Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Battle & Battle
I am currently clearing the dungeon in reverse.
Ordinary dungeons go from the shallow floors to the deep floors.
There is usually a final boss at the end.
In my case, I was thrown straight into a deep place, and I am returning to the surface.
Reverse clearing where enemies get weaker as the floor number goes up.
If this were a game, it would be a terrible game, but it is a dungeon that looks like a game, yet it is not a game.
However, this is reality.
If I were alone, my heart would have broken, but I gained beautiful companions, and now I am returning to the surface with them.
First, we passed through the floors where strong enemies like dragons swarmed, and arrived one floor up.
We spent the night in a safe zone, and the moment we started moving, we encountered an enemy.
The light of the magic cast by Kaorulko revealed a giant body covered in white feathers.
A huge bird, with a snake for a tail -- was it a Basilisk or a Cockatrice?
There was supposedly a story that they were originally the same thing.
Since it is a battle -- I prepared a video camera.
There is magical light, so it should be possible to film it nicely.
The name doesn't matter, but since it is completely captured, we have no choice but to fight.
I took out a weapon from the Item Box.
It seems the Princess's sword also came out of Kaorulko's Item Box.
"Gyeeeeee!"
A displeasing cry mixed with high-frequency sound echoed through the dungeon.
"Didn't this have some kind of petrification ability?"
"I don't know!"
"Princess, have you fought this thing before?"
"No!"
If even she, a top-ranked player, doesn't know, this must be an uncharted floor.
No, someone might have come here before, but if the Princess doesn't know, maybe it's not recorded.
"What is the deepest floor the Princess has fought on?"
"Floor 6! I couldn't proceed from the entrance to Floor 7!"
So, is this Floor 8, or Floor 9 -- or perhaps even lower?
"If we go that far, enemies the Princess is used to will appear, and we'll know our current location."
"That's how it will be!"
"Gyeeeeee!"
I read somewhere about how to defeat this thing.
It has a bird's head and a snake's head -- meaning it has two brains, so attacking simultaneously will cause confusion.
The enemy charged, and the two of us dodged lightly.
"Darling! Aren't you going to use that rotting sword?"
"If I use that, it won't turn into money! I'll use it if I absolutely have to!"
"I understand!"
While we were acting as bait and dancing, it seems the mage's chant finished.
"Blue lightning, become the sword that tears apart my enemies and run through the sky -- Lightning!"
Blue lightning ran from the sphere of light gathered in front of Kaorulko's large breasts toward the monster.
In the dark night, the monster was enveloped in sharp flashes of light.
Intense light and thunder illuminated the surroundings, and the monster's outline seemed to harden like steel for a moment within the flash.
The magic energy covered the monster along with the thunder, and its power penetrated the enemy's entire body like an angry storm.
"Gyeeeeee!"
It was a direct hit, but there was only white smoke and a burnt smell; it didn't look like much damage was dealt.
"Does it have high magic resistance?"
"It might."
"Princess, let's attack from the front and back! According to the books, it has two heads, so it should get confused."
"I see! Understood."
We sandwiched the monster and attacked from both sides.
"Kyeeeeee! Princess, intimidate it too!"
She swung the mace widely and loudly to intimidate.
"Yaaaaaa!"
Intimidated from the front and back, the enemy was completely confused.
It froze and stopped moving.
A heavy mace was in my hand, and the cold touch of the metal further ignited the fighting spirit within my heart.
Before my eyes, a giant monster with a bird-like white form stood eerily.
Its red glowing eyes, sharp beak, and razor-sharp claws were truly symbols of death.
"Oryaaaaaa!"
I kicked the ground and jumped high!
I swung the mace with all my strength.
Muscles tensed, and power concentrated.
In that moment, time felt like it was flowing slowly.
Acceleration of thought -- the monster's red eyes caught me, and anger and fear seemed to intersect.
I swung the mace down at the monster's head in one go.
The heavy weapon cut through the air, creating a wind that pierced the ears.
When the tip of the mace struck the monster's head, a dull sound of bones breaking echoed.
A dying scream that made my head go crazy assaulted my ears.
White feathers scattered in all directions due to the impact, drifting in the air like snow.
Its eyes and tongue popped out; it looked like it took quite a bit of damage.
"Yaaa!"
The Princess dodged the snake head's attack and sliced the log-like body in two with a single strike.
If the two brains are gone, even a giant monster must die.
The monster's body convulsed violently and collapsed to the ground.
As its huge body fell, dust and white feathers flew up.
The monster's roar, which felt like it would burst the eardrums, suddenly stopped, and the surroundings were suddenly wrapped in silence.
I tried to store the still twitching monster's body in the Item Box.
"Store!"
The white giant disappeared from before my eyes.
