Chapter 19 - 019: Fierce Battle with the Black Rurumiru
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019: Fierce Battle with the Black Rurumiru
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In Dedel Territory, where the short summer was passing, the wind had been growing stronger since last night, and now the rain was falling fiercely. The sound of the wind and rain shaking and rattling the wooden door of the house heralded the arrival of a typhoon.
"I wonder if the house will be blown away?"
Emilia caught a drip from a leak in a bucket and muttered uneasily.
"This house is quite old too, so I'm worried."
Sharume also placed a bucket on the floor to catch the dripping rainwater.
The Forvas family house had leaks in several places, a terrible state that made one wonder if this was really a noble's residence.
"The sake cellar is finished, so next I'll build the lord's mansion. Bear with it a little longer."
The sake cellar had been completed a few days earlier, so now they planned to build the lord's mansion.
"I want my room on the second floor~"
"Mother also wants the second floor."
"It's a two-story stone building, so rest assured. Your rooms are properly on the second floor."
This typhoon was quite large, leaving its mark on Dedel Territory. After the typhoon passed, the crops suffered a lot of damage.
"This year's harvest won't even be 70% of last year's..."
"Unfortunately."
Kiris compiled the damage situation.
"It's not yet typhoon season, so we cannot afford to be complacent."
Last year there had been no typhoon damage at all. It was a natural disaster, so there was nothing to be done about it, but it was frustrating.
"How many had their houses collapse?"
"Should I call it a blessing in disguise? Only one building collapsed."
"We'll have the people of that house stay in the territory soldiers' barracks for a while. Rodmel, make the arrangements."
"Understood."
The typhoon season was just beginning. Since this one came somewhat early, they would have to consider the possibility of further typhoon damage.
In the midst of this, Pelt came to report that he had completed six sets of True Steel armor for the territory soldiers. He had ordered fifteen sets of Red True Steel armor for the soldiers. Rodney requested that the remaining nine sets be finished as soon as possible.
The retainers had already been issued weapons and armor, so Rodmel and the others were using brand new Red True Steel armor and weapons.
The quality of the armor was lower than that of the retainers, but it was still Red True Steel armor. It was far superior to the current armor the territory soldiers were using.
"Keldo, how is it? If there are any problems, let me know."
"It doesn't hinder my movements, and it's easier to move in than my previous armor. Yet it properly protects my vital points."
"That's good to hear."
The feel of wearing it was well-received by the six elite soldiers. Now they just needed to actually fight in it to see if there were any issues.
"But is it really alright to give us such good equipment?"
"It's fine, but for now it's only on loan."
"I'm grateful just to be lent True Steel armor. I'll take good care of it."
"It's good to take care of it, but what's more important is your life. Use the armor thinking that it exists to protect your life."
"Yes, I'll do that."
Rodney ordered that when the armor got damaged, it should be sent to Pelt for maintenance. The territory soldiers didn't know the word 'maintenance,' and neither did Pelt.
He taught them that it meant preserving and maintaining the armor and keeping it in good condition, and urged them to perform maintenance frequently. Of course, the cost would be borne by Rodney as the lord.
The elite soldiers immediately checked the fit of their Red True Steel armor and then entered the Abandoned House Labyrinth. The other soldiers watched with sparkling eyes as the elite soldiers, clad in brand new Red True Steel armor, went into the labyrinth.
"For soldiers who explore deeper than the 4th floor, I'll lend them Red True Steel armor as soon as it's ready. Additionally, their merit pay will increase, so put your spirit into it."
"Yes!"
When Rodney gave this rousing speech, the soldiers replied with spirited voices.
He asked Pelt to prioritize maintenance, and after making the 15 sets of armor, to make swords and spears. That would be offense after defense.
"By the way, aren't you going to make armor for yourself, Lord Rodney?"
"Hm, me? Come to think of it, I haven't had any armor made."
"Giving the territory soldiers True Steel armor while you yourself are in leather armor doesn't look good, Lord Rodney."
"Pelt is right. Please have True Steel armor made for yourself as well, Lord Rodney."
Yulin, agreeing with Pelt, pressed Rodney with strong words that this should have been the highest priority from the start.
"That's true. I'll make it once everyone's weapons and armor are ready."
"That would be too late."
"Now, now, if you get so worked up, you'll get wrinkles."
"I-I don't have any wrinkles!"
As Rodney soothed the fuming Yulin, Emilia spoke up.
"Big Brother, don't forget about my sword and armor too."
