"Gah!? I smell the Headshot Yakuza!"
I snapped awake.
As I lay there, I threw my eyes wide open, only to be met with a ceiling that looked vaguely familiar. It wasn't my room, though.
I sat up and scanned the area, and it only took a second to realize where I was.
"This is... the Headshot Yakuza’s guest room..."
The room I’d been sleeping in was a guest room in the Headshot Yakuza’s house, a place I had visited once before. You know, it’s the same place where I woke up after being knocked unconscious following the attack by Lecherous Kanzaki and his thugs.
But why was I intruding on the Headshot Yakuza’s home again?
Unlike last time, I shouldn't have even run into him or Mito-san... As I was pondering the mystery, there was a sharp knock-knock at the door.
"Takeo-kun, are you awake by any chance?"
"Hinata-san?"
The voice echoing through the door definitely belonged to Hinata-san.
"Yes, I just woke up."
"May I come in?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
The door clicked open, and Hinata-san stepped inside.
"Good morning, Takeo-kun. How are you feeling?"
"Good morning, Hinata-san. I’m fine. I feel so energetic I could go right back to running monster rooms."
"I see, that’s a relief. It looks like your stomach has been properly healed, too."
Hinata-san sighed as she let out a breath she seemed to have been holding.
Hearing her say that triggered the memory. Oh, right—I’d had a literal hole in my gut!
I hurriedly yanked up the hem of my shirt to check my abdomen. My well-defined abs were perfectly intact, without so much as a single scratch.
Did Hinata-san heal this? Or was it the Headshot Yakuza?
I looked up to ask, but Hinata-san was staring at me with a strangely intense, serious expression.
"By the way, Takeo-kun..." she asked. "Is your head okay?"
"Hinata-san!?"
Did she seriously just ask if I was mentally stable right out of the gate!? I was stunned.
"I-I know you’re worried, Hinata-san, but that’s a bit much, isn’t it!?"
"Eh?...Ah! No, no!! That’s not what I meant!"
Hinata-san waved her hands frantically in denial.
"I’m talking about the influence of the Pleasure Killer title! I was worried if the murderous impulses were still affecting you!"
Oh, so that’s what she meant.
I breathed a sigh of relief. For a second there, I panicked, thinking she had decided I’d finally gone off the deep end.
I turned my focus inward once more to scrutinize my mental state. When the murderous impulses from Pleasure Killer surged, there was always a distinct friction between my own emotions and the artificial drive to kill, making it easy to recognize.
Right now, however, I didn't feel even a flicker of bloodlust. I opened my Status to check my titles, and while the Pleasure Killer title was still there—meaning it was currently active—I felt nothing.
If I didn't have any murderous impulses despite the title being active, it meant the influence didn't manifest outside the dungeon.
I explained as much to Hinata-san.
"I see... that’s good..."
"Well, I’m fine inside the dungeon too. I have Equanimity, after all."
"I know, but... I was just so worried..."
She really is a worrywart.
Or maybe it was just that she cared about me that much. As I was feeling a bit touched by her concern, she continued.
"I mean, even with Equanimity, you were still screaming your head off when you leveled up, right? So I was starting to suspect it wasn't actually doing much..."
"Wait, what!?"
No, well... sorry for making you uneasy.
However, the fact that I scream when I level up isn't exactly a status ailment or a title influence. It’s just how it works for me. Which means that is my normal state... Hinata-san, did you really think I was "abnormal"?
...I felt like I’d only get a depressing answer if I pushed it, so I decided to pivot.
"B-by the way, Hinata-san. Why are we at the Headshot Yakuza’s house?"
"Ah, right! I need to explain that."
Hinata-san nodded and began her story.
She told me exactly what happened after I lost consciousness on Floor 10 of the Minato Ward Dungeon.
●◯●
"Extra Heal!!"
Mashiro cast her spell on the unconscious Takeo.
However, the wound piercing through his abdomen barely closed. The damage was too extensive for a standard High Heal to manage.
Mayuri, who was peering over her shoulder, grabbed Mashiro’s shoulder and shook her frantically.
"H-hey! It’s not working at all!! Cow-tits, are you even trying!?"
"I-I am!! Don’t shake me!!"
"Hey, Mayuri, calm down!"
"How am I supposed to be calm!?"
Teruya and the others had gathered around Takeo, watching the treatment with bated breath.
Teruya tried to restrain the panicked Mayuri, but she snapped back with a vengeance.
"Do you guys even understand!? If we can't treat him here, Junkie-niki-kun might die!"
"That’s..."
The expressions of Teruya and the others darkened.
Everyone there knew the score. Even if Takeo hadn't shown any signs of it before he collapsed, the reality was obvious up close. The wound in his abdomen went straight through to his back, and the hole was cavernous. Given the location, it was highly likely that several vital organs had been shredded.
