ALL NOVEL The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 67
67 5th Floor ②, Warrior’s Small Road PT
――SIDE: Uzuki Saki――
――Ishizuru Shoma got serious.
The first to notice something was off was Suzuki, who was walking with his magic crystal terminal (Portal).
With a scowling face, Warrior’s Small Road-san pointed out, “You’re being rude!” and Suzuki, who was being stubborn, suddenly raised his voice.
“I-Ishizuru’s advancing to the 6th floor!”
Suzuki’s words shocked all of us.
――But, wasn’t Ishizuru stuck on the 3rd floor, sleeping like a log!?
We couldn’t believe he had surpassed us without us even noticing!
We hurriedly searched, but the gap kept widening――
“What the…?”
The current time was 21:00. We, who were still stuck on the 5th floor, turned around at Suzuki’s urgent voice.
The day before, we had vowed to explore until morning! ……But in reality, we were already at our limit. The monsters we encountered were all stronger than us, and we kept running away, so everyone’s bodies were exhausted.
“――Is it Ishizuru again?”
Banba-kun asked Suzuki, with a questioning tone, but it was half-conviction.
I think all parties had been stuck on the 5th floor for a few hours. The floor was vast, but the monsters that appeared were a pain. The Werewolf, which we had struggled with, had started to appear in groups, and the Golem we occasionally encountered was an absolute enemy at our level. The flying bats, Killer Bats, were also fast and troublesome, and as a [Healer], I was their priority target, which was unbearable.
The exception was Ishizuru alone.
He was the only one who had quickly cleared the 5th floor.
If it was just one floor update, we could think that he was just lucky with the transfer, but if it continued two or three times, it would be hard not to think otherwise.
“…”
Suzuki silently showed us the screen of his magic crystal terminal (Portal).
25.[NOBIZ] LV.1 Ishizuru Shoma [8F]
『――』
Everyone present couldn’t help but gasp in surprise, despite having decided not to be surprised anymore.
“Is he cheating or something?”
“……For example?”
“Is he getting carried by the student council president or something?”
“That’s impossible. The student council president wouldn’t waste their time on that, and I don’t think Shoma would use such a cowardly method!”
“Yeah, maybe the principal would say that, but can this really be happening in reality?”
“……I checked, and it seems that 1-C’s highest reached floor number is [9]……Shiina has caught up to their one-year accumulation in just one week……”
“It’s not just that…”
“?”
Does everyone understand but deliberately avoid talking about it?
It’s not just the floor number, but the really abnormal thing is his level……?
“LV.1……He hasn’t leveled up at all, yet he’s still increasing his floor number. We’re struggling, and yet he can do it! What’s going on!?”
“That’s because——”
“Is it a blessing from knowledge……?”
“Even if you know more about ABYSS than others, no one can do this. If your strength and agility are low, it’s hard to dodge monster attacks or defend against them! It’s like a nearsighted student hitting a professional baseball player’s pitch! This is absolutely abnormal!!”
“Mmm……”
“I guess you’re right……”
The two of them were taken aback by my words. Then, Mushakouji-san intervened.
“……I understand what you’re trying to say. But it’s easy to judge someone with different abilities as abnormal. We need to understand and learn from them, rather than——”
“Learn from them——?”
“At least I learned one thing today……”
Mushakouji-san said, taking out her magic crystal terminal (Portal). The screen displayed the words “Emergency Escape”.
No way——Mushakouji-san!?
“—I acknowledge defeat. So, I think it’s time to end this exploration.”
“!?!”
“Don’t get me wrong? I’m not giving up. I’m just making a calm judgment that further exploration is impossible.”
“But, but! What about the class leader!?”
“I’m sorry, but we have no choice but to give up.”
“!!”
Mushakouji-san said it so matter-of-factly. The person who was so obsessed with being the class leader is giving up so easily……?!
We were shocked by that.
“And besides……if it’s Shouma, it doesn’t matter……”
“What’s going on!? You didn’t tell me, Suzuki!! Anyway, the exploration is over! If we keep pushing ourselves and get hurt like me, it’ll be a disaster! Everyone, let’s head back to the transfer zone!!”
“W-wait, don’t swing your naginata around recklessly!!”
Suzuki and Mushakouji-san started making a ruckus. I felt a bit left out.
“It’s over, then……good job, Utsugi.”
“……and Banma-kun too?”
Our exploration has come to an end.
I still have to keep my promise with Akane-chan, and I have a lot of questions to ask. If what Shiina said is true, what do I need to do to apologize to him……?