The Headshot Yakuza praised me.
I was so incredibly happy!
While I was practically vibrating with joy, the Headshot Yakuza spoke again.
“Takeo, Hinata.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
“You two—get to Floor 30 as soon as possible.”
“Yes! —Wait, what?”
“Huh...?”
I instinctively tilted my head.
Did I hear that wrong? I thought he just told us to go to Floor 30.
Which Floor 30? Did he mean we were moving to the 30th floor of this luxury apartment? No, if that were the case, he would have said the 30th story, not Floor 30...
“The time limit is two months. Find the hidden area beyond the Floor 30 boss room and go through it.”
“Wait, um, does that mean...”
I hadn't heard him wrong after all!
The hidden area beyond Floor 30—that was a place mentioned during a previous conversation with the Headshot Yakuza.
Back then, the topic had come up as a potential way to deal with my 《Pleasure Killer》 title. He hadn't said what was actually beyond the hidden area, so I had no idea what kind of place it was. But the Headshot Yakuza was telling us to go there. And he wanted it done within two months.
Seriously, talk about an unreasonable demand!
Our party had only progressed to Floor 10 in the Slime Dungeon and Floor 8 in the Shinjuku Dungeon. Reaching Floor 30 in two months was a massive stretch.
Hinata-san sounded more bewildered than surprised.
“Um, I really think that might be impossible, given the circumstances...”
“You two can handle it now.”
“No, well...”
Hinata-san trailed off. Facing the Headshot Yakuza’s flat assertion, she seemed to be agonizing over how to refuse.
The Headshot Yakuza shifted his gaze from Hinata-san to me, looking me straight in the eye as he asked.
“Can’t you do it, Takeo?”
“—!!”
In that moment, it felt like an electric current surged through my entire body.
This was it... This was it! The Headshot Yakuza had expectations for me!
He didn't explain why he wanted us to reach Floor 30 or why he wanted us to go beyond the hidden area. But I understood that he was counting on me. He truly believed that we could reach Floor 30 within two months.
In that case, my choice was clear.
“—I can do it!”
“Takeo-kun?!”
I stood up to deliver my answer.
The Headshot Yakuza expected something from me. If I didn't live up to those expectations, I wasn't a man.
Besides, the entire human race already knew that the Headshot Yakuza was actually a kind, manly big-brother figure. No one could doubt that. Therefore, I chose to believe that his order to reach Floor 30 was for our own benefit.
More importantly, heading to the lower floors wasn't exactly a bad deal for us. Going deeper meant more experience points, which meant it would be easier to level up!
There was no way that could be a bad thing! I was absolutely certain of it!
Plus, with more content to deal with, I had to level up the 《Fool's Sword》 as well. I could never have enough experience points.
The Headshot Yakuza gave a satisfied smirk and nodded.
“I see. Then go.”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”
“Takeo-kun?! Are you serious?!”
“Of course I am!”
I nodded vigorously to the astonished Hinata-san.
“It’s okay, Hinata-san! If the Headshot Yakuza says we can do it, then we can!”
“I really don't think that's how it works! I think you need to think about this a bit more calmly!”
“There’s no harm in trying! Let’s just give it a shot, Hinata-san! Go big or go home!”
“In this case, 'going home' means dying!”
“Don’t worry! If it gets dangerous, we can just run, and I'll make sure to protect you, Hinata-san!”
“That’s... um, I’m happy to hear that, but that’s not the point...!”
Hinata-san was stubborn at first, but I managed to win her over!
How did I do it? Simple.
I grabbed both of Hinata-san’s hands and looked her straight in the eye, persuading her with sincere, passion-filled words. Since Hinata-san was a bit of a pushover when pressured, she eventually folded.
“Hinata-san! Please! I’ll protect you with my life! So please, believe in me! I definitely won’t let you regret it! I’ll make you feel incredibly good through level-ups, I promise!!!”
“Y-Your face is too close, Takeo-kun...! Fine, I get it, just do whatever you want...!”
“—Thank you!”
And that was that.
●◯●
“By the way, do you two know how to use your powers on the surface?” Mito-san asked once I had finished persuading Hinata-san.
“Eh?”
How to use our powers on the surface?
Hinata-san and I looked at each other and tilted our heads. It seemed she didn't know either.
“No, we don't. Can't we just use them normally?”
That’s what I assumed, but was I wrong? When I asked Mito-san, she turned toward the Headshot Yakuza.
“Obito-sama, don't you think it would be best to teach them? Setting aside skills, they will likely need practice to manifest strength according to their stats.”
“Right.”
The Headshot Yakuza nodded.
“Takeo, Hinata, we’re moving. Prepare for combat.”
“Understood! Um, but where are we going? To a dungeon?”
He told us to prepare for combat... surely we were heading to a dungeon? When I asked, the Headshot Yakuza shook his head.
