◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (11)

Chapter 3. Partying with the Demon Lord (1)

—Legendary Achievement Unlocked! You have discovered the secret dungeon who nobody knew about for countless years! With a total of 1,874 unsuccessful discovery attempts from the past, the grade of the title given as a reward has been elevated from rare to legendary!

—Obtained the legendary title 'Discoverer of the Hidden Dungeon'! Due to the title's effect, all stats and skill effects are increased by 10% in all environments such as dungeons and ruins. If the Hidden Dungeon is completely conquered, all effects of the title will be activated!

—You have gained experience points from the achievement. Reached level 97! You have leveled up. Endurance (Uc) increased by 1, Spirit Power (R) increased by 1.

TL/N: Going to switch to acronyms from now on for rarity in System Messages.

"What is this?"

Staring at the stone steps extending into the underground, KiJun muttered in astonishment.

After finishing breakfast, he, the Demon Lord, and Lucy had gone behind the Demon Lord's castle to the place that had stimulated his inspiration, just for a brief exploration—

Suddenly, the earth collapsed, revealing stone steps leading downwards, and at the same time, KiJun's vision was filled with a complicated message.

"1,874 times in the past? Wasn't there a rumor that this dungeon existed in every tutorial channel?"

The Demon Lord, who received an explanation of the message's contents from KiJun, exclaimed while tapping her forehead.

"That's why they gave a legendary-grade title... But considering that, the effects of the title are a bit lacking."

"What are you talking about? A 10% increase in all abilities is incredibly powerful."

KiJun, now at the uncommon-grade except for his mana, was simply impressed by the powerful effect of the title he was experiencing for the first time. However, the Demon Lord shook her head, unimpressed.

"It's weak for a legendary grade. If it were a title that raised each stat by at least 20, it would have been better."

"Wouldn't that be excessively strong...?"

"Do you think those with legendary titles are weak?"

True, he hadn't thought about that.

He had forgotten about his racial grade because, aside from gaining levels after achieving the rare grade just now, there was no way to gain experience points.

But now that he had reached level 97 and they had arrived at the dungeons where monsters were expected...

Wasn't it time to expect an uncommon-grade racial advancement?

"If the racial grade rises, there will be positive adjustments to the stat growth rate, skills, and, most importantly, the probability of obtaining a better class. It can be considered the most solid foundation that supports your existence."

"In that case, Senior, is your racial grade perhaps...?"

"Legendary."

"I shouldn't have asked."

He felt bad for the poor second-time Earthlings who didn't know anything, of course, himself included.

Seeing KiJun weakly smiling, the Demon Lord added with a sneer.

"I wasn't the strongest, but..."

"Huh? Oh, so you mean there's a rank above legendary—"

"Let's go inside."

"Yes!"

KiJun followed the Demon Lord down the stairs, his heart pounding in fear.

"What if you go out unprotected without knowing what might come out? You're not a tank, you know."

"So, are you counting on yourself to protect me? A commoner guarding a legend?"

He retorted to the Demon Lord, who had suddenly thrown that out, without backing down.

"You're still the one who should be at the back in dungeons. Don't try to change your role so casually; get behind me."

"...Ha, really."

Now that she thought about it, she had never seen this side of him before.

Looking at his impressive figure, which she couldn't feel at all during their everyday life, the Demon Lord remembered the time they had fought together and burst into laughter.

Seeing the sight of him desperately shielding the weakened comrades with a body covered in blood, 'If this guy had been in my party back then...'

She never talked about that.

"It's cool."

It was a secret she would take to her grave.

"Then we're in the same party inside the dungeon."

"Huh? Ah, yes."

Surprised by the Demon Lord's words, KiJun nodded hastily and added after some hesitation.

"But still, please refrain from fighting seriously. My training won't be possible then."

"Fine. I'll only help you when I really think you're going to die."

"Then it's no different from usual."

"Well, then they're probably much better than the awful demons!"

Lucy chimed in, adding to her words the light that glowed on the shield, except for the parts held by her two hands.

Even though it was getting darker as they descended the stairs, there was no need for a torch because KiJun’s shield, which emitted a faint light, illuminated the surroundings.

"Thanks, Lucy. Want some brown sugar?"

—I always side with the contractor! Munch...

She chomped away, pretending not to hear anything.

With the three of them walking for a while, a sound—kwung—could be heard, and a ceiling blocked their way.

Except for the shield in his hands and Lucy in his pocket, he realized that he was standing on the ground rather than the stairs.

And an enemy was arriving.

'He's coming.'

Instinctively, KiJun raised his left shield.

Kwang—! A shock more terrifying than he had imagined, a dull and heavy impact, followed by sparks, erupted as the shield collided with something.

The faint light emitted by the shield illuminated the enemy in front of him.

"Ack—!"

Resembling a human with indigo skin on his forehead.

He looked much larger than KiJun, standing at 2 and a half meters. His muscular body was covered with black chitinous armor, providing effective protection for parts such as the chest, shoulders, fists, elbows, and knees.

Each part was effective for both attacking and defending.

Having confirmed the enemy's appearance, the Demon Lord groaned softly.

"Lesser Demon Blackguard... Rare race of the dark attribute, rare class."

"Kick—!"

Immediately afterward, the enemy's fist flew towards him again.

Thanks to his perfect timing and the perfect angle, KiJun managed to narrowly evade the attack, but he still felt the impact spreading throughout his body and winced.

Even though it was just a regular attack, he had thought he had dodged it perfectly, but to receive this much...?

"M-Ma'am, could these guys be...?"

"I don't think they're weakened."

That's why they were so strong.

