Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Spawn
A new guild member has joined.
This time, it is an adult woman named Kirara.
She has the merit of age, or rather, she seems to have the power of a veteran, but she also has many negative aspects, such as being in debt.
I would be happy if she were a beautiful older sister, but to me, she looks like a nuclear mine.
There is no need to step on it on purpose.
It is a pity that she is beautiful and has a good figure.
Since we gained a powerful member, we decided to go down to the 5th floor today.
I was thinking that if we encountered something and couldn't fight it, we would run away immediately.
Just then, we encountered a monster with countless branches sprouting from its thick trunk-like body.
According to Kirara, it seems to be a monster called a Treant.
Wasn't a Treant a tree monster?
Even though it is a plant, the rustling movement is gross.
I thought that if leaves came out, they would get in the way of moving, but then they started retracting.
It seems it can freely extend and retract its leaves.
"Wow, that's kind of gross. It feels like an animal?"
"Treants are animals that mimic plants!"
"Eh?! So... does that mean there are organs inside there?"
"Yes!"
"Wow..."
While I was pulling back a little, it started swinging the branches it had retracted like whips.
If it can move freely, that means there must be muscle-like tissue inside the branches too.
"..."
The range of the branches swinging silently appeared before my eyes as white trails.
I suppose it doesn't shout because it has no mouth.
On the contrary, that creates a sense of eeriness.
"Oh, that was close! Hey! Over here!"
I took out a slingshot from my Item Box and hit a large stone against the enemy's trunk.
Things that looked like tree bark scattered everywhere.
The enemy walked towards me with a rustling sound.
I could feel the goosebumps rising on my skin.
It seems that kind of movement is not my specialty.
I can dodge the attacks, but how am I supposed to attack?
"I'll provide support! Light Bullets!"
White light gathered around Sana.
"Strike my enemies! Magic Missile!"
A bundle of light that seemed to tear through the darkness headed towards the monster.
When the magic collided, it flashed, but it only looked like the wood was scattering.
Is its defense high, or is its magic resistance high?
"This is bad! Kirara, focus on defense with your barrier magic."
"Understood! Muu! Sacred Shield [Protection]!"
The whip-like attack swung by the monster was blocked by a transparent wall created by magic.
Inside that defense, the girls were huddled together, looking small.
I also took some distance for a moment and took out a Single-pipe Missile from my Item Box.
It has been a while since it made an appearance.
There were no strong enemies that required using this.
If this enemy is one that this cannot work on, I will make a strategic retreat.
I set the taken-out missile into the throwing device.
Meanwhile, the growling whip-like branches were attacking Kirara's barrier magic.
It is terrifying that it continues to attack silently, having the shape of a plant and no mouth.
I stood in front of the enemy.
Calm my heart and concentrate all my body's power, then I released the weapon I held with determination.
"Oraaaah!"
The missile went straight forward, shaking the air as it advanced towards the enemy, and then pierced straight into the enemy's body.
The long missile I threw with considerable force became buried in the enemy's body.
"Crunch... crunch..."
The enemy's movement stopped.
Since it seems to be plant-like, it doesn't seem to let out screams.
With this, I have no idea if the attack is effective or not.
I loaded the next bullet taken out of storage into the throwing device.
"Here goes!"
I threw the second missile at the immobilized Treant.
This one also became buried in the enemy's body up to the root.
It seems the attack has stopped, but the movement has not.
"Kirara! Does fire work on this thing?"
"I've heard it works."
If the inside is alive, it probably won't burn, but the skin on the surface... it seems like it might burn.
"Oryaaaaaah!"
I fired the third, fourth, and fifth missiles at the Treant.
"Daisuke-san!"
"I'm fine! But I'm hungry..."
Since I am doing this with all my might, I suppose I am consuming energy.
As expected, now that we have gone down this far, strong enemies are gathering.
The enemy's branches were still swaying, but the thick trunk collapsed right there.
"Hey! Is it okay now?!"
Kirara also released her barrier magic and remained on guard.
"Wait, wait, I will check."
I took out a sword from my Item Box.
It is the large weapon that the lizardman from before was holding.
There is an easy way to check if the enemy is dead.
Just put it in the Item Box.
If it is dead, it will be stored.
I took a stance with the sword, approached the lying enemy, and shouted.
"Store!"
At first glance, the rolled log disappeared from before my eyes.
If it was stored, that means I killed it.
My level is 49, so even if I kill an enemy like this, it won't go up.
On the contrary, if I keep defeating enemies here, there is a possibility that my level will go down.
"Daisuke-san! Did you defeat it?!"
"If it was stored in the Item Box, it means it is dead. It won't enter if it is alive."
"I see!"
It seems Ren didn't know about this.
"Eh?! Is that so?!"
Kirara is also surprised, so maybe it isn't widely known?
