Abe-san and I found ourselves almost surrounded by our classmates. Spotting a gap among them, I slipped past without brushing against their bodies and made my way to the flickering fire at the center of the camp. Upon finding a stone, I settled on top of it. Observing Abe-san's situation, I felt a wave of relief; he hadn't even had a moment to rest, being engulfed by the encircling students. Keisuke-san and Fuji-san stood before Abe-san, bombarding him with questions about the floor's situation. As I basked in the warmth of the fire, I sensed the tension in my shoulders gradually easing.
"It seems the Golems are taking their time to attack us... Should we be grateful they haven't attacked yet? At this point, everyone's camping here as if we're on a school trip." Asuka settled beside Haruto, positioning herself very close to him, her gaze fixed intently upon him.
Haruto felt uneasy under Watanabe-senpai's intense gaze, prompting him to inquire, "Is everything okay, Watanabe-senpai? Why are you staring at me like that?" Despite his question, his attention remained fixated on her captivating features, particularly her cherry lips.
Asuka took pleasure in being the object of her kouhai's scrutiny. She found his laid-back demeanor and desire to remain inconspicuous quite intriguing, qualities she hadn't encountered in anyone else before. What truly impressed her, however, were his exceptional cooking skills, which surpassed not only hers but also those of other cooks. The mere thought of his culinary prowess made her mouth water. Despite his less-than-ideal personality traits, she couldn't help but find his method of handling annoying situations somewhat amusing, as she reminisced about a moment from just a few hours prior.
Haruto was someone who cherished the freedom to live without interference from others, and his emotions often played out plainly on his face. This became evident just after they had cleared the first floor and were in search of the entrance to the second. At that moment, a guy approached him, blocking his path with a cheerful smile, seemingly eager to strike up a conversation.
Upon recognizing the individual, Haruto's annoyance flared up instantly. With a subtle smirk lingering at the corner of his lips, Haruto resolved not to show any leniency towards this person. From his pocket, he retrieved a pair of gloves, slipping them onto his hands before extending one for a handshake with the guy. However, as soon as the handshake concluded, Haruto swiftly maneuvered past him, as though avoiding something distasteful, leaving the guy perplexed.
As he walked away, Haruto peeled off the gloves, discarding them with disdain, and made a disdainful expression, as if ridding himself of something unpleasant.
The guy, still stuck in disbelief, became so enraged that his face turned blue and purple, shifting colors rapidly like a chameleon, and he fainted from the intensity of his anger. The other students were shocked by the scene, as they had never witnessed Haruto act in such a manner before. For a moment, they were at a loss for what to do. However, with fatigue weighing heavily on them and the knowledge that they still had a long journey ahead to reach other floors, they realized that engaging in discussions at this juncture would only waste time. Therefore, they collectively chose to ignore the incident and followed Keisuke's group at the front.
Witnessing their friend faint in anger, two of his companions stepped forward to lift him from the ground, their faces betraying a sense of shame. Meanwhile, the other friends, appearing hesitant to remain associated with the situation, promptly departed. Observing the friends' abandonment of their fallen comrade, the two left behind felt a surge of anger but ultimately chose to follow the rest of the group, feeling powerless as the other students disregarded them. Haruka, too, watched with a stern expression, silently observing the scene as it unfolded.
Recalling the incident, Asuka asked, "Do you hold any grudges against that person?" Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, waiting for his response. Ignoring her gaze, Haruto replied, "Who are you talking about? Watanabe-senpai... I don't recall having any grudges with anyone."
"I mean that guy, the one who blocked your path and ended up fainting in anger!"
"Oh, you're referring to Kutsuki Akui... He's a problem in multiple ways. He disregards others' opinions and does as he pleases. Most students fear him. Whether it's money, lunch boxes, or personal belongings, he takes them for himself without hesitation... And if anyone resists, he's quick to resort to violence, often sending them to the hospital. I really can't stand him... He's caused me a lot of trouble at school." Haruto's tone was relaxed, but an underlying annoyance tinged his words as he discussed Akui.
Asuka's eyes widened upon hearing the details. It was difficult for her to believe that the school hadn't taken any action against someone like Akui.
"The school should've done something about him, don't you think?"
Haruto gazed at the brightly burning fire, picking up a meter-long piece of wood at his feet and tapping it against the fire blocks to maintain it.
"Nah... Apart from Akui having to foot the hospital bill, nothing was done."
"Really? ...I'm surprised the school didn't intervene! Haruka-sensei should've punished him, shouldn't she?"
"You're correct. Haruka-sensei did punish him by making Akui run on the school grounds for an hour every day for a whole month. I still remember those days... His energy was depleted from running, so he didn't cause trouble, and the students were spared from Akui's antics."
