The Earth-san Has Leveled Up!

2-6. The Second Dungeon

As soon as the light settled, Meiko quickly assessed the situation.

First and foremost, she felt the warmth of Sasara and Lulu, which brought her relief.

Meiko had attended the professor’s classes until high school, where she learned the bare essentials about dungeon mechanics.

Having navigated a dungeon alone, Meiko’s perspective was a valuable hint, so in exchange for sharing information, they would analyze things together.

According to the professor.

If the next person didn’t enter the dungeon within 10 seconds of the previous person, the spawn location would change. This chain could continue up to six people, but the seventh person would end up in a different location even if they entered within 10 seconds.

Of course, even if the same person entered and exited, they wouldn’t end up in the same place as before. It might happen by chance, but generally, it was random.

Even with such rules, there was a possibility of ending up in separate locations due to some mistake, so Meiko was relieved they were together.

Next, she observed the dungeon’s surroundings.

Before Meiko and the others stood two mountains.

One was close, and the second mountain was slightly offset behind it.

The details of the second mountain were unclear, but the closer one was a large, stout mountain. It was probably just over 1,000 meters in elevation, but its gentle slopes made it appear even larger.

At the mountain’s entrance stood a magnificent vermilion torii gate, which extended as far as the eye could see until it disappeared among the trees.

Beneath it was a path paved with white stone.

Apart from the mountain, the area was mostly enveloped in a sea of clouds, with only a small patch of ground visible.

Unless someone was particularly malicious, there was no reason to venture in that direction.

Meiko was puzzled.

This was completely different from the dungeon she had fallen into before.

A thought flickered in her mind: perhaps this was a dungeon from which no one ever returned.

However, she was the only one with dungeon experience here.

She was also the only one armed with a grimoire.

Meiko kept her anxiety hidden and spoke to the two with a determined expression.

“Sasara, Lulu. We’ve ended up in a dungeon.”

“A-A dungeon?”

“R-Really?”

Both Lulu and Sasara looked around nervously, their arms folded defensively in front of their chests.

Meiko took their hands in hers and spoke firmly.

“It’s okay. I’ll protect both of you.”

“Meiko-san…”

“Meeko…”

The girl, smaller than both of them, was promising to protect them.

Meiko’s hands were trembling as she said this.

The two exchanged glances.

In each other’s faces, they saw their own frightened expressions reflected.

But gradually, those expressions transformed into ones of determination.

They nodded in unison.

“We won’t leave it all to you, Meiko-san. Let’s work together!”

“Nyau! I’ll protect Meeko and Shaara too, ! Let’s all get out of this dungeon together!”

“Both of you… yeah, you’re right! Let’s do our best together!”

“Nyau!”

“Right!”

Lulu responded with a “Nyau.”, and Meiko quickly struck a cat pose, saying “Nyau!” in return.

Understanding that Lulu was trying to cheer her up, Meiko chuckled and mimicked her with a “Nyan.”

The two then turned to Sasara, who, after some hesitation, also let out a shy “Nyan.”.

And so, the three of them bumped their “Nyan Nyan” hands together.

It was like a fist bump between guys, but with an overwhelming difference in cuteness.

With Sasara and Lulu back to their usual selves, Meiko quickly got to work.

First, this location.

They were at a stone-paved plaza at the foot of the mountain, about 20 meters square.

Similar plazas could be seen in the distance, separated by the sea of clouds.

The randomness of dungeon entry mentioned earlier might be adjusted in this dungeon by starting at one of these plazas.

For now, Meiko decided to sit down and ask about the two’s skills.

Due to karma-related reasons, skills weren’t something people liked to talk about, so Meiko had adopted a stance of not asking unless the other person brought it up. This applied not just to strangers but also to friends like Sasara and Lulu.

However, given the situation, she couldn’t afford to be so reserved.

By the way, it was known that skills didn’t manifest until the age of 10.

Whether this was a deliberate delay until an age of discernment was something only the system’s creator knew.

“Sasara, do you have a skill?”

“Oh, did I not mention it? Yes, I do. My skill is [Armor Enhancement – Small].”

“[Armor Enhancement – Small]? What does it do?”

