Somewhere in Japan, 2125
"M-Monster Tamer!?"
"Yes. Ms. Sakura Kikyo is a Monster Tamer."
"Huh? Why!? Why!?"
---
I, Sakura Kikyo, shouted at the reception desk of the Aomori branch of the Japan Dungeon Association.
It's no wonder I shouted. I mean...
"I want to be a front-line job."
"Even so, your job field clearly says 'Monster Tamer,' doesn't it? You're unsuited for front-line combat."
"Right..."
---
Eighty years ago, dungeons suddenly appeared all over the world.
Inside the dungeons, dangerous monsters swarmed. Heavy weaponry had little effect, and the only real countermeasure was to fight without using heavy weapons.
At first, the entrances were sealed off because of the danger, but monsters continued to spread inside the dungeons. Moreover, monsters dropped items that produced dramatic, scientifically inexplicable effects, as well as magic stones that could be used as energy resources. As a result, humanity shifted its perception of dungeons from "dangerous things" to "treasure troves of resources."
Through this process, people who sought to bring resources back from inside dungeons came to be called "Seekers."
"Excuse me, I want to operate solo in dungeons! Isn't there anything you can do?!"
It seems you could earn good money when dungeons first appeared, but now, as a Seeker, beginners can barely make a decent living, and they say if you form a party, you'll earn even less.
I want to operate solo somehow.
Having failed my job hunt and managed to graduate from university anyway, I recklessly chose the path of a Seeker.
The reason is simple: since I failed at job hunting, I figured I might as well focus on leveling up.
"Seekers are automatically assigned a compatible job, so there's nothing you can do about that. If you need help with skill acquisition or similar, I can assist to some extent. Also, I'd advise against solo play as a Monster Tamer."
"Are you worried about me?"
"Huh? Well, I suppose."
"I'm 22 and single, so I welcome concern from an older sister like you!"
"..."
Just as I thought this receptionist sister is exactly the type I'd peg as the heroine at first glance. I felt her smile cool slightly, but she must really be worried about me.
...If I don't think that way, I can't bear how awkward I feel.
"I have a perfectly good reason for wanting to go solo."
"I-is that so..."
"It's for leveling up."
---
My goal, having failed my job hunt, is simply to level up. When your level rises, your stats rise. Once that happens, your abilities increase far beyond the normal limits of physical training.
That means I can be "Me, too strong!" in all sorts of fields. I can earn money. I'll be popular with girls.
Only good things, right?
If I level up, it'll definitely give me an advantage in job hunting.
I read in the autobiography of a famous Seeker that the benefits of leveling up aren't just physical your mind becomes razor-sharp too.
So first things first: leveling up.
For a while, it's enough to earn just enough to eat each day. But if I team up with a party, I won't even manage that.
---
"If you want to raise your level, stop saying impossible things and team up with someone. Front-line jobs are one thing, but I have to say solo play is harsh for a back-line job."
"But then my experience points and loot share go down."
"Before experience and loot share... you'll die, you know?"
"Ah, right."
The receptionist sister has a beautifully sculpted face. Which also makes her pressure intense.
Yeah. I don't want to die.
"You might manage up to the second floor even as a back-line job. Give it a try, and if it feels too hard, try forming a party. Next, please."
The receptionist sister brushed me off lightly. Not that there was anyone next anyway.
Feeling guilty if I'd kept someone waiting, I turned around but there was no one behind me.
Looks like she just wanted to end our conversation.
Wasn't she supposed to be my heroine candidate...? I can't earn experience or money unless I'm solo...
No choice. I'll go into the dungeon.
◇◇◇
Inside the dungeon, it's dim, and there's a sticky, unpleasant presence hanging in the air.
A super unpleasant atmosphere, like going to a real haunted spot. But I'm already here, so whatever.
All I have is a wooden sword I bought as a souvenir on a school trip long ago, but I'll believe it'll work out. They say only weaklings are on the first floor.
---
"Status open."
---
Status
Name: Sakura Kikyo
Job: Monster Tamer
Lv: 1
HP: 12
MP: 15
SP: 0
Skill:
Monster Taming Lv 1
Exp to next level: 20
---
"Guess front-line really is impossible..."
---
I'd hoped that maybe I'd have some amazing talent and get a front-line skill unrelated to my job, but the world isn't that kind.
Rarely, some back-line job people do have front-line skills. But that's only for geniuses or those who've worked incredibly hard.
Seems that's not something given to an ordinary, average person like me.
Well, that's how it goes.
---
"No choice. I'll just tame some monsters and work steadily."
I began exploring the first floor of this Aomori dungeon.
