Chapter 17 – Lizardman

Uроn еntеring the dungeоn аnd rеасhing the depths, Аsutо removеd his cloаk.

“Рhеw. Sоrrу fоr dragging yоu along likе thаt.”

“N-no, it’s finе… I’m оkау!”

“…Оkaу?”

“It’s nothing. М-more imроrtаntlу, here wе arе—the dungeon whеrе Dreamdrops арpear.”

“Yeah. Wеll thеn, shall we start the cоnquеst?”

“Yes. Oh, Мr. Yuki, is therе аnуthing I сan do?”

“Hmm, cаn you usе Skills?”

Не asked, fеigning саlmness.

Asutо knew abоut the Skill Kanzaki роssessed.

—Grеаt Subjugatiоn. A legеndary-clаss Buff Skill.

It wаs thаnks to this Buff Skill that Kanzаki had skуrосketеd to beсоmе a Rankеr.

She shоuld hаvе bееn grantеd thе sаme Skill this timе аs well.

Unless the gods had rerolled the dice…

“It’s a Skill called Great Subjugation.”

It was the same Skill. Thank goodness.

Asuto stifled a sigh of relief that nearly escaped.

“…Do you know its effects?”

“It says it applies a buff? to allies. The effect seems to vary depending on the strength and number of enemies.”

“That’s an incredible Skill.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. In Hunter parties, Experience Points are distributed based on contribution, but even just applying a buff to allies earns you a share of the Experience Points.”

“I see… Oh, but if I receive Experience Points, wouldn’t that reduce the Experience Points you should have gotten, Mr. Yuki?”

“That’s right. I think it’ll be less than if I were Solo.”

“Since I can’t fight, I shouldn’t receive Experience Points…”

“That’s impossible within the System.”

“If I don’t apply the buff—”

“Apply the buff. It’s really important.”

“Ugh…”

“Don’t worry about the Experience Points. If you hadn’t helped, Miss Kanzaki, defeating the Monsters would have been a struggle.”

“Yes, I’m sorry…”

For this dungeon conquest, the Great Subjugation Skill is crucial.

If it’s just D-Rank Normal Monsters, I could probably defeat them even without the buff.

But it’d be close.

In that state, there’s no way I could defeat the Boss, no matter what.

It’s said that to defeat a D-Rank Boss, you need at least five Hunters of the same rank.

That’s because their vitality is extremely high, and their Physical Abilities are exceptional.

For Asuto to conquer this Dungeon Boss, Kanzaki’s buff is indispensable.

“Apply the buff only after the Monsters appear, okay?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, let’s go.”

“Please take care of me!”

As soon as they began the conquest, Asuto immediately checked his Memory Points.

・Point A April 5, 2030, 12:00

・Point B April 7, 2030, 12:51

(If I die, I’ll return to before conquering the F-Rank Gate… I wonder if I can at least change Point B.)

When he focused on overwriting the Memory Points, the Skill Popup changed.

Memory Point overwritten.

・Point A April 5, 2030, 12:00

・Point B April 7, 2030, 16:13 NEW

(Alright!)

Even if I die, I can now return to the start of the dungeon conquest.

With the overwriting complete, it was finally time to begin the conquest.

“Conquering the Gate and immediately diving into the dungeon. You’re quite the hard worker.”

Ignoring Amy’s muttering, Asuto sharpened his senses.

Soon, his Perception picked up the presence of a single Monster.

“Miss Kanzaki, please apply the buff.”

“Yes.”

“And step back a little.”

“Y-yes.”

Perhaps sensing his tension, Kanzaki retreated with a tense expression, stepping back cautiously.

Once she was at a sufficient distance, the Monster of this dungeon appeared.

The enemy was a green-skinned, lizard-like demi-human—a Lizardman.

In its hand, it gripped a short spear.

The sharpness of its killing intent was clearly different from F-Rank.

A shiver ran down his spine.

—This is a D-Rank Monster.

Asuto had known from the start that Lizardmen appeared in this dungeon.

He didn’t even need to recall future information; it was posted on the Hunter Site.

(It thrusts its spear quickly, so I’ll close in while disrupting it with my feet—)

Following the guide on the information site, Asuto moved his feet.

(It’s light!)

His body felt terrifyingly light.

Thanks to Kanzaki’s buff.

〈Great Subjugation〉 should be at Skill Level 1.

He never imagined it would make such a difference.

As expected of a legendary-class Skill.

(With this, I can do it!)

Shaking the enemy’s awareness left and right, occasionally feinting, reversing.

Stepping forward.

Pouring strength into his dagger.

The next moment, killing intent.

“—!?”

—Swish!!

The spear tip grazed Asuto’s cheek, missing by a hair’s breadth.

If he hadn’t sensed the killing intent and twisted his neck, Asuto would have had a hole pierced through the center of his face by now.

(Dodge with my feet? That?)

Don’t be ridiculous!

Asuto mentally cursed the Hunter who posted that conquest guide online.

Facing a life-threatening crisis, a switch flipped inside him.

His concentration skyrocketed, and his entire body grew hot.

He took a deep breath.

Then, the world fell silent… utterly still.

All distractions vanished.

Sensing the signs of an attack, he raised his dagger.

Immediately after, the spear tip moved.

At the same time, he tilted his dagger slightly.

The spear tip slid smoothly along the flat of the blade.

Seizing the moment, Asuto swiftly stepped forward.

Faster than the enemy could retract its spear—.

“Uoooooh!!”

—Strike with your life!

Asuto’s dagger plunged straight into the center of its chest.

The Lizardman tried to grab Asuto.

He Evaded it with a Backstep.

From the Lizardman’s chest, blood gushed out in sync with the heartbeat’s pulsations.

(It can still fight!?)