◇Aya’s Perspective

Aya: “AAAAHHHH!! What am I doing?!”

Reina: “Aya… are you back?”

The moment I returned to my room, I closed the door and screamed. It seemed that Reina had already returned to the room as well, but that didn’t matter now.

I leaned against the door, my face feeling so hot it could burst into flames and screamed.

I had managed to keep my emotions under control until now, but as soon as I calmed down, I felt like my head would explode.

Reina: “Aya? Is something wrong?”

Aya: “Just… just leave me alone, it’s nothing!”

Reina was worried, but I dove into my bed and hid under the covers.

When I closed my eyes, I could still feel it… the sensation of Kai’s tongue ravaging my mouth. I had let myself get carried away, lost in the moment. No, it wasn’t just that. I had desperately desired it, too.

Aya: “That was… intense… Does everyone do that? No way… My head’s spinning…”

And then…

Aya: “What did I say at the end? Did I suggest doing something naughty? I’m such an idiot!! That’s perverted! I sound like a nympho!! Oh noooo!!”

The tension of confessing, the tension of the kiss, the surrealness of the trip. If I had to blame something, it would be the summer in Okinawa. But that doesn’t excuse what I did. What was I thinking?!

Aya: “AHHH!! He must think I’m a pervert!! It was me who begged for a kiss!! AAAHHH!!”

Reina: “Aya… you’re being really loud, outside…people can probably hear you.”

Aya: “WHAT!?”

◇Kai’s Perspective

Kai: “I-I can hear her…”

In a state of shock, I returned to my room a bit late. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t help but press my ear to the door when I heard her scream.

And what I heard was Aya’s outburst.

Kai: “I… I should pretend I didn’t hear that.”

I went back into my room.

Nagi: “Ah, welcome back, big bro— haha, did Aya do well?”

Kai: “Was this your idea?”

Nagi: “Hmmm– I have no idea what you’re talking about–. Anyway, let’s go to bed–. You have an early start tomorrow, right?”

Nagi: Kai: “Don’t changing the subject… Haa, I’m going to bed!”

I turned off the lights and crawled into bed. As soon as I closed my eyes, I remembered that sweet taste. They say your first time is bittersweet, but Aya’s mouth was fresh and sweet.

Honestly, just thinking about it…

Kai: (Quiet down, my animal instincts!!)

My instincts were responding. I was fully erect. I’m an 18-year-old virgin. Of course, I’m excited from this type of thing.

If my phone hadn’t rung, maybe…

Kai: “What am I thinking? We’re not even dating yet!!”

But the fact remains that I took advantage of a girl I’m not even dating. I held onto a bit of guilt, a lot of sexual excitement, and a vague sense of unease.

Kai: (Anyway, tomorrow’s an A-Rank, so I need to switch gears… Huh… Okay!)

Kai: “I’m going to the bathroom.”

I went to the bathroom alone.

I spent a little extra time in there, trying to calm down.

To job change from a knight to a sage, so to speak. For the record, I changed twice.

◇Next Morning

Chairman Kagetora: “Okay, we’re going to enjoy our vacation, so do your best!”

The next morning, we headed to the A-Rank Cube. Tendou, Reina, Tanaka, and me.

Nagi, Aya, and the chairman were in another car and would drop us off nearby. They wouldn’t enter the Cube though; they planned to have fun in the area. The chairman even suggested going to the aquarium. It seemed he really came just to have fun.

It was somewhat of a relief that Aya wasn’t there. After what happened yesterday, I wasn’t sure how to face her.

Tanaka: “So, Ryunosuke, it’s 9 a.m. now. Let’s see, about 4 hours. We plan to clear it by 1 p.m. If it’s past 1:30, we’ll call for backup. Though the only ones who can help in this country are you and the chairman.”

Tendou: “Understood, Issei. Well then, let’s go, Reina, Kai.”

Kai: “Okay!” Reina: “Got it.”

We were dropped off in front of the A-Rank Cube, driven by Tanaka. It was in an empty plaza. In Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. It’s not a metropolis, but it’s a place with a lot of people.

But there was nothing around.

