit, I, a human, become more positive than I was just moments ago, as if my previous hesitations were a lie.
The information was quite effective for me, who had already made considerable expenses today.
“This is about it, I believe I’ve told you about the assistance I provided earlier. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”
With that said, she shifted her gaze from me to the next stack of slips, as if she had no further business with me.
Though the content of our conversation might have been a rudimentary overview of the dungeon, it was undeniably valuable to me, who was exploring it blindly without any prior information.
“I’ll take it as a reference. I’ll be back.”
“We look forward to your next visit.”
As time was limited, there was no need to linger any longer. I left the store, listening to their standard farewell.
Afterward, I stopped by the shop, filled my stomach with onigiri, purchased portable food and water, and then changed into my gear in my room.
“I don’t think it looks like a cosplay, does it?”
My reflection in the full-length mirror would look suspicious in town, but it gave me the confidence that I would blend in if I wore it for a while.
“Well then, time for my first job.”
After confirming my equipment set, and if there were no problems, I headed to the dungeon.
And now, here I am.
I proceed down a bright path, devoid of windows or even fluorescent lights, and arrive at a crossroads.
The space is ample enough that I could swing my ore tree around without obstruction, above, below, left, or right.
Even if I were to fight, there would be plenty of room for maneuvering.
“This is a crossroads.”
I then mark the path in my notebook.
I’m creating a map. When I draw, I position myself with my back to the wall so I can see my surroundings, so it’s a bit messy, but as long as I understand it, I won’t get lost on the way back.
*Clink*
“I heard something just now.”
It might have been my imagination, but dungeons are places where even the slightest possibility of danger must be considered.
I had ingrained the warning “Don’t let your guard down” into every fiber of my being, to the point of nearly dying.
It was mostly my instructors who physically hammered it into me, but I wished they could have taught me as gently as Suella.
I closed my notebook and looked around, trying to pick up the sound.
“My first combat, huh?”
I don’t know if I’ve been detected yet, but for now, I’ll take cover against the wall so I can’t be seen from the other side.
I pick up the ore tree attached to my backpack and, willing it to detach, feel a significant weight transfer into my hand.
Peeking out from behind the wall, I catch a glimpse of a shadow.
There’s a sense of distance, and within that, there’s estimation.
It’s a sense of judging the approximate distance by feel, but…
“Over ten meters?”
Naturally, as I’m not used to it, I can’t tell the exact distance. So, it’s a guess within the range of what I can ascertain.
I’ve always had decent eyesight, so I don’t wear glasses.
Furthermore, my magic crest seems to have somehow improved my vision.
Thanks to that, I can clearly see the number of them. I can see two small figures and one figure that seems to be an adult woman. The small ones are only slightly larger than goblins.
We’re outnumbered, and I have no information on the opponents. Challenging them would be rather reckless.
“I wish they’d get a little closer, wouldn’t you?”
Because of the distance, I can’t discern their details by peeking at them.
They could be Souls, or they could suddenly turn into Blood.
I observe them cautiously, trying not to rush.
The sound of footsteps is becoming clearer. From the lightness of their footsteps, their weight might be low.
“A golem whose hands have become weapons, made of wood? Rather than a golem, it looks like a combination of a puppet and a mannequin.”
They have a humanlike shape, but their material appears to be wood at first glance. Their faces are smooth, like a noppera-bō, with a single jewel for an eye, like a hitotsume-kozō.
“That seems to be their weak point, but it’s probably impossible to aim for it.”
With such a large weapon, it seems difficult to aim for something as small as a pinball.
As I observe, the distance closes to under ten meters.
“The ones that look dangerous are the medium-sized ones, their hands are sharp like spears, so if I get stabbed by those, I’m in trouble. I’ll go for those first, and hold back on the smaller ones.”
The medium-sized mannequin types have arms that are sharpened into spear-like points from the elbow down, not designed for holding things but for attacking.