According to the Demon Lord, all the monsters that appeared in the tutorial—starting from the wolves that had to be captured forcibly following the fairy's quest and moving on—were in a weakened state compared to this main stage.

Otherwise, there was no way the Earthlings, all of whom were common-grade and without classes, could have defeated enemies like High Orc Corps Commanders.

However, the current enemy in front of them was a monster from the hidden dungeon behind the Demon Lord's castle, a place that could be considered the end of the tutorial.

Bam! Roar!

"Luckily, its level seems to be on the lower side... Can we handle it?"

"Don't even ask. Of course, we have to...!"

If he turned tail and ran away just because he encountered an opponent of a higher rank, he would feel guilty towards the Demon Lord and Lucy, both of whom had dedicated more than three months to help him improve.

"It's okay, Contractor. It's undoubtedly a tremendously strong opponent, but... Light will never be swallowed by darkness."

Lucy whispered as she infused her power into his body and shield. Her words were not just rhetoric; her attribute was light itself, and alongside the Light Spirit, she enveloped his body and weapons with their combined light.

The rampaging demon before them, unable to easily execute its attacks, was the result of their synergy.

"Good."

Crash!

Once again, after blocking the enemy's attack, he swiftly struck the shield into the demon's face.

Due to the overwhelming difference in stats between them, his full-power attack was merely a slight blow to the demon. However, even that was enough to thoroughly infuriate the demon.

"Go, hero! Let's perfect Dual Wielding in real combat!"

"I hoped for a more encouraging cheer if you don't mind... Ready!"

He applied Steelization to the right shield, increasing its defense, and skillfully deflected the demon's knee, exposed in its surprise attack.

Then, with the left shield, he hit the demon's jaw to loosen its guard, followed by a strike to the demon's chest using the right shield!

The light embedded in the shields burst out strongly, pushing the demon backward.

The demon, along with its terrifying scream, witnessed the armor protecting its chest melting slightly.

"Oh?"

―The Contractor can now infuse light into his attacks! We can definitely win now!

"Hehe, thanks to my practice with magic power control, I've learned to actively use aura too! It's all thanks to me."

"Kyaahhh!"

Whether the demon realized it was being mocked or not, it charged at them with a fierce scream.

Bending his knees and planting his feet firmly on the ground, he managed to block the demon's assault with his two shields set at an angle.

At the moment of collision, light burst out, pushing the demon back. However, a terrible shock also struck him.

"Hero, are you foolish? Why did you block it head-on?"

"Cough, that's what a tank does. Didn't I tell you?"

Moreover, it wasn't particularly painful compared to when his abdomen was pierced by the Demon Lord's attack.

The rapid regeneration of his Unique-grade Rapid Regeneration skill quickly restored his body to its original state whenever it was damaged, and the Indomitable Will skill allowed him to endure without getting tired, allowing him to quickly recover from the shock and continue attacking the enemy.

"It tickles, you brat."

"Kyaah, take that!"

He didn't forget to taunt the demon further, in case its attention shifted toward the Demon Lord behind him.

If the demon tried to attack the Demon Lord directly, her single blow would likely end the battle. However, he hadn't started his training to be carried by the Demon Lord.

It was a real battle to grow as a warrior and a tank.

With the mindset that everything would end if he got pierced, he once again blocked the demon, attacking as he did.

"See how terrifying the Shield can be!"

Bam!

The shield, infused with light, struck the demon's face again.

It was a far more powerful blow than before, and even a small opening led to a series of relentless attacks.

The free transition between offensive and defensive moves with his two shields was gradually becoming familiar to him through the intense real battle, allowing him to land powerful strikes.

After five hours had passed, he finally succeeded in defeating the demon.

―You defeated the enemy and gained experience points.

―Mana Power (Uc) increased by 1. Shield Mastery (Uc) skill level increased by 1.

―Rare Achievement Unlocked! Successfully defeated an opponent two or more ranks higher in a one-on-one battle! Earned the title 'Transcender of Limits'! Due to the title effect, positive adjustments are applied when facing opponents of higher rank. It becomes easier to surpass all kinds of limits.

―You have earned experience due to the achievement.

The sweet rewards for defeating a non-weakened Rare-grade species with a Rare-grade occupation were satisfying.

Not only did his mana power and shield mastery grow, but he also gained a title that was never granted regardless of the opponent he defeated during the tutorial.

In response to his curiosity, the Demon Lord chuckled and replied, "Of course, weakened enemies aren't hard to beat."

"If you say so, ma’am, I have nothing more to say."

"Anyway, now that you've earned the title of Transcender of Limits, it should be much easier to rank up. Well done, hero."

Seeing the Demon Lord talk as if she already knew the effect of the title, he wondered if she had calculated it all along.

Suddenly, he became curious if she had this title too, but he decided to keep his mouth shut to avoid embarrassment or ridicule.

No, however, it wasn't as easy to keep his mouth shut as he thought.

It was a symptom he easily experienced after fighting for several hours in a row.

It was because of the Skill, 'No Rest for the Wicked.'

"You were smiling too much that your mouth won't move properly."

"That Skill, No Rest for the Wicked, it's really creepy. You know how eerie it is to see you laughing while getting hit?"

"What can I do? It's a precious Rare Skill."

"What level is that Skill?"

"99."

"I'm getting scared of evolving it..."

Her concern was unnecessary.

Around the time he killed several Lesser Demons using his 'Copernicus-like Shield Hunting Method,' investing several hours per demon, the Skill had evolved into a Unique-grade skill that didn't require him to sleep anymore.

Its name was 'No Rest for the Wicked’.

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