The Earth-san Has Leveled Up!

2-1. Aozora Training Dojo 1

Meiko, having escaped from the dungeon, ultimately reached level 4.

She discussed the benefits of leveling up with Baba and the others, presenting it as her hypothesis. However, Meiko herself felt it was more of a certainty than a guess.

Namely, she believed leveling up brought both a breakthrough in one’s limits and an increase in training efficiency.

Convinced of these benefits, Meiko poured her spring break into training.

Although she had gained fame upon returning from the dungeon, as an ordinary citizen and a minor, she was not hounded by reporters.

The government, valuing her as a precious resource, had intervened behind the scenes, though Meiko remained unaware of this. She simply thought, “I guess that’s how it is,” though it clearly wasn’t. Dungeon information was something the entire world was desperate to learn.

The day after her return from the dungeon was spent resting as she was discharged from the hospital at noon. The following day, before her passion could cool, she began training.

Rising early in the morning, she ran along the riverbank, did sit-ups, back extensions, and push-ups.

After a hearty breakfast, she used her meal as fuel to strengthen her magic by synthesizing and enhancing random unwanted items around her.

As per the information obtained from her skill description, items from the surface world were entirely unsuitable as enhancement materials.

Even synthesizing identical items wouldn’t raise the level by 1.

Dungeon materials, however, seemed to have an incredible enhancement value.

Still, Meiko instinctively understood that using magic would strengthen it, so she continued synthesizing and enhancing materials.

When her magic was depleted, she would begin meditating, blending into her inner universe—essentially, taking a nap.

Waking with a yawn, she’d use her restored magic to the fullest, then switch to sword practice.

Since wielding a real sword wasn’t feasible, she trained with a wooden stick bought from a 100-yen store. This too took place along the riverbank.

After lunch, she reversed her training schedule, ending with a run.

One such day, a light van stopped in Meiko’s path as she ran.

The passenger window rolled down, and a woman seated in the driver’s seat called out to her.

“Hey, Meiko-kun.”

“Ah, Professor.”

It was Scientist A. A beautiful woman in a lab coat, though the dark circles under her eyes were severe.

“Professor? I’m not a Professor, though.”

To Meiko, researchers were either Professors or associate Professors. She didn’t think regular researchers existed.

Thus, Scientist A was a Professor in her mind.

Seeing the Professor’s denial, a thought struck Meiko.

“Professor, are you free?”

“I’m not a Professor, but… well, I’m busy thanks to the dungeon. Do you need something?”

“Yes, I’ve started training, and I want my abilities measured.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting. Get in. I have the equipment at the base; let’s give it a try.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

“Your request relates to dungeon research, Meiko-kun. No problem at all.”

Thus, Meiko began visiting the Professor at the end of her training sessions.

The data on Meiko’s ability improvements through training held significant value as a general human dataset.

The Professor, who started recording this data just four days after the dungeon’s appearance, was thrilled.

Meiko, too, enjoyed knowing the actual numbers rather than just training blindly.

It was a win-win relationship.

However, the Professor seemed a bit unkempt. Though inherently beautiful, she sometimes smelled like an unwashed dog.

On such days, certain members of the Self-Defense Forces would always observe their data collection. Adults were complicated creatures.

Now, as for Meiko…

On her first day, her legs were trembling after a 3-kilometer run. She could only manage 5 push-ups, 3 sit-ups, and 4 back extensions, despite her flexibility as a girl.

After her nap, she even thought about quitting this painful regimen.

But fueled by determination, she started her sword practice.

By the end of day one, her measurements confirmed she was utterly unimpressive.

She felt dejected.

At night, Meiko began studying Magical Book Creation: Beginner’s Edition.

She somehow grasped the method, and like any beginner, she diligently practiced copying. Sitting at her desk, she painstakingly copied the shapes in the magical book into her notebook.

―――――

Excerpt from a certain online forum

343, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Meiko-taso started training near my house!

What should I do? She’s so small, yet she’s working so hard—it’s heartwarming!

344, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

I actually reported this.

345, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

I seriously reported this.

346, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Details, please. Also, I reported it.

357, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

She’s jogging in a tracksuit, doing strength training, and swinging a sword.

Is she imagining using that saber? Her clumsy movements are too cute!

Also, I’m “unsouled”.

358, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

“Unsouled” lol

Sure, R and T are next to each other, but still lol

359, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Caught you in the act of saying something creepy. Reported.

―――――

Day Two.

Since she had boldly declared to the Professor that she’d train every day during spring break, it would have been embarrassingly uncool to quit after just one day.

So, Meiko got up early and started running along the riverbank.

As she filled her lungs with the crisp morning air, a girl began running slightly behind her.

When Meiko turned around, she saw a girl with impressively voluminous hair and chest.

“Ughye!?”

The sight of a girl her age with such a large chest made Meiko do a double-take—a perfect double-take, at that.

Because of this, she ended up running diagonally and tumbled down the riverbank slope.

