NOVEL NEXT Book 2: Chapter 53
Chapter 53.
Tenji Amagi, Mizue Katsunari, and Rikka Tachibana carefully moved through the sub-dungeon while sharpening their senses.
Without the strongman Fukuyama, they had no choice but to proceed with extreme caution.
Just as they passed through the end gate - the exit to the sub-dungeon - they were trapped in the darkness for a few minutes. They later found themselves back in an unfamiliar sub-dungeon.
It had a slightly different atmosphere than they had just been in, and they were naturally more cautious.
"What do you think of this, Tenji?"
Suddenly, Mizue asks Tenji.
"Well, it seems like an extension of the test... But would a famous guild do such an outlandish and dangerous test? Considering the public's perception, I feel we can't have too radical a test."
"I see. You have a point. What do you think, Rikka?"
"Yes, even if it is Chariot... I feel that a test as heinous as this is too much. I'm only taking the test as one of my employment options, so I'd like to believe it's simply an unforeseen event. I don't want to be at any risk."
"Hmm, some people are like that. Evil testing t hat's an odd way of putting it."
It was a strange conversation, but Mizue summed up each of their thoughts.
Then Rikka asked Mizue back slowly.
"What about you, Mizue-Kun?"
"Me? I think it's most likely an extension of the test... Or perhaps it's more like my desire to extend the test. But if it is the Chariot, then not proceeding would turn us down." Mizue says it with his typical bullishness.
Perhaps it was his confidence in himself, but he always tended to think ahead and act accordingly.
Tenji was a little wary of this.
[If I were to have to use my calling, the problem would definitely be with Mizue Katsunari, who seems to have keen intuition, and not with the carefree Rikka-san. Mizue being too smart is a problem for me.]
As each of them was thinking about this test, a temple cave appeared at the end of path three of them.
Immediately, they silenced and proceeded quietly with their backs against the wall, trying not to make a sound.
When they reached the entrance of the Temple Cave, Mizue carefully peeked inside. Then, he quickly pulled his face back up and used a hand sign to convey the information to Tenji and Rikka, who was waiting behind him.
[Two monsters and they are the same in fifth grade... Which means they're diving mice.]
From the three signs, Tenji and Rikka immediately deciphered the information.
This sign was one of the common hand signs designated by the association. Many parties and guilds use their own signs, but there is a common language.
[Two bodies would be okay at first...]
So Mizue pointed to himself, then to Tenji.
Somehow Tenji understood what he meant, and Tenji pointed to his sword, then to himself.
[Well, I guess this is the best way to find out how good I am.]
Tenji thought about that and quietly gave the okay sign back to Mizue.
He grabbed the iron sword at his waist and slowly held it up with one hand.
Seeing this, Mizue immediately returned his gaze to the Temple Cave and began to measure the timing.
[As expected, my heart is pounding a little.]
Tenji knows his calling is special and won't struggle against a monster of this caliber.
But still, this was his first battle against monsters. He felt weird.
[I can't use Goblins this time, so I have no choice but to fight with this Iron Sword. If the worst happens and I'm about to die, I'll probably summon the Goblins. Still, if I'm struggling at this level, I won't be able to survive as an explorer for long.]
[Let's not worry. My attack power is far beyond that of a normal person. As long as I don't strike out, there's no problem.)
Tenji already had the Red Demon Ring on his finger, and his attack power increased to 96.
Considering that his attack power before he gained his calling was 21, Tenji's attack power now is more than four times higher. So, he was proud of that.
[Let's do it. I can't talk about it if I'm scared in a place like this. Yes, let's remember Mr. Leon. That person always showed a lot of composure, even in the dungeon, to the extent that he would walk around with his hands in his pockets. That's a presence of mind that I don't have right now. But I have to be like Mr. Leon, just for now.]
If he stayed in his character, he was going to fail somewhere.
So Tenji thinks of the strongest explorer he has ever met and quickly tries to act like Leon for the moment.
And then it happened.
Mizue turned around and instructed to go.
They both rushed simultaneously out of place into the temple cave square.
"Goy!"
"Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"
Sensitive to the presence of people, the diving mouse quickly caught the two humans in their sights and dove into the shallow ground.
Tenji and Mizue locked onto another individual and held their swords free.
"You've been resting in the back for so long. Please show yourself useful."
"Of course."
Tenji smiles and replies to Mizue's venting.
The two diving mice approached them, moving quickly through the shallow ground.
Two diving mice attacked Tenji and Mizue.
"Phew!"
Mizue effortlessly swung his Renkou Sword at one of the diving mice, slicing its neck and torso in two.
And then--
"Yikes!"
Tenji pretends to swing his sword but kicks the diving mouse on its side.
The Diving Mouse, which had only been watching the sword, couldn't possibly respond to the sudden sidekick and let out a squeal. It slammed into an old pillar.
The pillar snapped off halfway, pinning the diving mouse to the ground underneath.
Mizue, watching the scene nearby, was staring with his mouth open.
"Whoa, it's lighter than I thought it'd be," Tenji said after crushing Diving Mouse with his kick.
"It's not light!"
Suddenly, Tenji reacted with a startle to a sharp shove beside him, turning his head to look back at Mizue.
[Huh? Maybe it felt lighter because I had more attack power?]
"Ha-ha-ha, I was joking."
"What kind of a monster are you?... A diving mouse weighs nearly forty kilograms, even in light form."
"It's just dumb luck. See how black my uniform is?"
"Yes, it is, but..."
With a somewhat unaccountable expression, Mizue checked to see if the diving mouse was alive or dead.
Perhaps it was because the pillar was broken or because of the dust, but he could not clearly confirm it. So, he decided that there was no way it could have survived in that situation.
"Well... Well, Tenji seems to be a good enough asset. I'll take it as a good thing."
How Mizue looked at Tenji had changed to something like looking at a creepy creature.
Mizue's mind changed from "this guy is weird" to "this guy is really dangerous."
Tenji realized this and reconfirmed how warped his strength had become.
[Ah, I guess I can't quite grasp the feeling since only the attack power has become outstandingly strong. I'll try to relax a little more.]
Tenji gently removed the red demon ring, dropping his attack power to 71. However, it was still 50 higher than Tenji's initial status.
Then Rikka approached Tenji with fear and started staring at him.
"...That's awesome monstrous strength. If it were me, I'd be pushed pretty hard by the weight of the diving mouse when I thrust my spear. Your leg, doesn't it hurt?"
"Uh-huh. See, I'm pinching myself, as you can see."
Tenji slightly raised the leg and shook it, doing a repetitive horizontal jump on the spot to show nothing was wrong with it.
They were convinced it was true, but their eyes still turned to look at the strange creature.
'Well, Tenji-Kun had his calling sealed at the entrance, right? So, this must be your ground power. I envy you so much."
"Oh, it really is. It's a natural talent you were born with."
They wondered if all the students in Explorers High School had this feat of strength.
Tenji had little experience of being praised by those around him, so he felt they were praising him for his genuineness. He involuntarily moved his mouth to make a pout.
Seeing Tenji's cheeks, Rikka felt the urge to tap him.
"Hoi, hoi, hoi," Rikka said as she gave in to her desire.