Well, that aside... how should I carry this?
No, weight doesn't matter with the Item Box, but I can't take it out at the campsite.
For now, I stored the camera that was recording the battle.
This time, I didn't have time to think about angles, but did I capture it well?
Since we encountered a new monster called a Treant, I want to cash it in.
More than that...
"Hmm..."
I took out the Treant's corpse again.
"Daisuke-san, what are you going to do?"
Sana was looking at me with concern from a slightly distant place.
"For now, I have to retrieve the missiles I fired."
"Missiles?"
I climbed onto the Treant and tried to pull out the missiles buried up to the root.
"Gugu... Mu, impossible..."
"Are the missiles those iron rods?"
"Yes, they don't explode."
Gunpowder cannot be used in dungeons, but if you pack a tank and compressed air inside and make it spray out internally, you might be able to deal massive damage.
I feel like I have seen something like that with special forces knives.
Since the missile doesn't seem to come out, I decided to leave it as is.
Next is transporting this thing.
"Daisuke-san, what are you doing now?"
"I'm just going to try to see if I can carry this..."
I went under the monster and lifted its body, which was like a large tree.
"Eh?!"
"Nooooo!"
Probably, the weight is about 1 ton.
I can lift it.
If there were magic items that boosted stats, it might be easier.
"Hey, hey, are you human?"
"Phew!"
I threw the large tree.
"Whoa!"
Ren jumped back in surprise.
"I'm just a human with a slightly higher level."
"I heard that earlier, but how much is it?"
"That is a secret."
"Ugh!"
Since I ignored her, Kirara was flailing around.
More than that... since I can carry it roughly, I'll try selling it at the campsite between the 4th and 3rd floors.
When I get close, I can just take it out of the Item Box and carry it like usual.
"Alright! I understand that we can fight here for now, but the monsters are too strong."
"I-it was scary..." "I was scared..."
It might have been a bit too much for the girls.
Even Kirara, who said her level was 20, was on the defensive.
"For now, since we managed to kill it, let's retreat."
"Understood." "That's a relief..."
"Really! You're pushing yourself too hard, you know?"
As Kirara said, if I prepare properly, I think I can manage it alone.
Well, my goal is to make money in a short period of time and "FIRE!"
I don't intend to conquer this dungeon, nor do I plan to dive into the depths to gain fame.
For example... if there was a request like "I want the material of a 'Something' monster! I'll pay 10 million yen!", I think I would dive in alone.
I took out a bicycle from the Item Box, and everyone got on.
"Ren, carry Kirara. Can you handle the slope?"
"Probably."
"Alright! Let's retreat then."
We started to go back the way we came.
The deeper we go, the longer the return path becomes.
I must consider that time as well.
Time is money... adventurers who think this way inevitably camp inside the dungeon.
I want to go back to the inn, so unless it's an emergency, I don't want to do that.
I was worried about Ren's bicycle, but it seems to be fine.
It seems the level-up effect is working.
When we reached just before the campsite between the 3rd and 4th floors, we stopped the bicycles.
After confirming that no one was around, I took out the Treant from the Item Box.
Compared to the 1st and 2nd floors, there are fewer people, so I don't have to worry so much, which is a relief.
"Oryaaaa!"
I lifted the giant tree of the Treant.
Carrying the extremely heavy monster corpse on my back, I noticed something.
Ah, yes... it looks like a plant, but Kirara said it's an animal, right?
If that's the case, there must be organs inside.
Wouldn't it be easier to carry if I took them out?
Well, I haven't seen the inside, and I have no idea what kind of creature it is, so I guess I can't help it...
I stepped on the ground and walked towards the place where the lights shone.
"Wow!" "What?!" "A monster?!"
Suddenly, a large thing appeared, so the people at the campsite seemed to be on guard.
I could hear sounds of people preparing weapons.
"Wait, wait! It's not a monster! It's an adventurer! We brought prey!"
"Eh?!" "What did you say?"
When I got close enough to the guarded camp, I took the Treant off my back.
When the monster fell to the ground, the vibration traveled to my feet.
"I brought a Treant from the lower floor! Will anyone buy it?!"
"A Treant?!" "Seriously?!"
Adventurers and buyers at the camp gathered like ants and examined the Treant's body.
From the outside, it really only looks like a tree.
"Is this a Treant...?" "It only looks like a tree... but blood seems to be coming out."
It seems to be a rare catch.
I heard there are Golems on the 5th floor, but they have no use as materials.
The Magic Stone is large, but it's only worth about 100,000 yen.
It's not worth the trouble to defeat it for 100,000 yen...
That's why everyone wants to go beyond the 4th floor.
Among the people making a fuss watching the monster, one old man stepped forward.
"Can I buy it from us? I can't buy it for very high..."
"How much?"
