"I Was Reincarnated Into Another World So I Want to Teach Them a Lesson in the Dungeon." ~I May Have Been Expelled as a C-Rank Sorcerer, but Since It Seems Everyone Wants My Cheat Skill, I Think I'll Teach Them a Lesson~ - Chapter 3

Even though it’s called a dungeon, this area wasn’t a labyrinth of sturdy stone walls, nor was it an ordinary setting like an ancient ruin filled with traps set by wise ancestors.

The area we were currently exploring was just a part of the natural world, with a sense of openness that could be said to mimic it.

Of course, there are also areas with ordinary settings, but they too were random, so I guess we could say we hit the jackpot this week.

Even though we’re inside a dungeon, the sun here rises and eventually sets.

Changes in the atmosphere can occur, as evidenced by the dark clouds in the distance signaling impending rain.

It’s probably better than wandering a maze that always requires the light of a lantern, but the inconvenience of nightfall remains the same.

“Alright—

It looks like we’ve pretty much cleared the area.”

As expected of provisional A-ranks, even with just three of them, they had quickly dispatched a group of low-ranking monsters like goblins.

The goblin camp was easily annihilated by their overwhelming assault, and today, this place would serve as our temporary base.

“We’ll spend the night here. The campfire is already prepared, after all.”

“Ah, finally, we can eat.”

“I’m completely exhausted.”

“Hey, bag carrier, hurry up and make us some food.”

“Yes—!”

The treatment of the poor newbie who drew the bad luck skill was terribly harsh.

The provisional A-ranks gathered around the fire for a cozy chat, and we were ordered to stand guard throughout the night.

“You’re Soma, right?”

“Uh, Lokiel, was it?”

“Here, eat this—

It’s something I swiped.”

It happened in the middle of the night.

As I spent half the long night awake, yawning continuously, one of the newbies managed to scrounge up some leftovers and shared the dry rye bread with me.

Since this was my first meal since we started exploring the dungeon, even the dry and poor-quality food tasted quite good to me now.

“It’s time for a shift change, so you should get some rest, Soma.”

“Thanks. Well, everything seems peaceful around here—

I’ll take a nap after eating a bit more bread.”

“Then, I guess I can sleep for a bit more too; nothing’s likely to happen.”

Lokiel and I stared into the campfire, endlessly gnawing on the rye bread.

“Water is a luxury,” I thought to myself, almost hallucinating that there was some dystopian doctrine that said so, as I found myself yearning for water.

But water is precious, something the provisional A-ranks would likely never understand.

Lokiel, casting a shadow over the campfire, seemed to understand my feelings as he spoke.

“Why are you still with this crappy investigation team, Soma? I’d leave this place as soon as the week is over.”

“Well, I don’t have the skills to make it on my own. I’m still a C-rank. Plus, there weren’t any other teams inviting me—

Most of the time, I got rejected at the interview stage.”

“That’s tough—

After all, it’s been a while since the teams were formed, and most of them are composed of high-rankers. It’s a harsh world for newcomers.”

“Well, it’s not a game, after all. Everyone’s risking their lives, so they don’t want newbies disturbing the flow.”

“But think about it, you’ve been with the Ryner Investigation Team for a long time, right? Even though it’s provisional, it’s still an A-rank team. Doesn’t that mean you must have some skill?”

“It was just luck. That time, I just happened to draw a winning unique skill—

Some kind of god-tier skill? That’s what Ryner must have mistaken.”

“A god-tier skill?”

“Yeah, it was something rare. The skill was called ‘Acquisition of the Magic Staff: Exagone,’ which came with a magic power boost. Simply put, it doubled my power.”

“Wow, that’s way too overpowered—

With a skill like that, you’d be unbeatable.”

“Right? Too bad the dungeon’s effect resets, huh? Now it’s just for show.”

And with that, I showed Lokiel the once exceptional stick, now just a piece of wood, the Magic Staff: Exagone.

“If only the unique skill was permanently granted. You could rise to the top in no time.”

“S-rank would be a breeze. After all, investigation teams are meritocracies, not based on seniority.”

“I’m definitely going to show them up! And someday, I’ll say to them, ‘Serves you right!’—I’ve made up my mind!”

Having finished the rye bread, I felt my body pleading for some rest.

Eating, drinking, and sleeping—every human knows the importance of these.

They could affect tomorrow’s performance. I could succumb to bad skills, temporary debuffs with short effect duration.

“Well then—

Since I’m full, I’ll take you up on that offer and get some sleep.”

“Good work. You’re right about it being peaceful, so I guess I’ll take another nap.”

“If something happens, make sure you wake up.”

“I just slept, so my sleep is probably light—I’ll wake up at the sound of an aphid’s wings.”

“Alright then.”

“Well, goodnight—”

“Goodnight—”