Chapter 10

The place felt more like a leisure facility than a training center—that much was already obvious from the interior décor, the store’s BGM, and the type of customers it attracted.

But because of that, I figured there might be “hidden masters among ordinary people”—folks who have real ability but no intention of becoming Explorers. So I came to the Dungeon Battlefield Shinjuku No.1 Branch, partly to earn prize money and partly to test that possibility.

“A-And the winner is… Higashiyama Akira! Congratulations!”

Surrounded by confused voices and a murmur of unrest, I walked off the battlefield.

…YES! There wasn’t a single strong person among them!!!!

Everyone got KO’d before taking even one step from the starting point!

Starting from round two, the moment they sensed my strength, they forfeited. And in the finals, where forfeiting wasn’t allowed, I just had to beat up an unwilling opponent and that was that!

“Kind of anticlimactic, huh? Yesterday’s first-round opponent—that girl—she was definitely the cream of the crop, in your sister’s opinion.”

My sister came to cheer, but midway she gave up on cheering because the fights had no tension. Instead, after every match she just brought me a different flavor of canned drink.

My stomach is sloshing. I can’t drink any more…

“Urp… Yeah, I thought so.”

“If I landed a hit on your stomach right now, tropical-tea-vegetable-cola-energy-drink-coffee would probably spray out everywhere.”

“That’s just mean, onee-san…”

“No no, I just wanted to add a little tension to these boring fights!”

“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Okay~ Your sister will wait at the entrance.”

Ignoring my sister’s comment—which hovered somewhere between mischief and kindness—I headed to the bathroom.

As painful as my stomach is, holding it during the matches was much worse.

I wanted to go during the intervals, but the bathroom line was so long that I couldn’t make it in time.

“Phew… Guess I’ll save this 100k yen…”

I was planning to save it toward my sister’s PC fund, but honestly, right now she’s the one who can make money by diving into dungeons.

I really need to get my Explorer License soon. October’s exam is earlier than when I got it in my previous life, but it’ll probably be fine.

“Want me to tell you a good way to use that 100k?”

“Hm? What is it, neighbor?”

“I saw your fight, kid. You’re pretty strong for someone unlicensed. If it’s outside the league, you can even fight real explorers. Wanna do a little wager match?”

“Don’t casually invite me into illegal gambling, old man. So, what are the rates?”

“Survive ten minutes, you get an extra 10k. Twenty minutes, 20k. If you lose, the pot’s mine.”

“What if I win? I’ll take the offer if you double the payout.”

While I’m using the urinal, the middle-aged man next to me starts making this offer.

I see… maybe because this place has a bit of an underground vibe, shady people like him hang around.

“You talk big. Fine then—meet me at the deepest court, kid. I’ll have you sign a proper contract. No backing out later. I already know your real name. I’ll hunt you down wherever you run.”

“Sure sure. Go on ahead.”

“Yeah—hey, your piss is taking forever!?”

“I’m surprised too. Seriously…”

Damn it… Sis, you made me drink way too much…!

At the very back of the facility, there were clearly regulars who treated the place like their personal territory, bringing in their own stuff.

Among them was one spot where the path to the court was blocked by a man standing like a gatekeeper, clearly marking it as “their turf.”

“Let me through. I was called.”

Without responding, he silently ushered me inside.

The facility already had low lighting, but here, as some kind of decoration, tattered cloths and banners covered parts of the lamps, making the atmosphere even more underground.

At the deepest area, like a VIP lounge in a club, a sofa and table were set up. The old man from the restroom was sitting there like he owned the place, waiting for me.

Whether he was trying to be a gang boss or what, the fact that he built this place around himself and acted like he held status here was… honestly, a bit ridiculous.

“You came, kid. Here’s the contract.”

“Let’s see…”

Nothing was off in the document. It clearly listed the prize rates, the payment if I lost, and the payout boost if I won.

But it also listed this old man’s dungeon-related credentials—

“Oh, so you’re not just active—you’re a Common Dungeon Completer. Not bad, old man.”

“No backing out now.”

“Didn’t plan on it. Let’s get started.”

So he also cleared the Ginza Branching Dungeon… meaning he’s among the higher ranks of explorers.

Why someone like that is doing pocket-change gambling here is beyond me.

Moving to the court, I found a bunch of rough-looking regulars surrounding it, probably because anyone can spectate.