Even if it was moving, does it get stored if it is judged to be dead?
"Ugh!"
I heard the Princess's voice, so I looked at her; her body was glowing.
Her swaying black hair, her shining beautiful limbs -- truly divine.
She leveled up.
With this, she couldn't move, so we kept watch on the surroundings.
At the same time, we stored the camera used for filming.
"Phew..."
The glow that had wrapped her body faded.
"Did you level up?"
She was checking her status.
"Yes -- Level 37. I leveled up twice at once. I was stuck for a while, so monsters here must be that strong."
So, I was Level 35 then.
Other top-ranked players were around that level too, so everyone was stuck there.
"So, we can just level up here then."
"No, right now it's fine because Darling is here, but if it were just me and Kaorulko..."
"Y-yes! ...Ah, um..."
Kaorulko was looking at me.
"What is it?"
"Um... I was thinking of asking, but what is Niwa Daisuke's level? Ah, um, if you don't want to say, that's fine!"
"Hmm, it's okay to tell the two of you -- I'm Level 55 right now."
"55?!"
The two of them shouted in harmony.
"Yes."
"How did you do that!?"
The two of them approached.
"No, I leveled up quite a bit by defeating dragons and such on the floor I was thrown to."
"T-that's true -- if you can defeat a dragon..."
The Princess had a solemn expression.
"Yes, if I had let the Princess deliver the final blow, I could have leveled up quite a bit, but I didn't have the luxury."
"That is natural."
"Still, your base level was incredibly high, wasn't it...?"
"Well, I happened to take down a big one and leveled up all at once."
"Is that so?"
I am not lying.
Leaving the leveling talk aside, I looked at the snake head the Princess cut off.
"There are snakes that are edible, but what about this one? Vipers are delicious if eaten..."
"Eh?! Is that so?"
Kaorulko was surprised by my words.
"Yes, birds and reptiles are like relatives..."
"Well, evolutionarily speaking, that's true..."
"You ate dragon meat, but snakes are no good?"
"Ugh..."
Well, I don't intend to force-feed them.
I'll just try eating it myself.
The people above probably haven't bought or eaten monsters like this, so I wonder if they can sell.
There are connoisseurs in the world, so I think someone will buy it...
Even if the meat doesn't sell, the Magic Stones can be sold, but after defeating such a strong enemy, just the Magic Stones...
I put the snake head in the Item Box.
"I am sorry for not being able to help in the battle."
Kaorulko bowed her head.
"It's fine, it's fine. There are enemies where magic doesn't work. For now, just having light makes me happy."
"As Darling says. I always say that, right?"
"Yes, but..."
If she is useless, then the mages with lower levels than her would be even worse.
"Shouldn't you use it combined with magic that lowers the enemy's defense or magic that raises our attack power?"
"That's right. Since there are only two of us, we don't have a support mage..."
"That can't be helped."
"That is correct."
The Princess nodded.
"Speaking of which, the Princess's sword has amazing sharpness. Is that a drop item too?"
"That is correct. It seems to have an effect where the sharpness doesn't degrade while inside the dungeon."
"Heh~"
Item effects are the same as magic; they work best inside the dungeon.
It's the same as the rotting knife I got.
Let me see her sword.
A silver blade, a silver tsuba (guard), and a wooden handle -- a simple design that doesn't look like a great sword.
"A normal-looking sword is this amazing; if holy swords appear, they must be even more amazing."
"I think many adventurers think that and are looking for drop items."
I agreed with Kaorulko's opinion.
Those who succeed as adventurers and have money, especially them.
It's like collecting achievements or items in a game.
It's nice when special weapons like "XXX Sword" appear in games.
"Gya! Gya!"
Harpies flew over the ground and came.
Maybe they were resting their wings while we were fighting.
Maybe they are hungry, so I gave them bread and water.
"Good girl, good girl. Flying takes a lot of stamina, yet you managed to fly all the way to that place where we were."
I patted her while she was eating bread.
"Gya!"
"..."
It seems the Princess doesn't like Harpies after all.
"There is a theory that monsters are born from the dungeon and receive energy from the dungeon, so originally, they might not need to eat."
"I see. If what Kaorulko says is true, humans might not need to eat if they adapt to the dungeon."
"Wouldn't that make them monsters? There is also a theory that human bodies are gradually eroded and turn into monsters."
There are such stories on the net, but I haven't seen any specific examples...
"I thought it was an urban legend, but is there any sample?"
"No -- but looking at that woman from the Labyrinth Cult who threw us..."
"Hmm? That's a bit ambiguous."
Indeed -- those people have been stuck in the dungeon forever, and what are they doing for food?
It's hard to believe people who condemn killing monsters are eating them...
If they have turned into monsters and receive energy from the dungeon, they don't need to eat!