Except for the red box, the color of blood.

I’ve heard that a Dungeon has never collapsed before, but people must still be scared of an A-Rank Cube. I wouldn’t want to live near such a terrifying box if I didn’t have powers. If a Dungeon collapse occurred, monsters like the Demon King and Wolf King would run rampant, turning the entire area into a sea of blood.

A force that ordinary people could never resist.

Tendou: “So, how is it, kid? Can you see the status?”

Tendou asked me about the status. In fact, I had told him about my eyes during this trip. I wanted to ask about Reina’s seal, and more importantly, I trusted him.

Tanaka and the chairman trust him, so he is worthy of absolute trust to me.

So, I told him. But Tendou just said, “I see,” and nothing else. He didn’t seem to be incredulous but listened calmly.

I looked at the red box, an A-Rank Cube. It was as red as blood.

Kai: “…So this is the status of an A-Rank Cube …”

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

Remaining magic power: 87,000/100,000 (+1,000/24h) Difficulty Level: A-Rank

◆Rewards

First-time clear reward (Complete): Magic Power +50,000

• Condition 1: Defeat the boss in a state where it has not been cleared before.

Full clearance reward (Incomplete): Magic Power +100,000, Rank Up Ticket (Advanced), Skill Level Up Ticket (A-Rank Cube  First-Time Full Clearance Reward)

• Condition 1: Clear while solo.
• Condition 2: Defeat the boss within 24 hours after entering the Cube .
• Condition 3: Defeat 100 Red Species.
• Condition 4: Unlocked after conditions 1-3 are met (Defeat the Extra Boss).

 

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

“As expected, an extra boss… I should probably prepare for an S-Rank enemy of. It’s best to use the Class Up Ticket before taking the challenge…”

Looking at the conditions, it doesn’t seem different from A-Rank. I don’t know the strength of the extra boss, but it’s likely that a S-Rank will appear. So, I’ll try to challenge it once I’ve become an advanced, not a novice job.

Tendou: “Well, I’ll be off then, Issei-san.”

Tanaka: “Ahh, Ryunosuke, Reina-kun, and Kai-kun. Be careful, and I’m praying for your safety.”

Kai: “Yes!”

We touched the ruby box. With a dignified sound and sensation, the gate to the other world was opened. I was sucked into the Cube.

And so began the A-Rank Cube clear. It’s a different space where only the strongest, neither possessing half-hearted readiness nor half-hearted strength, can survive.

The endpoint of the Cubes that mankind has cleared.

However, this one’s still not fully cleared.

Kai: “Alright… Let’s go.”

…

◇ While Kai is clearing the Cube, Aya and the others

Nagi: “Aya! Aya! What happened yesterday? You seemed to be out late!”

Aya: “Eh? Well…umm”

Aya, Nagi, and the chairman enjoy sightseeing at the Chura Sea Aquarium. It goes without saying that Aya turned bright red when she saw the character 『Chu』. Aya was easily flustered by Nagi’s sudden question.[1]

Nagi: “Hehe, it seems the confession was a success. As expected.”

Aya: “Well, I guess… It was a success… maybe?”

We’re watching the dolphin show now. Kagetora is enjoying it with high tension next to us.

Aya looked up at the sky and stared into the distance. She still couldn’t believe what she had done yesterday was real.

But Aya was awake. The feeling of having her door forcibly opened for the first time; yesterday awakened Aya to her sexuality.

(Again… I want to kiss… Kai…)

She realized that she was surprisingly greedy for sexuality. She wanted to touch Kai right now, wanted to be touched by him, wanted to be forcibly…

(Aya… Let’s kiss babe, I won’t let you say no… Or something like that! Ahhhh–!!)

She was fantasizing about something Kai would never say. If it’s from someone she loves, any line, no matter how cheesy, would make her happy. She had become a young girl who had just graduated from high school and was in love, lost in such pink fantasies.

In other words, she was being silly.

Nagi: “Aya, your face is all red… naughty…”

Aya: “Eh!? No, that’s not true!?”

