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 - 115

Chapter 115: Darth Bat

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“Anyway, let’s move things along. At this rate, we’ll never make any progress.”

　: Aye aye, sir!

　: Everyone, follow Ryuuto-sama’s orders!

　: Self-control. We must restrain ourselves.

　: Do not bring shame upon this channel.

　: Okay! I’ll keep that in mind!

　: Don’t get in the way of Ryuuto-sama’s work! Got it?

　: Roger!

When Ryuuto spoke, the flood of pointless comments from the chat stopped all at once. It was as if they were well-trained soldiers. Ryuuto turned the action camera back toward Haruka and the others and gave them the go-ahead. This kind of composure was exactly what one would expect from a seasoned veteran.

“A-anyway, let’s continue the livestream. Umm, our goal this time in the Okutama Dungeon is the blue crystal that’s been trending online lately. They say it’s traded for 100,000 yen per kilo, so if we, as beginners, can get our hands on some, it’ll really help fund our future activities. Plus, the first to fifth floors of Okutama Dungeon are low-tier levels, just right for leveling up for me and my party who just reached D-rank. So, we’ll do our best and try to surprise Ryuuto-san! Please cheer us on!”

　: Roger that!

　: Do your best, Haru-chin!

　: Good luck to the new members, Kyouka-san and Rion-san, too!

　: I’ll be quietly watching over you.

“Yeah, thanks, everyone. I’ll do my best to support them, too.”

“I’ll handle the front line together with Haruka. Ryuuto-san, we’d like you to take care of the support role for the most part.”

“Sure, leave it to me. If things get rough, I’ve got your back.”

　: Ah… Aahh…

　: I can’t—no matter how I try to hold back, Ryuuto-sama’s voice shakes my very soul.

　: Ryuuto-sama’s words…

　: That’s one of the top three phrases I’ve always wanted to hear from a guy in my whole life!

“Th-then, let’s move out.”

Haruka cleared her throat with a small cough and began walking through the cave. Just ahead of her, Rion moved lightly, scouting for any signs of danger. Behind them, Kyouka followed at a small distance, carrying a large rucksack on her back. Further to the rear, Ryuuto held up the action camera, keeping a careful watch on their surroundings.

Incidentally, Haruka’s outfit was a standard explorer-school uniform with various protective gear. Ryuuto, on the other hand, wore a black uniform of the old national army with a red cape draped over his shoulders. 

At his waist hung a well-used longsword—unnamed, but a weapon he had obtained near the deepest part of a dungeon after defeating the Demon Lord. Its sharpness and durability were beyond what modern science could reproduce, truly a masterpiece. Embedded in the pommel of the sword was a jewel infused with magical power, allowing Ryuuto to amplify his own magic several dozen times over.

Although Ryuuto didn’t possess an official explorer’s license, his enrollment in a specialized explorer academy granted him special permission to descend into dungeons. The difference was that Ryuuto had no “rank.” If one had to assign one, the world’s highest rank—S-class—would have been fitting. However, Ryuuto himself had declined it.

Because to him, the very idea of hierarchy held no meaning. Furthermore, worldly authority lacked any basis strong enough to influence him. In truth, there existed no one on earth who could challenge the hero who had slain the Demon Lord. Yet, Ryuuto didn’t think much of that fact.

Filming cute girls with a camera kinda feels like shooting an outdoor adult video. This gets me a little excited.

That was the sort of stupid thing he was thinking about.

“They’re here.”

Haruka swiftly drew her longsword and took a stance. Rion, who had been scouting ahead, retreated quickly and gave a hand signal—the prearranged sign for having spotted a monster. The beam of Kyouka’s handheld light illuminated a writhing shape in the darkness.

“It’s a Darth Bat! Be careful!” 

Haruka shouted.

Ryuuto held the action camera in his left hand and peered into the darkness. Darth Bat were giant, bat-like monsters that inhabited the shallow layers of dungeons. They usually acted in groups, attacking large animals all at once to drain their blood. With proper equipment, they weren’t particularly dangerous.

But what makes these bastards really dangerous isn’t their speed or power. It’s the infection from their fangs.

Darth Bat, with a wingspan of about one meter, carried a highly potent strain of rabies virus. Since the appearance of dungeons in the world, this had become common knowledge among explorers.

Bites or scratches allowed the mutated rabies virus in a Darth Bat’s body to quickly invade the victim. Normally, rabies had an incubation period of one to three months in about sixty percent of cases, but the Darth Bat’s variant caused symptoms in just three hours. 

And once it manifested, the fatality rate was nearly one hundred percent—no one survived. However, potions created in the otherworld could neutralize the mutated virus, which led to its own kind of pitfall.

That pitfall was taking the threat too lightly, running out of potions and underestimating a minor wound and delaying treatment. The dungeon would never forgive such mistakes. It never overlooked an explorer’s moment of carelessness.

“Everyone. Handle this carefully—and with everything you’ve got.” 

Ryuuto said and his words reached Haruka and the others.

Rion moved first. Her motions were silent, befitting her role as a thief. Swift and without hesitation. It was Ryuuto’s first time seeing how they fought. Their movements were unrefined, yet full of potential.

Rion drew a short sword from her waist and slashed twice, three times at a Darth Bat swooping down from above. She quickly stepped back, minimizing the chance of getting splattered by blood.

Next, Haruka moved. With both hands gripping her longsword, she swung it with all her might.

“Ei!”

With a spirited shout, Haruka’s blade traced a circle through the air.

She’s putting real strength and weight behind her blows.

Not bad. No, rather excellent. For a beginner, her swordsmanship was impressive. The blade struck the Darth Bat’s body cleanly and effectively. There were more than thirty enemies. The sharp scent of blood reached Ryuuto’s nose from where he was standing. In perfect sync, Haruka and Rion cut down nearly all of the Darth Bat in no time.

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