And there was no way to be sure if the damage was fatal. The only reason he hadn't died from the shock of such massive trauma was likely due to his high Constitution as an explorer. But even if he’d escaped death by shock, the bleeding was catastrophic. At this rate, he would bleed out in minutes.
They were in a boss room, so they could theoretically reach the surface quickly if they descended to Floor 11.
But Takeo might die while they were calling an ambulance. In fact, since the benefits of one’s Status vanished upon returning to the surface, staying inside the dungeon was technically better for prolonging his life.
But that was useless if he couldn't be treated.
If only we could call another high-level healer— Teruya and the others thought for a moment, but they had no idea how long it would take for one to arrive, or if they could even get in touch with one.
To find a healer superior to Mashiro, they would have to look to the likes of Saint Bellwood or the elite party members of top-tier explorers.
They were at a total impasse. There was nothing they could do.
Though they didn't voice it, Teruya and the rest were certain they were watching a man die.
"Come on, Cow-tits, get serious!! Awaken! Awaken already!! This is the exact moment where you’re supposed to awaken to some new power!!!"
"Ah, geez, shut up!! Just be quiet for a second!!"
"W-what did you say!?"
"Mayuri! Don't get in Hinata-san’s way while she’s working!!"
"Yeah, calm down!"
"Screaming isn't going to fix Takeo-kun!!"
Teruya and the others finally pinned the shouting Mayuri down.
Once she was finally free to focus, Mashiro opened her Status.
She had already sensed that High Heal might not be enough. But now, she thought she might have a chance.
It wasn't an "awakening" in the way Mayuri meant, but she could definitely obtain new power. Mashiro had also leveled up massively over the course of the day.
―――――――――――――――― 【Name】 Mashiro Hinata 【Level】 49 XP to next Level: 1,360,804,670
HP: 112/130 (35 up!) MP: 38/425 (145 up!) Strength: 30 Constitution: 100 (35 up!) Intelligence: 275 (100 up!) Spirit: 150 (45 up!) Agility: 80 (10 up!) Dexterity: 204 (80 up!)
Status Points: 0 Skill Points: 6
【Skills】 Advanced Healing Magic Lv. Max, Mind Concentration Lv. Max, Fleet-footed Lv. 3, Charm Lv. 2, Divine Magic Lv. Max, Life Magic Lv. Max, Fire Magic Lv. 5, Holy Fire Magic Lv. 1, Saint Lv. Max, Healer Lv. Max
【Titles】 Beguiling Beauty, Saint ――――――――――――――――
After finishing the allocation of her points and re-checking her Status, Mashiro let out a silent, awestruck sigh.
(Takeo-kun really is incredible...!!)
When she had entered the dungeon today, Mashiro’s level had been 38. Now it was 49—a jump of 11 levels in a single day. It was a staggering pace that was normally impossible.
If she had been partying with anyone other than Takeo, she never would have grown this fast. She had hurriedly allocated her Status Points to maximize her healing potential, and in doing so, she had cleared the conditions to not only use skills on the surface but to manifest her full stats there as well.
It had only been about five weeks since she started partying with Takeo.
To have achieved her original goal in such a short period of time was almost beyond belief. Now, even if Mashiro were attacked on the surface, she would be able to defend herself against almost anyone.
The "security" she had sought by joining Takeo had been granted to her with terrifying speed.
(My heart is pounding.)
She knew it was inappropriate while Takeo was at death’s door, but Mashiro couldn't ignore the thrill in her chest.
Just how much more amazing could this boy become, she wondered.
(Takeo-kun...)
If she could truly possess the heart and soul of such an incredible boy—if he came to prioritize her above his family, above everyone else—how safe and fulfilled would she finally feel?
That was why...
(I won't let you die. Not ever...)
The Advanced Healing Magic she had unlocked by spending her Skill Points had jumped straight to the maximum level. The spells contained within that skill were exponentially more powerful.
The MP cost was normally 30. The recovery limit jumped from High Heal’s 150 to a whopping 450. Since Mashiro possessed the Saint skill, her MP cost was halved to 15, while her healing output was doubled—reaching a massive 900 HP.
However, the physical restoration of a wound wasn't purely about the raw number of HP restored. Even this magic couldn't regenerate a completely lost organ the way someone like Saint Bellwood could. That required even higher-tier magic.
If any of Takeo’s vital organs had been entirely destroyed, this magic would still fail. But as long as even a portion of the organs remained...
Mashiro gripped her staff as if in prayer. She activated Mind Concentration and invoked the spell.
"Extra Heal!!"
A brilliant white light, radiating a divine aura, enveloped Takeo’s body.
And then—as the light slowly receded...
"Y-you’ve got to be kidding me...? She actually did it...!?"
"No way..."
"Incredible..."
"I’ve never seen anything like this in person..."
"The power of love, I suppose..."
"!?!!? Motosuke!! What are you saying!? I won't accept that for a second!!!"
Takeo was sleeping with a peaceful expression, his body perfectly whole without a single scar.