The Man Whose Beloved Girlfriend Was Stolen Destroys Everything ~After Being Forced to Witness the NTR Scene, What Awaited Him Was a Dungeon. - Episode 11: Encounter I.

Encounter I.

『Level up. Status has increased.』

“Fuu…”

Though I hadn’t broken a single drop of sweat, I wiped my forehead as if I’d just finished a grueling task, then sat down on a fairly large rock lying nearby.

In this space—where every inch of the rock walls and floor had been riddled with holes by 【Devour】—only the sound of my breathing and the mechanical voice echoing in my mind remained.

“I never expected reinforcements to show up…”

I’d been carefully testing things until only a few were left, but maybe I’d taken too long. Before I knew it, I was surrounded again. The indescribable despair when around thirty of them came leaping down from the cliff all at once… honestly, it was kind of fun.

As for the verification results, here’s a simple summary:

① Attack range.

In short, theoretically unlimited.

If I designate one target as “1,” and there’s another “1” right next to it, they add up to “2,” expanding the range accordingly. I also confirmed I can specify targets—when I do, a fang-like mark appears above their heads. Without any targets, the range shrinks to about a 3-meter radius, but even that is plenty.

② Can it be used consecutively?

Yes, but for some reason my jaw gets tired.

③ Do I feel fullness or taste (?)

No sensation of anything accumulating in my stomach. Completely tasteless.

“…Yeah. I’ve pretty much learned everything I wanted to know.”

Offering silent thanks to the Werewolves who’d served as my test subjects, I organized the results in my head, stood up with a light stretch, and resumed my search for the stairs. I still wasn’t used to traversing these rough paths, but more than anything, I just wanted to be found before I got too accustomed to them.

***

Shizuku’s POV.

Lately, I’ve been pushing myself to the absolute limit.

All for the sake of finding the body of my best friend—Nacchan’s—older brother, who was caught up in the D Disaster.

“Haah!!”

〈Gyau!〉

Today, just like every other day, I’d begged the rest of the party to let me come, and we’d entered the dungeon once again.

“You’re looking great, Shizukucchi!!”

“…! Thank you, Ai-chan!”

Somewhere in the vast grassland that spanned the mid-layers of the dungeon. After slicing a charging Green Wolf clean in two with a vertical cut, party member Minamori Airi-chan flashed me her usual bright, cheerful smile.

Airi-chan, brimming with gal energy, is the same age as me. But she’s several levels stronger, and I’m always in her debt.

Airi-chan shifted her gaze away from me and turned toward the drone floating behind her.

“‘Everyone’ thinks so too, right!!”

The way she said “everyone” should make it obvious—hundreds of people were watching us through that drone. She was doing what’s commonly called a “stream.”

: One-shotting a Green Wolf is insane

: Looking reaaally good

: Definitely getting stronger!!

: Already stronger than some old dude lol

Dozens of chats flooded in an instant, but realizing I was being praised made me genuinely happy. The more I’m complimented, the more I can feel myself actually growing stronger.

“All right! Let’s keep mowing down monsters and get even stronger!!”

“Y-Yeah!!”

Airi-chan dramatically raised her hand, already searching for the next target. I started to follow her—only to have my shoulder suddenly yanked back.

A soft sensation bumped against the back of my head. Looking up, I found the face of another party member: Kamiya Sena-chan.

“Hey hey, Airi. You’re rushing way too much. We need to take a break or Shizuku’s gonna collapse.”

Her face looked a little intimidating, but her words carried unmistakable kindness. This time, she was clearly worried about me. For some reason, though, a portion of the viewers treated Sena-chan rather harshly, and it always made me feel terribly sad.

“I-I’m fine, Sena-chan!”

“Even so…”

Sena-chan gently traced her fingertip under my eyes.

“With bags like these, you’ve got zero persuasiveness… You forced yourself to come again today, didn’t you? How many hours did you sleep last night?”

“Umm… five, maybe?”

“…Haa… Yeah, we’re taking a break. Right, Airi?”

“Yep! If you get hurt, it’s all over. Sorry I didn’t notice sooner, Shizukucchi!”

: Don’t push yourself

: Gotta sleep a ton while you’re young!

: Sena-neesan, nice call!

: We all overdo it when we’re young…

Like this, Sena-chan—despite Airi-chan’s muscle-brain tendencies and my total beginner status—always keeps us in line like a reliable big sister. A lot of viewers even call her “Nee-san.”

After walking a short distance, we reached a wide-open clearing. In the center stood a single massive tree—perfect for a rest spot.

“Yosh, here we gooo!!”

“You sound like an old lady.”

“Fufu. Then that makes us old ladies too.”

“True enough.”

We sat down beside the great tree and let conversation flow freely. To keep the viewers from getting bored, we casually pulled them into the chat—until a special message with money attached, a so-called Super Chat, was read aloud.

: 1000 yen: Why is Shizuku-chan trying to get stronger again?

“Ah, umm…”

Airi-chan hesitated, glancing at me to ask what to do. I nodded, signaling that it was okay.

“I have a best friend. She’s kind, cute, and really cool. But… ever since her older brother got caught up in the D Disaster, she didn’t come to school for several weeks.”

“By the time I started feeling how empty every day was without her, she finally returned… but with the darkest expression I’d ever seen on her face. She used to talk about her brother all the time, so I can only imagine how hard it hit her.”

“I couldn’t stand seeing my best friend like that anymore… If I could at least brighten her heart even a little, if I could find her brother’s body… that’s why right now… I want to become stronger… Ah, I think I talked too mu—”

“Sh-Shizukucchiiii!! You’re too good a girl!!”

I bowed my head after rambling on, only for Airi-chan to leap at me in a burst of emotion. I caught her light body properly, and then Sena-chan reached over to gently stroke my head.

“…Fufu.”

What a bizarre sight—being hugged while having my head patted. Yet in this space where the heavy mood had softened, it felt strangely pleasant.

〈Garurururu〉

It would have been nice if things could have ended on that happy note.