“A Cave, huh…? This could be tricky.”
Having landed on the cliff face, Keiichiro peered into the darkness.
Monsters dwelling in caves were often different from those outside.
Furthermore, they were frequently more powerful individuals.
“My equipment… This should do.”
Keiichiro murmured, his black coat swaying.
In his hands, he gripped two black daggers.
Twilight Cloak. Twilight Dual Swords.
—This gear was known as the Twilight Series.
Series equipment provided additional effects when worn together.
The effect of the Twilight Series was the acquisition of [Stealth].
Only while equipped with the Twilight Series could Keiichiro use [Stealth].
Having been obtained in an S-Rank Dungeon, its performance was guaranteed to be top-notch.
It was an exquisite item that would fetch over a billion yen if it ever hit the market.
It was equipment close to the highest tier available.
“Alright then… Let’s go.”
Keiichiro stepped forward.
“Trap Set.”
And then, he stepped onto an Arrow.
A momentary feeling of weightlessness.
Simultaneously, his body was propelled forward.
Keiichiro moved through the Cave at high speed.
“Trap Set.”
A corner approached.
If he continued jumping like this, his body would slam into the rock face.
Before that happened, he affixed an Arrow to the stone wall.
“Whoa…”
Keiichiro landed on the wall—atop the Arrow.
His body changed direction according to the Arrow.
“This is… quite convenient once you get used to it.”
He proceeded to set Arrows one after another throughout the Cave.
Guided by the Arrows, Keiichiro dashed through the cavern at high speed.
So far, there was only one path.
If so, his destination should lie ahead.
(—! I’ve come out into an open area…!)
The claustrophobic narrow passage came to an end.
Keiichiro’s body burst out into a large chamber.
A large, dome-like chamber.
It seemed to be a junction of passages, with multiple branching paths present.
(Is that it—)
However, Keiichiro didn’t get lost.
Because a massive number of Monsters were swarming down one of the branching paths.
Green bodies.
Human-like limbs.
Height up to an adult’s waist.
Crudely shaped clubs.
The number of these Monsters was far more than ten or twenty.
“…A horde of Goblins, huh.”
Monsters sometimes also called imps.
Individually, they were D-Rank Monsters.
But as a horde, it was a different story.
Swarming Goblins were cunning and troublesome.
Thus, their rank was elevated to C.
—For the Keiichiro of the past, this would have been a tough opponent.
However, Keiichiro wore a smile.
There was no fear, rather—
“I’m looking forward to this.”
He charged straight into the horde of Goblins.
☆
“Ngh… Kugh…!”
How many times had it been?
With a metallic clang, an impact ran up her arm.
It was the recoil from her greatshield blocking a Goblin’s blow.
Having exchanged well over a hundred blows, the woman—Reizei Akino—grit her teeth.
Her hair, like golden threads, stuck to her cheeks with sweat.
Her crimson dress was stained with mud from the repeated clashes.
She held her shield with both hands, enduring the attacks of the Goblins that filled her vision.
“Ojou-sama! Please leave us behind! Ojou-sama, you must focus only on your own safety—”
“You’re being noisy…! It’s distracting!”
The voice from behind belonged to her companions.
—Akino and the others had come to this Cave for an investigation.
Their Party consisted of specialists for the survey and Adventurers for protection.
The specialists had no combat ability, and the Adventurers had taken heavy damage from a Goblin ambush.
As a result, the only one left capable of fighting was her, who possessed talent as an Adventurer yet was also in a position to be guarded by those around her.
—[Paladin]
Fortunately, the class Akino possessed excelled in protection.
She had the defensive power to protect her allies and the stamina to hold the line.
But even that was nearing its limit.
The relentless attacks were undoubtedly taking their toll on Akino’s body.
Her whole body felt heavy, and her concentration was starting to waver.
At this rate—
“Tch.”
Sweat dripped into her eye.
Reflexively, Akino closed one eye.
That became a fatal opening.
“Kyaa…!”
A Goblin’s attack knocked her shield away.
The impact sent Akino’s body sideways, leaving her defenseless.
