The second layer, 'Hungerbeast Underground Dungeon,' remains as dark as ever, but for me, who can see in the dark, it's an ideal hunting ground.

　Other than mantises, the monsters here aren't particularly strong.

　Drawing my short blade, I continue forward while maintaining Darkness Fog.

（Honestly, there are quite a few people around today.）

　The second layer isn't popular, probably because the maze has been closed for so long. Unusually, there are many explorers here.

　Hidden in the shadows, I won't be spotted by them, and even if I were seen, it wouldn't matter—but for some reason, I keep to the walls, avoiding contact.

"Is it really this crowded after the closure? I'm not confident handling the second layer."

"You'll get used to it—third layer's actually easier. Just don't run into any mantises."

"I've never met one before, but is the Mantis really that strong?"

"Really strong. We couldn't beat it. Well, at least we can escape by using smoke bombs."

Eavesdropping on a passing explorer's conversation, it seemed they'd switched from exploring the third layer to the second layer due to overcrowding in the third.

Still, even explorers who mainly operate in the third layer can't beat the Mantis...

As I passed by an explorer, I walked a while toward a less crowded area and encountered a group of goblins and orcs.

Four goblins. Three orcs.

"Summon Knight Bug"

The dark beetle charged at the goblins, tearing through flesh and bone.

I leapt into the chaos and calmly took down each one, one by one.

The two-layered monster probably has decent night vision, enough to see in dim light. But within the complete darkness of the Darkness Fog, it can only wildly swing its weapon in the dark—nothing more.

(Good. Next.)

Recover the spirit stone and search for the next monster.

Two ogres emerge from the corridor ahead.

"Shadow Bind!"

The Shadow Coffin has now unlocked the higher-tier spell 'Dark Coffin,' but it can still use Shadow Bind as-is.

The power seems slightly enhanced, enough to immobilize both ogres simultaneously for several seconds.

Shadow tendrils emerge from the darkness, binding the ogres, while I leap forward and drive my dagger straight into the throat of one.

Without the defensive prowess of Jeanne or the offensive might of Refraya, a decisive, one-shot kill is the best strategy for me.

　

While wandering through the labyrinth I know by heart, I slay the monsters I encounter.

The map of the second layer is completely memorized—I can wander aimlessly without getting lost.

It feels as if I haven’t entered the labyrinth in ages, yet my body moves smoothly and I can clearly see my opponent’s movements.

Probably my "rank (level)" has increased.

(Still, if I’m to conquer this labyrinth, that won’t matter at all. I’ll need to grow much, much stronger.)

While using a Phantom Warrior as bait, I sneak up behind an ogre and deliver a single strike to bring it down, all the while thinking these thoughts.

One solution could be to upgrade my weapon to something more powerful.

Spending points to boost my stamina or vitality would work too.

I suppose raising the rank of my spirit magic through constant use is important as well.

But I once saw a traveler who had given up being human.(Garnet, the leader of the Crimson Vial, was that strong even without any enhancement through points.)

The way she casually swung around an axe as heavy as iron, it was nothing short of monstrous—utterly beyond human limits.

The source of her immense strength? A slight increase in spiritual energy gained from defeating monsters.

In other words, rank (level).

Simply put, the most effective way to grow stronger is to keep defeating monsters, again and again, raising your level.

For example, if it were point-based enhancement, Jeanne had already maxed out her 'Physical Ability.' Yet she isn't particularly beyond human strength.

The point-based strength upgrade multiplies the original power exponentially—so if Jeanne's original grip strength is 30 kg, then at 'Strength Up Level 5,' it would be around 300 kg, truly like a gorilla. But just a gorilla.

That won't beat an elephant. It would lose to a grizzly bear too.

Of course, they're far stronger than me right now, but if I'm serious about clearing the dungeon, I can't be satisfied at this level.

(It'd be nice if the status screen showed levels.)

Several updates have been made, but level display hasn't been implemented yet.

I open the status screen and check the time.

There's still about three hours until the time I promised to exit the dungeon.

(Viewership at 360 million...)

Since I started moving around with Jeanne, the number of viewers had remained consistently high.

Whether Nanami proved my innocence or whether she, too, didn't see the culprit's face, there was no way to confirm either way. As Jeanne said, I've been worrying too much about the other world; if Nanami has come back to life, perhaps forgetting that world and living in this one could be one possible answer.

I understand this logically,

but when I look at the numbers, I can feel the shivers of the viewers' stares, their ill intentions.

It was something I couldn't help, even if I understood it in theory.

My heart simply refuses—there's no other way to put it.

(…But there's no need to panic, right?)

The discomfort of being watched by viewers had faded, replaced by the goal of helping Jeanne conquer the labyrinth.

I kept telling myself I was alone.

It wasn't just that I'd suppressed my thoughts during the viewer count race when I was with Reflair that I didn't notice glances.

It was also because being with someone else, knowing someone cared about me—it had been a comfort.

Ever since arriving in this world, I'd been forced to confront the weaknesses I never wanted to know about.

