“Cave-type, huh… A little dark, but I can just barely see.”

I open my eyes in the cramped, suffocating space.

I’m surrounded by a stone-enclosed cavern that emits a true ‘dungeon’ feeling.

There are various types of dungeons: cave-like places, man-made looking temples, snowy mountains that seem like other worlds, and grasslands.

Dungeon might just be a name; it might be better to call them other worlds. Well, originally, they were called the Great Labyrinths of Another World, but dungeon is easier to understand.

“Well then, it’s no good to simply clear it. Still, strategy is vital for survival. Let’s not do anything reckless.”

I proceed through the dungeon alone.

This dungeon has already been explored, and a map has been made.

I downloaded the map onto my smartphone and open it.

If I can follow this route, it should be clearable in two or three hours.

I grip the sword at my waist and proceed cautiously.

Then, a drooling blue bear emerges from the shadows.

Its skin is a dull blue color, and its size is about the same as mine.

A Blue Bear, being blue which is called the weakest color, is slightly smaller than a regular bear.

Still, there’s no way a person can handle a regular bear with their bare hands, but I have this sword now.

“By the way, can I see the status of monsters?”

I consciously stare at the Blue Bear, and as expected, I can see its status.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Name: Blue Bear

Magic Power: 10

Attack Power: Reflection rate▶40%=4

Defense Power: Reflection rate▶20%=2

Agility: Reflection rate▶40%=4

Intelligence: Reflection rate▶0%=0

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

“I see! I can see it! It’s stronger than me barehanded, but… it looks quite weaker than I expected. Alright, then… phew… let’s go!”

I ready my sword and crouch down.

Judging by its status, it’s stronger than me, but with this sword equipped, I seem to be considerably more powerful.

Then, the Blue Bear notices me and charges at me, drooling.

If this had happened before, I might have hesitated or involuntarily closed my eyes.

But, not now.

“It looks slower, no, that’s not it. I’m just not looking away.”

I can see the Blue Bear’s movements clearly.

For a moment, I thought it was because of the Eye of God but that’s not it.

I’m just calmly focused on every move it makes.

I simply don’t look away.

And with that, the world seems to change.

“Compared to that damned demon angel!!”

Compared to that embodiment of terror, that demonic angel, the Blue Bear is nothing.

“It’s just a beast!!”

With a single strike, I slash down the Blue Bear from above.

My attack power, strengthened by this weapon, can kill the weakest E-class magical creature in one hit.

“Phew… I wonder if I’ve become stronger.”

I definitely felt more confident in that battle.

The weapon has indeed made me more powerful, so my attack power has increased, but the process leading up to landing a hit was clearly different for me than from before.

Could it be called high-altitude training?

The Blue Bear really felt weaker, and I didn’t feel like I would lose at all.

But I can’t be careless.

My defense status hasn’t changed at all.

“Ah, another one’s coming. As for the magic stones… I’ll pass on picking them up. I don’t know how to explain this to the guild.”

As I stared at the Blue Bear’s corpse while reassessing my strength, two more Blue Bears emerged from the shadows.

I took the same stance. Even if it’s two against one, I don’t feel like I will lose.

I would usually pick up the magic stones, but I decided to give up because I wouldn’t be able to explain it when cashing in at the guild.

…

An hour later.

“Phew… this is quite a challenge, but… hmph!”

I had defeated my 60th Blue Bear.

I had already found the boss room, but the condition for a complete clear is to defeat 100 Blue Bears.

So, I search every corner of the dungeon, looking for places where Blue Bears are hiding.

It felt like a quest in a hunting game to search around and hunt a bunch of the same monster.

They’re hard to find. Damn it, where are you ‘weakest bear’?

“That’s why there aren’t many people who have completely cleared it so far. As well as being solo, this dungeon might not even have 100 monsters…”

As I continued searching, I could hardly find any more after I surpassed 90.

