Ten years ago, I definitely heard that sound.
It can’t be true.
Does that mean I’ve been delving into that dungeon for ten whole years?
Now that I think about it, I remember my clothes becoming tight and having to take them off.
Was it because my body grew and the size no longer fit?
With no other choice, I had been patching together a makeshift outfit using monster pelts.
I’m still wearing that now.
So, the curious gazes I received since arriving in town were due to this outfit.
“Roel, does my outfit look strange?”
“Hmm, not at all!”
She answered cheerfully. Perhaps she was just being considerate.
What a kind girl she is.
Now that I think about it, Kurinka was just as kind.
Come to think of it, Roel bears a resemblance to her in some way.
“Rua-san, here’s your card.”
I was called over by a Guild member and received my card.
Wow, it even has my picture on it!
“Congratulations! Your rank is D. And your level… well, we haven’t measured that yet.”
“Level?”
“It’s a number that represents an Adventurer’s strength. It also serves as a standard to compare with the dungeon’s Danger Level.”
Danger Level. That was something the swordsman who helped me when I was a child told me about.
He said that if an Adventurer’s level is 1, it’s appropriate to go to a dungeon with a Danger Level of 1.
That’s right, he also taught me about Status Ailments.
“Rua-chan, do you want to measure your level? Once you do, it will be recorded on your card.”
“Yeah, since I’m here, I might as well give it a try.”
Following Roel, we arrived at a metal box just big enough for one person to enter.
There were several others like it.
“What?! No way! I’m still level 4?! Is this thing broken or what?!”
A man emerged from the box, scratching his head and staring intently at the metal contraption.
“Heh, as expected of me. I’m already level 18!”
Next came a flamboyantly dressed woman who looked like a wizard, flaunting her Adventurer Card.
【Ilaza Lv: 18 Class: Wizard B-Rank】
“Wow, that person is amazing. With a B-Rank, she’s already a veteran.”
“Is that so?”
“Then, Rua-chan, it’s your turn to try.”
“Uh, wait, I’m not quite ready yet…”
“Don’t worry, it won’t eat you or anything.”
I was pushed into the metal box.
Then, with a sound that felt like something vibrating, a ring of light passed through my body from above to below.
When it ended, something was displayed on a panel in front of me.
What does this say?
As the door opened, I turned to Roel.
“Roel, how do you read this? Is 9998 my level?”
I could understand the numbers, but there seemed to be something else written, so it didn’t feel like it was just my level.
“Um, let me see… huh?”
After staring at the panel for a moment, Roel inexplicably went to call over a Guild member.
“Error 9998. This error number means…”
The Guild member began flipping through a thick book with one hand.
Roel silently watched the scene unfold.
“Overflow? But this should be able to measure up to 100.
I apologize, but it seems to be malfunctioning. Please use another machine.”
“Understood. Rua-chan, let’s try that machine over there.”
We tried the same thing with a different metal box, but it only displayed something strange again.
“Uh, what? Is this one broken too?”
“Is that one malfunctioning as well? That’s odd.”
The man who had been watching the whole time shouted out.
“See? I told you it was broken!
I thought it was strange. With my skills, I should be over level 20!
Make sure to maintain these things properly! Bye now!”
He left, humming happily to himself.
The woman named Ilaza approached us briskly.
“Excuse me, what’s going on here?
You’re not saying this card has false information recorded on it, are you?”
“That part is fine. The malfunction must have happened afterward.”
“Well, that’s good.”
She clicked her heels as she walked away, the sound echoing behind her.
“I’m sorry, it seems like something’s off.”
“It’s fine… Oh, right!”
I suddenly remembered my original purpose.
I should ask the Guild member about it.
“How can I get to Ikana Village?”
“Currently, that area is sealed off.
Only a select few are allowed to enter.”
“W-why?”
“Since the village was destroyed, dangerous monsters have begun to inhabit that area.
Many Adventurers have entered, but none have returned.
After that, the Kingdom of Avangarde imposed restrictions.
Now, only Adventurers of A-Rank or higher can enter.”
“A-Rank?! It must be really serious then.”
Roel gasped in surprise. It seems that being A-Rank is quite impressive.
But restrictions? Does that mean I can’t even go back to my village?
“What should I do?”
Feeling genuinely lost, Roel took my hand in hers.
“Well then, if you’d like, why not come to my house?
Actually, I went ahead and put my house as your current residence on the card.”
Why is she being so kind to me?
Other Adventurers were cold, but she is different.
Why would someone like me, dressed like this, receive such kindness?
Tears began to well up in my eyes once more.
For ten years, as I aimed for the underground, I hadn’t realized how warm human kindness could be.
No, I should have known.
It was just that the last time I felt it was ten years ago.
Monster Compendium
[Hell Bear]
The tyrant reigning at the peak of Bears Forest with a Danger Level of 30.
It has torn apart the confidence of countless Adventurers, who began to exude a veteran’s aura, leaving only their corpses behind.
Its fur is durable and is often prized as material for robes.