“It seems to apply a correction to the strength of any armor I equip. After learning about the skill, I tried various things. But I didn’t really feel much of a difference.”

After Earth-san announced the status system to the world, almost everyone had checked their status at least once.

If they had a skill, they would have tried experimenting with it in their own way.

“I even tried using a pot lid as a shield? But I couldn’t really tell.”

“I see.”

Meiko imagined the scene of Sasara, speaking in her refined tone, equipping a pot lid and hitting it with a wooden stick.

“Right,” she said.

Meiko felt a little charmed.

“Lulu, what’s your skill?”

“I have [Apprentice Ninja], .”

“Seriously!?”

Meiko looked Lulu up and down.

A slender, blonde, blue-eyed Nordic beauty… who was a NINJA.

But she did have Japanese blood, so maybe it made sense. Or perhaps the manifestation of initial skills gifted by Earth-san had nothing to do with genetic information. It was hard to say.

“What can you do?”

“Watch this! Nin nin!”

Lulu made a series of hand gestures, and a stream of water shot out from a nearby stone tile.

It was like a slightly stronger version of an upward-facing water fountain in a park.

“Nin nin!”

Lulu did it again.

This time, a gust of wind blew across the stone tiles in front of her.

“Nin nin-n!”

Finally, she struck a pose.

This seemed to be more of a finishing move than a skill.

“Amazing! Amazing!”

Sasara’s eyes sparkled as she cheered.

Lulu’s smug expression deepened.

Meanwhile, Meiko thought this might be her grave.

Probably, [Apprentice Ninja] would become stronger with training. It had that kind of vibe.

But the early stages would be incredibly weak.

However, she couldn’t say anything to discourage them or let her anxiety show.

Meiko nodded with a serious expression.

“Hmm, I see. I understand your skills. Now, wait here for a bit.”

Meiko found a decent wooden stick at the mountain zone’s entrance.

Using her [Synthesis Enhancement] skill to appraise it, she saw it was 0/25, a stable low-tier item.

She synthesized it with another stick she found nearby, upgrading it to 13/25.

“What are you doing!?”

Before she knew it, Lulu was watching her work with sparkling eyes.

“My skill is [Synthesis Enhancement]. I can combine items to enhance their performance. So here, Sasara and Lulu, use this for now.”

“Is it okay?”

“Yeah. I have my grimoire and scissors. That stick isn’t very strong, so be careful.”

“Nyau! Merci beaucoup, Meeko!”

Meiko smiled, mentally noting that “Merci beaucoup” probably meant “thank you.”

This time, she planned to record everything with her smartphone. With three smartphones, they could capture even more footage. As a memento, she first recorded a video of their current location, panning around to show the dungeon’s layout. The mountain dungeon wasn’t a maze-type, so it was well-suited for video recording.

Next, she took out a notebook for mapping. Meiko was a woman who came prepared.

With everything ready, the three began their exploration.

First, they needed to understand what kind of dungeon this was.

The mountain dungeon consisted of walking along a 3-meter-wide stone-paved path beneath countless torii gates.

In this aspect alone, it resembled a subtype of maze-type dungeons, but in the mountain dungeon, it seemed possible to enter the mountain from between the torii gates.

When they tried it, they were able to enter.

But the moment they did, a terrible premonition struck.

If they stayed there for even a minute, it felt like something fatal would happen.

Even though Meiko didn’t have a particularly sharp sixth sense, the clarity of this feeling suggested something dangerous was bound to occur.

“Hey, both of you, don’t go outside the torii gates. I have a really bad feeling about it.”

Meiko’s pale face and serious tone made the two nod, folding their arms in front of their chests.

Understanding that the path within the torii gates was the main route, Meiko moved on to the next investigation.

This time, it was about gauging the strength of the enemies.

The dungeon’s rank depended on the strength of its enemies.

At this point, this information wasn’t publicly known, but Meiko had learned it in advance through her connection with the professor.

She also knew that the dungeon she had escaped from was likely the lowest difficulty.

Based on the first floor, the strength of the enemies was as follows:

―――――――

・G-rank

A level where a girl wielding small scissors could ambush you, and if you fought desperately, you might defeat her depending on luck.

