Chapter 19 – To Never Repeat the Same Mistake Again

“Аh, geez. Тhat’s why I tоld уou tо finish it оff quiсklу.”

“Whу… is this…”

Thаt short sрear bеlоngеd tо the Lizardmаn.

Kаnzaki had beеn аttacked by а Lizаrdman from behind.

“Therе shоuldn’t have been anу Lizаrdman behind us…”

“It’s а Resраwn. Веcause yоu were tаking уоur sweet timе fighting, thе Lizаrdman yоu defeаted Respawnеd.”

Glub.

А large аmоunt of blоod ovеrflowed from Кanzаki’s mоuth.

Immediately aftеr, the lifе disарpеared frоm hеr еyes.

“Nо waу…”

“Whаt, уоu didn’t еven knоw аbоut Resраwns? In Dungeons, Monsters Respawn even after you defeat them.”

No, he had known.

Unlike Gates where Monsters never revive once defeated, in Dungeons, Monsters would reappear (Respawn) after time passed…

But caught up in the battle, that information had completely slipped from his mind.

He was so focused on fighting that he couldn’t think about anything else.

His field of vision had become terrifyingly narrow.

“Ah, geez. Because of your ignorance, an innocent girl’s life has been snuffed out.”

“Damn it!!”

Asuto was deeply disappointed in himself.

He was angry at himself for getting cocky just because he could fight a little better.

Compared to last time, he could still be called a proper Hunter.

But Asuto was still a Beginner with little real combat experience.

He wasn’t strong enough to Clear everything perfectly in a single challenge.

That reality hit him hard now.

Anger heated his entire body.

Asuto gripped his Dagger and used Leap forward.

In an instant, he closed the distance to the Lizardman to zero.

At Asuto’s approach, the Lizardman frantically tried to pull out its short spear.

But it was too slow.

Asuto, having slipped into close range, thrust out his Dagger.

The angle, the speed—everything was perfect as the blade pierced into its chest.

“——!!”

The Lizardman’s death cry echoed.

Soon, this thing would die.

But Asuto didn’t stop.

He pulled out the Dagger and moved to the side.

—Stab!!

The blade, entering at the proper angle, severed the Lizardman’s shoulder joint.

With the return stroke, he severed the opposite shoulder as well.

Then a spin, a roundhouse kick.

He sent the Lizardman away from Kanzaki.

Without the support of the short spear, Kanzaki collapsed powerlessly, and Asuto gently caught and supported her.

Feeling her body temperature rapidly growing cold, Asuto clenched his back teeth hard.

“…Sorry.”

Not minding the blood, he tightly embraced her small body.

It was a delicate frame that seemed impossible to imagine would one day be called the Ice-Blood Princess.

Due to his own powerless and reckless actions, he had lost a Hunter who was indispensable to Japan.

He carved the regret deep into his chest.

Gently laying her body on the ground, he closed her open eyelids with his palm.

Before long, Kanzaki’s form transformed into a Magic Stone.

It was a small Magic Stone, no bigger than a fingertip.

He picked up the Magic Stone and gripped it tightly in his palm.

(This is… Kanzaki’s weight…)

The price of existence.

For an exchange with someone who would become a Top Hunter in the future, that Magic Stone was far too light.

“…”

“Too bad. Losing the girl you liked in such a way. But being a Hunter is a job that risks your life. This kind of thing happens all the time—”

“Shut up.”

“—?!”

The words that leaked from his mouth echoed coldly through the Dungeon in a way that even chilled himself.

He placed the Magic Stone on the ground with gentle movements, as if burying a person.

Then Asuto stood up.

“Well, I guess the Dungeon Conquest is called off.”

“No, this is the perfect opportunity.”

“…Huh? You called your beloved’s death a perfect opportunity? You’re more cold-blooded than I thought.”

“That’s why I keep telling you she’s not my beloved—”

“Don’t tell me you’re still planning to continue hunting?”

“Yeah. …No matter how many Monsters I defeat, Kanzaki won’t Level up.”

“Huh? What are you acting all cool for, stating the obvious?”

If he gave up here, reality wouldn’t change, and time would continue with Kanzaki lost.

If he used the Skill Return, at minimum Kanzaki would come back to life and they’d return to square one.

But that would just mean repeating the same mistake again.

To never repeat the same mistake again, Asuto had to become stronger.

—I’ll definitely become stronger!

○Name: Yuki Asuto (23)

Level: 24→25 Aptitude: Assassin

Rank: E SP: 0→5

Held G: 5→7

○Physical Ability

Strength: 33 Stamina: 25 Magic Power: 4

Spirit: 4 Agility: 60 Perception: 32

○Skills

・Basic Dagger Arts Lv3 (45%→89%)

Evasion Lv3 (30%→64%)

・Leap Lv3 (13%→31%)

・Memory Playback Lv2 (35%→42%)

• Eye of Insight Lv1 (51% to 60%)

・Return Lv1 (31%)