-- If that's the story, it fits together...
"If we meet them next time, I won't let them go for free! If they are monsters, no mercy, right?"
"If they become Ghouls, it's definitely out, but what about that one..."
"But if we return to the surface and report it, they will be considered obstacles to the dungeon operation and become targets for extermination."
"Hmm -- I don't care about those guys, but what about Ren?"
"Ren?"
The Princess reacted to my words.
"She was a girl in my guild."
I told them about her.
"...So that's how it was... The Labyrinth Cult."
"I contacted the Labyrinth Cult to check on her safety, and I am also concerned about the children who were captured."
Time has passed since I was thrown here, and even if I return up, it will take time until the extermination begins.
It's frustrating...
"So, you need to hurry back?"
"No, I don't intend to force you. If we all die trying, it would be the opposite of the purpose. We wouldn't be able to denounce them either."
All the evidence is in my Item Box.
"That too -- I see... Ugh! I'm getting irritated!"
"Sakurako-sama, please calm down."
"Isn't the dungeon a place to purely test one's own strength?!"
The Princess voiced her thoughts.
"There are different intentions for each person. The people of the Labyrinth Cult might have found their value in relying on the dungeon."
"The doctrine of the Labyrinth Cult is that humans repeat reincarnation and are trapped in a loop of negative chains."
"That sounds like Buddhism too."
"So, by being eaten by monsters or dying and being absorbed by the dungeon, one becomes one with the great will that governs the dungeon and is saved from the loop of reincarnation -- that seems to be the ultimate goal."
That word "saved" is a power word.
Rich people remain rich even after reincarnation.
Poor people remain poor after reincarnation and suffer endlessly -- if you hear that, you might seek salvation in the labyrinth.
In Buddhism, the way to escape the loop of reincarnation is to attain enlightenment and liberation.
If you eliminate all material desires and sever all connections, you naturally leave the loop of reincarnation -- apparently.
Is it true? I don't know.
"Damn! You bastards!"
The Princess spat out.
"It is not admirable for a young lady to use such language. Personally, I like it."
"Then that's fine!"
"What would your uncle and aunt say..."
Kaorulko admonished the Princess.
"My parents have nothing to do with this!"
"You say such things again."
"The threats worked on my previous self, but now Darling is here!"
Saying that, she jumped into my arms.
"Woah!"
"Just throw away your family home and do this."
"Wait a minute -- my house is in a remote rural area of the Northern Lands! Are you going to do farm work, young lady?"
"That would be interesting too! And isn't there a story that the dungeon is in the strait?"
"Well, there is -- but it's not developed at all."
"Then Darling should develop it."
"Uwaa -- sounds troublesome, hahaha."
Once the nuclear power plant work is done, a huge amount of money will roll in.
Maybe I can do that much.
"Still, is their headquarters inside the labyrinth?"
"That woman seems to be able to move through the dungeon with magic."
"I see -- if she uses the ability that teleported us, she can move to any place in the labyrinth, so anywhere can be a headquarters."
"Probably..."
This is troublesome.
Even if we talk about extermination, we might not be able to capture them.
It will be quite difficult, but if this incident comes to light, the cult's activities outside the Special District will become impossible.
They might be completely destroyed, literally.
Leaving the Labyrinth Cult aside, we rested after defeating the Basilisk or Cockatrice, and started moving through the darkness again.
"Uwaa! Help me!!"
Suddenly, I heard Japanese in the dungeon -- but what appeared before us was a huge lion-like monster with four legs and golden fur.
The fur is beautiful, but it has an old man's face on its head.
"I don't want to die!"
A creepy monster -- and it talks!
Battle -- start filming.
"What is this?!"
"What was it called?!"
Kaorulko doesn't seem to know, but I have a feeling there were monsters like this...
"Is the tail a scorpion?! A Chimera?"
"Weren't Chimeras supposed to have many heads?"
"It might be."
"MOMMY! Save me!"
The old man's mouth opened wide, screaming.
Very annoying.
"It understands human language!?"
"But speaking Japanese means adventurers haven't come here..."
The thought in my head surfaced.
"Could it be -- it learned the language of the adventurers thrown here?"
Kaorulko seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Damn! The worst enemy!"
"Anyway, if we blast it away, it's over!"
"As the Princess says. Kaorulko, focus on defense with magic!"
"I understand! Invisible great power, protect me from those who oppose me -- Protection!"
Just the right timing.
The moment the defense magic activated, the enemy's huge mouth opened even wider.
"Gooooaa"
A sphere of light was fired from the monster's mouth and collided with the defense magic cast by Kaorulko.
Blinding flashes illuminated the surroundings.
Particles of light sparkled, drawing parabolas in the air.
It burst into countless colorful lights, shining beautifully like fireworks.