Heckling voices, grumbling from people I must have beaten earlier, and—

“Sekijou-san! Take him down!”

“Show him reality, Sekijou-san!”

They also called out his name.

He must be the local celebrity here, or at least someone with influence.

Either way, he’ll be the toughest opponent I’ve faced in this life so far.

I need to finish this without letting my guard down—or letting him take my money.

“Well, whatever. Don’t go acting all tough by crushing unlicensed kids and stealing their cash, Explorer.”

“You’re talking nonsense. You can’t verify that with the Management Center anyway. This place isn’t a certified facility—no official queries.”

“The way you fight isn’t something you can do with level-one stats. I’ll teach you a little lesson, kid.”

“Feel free to check later, old man. Now hurry up.”

Well, he’s right that I’m definitely not level one. I’m an irregular case.

The match rules are simple: the protective field built into the armor decreases with every hit—basically a stamina system where any strike works, not just clean hits or attacks on vital points.

The most “real combat-like” ruleset.

“Match begins!”

Sekijou’s weapon was an axe.

A classic battle axe—not super popular, but known for its destructive power. People with high strength growth tend to use greatswords or axes, so it’s a standard choice.

“Shaaa!!”

He charged like a heavy tank. His sprinting had enough speed and weight behind it that it looked like he could blow away anything in his path.

He brought the momentum straight into a massive axe swing.

“Like this?”

He thrust his fist forcefully toward the blade.

The axe blade wedged itself between the gaps of his clenched fingers.

Gripping tightly, he stopped the axe attack with his fist, pulled back his arm, and, twisting his body to absorb the force and momentum, sent the man tumbling to the floor—weapon and all—

“ORA!”

“!?”

Without a moment’s pause, he slammed his fist into the man’s face and mounted him.

He punched the base of the man’s hand that gripped the axe, then his shoulder, repeating the blows over and over until the man’s arm lost its strength.

Clang. Hearing the sound of the fallen weapon hitting the floor, he returned his attacks to the man’s face.

“ORA! One more! Let’s see what happens when your armor effect runs out, huh?”

“Stop… stop it… damn you!”

He swung with full strength. He gathered all his knowledge, focused all the power of his body into a single point.

With the next punch, an alarm echoed through the field—signaling that the armor had completely stopped functioning.

It was effectively the signal for “all stamina depleted.”

“…Pay the 200,000, old man.”

“…Damn…!”

After the match ended, he couldn’t hear the jeers or anything else—if anything, people seemed a little afraid of him. He returned to his original sofa seat and received the money from the old man.

He expected the man to refuse or hesitate, but apparently even his pride wouldn’t allow that.

“You really haven’t obtained any skills, right? If you’re lying… you’d better be ready, kid. Don’t think you can live a normal life. I can investigate you all I want.”

“Is that a threat, old man? Then I’ll call it self-defense and beat you again. You think I’m scared of some petty intimidation? What’s next? You gonna threaten to kill me? Don’t act tough like some alpha monkey. I’ll be the one to kill you.”

In this place, justice was violence.

He could feel the atmosphere, the killing intent of those around him swirling toward him.

So what? As if something like that would scare him now. He provoked them right back, refusing to back down.

“—Tch! Take the money and get out!”

“Sure. Guess I’m banned now, huh? I was planning to make more money in the next tournament.”

“Never come back… you… you’re not someone from this world…!”

He didn’t understand what that meant, but strangely, he felt it was probably true.

And so, he left that underground world behind and started heading back to the entrance.

…Ah! He forgot the lady!

—

After Akira left, a facility user—likely one of Sekijou’s underlings—got fired up and tried to go after him.

But—

“Stop! Don’t ever get involved with that guy! He’s not someone we’re allowed to deal with! His eyes… those were the eyes of someone who’s walked the line between life and death. Not once or twice… He’s not normal. Don’t go near him. Don’t get involved.”

They had felt Akira’s abnormality up close.

Akira truly had survived many brushes with death. More than that—he had even experienced “dying.”

The resentment of death, the frustration, everything—had been carved into him as life experience, ten times deeper than any normal person.

Such an abnormal high-school senior finished his summer break and continued his path toward advancement—once again stepping into the world of explorers.

What path will this second-run youth take, and where will it lead him? No one yet knows.