Chapter 31: It Was Surprisingly Cleared Up
The next day, Listol didn’t come to the classroom.
And this, despite today being an important day marking exactly half a year since our enrollment.
The class assignments were also announced, and since I was in the upper ranks, I was able to remain in Class A.
Happily, Hiroki and the others also all kept their Class A status.
This was all thanks to Yuri, but even if I wanted to thank her, she wasn’t here.
I want to go see her soon, but it seems impossible unless I graduate.
Just as I’d heard at the time of enrollment, classes have pretty much disappeared and will apparently be about once a month.
If that’s the case, it’ll be easier for that bastard to run and hide, which is a pain.
While harboring such thoughts, I came to the dungeon with Riana-san.
Just as we discussed the other day, I brought her to the thirteenth floor to let her test-fire the gun.
A slightly higher floor would have been better, but she wished to do it on as deep a floor as possible, so we chose this one.
I handed her the loaded gun, explained how to aim and fire, and when she actually tried it, her excitement shot up.
“This is too much fun! Hey, more!”
“O-Oh. There are more up ahead, you know?”
When I told her that, she dashed off and started shooting wildly, and I followed, making sure not to get too far apart.
Um, that’s my magical power, though…
But it’s hard to say that to her when she’s so engrossed.
While I was thinking that, she stopped after firing several dozen shots.
In reality, I still had plenty, but since I was wearing full Maso armor, I told her that was all the magical power for today.
When I explained it that way, she quickly understood, and I was relieved.
She was even happy, saying it might be more efficient than elemental magic.
Just in case, my backpack is full, so I have plenty of magical power to spare, but it would be a problem if she used any more, so it’s a secret.
Well, she probably knows the shape of the backpack, so I think she’s figured it out.
“I can’t wait for the magic tool version of this to be ready.”
“With Yuri, I brought it the next day, so it should be soon, right?
Huh, someone’s coming from behind. What should we do?”
At times like this, Yuri and I would arrange to meet up and then split at a fork.
“It’s a bother. Let’s just go back already.”
“You’re quick to call it a day, as usual. Actually, I want to earn some money…”
“Oh, right. Well, we can go down further, but are you okay on magical power?”
In response to her question, I patted my backpack, and she nodded, so it seems she knew after all.
We moved away from the sound of footsteps approaching the stairs and walked quickly.
And so, we arrived at the familiar fifteenth floor.
In a place with lots of monster sounds, I used explosion magic to lure them out.
“Idiot! If you do that, they’ll all gather!”
Ah, right. This isn’t Yuri.
I have to move Riana-san to a safe place.
I instantly created a box, put her in it, then created legs and extended them.
Stopping just before hitting the ceiling, I shot down the gathered monsters.
The number gathering was moderate. This is comfortable, I thought, and continued shooting, but…
Huh?
The monsters’ movements seem a lot slower than before.
Even though the monsters I’m comparing them to are exactly the same.
Ah… is it because the monsters in the deeper floors were too fast that my senses are messed up?
Oops, I’m not alone, and more importantly than that, it’s time to subjugate them.
I don’t think the monsters on this floor can reach this high, but deciding such verification wasn’t needed, I killed them instantly, and soon it was time to return.
“What incredible annihilation speed… So many came, yet it was over the moment you encountered them all.”
While surprised, she suggested that we could go down even further.
Apparently, she wants to gauge the gun’s power more.
“Ah, let’s do that when Yukina-san is with us, at least.
We have to be fully prepared for unknown floors, right?”
“…That’s true.
But today was fun. I want to shoot again soon.”
While giving a wry smile to her saying such things, I gathered the monsters, loaded them onto the cart, and headed back the way we came.
Yesterday’s earnings were four silver coins.
At this rate, the repayment will be finished in about twenty days, I sighed in relief.
“You look like you’re struggling. It’s a bother for me too, so I can give you that much, you know?”
“No, it’s fine. I want the evaluation points too.
Besides, I plan on using the preferential treatment for exceeding the evaluation quota eventually.”
That’s right. Half a year has already passed, so if my evaluation exceeds the standard value, I can take the graduation exam.
I have to graduate early and go see Yuri.
“That… is considerably difficult, you know.”
“I know. I have to defeat an instructor, right?”
“That too, but with evaluation points from a floor like this, it’ll take at least another year.”
Eh!?
Wait a minute, Yuri-san?
You didn’t say anything like that, did you?