Unlike the mannequin types, the doll types have hands shaped like wooden mallets. Presumably, they are meant to be used for striking.
The small ones will be rampaging around my feet, and the medium-sized one will be the finishing blow.
In that case, it would be safer to defeat the central medium-sized one first.
I could run away, but I’ve heard that individuals that wander alone are rare. It might be better to take on multiple opponents while prepared to receive some attacks, rather than searching for a solitary one.
I measure the distance, step by step.
A dry sound, like wood striking stone, echoes.
It approaches with each passing moment, and I can’t help but swallow.
*Gulp*
I thought the sound was louder than I expected, and then…
My body, judging that I had been noticed, instinctively moved away from the wall, and before I knew it, I was leaping towards the mannequin.
“DO-WOOOOOHHHH!!!!”
A horizontal sweep that cut upwards as I dashed forward, I felt the familiar crunch of wood breaking in my hands as I cleaved the medium-sized mannequin into two halves, an upper and lower body.
“MEAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
With a counter-attack, I swung down as if to cleave it in two, bisecting the small one from shoulder to shoulder.
After-blow.
As I began to shift my weight with a sliding step, preparing to turn towards the remaining small one, I caught sight of a shadow that had already leaped into the air before me.
“Huh!?”
My left hand shot up reflexively.
The iron plate of my gauntlet clashed with the opponent’s wooden mallet, and my left fist tightened with power.
“The Monkey’s Roar isn’t working?”
In the previous training, my shout had always elicited some kind of reaction from the opponent. Whether it was to draw their attention, surprise them, or make them cower, some action occurred. But not this time.
“…Tch.”
What’s more, it seems that the torso separation, which should have been instantly fatal to any living creature, isn’t affecting this opponent. The small one I split vertically seemed to have returned to magic power without complaint, but that mannequin isn’t fazed by losing its lower half. Instead, it began to move, using its arms as legs.
“Teketekete-ha?”
Seeing that, it reminded me of a famous Japanese yokai that moves incredibly fast on its hands.
“Wait, this isn’t the time to be joking around.”
My voice is loud, and the previous exchange might have attracted other enemies. No…
“Reinforcements.”
They were already here. Four of them: two mannequins and two puppets. If any more join, it’ll be fatal. It might be better to refrain from using the Monkey’s Roar. The weakly whimpering sound of the enemy warned me. If I use it more, I’ll just attract more enemies.
“Tch, so basically, I just need to defeat them before they arrive.”
However, I decided to face it head-on, deliberately ignoring the warning. It might have been a fatal decision, but back at my previous company, I found that getting the work done quickly was more efficient than procrastinating. I laughed off my self-deprecating thoughts. That laugh reminded me of the menacing smiles of my two instructors.
“I can’t lose.”
Compared to those two, I can clearly see a path to victory. I tried to hype myself up, but this phrase might be more useful than I thought. It makes me feel a little stronger, like my wavering spirit is gaining some resolve. Discard weakness, enjoy the crisis, and…
“Smile.”
The two instructors said in unison, “The path to becoming strong is by walking through crises with a smile.” I slowly took air into my lungs and my abdomen.
“Kiiieiyyaaaaaaaa!!!!”
I released the accumulated air, shouting. Even with a voice that seemed to vibrate the air itself, the opponent’s reaction was non-existent. They simply approached me with robotic indifference and began to run, switching from normal movement to a combat state.
“Tch!”
