**Day 24 – Morning – Dungeon**
No matter what, we'll keep fighting. Above all, we will keep fighting. Whatever happens, keep fighting. At the very least, raise our levels even by one. That's the only thing Haruka-kun wanted. We can't do anything for him. We haven't done anything. So how can we not even do the one thing he asked?
"Haa— haa— fuu—"
"…Lamaze breathing?"
The most efficient, most delicious leveling spot in this world—the mysterious dungeon Odacchi and the others found.
No one in this world knows why something like this exists. But Odacchi and the others just accept it with "it's standard isekai stuff."
We don't need to understand. We don't understand anything anyway. All we know is we have to get stronger. Everyone came along even though they didn't want to understand—just because it's what Haruka-kun wanted.
"Why does this snake keep appearing out of nowhere?! Why is it slithering like that?!"
"There are monsters that don't show up on presence detection, so stay constantly alert."
Under Odacchi and the others' guidance—we fight, discuss, fight again.
"Switch front line—uh, triangle plus one formation. Lightning Wall banned!"
""""Ehhh~""""
During breaks we receive skill lectures, adjust status, optimize SP allocation for our fighting styles, learn new skills. They explain as if they've seen it all before, as naturally as breathing, like water off a duck's back. Were these people really in Japan? How do they know so much? What Haruka-kun said—"those guys only get serious once they're in another world"—was apparently true.
1F: goblins. Easy.
2F: kobolds. Not even opponents.
3F: green wolves. Just annoying.
4F: …bugs. Giant water bugs standing up and approaching… Letocelus. Old name.
Normally we'd scream and panic… but we methodically exterminate them. Disgusting… gross… don't want to touch… cutting them makes juice spray… but we methodically exterminate them. They're not strong. Just gross. We won't die to something like this. This isn't a death-worthy fight. No need for resolve to die. So we can't flinch. We're not allowed to.
5F: orcs… we take our frustration out on them. Seriously gross…
Now on 6F—green snakes. They slip past presence detection for ambushes. But no problem. We're not that weak anymore. If they attack, we kill them.
Almost to the 7F stairs. Today's goal: 20F. Impossible or reckless doesn't matter. We just aim. This is the only thing we can do.
It's okay. Everyone's putting on a brave face.
・ ・ ・
Time to turn back. Only reached 17F. Apparently from 12F to 24F the exp difference isn't huge—so fine for leveling purposes. We're just venting frustration on the monsters, on this world.
"This floor's mantises look fine too~"
17F is bugs again. Juice sprays. But better than that one. That one only looks like G! Don't run at us! Don't stand up!
"Okay, time's up—heading back. Switch front line, two-team sweep formation."
"Yes~" "Roger" "OK!" "Got it" "Which group am I in?" "Right group is this way~" "Which one?" "That way?" "Over there!" "Ah~!" "Which is right?" "Hurry, hurry" "Yeah"…
It's okay. Everyone's putting on a brave face.
Soon we'll hit level 50. Shimazaki-san and the others are past 60. In two or three days we should catch up to Odacchi and the others.
No one knows what we're getting stronger for—yet we desperately get stronger. Because we have to… This is fine, right?
It's okay. Everyone's managing to put on a brave face.
Even if every room tonight is filled with nothing but crying.
**Day 24 – Night – Cave**
"Phew—haaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!"
Yeah, goblins, kobolds, fish, mushrooms—tons of everything.
Walking really is the way. This is probably the only thing that has any meaning at all.
No level up today, obviously. But I did get a new skill.
Probably pointless, but meaningful anyway.
Some skill levels went up too.
Meaningless, but threatening.
I thought for sure they'd Control the fake-delinquents and come at me from behind.
But the muscleheads were too strong. So only one customer.
Nothing left in the forest now. Just passing through.
They've probably started assembling an incompatible, non-meshing combination.
So I'll keep assembling combinations that don't mesh. Keep forcing mismatches. Keep breaking the fit.
Disrupt and ruin it. Pull out just that one fatal, meticulously placed piece from their carefully built structure.
Probably about time. Should I prepare a welcome?
I didn't invite anyone. No welcome prepared.
If they want to come, they'll come. Even if they don't want to, they'll come.
Fish is delicious. Meat still left.
No hospitality, but I'll return the favor.
It's already late at night.
Dinner done. Bath done.
Another good day.
・ ・ ・
But today was the worst.
"Long time no see, Tanaka-kun. You're really late~? I think everything's already way too late, don't you? What did you come for?"
**End of Day 24**