That magnificent scene turned the surroundings into a fantasy world, but outside the magic shield was the world of death.
I took out the Single-pipe Missile from the Item Box.
The enemy probably intends to fire this attack again and overwhelm us.
Evidence of that is that it opened its huge mouth again.
"Gooooaa!"
I aimed at the enemy's mouth and set up the missile.
It probably doesn't think something like this will fly from a distance without magic.
No, does it even have that kind of intelligence?
If it has a head similar to a human's, there should be a brain inside.
I thought it had a certain level of intelligence...
"Oraaaa!"
I twisted my body and threw the weapon with a super-hard tip, putting all my strength into it.
After all, the target is huge.
The missile flew in a straight line and was sucked into the monster's huge mouth.
"Gehfu!"
At the same time, a large amount of red stuff was vomited from the mouth and spread on the ground with a splash.
"How was that!?"
"..."
The enemy was silent, but when I attacked the brown bear, even if the missile hit, it moved around for dozens of seconds.
I remembered that, so I observed the enemy for a while...
The abnormal monster fell sideways and stopped moving.
It seems I finished it off.
I leveled up by defeating dragons, but it seems I won't level up even by defeating monsters like this.
If I want to level up further, I have to take down enemies stronger than dragons.
Those weird things that came out of that rift?
That's an impossible game.
"Since it went in the mouth, did it cut through the inside of the body?"
"Truly instant death."
The Princess is also wary of the enemy's movements.
There is a possibility it is faking death.
"Monsters usually flail around until the very end, don't they?"
"Normal hunting is the same; even if you shoot with a gun or crossbow, they don't die immediately."
"Really, that's how it is."
"Monsters are tough, so maybe they don't die easily often?"
While talking and slowly approaching the enemy's corpse --
"Gya!"
A Harpy flew down from above, landed on the stomach of the fallen monster, and pooped.
"Ahh! What are you doing!"
"Hehe -- I think you should cast a cleansing magic."
As Kaorulko said... but that adds an extra step.
They might haggle saying it smells.
"Luckily, we took it down in one shot, but a normal adventurer would be out with the first enemy's attack."
"Mm."
I approached the enemy slowly with the Princess.
"There are no external wounds, so it might sell for a high price. The fur is beautiful too."
"I hope there are connoisseurs who would buy something like this."
"If it's such a rare monster, just showing it to everyone and saying 'Ta-da!' would be enough."
"That is the joy of being an adventurer."
"Well, I don't intend to force myself for that."
"I understand."
"Gya!"
I put the flying Harpy on my shoulder and approached the monster's corpse, shouting.
"Store!"
The enemy disappeared from before my eyes -- meaning it is definitely dead.
I brought the monster out before my eyes again.
Looking at it again, the velvet-like golden fur illuminated by the magic light caught my eye.
I filmed it carefully, then stored the camera.
"Oh~ this is amazing."
I stroked the fur with the Princess.
"Indeed, I've never seen fur like this."
"Maybe you shouldn't sell it and make a coat or hood for the Princess."
"Ah, that sounds wonderful!"
Kaorulko agreed with my opinion too.
"Dragon scale bikini armor and a golden hood -- truly the Queen of the Dungeon."
"B-bikini armor is a given?!"
"Rather -- if you want to boast of the Princess's beauty, that might be the only option."
"Ugh..."
She is blushing.
"I thought the Princess liked that appearance..."
"I am embarrassed too! Such a naked-like outfit!"
"Is that so! What about Kaorulko?"
"It is very wonderful!"
I had been observing since I met the two of them, and Kaorulko has a bit of a Princess fan side.
They seem like childhood friends, and since they are relatives, it's natural they are close, but she seems intoxicated by her strength and beauty.
"If I didn't have the performance of this armor, I couldn't wear such an outfit..."
She covered her chest and crotch, fidgeting.
"Personally, I want the Princess to keep that appearance forever."
"I-if Darling says so..."
"Well, if better equipment items drop, I guess I have no choice, hahaha."
"No, I don't think items with that performance will come out."
You are so sure.
Indeed, even looking at the net, equipment from drop items seems to reduce enemy attacks...
Her bikini armor has performance on a different level.
Anyway, maybe I can eat the meat of snake or bird monsters? -- I thought, but this one is impossible.
The tail has segments covered in a hard shell, like a scorpion...
Insects are a bit...
Plus, it has an old man's face.
Everything except the fur is creepy.
When I look at it, I feel the old man's eyes are glaring at me.
It's gross, so I stored it in the Item Box.
After winning the battle, we started moving again --
A huge object blocking our way appeared.
"Haa~"
I looked up at what stood before my eyes.
What was ahead of the movement was a huge wall reaching the ceiling.
This seems to be the boundary of the floor.