MTLNOVEL Chapter 4
Kisaragi Tsukasa Remembers What It’s Like to Be a Student… Sort of.
Well, to be honest, he was only at school today because he didn’t have any requests.
Since Explorer Rank EX comes with a constant flood of job offers, it really did feel like he hadn’t been here in a while… What, about a week?
That meant he had no friends at school, no club activities to pour his youth into, and, of course, no sweet, romantic high school love story.
If he had to name his one and only partner in life—it would be the dungeon.
Not exactly the most exciting version of youth, huh?
He had been planning to become a dungeon explorer since middle school, so he used his inheritance to enroll in a fairly expensive private high school, paying his tuition with money earned from dungeon runs.
But honestly? He took way too many days off.
Since most of his absences were counted as authorized, he didn’t have to worry about credits—but looking back now, as a third-year high schooler, he kind of regretted not just enrolling in an online school.
He wasn’t a genius by any means, so his test scores were slightly above average at best, and his attendance record was a mess, which meant his academic record was pretty garbage.
Even so, his homeroom teacher didn’t seem too worried about him.
Probably because the teacher knew he made a ridiculous amount of money as an explorer.
Though he doubted the teacher realized it was in the billions.
Recently, dungeon exploration had been gaining popularity among high school students.
The government kept whining about the declining number of explorers,
but honestly?
A lot of high schoolers were getting their explorer licenses.
The country wanted more full-time explorers so they could export more magic stones, which was why the minimum age requirement for an explorer license dropped from 20 to 18, then to 15.
Now, students could get certified as early as the spring after graduating middle school.
And the reason why more high schoolers were diving into dungeons?
Simple.
If they could push past the uppermost floors, even making it to the upper floors, they’d earn way more than a regular part-time job.
That was all there was to it.
At this point, about half of his classmates had an explorer license.
“Good morning!”
“Nanami!?”
“Are you okay!?”
He had been idly reading a thick book, lost in thought while waiting for homeroom to start— until the classroom suddenly erupted in noise.
Lifting his gaze slightly, he turned toward the source of the commotion.
Standing there, wrapped in bandages around her head, was the girl he rescued yesterday, smiling as if nothing had happened.
“I guess I got saved by a kind stranger.”
“Yeah, we all saw the stream!”
“You really shouldn’t have gone to the lower floors—it’s way too dangerous!”
“Sorry about that.”
Her name was… Asakawa Nanami, right?
No wonder she looked familiar.
The girl he saved yesterday was actually his classmate.
He hadn’t recognized her at the time since she wasn’t wearing her school uniform and had her hair styled differently.
But honestly, that was normal. It wasn’t like he interacted with most of his classmates.
“By the way, who was the person who saved you?”
“…Oh, right. The stream didn’t cut off, did it?”
“You just realized? It was still running until the Explorer’s Association shut it off at the dungeon entrance.”
“R-Really…? I haven’t checked the archive yet—I’m too embarrassed.
But I do remember… something like a wolf saving me!”
Watching the class from a distance, he realized just how popular Asakawa Nanami was.
Before she arrived, everyone had been chatting in their own groups.
But the moment she walked in, everyone gathered around her.
To be fair, she was stunningly beautiful.
She was taller than most girls, her figure was flawless, and even though she had a toned, athletic body,
she was still noticeably well-endowed.
Her sleek, jet-black hair gave off the elegance of a Yamato Nadeshiko, and honestly? It was gorgeous.
Even a socially awkward loner like him could admit that she was a perfect beauty.
And since he was a leg guy,
she was totally his type.
Not that he wanted to date her or sleep with her or anything.
She was just… objectively attractive.
Okay, that sounded weird as hell. Moving on.
“Man, I was really worried watching the stream!”
“I even thought about rushing in to save you!”
“Oh… t-thanks.”
A typical playboy-looking guy walked up and started talking to her.
Of course.
Guys like him always got the girls. It was practically discrimination against introverts.
Though to be fair, guys like him usually put in effort to be popular.