As if waiting for this moment, Goblins leaped at her.
A Monster about the size of a child clung to Akino’s waist.
“Damn—”
Just as her movements slowed, more Goblins latched onto both her legs.
Her balance, once lost, couldn’t be recovered.
One after another, Goblins swarmed Akino.
“Ugh—”
Unable to bear the weight, Akino fell to her knees.
Once she was down, they forced her head down.
(At this rate—)
Akino glared at the enemy while sprawled on the ground.
“Not yet… I’m not done yet!”
Akino stood up.
Lifting multiple Goblins on her back.
She rose, even as her knees threatened to buckle.
She wouldn’t let them target the people behind her.
For that reason alone.
—More Goblins approached.
However, Akino couldn’t even raise her arms.
It was a situation akin to being strapped to the chopping block, merely waiting for death.
Even so, the fire in Akino’s eyes didn’t dim.
But reality was cruel—
“—Mind if I help?”
A jet-black wind swept through.
Countless black slashes streaked past.
In an instant, they dispatched the Goblins that had captured Akino.
“What in the world…?!”
It was an utterly inexplicable phenomenon.
Confused, Akino looked around.
“If it’s not an unwelcome intrusion, would you mind if I lent a hand?”
A man’s voice reached her.
He stood there, clad in a coat the color of night.
Blood dripped from the daggers in his hands.
The slashes from moments ago had been his doing.
“This was—You…?”
Akino asked.
The first thing she noticed was his equipment.
She could tell at a glance that it was first-rate.
It was likely high-rank equipment that only Adventurers fighting on the front lines could obtain.
In other words, he was someone entitled to challenge such Dungeons.
“I’m just in the middle of leveling. If you’re willing, I’d like to get a share.”
The man said.
Not as a rescue, but purely for his own convenience.
He likely spoke that way because many Adventurers were prideful people.
She had heard that many would become stubborn if someone offered to “save” them.
He was deliberately phrasing it that way to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Apparently, he was also experienced in dealing with fellow Adventurers.
“There’s no need for such roundabout phrasing, you know.”
“…Could you please help me?”
Therefore, Akino directly asked for help.
“This situation… It looks like it will be difficult for me to handle this alone.”
Akino raised her shield and glanced sideways at the man.
In response, the man—smiled.
“…I’m glad you’re a reasonable person.”
☆
Keiichiro breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Beside him stood a blonde woman.
Pure blonde hair and a bright red dress.
Her dignified bearing spoke of her refined upbringing.
Combined with an appearance reminiscent of a noble lady, he had been wary of the possibility that she might be a proud woman, but—
“…I’m glad you’re a reasonable person.”
She put herself on the line to protect her allies and didn’t hesitate to ask for help when necessary.
She was that kind of straightforward woman.
(I never intended to lose anyway, but now losing is even less of an option.)
Keiichiro steeled himself again.
To return the woman beside him safely to the surface.
“My name is Reizei Akino. May I ask your name?”
“…Kageura Keiichiro.”
The two exchanged names.
Identifiers to call each other by were essential for teamwork.
That must be why she—Akino—had prompted them to exchange names.
“There are many enemies—I believe a division of roles is necessary.”
Akino said.
“I am a [Paladin]. I would prefer to leave the attacking to you, but… excuse me, may I ask your class?”
([Paladin], huh…)
It was a class categorized under the warrior type.
Its defining feature was durability.
It was one of the classes considered optimal for tanking.
Therefore, she likely intended to focus on guarding and entrust the offense to Keiichiro.
That must have been the impromptu teamwork she devised.
However—
“I’m a [Trapper].”
“Eh?”
Akino’s expression crumbled.
Her curled blonde hair bounced.
“Um… Considering your attack just now… Even for a lie, that seems a bit too far-fetched, don’t you think…?”
At her reaction, Keiichiro smiled.
Then, he took a step forward.
“Also, teamwork isn’t necessary.”
“For these guys—I alone am enough.”
Keiichiro’s declaration.
It was the signal to begin.
The Goblins started moving all at once.
“Wait…!”
Akino called out to Keiichiro, who had taken the lead.
