- #1
I can't really recommend this series too strongly. It starts out fine, playing out the somewhat well-worn tropes of "RPG Dungeons appear throughout real world Japan and the government sees nothing wrong with allowing children to risk their lives in mortal combat with monsters" and "MC with low self-esteem gets super OP with absolutely zero effort", but as the series continues, I find my frustration and annoyance with the MC and his surroundings building.The premise of the series is that MC awakens as an Explorer upon moving to highschool, but while most explorers start with "level", "ability values", and "skills" in their status screen, MC only has his name and so comes to the conclusion that he's defective or incompetent. The thing that makes our MC OP is that instead of levels and stats, he gains skill proficiencies, so while other explorers only get stronger through defeating monsters and collecting experience, he grows through every repeated action, including involuntary actions like just breathing. MC doesn't realize that other explorers don't have proficiencies so he develops an inferiority complex and thinks he's weak for not having levels like other explorers. Hijinks ensue. Up until there, it's fine. Not a particularly deep or intellectual story, but it doesn't have to be. It's fine. As the series progresses, however, events begin to happen around this guy that, were he anyone with two braincells to rub together, he might have noticed something was off, but because the plot demands he continue to have low self esteem, he ignores anything even slightly out of place and continues to consider himself the weakest of explorers. It's to the point where it almost seems like he's making a conscious effort to remain ignorant. I shan't bog you down with too many examples, but as of chapter 68, the latest big thing (as there's seemingly always countless small things) that should have tipped him off was: Spoiler
He went to get fitted for new armor and weapons because he was moving to a higher rank dungeon, but while he was testing them out, they couldn't withstand him moving with his full strength and they all shattered. Every single one that he tried to use broke when he tried moving at his full specs. His conclusion? He thinks he might have a strange constitution that doesn't allow him to wear any armor. Like wtf? This dude is an expert at reaching.
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