"Well... since processing costs money, how much is this?"
"Processing?"
"Yes."
From what I heard, it seems that a technique to make dried fish after removing the poison has been established.
"Does it have poison?"
"Well, it's a weak one, but the poison also adds to the umami."
Now that I think about it, there was poison in poisonous mushrooms that became intense umami.
It's like that.
It takes effort to process, but it seems to be traded as a high-class delicacy known only to those in the know.
I had never even heard of dried Treant.
According to him, it is 600,000 yen including the Magic Stone.
"For risking my life, 600,000 yen isn't worth it."
Kirara, who was watching the transaction from behind, was grumbling.
For things with little utility value, there is nothing to be done.
"At least it wasn't a Golem."
The buyer reacted to my words.
"Hahaha, that's true. That is a lump of stone or earth. Besides having only the value of the Magic Stone, it seems to have incredibly high defense."
"I see, thanks for the information."
"Good."
So that means I should run away from Golems.
"Golems... if you break the Magic Stone, they stop functioning in one shot."
Kirara, who came to me, seemed to know the strategy for Golems.
"You can't get materials, and if you break the Magic Stone, it's a loss and a waste of effort."
"That's right."
"What other monsters are there?"
I spoke with the buying old man.
"Trolls and Fang Bears are sometimes hunted."
"Bears are bears, but Trolls are black, hairy monsters, right?"
"Yes."
Now that I think about it, I saw them being transported by train.
They were humanoid monsters with pitch-black long hair.
If they are being transported outside, are they also used as food?
"Also, it seems there are Ogres, but their meat is tough and bad, and since they are close to humans, they have no popularity at all."
They seem to be large, human-like monsters with horns.
Even Orcs give me some resistance, so if they are similar to humans...
Well, Goblins and Lizardmen might be similar too.
"I have seen Ogres too."
According to Kirara, they seem to be more similar to humans than Goblins.
What is that... isn't it just a human with horns?
Is it different?
For now, I decided to have them take out only the missiles embedded in the Treant's trunk.
Since I found out it can be used, it's a shame to throw it away.
"What is this? An iron pipe?!"
"Did you bring something like this as a weapon?"
The people dismantling it were looking at us.
Well, it is unnatural, but I have no choice but to play dumb.
When they cut open the trunk, the pipe came out, so I received it.
I want to put it in the Item Box immediately... but I will endure for now.
I will leave it in a slightly distant place.
I will retrieve it when I go back.
No one would steal something like this, right?
"Oh! I see!"
Even if I didn't have them pull it out, I could have just stored the missile in the Item Box.
I didn't notice...
Well, that's how I gain experience like this.
"To defeat something like this, you are quite skilled."
The old man dismantling the Treant muttered.
"It seems like a lot of trouble for not much money, but why are the others diving into the depths?"
"Of course, they are aiming for drop items."
The old man looked a bit stunned at my words.
I am still a beginner.
"I see~ I see."
Rare items are traded at extremely high prices.
I hear gold bars and jewels also appear.
Some types of jewels have not been confirmed in this world.
Indeed, if that's the case, it might be worth the gamble...
While I was talking to the buying old man, there were people peeking at us from the side.
They were the ones who were bothering Kirara before we went down.
They must have understood that I am someone who can catch such prey.
Well, I hope that as my name becomes known little by little, the people who bother me will decrease.
No, if I announce the Item Box and my level, it is certain that I will become famous in one shot.
But I would like you to excuse me from that.
Anyway, the income is 600,000 yen, so it is 150,000 yen per person.
"Eeh~ As expected, I can't take it today. Because I didn't do anything..." "Y-yes..."
"But you carried Kirara this far..."
"But I just rode the bicycle..."
It seems the girls were also reluctant, so they gave 100,000 yen each to me and Kirara out of the 150,000 yen.
"I don't mind. I plan to earn money from videos."
"We also want to earn money by helping the guild." "Yes!"
"Hmm, well then... learn how to produce videos. I'll give you the materials, and if you make the videos, my burden will decrease."
"Yes!"
"I just want you to give me the materials. I have my own site."
It seems Kirara can make videos herself.
"Do you run an adventurer site?"
"No! I introduce cosmetics, brand products, hotels, etc..."
"You lose money because you do things like that, don't you?"
"Cases come in properly!"
"If cases come in, why are you in debt?"
"It's, um, um..."
Probably, she is showing off more than her earnings and suffering a deficit.
"So, are you going to make a sub-channel for adventurer videos?"
"I think it will turn out like that."
"If you make a site, I'll put a link."
"Please~ hehe."
She seems to be smiling happily.
Isn't she calculating the skin of a fox she hasn't caught?
This kind of business is unpredictable.
When it goes wrong, it goes wrong suddenly one day.
Sometimes, monetization is stripped away for reasons I don't understand.
