Episode 121: Maiden's Secret

"Are you guys ready?"

""Yes!!""

"Now, let's begin the practical training. This time's task is to conquer an F-rank dungeon. I think it's probably easy for you who have already been in the dungeon for the past two or three weeks. However, you never know what will happen in the dungeon, so be careful."

""Yes!!""

Equipped and lined up in front of the F-rank dungeon on the premises, we are receiving an explanation of the practical training we are going to do under Saotome-buchou's regulations.(TN:Buchou is like the head of a club, I guess you could say he's the Club President.)

All the dormitory students received a Change Ring, which was very popular because it makes it easy to change clothes. The people I gave them to were both surprised and grateful. It was especially loved by the girls.

They wondered if it was okay to receive such a good item.

"Touch prohibited."

Since it was an item that was only obtained in a D-rank dungeon, there was no problem with it, so I gave it to everyone, and although the girls were about to surround me, Shia shut them all out, so everything was fine. She was proud of her defense.

I could feel the covetous gazes from explorers among my classmates other than the dorm students and explorers from other classes, but I didn't care about people who treated me like air or people I didn't know at all. So I ignored them.

I never thought that an item that could be obtained in a D-rank dungeon would make people so happy. At first, I thought it was an E-rank dungeon, but later monsters that dropped magic stones equivalent to D-rank bonus monsters appeared.(TN:The problem here is that despite the fact that he knows the 'Bonus Monsters' drops are equivalent to the higher rank mobs, the ones he faced were all 'Bonus Monsters' so he doesn't realize yet. And he doesn't search for info on the Black Monsters because he thinks they were 'Bonus Monsters'.)

I think that stray dungeon was a D-rank dungeon. I was able to conquer the D-rank dungeon without any problems, so there shouldn't be any problems with this field test.

However, just in case, I will be careful not to let my guard down. You never know what will happen inside the dungeon.

Here are thirty-nine freshman novice explorers. Seven parties in all. Everyone else is a party of six, and we are the only party of three.

One party enters and starts exploring every ten minutes. Each group will be accompanied by a third-year student. Even though I'm the leader, basically I just watch over them without doing anything.

Is the challenge this time reaching the final layer of the F-rank dungeon? It's a very easy task. It's been about three weeks since everyone awakened, so I wonder if they'll reach the final layer in no time.

The F-rank monsters aren't strong, and the dungeon isn't that big. Even I dove to the final layer on the second day.

"The first group is Katsuragi's party. You and Satou are already E-rank, and Amane, who is with you, is B-rank. Even if you're a high-ranked student, the school rules require you to participate in each rank's course at least once, so there's nothing you can do about it. Be that as it may, Katsuragi and the others are too overpowered, so there shouldn't be any problems at the beginning."

"Hmm."

Saotome-senpai instructed us to enter first. However, there was information mixed in that I couldn't ignore.

"Huh? Amane is B-rank!?"

"Nyahaha. That's true, isn't it."

I turn my gaze to Amane with an expression of disbelief due to the shock, and she smiles embarrassedly.

Why is Shia replying without even reacting?

"Isn't it impossible for a freshman to get a B-rank in one month?"

It's impossible to become a B-rank explorer in just one month by repeating the cycle of fulfilling the conditions for E-rank, taking an exam, etc., and reaching B-rank, so I ask.

"Fufufu. That's a maiden's secret."

"Well, I have a guess."

I understood that Amane was trying to deceive us. I guess it's mostly about age that girls try to deceive like that.

"Eeh!?"

"You're one year older than us."

"H, how did you find out!?"

Amane covers her mouth with her hand in even greater surprise when I point out the answer to the surprised Amane.

Judging from yesterday's reaction, Amane seems to be honest and innocent. That's why I thought that she would confess easily if I asked a trick question, but she is the type that couldn't lie even more than I expected.

"As I thought, it was like that."

"Ahh!! It was a trick question!! Not fair!!"

When she notices that I got the answer due to Amane's reaction, she puffs out her mouth and glares at me.

She somehow has a similar personality to Nanami. There's no mistaking her overwhelming victory in face and figure over Nanami though.

"It's because Amane tried to hide it."

"Girls are cuter when they're a little mysterious, aren't they?"

"No, I don't care ..."

I've never had a girlfriend because I'm an asocial type, so how can I know that?(TN:Again, he says he's a Yin Kya.)

"It can't be helped if it's found out. I was overseas for a while, so I entered here a year late."

"Hmm. Is that so? Even so, you're only a year older and B-rank, so you're pretty good aren't you?"

Amane confesses the secret that was easily exposed. Even so, I think that she is very talented and has put in a lot of effort to get to B-rank despite being only one year different from us.

"Well, but I can't believe Alexia is E-rank."

"Well, that's true."

Amane nods at my words and turns her gaze towards Shia. I agree with her statement.

In Shia's case, she exchanged for money more than I did, so I think it wouldn't be strange for her to clear the exam qualifications for the next rank soon.

"Hmm?"

"No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Hmm."

Shia tilts her head when she realizes that we are watching her, but she nods at my reply and stares into the distance.

"Hey, hey, you guys, the people behind you are stuck, so go in first. You can talk later."

"Speaking of which, that's right. Then, let's go first."

"Be careful."

"Yes."

We were engrossed in the conversation, but after being yelled at by Saotome-senpai, we went through the entrance to the F-rank dungeon inside the school.