NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 28
28: Slime Filled 1-D Quest
――SIDE: Kanzaki Ayumu――
It’s been around 20 minutes since we re-entered the second floor. We’ve encountered monsters, but there’s no sign of Isogai or Sanbonmatsu anywhere.
I realized something while exploring ABYSS for the first time – the floors are incredibly vast. It would take at least a day or two to fully explore this vast space. It’s difficult to find someone in this vast area, even if we spend hours or tens of hours searching.
Of course, I’ll do my best, but unlike Sōji, I don’t have any unnecessary hopes.
Then, there’s another person – Ishizuru Shinma.
… What is this guy doing?
He’s so lazy that it’s hard to understand why he volunteered for the ABYSS exploration. He says he’s just observing, but when it comes to battle, he surprisingly moves. However, even when faced with a monster, he continues to fiddle with his magic crystal terminal (Portal).
“Can’t you contribute a bit to the exploration?”
“Kiyō? – Ah, you want me to move? Kanzaki, you’re so hard to understand. It’s like you’re from a different era or something… You’re like a samurai?”
When I speak, he responds with a carefree attitude, dodging the conversation. Fundamentally, we don’t get along. It’s pointless to talk to him.
“That way, if you go straight, you’ll end up backtracking to the previous path. The direction is to the right. Don’t waste your time and focus on your job.”
“… What?”
“Ah, Ayumu! Calm down, calm down…”
Sōji hurriedly tries to calm me down, but that’s a misunderstanding. I’m not angry. I’m just quiet, so people misunderstand me. I’m actually interested.
He’s been fiddling with his magic crystal terminal (Portal) and playing around, but it seems he’s been keeping track of our current location as his responsibility. The battle with the monsters is something Sōji and I can handle. So, he’s been doing his job properly in a different aspect.
His tone and attitude are bad, but unlike what’s visible, he might be the type who does his best…
… No, that’s probably an overestimation.
I shake off my thoughts and resume the exploration.
As I turn the corner, I hear a voice.
“Someone, please help〜〜!”
『！！』
A pitiful voice echoes from a female student ahead. From the tone of her voice, it’s probably Sanbonmatsu Himary.
“Let’s hurry!”
Sōji gives the order and takes the lead, running ahead. When he sees someone in danger, he exhibits an incredible amount of power. I follow behind, glancing at the slow-moving Ishizuru, and chase after Sōji.
We pass through the long corridor and arrive at an open room. In the corner, we find Sanbonmatsu and the others surrounded by a large number of slimes.
“Hyī, hyī, fuu――ッ!”
Sanbonmatsu is repeating a unique breathing pattern, similar to the Lamaze method. Behind her, PT members Kinomoto Shiori and Moriyama Shinobu are standing, but they’re not in a state to fight with their hands. Considering that Sanbonmatsu’s wooden sword is broken halfway, the other two must have had their weapons destroyed by the slime’s bodily fluids.
“Are you okay, Sanbonmatsu?”
“Ahī…!? Sōji-kun…!? You came to help…!!”
Sanbonmatsu’s body trembles for a moment, and she floats a relieved smile, half-crying. Kinomoto remains expressionless, but Moriyama, beside her, says “Thank goodness” and falls to her knees.
It’s too early to relax.
I feel like scolding them, but since Sōji is already charging ahead, I’ll just follow his lead.
“There!”
Sōji’s iron sword cuts through the slimes. I never thought his extravagance would come in handy here. I attack the slimes as well, but I’m worried about the durability of my wooden sword. Moreover, we’re facing this many enemies. If we’re not careful, it could lead to a major accident.
“There, it’s the last one!!”
Sōji’s sword slashes the final slime. The area is scattered with magic crystals, and Sōji, who had been running at full speed, takes a deep breath and rests on one knee.
“You’re flying too high, idiot.”
“――Ah. But somehow, we made it in time?”
The magic crystal terminal (portal) in my pocket was buzzing violently. It seemed that Soji had felt it too. When I opened the screen, the words [LVUP.1→2] were displayed in large font.
This means I’ve also become a bit stronger.
……There’s still a long way to go.
I must become stronger than him.
As I thought about it, the three of us, including Matsumatsu, approached us. What caught my attention was that the leader himself was crying, his face scrunched up.
“Ari, Ari, you two…! Ari, Ari, it can’t be…! I thought we were done for…”
“Thank goodness, Matsumatsu, you’re safe…”
“I, as the leader, have to do my best…! I’m really, really scared!!”
“…”
Matsumatsu, crying her heart out. But she had fulfilled her duty as the leader and protected her PT members.
――What about overall power?
――Isn’t that just a number?
Ishizuru Shouma said that. As I looked at Matsumatsu, I thought that his words were correct.
By the way, where was he…?
“Hee, hee… You guys, leaving me behind like this, what kind of nerve do you have――!!?”
As if on cue, the guy appeared. No, in this case, I wish he had just stayed in my memories.
Sweating profusely, Ishizuru was breathing heavily, looking out of place. He was making an effort, but after fighting a large group of slimes, his appearance had changed.
“――Wait, aren’t there only three of us?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it…”
Thanks to Ishizuru’s words, we finally realized that there were only three of us. Matsumatsu, Kinomoto Shiori, and Moriyama Shinobu. With a four-member party, one person was missing. Matsumatsu, looking uncomfortable, explained the situation to us.