“Th-then, I guess I have to go deeper…”
“I don’t mean I don’t understand how you feel, but.
The more you rush, the higher the probability of losing your life, you know?”
“Well, yeah. But I’ll clear that with ingenuity, like just now.”
That’s right. As long as I can attack one-sidedly, there’s no problem.
That was proven when I was dropped into the hole.
I learned that underestimating things is absolutely no good, but as long as I can scout enemies and make a preemptive strike, I’m confident that a floor of this level won’t be a problem no matter what happens.
Or rather, as I am now, I’m confident I wouldn’t lose even if I were ambushed.
Though, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I said so.
“Hah. The source of that determination is Razbel-san, isn’t it?
You two, as usual, don’t seem to have any openings to exploit.”
“Hahaha, well, once I master this Maso, there’ll be no reason to hold me back, right?”
She gave me a sharp look, and I tilted my head, but then she sighed and, changing her expression, said, “That’s right.”
And just as we were about to reach the stairs to the tenth floor, I caught an unpleasant sound and stopped.
Ahead, in front of the stairs, I could hear the voices of a large group of people.
If it were just that, it could be parties chatting amongst themselves, but the tone of voice sounded like some kind of dispute.
Wanting to hear clearly, I enhanced my senses.
“This is going too far. You don’t have the authority to blockade a floor!”
“Oh? A mere Baron’s family dares to defy me, of a Count family?”
“This isn’t about defying you or not!
I’m saying that since you have no authority, there’s no reason for us to be stopped!”
Ooh. That voice is Listol.
The other voice also sounds familiar, but I wonder who it is.
While harboring these doubts, I got a bit closer and explained the situation to Riana-san.
“I see. So he came even with me here… You can defeat him, right?”
“If it’s okay to kill him, then yes. If you say to keep him alive, it’ll be difficult.”
“I see. Then let’s go before the other people leave.
It’s better to have more witnesses. There’s also the matter of the duel, so it shouldn’t become a problem.”
She added, “Besides, he’s the fourth son.”
I don’t know the circumstances around that, but if it’s okay, then that’s fine, and I followed Riana-san.
When the two arguing groups came into view, she called out to them directly.
“Oh my, what happened? Such a tense atmosphere, isn’t it?”
“Ah, Lady Riana, please listen!
He’s overstepping his authority, prohibiting entry to this floor!”
Riana, without showing any particular tension, listened to his story in her usual manner.
To summarize, he apparently blocked the path, pointed weapons at them, and wouldn’t listen to anything they said, refusing to let them pass.
“My, my, you ran away from the duel, yet you’re only brave when you have your underlings around, aren’t you?”
“What did you say!? I did not run away!!”
Ooh, she’s provoking him, provoking him.
Nice, do it more!
Listol glared at Riana-san, his face contorting, raised his hand, and slowly formed a magic circle.
I was about to voice my agreement with her pleasant words, but seeing the magic circle aimed at her, I moved instantly.
First, defend. I created a Stone Wall in front of the magic circle, and a strong flame erupted on the spot.
The Baron’s son’s party members looked startled and quickly distanced themselves.
This made it easier to target Listol.
“Is it okay to do it?”
“Y-Yes. You saved me.”
Having gotten her approval, I changed the gun to about three times its standard size and took aim. They, with confident smiles, readied their shields.
“Fuhahahahaha, you’ll regret defying me!!
I’ll slaughter every last one of you! Only then can I clear the disgrace that has been cast upon me!”
Listol roared while holding his shield.
Hearing his words about a massacre, his six cronies immediately conjured magic circles.
Deciding to start with the cronies, I aimed for their eyes peeking out from behind their shields and shot them.
One by one, their heads burst, and their bodies collapsed with thuds.
No matter the armament, securing vision is necessary. The area around the eyes is wide open.
Unable to turn their faces away from me as I fought, they were nothing but good targets.
I was aiming for their faces thinking that, but I made the power too strong.
It wouldn’t have mattered where I shot them.
“Wh-What did you do!?
Stop screwing around! This… this can’t be happening!!”
“You don’t even know what happened? All your buddies got wiped out, you know?
Man, thanks to you being an idiot, the chance to strike back came surprisingly quickly.”
“More importantly, are you sure it’s okay to be running from reality, you coward, Listol-kun?”
I transformed my gun, shaping it into a katana and extending its length.