However, her attack power was high, and if hit, even an adult could be brought to their knees and possibly killed.

・F-rank

A level where an armed adult with amateur martial arts skills could ambush you, and if you fought desperately, you might defeat them depending on luck.

However, their attack power was very high, and a single hit could rupture your internal organs.

・E-rank

A level where trained soldiers, armed and working together, could barely defeat the enemy if they went all out.

However, if hit, you’d be sent flying like a piece of paper.

Leveling up and training in lower-level dungeons was essential. Without a job, it would be tough.

・D-rank

Currently impossible for humanity.

A level where elite troops trained in the Lolita Labyrinth would return in tatters.

・C-rank and above

Humanity judged dungeon difficulty by the color of the dungeon’s vortex, but no one had returned from dungeons of this class, so their strength remained unknown.

――――――

Meiko believed they weren’t the first to enter this dungeon.

If this dungeon had appeared after Earth-san’s big announcement, it would have been left untouched for two weeks, and someone must have entered during that time.

If they were the first, it was better to assume it was already over.

Meiko, having trained and grown stronger, could now defeat a self-defense officer who hadn’t entered a dungeon, as long as she had her grimoire.

If Meiko, leading Sasara and Lulu, activated this dungeon, it would likely become a D-rank or higher dungeon.

Given that it was a mountain dungeon, it was possible that animals had entered. Alternatively, it could have been visitors who came here on that day.

She had heard that a dungeon entered by a medium-sized dog became a D-rank dungeon.

It was unlikely a bear had entered, so Meiko thought it was either G, F, E, or D-rank.

If it was D or E-rank, they would lose before they could grow stronger.

Meiko could only pray.

They walked along the path of countless torii gates, so numerous it put the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine to shame.

Even Meiko felt a sense of awe at the eerie sight, so Lulu, who had lived abroad, must have…

“Haah, c’est magnifique… I feel like I’m being drawn in, .”

She seemed to be moved.

She looked relatively unfazed.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Nyau…”

Sasara also squinted as she gazed at the tunnel of torii gates.

They’re so laid-back, Meiko thought with an internal wry smile.

Before long, they encountered their first enemy.

It was a 50-centimeter-tall rabbit.

It held a 1-meter-long mochi mallet in both hands and had sharp, anime-like eyes. It was a bipedal rabbit.

“It’s a monster.”

“Wow, it’s a rabbit.”

“C-Cute, but is it angry, ?”

Knowing they would die if it was D or E-rank, Meiko warned them in a dry voice, but the two responded with carefree remarks.

Meiko forced herself to swallow and spoke to them.

“It’s scary-cute, but it’s a monster. Sasara, Lulu, don’t underestimate the dungeon. You could die.”

“U-Understood.”

“Ny-Nyau.”

Hearing Meiko’s words, the two nodded solemnly.

Meiko immediately chanted a Water Bullet spell from her grimoire.

The rabbit noticed them and charged on two legs.

It was slower than a normal rabbit due to the mallet, about the speed of an adult’s brisk walk.

It held the mallet ready, as if to strike the moment it got within range.

Meiko fired the Water Bullet while there was still plenty of distance.

The bullet hit the rabbit’s exposed throat, sending it flying backward.

“Prepare another Water Bullet!”

Meiko ordered the grimoire and then spoke to the two.

“Dungeon enemies might look weak, but their attack power is ridiculously high compared to us! If we get hit by that weapon, it’s over!”

“Uwa, understood, !”

“Y-Yes!”

While they were talking, the grimoire finished chanting, and another Water Bullet was fired.

Thanks to her training, the bullet now exceeded 180 km/h.

The rabbit didn’t seem capable of tracking it, as the second bullet also hit without it dodging.

“Prepare another Water Bullet! Sasara, keep an eye out for enemies approaching from behind!”

“Y-Yes!”

Sasara, hearing the unusually serious tone in her tiny friend’s voice, put away her picnic mood and followed the instruction.

Meiko continued to give instructions between spells, relentlessly attacking from a distance.

The rabbit disappeared into particles of light after the third hit.