If you stick out, you become a target.
That’s probably what she meant, but—
“Trap Set—[Arrow].”
Keiichiro swung his arm.
Three Arrows shot out from his palm and deployed onto the ground.
The Goblins surged forward like a tsunami.
They weren’t dexterous enough to avoid the Traps, and the Goblins leading the charge stepped on the Arrows.
“””Giiiih!?”””
Three Goblins were forcefully blown backward.
Like bowling pins, they knocked down the Goblins behind them.
The Goblin horde was pushed back all the way to the large chamber.
“What… was that…!?”
Faced with such a sight, Akino’s eyes widened.
“…You must be a [Wizard], then.”
Those were the words Akino managed to squeeze out.
It seemed she had mistaken him for a magic-type class.
“No. I’m a [Trapper].”
“[Trappers] can’t do things like that!?”
In a way, her outburst might have been understandable.
Even Keiichiro might not have believed it if it wasn’t happening to him.
“! More are coming!”
Akino warned.
After all, the Goblins had only been knocked back.
They quickly got back up and started returning to the passage.
“At this rate, our escape route will be—”
The passage was filling up.
Akino showed signs of panic, but—
“It’s fine.”
Keiichiro declared.
(Somehow… I feel like I can do it.)
An idea had surfaced in his mind.
A technique that overturned the conventional wisdom about Traps.
Something inside him whispered that it was possible.
“Trap Set.”
A Trap was prepared.
In Keiichiro’s right hand was [Slash], and in his left was [Arrow].
Separate Traps were ready in each hand.
“—[Arrow] + [Slash].”
Then, he clapped his palms together.
An action like applause.
The [Arrow] and [Slash] Traps overlapped—and fused.
Instantly, a storm of slashes erupted in front of Keiichiro.
Spreading out in a fan shape from him, the slashes raged for a distance of about ten meters.
In the passage, a space with no escape to the left or right.
The Goblins couldn’t escape the slashes and were sliced to pieces.
When the storm of slashes subsided, only the remains of Goblins were left.
“Guess that’s about it.”
Confirming the Goblins were annihilated, Keiichiro smirked.
“You okay?”
Keiichiro turned just his head toward Akino.
There stood Akino, frozen stiff.
“There’s no way you’re a [Trapper], right!?”
Akino yelled, coming back to her senses.
“I’ve never heard of a [Trapper] who can annihilate a horde of Monsters in a single blow!”
Akino was bewildered.
“It would be more believable if you said you were a high-ranking [Wizard]…”
“Huh… Guess you can do anything if you try.”
“And that was your first time!?”
The first attempt at fusing Traps.
It had succeeded.
The [Slash] Trap was given directionality by the [Arrow] Trap and projected forward.
It was an action based purely on intuition, but it was a stroke of luck that it worked out well.
“Well then, shall we head back?”
“Y-Yes… Thank you for saving me.”
In any case, the Goblin horde was wiped out.
Keiichiro and Akino tried to leave the Cave, but—
“…Just as I thought.”
“What is it?”
When Keiichiro stopped, Akino asked.
“No… It’s just that, from experience, a horde of that size means—there’s bound to be one.”
Keiichiro had already sensed a certain presence.
—It was several seconds later that the footsteps were heard.
By this point, Akino was also beginning to understand the situation.
“Don’t tell me—”
“Yeah.”
“It’s the horde’s Boss.”
Goblins are a species that tends to gather in groups.
Therefore, small hordes aren’t uncommon.
However, when it comes to several dozen, it’s a different story.
A group of that size—requires a leader.
“Lucky or unlucky? How should I think about this?”
Seeing the giant Monster appear in the large chamber, Keiichiro smirked.
Skin a slightly deeper green than a Goblin’s.
Over ten meters tall.
Above all, unlike the generally slender Goblins, its body was covered in muscles like steel.
This was the reason Goblins are considered ‘lesser ogres’.
“Looks like the Ogre-sama has made his appearance.”
What appeared before them was a genuine ogre.
Identification name: Ogre.
Its rank—C+.
Next time: The first Boss battle.