One week after the Church examination and learning about the curse.
Commander Gideon stood at the strategy table with a map in front of him. The other three heroes gathered around.
"It's Time for real dungeon experience," Gideon said. "F-Rank: Goblin Warren."
Kenji was practically bouncing. "Finally! Real combat!"
"Good," Aria said. "We can apply our training."
Gideon spread the dungeon map across the table. "The Warren has three floors. sixty to eighty goblins total. Regular goblins are Level four to six. Hobgoblins are Level eight to ten."
He tapped the bottom of the map. "The boss is a Goblin Chief. Level ten."
"What's the recommended party level?" Aria asked.
"Five to ten average. Previous hero groups cleared it at Level eight average."
Kenji grinned. "We're Level eight to nine. It should be easy!"
Gideon's face didn't change. "Current party assessment: Kenji Level nine, Aria Level eight, Marcus Level nine..."
"Hiroshi Level two."
"Our average is 7, below the recommendation," Aria said.
Kenji frowned. "But we can protect him, right? We're above the recommendation."
"In theory." Gideon crossed his arms. "But dungeons don't work on theory. Goblins go after the weak first."
"I understand," Hiroshi said quietly.
Gideon looked at him. "Do you? Level two versus Level five goblins means every hit could kill you. Your HP, your defense, your damage, all of them are way too low."
"I know, Commander."
"We'll keep him safe," Marcus said. "We're a party."
"You can't protect someone every second in a dungeon," Gideon said."
Aria tilted her head. "What's the statistical survival probability for a Level two in an F-Rank dungeon?"
Gideon didn't hesitate. "Alone? Zero percent. With a party? Maybe twenty percent. If he's lucky."
Twenty percent.
Hiroshi had expected worse, honestly.
After the briefing, Gideon held him back.
The others left.
"I'm going to be blunt," Gideon said. "I don't have time for politics."
"Please do."
"You'll die in that dungeon. Level two versus Level five goblins? You'd be dead in a hour."
"I know."
Gideon paused. "You know."
"The math isn't complicated, Commander. I'm weaker than the minimum."
"Then why go?" Gideon leaned against the table. "You can stay at the entrance and guard the escape route. You will still get share of EXP from your party."
"What if the party needs help?"
"They won't. Three Level eights and nines versus F-Rank? They'll steamroll it."
Hiroshi shook his head. "So I sit outside."
"Until the next dungeon. And the one after." Hiroshi met his eyes. "If I never go in, I never level up. If I never level up, I die eventually anyway."
Gideon looked frustrated. "So you'd rather die now than later?"
"I'd rather try now and maybe gain experience. Staying outside guarantees I'm useless forever. Going in... at least there's a chance."
"A twenty percent chance. Those are terrible odds."
"Better than zero."
Gideon sighed. "You're either brave or stupid."
"Anxious, actually. But same result."
Despite himself, Gideon almost smiled. "Fine. But rules: Stay behind Kenji and Marcus. If things go wrong, you run. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Getting the party out is more important than killing the boss. If it comes down to you or the boss, you run."
"Got it."
Gideon's expression softened slightly. "I've trained hundreds. Lost so many that I can't even count, so do me a favour and don't add a name in that list."
Hiroshi blinked. "You actually care if I die?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't enjoy watching kids die. Even expendable ones."
"Remember what I told you," Gideon said.
"I remember."
It wasn't that he was suicidal. If anything, a part of him wanted to be carried along without ever having to fight. But he wasn't foolish enough to believe that, without trying—or without gaining strength—he would ever regain the power needed to protect himself.
They had been summoned here to fight for the Demon King, kingdom had made one thing very clear: there would be no support unless it became absolutely necessary.
There was another reason he kept pushing himself forward, one he kept buried deep in his thoughts. His skill was different from the others. With the curse bound to it, it was nothing short of a nightmare. But after weeks of experimentation, he had finally begun to understand it. To bring its potential to fruition, he needed real combat and real monsters.
Of course, he hadn't told his party, or anyone else, about any of this.
"Good. Now get supplies. You'll need every advantage you can get."
The supply depot was busy. As adventurer were collecting dungeon kits.
Supply Master Garrick handed out packages.
"Standard dungeon supplies," he announced.
Kenji got his first. Rope, torches, potions, emergency flare. Everything.
"Perfect!" Kenji said.
Aria received hers. "Thank you."
Marcus accepted his with a prayer. "Divine blessings upon your generosity."
Then Hiroshi stepped up.
He looked at it.
"It's fine," he said. "Thank you."
Marcus noticed right away. "Brother Hiroshi, you only got one healing potion?"
"I'm harder to hit. Smaller target."
Kenji pulled out his own potions. "That's not, here, take two of mine."
"No. Really, I'm okay. Save them for emergencies."
"You are the emergency! You're Level two!"
"Which means I'll be careful. You're front line. You'll need them more."
Aria's voice was quiet. "Reduced supplies decrease survival probability by approximately five percentage points."
"Aria!" Marcus hissed.
"Just stating facts."
They returned to the quarters. That night, the others slept. Hiroshi couldn't.
He sat at the small desk with a candle and the Guild bestiary. Flipped to the goblin section.
Goblins (Level 4-6)
Physical: 3-4 feet tall, green skin, yellow eyes
Weapons: Crude clubs, stone spears, rusty swords
Tactics: Swarm in groups of 3-5, ambush from darkness
Weaknesses: Cowardly when alone, poor eyesight in bright light
Threat: Low individually, dangerous in swarms
He took notes.
"Bright light messes with their vision," he whispered, writing it down. "Single goblins run when threatened."
He flipped to hobgoblins.
Hobgoblins (Level 8-10)
Larger, stronger (STR 15-20)
Lead regular goblins
Less cowardly, more dangerous
He kept reading. Goblin Chiefs. Warren-specific hazards. Collapsed sections on Floor 2.
He opened his Status Window.
Level: 2
HP: 100/100
STR: 5, AGI: 7, VIT: 6, INT: 12, WIS: 10, CHA: 6
He compared it to the bestiary. Goblins had higher stats than him.
But the party had higher stats than the goblins. In theory, he'd survive if they protected him.
In theory.
He picked up his sword and started sharpening it. It was already sharp, but the motion was calming.
"Tomorrow we fight goblins," he told the blade. "Or die trying."
Pause.
"Probably die, let's be honest."
"If I die there, at least it'll be quick. Better than slowly proving I'm worthless over months."
He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"I refuse to die," he whispered.