What escaped my lips, I don’t know if it was just a breath or a laugh. But that was the trigger, and I charged forward. There’s no such running technique in Kendo. Kendo is, after all, a martial art for training the mind, not a martial art for fighting. However, the basics can certainly be useful. From a running state, I entered the sword’s range and, with a sliding footwork, adjusted my distance so that the opponent’s attack wouldn’t reach me, but mine could. The puppet that leaped into the air and swung wildly, I sliced it down diagonally, then adjusted my stance. Kendo footwork is said to be logical. It’s a footwork designed for easy application by humans who move in a plane, not a three-dimensional space. Lowering my center of gravity, I moved my legs as if sliding on the ground, and then, as if drawing up my downward-swung sword, I used a reverse diagonal cut to lift the mannequin that had lost its lower half. The Swallow Return. The technique of the famous Sasaki Kojiro. It’s easy to say, but actually using it is not easy at all. During my newcomer training, I did many things. Among them, I focused on studying martial arts like this. I learned them so that I, who would have been just beaten up otherwise, could at least strike back. Of course, it’s entirely self-taught, as I don’t have a master, but the instructors cooperated to shape my efforts with interest. I reached out for anything I could do, not limited by Kendo. Among them, this is one of the techniques that I managed to solidify. “Tch!” Foot techniques are the same. I was taught to use whatever I could, not just my sword. I kicked the mannequin that had floated into the air, sending it flying horizontally towards the four approaching enemies, and it mowed them down like bowling pins. The sharpness is strangely good, probably because this is a technique I’ve received countless times, so much so that it’s ingrained in my body. “Pursuit.” No time to indulge in sentimentality. With just one word, I took a stance as if carrying an ore tree on my right shoulder and attacked the enemies caught in the path of the kicked mannequin. “Meeeeyaaaaaaa!!!!” I slashed them all at once. With the intention of cutting them all down, my blade struck down and split the mannequin and two puppets. However, due to excessive force, my blade got stuck in the ground. Only one mannequin and one puppet remained. Naturally, those mechanically moving opponents wouldn’t miss this opening. A wooden spear approached my face. “Aaahhh!!!! Iyaaahhh!!!!” My body moved before I could even think. First, I let go of the hilt, and as I stood up, I deflected the spear with my left gauntlet, while pulling the opponent’s face towards me with my right hand as if embracing it. “Seiyyaaaahhh!!!!” I drove my knee into it. Constant readiness for battle; I wouldn’t have survived that training if I couldn’t fight without weapons.
“RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA!!”
Then, with a counter-attack, or rather, a counter-kick, I smashed the attacking puppet against the wall.
The feel of crushing a solid body, transmitted from my toes.
I lowered my foot and scanned my surroundings.
Most of them returned to magic power, leaving no trace behind as the puppet I kicked last vanished, restoring silence.
Precisely, for ten seconds, I kept my feet on the ground, confirming the presence of the Ore Tree, and scanned my surroundings again to ensure there were no more reinforcements.
“I’m… tired.”
The tension instantly loosened.
I crouched down where I stood, adopting what could be called a delinquent’s posture.
“My heart is still racing.”
After the battle, my heart, which had been bound by tension, was now beating rapidly as if released.
I rummaged through my pocket and, with a practiced hand, tapped the top of the item I took out. A thin object popped out.
Then, all I had to do was put it in my mouth and light it.
“Ah, I was trying to quit smoking.”
Only after fully inhaling it into my lungs did I realize this fact.
In other words, my attempt to quit smoking had failed. Habits are a terrible thing.
“Guess I have to quit again.”
Giving up, I decided to smoke this one.
Without making any excuses to anyone about being nervous in my first Dungeon, I looked around the floor while thinking.
I was searching for what could be called loot.
The fact that the defeated bodies left no remains meant they had all turned into Souls, I supposed.
If that’s the case, something should have been left behind, but…
“Marbles, that’s not possible.”
Small, reddish-purple glass orbs were scattered about, exactly the number of defeated bodies.
It seemed these were the spoils of war.
I wouldn’t know the details until I left the Dungeon, but for now, I decided to put them in a small bag.
“Well, I still have plenty of time, so I’ll proceed slowly and carefully.”
I took out my notebook, recorded the distance I had moved during the battle, and proceeded deeper into the Dungeon.
I properly disposed of the smoked cigarette in my portable ashtray.
“I really didn’t want to run into this.”
Peeking into the area ahead, I saw a plaza with five mannequins and three puppets – clearly an overwhelming number of enemies.
