The next one's a bit of a problem child. Think she graduated from the same school of chaos as Takuto, maybe even worse…
Near Gizazz City, a place surrounded by wild forests, stone jungles, mineral springs, mountains, and volcanoes—some still erupting, others long dead. Deep, almost at the core of a high-risk, ultra-dangerous dungeon crawling with B-S rank monsters…
"ROOOOAAAAARRRR!!!! HUMANS!!!!"
The furious bellow of a high-level boss, the Stountain Dragon, a volcanic rock beast at LV.400, echoes through the massive battle chamber, shaking the ground. It's battered, teetering on its final phase.
Over 40 adventurers, ranks C to A, stare at its agony, their morale sky-high after years of grueling effort—training, strategizing, and finding ways to beat this beast. Today, their victory is this close!
"Just a little more! Our years of hard work are about to pay off!"
"Exactly, everyone! This fight's almost over! The Stountain Dragon is done for—our guild's got this!!"
"Yeah! Let's end this story together, Wailing Cliff Guild!"
"OOOOOOHHHHH!!!!" x40
Fueled by unstoppable spirit, the brave warriors in full armor and weapons roar, charging up their strongest moves, positioning perfectly, wary of the dragon's desperate counterattack before they unleash everything they've got.
"ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!!"
BOOOOM! CRASHHHHH!
The dragon flails its wings, wrecking the area in a blind, enraged frenzy, its strength fading under poison, curses, paralysis, exhaustion, and a slew of other debuffs.
And finally!!!
"With the blade of the goddess, soaring beyond the heavens, the divine power of the skies! I shall cleave evil into oblivion!!! I, who live to protect all humanity in this world!!!! Answer the call of Rika! [Overpower]!"
A young woman's voice booms from behind the crowd, accompanied by a blinding flash.
ZIIIIING!
"Die, you vile demon!!!! Go, Inumaru!!! Fourth Technique: Heavenly Dog Blade—World Splitter!!!!"
ZOOOOM! SLASH! BOOOOOM!!!
A thunderous shout and a surge of energy erupt as a short girl, about 15-16, with cropped hair, a black blindfold, a dark cloak, bandages wrapped around her body, leather boots, and a matching skirt-cloak combo, wields a long, ornate sword with a demonic eye on its golden hilt. She slices the Stountain Dragon clean in two with terrifying speed and force, sparks clashing against volcanic rock, igniting flames and a deafening explosion.
Boss Stountain Dragon defeated!
EXP: 600,000 | SXP: 504,000
Last Hit and Overkill damage per hit exceeded the max damage of other parties/guilds. Rika receives half the EXP; the remaining half goes to other parties/guilds.
[Rika gained 150,000 EXP | 126,000 Skill XP]
[Rika LV UP: LV.311 > LV.312]
[Rika SLV UP: LV.271 > LV.272]
[Inumaru gained 150,000 EXP | 126,000 Skill XP]
[Inumaru LV UP: LV.311 > LV.312]
Huff, huff, huff~~~
The explosion fades, silence falls.
Hero Rika sheathes her sword, Inumaru, and turns to face the 40 stunned members of the Wailing Cliff Guild.
She raises a hand, palm out, like she's stopping an overeager crowd.
"No, no thanks needed! My right eye told me my greatest duty is to keep everyone safe, and I've done just that. Time to depart, leaving your cheers behind!"
The guild members, frozen in shock, snap out of it and erupt in outrage.
"Are you nuts?! Stealing our Last Hit like that?!"
"We didn't need your help, you brat!!!"
"Do you know how hard we worked for this, and you pull this?!"
"Give us back our moment, damn it!!!!"
But Rika doesn't care. Her face flushes, twisting shyly as she rubs her head with the hand she raised.
"I said no need to shower me with praise, haha! I'm blushing!"
Yup… That's our hero Rika, folks…
"We're not praising you!!!"
"Should we just kill her?!"
"Get out! Go wherever, just leave!!!"
"Don't steal our loot, you jerk!"
"No worries! Hero Rika saves everyone without expecting rewards! So, I'll take my leave!"
Whoosh!
Rika vanishes from the spot in a flash, leaving the guild—after three years of planning, two weeks of dungeon crawling, and four days fighting this boss—screaming in agony.
She moves like a ninja, leaping between rocks, scaling a steep volcanic cliff with ease, reaching the peak to gaze at the morning sun with fierce determination.
Tapping her sword, Inumaru (aka me), twice, it transforms into another version of her, sitting beside her. Yup, that's right.
Inumaru (me) is a magical weapon that can turn human… and takes her form at her request, though without control, it sprouts brown dog ears and a tail.
"Saved nearly 40 people today, huh, Inumaru?"
"Rika, you sure they wanted your help?"
"It's not about what they want! We help because it's our duty!"
"…That's Rika for you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"Let's go save more people, Inumaru!"
"Hmm… Next time, I'll call the shots, okay?"
"Hm… Thanks, Inumaru."
Rika leans her head on Inumaru's (my) shoulder, showing the vulnerable side of a girl brimming with confidence yet achingly lonely. Man… When she's not flailing about, Rika-chan is just adorable.
Inumaru wraps an arm around her waist, leaning her messy brown hair against Rika's choppy black locks—she cut them herself—and they watch the sunrise together.
At first glance, Rika seems like a brat stealing Last Hits, right? Kinda true, but not the whole story.
She's got a genuine sense for danger, thanks to one of her goddess blessings, warning her when people might die if she doesn't act. So, she rushes in every time.
Her [Overpower] blessing boosts her stats far beyond anyone at her level, letting her swoop in and save the day just in time. Like this fight—if she hadn't dealt that Overkill damage, the boss's hidden power could've killed 5-6 people.
But her over-the-top chuunibyou act, like some Pure Innocent Evil vibe, gives her a mixed rep—some good, mostly bad, or really bad. No one in town hangs with her; she talks nonsense. No party, not even high-level ones, can handle her antics. And she keeps being chuuni, haunted by issues from her old world…
The only friend who listens, understands, and supports her loneliness? Herself—or rather, another her.
Inumaru (me) was born from my attempt to protect and befriend her. Early on, about 10 days in, I tried a fake human party member, but fully understanding Rika felt too unnatural. So, I gave her a sentient item that syncs with her thoughts to stick by her side.
Oh well, she's just a lonely chuuni kid. Don't hate her, okay?
End of Chapter 59
Rika, Inumaru / Overpower