Chapter 23 – Into the Nightmare

Having dеfеаtеd thе boss, Asuto саlmed his heаted breаthing.

Аsutо’s Dаggеr Аrts had risen tо Intermediаtе levеl, аnd his Stаtus hаd еssentiаlly bеen allосаtеd points еquivalеnt to C-Rank.

Оn tоp of that, he hаd Кanzaki’s Great Subjugatiоn Вuff.

Thanks to this, he had bееn able tо ovеrwhеlminglу dеfeat the D-Rank Dungеon boss, thе Еlitе Lizard.

Now, if thе Drеаmdrop wаs in his Inventorу, the mission would be соmpletе.

“Нeу Amy, whаt’s the Dreamdrоp Drор rate from this boss?”

“Oоh? This is thе first timе уou’rе relying оn mе! Аlright, listen well. It’s 33%.”

“…Тhat’s lоw.”

“Тhis is асtuаlly рrеttу goоd! Whеn the Rarity gets higher, some drop below 1%.”

Gate Clear Rewards and Boss Drops are drawn by lottery for each Hunter who participated in the Subjugation.

So when large Guilds conquer Gates or Dungeons, they always form Parties with the maximum of sixteen members who can participate in the lottery. That’s how they maximize their profits.

Setting that aside, this time the probability of obtaining at least one Dreamdrop with two people was about 55%.

It was hardly a certain probability.

Unlike Normal Monsters, Boss Monsters take considerable time to Respawn. At the earliest they Pop in one day, but the slowest can take up to a month.

(If it doesn’t drop, I’ll have to start over with Return)

Asuto opened his Inventory as if praying.

There, he found—

“Ah, it’s here.”

The Dreamdrop was there.

Seeing that icon, Asuto finally felt the tension leave his shoulders.

With this, he had reached the future he had aimed for.

Even more joyfully, he had also achieved a Feat with this Subjugation.

You have achieved a new Feat

・Subjugate an Elite-Class Monster of the same Rank or higher with No-Damage.

Reward: Agility +15

If it included lower Ranks, there would be quite a few who could achieve a No-Damage Kill.

But when it comes to the same Rank or higher, that’s a different story.

Only Hunters who enjoy Self-Imposed Handicaps or Evasion-Type Hunters who can receive high-Rank Buffs could accomplish this.

(Given how difficult this Feat is, the Reward is exceptional)

With this, his Status had been boosted by the equivalent of three Levels.

○Name: Yuki Asuto (23)

Level: 33→34 Aptitude: Assassin

Rank: D SP: 0→5

Held G: 145→376

○Physical Ability

Strength: 48 Stamina: 35 Magic Power: 4

Spirit: 4 Agility: 80→95 Perception: 42

○Skills

・Intermediate Dagger Arts Lv1 (1%→8%)

・Critical Strike Lv1 (0%→40%)

・Evasion Lv3→4 (74%→5%)

・Leap Lv3→4 (94%→2%)

・Memory Playback Lv2→3 (87%→0%)

・Eye of Insight Lv1 to 2 (98% to 1%)

Return Lv1 (31%)

“Miss Kanzaki, did the Dreamdrop Drop for you?”

“Um, how do I check Drops?”

“Ah. You can see them by opening the Cart in the System’s Shop.”

“I see… let me check… ah, it’s here!!”

Her joyful voice echoed loudly through the Dungeon walls.

He hadn’t expected both of them to obtain it simultaneously.

“We’re lucky.”

While Dreamdrops aren’t Rare Items, they’re traded for at least 100,000 Yen.

(Since Kanzaki got one, it should be fine to sell this one)

With 100,000 Yen, he could stay at an Internet Cafe for 50 days.

For a while, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding a place to sleep.

“Yes… yes… I understand. I just need to use this, right?”

While Asuto was calculating, Kanzaki was muttering something while looking at the air.

She was conversing with an Angel.

Suddenly, Kanzaki took out a bottle filled with amber liquid.

—It was a Dreamdrop.

“Hm? Miss Kanzaki, you don’t need to take that out right now—”

“Well then, I’ll use it.”

“Eh, wait a moment—”

Before Asuto could stop her, Kanzaki opened the bottle’s cap.

The next moment, a floral fragrance wafted through the air… and his consciousness… was enveloped in illusion.

‘Please… stop… it…’

What he could hear was the creaking of a bed. A man’s rough breathing.

Having been beaten repeatedly, Kanzaki’s face was horribly swollen.

She wanted the Dreamdrop to save her mother.

For that purpose, day after day, she continued calling out to Hunters, asking for their help.

It was when her mother’s life was approaching its limit.

Finally, she found a Hunter willing to cooperate.

Now she could save her mother!

Her joy was short-lived, as the intimidating Hunter led her to a narrow, filthy basement.

From there, Kanzaki had her will to resist broken through violence, her dignity stolen, her personality destroyed.

What Kanzaki kept staring at were the wolf tattoos carved on the men’s shoulders.

Several hours later, discarded like trash, Kanzaki headed straight to the hospital where her mother was.

She could no longer think of anything.

Right now, she just wanted to see her mother’s face.

—But.

‘I’m terribly sorry, but—’

Her mother had already passed away.

A white cloth placed over her face.

The heart monitor that had been turned off.

The bed, where time seemed to have stopped in that spot alone.

Staggering closer to the bed, Kanzaki removed the white cloth.

There was her mother’s face, unchanged from when she was alive.

Her mother slept peacefully, so much so that it was hard to believe she had died.

‘—Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!’

Since then, Kanzaki never smiled again.

She simply continued to subjugate Monsters relentlessly.

As if that was the only way she could soothe the pain in her heart…