Chapter 8
The next morning, I checked my first post with a grin.
Shares: 1 Likes: 4
"Well, this is about right for the start."
I-I'm not sad or anything. I-I definitely didn't dream of it going super viral or anything.
I didn't expect much anyway. So, I'm not disappointed or anything.
Now then, let's check Today's Daily Mission with enthusiasm. ...Sigh.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it steadily every day!
'Daily Workout: Push-ups'
Push-ups 0/300
Consecutive days: Day 6
Steady Rank: Silver Multiplier 2.5x
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Huh, not bad.
This is the kind of thing I like—simple and steady.
Very daily-like. Perfectly wholesome.
Though, 300 push-ups isn't exactly light.
I wash my face, check SNS, reply to messages, check the foundation's SNS, mess around with mobile games, and then start my workout.
30 minutes later.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it steadily every day!
'Daily Workout: Push-ups'
Push-ups 300/300
★Today's Daily Mission Complete!★
Reward: 5,000 EXP
Consecutive days: Day 7
Steady Rank: Silver Multiplier 2.5x
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I took breaks, but I cleared it with plenty to spare.
The old me would've probably died at 10.
My physical strength as a living being has improved.
Leveling up really is something.
With my daily routine done, it's 8 AM.
I headed straight to the dungeon camp.
Since I spotted the lovely Shurado again today, I decided to ask about the anomalous substance (Anomaly) I missed last night.
"Huh? You've already found three anomalous substances?"
"'Blue Blood,' 'Proof of the Chosen One,' and 'Secret Map.'"
"I've never heard of any of these anomalous substances (Anomalies)... Let me check the database for precedents!"
Staring at her phone, Shurado concluded, "Zero excavation records."
"Anomalous substances (Anomalies) aren't necessarily one-of-a-kind, but exact duplicates are rare! There are always slight differences—performance gaps, tweaks, things like that. So explorers treasure their encounters with them!"
That said, one thing's for sure—I'm finding too many anomalous substances (Anomalies).
"They say people with strong dungeon affinity attract fate. Maybe Akagi will become an amazing explorer someday!"
Shurado hyped me up.
Well, honestly, there's no reason to get full of myself.
This is just luck, plain and simple.
I only found them because I keep my eyes glued to the ground.
After that, I entered the dungeon, took down monsters with 'Finger Snap Lv2,' earned EXP, and picked up the occasional crystal drop.
I opened the 'Secret Map,' photographed monster hotspots, and posted one near the dungeon entrance.
I hunt in deeper hunting grounds.
In hunting grounds, you encounter one monster every five minutes or so.
Elsewhere, it's common to go 15+ minutes with nothing.
Roaming hunting grounds is just that much more efficient.
My usual formation is wandering hunting grounds while searching for stairs on the third floor.
After slaying about 20 monsters in one hunting ground, it stops being a danger zone—the monster density drops, so I move to the next.
The sound of leveling up occasionally reaches my ears.
It feels good knowing I'm growing steadily.
But the *Pikon!* frequency has definitely dropped.
Now it only happens once every 3-4 hours.
Since I still had energy to spare, I pulled an all-nighter.
Even after 24+ hours inside, I was fine.
Honestly, I wasn't tired at all when I returned to the hotel, so I couldn't sleep well for days.
My phone says it's already noon, but I figured I'd push my limits.
But first, a daily check.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it steadily 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 7
Steady Rank: Silver Multiplier 2.5x
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Okay. That one.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it steadily 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 Complete!★
Reward: 1,000 EXP
Consecutive days: Day 8
Steady Rank: Silver Multiplier 2.5x
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Wrapped it up in about 10 minutes.
Back to hunting ground rotations.
Before I knew it, I'd spent over 48 hours on the third floor.
Something about that feels kinda dangerous.
Not physically—I'm fine, and my HP and MP are still high.
I headed back to the dungeon's second floor to exit.
Sitting on the stairs connecting the third and second floors, I checked my posts.
Day 3 of posting.
Yesterday's post had Shares: 5 Likes: 25—a big improvement.
I can't help but feel a little happy. Is this what it's like to have your need for validation satisfied?