Slimes, the staple monster of the first floor, are small fry. You might think, "What's the point of making small fry your allies?" But as a Monster Tamer, I have to tame slimes and make them my allies.
Monster Tamers are a job that makes monsters fight, so without monsters, you can't even start.
Slimes are at the top of the list of useless monsters, but they're cute, so I'll believe they can at least provide healing.
---
"What a letdown. Seriously a letdown... ORA ORA ORA!!"
A slime that happened to be in the hallway trembled with a "purun," so I immediately struck it with my wooden sword.
The slime vanished with a "pssshh" of smoke, leaving a small magic stone where it had been.
I hear some people feel hesitation about killing even a slime, but I don't get it. It's just experience points, like in a game. No need to overthink it — just do it mechanically without hesitation.
Sure, it's kind of cute, but that's all. No reason to hesitate swinging my wooden sword.
Hmm. Checking my status, a slime gives 2 exp.
Ah, crap. I'm supposed to be capturing monsters, aren't I?
---
"If I remember right, to make a monster your ally, you either weaken it or form a bond of understanding?"
What the heck is "a bond of understanding"? How am I supposed to understand a gel-like creature like that? Isn't whoever came up with this an idiot?
No point overthinking it, so I decided to continue exploring.
Next, I found a red slime. Unlike the blue one earlier, this one looks gross.
"I don't feel like we'll ever understand each other. Die."
I crushed the red slime swiftly with my wooden sword. 2 exp.
So just because it's a different color doesn't mean it's stronger or gives more exp. Annoying little thing.
If I'm going to make one an ally, I'd prefer a blue slime. The red one looks like blood — gross and hard to read.
"Oh? Stairs already?"
---
What should I do? I haven't caught a single monster yet, and I haven't leveled up.
But if the first floor is like this, I won't make progress leveling...
"Guess I'll try going down."
---
I don't want to die, but they say the second floor is still like a tutorial for beginners. I have my wooden sword, so I'll be fine.
I stepped onto the stairs and ran up to the second floor.
◇◇◇
The monsters that appear on the second floor are goblins.
Goblins are about the size of a child, and not that strong either. Front-line jobs apparently have no trouble even at starting levels. Even back-line jobs can supposedly fight them.
---
"There we are already."
"Gyagya!"
No idea what he's trying to say.
"Man, you're really ugly. Bet you don't have a girlfriend, huh?"
---
Well, his girlfriend would be a goblin too, so just another goblin.
I mock the goblin with pity, but it doesn't seem to understand.
If we can't communicate, I don't feel like we'll ever understand each other.
Can I really make a goblin an ally at this rate?
But I should probably at least make a goblin an ally, right? It's important whether I can use Monster Taming, but I can't imagine continuing as a Monster Tamer without any monsters.
---
"Come on."
"Gyagya!!"
---
As I steel myself and wait, the goblin rushes toward me — faster than it looks.
Faster than I expected. Its movement speed is about on par with an adult male. So it's weak but fairly quick.
Combined with its humanoid shape, I've heard that more people feel hesitation attacking goblins than slimes, and that this goblin is a test of whether you can make it as a dungeon Seeker.
I, however, have the noble and clear goal of leveling up and living a rosy life, so I have no hesitation attacking goblins.
---
"Take this!"
"GYAN!!"
---
My wooden sword strikes the goblin's shoulder.
He seems to be in a lot of pain, but his face is so ugly I don't feel sorry for him at all. Also, I don't feel we'll ever understand each other. So it's questionable whether my skill will work well.
But I have no choice.
"Monster Taming."
"Gyah!?"
I hesitantly held my hand over the weakened goblin and announced the skill name.
And what do you know — the goblin's eyes rolled back and it started twitching with a jerk.
Yeah. Gross, but maybe a little interesting.
---
"Guess I tamed him for now."
The goblin suddenly goes quiet.
If one wooden sword strike weakens it, goblins are small fry too. Well, maybe an ordinary person would also be pretty weakened by one wooden sword strike.
"Huh?"
The fact that my back-line job's attack weakened it that much means I should probably assume a goblin's strength is about the same as a slightly weaker back-line job person.
A front-line job would have no trouble, but if I, a back-line job, get surrounded by goblins, that's bad.
---
"Gyah."
"What?"
The goblin, now my ally, looks at me and seems to be trying to say something.
"You've got something to say?"
But wait.
He's just a goblin. It's not like he's saying anything important.
Besides, I must not understand what he says under any circumstances. If I actually understand him and form a bond, I'll be on the same level as him and get labeled as a weirdo.
There's no point worrying about every little thing a lower lifeform says, so I'll just ignore him and give orders.