“No. A dungeon would be pointless. This is about using your strength on the surface.”
“Ah, I see...”
Inside a dungeon, you could use skills normally and your stats were always active. I suppose that made it a poor place for this kind of practice.
But if not there, then where?
Despite my questions, we got ready to head out. I changed from the borrowed sweats back into the clothes I had worn to the dungeon the day before. Mito-san provided a replacement jacket for the one Oishi-san’s metal bullets had shredded. Also, my clothes should have been covered in blood, but they were spotless. It seemed she had washed them for me.
For a weapon, I decided to take the Holy Sword instead of the 《Fool's Sword》. Apparently, there was no need to carry it in a case, so I just hung it from the sword belt at my waist. I was told a backpack wasn’t necessary either.
Once we were fully prepared, we headed to the spacious foyer and put on our shoes.
It looked like Mito-san was coming along as well.
Beside us, the Headshot Yakuza stepped into his well-polished, expensive-looking leather shoes.
“Alright, we’re teleporting.”
“Um, where are we going...?”
Hinata-san looked a little anxious as she asked. Mito-san answered first, followed by the Headshot Yakuza.
“Hehe, somewhere without any people.”
“...Point Nemo.”
“Wait, what?!”
For some reason, Hinata-san’s face twisted in horror.
It seemed she knew about this “Point Nemo.”
Where was it? I’d never heard of it myself. But I could imagine the kind of place it was based on the name.
It was probably a Disney-affiliated amusement park!
You know, like that old animated movie? Finding Nemo. I figured it was an amusement park or something based on that movie... but wait, was it Nemo or Nimo?
I wasn't sure. Oh well, close enough!
I bet it was an aquarium or something with lots of little fish swimming around!
But why go to an aquarium so suddenly? And was it really okay to walk around with a sword? Whatever! An aquarium trip with the Headshot Yakuza! I was actually looking forward to it!
“W-Wait a minute...!”
Hinata-san tried desperately to stop us for some reason.
But the Headshot Yakuza didn't stop.
“We’re jumping.”
With those words, his entire body was enveloped in a blue aura.
Oh, it was 《Mind Concentration》. Aside from Mito-san’s 《Appraisal》, this was the first time I had seen a skill with visible effects used on the surface (not counting the dungeon terrorism incident). I was genuinely moved by the fact that skills could really be used outside the dungeons.
Immediately after the Headshot Yakuza activated the skill, our vision shifted in an instant—
“Eh? Ah, it’s cold... or rather—”
For some reason, I was looking up at the sky.
A powerful wind was battering my body. From below.
Which meant—
“We’re faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllling!!!”
I was in the middle of a rapid free-fall.
While flailing in mid-air, I struggled to make sense of the situation.
I checked my surroundings. Using skydiving videos I’d seen online as a reference, I tried to control my posture by catching the wind. Since it was my first time, it didn't go great, but I managed to stabilize enough to see what was around me. I was still spinning like a propeller, though!
I looked down in the direction I was falling.
There, as far as the eye could see, all the way to the horizon, stretched the endless ocean. There was no land—not even a tiny island, let alone a continent.
Where the hell were we?
“—Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
As I stared blankly at the scene, I heard Hinata-san’s scream from nearby.
She was skydiving right along with me, also without a parachute.
I spotted the Headshot Yakuza and Mito-san as well.
Then, Mito-san’s voice boomed out as if she were using a megaphone.
『We’ll be landing soon!』
Like hell we will!
There was nothing but water below! And even if there were land, we’d just hit it like overripe tomatoes!
Dammit! If only I were a member of a certain airborne brigade, I might have stood a chance!
It was all over!
Just as I had that thought, my falling body hit something. It felt like I had passed through a membrane of air.
I opened my eyes wide.
Below me, I still saw the ocean. But that wasn't all. Something that definitely hadn't been there a second ago was floating on the surface of the sea.
No way...
Even as I continued to fall, I was left completely speechless.
●◯●
May 8th, the day I woke up at the Headshot Yakuza’s house.
On that day, the Headshot Yakuza and Mito-san taught us many things: how to use skills on the surface, the method for manifesting strength according to our stats, and precautions for combat in the outside world.
I’ll talk more about what happened at “Point Nemo” when I have the chance.
The only thing I can say for now is... Earth might be more full of wonders than I ever imagined.
The Headshot Yakuza told me, “I’ll tell you more about this place once you go beyond the hidden area of Floor 30,” but...
An alien spaceship? The ruins of a super-ancient civilization? A secret American military facility? Probably not that last one. Even I could tell it wasn't something that could be built with modern technology.
What on earth was that thing?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer. And since the Headshot Yakuza had told me to keep my mouth shut, I didn't tell anyone or ask around.
I wouldn't learn the truth until I reached the area beyond the Floor 30 hidden area, just as the Headshot Yakuza had said...