"Hehe, I was confident that Haruka-sensei wouldn't disappoint me!"
Despite feeling let down by the school's actions, she took comfort in the fact that Haruka's character remained steadfast even after their high school years. A determined glint shone in her eyes as she remembered the boy who only understood violence. She made a mental note to investigate further after the dungeon excursion.
Meanwhile, Haruto took notice of Asuka's distraction and used the moment to check his status.
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Status
Name: Yoshikawa Haruto.
Job: Thief
Age: 17
Aptitude: Dark [All]
HP: 500
MP: 500
Physical Attack: 600
Physical Defense: 780
Magic Attack: 1200
Magic Defense: 1100
Agility: 458
Skills: Shadow Walk, Cat Hands, Black Bullet, Steal, Soft Touch, Mana Control.
[Unique] Skills: Dark World.
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I have acquired new skills, but it appears that my unique skill is concealed, much like my aptitude. My aptitude encompasses all forms of magic. I now possess the ability to manipulate mana flawlessly, as if it were an extension of my own body. Even when confronted with projectile attacks, such as bullets, I can effortlessly deflect them using mana manipulation to shield myself. This technique not only serves as a potent defense but also significantly enhances the power of my counterattacks.
On the contrary, my Soft Touch skill is ironically named. Even if I make physical contact with someone, they remain oblivious to my presence. I could be standing right in front of them, yet they would disregard me while searching for the supposed culprit.
This ability pairs seamlessly with Cat Hands, enabling me to distract the target while using Cat Hands to effortlessly pilfer their valuables, making theft a breeze.
As for Black Bullet, true to its name, I can compress my mana into a bullet. With my proficiency in all forms of magic, I can craft various types of bullets. Each bullet carries distinct effects. For instance, the Black Bullet inflicts both impact and corrosion. Upon striking, it creates a sizable wound while the corrosion slowly erodes the victim's health, ensuring a lingering demise even if the initial injury isn't fatal.
"Yoshikawa-kun!" Asuka called out to Haruto, who was engrossed in checking his status. She wore a displeased expression on her face. Haruto tilted his head to look at her, sighing as he wondered what had upset her.
"What's the matter, senpai...?"
"...Cook me some of the rabbit meat!" She folded her hands in front of her, her little chest bulging slightly, and spoke in a tone as if she were giving orders to a servant.
"Why? I don't have an obligation to cook for you... You can cook it yourself and eat it."
"Is that so...? Then what if I do this...!!" Asuka enveloped Haruto in her arms and gently pushed his face between her chest, holding him tightly. Haruto immediately grew flustered by her sudden action, attempting to free himself from the soft and yielding pressure. His face made direct contact with Asuka's skin, and the sweet fragrance she emitted quickened his heartbeat. Despite his hidden strength, he refrained from using it to avoid hurting her. Eventually, he had to surrender and said, "Senpai... could you please let me go? Others are watching."
It was Asuka's first time experiencing such intimate contact with the opposite sex. Even her close friends Hiroshi and Jiro hadn't touched her hand. She had initiated this consciously, feeling Haruto's warm breath against her chest. Asuka felt a hint of embarrassment; it was as if both she and Haruto were stripped bare, and she watched him exploring her body, feeling his lips and tongue tracing along her curves. However, Haruto's words brought her back to reality, dispelling her fleeting fantasies.
"I can release you, but only under one condition! You must agree to listen to me and follow my orders until we leave the dungeon... then, and only then, will I let you go!" Asuka stated firmly, her resolve unwavering. She didn't mind if Haruto took advantage of her body; such thoughts crossed her mind. The reason was straightforward: she didn't have a boyfriend and hadn't fallen in love with anyone yet. She found Haruto warm, and his appearance appealed to her aesthetic. If she were asked to sleep with him, she would do so without hesitation, using him as a pillow to bask in his warmth.
The other students, Asuka's team, and Haruka observed them as if they were witnessing a rare spectacle in a zoo. The envy radiating from them was palpable; their eyes burned with jealousy, as if they wanted to consume them whole. Haruto sensed Mio and Ichika's intense gazes, filled with darkness, as if they wanted to devour him for taking advantage of Asuka.
"Haruto-kun... exercise restraint," advised Haruka, her smile not reaching her eyes. She fixed a penetrating gaze on Asuka, causing her to tremble slightly, but she clung to Haruto as if her life depended on it. Haruka sighed at her behavior before ignoring them, signaling with her eyes to Ai and Hikari. Both girls, with pale faces under Haruka's scrutiny, hastily rose and went to Haruto and Asuka's side.
..............
Developing characters is hard...!!!
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