Confidence = attractive, while “nice” and “loyal” guys never got the girl.
Not that he saw himself as nice or loyal.
Still… judging from Nanami’s reaction, she wasn’t that into him.
That was… interesting.
“If you’d just asked me, I would’ve gone to the lower floors with you!”
“It was my personal stream… I wanted to challenge myself alone.”
“I could’ve been your bodyguard, you know? We’re the only two C-Rank explorers in our class.
You should rely on me more!”
Wait, he’s C-Rank?
He usually kept his EX-Rank to himself, but a high schooler with C-Rank certification
was pretty damn impressive.
He was good-looking, tall, probably smart, and on top of that, he was actually strong?
Damn.
Must be nice.
“Shunsuke, you’re such a badass!
Man, I wanna level up my explorer rank too!”
“It’s all about hard work.
Explorers aren’t born strong—it’s all about effort.”
Wait.
So he was a good guy too?
Man, he really didn’t know much about his classmates.
Then again, he was barely at school, and even when he was, he spent most of his time reading
instead of actually talking to people.
Kurihara Shunsuke… Probably. I Think.
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was pretty sure his name was Kurihara Shunsuke.
Maybe.
Honestly, I had no idea if that was actually right.
“Hm?”
Wait—why is he looking over here?
“Oh? You actually showed up today.
You’re hardly ever here.”
“Huh? Who’s that loser?”
“Isn’t he the guy who’s always absent?”
“Oh yeah, the dropout kid.”
Wow. Brutal.
Saying the exact things I’m self-conscious about—right to my face.
This is why I hate gyarus.
“Since we’re all talking, why don’t you join in?”
“I… I’d rather not.”
Would they get mad if I said I wasn’t interested?
God, can the teacher just show up already?
This is hell.
“See? This is why you’re a loner—you’re always sitting in the corner reading.”
“Ah… Could you give that back, please?”
For some reason, they took my book.
Honestly, I doubt they’d even find it interesting.
It’s just a complete guide to Japanese yokai.
“Pfft… Are you seriously reading a book like this?
What are you, a little kid? Grow up.”
“Hahahaha! Yo-kai!? Seriously!?”
“Total loser otaku vibes!”
…I want to cry.
Maybe if I apologize, they’ll give it back.
I don’t want them to damage it—it was brand new.
Maybe if I just say sorry, they’ll leave me alone…
“S-Sorry… Can I have it back?”
“Huh? Relax, I’m just reading it for a bit.”
“I-I mean… I guess that’s fine, but—”
“Oh? It’s fine!? You’re such a pushover! Hahaha!”
“God, you’re so weak-willed.”
It feels like the entire class is mocking me.
Am I the only socially awkward outcast here?
I glanced around the room.
Everyone was laughing at me.
Seems like I accidentally ended up in a class full of extroverts.
Damn it… As an introverted social reject,
I could only think of one way to get my book back.
Groveling.
But just as I was about to resort to desperate measures—
“You should probably give it back.
The teacher’s coming soon, anyway.”
“Oh, right. Here, take it back, dropout-kun.”
Oh, wow.
At least he gave it back without ruining it.
For a second, I thought he was a decent guy— but then he had to ruin it with that last remark.
No wonder guys like him get all the girls.
The constant back-and-forth between being an ass and being nice must be what charms women.
Noted.
But honestly?
Right now, Asakawa Nanami looked more like a goddess to me.
She was watching me, her head slightly tilted, looking… curious?
“A serene, clear magic aura…
I’ve never seen magic quite like this before…”
She was muttering something under her breath.
Uh… Could you speak up if you’re going to say something?
If it’s an insult, I’d rather just hear it directly so I can leave early and cry in peace.
Ugh…
I haven’t been to school in a while, and this is what I get?
Guess I’ll blow off some steam in the dungeon after class—
Wait.
I go there every day. God, I’m a corporate slave to my own job.
What a fool you are, Kisaragi Tsukasa.