“……It’s getting noisy, isn’t it?”

As I was spacing out on the veranda, looking at the moon, the lights in the village started to turn on. But since this is on the outskirts of the village, I can’t really tell what’s happening.

“It’s rare for the lights to be on at this time, since it’s mostly elderly people here. They all go to bed by 9 o’clock…”

As she said that, the old lady pulled out her smartphone.

Huh? Smartphone? She can use it? The feeling of incongruity is intense.

Then the old lady skillfully used FaceID and operated the smartphone with one hand.

“Haha. It’s easy, this much. Let’s see… the village’s SNS…”

So there’s even a village SNS, they’re really making use of civilization.

Despite my prejudice thinking they were still using rotary phones; it was actually quite modern.

“……A pig monster has appeared…?”

“Huh?”

I looked at the village again.

The once bright village was soon engulfed in flames, illuminating the dark night sky.

A pig monster… only one thing comes to mind.

And if that has appeared, it means…

“It seems a dungeon collapse has occurred… huh? Amachi-san?”

…

I ran with all my might.

If a dungeon collapse is happening, Nagisa-san is in danger.

Most of the people in this village are strangers, some have even been abusive.

I don’t feel enough attachment to save them.

But Nagisa-san is different.

I already see her as my own sister.

“Damn it! Make it in time!!”

My impatience spurs me on.

A pig monster, probably an orc.

Moreover, orcs are D-Rank monsters, but their threat level is almost C-Rank.

It’s because they have high intelligence and often act in groups.

They were also called the worst D-Rank monsters.

“Hah hah hah… ugh!”

When I arrived at the village, it was full of orcs.

There must be about 20 of them, the villagers desperately fought back, but those who were not D-Rank awakened couldn’t even be a match.

Most of the people in this village are probably E-Rank, and there were already victims.

“Help… Please help me!”

I ran towards the sound of that voice.

There, an orc was attacking an old lady.

With an ugly body, a pig’s nose, a body as big as a bear, and holding not a club but an ax-like thing made of stone and wood.

I checked the status of that orc.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Name: Orc

Magic Power: 70

Attack Power: Reflection rate▶30%=21

Defense Power: Reflection rate▶20%=14

Agility: Reflection rate▶10%=7

Intelligence: Reflection rate▶40%=28

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

“It’s strong… incomparably stronger than a Blue Bear.”

The orc’s magic power was 70, truly an upper-class D-Rank.

I could see why it was said to be the strongest species among the monsters in a D-Rank Cube. In that case, not as an individual, but as a group.

I drew the sword from my waist and took a stance.

I probably wouldn’t have been a match for it.

“Ha!!”

“Ngo!?”

If I was the same as before.

I cut off the orc’s head with a single blow from behind.

My status, having completely cleared nine Cubes, had skyrocketed compared to before.

I stared at my own hand, as if to take in this new strength.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Name: Kai Amachi

Status: Good

Job: None

Skill(s): The Eye of God, Access Permission Lv1

Magic Power: 285

Attack Power: Reflection rate▶25%=71

Defense Power: Reflection rate▶25%=71

Agility: Reflection rate▶25%=71

Intelligence: Reflection rate▶25%=71

Equipment:

・The Emblem of the Knight

・High Wolf’s fang sword = Attack Power +120

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Upon fully clearing an E-Rank cube, my magical power had increased by an average of about 30.

Having cleared nine of them, my magical power has now grown to nearly 300.

With my current strength, I might be able to solo a D-Rank dungeon.

The magical power of C-Rank clearers is, according to the association’s regulations, around 100 to 1000, so I should now be considered a lower-class C-Rank.

However, soloing a dungeon with orcs is still not very reassuring.

Once I’ve defeated all the orcs here, I’ll request reinforcements from the association.

Various things might be exposed, but that’s a secondary concern.

With that decision, I hunted down all the orcs in the village.

The 20 or so orcs were rampaging separately, and I was able to defeat them without much trouble when they were on their own.

The reason these guys are troublesome is their intelligence, which allows them to form groups, but in this situation, they’re just D-Rank monsters.

“Do any of you know where Nagisa-san is?”

I asked the people in the village whom I had saved.

However, nobody could answer, and they seemed to be agitated from fear.

“Where are you… Nagisa?”

I searched around the village. But she was nowhere to be found, and I had already wiped out all the orcs.

I arrived at the center of the village.

“…Dungeon collapse, a black Cube… was it inside this building?”

There was a prefab cabin that was broken and in shambles.

A pitch-black Cube was peeking out from inside it.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Remaining magic power：100/100（+1/24hr）

※Dungeon Collapse Occurring

Clear Difficulty：D-Rank

◆Reward

First Clear Reward（Complete）：Magic Power +50

・Condition(s) 1　Before the dungeon has been cleared for the first time, defeat the boss.

Complete Clear Reward (Incomplete)：Current access level is unable to display this.

・Condition 1　Clear solo.

・Condition 2　Defeat a 50 or more orcs.

・Condition 3　Defeat the boss within five minute(s)。

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

“D-Rank… so they really did submit a false report.”

I looked at the Cube’s status.

Normally, it would be pitch-black, and I wouldn’t be able to tell its rank, but that didn’t matter to me, who could see its status.

Then I entered the building, frowning.

That’s because there was a man’s head and, probably, the village chief’s dead body inside.

“They tried to clear it on their own and failed… They should have just left it to the association, but for money’s sake, I guess…”

I looked around, and then I saw:

“Are these Nagisa-san’s shoes?”

Nagisa-san was wearing her school uniform.

It seemed like she had just left them there, as there were two leather shoes lying near the cube.

One was right next to the village chief’s dead body, and the other one was…

“Don’t tell me… she was taken!?”

It was lying right next to the Cube, as if she had desperately resisted being taken inside.

Orcs eat human males and assault females.

That’s why they were considerably feared monsters.

“…Damn it!”

I made a fist and yelled out loud.

I sent Tanaka-san a message saying that a D-Rank dungeon collapse had occurred in Yonaki Village and to please help.

However, it would probably take at least an hour or two, even if they were quick.

During that time, Nagisa-san might be at the mercy of the orcs.

Without any hesitation, I took a step forward.

“Wait for me, Nagisa…”

Just like I would say to my little sister.

I made up my mind and touched the black Cube.

Instead of the usual dignified sound, black lightning ran through it as if rejecting me, crackling. I felt like I was being resisted, but I forced myself into the Cube, putting all my strength into my foot.

Even if there were a hundred orcs in there.

Even if there was a risk to my life.

Because I didn’t want to feel that way anymore.

“I’ll definitely save you.”

I plunged into that unknown dungeon.