And more importantly…
“Is that a Golem?”
Further in the back, one more stood motionless, an troublesome presence.
Its massive body was particularly noticeable when compared to the mannequins.
It wasn’t moving, but if I started a battle there, it would undoubtedly attack.
When fighting an opponent for the first time, I prefer one-on-one.
Furthermore, I like to tackle them after thorough preparation.
“It’s about time. I’ll head back now.”
It had been about three hours since I entered the Dungeon.
Since I was mapping as I went, if I turned back now, it would be a good time when I emerged from the Dungeon.
I had fought several battles since the first encounter, so the loot had accumulated accordingly.
Now was the time to retreat.
*Scrape*
Perhaps it was my good luck that my body moved.
As if I had stepped on something, I leaped forward in response to the sound of the floor scraping.
“Its shape is different!?”
As I looked back, I pulled out the Ore Tree.
The one that attacked from behind was a mannequin.
Because I was focused on what was in front of me, my attention to my rear had been diverted, allowing it to get close, but that wasn’t the current problem.
“One with horns… it’s not a Blood, is it?”
Horns grew from its forehead, as if it were a commander, and its hands were shaped not like spears for thrusting, but like swords that could also be swung.
It was a statement mixed with a good deal of wishful thinking, but it was highly likely a rare breed of Blood, not just a regular Soul.
Even if it wasn’t, my priority now was to figure out how to break through the situation.
“I guess I have no choice but to fight.”
A quick glance behind me revealed that both the mannequin and the puppets had noticed me.
And…
“Well, they’d move if there were enemies, wouldn’t they?”
When it rains, it pours.
I could clearly see the Golem slowly rising to its full height.
If it didn’t move here, I could have reported it in my report as a problem with the Dungeon for Heroes, but it wasn’t going to cooperate with my convenience.
A Golem in front, a Blood behind, and a bunch of extras besides…
The established tactic when surrounded is…
“In times like these…”
Facing the Blood mannequin in front of me…
“Reduce their numbers!”
Ignoring it, I attacked the easier-to-defeat mannequins and puppets.
I swung my Ore Tree horizontally and spun around, then charged.
I plunged into the group and initiated a melee.
However, they were an inorganic group that knew no panic, and I only bought myself a brief moment of time, equivalent to a slight malfunction.
It wasn’t a sufficient amount of time, but I had to carve out a path to survival by utilizing it.
From several battles, I had grasped some of their characteristics.
“MEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAA!”
I had to reduce their numbers based on these characteristics, but if I faltered…
“Nggggh! DAAAAAAAAARAAAAA!!”
I would be crushed by sheer numbers.
The spear-like hands of another mannequin grazed my right shoulder, which was unprotected.
The pain made me falter for a moment.
But if I stopped, I would be surrounded.
Knowing this, I gritted my teeth, and to distract myself from the pain, I forced my body to move with sheer will, running around to avoid staying in one place.
Utilizing the wide reach of my long sword, I clashed, cut down, defended, and ran, switching positions while chipping away at the enemies.
The result of that bore fruit.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
I take ragged breaths, my gaze settling on the remaining individual.
Two monsters, as if unconcerned with my hesitation, unleash their inexhaustible stamina and approach me with a combination of light, brisk footsteps and heavy, reverberating thuds.
A Golem and a Mannequin Blood.
I managed to cut down the others, but I’ve been cornered against the wall. My stamina has been significantly depleted from all the running and fighting I’ve done.
“Don’t let me have even a moment’s rest, you pieces of -”
I can’t afford to play defensively. If I do in my current state, I’ll be crushed. I take one step forward and resume our exchange of blows.
The sharp, slicing *slash attacks* and the heavy, crushing *blows*. I’m struggling more than I’d imagined against this combination. I’m focusing my attacks on the Mannequin Blood, as a single hit from me could be fatal, but every time, the Golem shields it, allowing the Mannequin to escape.
