Chapter 2
The Gunma dungeon conquest was completed in three days.
During that time, I continued to challenge the dungeon alongside the explorers. Or rather, I clung to them like a parasite.
"Akagi-san, please fall back!!"
"No, I'll handle this. Judgment Finger!!"
"'Finger Snap' can't do anything!!"
"Wooooooooooh!!"
No matter how much I pumped myself up, it was useless.
"Darker than night, brighter than dawn, annihilate my enemies──Inevitable Finger Snaaaaap!"
"Akagi, stay back!! You're in the waaaay!!"
Even shouting my ultimate move didn't help.
All I could do was chip away at my life to startle the enemy with a spark.
That fact never changed.
Damn. Truly the damnest of damn things.
What is this? What kind of skill is this?
On the third day, I technically participated in the boss fight, but I just watched from the back the whole time.
Everyone else fought so coolly.
Observing them, I realized skills seem to have several types.
Close-range combat, long-range attacks, enhancement, debuff, healing... and so on.
The stars of dungeon conquests are undoubtedly enhancement-type explorers.
They swung magic swords developed by the Dungeon Foundation to slay dungeon monsters, fighting like protagonists.
Incidentally, regular weapons don't work on monsters. Only explorers can enter dungeons, and only the unique energy they wield can deal damage.
"Well, Akagi, being an explorer is impressive on its own. It's a talent one in a thousand has. So just buy Dungeon Foundation weapons and fight steadily."
"I heard that the number and quality of an explorer's initial skills roughly determine their future potential."
"......Yeah. Might as well be blunt. I started with 'six' skills. Probably everyone diving into this dungeon daily had multiple skills from the start and began around level 10. Dungeons are harsh. Only those like that survive. Without talent, leveling up becomes hard fast. Motivation dries up. Explorers are fated to challenge mysteries and battle otherworldly labyrinths, but... starting at level 0 with just 'Finger Snap'... well, how should I put it... won't last."
I must be the worst dropout even veteran explorer Mr. had ever seen.
"Thank you for these three days. I truly appreciate your help."
"Akagi...... Yeah. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Only you can choose your path."
And so, I parted ways with Mr.
Another one of my dreams had ended.
On my way back to the hotel.
I came across an old lady about to cross the street, oblivious to the red light.
──Snap
"Wah, scared me... Oh dear? Silly me, I almost crossed on red!"
My 'Finger Snap' startled her into stopping.
The only thing my 'Finger Snap' is oddly good at is accuracy.
Well, it's not entirely useless for small acts like helping people.
"Guh!"
Though I end up coughing blood from the HP cost.
Nah, this skill still sucks.
I returned to the hotel and collapsed onto the bed.
I closed my eyes and decided to sleep.
Thinking about returning to my family home in Saitama.
Back to job hunting, huh... I liked fighting monsters in dungeons though...
Vwoom.
"Hm? A weird sound..."
I opened my eyes.
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★ DAILY MISSION ★
Let's work hard bit by bit every day!
'Kung Fu Master's Teachings'
Put on jacket 0/100
Take off jacket 0/100
Throw jacket 0/100
Pick up jacket 0/100
Consecutive days: Day 0
Steady Rank: Bronze (1.0x multiplier)
──────────────────
Huh?
Daily mission?
What's this... "work hard bit by bit"?
"Kung Fu Master's Teachings..."
A jolt ran through my mind.
"...I see... So that's why everyone was so strong. Yeah, yeah, dailies are a must in mobile games. No surprise if dungeon explorers have them too."
Meaning I hadn't done any dailies since my debut as an explorer? Worst feeling. Like missing apology gems.
Trusting the mission text, I tried taking off my jacket.
──────────────────
★ DAILY MISSION ★
Let's work hard bit by bit every day!
'Kung Fu Master's Teachings'
Put on jacket 0/100
Take off jacket 1/100
Throw jacket 0/100
Pick up jacket 0/100
Consecutive days: Day 0
Steady Rank: Bronze (1.0x multiplier)
──────────────────
"Whoa."
The count increased.
I tossed my jacket onto the floor.
──────────────────
★ DAILY MISSION ★
Let's work hard bit by bit every day!
'Kung Fu Master's Teachings'
Put on jacket 0/100
Take off jacket 1/100
Throw jacket 1/100
Pick up jacket 0/100
Consecutive days: Day 0
Steady Rank: Bronze (1.0x multiplier)
──────────────────
No doubt.
My actions were progressing this daily mission.
What happens when I complete it?
Excited, I took off, put on, threw, picked up, put on, took off, threw, picked up──Damn, my arms hurt.
"H-hundred times..."
Finally done.
──────────────────
★ DAILY MISSION ★
Let's work hard bit by bit every day!
'Kung Fu Master's Teachings'
Put on jacket 100/100
Take off jacket 100/100
Throw jacket 100/100
Pick up jacket 100/100
★Today's Daily Mission accomplished!★
Reward: 1,000 EXP
Consecutive days: Day 1
Steady Rank: Bronze (1.0x Multiplier)
──────────────────
Pikon pikon pikon!
I heard a strange sound.
I knew instinctively. This was the sound of leveling up.
──────────────────
Akagi Hideo
Level 7
HP 56/56
MP 20/20
Skills
'Finger Snap'
──────────────────
Amazing, I leveled up.
And all the way to Level 7 in one go.
My HP is 5 times what it was before, and my MP is doubled.
Now I understand how it works.
The reason everyone is so strong.
No doubt. It's because they casually complete Daily Missions and earn EXP.
"If it's a Daily Mission, does that mean I can do it again tomorrow? I want to try it soon......"
Thinking that, I leapt into bed.
I still don't know. My dream. My jackpot. The explorer's dream isn't over yet.
The next day, I found information on social media about dungeons appearing again in Gunma.
Apparently, Gunma is one of Japan's most dungeon-prone regions.
Truly a hidden frontier. Dungeons must lurk in the most uncharted lands.
"Huh? Where's the Daily Mission? Does it appear if I ask for it?"
──────────────────
★Daily Mission★
Let's work hard bit by bit every day!
'Don't Breathe'
Hold breath 0 hours 0 minutes/5 hours 00 minutes
Consecutive days: Day 1
Steady Rank: Bronze (1.0x Multiplier)
──────────────────
It appeared.
Wait, uh, isn't this a bit brutal? What even is this?
And now, right away, a Daily Mission that I can't steadily complete is mixed in.
Baffled, I tried holding my breath. Maybe I can do five hours...... No way, impossible.