Telling salaryman explorers about hunting grounds near the dungeon entrance provides them with useful information—"Maybe I'll dive into the dungeon after work... but I don't have much time."
It's not just salarymen—people who explore as a side job usually have regular lives, so they can only really dive in on weekends.
In other words, they want quick dungeon runs, but the dungeon world itself only accommodates full-timers.
I can be their messiah.
I might have found it.
The kind of information only I can broadcast.
Did Shurado know about this and deliberately drop hints to guide me?
As expected of the daughter of Gunma's most feared cannibal chieftain. A fighter, receptionist, and even a sage—hats off.
So, I decided on this approach: I photographed hunting grounds near the first-floor entrance using the 'Secret Map,' synced it with the foundation app's 3D map, and posted it on the timeline.
The caption: "Today's hunting grounds."
I'm not good at flashy posts—what if it flops?
My bag feels heavy.
And, probably because of me, the hunting grounds on the third floor disappeared.
It seems monsters aren't infinite.
Did I... wipe them all out?
Feeling slightly guilty, I returned to camp.
I'm exhausted, but I can probably hold out until I get back to the hotel.
"Oh, Akagi... I thought I hadn't seen you in days... Were you diving the whole time?"
I placed my heavily laden shoulder bag on the counter.
"Wow... This is the kind of crystal haul only seasoned explorers—like ascetic monks—bring in sometimes... Also, your bag's gonna stretch if you stuff it this full!"
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Today's Appraisal
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Small Crystal 1,109 yen
Small Crystal 1,941 yen
Small Crystal 2,187 yen
Small Crystal 2,101 yen
Small Crystal 2,093 yen
Small Crystal 2,215 yen
Small Crystal 2,109 yen
Small Crystal 2,440 yen
Small Crystal 2,110 yen
Small Crystal 2,101 yen
Small Crystal 2,601 yen
Small Crystal 1,986 yen
Small Crystal 2,101 yen
Small Crystal 2,007 yen
Small Crystal 2,242 yen
Small Crystal 1,536 yen
Small Crystal 1,972 yen
Small Crystal 2,106 yen
Small Crystal 2,175 yen
Small Crystal 2,110 yen
Small Crystal 2,101 yen
Small Crystal 2,601 yen
Small Crystal 2,334 yen
Small Crystal 2,096 yen
Small Crystal 2,609 yen
Small Crystal 2,000 yen
Small Crystal 2,101 yen
Crystal 4,869 yen
Crystal 4,963 yen
Crystal 5,200 yen
Crystal 5,193 yen
Crystal 5,471 yen
Crystal 6,120 yen
Crystal 5,005 yen
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Total 93,905 yen
Dungeon Bank Account Balance 152,350 yen
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Feels absolutely amazing.
My heart feels fuller than when I worked at a gyudon chain or pachinko parlor. So much fun. Yeah, fun's the best.
If I can dive for 50 hours and earn like this every time, I'd be thrilled.
But this is probably the peak.
There are no more monsters on the third floor.
Even if I hunt the same way, the next 50 hours' earnings will drop sharply.
And I can't dive anytime.
Once Class 3 is cleared, there's no work until the next dungeon appears.
Thinking that, it's too early to celebrate unreservedly.
By the way, my level rose quite a bit.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 52
HP 451/1,023
MP 25/245
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv2'
Equipment
'Blue Blood'
'Proof of the Chosen One'
'Secret Map'
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"Akagi, the foundation has a gift for you!"
Shurado handed me a brooch engraved with 'D-Rank,' adorned with a yellow gemstone.
It was in a matte-finished black box.
The interior had high-quality fabric lining, and a gemstone appraisal certificate was included.
According to her, as expected for a supplied item, it was reasonably pricey.
The stainless steel alloy frame was set with topaz—fitting for the foundation's socially conscious image regarding SDGs.
"Congratulations on your promotion to D-Rank explorer! Now you're in the top 40% of explorers worldwide! No longer a rookie—you're a veteran!"
Apparently, many explorers are weeded out at the E→D barrier.
I'll rejoice at clearing one hurdle safely.
I returned my E-Rank brooch to Shurado.
And so, I officially became a D-Rank explorer.