It is decided by the three inches of the chest of the site operator.
Putting all your eggs in such a basket is dangerous.
You must diversify the risk.
It is the basics of investment.
Today, we dived deep and spent time moving, so I decided to go back.
Serious strategy players probably can't go back one by one, so they probably stay in the dungeon.
Moving like this in the darkness seems mentally unhealthy.
I can't do it.
"Is everyone okay?"
After retrieving the Single-pipe Missiles and putting them in the Item Box, I asked everyone.
"Yes." "Yeah."
"I'm fine."
Everyone got on the bicycles and started running in the darkness.
We were smooth up to the 2nd floor, but we were bothered by wolves again.
They chase even when running on a bicycle, so they are troublesome.
When I get off the bicycle, I deal with the wolves.
"Gaain!"
After beating about three of them, the rest ran away.
"Since they are still alive, let Ren deliver the killing blow."
"Yes."
"Hey! There!"
Ren, who was scared at first, seems to be used to delivering the killing blow.
She is stabbing a dagger into the wolf's body.
Actually, I think girls shouldn't get used to this kind of thing.
While I was thinking that, Ren jumped up.
"I did it! I learned a new magic~"
"Oh?! Good job! What did you learn?"
"Um... Defense Up."
"That's quite good. It seems like a magic that will be useful in parties and guilds? Ren really seems to have the mage characteristics of the support type."
"Eh?! I want flashier magic too!"
"If you level up Healing as well, you might become a Saint."
There is no profession called Saint.
It is an urban legend that referencing games, there is a title of Saint after Healing.
"Me becoming a Saint..."
"No, no, you shouldn't deny the possibility."
"U, hmm..."
More than that, let's get out.
If it gets late, Mio will come back from school.
After storing the defeated wolves in the Item Box, we returned to the 1st floor by bicycle.
In a place without people, I took out three wolves and carried them.
The girls also put on their robes.
"It's inconvenient to do this every time."
"For now, the Item Box is a secret."
There are rumors that if it is revealed, you will be imprisoned.
One of the top rankers officially recognized by the government is a woman who claims to have an Item Box, but she is not doing that.
It is just a rumor.
When I carried the wolves out, I cashed them in.
50,000 yen per wolf, 150,000 yen for three... divided by four.
"Um... can't you give me a little less..."
"There are people who want more, but not many who say it's okay to give less, haha."
"B-but..."
"Okay, okay, hurry up and learn video editing."
"Understood."
"Daisuke, I want to do it too."
Ren also seems interested in video editing.
"Well, should I buy another notebook PC? It will be deducted as expenses anyway."
Just then, Kirara came in.
"That's right! Adventurers can't use expenses, but video streaming income can use expenses, right~"
"If it's video streaming, Kirara is the senior."
"Yes, ask me anything."
"But, rather than claiming to succeed as an adventurer using video streaming, wouldn't it be better to contribute to the training of juniors?"
"Eeh~?"
"That is what is called a great person."
"Hmph!"
Living in a tower mansion or driving luxury cars doesn't make you a great person.
Well, how to use the money and time earned is a person's freedom.
But I am not the type to do such things either.
While we were talking about where to buy the additional PC, a strange sound was heard.
"What is this sound? A bell?"
I don't know where it is coming from, but it feels like it is heard from the whole area.
I am not the only one hearing it.
People around are looking around the area.
Among them, I saw a person drawing a sword and taking a stance, as if they knew the true nature of this sound.
Is this a sign of danger?
"Daisuke! This is a Spawn!"
"A Spawn?!"
Kirara, a veteran adventurer, seems to know the true nature of this sound.
"Monsters are spawning outside the dungeon!"
"Eh?! Seriously?!"
"R-really?" "Seriously?!"
"It's true! I've encountered this once before!"
If what she says is true, this is a crisis.
What should I do? Should I take out a weapon from the Item Box?
As the shrill sound rose even higher... a black hole appeared on the ground, and the surrounding stalls were engulfed.
As if changing with that, a pitch-black hairy monster crawled out of the black hole.
Its fur had a dark color that seemed to melt into the depths of darkness, and where its monster's eyes were could not be seen, buried in the long hair.
The red eyes that could be glimpsed reflected a deep void, and its black body was the darkness that had crawled out of daily life.
"C-could this be... a Troll?!"
"Yes!"
It is the same monster that was loaded onto the train inside the dungeon.
If it is really a Troll, it is a strong enemy on the 5th floor.
The monster that came out started causing havoc wherever it went.
With a swing of an arm like a log, the stalls were torn apart.
"Wow!"
An adventurer was overturned near the Troll.
Huh? I thought I had seen this somewhere... then I remembered, it was Mochizuki-kun who was with me when I came here.
"Damn it!"
There is nothing else to do but fight.