“When Rui found out I was job hunting, he offered to ask someone at Elceed Corporation about it. I initially refused, but he said that with just a high school diploma, job hunting might be tough…”
“So, he was even worrying about that?”
He was completely different from the ignorant me.
More than anything, I was shocked that Kaede had consulted Rui about such a thing.
“I decided to accept his kindness. That’s how I got introduced to Med Iris Corporation… It’s a company with great benefits, so my mom was happy too.”
“I see.”
Looking at Kaede’s innocent smile, I was glad she got a job at a good company, but at the same time, I felt complicated.
◇◇◇
Yuma returned from school and sat at his desk with his arms crossed.
Both Rui and Kaede have decided on their paths and are moving forward without hesitation. Yuma had also decided to go to university, but it wasn’t something he actively chose himself.
He just took the exam as his parents told him to, because he didn’t have anything he wanted to do.
For Yuma, it was just a moratorium.
“Is it really… okay for me to stay like this…?”
He never had anything he wanted to be, and he had no dreams. That’s why he never questioned going to university.
But now—
Yuma took out an A4-sized notebook from the drawer and opened a blank page.
—I want to become a Seeker.
A desire he would never have considered before.
But now he clearly wants to become a Seeker.
Was he influenced by Rui? That might be part of it. But more than that, the experience of constantly entering small Dungeons and defeating Monsters is pushing him forward.
Above all, he has a special power.
It should definitely be a plus if he becomes a Seeker.
Yuma started writing down his strengths in the notebook.
First and foremost, it would have to be his Metallization ability.
He can turn his body into steel for five minutes, and if used continuously, he can maintain Hardening for up to one hour and ten minutes. He can also cancel it every five minutes, and while Metallized, he doesn’t take any physical damage.
On top of that, he has resistance to Fire, Water, Lightning, and Wind.
(I don’t know how much he can withstand, though.)
In terms of defense, isn’t he almost invincible?
The second is the Deca Slime’s ability.
Turning a part of his body into a weapon is something he’s only seen in manga. No other Seekers can do that, either.
Besides—
Yuma stood up and put strength into his body with a grunt. Black marks spread all over his body, and the Metallization ability activated.
When he imagined it further, his body began to change shape, becoming a jelly-like gel and falling to the floor. There was Yuma, a slightly larger Metal Slime.
His clothes can be absorbed into his metal body, so he doesn’t have to take them off every time.
“Oops, eyes, eyes.”
Two large eyes floated around the surface of the Slime’s body. He wiggled his body and moved around the room.
He can move fairly quickly, and he can change shape to enter narrow spaces.
When he imagined returning to human form, the clothes inside his body returned to their original state.
This is quite convenient.
He decided to call this ability to transform his entire body Liquid Metallization. After five minutes, when the Metallization was released, Yuma added Liquid Metallization to the “Strengths” section of his notebook.
When he’s in Liquid Metallization, he can crawl on the ground and enter narrow spaces.
Isn’t this the most useful ability for exploring dangerous Dungeons?
If he can use it well, he might be called a top-notch Seeker. Then Kaede and Rui would think he’s amazing, and he might earn tens of millions, hundreds of millions in annual income… FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is popular these days, so he could quit his job young and live a life of leisure—
He couldn’t help but smile. No, no. He needs to stay calm.
“Next is the disadvantages.”
First of all, he can’t use his ability unless he Metallizes and turns completely black. It looks suspicious no matter how you look at it, and he can only cancel the ability every five minutes.
The problem is that Metallization is clearly a Physical Enhancement ability.
In other words, it would be revealed that he used Demon Ore generated from the Black Dungeon.
Upon closer inspection, for some reason, entry and exit to the Black Dungeon are more strictly regulated than other Dungeons.
If you enter without permission, it’s trespassing, and if you find it and don’t report it, it’s a violation of the reporting obligation.
Moreover, it was enacted not only as a metropolitan ordinance but also as a law. The penalties for violations seem to be quite severe.
Then he definitely can’t let it be revealed.
The Liquid Metallization ability is out of the question. In the worst case, he might be mistaken for a Monster by other Seekers and attacked.
However, if it’s just the Metallization turning him black, he might be able to hide it with a hoodie, hat, and mask.
The second disadvantage is that he can’t use magic.
It’s well known that you can’t defeat Monsters in the deep layers without magic. He might be able to defeat Monsters in the shallow layers by turning his limbs into weapons and fighting.
But he’s heard that even the Self-Defense Forces’ bullets don’t work on Monsters in the deep layers.
If that’s the case, he doesn’t think he can defeat them. After all, he has no choice but to steadily raise his Mana and learn magic.
“Now, the third problem… This is the biggest one.”
The absolute condition for becoming a professional Seeker.
In the first place, individuals cannot enter the lower levels of the Dungeon. Only companies and organizations authorized by the government can enter the depths of the Dungeon.
To receive authorization, there seem to be strict standards, such as having dedicated engineers and a stable financial base.
Individuals can only enter a small part of the Blue Dungeon’s lower levels.
There are even Dungeons that they can’t enter at all. In such an environment, he won’t be able to raise his Mana or earn money.
If he uses the Liquid Metallization ability, he might be able to slip through the Dungeon checkpoints and go to the lower levels, but with the time limit on the ability, he doesn’t know if he can come back properly.
Above all, it would be a big deal if it was revealed that he had trespassed.
Active Seekers belong to some organization, such as a public institution or a company or organization authorized by the government.
That frivolous guy who was streaming videos must have had a contract with a famous company.
Besides, companies are putting effort into training Seekers, providing combat training for Monster subjugation, lectures on Labyrinth攻略, and even providing Magic Gems for free.
For Yuma, it was truly a win-win situation.
“Hmm, I guess I have no choice but to join a company.”
Rui raised his Mana through Dungeon experience events organized by companies. He was thinking about it systematically.
Even if he does the same thing now, he won’t be able to catch up.
“I have to do it my way.”
Yuma made up his mind to tell his parents about his thoughts.