What remained was the rabbit’s fur and a magic stone.

As she collected them, Meiko thought.

It took three Water Bullets to defeat it.

In the G-rank dungeon’s second floor, a Fusa Poyo would be nearly dead after two Water Bullets. With her increased magic attack power from training, she might now defeat a Fusa Poyo with one shot.

But since it took three shots here, the enemy was clearly stronger.

It was unlikely to be a G-rank dungeon.

Also, the chance of it being D-rank was low. She had heard that the self-defense forces returned half-dead, so the enemies here seemed too weak in comparison.

It was probably E or F-rank.

Either way, this wouldn’t be an easy exploration.

This is trouble.

Meiko muttered to herself in her heart, careful not to worry the other two.

Meiko’s current maximum mana was 62.

Although it had decreased significantly after obtaining her job, she had been using [Synthesis Enhancement] and Water Bullets whenever she had the chance, greatly surpassing her previous maximum.

The increase in maximum mana was the most significant change after her level-up.

A Water Bullet consumed 5 mana per shot.

A single battle would cost at least 15 mana.

Mana would regenerate naturally, but mistakes could happen, and if enemies kept coming, they’d be in trouble.

Well, if enemies kept coming, they’d likely die before running out of mana.

Thinking about “what ifs” wouldn’t help.

They had to do their best with what they had now.

Meiko took the rabbit fur she had obtained and approached Lulu.

“Lulu, stay still.”

“Nyau.”

Meiko synthesized the rabbit fur into Lulu’s overalls.

As expected of an item dropped by an F-rank or higher dungeon enemy, the overalls were enhanced to 55/100, a significant improvement.

“This should have increased your defense a bit. Sasara, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait until next time.”

“That’s fine, but… Meiko-san, you…”

“N-No, no… Y-You can’t! Please enhance Meeko first, !”

Both Sasara and Lulu protested, wanting Meiko to go first.

To them, Meiko looked fragile, so they were worried.

“I have a skill that lets me nullify one attack. So, I’ll enhance you two first.”

“Hau… Really, ?”

“Yeah. You know how there’s a title in the status? I got this when I earned that title.”

The effect of the title [First-Floor Solo Clearer] was still active.

It would be great if it stayed that way, but if they kept diving into dungeons, it was unlikely to last.

“If you’re lying, I won’t forgive you yo?”

“I’m not lying, Sasara. It’s okay. I might not look it, but I’m the first woman in the world to return from a dungeon. I’m strong!”

“Meiko-san…”

“Meeko…”

Seeing Meiko puff out her nonexistent chest and put on a brave front, the two felt the same pitiful emotions welling up inside them again.

But they were dungeon novices, and objecting to Meiko’s proposal, who had already seen a dungeon, would be more selfish than concerned.

They resolved to find something they could do as soon as possible.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Nyau. Meeko, don’t push yourself, kudasai ne?”

“Of course. It’s okay, Lulu.”

As Meiko smiled and said this, Lulu stared at her, her mouth twitching, then suddenly hugged her tightly.

Meiko’s face was buried in something soft, and she was momentarily confused, but she hugged Lulu back, understanding her anxiety.

Typical Westerner, even their way of relieving anxiety is intense!

Meiko felt the globalization of her relationships.

“Sasara, come here too.”

“Eh, b-but… oh, fine ne?”

Not wanting to leave Sasara out, Meiko invited her as well.

Sasara blushed but moved behind Meiko.

Meiko had imagined a group hug, but it turned into a sandwich instead.

Meiko’s face and the back of her head were assaulted by softness.

The pressure was intense.

Meiko’s tension melted away.

In its place, an overwhelming sense of defeat filled her heart.

“Fu-Fuhaa… Fuhaa…!”

Meiko couldn’t help but let out a threatening growl.

It was the empty bravado of a defeated cat.

But such a defeated cat’s growl wouldn’t reach the ears of the strong.

Everything was futilely absorbed by the softness in front of her face.

A few dozen minutes into the dungeon.

Meiko had been defeated.

――――

★Kismian Language Lesson

・Merci beaucoup – A word of gratitude. Used by both men and women.