Nagi: “False. Hehe, right on target, wasn’t I? You were having naughty fantasies, weren’t you? Tell me, tell me!”

Aya: “St, stop it! Nagi, you’re so mean!”

(Kai… I wonder what he’s doing now… I hope he’s doing well…)

◇ On the other hand, Kai and the others

Reina: “Kai! There’s one over there!”

Kai: “Roger!!”

Monster: “Argh!!”

We had come about halfway through the A-Rank Cube. It was a cave-type, similar in form to the dungeons I had been clearing so far.

Kai: “Phew… I think we defeated most of them. They look like this but are so powerful.”

In front of us lay the body of a bright red goblin. It was a monster called the Red Species, the strongest among monsters, also known as a mutant.

I looked at its status.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

Name: Red Goblin

Magic Power: 40,000

Attack Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 25% = 10,000

Defense Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 25% = 10,000

Speed: Reflection Rate ▶ 25% = 10,000

Intelligence: Reflection Rate ▶ 25% = 10,000

 

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

It has no skills and a low reflection rate.

But the magic power is monstrous. The magic power flowing in this small body is a literal monster surpassing the Ogre King and the Wolf King. If ten of these enemies appeared at the same time, it would be difficult even for the current me.

But here, we have two of the strongest.

Tendou: “Kid, you’re pretty good, aren’t you? You might be stronger than Yumiichi.”

Kai: “Yumiichi is the other S-Rank, right? I haven’t met him yet.”

Tendou: “Well, you’ll meet him eventually. He’s overseas now… Oh, here comes a group.”

Reina: “Kai, rest. I alone am enough.”

Red wolves emerged from the rocks. They too were Red Species, the strongest type. Monsters exceeding 50,000 magic power appeared, three of them.

Red Wolf Species: “Grrrr!!!”

Reina: “Shield of Light…”

Reina pointed her palm towards the wolves.

It was as if she was creating a barrier.

Red Wolf Species: “Grrrr!?”

The Red Wolves, rushing at Reina at the speed of sound, were stopped by a silver wall that appeared in front of her and hit their heads hard.

The confused wolves.

And then, Reina swung her palm sideways as if to sweep them away.

Reina: “Sword of Light…”

The shield disappeared, and a silver line severed the space like a sword. The wolves were cut without resistance. These are the two skills Reina has, Shield of Light and Sword of Light.

Powerful because it’s simple. Even now, I might not be able to break through that shield, and the sword of light should be able to pierce my defenses. Her figure, cutting down monsters with a single stroke without any hint of emotion, was characteristic of Reina, who held the nickname of the Silver Ice Princess.

Her figure from behind was like that of Joan of Arc on the battlefield.

Kai: “I wonder if Reina will ever kiss someone…”

I can’t help but be captivated by her, since I admire her so much. I’m mesmerized by her figure from behind and think that her flowing silver hair is beautiful.

Would that emotionless girl ever fall in love with someone? Would she be considered a cool character or, more accurately, an expressionless character?

But perhaps, like Aya yesterday, she would blush bright red and become passionately involved in a kiss. I wonder if she’ll ever experience that kind of love.

Imagining it makes me feel a bit strange.

Tendou: “Hey, don’t go daydreaming, Kai. We’re moving!”

Kai: “Ah, sorry!”

Even though our struggle wasn’t exactly easy, it wasn’t exactly a cakewalk either. It’s already been about three hours, but we’ve finally made it to the boss’s room.

Kai: “It’s just like the map says!”

Tendou: “Yeah, Reina made that map.”

Kai: “What?! Reina can make maps?”

Reina: “?… It’s just drawing the path we took.”

Kai: “Well, yeah, but…”

Tendou: “Believe it or not, she’s a genius. You saw her during the volleyball game, right? She copied Aya’s movements instantly. She can do anything in no time. She even learned all my sword and body techniques in a flash. It’s kind of annoying.”

Kai: “That’s… amazing…”

Reina: “I’m… amazing. Praise me more.”

Tendou: “Hehe, you’re awesome. Alright, let’s quickly kill the boss and head home. I’ll take care of it this time. Thanks to the kid here, I have a lot of extra energy.”