I don’t want to finish this guy off with a single, quick blow.
I’m going to return the despair and pain I experienced, exactly as I felt it.
“Hah! What was that? Was that all you had?!
Then, if I just kill you, I can handle the rest!”
“Ahahaha, even if you did manage to take me down, there’s another whole party here besides Riana-san, you know.
You’re probably looking for some reassurance, but it’s hopeless. Idiot!”
“Sh-shut up, shut up, shut uuuup!!”
Provoking him, he predictably flew into a rage.
All I had to do was intercept his next charge, but seeing Listol’s movements, I furrowed my brow.
“Huh? What the hell are you doing!”
Seeing Listol charge in, having forgotten to use his enhancement, I reverted my katana to magical power and landed another counter punch.
“Forgetting to use your enhancement at a time like this. You really are a hopeless idiot.”
“Wh-why… Dammit!! You commoner!!”
Perhaps realizing he couldn’t win in close combat, Listol conjured a magic circle.
Hmm, is that Firestorm?
Alright, then I guess I’ll send it right back at him, flames and all, with some wind.
I cast Wind Wall, facing it directly in front of the magic circle Listol was conjuring.
A tornado of fire assaulted him, but he merely crouched down, enduring the wind pressure. It didn’t seem to have much effect.
Ah, that’s right. You don’t take damage from your own spells, huh.
Well, I managed to block the attack itself, so I guess it’s fine.
Alright, next up is…
With that, I conjured about ten small Stone Bullet magic circles, all aimed at Listol.
“W-wait, what is that! Why would a mere commoner…!!”
Ignoring Listol’s shouts, I continued to hit him with intentionally weakened Stone Bullets.
I pelted the fleeing Listol with dozens of rocks, each just powerful enough to make his body jolt, but even though they were small, I fired too many.
My magical power had depleted to the point where I’d soon need to replenish it.
Man…
I’ve barely defeated any monsters today, yet on top of my daily reserves, I’ve already used up an entire backpack’s worth of magical power.
Listol, pummeled by countless small stone projectiles, was covered in wounds and lay collapsed.
Deciding it was about time to end this little stress relief session, I materialized my katana and walked towards Listol.
“Wait, I get it! I’ll turn myself in! I won’t target you anymore!”
“Huh? What makes you think I can believe a single word you say?
Besides, after pushing someone to the brink of death, what are you even talking about…”
Aiming for his leg, I swung the katana horizontally, cleanly slicing through his Maso.
He must have been out of magical power, as his leg was severed without his Maso offsetting the blow.
“N-n-nooooooooo!! M-my leg!! No, no, no!!”
“Yeah, I know how you feel.
Thanks to you, I experienced that once myself. Thanks to you, understand?”
Listol deactivated his Maso, tears streaming down his face as he shook his head.
“Now, do you understand even a little of what it feels like to be on the verge of being killed?”
“I understand, I understaaaaand!! So please…”
As he pleaded, I lopped off his head.
Even though no one had left, a complete silence fell upon the place.
“Riana-san, it’s over.”
“…You really don’t show any mercy, do you.”
The gazes of everyone present, directed at me, were filled with revulsion.
Only then did I finally realize how my actions must have looked to an outsider.
But I have no regrets whatsoever.
Come to think of it, even with the assassin, I panicked because I didn’t expect to die, but it didn’t leave any lasting trauma.
I even took the initiative to kill those who tried to attack Naomi.
I didn’t realize it in my past life, but I suppose I’m just that kind of person.
“Ah, my bad. For scaring you all…”
I apologized to Riana-san and the others, whose names I didn’t even know.
“No, it certainly wasn’t an act to be praised, but you’re not at fault.
I know the circumstances that forced your hand.
It’s just… I’m sorry. My mind hasn’t caught up yet.”
He said that while grimacing at the headless corpse.
The Baron’s son was a good guy.
Come to think of it, he was the one who stopped her about the curled hair incident on the day I first met Riana-san.
“Hearing you say that is a relief. Um, would you be willing to provide testimony too?”
When I said that, it was Riana-san who replied.
“It’s fine. I was the one who initiated this whole thing.
I was the one who said it was okay. I won’t let them make you a criminal.”
She said as much, but her expression was dark, and an indescribable tension hung in the air.
They remained bewildered. She was left with a sense of regret.
And I, shamefully, felt a sense of satisfaction.
Amidst such a strained atmosphere, we returned to the school.