In that case, I want to defeat the Golem, but it’s too hard. I attacked its armament with my Ore Tree, but it only left a shallow scratch on its arm. I could probably do more damage if I attacked with full force, but then the Mannequin becomes a problem when I swing the Ore Tree around wildly. They cover each other perfectly.
Watching them, I can’t help but think,
“Are you mocking me?!”
Their actions feel like they’re taunting me, fighting alone, and it irritates me. There’s no point being jealous of an opponent, but I put a little more power into my slashes. The sound of our clashes intensifies slightly as I continue to observe them. Based on our fight so far, I’m confident I could defeat either one individually. However, contrary to that *prediction*, reality has led to a stalemate, and my stamina is steadily draining.
“I wish I had *friends* too!”
Conclusion: I can’t win in my *current situation*. I knew it was too late then, but reality is harsh. I shout out my *feelings* and swing my Ore Tree, slicing at the Mannequin Blood to create some distance. Then, I press my advantage.
“Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is best!!”
Or at least, that’s what it looked like as I dove into a nearby *passage*. I continued to clash while moving in short bursts, finally grasping the chance I needed. I run back the way I came and begin my escape. The Golem is slow; more accurately, I’m faster. If I can outrun even the Mannequin, I’m confident I can escape.
If I can’t win, I run. It’s a basic decision. While running, after a certain amount of *time* has passed, I glance back.
“Well, they wouldn’t chase me…”
At some point, the footsteps faded, and the shadows behind me disappeared. Ideally, I would have preferred to shake off the Golem and have only the Mannequin Blood pursue me. But it’s not bad, not bad at all.
“Being able to assess the *situation* means that was definitely a Blood. I’ll consider this piece of *information* as a profit.”
I lower my backpack and lean against the wall to calm my ragged breathing.
“I need to tend to my wounds.”
I challenged that group, so it’s only *natural* I wouldn’t emerge unscathed. Every part of my *body* aches from cuts and bruises. My arms are particularly bad, as I used them to *defend* against attacks aimed at my torso and face countless times. Honestly, it hurts.
“Should I have been less stingy with the *Potions*?”
This much will be *alright*, a little more will be *alright* – my hesitation to use *Potions* has led to this *result*. I lean my Ore Tree against the wall, pull an ointment from my backpack, and apply it to my wounds. It begins to emit a faint green *light*.
“Ow, ow, it stings, hey.”
Perhaps that’s just how wound medicine is, but I wish it were more fantastical, healing the pain instantly the moment it’s applied.
“My gauntlets are riddled with new scratches, and I just bought them.”
As I put my gauntlets back on, which I’d removed because they were hindering treatment, my eyes naturally fall on the fresh *damage*. I’ll have to polish them when I get back to my *room*, I think, as I fasten the clasps to put on my *equipment*.
“Nine-thirty. I’ve gone a little over *time*, but I achieved my goal.”
Honestly, the *treatment* just now broke my concentration. My wounds are healed, and my breathing is steady, but it’s going to take *time* to get back into a combat state. I understand now that fighting alone in a dangerous area is far more exhausting than I’d *imagined*.
“Ah, it’s pretty frustrating, isn’t it?”
If I had won that fight earlier, I might not be feeling this way, but that’s the *result* of my insufficient *preparation*. Today, I reaffirmed that I’m more of a sore loser than I thought and finished my first *job* (Dungeon challenge).
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend, Profession: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee).
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class).
Role: Warrior.
Status
Strength 45 → Strength 54
Durability 62 → Durability 83
Agility 28 → Agility 33
Stamina 45 (-5) → Stamina 55 (-5)
Dexterity 36 → Dexterity 41
Knowledge 33 → Knowledge 33
Intuition 8 → Intuition 10
Luck 5 → Luck 5
Magic Power 50 → Magic Power 50
Condition
Nicotine Addiction
Lung Contamination
Today’s Word:
The first job in anything never goes smoothly. I’ve been reminded that it’s important to strive to utilize that experience next time.
I’ll post another chapter.