I sat down in the dungeon, spreading out the water and rice balls I had bought at a convenience store, expecting it to be a long journey.

It was already past 8 PM.

“Only five more to go, let’s hang in there a little longer…”

I was quite tired, but the sheer number of 100 was simply a lot.

“Oh!? They’re here!!”

Despite my fatigue, I kept searching the dungeon.

Then, I found a group of five Blue Bears near what seemed to be a cave’s water edge. Desperate to suppress a cry of joy, I raised my sword and approached the Blue Bears.

By now, I had searched so much that the joy of finding them was greater than that of winning the battles.

“That makes 100!!”

After defeating the 100th Blue Bear, I felt victorious.

By now, I could easily handle 5 vs. 1 as I had figured out their habits.

『Condition 2 has been achieved.』

“Oh, they’re telling me. How kind.”

The cold, mechanical voice echoed in my head.

The voice that one could here when having cleared a Cube, called by us as heaven’s voice. It informed me that I had achieved the second condition of completely clearing the dungeon.

“I’m glad. If I had miscounted and found out I was one short after defeating the boss, I would’ve gone mad.”

With a small victory pose, I headed toward the boss’s room.

The boss’s room was always behind a large door, just like in any other Cube.

I had only seen E-class boss doors firsthand, but I had seen images of other boss doors on the internet.

Grander or rather solemn, they became larger and more ominous as their ranks increased.

I exhaled deeply, replenishing my oxygen.

I wasn’t scared, but it was still the boss.

I took a deep breath and switched my mindset from the relaxed one I had just moments ago.

The E-class boss, in other words, an opponent on par with a hobgoblin with a broken left hand.

“Alright!”

I opened the door and entered.

The large square room was dimly lit by torches with blue flames.

In the center was the boss of the Blue Bears.

Its fur was a different shade of blue from the dull-colored Blue Bears – it was sapphire blue, just like the cube itself.

The beautiful color was highly sought after as a material for high-end clothing.

“Sapphire Bear… It’s huge. It’s even bigger than me.”

The sleeping Sapphire Bear slowly rose to its feet as it noticed my arrival.

It drooled as it stared at me.

I had heard its name before, but this was my first time seeing the jewel-like bear that was both beautiful and powerful.

I readied my High Wolf Fang Sword.

As a C-class monster, the High Wolf was far more powerful.

The Sapphire Bear seemed cautious, perhaps recognizing the weapon made from the material of its superior.

Then, the battle began with the howl of a wolf.

I put everything into it from the start because the third condition was to defeat the boss within a minute.

I had no time to scout it out first.

As we both charged at each other, our paths crossed.

The Sapphire Bear tried to bite me, but I passed downwards.

It went just as I had anticipated.

Having hunted 100 Blue Bears, I had grasped the tricks and habits of their combat.

If there was something they could bite in front of them, they would prioritize biting over slashing.

That’s why I didn’t dodge head-on until the last moment.

As expected, the Sapphire Bear lunged to bite at my throat.

With limited options, it was easy to dodge the anticipated bite trajectory.

I crouched under the bear’s jaw and, combining the force of my legs, I thrust my dagger forcefully from below into its throat.

I then put more force into the embedded sword and pierced through the Sapphire Bear’s skull.

Without a chance to cry out, the Sapphire Bear, as if entrusting its weight to me, died.

At that moment, I successfully defeated a boss solo for the first time.

“I did it. I really thought it through and defeated it. Me… unranked me!”

I laid the Sapphire Bear down and wiped the bloodied sword.

After finishing my first boss battle, I felt as if I had grown a little stronger.

That was probably just a matter of mindset.

『Conditions 1, 2, and 3 confirmed, complete clear reward will be granted.』

The usual system voice played simultaneously with the boss’s defeat.

The voice announced the complete clear reward I had aimed for.

“Alright!!”

I made a small victory pose.

At the same time, particles of light enveloped me.