Chapter 23
The 〈Beginner Dungeon〉 is a field-type dungeon consisting of five floors.
On the first floor is Mochikko, a rice-cake monster (which is basically like a Slime).
On the second is the rabbit monster Horn Rabbit (which, by the way, has no horn).
On the third is the tree monster Wood (which can't move from the spot).
On the fourth is the bird monster Kokekko (which is, in fact, a chick).
Each one appears on its respective floor, giving players a trial (?) to overcome.
Those who fail this trial are deemed unqualified. They can't challenge dungeons without a teacher accompanying them, and aren't even eligible to enter the next lower-tier beginner dungeon.
Honestly, it'd be harder to fail at this difficulty.
Under Phyllis-sensei's guidance, we'd reached the final floor without the slightest trouble, and were finally about to enter the boss room.
"So this is the door to the boss room."
"That's right. This is true here, and without exception, every dungeon has only a boss on its final floor. There's always a door in front of the boss room, too. The boss won't come out unless you open it, and no other monsters spawn, so the area in front of the door becomes the final safe area."
Hannah was listening intently to Phyllis-sensei's lecture.
Even if it was common knowledge to me, everything was new to Hannah.
Serious Hannah listened closely, trying to absorb as much as possible.
"Zephyrus-kun, do you have any questions for me?"
"Let's see... Phyllis-sensei, do you have a boyfriend?"
"...No, I meant questions about the dungeon and things like that. But you seem to have studied very thoroughly, Zephyrus-kun, so perhaps you don't have any questions for me."
When I answered seriously, she gave me an exasperated look.
I mean, from what I'd heard on the way here, Phyllis-sensei was a newly hired teacher. That meant she was only nineteen!
A beautiful nineteen-year-old teacher!
Any ordinary young man would wonder if she had a boyfriend, wouldn't he?!
I think all 100 out of 100 people would agree with me on this.
Hmm. It seemed Phyllis-sensei was a bit naive about this sort of thing.
I had to explain it to her properly, step by step.
As I was thinking that, 'Intuition' suddenly activated.
"Zephyrus-kun?"
"! H-Hannah. What is it?"
Why did just hearing Hannah say my name make my heart pound like this?
I felt something cold run down my back. Or maybe I imagined it.
Right. I had nothing to feel guilty about, so I faced Hannah with confidence.
"That's disrespectful to Phyllis-sensei, isn't it?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
A total defeat. I was overwhelmed by Hannah's intensity and bowed my head before I knew it.
Hannah, could you stop looking at me with those eyes devoid of light? It's really scary.
Ever since she became a Slime killer, Hannah's gotten so much more intimidating.
"W-well. Enough joking around. It's time for the main event: taking on the boss."
"You were joking?"
"Hahaha, didn't that help you relax?"
"Huh? Hmm, maybe?"
I felt like there hadn't been a shred of tension since the Mochikko, but I insisted it had been a joke and forcibly shifted her attention to the boss fight. Hannah was so gullible.
It was a little forceful, but the light returned to Hannah's eyes, so it was fine.
Without pausing for breath, I held a strategy meeting.
"All right, the final boss is just an ordinary Goblin. There's only one."
The final boss of the 〈Beginner Dungeon〉 is an unarmed Plain Goblin.
We 〈Dan-Katsu〉 players called it a Plain Goblin.
In the story, after getting used to fighting monsters, the dungeon aptitude test ends with defeating a humanoid monster. That was how it went.
Honestly, it's a difficulty where you could win even without a combat Job or a single point in STR, so it was no match for me as a 【Hero】.
In fact, with STR equivalent to 65 and a short sword, it's a weakling I can one-shot with a normal attack.
To be blunt, it's only in the boss room; it's not actually a boss monster.
After all, it's just a Plain Goblin.
It comes from the first floor of a lower-mid-tier dungeon.
Hannah could probably beat it, but on her own, she'd take quite a bit of damage.
So for the first time, I suggested using 'Appeal.'
While I tanked, she could meet the passing criteria, and then I'd finish it off.
"The real dungeon crawling starts with lower-tier beginner dungeons. If you can't handle one Goblin without hesitation, you won't pass, you know?"
"Yeah. I'll do my best."
"Hannah-san has already met nearly all the passing criteria during your dungeon runs so far. She should pass once she can attack the Goblin without fear."
"Oh, did you hear that, Hannah?"
"Yeah. Sounds easy enough."
Hannah steeled herself and hefted her trusty two-handed mace.
Seeing she was ready, I slowly opened the door.
The door opened into the interior of a building. It wasn't a field-type area like the one we'd just been in.
It was literally a boss room.
Inside was a Plain Goblin with dark green skin, about waist-high on me.
The moment we entered the boss room, it bared its teeth and snarled at us.
"Okay, just like we planned: 'Appeal'!"
When I used 'Appeal' and struck a pose, raising my index finger high with a sharp flick, a pale blue effect spread out around me in a dome.
The moment part of the effect touched the Goblin, its gaze turned toward me.
"Gobb!"
"Yeah, come and get me!"
I stepped forward with the buckler raised in my left hand, and the enraged Goblin leaped at me.
Crap! A Lu○in Dive!
It looked gross, so I dodged sideways at once, and it fell with a splat.
It landed right in front of Hannah.
"You're wide open!"
Hannah brought down the two-handed mace she'd been winding up over her shoulder.
Oh! Perfect timing. What a splendid blow.
A dull splat rang out.
The Goblin, struck right in the head, was twitching violently.
It was a sight too gruesome to watch.
Someone, get me a censor bar.
Just kidding. It was only knocked down.
Hannah should have met the passing criteria now, so I followed up by bringing my sword down too.
Slash! Yep, a solid hit. But it didn't hold a candle to Hannah's.
Hannah, are you way too good at bringing a weapon down?
"G-Gob..."
After twitching for a bit, the Goblin's HP hit zero, and it vanished, leaving behind an effect.
And with that, we won the boss battle without a hitch.
Ah, I didn't use 'Brave Slash'!