Episode 21: Browsing the Forums
After returning from the Private Dungeon, I went to my room and turned on my PC.
It was to look up the Spatial Transfer skill, Wormhole, that I had just learned.
“Um, ‘skill,’ space, ‘Wormhole,’ and…”
I looked at the search engine results.
“Hmm… nothing.”
All that showed up were game strategy sites; there were no sites dealing with dungeon-related information.
“Alright then, ‘skill,’ space, ‘Spatial Transfer,’ space, ‘dungeon,’ and… Oh!”
This time, a relevant-looking site came up.
It seems to be an online forum for Explorers.
================
Explorer Skill Ranking Thread
1: Nameless Explorer
I’ll accept differing opinions.
Considered not just simple strength, but also convenience during exploration.
Thinking about combinations is endless, so please stick to individual skill evaluations.
Feel free to add any skills not listed.
【SS】Time Manipulation, Spatial Transfer, Resurrection, Item Creation, Light Magic
【S】Item Box, Healing, Sword Saint and other martial arts master skills, Appraisal, Causality Manipulation types
【A】Presence Detection, Fire Magic, Water Magic, Lightning Magic
【B】Presence Concealment, Wind Magic, Ice Magic, Support Magic, Compounding, Body Enhancement
【C】Earth Magic, Tamer, Various martial arts skills, Additional Effects (Instant Death, Paralysis)
【D】Additional Effects (Poison, Sleep, Confusion)
【E】Various Status Ailment Resistances, Various Elemental Resistances
~~~The Unsurpassable Wall~~~
【Z】All String-of-Text Skills
2: Nameless Explorer
Hey, where’s my 【Bravery】 skill…?
3: Nameless Explorer
2
【Z】All String-of-Text Skills
4: Nameless Explorer
What’s a ‘string-of-text’? Please tell me!
5: Nameless Explorer
4
It refers to skills like 【Benevolence】 or 【Composure】 that have no effect even if they’re written in the skill list.
They’re said to be just strings of text.
Most likely, even if they have an effect, it’s too minuscule to be recognized.
6: Nameless Explorer
1
Good work, 【Water Magic】 user.
It’s not this strong. C rank at best.
7: Nameless Explorer
6
【Water Magic】 has decent offensive power, but its support capabilities are high.
Being able to procure drinking water on-site is already quite convenient.
At higher ranks, some can use the healing technique Heal Water.
Though a healer of the same level would have higher recovery power.
8: Nameless Explorer
Spatial Transfer, isn’t that what Ernest Garfield can use?
9: Nameless Explorer
8
He’s the one with Time Manipulation.
Spatial Transfer is Rosa Wallberg.
Actually, it seems there are holders of Spatial Transfer in the country, they’re just not well known.
Apparently, they can earn 100 million yen a year just by acting as an ‘elevator’ for high-level Explorers challenging deep layers.
10: Nameless Explorer
For high-level Explorers, 100 million is probably chump change.
They could at least give me 10,000 yen for my 【Bravery】.
11: Nameless Explorer
If I had 【Spatial Transfer】, I could’ve gotten into the women’s bath too.
12: Nameless Explorer
11
You’d get caught the moment you entered anyway, lol.
Seriously though, 【Spatial Transfer】 can only be used within the same dungeon.
13: Nameless Explorer
11
If you could use it outside dungeons, you could commit crimes all you want.
Theft, assassination, illegal dumping, you name it.
14: Nameless Explorer
Lick… This is potassium cyanide!
================
“…”
Indeed, if I thought about it calmly, being able to warp outside of dungeons would mean a crime spree.
If you could just put poison in a glass from afar, you wouldn’t need wires or switched keys; you could commit locked-room murders indefinitely.
Besides, it seems no one else currently possesses a skill for moving outside dungeons, or at least it’s not publicly known.
If it became known that I have such a skill, wouldn’t I be suspected by the police for every crime, and threatened by people in shady businesses to participate in their crimes?
“…Maybe I should keep it a secret for a while.”
I’ll try consulting Otama-chan after the Explorer Exam is over.
“Alright, I guess I’m done with the PC for now… Hmm?”
As I was browsing the same site, I found a thread that caught my eye.
================
Beginner Explorer Q&A Thread Part 258
1: Nameless Explorer
This is a Q&A thread for people who want to become Explorers or have just become one.
When asking a question, please be sure to read the FAQ in >>2-5 and follow the template.
※※Attention※※
Veteran Explorers, please remember your younger days and answer kindly.
