CH 45

The participants of the 26th Group were on the dungeon's single path.

Along the way, the team formed a formation, with Mizue Katsunari at the front of the line, Rikka Tachibana, and Kusatsu Gouta walking behind her.

Behind Kusatsu was the figure of Tenji, who was standing solid.

As he watched their backs, Fukuyama thought it was a little strange.

[What is this relaxed atmosphere that I feel from ...... Tenji-kun?. However, even though he has awakened to the talent of a fifth-grade [swordsman],...... he is still strange.]

Fukuyama thought Tenji had a strange personality.

There are a surprisingly large number of people who work as luggage carriers for a living, but Tenji's calm and composed gait and the atmosphere seemed to be different from any of them.

Looking at the other participants, the difference was obvious.

Mizue Katsunari wants his power to be recognized.

Such feelings are too much in the foreground, and his advancing steps do not try to match those of the other participants. Still, instead he keeps his sharp, wary eyes only on the road ahead.

Rikka Tachibana is no exception.

She is so determined to pass this test that she does not seem to be able to see much of what is going on around her. In particular, she is a little less vigilant about what is behind her.

She is gripping the spear in her hand, wary only of the monsters that will appear ahead. If she exerts herself now, her strength will only run out faster.

Nervousness, fear, and a sense of spinning out of control. This oozed out of her behind and was palpable.

Kusatsu Gouta, who used to be a sportsman, is probably used to the show's atmosphere and the selection process, and he looks less nervous than the other two.

However, perhaps because it was not a test he was taking very seriously, he seemed somewhat distracted. He probably thinks he can relax with Fukuyama, a member of Chariot's A-team in the Group.

To say he was relaxed would be an exaggeration, but that was how he seemed.

In contrast, what about Tenji?

[The amount of knowledge he has as a luggage carrier is undoubtedly head and shoulders above the rest, but ...... I feel like I'm looking at Godo-san somewhere. Is it my imagination?]

Although he knew he was just looking at the wrong person, Fukuyama's eyes sometimes saw Tenji's backside overlap with Godo's.

The way he was attentive to his surroundings, the way his eyes were trying to gauge the character of his fellow students by observing their every move, the way he moved his feet and positioned himself so that he could proceed no matter what the situation was at any given time. And the oppressive demeanour that exudes from the strength of his self-belief.

Occasionally, he would even turn his gaze and senses to Fukuyama, who was walking behind him.

After all, from Fukuyama's point of view, Tenji seemed to be a bit special.

"Tenji, we're about to enter the monster zone, okay?"

"Yes, I see."

Fukuyama urged him to pull his sword out of its sheath in a roundabout way, but Tenji made no move to pull out the iron sword at his waist.

Every year, even though the participants are accustomed to the dungeon, I rarely see people who are this imposing. A first-year student is even participating is unusual, but Tenji still felt somewhat different.

"You're not going to draw your sword?"

"No, I'm still good."

"What do you mean?

Fukuyama, curious about Tenji's thoughts, couldn't help but ask back.

Their little conversation was not heard by the three who were nervously walking in front of them.

But when he heard Fukuyama say, "It's about to be in the monster range," he focused all his attention forward."

Sensing this, Tenji began to answer Fukuyama in a small voice.

"I don't know what kind of scoring standards this test is looking at, but because I think if they are going to continue to be explorers, they should have more faith in their peers."

"You sound like you don't want to take this test, Tenji."

"I'm sorry if it sounded that way. It's just that if I stay with the Group as it is now, I won't be able to conquer this sub-dungeon anyway, and I'm afraid I'll fail the test too."

"I see. That's how it works."

Fukuyama was finally convinced by those words.

He remembered that Tenji was a student who had experienced that incident.

That incident, being quarantined in the back dungeon, taught him the importance of trust in friends, food, decisions, and everything that is important for an explorer.

Fukuyama remembered the story of how he had survived four days of hiding from Black Keroberos, which was why he was so convinced of Tenji's imposing atmosphere now.

But the reality was a little different.

[If possible, I don't want to fight here. As expected, using force in front of Fukuyama-san, a professional explorer among professionals would be a bad idea, and let's hope the three of them will somehow manage the situation.]

Tenji, who still could not control his power, had no idea that Fukuyama, a second-class explorer and such a strong man, would be accompanying him. So, he thought he would quietly let the situation pass by.

[I had no desire to join the Chariot in the first place, and I honestly didn't care if I passed or failed.]

Tenji stopped in his tracks.

