(Releasing this chapter as a make up to the delay of part 1 final chapter. Remember, OC is based on a Manhwa named 'The Player that can't level up'. Love it, has the same premise of Solo Leveling but done differently and has executed well because of it. Read it, highly recommend it.)

Level 43. A level that took so long because of the whole sharing experience with his swords. Ethan hunted so many magic beasts day and night even between breaks in school, but it still wasn't enough to reach level 50. If he needed to reach that level, he must ring the Academy that he's going out of town indefinitely. He'll just lie that it's a family thing when not. After 2 weeks since Riser's announcement of defeat, Rias moves in with the Hyodo's when Ethan rejected of the choice but it was 3 to 1, that being Issei's parents and Issei himself. So much for a voting system. A month and 2 week has passed since gaining the System, more so to believe it's was created for him and only for him. No one else can see what Ethan sees. Alyssa has acted strange these past couple of weeks, mainly the fact Ethan hangs around with Tsubaki or Akeno on separate occasions during the days so she come up with a plan. Elms has no idea what this'll be.

"Good morning, Ethan!" Miki blessed him

"Morning mom! Morning, dad!" Ethan hugged his foster mother and father "Rias. Issei. Morning Asia!"

He greeted respectfully to three people but left out the other two. Ethan searches the cabinet for some bread, then moved onto the refrigerator for any chicken breast (used in sandwiches), mayo, lettuce, and that's it.

"E-Ethan, care to try Rias' cooking? She's very good." Gorou offered to switch his breakfast

"I'm fine, dad. Thanks for offering." Ethan politely refuses "three sandwiches fills me up."

After that, it was time for school as usual, every 200 something days a year until graduations. Wanna know what happened during the week? Elms gathered the guts one needed to ask a girl out, and that girl....was non other than Akeno. To her response....

(Sorry, Ethan. I have no interest in dating or falling in love.)

.......My heartbreak is grief that comes in waves, gruelling, stealing appetite and sleep alike. It is a shard in my guts that never leaves, though perhaps in time the edges will dull. It feels like death just the same as bereavement and in quiet moments it chokes the breath from my body and short circuits my mind. What was once whole is shattered; where once was peace is emptiness, echoes of a love I put my everything into. With each passing day you take another step away though I asked you to show some sign of caring, affection, of love. All you bring is anger, suspicion and an averted gaze. My only 'crime' was to not be able to cope with your rage, with the words you allowed to spill unchecked. I have always done my best for you and, even now, still am. Inadequate as you find me, this is my best, it is all that is left of a once a proud and strong soul - fragments on the floor, scared that the next wind will blow them away ~(Ethan)

Too deep, kid. Too deep. Best not to dwell on a rejection ~(Ian)

Master, what will you do now? Is it the best to drop this whole love? ~(Elle)

To relieve his pain, the instant dungeon was there for him. Releasing every tension of his heartache onto killing Draugrs, Trolls, ogres, knights, whilst climbing to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor in a day. Impressive performance for someone under level 50. Let's not forget about his ability to raise the dead and make them into soldiers.

Name: Ethan Elms
Level: 43
Class: Magic Swordsman,
Shadow Monarch
Title: Hunter
HP: 13,892

MP: 4,210
Fatigue: 0

Stats:
Strength: 118
Vitality: 90
Agility: 110
Intelligence: 101

Sense: 96
(Available stat points: 0)

Physical Damage Reduction: 29%
Skills:

What comes next? After rejection, are you gonna look for someone else? ~(Ian)

Master, best not to dwell past events ~(Elle)

.....kid. tell me how'd you feel from your rejection ~(Ian)

I wanted to cry. Those words shattered my heart to pieces...the girl who I fallen for has no intention to be in a relationship. I wanted to burst my eyes out...yet I couldn't. Like it was preventing me - no....never there to begin with...my emotion couldn't recognize what needed to draw out ~(Ethan)

The system is affecting with your emotions, master. Prompting you into a killing machine who holds no emotions towards the dead ~(Elle)

Elms spoke to his servants (not the shadow ones), to ease his depression. Now for the elephant in the room: this quest...

Quest: Exterminate! (Part 1)
Whilst entering the suburban hills of

Eliminations: 293/10,000

Rewards:
1: item of your choosing
2: +20 stat points
3: hidden reward

Time limit: none

Fuck. This'll take a while. How should I handle this quest? I can't just do it at night every day. It's exhausting ~(Ethan)

Say: why not inform the school about your vacation? Surely they won't bat an eye on why you're leaving ~(Elle)

....that's quiet honestly well planned. Thanks Elle. But what day shall I go? ~(Ethan)

Isn't today your birthday? I remember that you said you were born on March 12, 1998 ~(Elle)

Well someone gives a rat's ass about my birthday. Unlike someone I know! ~(Ethan)

......oh? You talking to me? ~(Ian)

See? ~(Ethan)

Wanna know some good news about you, master? ~(Elle)

Spotlight's yours ~(Ethan)

