Chapter 1 - Start from the 'Weakest Explorer'
Dungeon exploration.
It’s like a duty imposed on us in this modern era.
An era where explorers thrive with swords and magic.
Earth’s resources have depleted, and resources obtained from dungeons that suddenly appeared hundreds of years ago support people’s lives.
Any healthy youth over 15, whether male or female, after completing mandatory training at school, is sent into the dungeon as an explorer searcher.
However, I—Yuta Akizuki—was an unbelievable “dropout.”
I still couldn’t defeat even F-rank monsters like goblins and was beaten back on the lower floors of the novice dungeon. Swinging my sword, I was dodged, and I was pummeled with a counter club.
To top it off, I gained the nickname “The Weakest Explorer.” There’s a reason for my weakness.
“Status”
After hunting a G-rank slime bouncing in the meadow and finally reaching level 3, I displayed the status window.
I only knew basic swordsmanship learned at school, with no learned magic. On the other hand, the “Special Ability Feats” section was lively with characters.
‘Special Ability Feats’
– Dropout: You lack talent
(Minus modifier to all abilities)
– Incompetent: You have a poor memory
(Drastic decrease in experience points gained)
– Slowpoke: Your movements are like a turtle
(Agility -150)
– Loser: You are a loser
(Decreased abilities during combat)
– Unlucky: The world dislikes you
(Luck -100)
Some “Special Ability Feats” are predetermined from birth. Normally, advantageous ones should line up, but in my case, it was the opposite. Having even one negative “Special Ability Feat” is rare, but I had five. Becoming an explorer searcher was said to be impossible. I’ve been told that many times.
But I had an “objective” that I must absolutely fulfill as an explorer.
◇◇◇
“How are you feeling today, Shigure?”
“Big brother. Yeah, I’m fine—Cough, cough…”
In a room at the hospital in the small town where I lived, Silvaria, my younger sister—Akizuki Shigure—was hospitalized.
“Are you okay!? I’ll call the doctor right now!”
“I just coughed a bit, you know? Honestly, big brother is such a worrier~”
Saying that, Shigure laughed cheerfully. However, her complexion was getting worse day by day.
“I’m about to find the ‘Goddess’s Drop’ soon! Just wait a bit longer!”
The legendary item, the “Goddess’s Drop,” said to be sleeping in some dungeon. Its effect is to “cure any illness.” Shigure has an incurable disease. We need to get this quickly.
“I’ve already cleared the Divine Realm Dungeon up to the 60th floor! I’m about to reach the treasure soon! It’s really just a bit more, and you’ll be saved!”
Actually, I haven’t even cleared an F-rank dungeon yet, but I tell Shigure that I’m challenging an unexplored dungeon. Whether it’s a lie or anything else, it doesn’t matter. I just want to somehow cheer up Shigure. I wanted to extend her lifespan even by a day to buy time for the deadline.
“…Big brother, thank you. I’m happy.”
Saying that, she squeezed my hand. Shigure is a smart girl unlike me. She might see through my lies. And at the same time, she is a kind girl. She looked at my battered hands and smiled a bit worriedly.
“I’m already happy enough. So… don’t push yourself too hard.”
I firmly squeezed Shigure’s hand in return.
“Big brother will definitely do something about it.”
With a new determination in my heart, I headed to the dungeon again.
◇◇◇
No matter how strong my feelings are, dungeon conquest is difficult with my combat abilities. I know that if I become a burden, there’s no party that would team up with me.
At least to earn Shigure’s hospitalization expenses, I accepted a quest for herb collection and diligently picked herbs in front of the dungeon.
“Hey hey. Are you still literally eating weeds here?”
In front of me, someone appeared with a smirk on their face, and it was Gota, who graduated from the training school in the same year as me. And, apparently, his friends surrounded me.
There’s no reason for Gota, who became a D-rank explorer long before me, to have any business in front of such a novice dungeon. He must have come to make fun of me.
“…I’m not eating them. These are important herbs for delivery.”
“Oh, really? I thought you were actually munching on them.”
“Well, you are poor.”
“Besides, you really give off a ‘herbivorous’ vibe.”
With that, they burst into laughter among themselves.
“I’m in the middle of a quest. Sorry, but maybe next time.”
The deadline for delivering the herb collection quest is until evening. Considering the time to carry it to the guild, there’s no room for leisure.
“Oh, is that so? Well then, I’ll help you out.”
Saying that, Gota took the bag containing the herbs that I had picked and overturned it.
He trampled on the scattered herbs with shoes covered in mud.
“Aren’t herbs crushed to make raw materials for medicine? This way, the work is easier, right?”
“Gota, you’re so kind! Let’s help him too!”
“S-Stop it!”
As I resisted, I was kicked and beaten to the ground. After beating me thoroughly, they spat on me and left while laughing.
The only things left in the aftermath were—me, battered and bruised, and the remains of the crushed herbs.
(Damn it, quest failed… Tonight’s dinner will be wild grass and mushrooms from around here.)
While my growling stomach continued, as I searched for food, I heard a cheerful female voice.
“Oh, everyone watching! Look, it’s Mr. Akizuki! Mr. Akizuki is here!”
Following that, a female dungeon streamer appeared. Aqua, a famous idol streamer equipped with a beautiful dress and a short sword.
And over there, it seems she knows about me too.
Because—
: Here it is! The legendary lol
: ‘The Weakest Explorer’! lol
: This guy can’t even conquer a novice dungeon lol
: Seriously, he’s so beat up! lol lol
: Aren’t you embarrassed to be alive? lol lol lol
: Too much of a small fry lol
Comments insulting me flew around the live window, floating in the air just like the status window. I was a celebrity, of course… in a bad way.
This is the story of how I, who was supposed to save another world and become a Sword Saint, returned.
