FOUR

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Several days have already passed since Kazuko came back home. He was also able to convince Kanae that his coma was what triggered his Awakening as a Hunter.

Although the fights he had with those strange Ghosts and his new Skill was something Kazuko never mentioned to his cousin.

"I trust her but... this still isn't the right time to tell her about it." Kazuko sighed.

Kanae was probably the person he trusted the most in this world, but the fact that it was something unique among other Hunters made Kazuko think twice before sharing his secret.

'I'll get stronger, then I'll tell her about it.' That was his final decision. "Well then, guess I gotta find some dungeons."

It took him several minutes to prepare before he left the house. And his cousin had already agreed on him dropping out of school to go hone his skills in some low Rank Dungeons.

Kazuko remembered telling Kanae that he wasn't ready yet when she suggested that he get his Rank checked out in the JHA.

"Heh, saying that I wanted to raid some E-Rank Gates so I don't die soon sure made her agree faster." Kazuko was aware that he had just woken up from a coma, but he was just build different.

"Now then..." Glancing back at their home, Kazuko smiled. "I'll get back before dinner, maybe?"

----- -- -----

E-Rank...

Despite being labeled as Awakened Humans, low-rate E-Rank Hunters were probably still weaker than highly trained athletes. Their attacks are also useless against the Monsters or Magical Beasts that resided inside those Gates.

That might also be the reason why this E-Rank Gate had a few D-Rank Hunters planning to enter it, there was even a C-Rank Healer among them. And seeing all these people here, Kazuko just shook his head.

This was the only available E-Rank Gate around the area. The other higher ranked Gates were a few kilometers away from here, and Kazuko's laziness just got the better of him.

"Alright then! Since I'm a D-Rank Tanker I'll go ahead and take the lead!" The booming voice of a bald middle-aged man resounded through the walls of the abandoned warehouse.

'So 3 D-Ranks and a C-Rank Healer, huh.' Kazuko surveyed his surroundings, spotting what seems to be 3 more E-Rank Hunters that just arrived on time for the Dungeon Raid.

"Oh? It seems we have more guests, well the more the merrier I guess." Their self-proclaimed Leader motioned for the 3 E-Rank Hunters to gather infront of him before looking at the aquamarine haired Kazuko. "Hey kid! Hurry up!"

"Sure, sure."

After making sure that everyone was looking at his muscular body, the bald man introduced himself. "I'm the D-Rank Tanker Ikkaku Madarame, I will say it once again. I will be the Leader of this Raid and make sure everyone gets out safely."

Kazuko could only raise an eyebrow as he heard the man's short yet passionate speech. 'Despite his low Rank, that confidence he has sure is good for the morale of his companions.'

"Now then! Let's go!" The muscular Ikakku put on his steel helmet before marching into the Gate with his Shield tightly held by his right hand.

Even Kazuko had a smile as he looked forward to his first Dungeon Raid.

----- -- -----

"Hahaha! This seems too easy!"

"Well, it is an E-Rank Dungeon afterall."

"Yah! Die Monsters!"

Kazuko heard different kinds of loud comments as he strolled through the Dungeon. 'I'm starting to regret my decision.'

Kazuko had hoped that he could learn on how to slay Monsters from experienced Hunters, no matter what Rank they were. However...

"Hahahahaha! I Ikakku, am a Man! A Man!"

"As expected of our Leader!"

This Dungeon was just too weak for Kazuko to learn anything new. Not to mention that these people were clearly noobs whose Leader only had 2 or 3 Dungeon Raids under his belt.

'I can't even slay these insects with peace, and there isn't even a single Crystal that dropped yet, this is making me mad!' Kazuko tried his best to stay sane until the end of this torturous ride.

"Oh! Oh! Here they come!"

Ikkaku's voice alarmed them of the incoming horde of large brittle beetles, everything they had encountered so far were no match for their weapons.

"Oh? They seem stronger." Kazuko commented as he noticed that these insects' exoskeleton were harder than the others.

"Don't falter! As long as we have our Healer then we will Rise!"

"Oooooohhhh!!"

Hearing their cringy statements made the 16 year old want to slap himself, but he just decided to unleash his annoyance on these box sized gray beetles instead.

And after a few minutes of venturing through the E-Rank Dungeon, Kazuko has finally come across a Green Colored Crystal.

'It's about damn time!" He picked up the shiny material, but before he could crush it, the loud screeching sound of a huge insect made itself known.

"T-the Boss is charging at us!?"

"Hey Leader! I thought that the Boss would only move if we go near it!"

"Yeah!"

"I don't know! But it seems to be angry!?"

Hearing their worries, Kazuko was the only one to know why the Boss acted the way it did. "Didn't the bug I kill have something like a green horn? I guess they're related?" He silently asked himself.

Screeeeeeeeech~!!

"Uwahh! Heal me! Heal!"

"Leader!!"

'Shit!' Kazuko quickly turned his head towards the chaotic scene that was happening just a few meters away from him.

"Can I beat it?" He continued to stare at his "Teammates" who were violently getting pushed around by the Large Boss that looked like a hybrid between a beetle and a centipede.

The C-Rank Healer was still uninjured as she was being protected by the 3 D-Rank Hunters including their Leader.

However, it seems that they were about to get overpowered as all the E-Rankers were knocked down and most of them were already getting tired.

'This is a good chance to kill it and maybe gain a Crystal!' Kazuko thought so before rushing towards the eye of the distracted Dungeon Boss.

"Kuh!" Contrary to his expectations, the Boss was keen enough to block his attack with one of its long legs

"Heh, I guess this isn't going to be as easy as I thought it would."

The Giant Boss and the newly awakened Kazuko stared each other down.

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