Your current level and stats were enough to beat Riser known for his immortality and suburb strength. Include able to take down Rias' peerage, a few members in Sona's such as Tsubaki, Sona, a few rooks, couple of knights and Loup. Wow, strong enough to take down a werewolf and a king and queen of a peerage. Look at you go, master ~(Elle)

I have grew that strong, huh? ~(Ethan)

You could take on the white-dragon emperor as well at his base form! ~(Ian)

Yeah, base form. Not his full-on scale armor. Heck, even with his gauntlet equipped, that's still not enough....I must get stronger. This instant dungeon is the only way I can level up ~(Ethan)

Strays as well. Only a percentage of XP, why did I even recommend it? ~(Ian)

Wanna know something weird? We have come across a stray once, yet to my discovery...it was weak, similar to an D-Rank magic beast. Before yeah, it'll give me a hard time. Now? Not so much ~(Ethan)

Appointing a meeting with Sona herself, he has troubles to bring out the news because she might think he's lying when not. That's the thing about society, when teenager tells the truth, the first thing an adults instinct offers is whether to believe this lie. The students will feel shady about them, placing distrust with the councilors and school itself with a few exceptions of their teachers.

"Sona, I will be out of contact for a while. There's somewhere I have to go." Ethan has enough courage to spit it out

"....Ethan, if I'm a bother go you, let me know. I won't disturb you anymore." Sona misunderstood

She took it the wrong way ~(Ethan)

"Sona."

"Ethan."

"....what am I to you?"

"A boy whose determined to do unwilling task that are given via someone important or not. I see you're a kind-hearted young fellow, timid in a cute way, and responsible on your mistakes you caused on a few people."

Ah...that ~(Ethan)

Ethan one time accidentally went into the girls changing room in his first year, causing an uproar into thinking he's part of the trio. But he apologized by putting head first onto the floor and had them do anything that's punishable, placing guilt on them. They thought wrong of him being 99% of the boys being perverted, who seek sex and explicit acts.

"Ethan, when I first sensed your presence (forgive me on that day), you didn't expel any killing intent that could make you an enemy. Now after getting to know you a little more, the Elms I met on that day was nothing to my imagination. Your fight with Riser, my guts told me your destiny could be greater than all of devils, angels, fallen angels, etcetera can reach."

"Well, I love you too Sona."

"Ha! Confessing to me? You have grown, Ethan."

"You know I meant it in a different way."

"I consider you as a little brother. Will you tell the others or just me?"

"I, uh....maybe it's best to tell them. Don't wanna have Rias come searching for me again. Yeesh."

"That reminds me... happy birthday, from me and my peerage." Sona handed him a wrapped gift

"What is it?"

"Open it, and seek what you desire."

Later at night

Every member in ORC stood at the door, off to see Ethan who's packing his clothes.

"You don't go out often as these days, and you're suddenly going on a trip?" Asia questioned

"Yep! I'll be going away for a week."

Kuro and Coco wanted to follow, but Ethan said otherwise...

"I'm sorry. You both can't go. So it'll be your job to stay here and never cause troubles to any person you see, including your friends."

"Who are you going on a trip with? Did Ethan get a girlfriend?" Akeno teases him

"With a friend! ....and for the love of god, wear something besides your uniforms. Why are me and Issei's parents wear casual clothes at home? What? You need someone to know you come from Kuoh Academy?"

"Stay safe on your trip!" Akeno hugged him tightly

Ethan blushed as to getting attention Akeno was finally giving him. It only took this announcement of a trip to happen and his heart was racing from hearing her say 'stay safe'. As happy as he was, something about it didn't feel right.

"....thanks....Akeno." He said quietly and expressionless, almost as if he were asleep

Ethan then pushed her away from hugging him.

"I gotta go. He must be waiting for me." He asked as he tried to make some distance with her "I'm tired right now. I need to catch some sleep."

Ethan looked back at her from over his shoulder and smiled. He felt guilty for talking to her the way he did and pushing the others away that he almost turned back to apologize, but instead he simply walked out the door.

"Didn't think he'd be this tired today. What made him feel this way?" Ethan can hear Rias say from behind the door

"You guys think he's annoyed from wearing this so often at home?" Issei asked

"Don't worry, Ethan's just tired I'm sure. He was happy to go with a friend today. Like he said, he's just tired and needed valuable hours of sleep." Akeno still trusted him even though the others thought there was something wrong

You feeling alright, kid? ~(Ian)

Yeah, yeah. Just felt strange recieving a hug from Akeno, that's all ~(Ethan)

From there, Ouga can be seen spying on Ethan, tracking his actions and relationship he has with Akeno. Elms' speed is fast enough to catch Ouga off guard when he appeared behind her.

"Ethan! H-hi!"

"Ouga, any problems you have against me? Your voice is shaking."

"W-wha~t? N-no~, my voice is not shaking. S-see!"

"Ouga, come on. Say it. I won't get mad whatever you have to say. We've known each other over a month now."

".....Ethan......I'm....I love you!"