"……hmm?"

While checking the spirit magic section on the status screen, I noticed something.

The rank of "Call of Darkness" had increased to level 3.

(A new technique…!)

Reaching rank 3 in spirit magic meant I could now learn higher-level techniques.

The latest status is as follows.

【Shadow Spirit Art】

Second Rank Technique

・Shadow Void 【Shade Shift】 Mastery Level 34

Third Rank Technique

・Shadow Sight 【Dark Sense】 Mastery Level 29

・Shadow Form 【Phantom Warrior】 Mastery Level 37

・Shadow Storage 【Shadow Storage】 Mastery Level 20

・Shadow Coffin 【Dark Coffin】 Mastery Level 2

・Shadow Summon 【Summon Dark Knight】 Mastery Level 0

Fourth Rank Technique

・Shadow Manifest 【Darkness Fog】 Mastery Level 95

Special Technique

・Shadow Return 【Create Undead】 Mastery Level 5

The rank of Darkness Fog is nearly ready to advance, but even more so, Shadow Summon.

"Dark Knight...!"

I have a feeling I'm finally able to use a technique that seems purely offensive.

Judging by its name, it must be the Dark Knight.

Either way, I'll know once I try it out.

"Summon Dark Knight!"

As I recite the spell, darkness seeps from space and condenses into the form of a single warrior.

A splendid, imposing figure standing about 190 centimeters tall, clad entirely in full plate armor.

Armed with a longsword and shield. The appearance is somehow familiar—

"Is it the same as the Phantom Warrior?"

This phantom, summoned through the Darkening technique, looks exactly identical to the Phantom Warrior. It's a perfect match.

However, while one is an illusion, this one possesses physical substance—truly real. This means it can be used either as an illusion or as a solid entity, depending on how it's wielded.

Against learning monsters or human opponents, it's bound to create devastating combos.

Of course, assuming the opponent lacks knowledge.

Let's directly pit the two-layered monster against the Dark Knight.

While the method of striking the shield with a sword to create a loud noise—drawing attention—is the same as the Phantom Warrior's, unlike that opponent, whose movements are slow and primarily focused on feints, the Dark Knight moves swiftly and possesses greater strength.

A goblin or an orc wouldn't stand a chance.

They might take hits, but there's no sense that the damage is getting through—after all, it's an embodiment of darkness itself, so it's hard to tell.

I also tested it against an ogre, and it was completely shut down.

Though we didn't encounter a pair of ogres this time, even two would probably pose no issue.

Furthermore, the Dark Knight can operate without trouble even within the darkness of the 'Darkness Fog.'

Since I'd been worried that just Jeanne and I wouldn't be enough to overcome this challenge, this is a significant boost in combat strength.

...Still, the amount of spiritual energy used in a single summoning is quite high—equivalent to about five uses of Dark Fog. Since I'm the 'Beloved One,' I can replenish spiritual energy from outside, but using spells too consecutively will eventually lead to depletion.

It doesn't seem to be limitless after all.

◇◆◆◆◇

(Indeed, hunting on the second layer is consistently stable.)

Making level-up one of my goals, I slaughtered monsters at a rapid pace.

The number must exceed a hundred.

Perhaps because the dungeon had been sealed, there were many monsters. I systematically defeated every one I encountered.

I probably earned nearly the value of one gold coin in spirit stones.

I had just finished verifying Dark Knight, and was about to head back to Jeanne, when a group of explorers desperately sprinting past me.

Shortly after, the praying mantis monster "Mantis" appeared, seemingly chasing them.

(Bad luck...)

The group being pursued was the one I'd just been telling the rookie teammate—probably a porter-turned-explorer—about Mantis.

Mantis doesn't appear often. I've never seen one more than ten times in my life; it's a rare monster.

Since they're running away anyway, they probably don't need it.

It should be fine to take it.

I emerged from the shadows and summoned Knight Bug.

The Mantis froze as Knight Bug pricked it repeatedly, turning to face me.

(Now, the final verification.)

"Summon Dark Knight!"

Unleashing the summoning of Knight Bug, I called forth the Dark Knight.

"Alright! I'll take him down one-on-one!"

At my command, the Dark Knight raised his sword in response and began advancing toward the Mantis.

The Mantis was strong enough to defeat Reflair on its own.

A formidable monster on the second floor, it was likely second only to the Garden Panther in strength among third-floor creatures—slightly weaker than the fourth-floor Lizardman.

Either way, I wanted to see the true strength of the Dark Knight here.

The ensuing battle was a bit different from what I had imagined.

(Seriously?)

In short, the Dark Knight defeated the Mantis.

And it took only a few seconds of combat—just that.

In other words, this dark knight I summon is stronger than Refleia.

It's essentially the same as me becoming stronger myself, though it's a somewhat complicated feeling.

I picked up the chaotic spirit stone that emerged from the mantis, then rushed toward the staircase leading to the first layer, blending into the darkness to reunite with Jeanne.