367: Nameless Explorer
Tell me how to earn 700,000 yen right after becoming an Explorer.
368: Nameless Explorer
367
There isn’t one.
The End
Production & Copyright
━━━━━
ⓃⓉⓀ
(…)
379: Nameless Explorer
With your stats, you’d be better off doing FX or crypto.
Aiming too high will be your downfall.
380: Nameless Explorer
I was wrong to ask you guys, yo.
Don’t underestimate me. I’m gonna be big, so you just remember that.
================
“Haha…”
I opened the thread wanting to know what kind of worries aspiring Explorers had, but I found a post that looked familiar from somewhere and couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
The timing of the post was also right around when Iyada sent me that LINK message.
“There are similar guys everywhere, huh…”
Curious, I ended up reading on.
================
Beginner Explorer Q&A Thread Part 258
458: Nameless Explorer
Look at this, you incompetents! While you guys were jerking off killing monsters for chump change, I made 800,000 yen just by fiddling with my smartphone.
Are you watching, you piece of shit who blocked me? Feeling bitter seeing an FX genius?
(Image)
459: Nameless Explorer
458
That’s still unrealized gains, isn’t it? It’s not an investment until you secure the profit.
460: Nameless Explorer
458-459
Off-topic. Do it on the investment board.
(…)
503: Nameless Explorer
The guy who wrote 379, tell me your address and name.
504: Nameless Explorer
Hurry up!!
505: Nameless Explorer
Like I’d write that, are you a genuine idiot?
506: Nameless Explorer
Will I get a reward? (Confused)
507: Nameless Explorer
Did you write that?! It’s because of a system bug called a ‘loss cut’ that the money on my screen looks like it decreased.
I’ve filed a complaint with the brokerage firm, but if I don’t get my money back, you’re gonna compensate me.
508: Nameless Explorer
507
Ah…
509: Nameless Explorer
507
Post an image. No one will believe you.
510: Nameless Explorer
Look, you piece of shit! You taught me a system full of bugs! How are you gonna take responsibility for this?!
(Image)
511: Nameless Explorer
Minus 1.5 million, lol.
512: Nameless Explorer
Apparently, a new 【Spatial Transfer】 skill holder has emerged in the US.
It seems the dollar strengthened on expectations of increased dungeon resource exports.
513: Nameless Explorer
A personal skill can move the market, huh… It seems the time has come for my 【Bravery】 skill to shine.
514: Nameless Explorer
513
Keep it tucked away for now, okay?
================
“…”
Somehow, I’ve started to feel scared about having this skill.
I wanted to investigate the skill’s performance, but is it really okay to use it casually…?
I want to talk to someone soon and feel at ease…
☆★☆
After that, while still burdened by the knowledge of my Spatial Transfer skill, I had dinner with my parents.
Just in case, I reported it to them again.
“Um, I think I mentioned it before, but I’m taking the Explorer Exam tomorrow.”
“Eh…? You were serious about that?”
“Yeah. Did you think I was joking?”
“No… not joking, but I thought you were just saying it to get through the moment.”
…I have way too little credibility.
“So, listen. If I get my Explorer license, I’m thinking of working with Otama-chan. When that happens, I want to buy that dungeon, mountain and all. I’ll manage it as a pro Explorer. As for money, I’ll get a lump sum eventually, so I’ll give you about a million yen.”
“Otama-chan, that’s Ms. Omogawa’s daughter, Tamaki-chan, right? If it’s her, I’m relieved. She even takes on work from the government office, doesn’t she?”
“Because she works for the Explorer Association.”
“Is the one million yen income from that mountain?”
“Yes. Though I doubt anyone but me could get it.”
“Hmm…”
Dad folded his arms, thought for a bit, and then said.
“…Keep that lump sum for your marriage funds or something. It’s a mountain we don’t use anyway. After I look into the tax procedures and stuff, I’ll change it to your name.”
“Is that okay?”
“…Yeah.”
Dad said, looking satisfied.
“Since middle school, you’ve always been listless, haven’t you? You never talked about something you wanted to do on your own like this. So… I’m a little happy.”
“Dad…”
“But don’t push yourself too hard, okay? Being an Explorer is dangerous work. Listen carefully to what Tamaki-chan says.”
“I understand.”
“For now, do your best tomorrow.”
…And so, thanks in part to Otama-chan, I was able to get my parents’ support.
—I’ll have to give my parents enough money to cover the actual costs later, and maybe gift them a trip to a high-class hot spring inn.