Pffftttt!! What the fuck!?!? ~(Ian)

Excuse me all mighty? Did she confess to you? ~(Elle)

"As a friend, right?"

"No, you idiot! I love you in a way I want to marry you and have kids with you! I want you to stay by my side until the ends of earth, make love to you every chance we get, cook food for you, and live happily with each other!"

"Whoawhoawhoa, slow down women. I....I can't accept your feelings as of right now."

Her eyes suddenly became dull, like all the light in her eyes were leaving and was leaving behind a shell.

"N-not like that, Ouga! I love you as well...but I have to go on a trip. Going out of town."

"O...oh! That's what you meant. I though this'll be a rejection."

"Technically it is, because I said 'not right now'. But when I return...I'll think about it." Ethan aligned his lips on her cheek "think of that as a souvenir."

"....holy shit...." Is Ouga's reaction

"Ouga, I love you and I think you're an amazing woman I met during my lifetime. You changed me, you gave me a reason why I need to protect you and others. So please....don't fall for anyone else but me. Okay?"

"...y-YAH!!"

You have entered a dungeon

Returning back to the mountains of desolation, it's gotten a little chilly after his absence.

When I defeated Cerberus, it was at least 20 levels higher than me. I returned with the exact level as it. I shouldn't struggle like back then ~(Ethan)

Looking over the rewards, it came to him...

The items in the shop are well over 1 billion coins and I could get them if I cleared the quest. But if the rewards are great, then the quest might be high in difficulty ~(Ethan)

Killing 10,000 magic beasts must be the amount in these floors, right? Right?! The creatures are waiting for Ethan's arrival as their killing intent grew stronger.

I know I used the going on a trip excuse, but... ~(Ethan)

"Will a week be enough?"

Ethan took in the Dungeon's air when he entered. Cold, causing a numbing pain in his nose. Ethan chuckled in disbelief. Suddenly, he discovered another counter to the left to the kill count.

EXP needed to level up: 43,000

A counter? Telling me how me how much I have left to level up? How convenient ~(Ethan)

But he was Level 43. 43 didn't particularly seem like a milestone level for something like this to happen. One of the knights sported Ian out of its forehead.

You've defeated a Low-level Knight.

You've earned 33 experience points.

You've earned 1 elimination.

Nice. With them it should add up to 30 ~(Ethan)

While they were distracted by their fallen comrade, Ethan quickly ran over and removed another's head.

You've defeated a Low-level Draugr

You've earned 33 experience points

You've earned 1 elimination

These things give 100 XP each, even if the enemy is different.

"It's easy right now." Ethan says

"Yeah, it'll get harder near the future. So clench your ass when that comes."

"You're not speaking inside my head anymore? Good. I was getting tired of hearing voices in my head. Mostly comes from you."

"Master, what about me?"

"You're fairly quiet, making me think you're not even there."

"Haha, yes. See that, Ian? Try to be like me."

"TrY tO bE lIkE mE. What a fucking stuck-up you are. YeS mAsTeR. WiLl dO mAsTeR. Shut up on your obedience for one second."

"Ian, Ian. Would it kill you to be not so sarcastic for once in your existence."

In the midst of slaying magic beasts, Ethan questions the state of Leveling up. If he were to raise one level, then at least the minimum of 15 C-Rank instant dungeons could do the trick, but since Elms entered an S-Rank then it can be cut down to 8 hours to to level up by one. Of course, can't forget about sharing the whole XP with Ian and Elle. When he first encountered The white dragon, he could barely hold his ground enough to land a punch. There is a drastic difference in power.

To become stronger, I can't lose my pace. Said that twice didn't I? Or not....probably forgot ~(Ethan)

"Enough. Let's not forget our real goal here."

Everytime Ethan's swords flashed, a low-level Draugr fell. Sometimes, more than one with a single swing. In no time, he took down 20 more low-level knights and Draugrs. 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th floor. Ethan climbs the floor at a scary pace. As time went by, his anxiety went down due to long boring battles. Collecting drops that came with the enemies, it was no similar to junk with a few potions and some crafting materials involved.

"Will I find more equipments to boost my stats?"

"Yeah, if you kill tougher enemies or lower leveled ones who have chances to drop."

"Thanks, Njal." Ethan's shadow troll hands him boots

Name: Adventure boots
Rank: B
Type: Armor
+10% physical resistance, +10 Agility

Agility: 120
(Physical resistance: 39%)

"Ha! You're now faster than the White dragon with his wings now! Close to Sirzechs 15% of his speed."

Raynare, that little rascal of a dog had an item in her mouth, and brought it to Ethan.

Name: Draugrs gauntlet
Rank: B
Type: Armor
+2% physical resistance, +15 strength

"Aw. Thank you." Ethan petted the dog "no more enemies now, this floor I mean. Time to ascend."

Strength: 128
(Physical resistance: 41%)

I still got a long way to go ~(Ethan)

You have slain Intermediate White Walkers

You have earned 100 XP