He spotted a brand new footprint of a monster in his field of vision and sensed a faint beastly stench. You'll get an intuition if you dive into the dungeon many times, but the three people walking in front didn't notice it.

The first thing that came to mind was that the three of them are unaware that they were in a dungeon. The three people walking in front of him did not notice it, though it is an intuition one learns after many dives in the dungeon.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the monsters are coming."

"What about? I haven't seen anything yet. Just because you're a student at Explorers High School, don't get too involved."

However, Mizue took the initiative to deny Tenji's words.

The other two agreed with his denial, and without a second thought, they moved forward again.

[......... right, I knew that would happen because they were being so hostile. Well, what's the deal?]

Tenji thinks about this and looks at Fukuyama walking a little behind him.

Fukuyama should have noticed the monster's brand-new footprints and the smell of the beast, but he was walking with a pretense as if he didn't know.

[After all, Fukuyama-san hardly shows any pretense of interfering, doesn't he? I guess he wants to first give the impression that he's the judge.]

Tenji thought that Fukuyama showed his womanizing side at their first meeting. Still, once in the dungeon, he acted like a professional explorer.

He regained his composure and followed them slowly. Finally, he pulled out his iron sword from its sheath.

"You finally drew your sword."

"Yes, it's going to be a messy battle from here on out, and as I said, if you don't pull it out, you'll die. Aren't you going to prepare, Mr. Fukuyama?"

"I'm only a judge. Besides, I don't think weapons are necessary in a dungeon of this level."

After all, their conversation did not reach anyone.

Tenji was whispering so they would not hear it, but they were not paying attention.

And then it was time.

"Wham!"

From the end of the single path, the menacing cries of three "diving mouse" monsters could be heard.

The monsters moved quickly through the shallow ground, making a gurgling sound, and approached Tenji and the others. Their figures were not yet clearly visible.

They also noticed the monster from the faint vibrations in the ground and the rising smoke.

"They're coming!"

"Yes!"

"I know."

Kusatsu said in a loud voice, and Rikka and Mizue replied.

The three of them each readied their weapons and began to prepare for the monster's assault, keeping a reasonable distance between them.

[Three of us take down three of each.]

It is known that even an ordinary person can easily defeat a fifth-grade monster if he or she has a weapon that can be obtained in the dungeon.

It was probably the first time they had actually faced a monster, but they looked somewhat confident.

"Wham!"

"Yaah!"

One of the diving mice leapt out of the ground and headed for Rikka, who was holding her spear on the left side. The diving mouse jumped at Rikka's belly with its snout, which is harder than steel.

However, with a shout, Rikka launched a spear-piercing attack.

The tip of the spear successfully pierced the monster's neck.

The force of the monster's rush made Rikka involuntarily retreat a few steps. Still, she had managed to defeat the one-eyed monster.

"Yay!"

"I'm next!"

Rikka shouted with joy, and Mizue, inspired by that, immediately called in defeat and approached to take the Diving Mouse's head.

She held a Renkou sword in his hand, poised in an exquisite mid-level position.

[That's a pretty well-trained move. Probably has a mentor.]

In that instant, Tenji sensed Mizue's feelings about the test.

Every step he took was careful, yet his movements were as if he was measuring the distance between himself and the monster. The way he held his sword was also peculiar to a flexible explorer who could respond to attacks from all directions.

"Wham!"

A diving mouse jumped out of the ground in front of Mizue.

"Sweet!"

Mizue didn't miss the slight tremor as it came out of the ground, cutting its straight sword up from below and diagonally upward as it popped up.

The steel nose of the diving mouse never reached Mizue, and it was smashed in half from the middle of its body.

The sword's sharpness, power, and flexibility were all incomparable to Rikka's skill level.

[Awesome ......]

Tenji couldn't help but be impressed.

'Perhaps Mizue has been raised more gifted than Tenji,' he realized.

"Me too!"

A step behind, Kusatsu raised his Iron Sword to the upper level and swung it at the Diving Mouse as it flew out of the ground.

However, because of the messy way he swung the sword, it collided with the nose with a crack.

"Whoa!"

"Goy!"

It is said that it is difficult to break through the steel of the nose of the diving mouse even if it is an ordinary person of monstrous strength.

Kusatsu was the embodiment of those words, and the Iron Sword that collided with the nose of the Diving Mouse was mercilessly bounced off and spun far backwards.

The diving mouse approached Kusatsu with an aid to make the next thrust.

"OOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!"

Mizue rushed over there and slashed it in half from the neck of the diving mouse.