The Virgin Hero Who Fought in the Dungeon for 20 Years Returned to the Surface Only to Find the Population of the World Has Dropped Drastically, with a Male-to-Female Ratio of 1:1000 - 113

Chapter 113: Okutama Dungeon

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The location was Okutama Town, Nishitama District, Tokyo. Ryuuto and his party were challenging a dungeon that had appeared near Lake Okutama, overlooking Mount Kumotori—famous as the birthplace of the protagonist from a certain demon-slaying comic.

To people used to the bright downtown areas of Tokyo, this rural land hardly felt like part of the same metropolis. Yet, ever since the dungeon appeared, the number of visitors had surged, and the local economy had been reasonably revitalized.

After returning from a long, grueling series of battles, Ryuuto had formed a new party. His new teammates were still at a beginner’s level, but each possessed strong determination.

The warrior, Haruka Shimomura. The apothecary, Kyouka Kuonji. The thief, Rion Nanami. With Ryuuto, the mage, joining them, the party balance had improved considerably.

“I guess this setup should do for now.”

“Oh, looks perfect to me.”

“Kyouka, you’re too tense.”

“Ugh, I can’t help it! I’m always the one behind the camera, not in front of it!”

“Ahaha. Rion, your right hand and right foot are moving together again.”

“Don’t say that out loud.”

“Okay, okay. The stream hasn’t started yet, but let’s just ease into it.”

“But, Ryuuto-san… Are you really sure it’s fine for us to be the main focus?” 

Kyouka asked.

“We’ve been over this. If Haruka and Ryuuto-san get all lovey-dovey on camera, the viewers will just get annoyed.”

Rion spoke gently, almost as if explaining something to a child—a rare tone for her. Usually, she had a habit of biting at Kyouka over the smallest things, but she seemed to be in a good mood today.

“Come on, both of you. It’s fine, isn’t it? Ryuuto-san went out of his way to be our cameraman. Besides, the low-tier monsters here wouldn’t even be a challenge to him. We just have to do our best to hunt as many as we can and stop being dead weight to him as soon as possible.”

Haruka spoke gently.

“Well, don’t push yourselves too hard.” 

Ryuuto said casually while fiddling with the camera.

Still, honestly, there’s not much point for me in beating these low-floor monsters.

Explorers made their living by venturing into dungeons—obtaining valuable resources and magic items, or earning bounties by slaying dangerous monsters. But the most important thing was strengthening themselves through experience points, which could only be gained by defeating monsters. The monsters inside dungeons possessed mana. Mana or magic power, was the essence of powerful life energy.

Explorers grew stronger by slaying monsters with their own hands and absorbing the mana that rose from the corpses. This mana was like the spirit that leaked from the defeated creature’s body, and the one who landed the finishing blow could absorb the most of it.

Defeat a weak monster, and you gained a small amount. Defeat a strong one, and the mana was far greater. The rule that the finisher absorbed the most was absolute. That was why, for Ryuuto—who had spent over twenty years battling powerful monsters in the deepest layers—the mana from monsters near the surface amounted to almost nothing.

That’s why I’ll focus on supporting them and helping them grow stronger.

As a mage, Ryuuto took on the role of cameraman, streaming Haruka, Kyouka, and Rion’s adventures online to earn money through viewership while helping them grow efficiently. In a sense, this party was also part of his own rehabilitation.

It was true that Ryuuto still had lingering concerns about the existence of Rinka—the name mentioned by that so-called True Demon Lord—but because of his promise to his sister and Shougens, he refrained from entering the dungeon alone.

Besides, interacting with all kinds of people like this also served as a form of talent scouting in preparation for the battle against the True Demon Lord. Even if someone was just a beginner now, no one could predict what might trigger an extraordinary surge in growth. Until you nurtured an explorer, you could never truly know the potential hidden within them.

“So, that’s the plan, you three. Leave the filming and support to me. I’ll make sure you all look super cute on camera.”

“Oh, come on, Ryuuto-san! You’re way too smooth with your words—calling me super cute so directly like that, you’ll make me blush for real!”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Ryuuto-san was clearly talking about me. Kyouka, your act is just too desperate and painfully obvious.”

“Haah!? What the heck are you saying, you damn zashiki-warashi? What’s so painful about me, huh? Look, Ryuuto-san, I’m a totally capable and sexy apothecary, right? Perfect, aren’t I?”

Kyouka snorted proudly and struck a pose to show off her figure. As an apothecary, her job mainly involved using concocted potions to support the party or, on occasion, fight monsters herself—a role that, when mastered, could be incredibly versatile.

However, as Rion pointed out, Kyouka’s outfit was clearly designed to catch male attention. She was wearing a highly suggestive costume—complete with a nurse cap and an ultra-short nurse dress, straight out of the kind of adult videos that had once been everywhere.

“A pink nurse outfit that leaves your chest and legs completely exposed, with zero regard for defensive efficiency. Honestly, Kyouka, it’s like you’re mocking the dungeon itself.”

“I’m not mocking it. The only thing I’d ever lick is Ryuuto-san’s, you know what.”

“That’s something I’ll absolutely prevent.”

“Hmph! Says you. Look at your outfit, Rion. You look less like a thief and more like you just got attacked by a pack of wild dogs.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Kyouka. This is cutting-edge fashion. And as a thief, freedom of movement is my top priority. See? Just a little peek.”

“Stop trying to seduce Ryuuto-san, you tramp!”

Rion wore a pair of extremely short shorts that barely covered her rear, paired with a leather chest guard that looked fairly sturdy. However, it had been modified to emphasize her bustline in a way that completely defied Ryuuto’s usual image of what a thief should look like.

But that’s what makes it great.

Ryuuto grinned like a stylish rogue from the Sengoku era, admiring Rion’s daring look. Sexy outfits were always welcome in his book. Naturally, the sharp-eyed Rion noticed his gaze and deliberately bent over, sticking her rear out as she rummaged through her bag—a bit of over-the-top fanservice that made Kyouka fume.

“Come on now, both of you. Don’t fight. Today’s our new beginning, remember?”

“She’s right, Kyouka. Honestly, it’s pathetic how obsessed you are with Ryuuto-san’s gaze.”

“Don’t you start acting all righteous out of nowhere, you hypocrite…”

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー