A dungeon accessible from Earth.
That place, a dwelling of monsters, was where there were students who aspired to become adventurers those who hunt monsters.
With magma bubbling nearby, many of the students were falling on their rears.
Amidst this, one male student was overwhelming the monsters with a sword in one hand.
At first glance, he was a black-haired boy who could be found anywhere.
"What's with that strength?!"
"Until recently, he was a dropout...!"
"How did you grow so fast?!"
Many students were astounded by his strength the strength of Kamishiro Souma.
"The secret to my strength?"
Souma turned around after defeating a powerful monster with a cool expression.
"It's sleeping. Haven't you heard the old saying? 'Sleeping children grow well.'"
◇
The story goes back far in time.
Souma and his fellow students at the Adventurer School were in a dungeon for their class. It was a forest overrun with level 1 small-fry monsters. As part of the lesson, they had formed makeshift parties and come to hunt.
"Kamishiro-kun, an attack from the slime on the right!"
A female student said.
"Huh? Oh, got it whoa!"
"Puny~!"
Souma easily took a direct hit from the slime's liquid attack. Even though it was a level 1 attack, it was potent, and the skin on the hit area began to fester.
"Gaaaah!"
Souma writhed in pain.
"Get out of the way, you weakling!"
A boy from the same party shoved Souma aside and pierced the slime with his spear.
"Not being able to dodge a slime's attack is just too untalented."
"I warned you properly..."
The female student, looking exasperated, activated her healing magic to treat Souma's injury. The other girl in the party also looked displeased.
"Sorry..."
Souma could only apologize.
(I'm trying my hardest...! But I'm just holding everyone back...!)
He worked hard, but the results never followed. Souma was frustrated beyond measure by his own inadequacy.
◇
Tokyo Fourth Adventurer School this school, which Souma attended, was a public school specializing in training adventurers. In terms of the school system classification, it fell under higher education, the same category as university.
The exterior of the school building resembled a typical university, but the interior was different. Since the Adventurer School had no concept of homeroom classes, spacious floors capable of accommodating hundreds of people were provided on each level.
Back from the dungeon, Souma was on the first-year floor. Around him were about 500 other students wearing the same crimson blazers. There were also about twenty teachers in charge.
"Party leaders, please report your results," said one of the teachers. In response, the leaders of each party gathered around their respective teacher.
"Kamishiro, make sure you report that you were the one holding us back, okay? Don't blame us," said the boy from Souma's party. The two girls in the party nodded in agreement.
"I know," Souma said, hanging his head as he headed toward the male teacher in charge, Saitou.
"Kamishiro, huh..." Saitou frowned the moment he saw Souma's face.
"Our party defeated three slimes and two goblins."
"That's all you managed to defeat?"
"I was the one holding them back..."
"I'm sure you were."
Saitou affirmed without hesitation. He continued, "Kamishiro, you work hard sincerely. I and the other teachers know that. But you have no talent. You understand that yourself, right?"
"Yes..."
Souma reflected on his actions so far. The three months since enrolling in the Adventurer School up to today.
He hadn't been slacking off. On the contrary, he worked harder than most, trying to become stronger. It wasn't once or twice that he'd swung his sword until his hands blistered. Even so, he showed no improvement at all.
"The formation ceremony is coming up soon. But likely, no one will want to team up with you."
Saitou spoke冷酷ながら (coldly but realistically).
"Being an adventurer isn't everything in life. There's a rule that allows you to transfer unconditionally to a regular university before the formation ceremony. When you've made up your mind, come to the staff room. I'll handle the paperwork."
"...I'll think about it."
Souma bowed and walked away dejectedly.
"Professor Saitou, the reason for our poor results this time is because Kamishiro held us back!"
"We had no problems at all, so please don't give us negative marks!"
The students who had been in Souma's party rushed over to Saitou as Souma left.
◇
After leaving school, Souma went straight home. His house was an old, single-story building characterized by its rusted tin roof. It was easily over fifty years old.
"Welcome back, Souma. Good work at school today," his mother, Namie, greeted him.
"I'm home."
"How was school? Are you pushing yourself too hard?" Namie spoke to him gently.
"I'm fine," Souma could only say. Namie understood his feelings.
(He's still not able to keep up with everyone, is he?) she thought, but pretended not to notice.
"Dinner tonight is curry!"
"Thanks. I'm going to do some muscle training in my room."
Souma moved from the kitchen to the living room and opened the sliding door at the back. That was his room. It was also Namie's room.
(Adventurers earn good money. If I become an adventurer, I can say goodbye to this poor life!)
Souma folded up his futon, which was left spread out, and started doing push-ups. Instead of counting out loud, he looked at a photo of his late father on the wall.
(Pay back Dad's debts and make life easier for Mom! To do that, being an adventurer is the only way...!)
He continued push-ups, dozens, hundreds. Sweat poured from his entire body, soaking his shirt.
(Did this make me grow a little?)
Souma sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. He quietly chanted, "Status."
---
[Job]Swordsman
[Level]1
[Overall Power]211
---
Souma's status appeared in his mind.
(I think my Overall Power before the muscle training was 210. I worked this hard and it only went up by 1?) Souma despaired.
An adventurer's strength was一目瞭然 (crystal clear) from their status. Level increased by defeating monsters, and Overall Power increased through daily training. There was a clear formula: Level × Overall Power = final strength. In Souma's case, the problem was his low Overall Power.
(Does this mean bodyweight training has its limits? No, training at the school's gym didn't make much difference either.)
Thinking about Overall Power, he eventually arrived at one answer.
(It must mean I just have no talent.)
◇
After dinner and a bath, Souma got into his futon. Right next to him, Namie was also in her futon.
In the darkness after the lights were turned off, Souma said, "Mom, I have work after school tomorrow, so I'll be late."
"Okay. Don't overdo it."
"I'll be fine. You don't overdo it either, Mom. Good night."
As he closed his eyes, Souma thought.
(It's been a few months since I entered Adventurer School. I've tried my best, but the gap between me and everyone else keeps widening. Professor Saitou even suggested I drop out... Maybe this is my limit after all.)
He imagined himself doing hard physical labor at a construction site.
(Dad's debts are too big. With any job other than being an adventurer, it would be like throwing water on a blazing fire.)
Souma turned his back to Namie and gritted his teeth.
(Don't get weak-kneed. Struggle until the very end. The Adventurer School is free to attend, so I can go. Regular universities, even public ones, cost money. I don't have any choice other than the Adventurer School, do I!)
Souma exhaled deeply and stopped thinking. Fatigue welled up, and the next moment, he had fallen asleep.
---
――――...
"…Huh?"
Souma woke up to the smell of greenery. He sat up and was astonished.
"What is this place...!"
Spread out all around him was a vast grassland. And beyond that, there was a medieval European-style castle city.