Chapter 14: Visible Growth
“Oh, there’s a new stag beetle.”
Completely forgetting about the LINK message from Iyada-san, I was thoroughly enjoying my Private Dungeon.
I caught the newly discovered stag beetle and immediately turned it into a magic stone.
Bwam!
Encyclopedia No. 57/251
Name: Thread-cutter Stag Beetle
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: ??? (Condition: Capture 3 types of stag beetles), Defense +2 (First-time Bonus)
Capture EXP: 150
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Small)
“…Alright.”
With this, I’ve now caught two types of stag beetles.
Now that it’s come to this, I’m curious what will happen when I achieve “Capture 3 types.”
“…Maybe I’ll focus on stag beetles today.”
I’ll try exploring mainly in the forest.
I walked slowly down the small path, carefully checking the trees for any new stag beetles.
Along the way, I found stag beetles and drone beetles I’d caught before and turned them into magic stones.
“It’s hard to find new ones…”
Beetles have limited spawn points in the dungeon, and their numbers are low too.
It might take even longer than catching 100 grasshoppers.
But it’s not a pain at all.
My anticipation for the skill I’ll get from capturing three types of stag beetles greatly outweighs any feeling of burden.
I don’t know what kind of skill it is, but I’m really looking forward to acquiring it.
I feel like I’m one step away from bingo on a bingo card, and I get excited every time I see an insect perched on a tree.
“I hope I can learn a skill that’s useful in other dungeons too. An attack skill would be best…”
–Still, when was the last time I looked forward to my own growth like this?
It’s a feeling I’d forgotten for over ten years.
Looking back, as I got older, my self-esteem steadily declined.
Back when I used to play at the Secret Base, every day was just fun.
I wasn’t comparing myself to anyone or anything; I just spent my days following my heart.
However, as I grew a little older, I realized I wasn’t a genius.
When I entered middle school and took the national dungeon aptitude test, I realized I was what people called an ordinary, incompetent person.
And then, with each step in life—high school and university entrance exams, and then finding a job—my future possibilities vanished one by one, like a butterfly having its wings torn off.
–Believing in my own potential.
–Dreaming of my own future.
To think I’d forgotten something so enjoyable for so long.
“Haha…”
A few tears welled up.
According to Otama-chan, I’m leveling up as an Explorer at an astonishingly rapid pace.
She’s an active Explorer, and my childhood friend at that. It’s probably not just flattery.
If I can keep growing at this speed, maybe someday I’ll be able to explore regular dungeons alongside Otama-chan.
I even find myself hoping for that.
“Ah…”
It’s not a stag beetle, but I found a new type of insect.
I’ll try catching it right away.
Bwam!
Encyclopedia No. 63/251
Name: Striped Longhorn Beetle
Rarity: 0
Capture Skill: Slashing Power Up (Small)
Capture EXP: 80
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Small)
“Ooh!”
It’s not a direct attack skill, but it’s a combat-oriented skill.
I’m genuinely happy.
“…Slashing, huh.”
Right now, I can’t even handle a sword properly, but depending on future training, this skill might come in handy.
“…I hope I can learn to use a sword.”
…If I were only thinking about my immediate living expenses, I probably wouldn’t need to risk danger in other dungeons and could just stick to this one.
You could even say combat skills are unnecessary.
However, I want to overcome the past where I was dismissed as ordinary and incompetent.
I want to experience the life of an Explorer, something I once admired.
I can’t stop this feeling.
I still can’t compare to the top elites who are active in Tokyo’s high-difficulty dungeons.
I want to grow little by little and become strong enough to be effective in any dungeon.
That’s what I think.
☆★☆
I checked the large tree in the shrine area, but there wasn’t a single insect today.
“…Are there days like this too?”
Usually, there’s a Small Sword Stag Beetle or a drone beetle perched there.
Strange things do happen.
Even after a full circle, there was nothing.
Should I move to a different spot…
The moment I thought that,
“Hm…?”
I saw something black at the edge of my vision.
I looked up at the tree trunk.
And then.
“There it is…!!”
About three meters above my head, high up on the large tree, there was a black, shining stag beetle.
Its shape was flat horizontally, different from the stag beetles I’d registered in the encyclopedia so far.
Now, how should I catch it?
“…Alright.”
First, the classic move: I’ll try shaking the tree to make the stag beetle fall.
I adjusted my footing and kicked the large tree with all my might using the sole of my right foot.
Thud!
“……”
The stag beetle didn’t fall.
The trunk seems too thick; I don’t think I shook it at all.
Trying to climb it also seems difficult, as there are no handholds.
“…Maybe I should try using that.”
I spread my right hand and willed it to activate.
“Monster Capture Net!”
Then, from empty space, a bug-catching net smoothly appeared.
The net part was a translucent purple and glowed with magic particles.
“Will this work…?”
I held the end of the bug-catching net and stretched my arm out as far as I could, but I was still about 40 centimeters short.
“Still no good, huh…”
Even if I stand on my tiptoes, I probably won’t reach it.
…I don’t want to lose.
This is a precious chance.
I’ve never done it with a real stag beetle, but let’s see if I can catch it by jumping.
If I try hard, I might be able to ensnare it with the Monster Capture Net.
“…Guess I’ll do it.”
How many years has it been since I last did a proper jump?
Just in case, I did some light warm-up exercises.
I stretched my leg muscles, preparing them for a load they hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“Alright.”
Having finished my preparations, I stretched my arm towards the sky, bringing the Monster Capture Net as close to the stag beetle as possible.
Then, I bent my knees and did a vertical jump with all my might.
–And then, I was able to jump higher than the stag beetle’s position.
“Huh…!?”
I was so surprised I forgot to swing the net.
Zuzah!
I landed on the ground and looked at the stag beetle’s position again.
The stag beetle remained in the exact same spot as before.
“……Ehhh.”
Certainly, the top-tier Explorers I’d seen on TV or online streams defeated enemies at speeds too fast to follow, or sent huge monsters flying with immense strength.
I haven’t reached that level, but it seems I’m growing too.
“Level 16, huh…”
I’m starting to understand a little why Otama-chan was so surprised.
I did another vertical jump, and this time, I snatched the stag beetle with my bare hand.
Bwam!
Encyclopedia No. 55/251
Name: Shadow Stag Beetle
Rarity: ★
Capture Skill: ??? (Condition: Capture 3 types of stag beetles), Attack +5 (First-time Bonus)
Capture EXP: 300
Drop Item: Magic Stone (Medium)
And then, along with a Pikon! electronic sound, a voice echoed in my head.
“‘Condition–Capture 3 types of stag beetles achieved. Acquired Special Skill: Bug Sumo (Stag Beetle).'”
Then, a message window opened in mid-air.
“‘Bug Sumo (Stag Beetle): A special skill that allows you to summon stag beetles to fight enemies. Abilities expand based on the types of stag beetles caught. *Current -> Miniaturization (Small Sword Stag Beetle), Slashing (Thread-cutter Stag Beetle), Shadow Movement (Shadow Stag Beetle).'”
“Oooh…!?”
Is this what you’d call a tamer-type skill?
It’s unmistakably a combat-oriented ability.
…Improved physical abilities and an expanding set of skills.
Step by step, I’m walking towards the future.