An Incompetent Explorer Who Failed to Make His High School Debut but Mastered Being a Human Being

Episode 186: Critical Hit against a loner

"Hmm!?"

"What's that sound?"

 We check the area after hearing the roar. Once I sharpen my senses, I understand that it was caused at the entrance of the F-rank dungeon.

"Shia, follow me!!"

"Hmm!!"

 I immediately instruct Shia to follow me, and she follows me.

"It seems that something dangerous is going on at the F-rank dungeon. Many monsters with strong signs have appeared. Nanami and the others from the E-rank dungeon seem to be heading towards the F-rank dungeon, so let's join up with them and head for the F-rank dungeon."

"Hmm."

 After telling Shia, who was following me, about the situation and our next move, we run towards the meeting point of the D-rank and E-rank dungeon paths.

"Nanami!!"

 When I see Nanami in front of me, I shout to stop her.

"Ah, Onii-chan and Shia-oneechan!! You were safe!!"

"Yeah, rather than that, let's hurry now. You understand, don't you?"

 Noticing my voice, Nanami, Amane, and Rei stop and join us.

"Yes!!"

"That's right!!"

"Yes, let's hurry."

"Okay, let's go!!"

""Roger.""

 The three of them nod in agreement at my words

, I give the command, and everyone replies in unison.(TN:Weird placement for a comma, as always.)

 With the whole party together, we start running towards the F-rank dungeon.

"Rei, what about the other explorers at the E-rank dungeon?"

 While running, I check with Rei to get an idea of the current situation.

"Everyone except us is tired and resting. Even though it's an E-rank dungeon, C-rank monsters Stampeded us."

"Eh!? Are you serious!? Was it okay?"

 I am taken aback by Rei's report and ask just in case.

 I know they're safe since they're here, and they don't seem to be injured, so I don't think there's a problem, but I can't help but worry about them.

"Yes, there was no problem. 'Everyone' worked hard."

"I see, there weren't any particularly strong monsters at the D-rank dungeon, so I feel somewhat guilty."

"No, I'm not tired, so I'm fine ... Satou-kun, you can't have a tough fight against monsters like that ..."

 I am relieved to hear the report that nothing had happened, and I apologized for not being able to go to such a difficult place to help, but Rei shakes her head saying she isn't tired.

 After that, I thought she muttered something, but I couldn't hear her because I hadn't raised the sensitivity of my hearing.

"Did you say something?"

"No, I didn't say anything, why?"

 I try to ask, but it seems it was just my imagination.

 Rei's always taking care of me. She must be tired. She really is reliable. I always ask for her help.

"Rei, thank you as always. Also, do you know what's going on at the F-rank dungeon?"

"Eh, wh, what, all of a sudden. Are you feeling a little sick? More importantly, regarding the F-rank dungeon, the Stampede seemed to end without any problems when we arrived. I'm assuming something unusual is going on. I can feel something with great power coming out of the dungeon."

 When I express my gratitude, for some reason, she looks embarrassed with a confused face. Gakkushi.(TN:Apparently, 'Gakkushi' ガックシ is another way of saying Orz, which is ascii art for a kneeling person. Look it up for more info. Basically, he's feeling apologetic.)

 Rather than that, it's the F-rank dungeon that's the problem. When I check with Rei, she seems to be feeling the same strong presence as I do.

"Ma, maa, don't worry about it. It seems that monsters with strong signs are appearing one after another."

"Satou-kun can tell, too."

 After smiling wryly, I tell Rei what I feel, and she replies with an expression of it being as expected.

"Yeah, I can hardly feel the presence of the explorers. However, I can feel the presence of some of them. They're probably on the verge of annihilation. I feel the presence of Aki among them. It might be better to hurry."

 I feel Aki's presense as I search further. I feel that his signs are gradually weakening.

"When you say Aki, do you mean Takaaki-kun?"(TN:Rei is acquainted with Yanagi Aki from Shindou's team, so she's mildly confused.)

"That's right. Because he's my only friend. I have to help him."

 It seems that I didn't get it across when I called him Aki, so Rei asks me to confirm, I answer because I don't want Aki, who is my only friend, to die.

 However, those words cause ripples when heard.

"Onii-chan was a loner, wasn't he!!"

"Guhaa!!"

 First a jab from Nanami.

"Were you a loner, Fuhito-kun?"

"Guhou!!"

 Next, Amane also jabbed.

"Satou-kun is shy, despite his appearance."

"Guhee!!"

 And finally, when I receive a jab from Rei, I bow my head in depression.

 Everyone found out that Aki is my only friend ... it hurts ...

"Hmm!!"

"Ahh, thank you, Shia is the only one who understands my feelings ..."

 Only Shia consoles me by claiming that she is also a friend. She is a good boss.

 Tiroriroriiin.

 My affection for Shia increased.

"I, it's okay. Onii-chan, we're here, too!!"

"Y, yeah, we're friends too!!"

"Well, I may be older than you, but I still consider you a friend, you know?"

"Guhaa!!"

 Thinking that they said something that shouldn't have been said, the other three console me. But, on the contrary, that kindness gave me the finishing blow.

 I have no choice but to shrink and run.

"Well, it's not the time to do something like this. I can see it!! Prepare yourselves!!"

 However, I thought that now is not the time to be depressed like that, so after I straighten my posture and calm myself down, I issue a warning to everyone.

"Hmm!!"

"Yes!!"

"Okay!!"

"Understood!!"

 The four of them, who see the smoke rising in front of us, reply to my words with tense faces.

"Aki!!"

 When we arrive at the destination, I see Aki struggling in agony as he is being lifted into the air by a monster that resembles a Bonus Monster from the Forest Dungeon, grabbing him by the neck.