Episode 26 The Secret of the Meadow Dungeon

　I went to a real estate agent to be introduced to an apartment for renting to an adventurer. The only condition was that the grassland dungeon was near.

　I found a property for 50,000 yen a month and went to see it. It's an apartment that you can rent if you pay the rent because you are an adventurer. I thought it would be a short-term rent anyway, so I decided to stay there with a prompt decision.

　It seems that electricity, water, and gas will be available soon. I got the key and put away my luggage.

"What should I do for the futon?"

　There was an old futon in the janitor's hut, but I decided to take this opportunity to buy a new one.

　Come to think of it, if I buy it at this time, it will be extra baggage the next time I move. So I decided to buy an air bed and a sleeping bag. In addition, it costs a lot to buy necessary items for daily life.

　It took me about two days just to get everything I needed for my daily life.

　On the third day after leaving the academy, I headed to the grassland dungeon. I changed clothes at the dungeon house and filled out an application.

"Are you diving alone?"

　I was questioned by the staff of the Adventurer's Guild who manages the grassland dungeon. This is because people usually enter in teams.

"Yes, it's a beginner dungeon, so it's okay to be alone."

"I wish I had that much confidence, but don't overdo it."

　I nodded and then headed to the dungeon. My weapon is a hunting sword. The new weapon has not been completed yet.

　I look ahead from the entrance to the grassland dungeon. This is a great view that I can't think of in a dungeon. This dungeon is pretty bright so I don't need my goggles.

"Today, let's aim for 10 magic stones of Orcs and Lizardmen."

　The magic stone left by the Orc is a green magic stone, and the Lizardman drops a blue magic stone. Both are small, but you can still sell them for 2,000 to 5,000 yen. The goal of ten is at least 20,000 yen.

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　I decided to go around clockwise from the entrance. There seems to be a lot of short grass on the left side. I encountered a Goblin when I walked a while. It attacked with a club.

　I decided that I didn't need to use magic, so I dodged the club and decapitated the Goblin. I thought that my magical power should be preserved for Orcs and Lizardmen.

　I picked up the yellow magic stone left by the Goblin and proceeded. In succession I encountered and defeated two Big Rabbits. There were no Orcs or Lizardmen.

　About three hours passed since I continued on while defeating Goblins and Big Rabbits. There were rocks scattered about in the meadow. They were about two meters in diameter. Then, when I thought about eating lunch, two Lizardmen suddenly appeared from behind a rock.

　The two of them who noticed me pulled out their longswords at the same time and attacked. I fired a TripleArrow at the lizardman on the right. The D-particle cone pierced the Lizardman's chest and it was fatally injured.

　The other Lizardman swung its longsword at me. I jumped back and immediately pushed the Lizardman with a TriplePush.

　The reason why I didn't release the TripleArrow is related to the difference in the characteristics of 'Push' and 'Cone Arrow'. 'Push' has the same speed from the starting point to the limit of its range, but 'Cone Arrow' is slow at first and reaches the maximum speed at the limit of its range.

　In other words, even if I shoot 'Cone Arrow' at a close distance, the power is weak. Of course, if it is a Goblin, it will be killed even if it is released at a close distance, but for the Lizardman that was impossible.

　At a distance, I fired a TripleArrow. This time, I pierced the Lizardman's chest and held my breath.

"Can a Lizardman be killed without using 'Blade'?"

　I was able to confirm the power of the TripleArrow and deepened my confidence. I just have a little thought. The range of 'Cone Arrow' and 'Blade' is as short as 5 meters.

　When attacked by multiple enemies like this time, even if one can be defeated before approaching, they can't be annihilated. After all the range is too short.

"Should I think of a long-range 'Cone Arrow'?"

　I pick up the blue magic stone left by the Lizardman and start eating lunch. I prepared curry bread and croquette bread that I bought at the bakery for lunch.

　I ate it with coffee in a water bottle and took a short break.

　At that time, I was worried about the Lizardmen that suddenly appeared. I went behind the rock and examined it. But nothing changed.

　Did I just not see them because they were behind the rock? Hmm ... the color is different only in one place on the rock.

　I reached out and touched a place with a different color. At that moment, a hole opened at my feet. It seemed to be a secret tunnel.

　I went inside with caution. It was dark inside, so I took out the goggles from the backpack and put them on. The sound of the entrance closing came from behind.

　When I thought that there should be some mechanism, there was something like a rope near the entrance. When I pulled it, the entrance opened.

"It's a mechanism like this. I know how to return, so let's look further on."

　It was an underground passage like a mine. When I went further in, I encountered an Orc. It held a club and attacked, so I killed it with 'Cone Arrow'.

　After that, I proceeded while defeating the Orcs and Lizardmen, and discovered something that seems to be a boss room. Looking inside from the entrance, an Orc Knight in metal armor is standing there.

　It is a monster that you will encounter around the 12th layer of an intermediate dungeon. Can I win with my strength? As expected, I wasn't confident that I could beat an Orc Knight.

　I decided to turn back. I decided to try it after gaining a little more ability. I turned back and went out of the rock to the grassland dungeon. Counting the magic stones, I had achieved my target of ten.

　I returned to the surface, took a shower at the dungeon house, and changed clothes.

　I was tired, but I went to the Adventurer's Guild and cashed the magic stones. It was just over 30,000. When I received the money, I was a little relieved.

　I was worried about being kicked out of the academy.

　I searched for a store to treat myself a little. However, I hesitated to enter the restaurant alone, so I ended up eating sushi at conveyor belt sushi and returned to my apartment.

　Now that I can use electricity, water, and gas, I turned on the lights and laid down in my sleeping bag and started thinking. How strong must I be to be able to defeat an Orc Knight?

"First of all, I wonder if my adventurer rank must be F-class."

　I took out my adventurer card and confirmed it. It seems that I will soon have enough achievements to challenge the F-class.

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