As we approach the door to the boss room, a giant gate embedded with red gems and adorned with ominous designs the size of a small building, Tendou-san pushes it open with both hands, and with a creaking sound, the door begins to open.

Inside was a red wolf.

A wolf even larger than the Wolf King. But it was pure red and called the Ruby Wolf.

The most powerful individual among the currently known wolf species. Its magic power exceeds 90,000, and even the upper ranks of A-Rank clearers can’t subdue it solo. It was a being that could barely be defeated by the main forces of Avalon.

But the mercenary facing it was even more exceptional.

Tendou: “Kid, I said I’d show you. Me when I go all out.”

As Tendou-san says this, he draws his sword from his hip. A jet-black katana, identical in shape to a Japanese sword, but its blackness was so deep that it didn’t reflect any light.

Ruby Wolf: “GAH!!”

The Ruby Wolf, noticing our entrance, howls loudly. Then, leaving even sound behind, it charges at us with its massive body at a speed like a fighter jet.

I activate my Eye of God. From Tendou-san’s entire body, jet-black magical power gathers in both hands, transmitting into the sword.

Tendou-san takes a deep breath. Like a droplet of water falling onto a still water surface as if time has stopped. With that timing, he opens his eyes wide and swings down the black sword.

Tendou: “Haja Issen…”

This single blow creates a world that seems to be torn apart in jet black. It was a slash, a jet-black slash extended from the sword, cutting the world in half. It was an unthinkable phenomenon like something out of a Shinigami manga, but the jet-black slash did not allow anything in its path to exist.

In other words, it cut the Ruby Wolf in half with a single stroke.

The wolf, cut sharply and straight like a water cutter, splits cleanly in half on the spot.

Tendou: “How about that? Impressive when I go all out, huh? I held back during the volleyball game.”

Kai: “Tendou-san, you aimed something like this at Aya? No wonder she got angry.”

Tendou: “That’s why I said I held back.”

Reina: “You’re the one to blame. Apologize properly to Aya.”

Tendou: “Are you really the one to talk… You hit the ball full force… If the ball hadn’t burst, someone could have died.”

Kai: “Haha, well… Let’s collect the magic stones for now.”

We collect the magic stones as we are and wait to be enveloped in particles of light. An A-Rank dungeon isn’t particularly difficult, and it feels like it’s barely manageable solo. So, after we Rank up to the advanced job, we might have some leeway.

At that time, we should also receive some skills. I wonder what kind of skills we’ll get.

Kai: “But the problem lies with the Extra… Oh? This is the end.”

As I was thinking, we were enveloped in light particles and teleported. When our vision returned from being completely dark, we were surrounded by bright red walls in a box.

A box that fell and opened slowly.

Chairman Kagetora: “Ou, it seems like you were able to clear it safely. Good job!”

There, waiting for us to return, were the chairman, Nagi, Tanaka-san, and Aya. Aya then runs towards me, much like a girl’s manager after practice.

Aya: “Kai-san! Good work. Here’s a wet towel and a sports drink!”

Tendou: “Hey, just the kid? What about me?”

Aya: “Ryu-san is… here, this is your stuff. Please take care of it yourself.”

Tendou: “…Isn’t this treatment too different?… Are you guys dating or something…?”

Aya: “Wha-!? No, t-that’s not true… I think?”

What is this cute creature…? When Aya looks up at me with puppy eyes, as if wanting to affirm Tendou-san’s words, all her actions seem cute, knowing that she likes me. I need a name for this phenomenon.

Kai: “…Thanks, Aya. You’re a lifesaver.”

Aya: “Yes♥”

Tendou: “Look at Aya… her eyes turned damned heart shaped.”

Chairman Kagetora: “Hahaha, that’s the memory of one summer… a joyful thing indeed.”

And so, our A-Rank Cube clear in Okinawa ended successfully. However, I still have to face the Rank Up Dungeon and the S-Rank solo clear.

But I didn’t know yet.

In Tokyo, an unthinkable event was happening.

 

 

———————————–

 

[1] “Chu” is a common slang for kissing in Japanese.