“Are you okay?”

The chesty girl called out worriedly from the top of the slope, concerned about Meiko’s blunder.

Then, being helpful, she started down the slope toward her.

“Eek!”

But halfway down, she tripped spectacularly and rolled down the slope, her ample chest squishing right into Meiko’s face.

“Mffph!”

“Eek!?”

It was Meiko’s first-ever “lucky perv moment”.

The two got back on their feet, brushing leaves off each other.

With her long, wavy hair, the chesty girl’s locks were a magnet for leaves. Meiko diligently picked them out.

The chesty girl seemed one or two years older than Meiko—

she looked like someone who’d be starting her second or third year of high school this spring.

Slightly cat-like eyes, a tall and slender figure, and, of course, a generous chest.

Her long, ash-blonde hair with its gently curling ends suited her perfectly.

Overall, she had the air of a stunning student council president, someone everyone admired.

“Thank you.”

“Thanks for worrying about me.”

“Hehe. You were running yesterday too, weren’t you?”

“Yep. I started yesterday.”

“I started today!”

Resting her hand elegantly on her ample chest, the chesty girl shared this utterly unimpressive fact, which amused Meiko.

“Then, junior, how about we run together?”

When Meiko made the offer, the girl’s eyes went wide, and she nervously pursed her lips.

“Of course, I’d be delighted!”

“By the way, I’m Hitsujiya Meiko. I’m starting high school this spring.”

“Oh my! I’ll also be starting high school after the break. What a coincidence! Oh, and my name is Sasagasa Sasara.”

Hearing Sasara’s name, Meiko was floored.

She had thought Sasara was older, but it turned out the mature-looking girl with the grown-up body was the same age as her.

One was curvy, the other stick-straight!

It felt like a baptism by fire into a society of inequality.

Darn it, darn it!

Internally, Meiko wept and pounded the ground but maintained a cheerful exterior.

“So, uh, which high school are you going to?”

Since they were the same age, Meiko dropped the polite speech.

“Kazami Girls’ Academy.”

“Oh, same as me! I’m going to Kazami Girls too.”

“Oh my, what a coincidence!”

And so, Meiko and Sasara resumed their run together.

Sasara had a bit more stamina than Meiko, despite supposedly being Level 0. (Meiko was just weak.)

They ran 3.5 kilometers that day, leaving both girls trembling.

Afterward, they started strength training on the riverbank.

“Pant, pant… You’re doing strength training too?”

“Y-yeah… I’m not very good at it yet. Want to join?”

“O-of course!”

Despite having no apparent goals, Sasara eagerly agreed, brimming with energy.

Meiko didn’t think too deeply about why—she was just happy to have someone to train with.

“Could you hold my feet? Let’s take turns.”

They took turns doing sit-ups and back extensions, then moved on to push-ups side by side.

“Fngh!”

“Ungh!”

The two struggled with their training—both clearly weaklings.

Still, Meiko managed a few more reps than the previous day, though Sasara consistently outperformed her by a few.

Sasara joined Meiko for the rest of her training that day.

They even separated briefly for breakfast before reuniting for what felt like a playful sword-training session.

“Why are you practicing with a sword, Meiko?”

“For training. The world’s changed. You have to protect yourself. The era where someone else would keep you safe is over.”

“Oh my, you have a strong will, Meiko. Such a proper lady.”

“Lady? No one’s ever called me that before, haha.”

Meiko decided to keep the monster massacre she carried out in the dungeon a secret for now.

When they finished their final run, the two agreed to meet again the next day before parting ways.

Afterward, Meiko went to see the Professor alone.

She figured it’d be inappropriate to bring an unrelated person along, especially given the military’s involvement.

―――――――

[Excerpt from a Certain Forum]

980, Anonymous Observer

Got an update, everyone!

981, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Hey, Observer, how was jail food?

982, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

LMAO.

983, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

What’s the update?

984, Anonymous Observer

Meiko’s training group gained a new member!

985, Anonymous Meiko Cultist

Do we need an Inquisitor?

986, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Don’t send hitmen to Meiko’s town, please (;^ω^)

987, Anonymous Observer

N-no, it’s fine! The new member is a busty beauty! A busty beauty!

988, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Alert!

989, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Alert!

990, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Alert!

991, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Is this for real?

992, Anonymous Observer

Totally real! Saw her with a telescope. Probably a D or E cup!

993, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

You just confessed!

994, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Reported.

995, Anonymous Observer

W-wait! It was an accident while birdwatching! I’m innocent!

996, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Your “birdwatching” involves telescopes?

997, Anonymous Observer

Th-that’s just my style!

998, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Sure, some might use telescopes. So, what’s she like? Suspicious?

999, Anonymous Observer

How the hell would a socially awkward guy like me know!? Don’t mock me!

1000, Anonymous Dungeon Traveler

Ah… sorry about that.

This thread has reached 1000 posts.

Please move on to a new dungeon.

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