"Oh, right. But True Steel equipment is heavy. Are you sure?"
"I think the rapier should be thinner, and the armor could be a composite of leather and True Steel."
"That's a way to minimize weight increase. Understood."
Having commissioned Emilia's rapier and composite armor from Pelt, Rodney pushed the still-angry Yulin's back and entered the Abandoned House Labyrinth. Emilia followed behind, but kept her distance from the two's lovers' quarrel.
This time, they planned to search for Black Rurumiru on the 3rd floor. After all, if they didn't hunt the Black one, it felt half-hearted.
Even though it was the 3rd floor, they hadn't explored all of it. This was because it was common knowledge that True Ore wasn't found on the 3rd floor, so priority had been given to gaining combat experience and collecting Life Light Stones.
Heading deeper into areas they had never entered before, Rodney and the others discovered a black tower. Perhaps due to the swamp, the tower was leaning, giving them a very dangerous impression.
The three circled around the tower. They determined there was only one entrance.
"Looks like it's about five stories high."
That was about the height from the outside, but they didn't know if there was a basement.
They sensed an ominous presence from within the tower. Moreover, it wasn't just one—there were several presences. When he told Emilia and Yulin this, Emilia rotated her shoulders to psych herself up.
"Big Brother, Yulin. Let's go!"
"Yeah."
"Yes."
The three opened the rotten wooden door, which looked about to collapse, and entered the tower.
The inside of the tower was an open atrium with a very high ceiling. There were windows for light here and there, so it was dim but visibility was maintained. The ceiling was high, and it indeed seemed to be about five stories tall.
Along the wall, there was a spiral staircase about 50 selums wide, as if urging them to climb.
"Let's go."
Rodney took the lead, followed by Emilia and then Yulin. Since the staircase had no handrails or fences, the height became more apparent as they ascended.
"It would be quite dangerous if we were attacked here."
"If you say things like that, we'll get attacked, Big Brother."
People call that a flag. And true to that flag, Rodney sensed a presence approaching and urged the two to be on guard.
"Poison Bats!"
It was a large bat-type Selvanui that must have been 1 lom in wingspan. Its venomous fangs were well-known. However, since there had been no recorded sightings of Poison Bats on the 3rd floor of the Abandoned House Labyrinth, the three had no countermeasures against poison.
"Tch, troublesome. Both of you, make sure you don't get bitten."
"Yes."
Looking closely, dozens of Poison Bats were hanging from the ceiling. Rodney had thought the ceiling looked black due to the darkness, but he clicked his tongue when he realized the blackness was actually the Poison Bats.
Two Poison Bats flew around as if watching them warily. Rodney and the others had drawn their swords, but since the bats were flying, they couldn't reach them unless they came closer. Rodney decided to attack the Poison Bats with High Heat Bullet.
The High Heat Bullet flew at high speed and struck one of the Poison Bats. However, that became the trigger, and the dozens of bats hanging from the ceiling all took flight at once and attacked.
"Create a barrage!"
"Got it!"
"Yes!"
Rodney fired High Heat Bullet, Emilia fired Fireball, and Yulin fired Wind Ball to attack the Poison Bats.
The High Heat Bullet flew fast enough to hit the Poison Bats, but Emilia and Yulin's attacks were dodged. Still, it served as a deterrent, preventing the bats from getting closer.
Also, the bats that slipped through the barrage and came close were taken down with swords. For Emilia and Yulin, it was easier to defeat them when they came close.
After a fierce battle, they managed to wipe out the Poison Bats. The Life Light Stones from them would be a considerable number, but they had all fallen to the first floor, making them a pain to collect later.
They resumed climbing and reached the top, where they found a single door. Thanks to his Perceptive skill, Rodney could sense a presence within the door as well.
Rodney slowly opened the door. The other side was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything.
"We need a torch."
Just as Yulin was about to prepare a torch, Rodney was blown away.
"Guh!"
"Big Brother!?"
"Lord Rodney!?"
Rodney was blown into the wall and almost fell down the stairs, but he managed to hold on.
"I'm fine. Diamond protected me."
Since he hadn't known what was there, it was good that he had activated Diamond before opening the door. Rodney used Perceptive to search for the presence and fired a High Heat Bullet.
That High Heat Bullet hit something and vanished.
"Was it actually countered!?"
Rodney, who had never imagined that his high-speed High Heat Bullet could be intercepted, gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Then I'll overwhelm it with numbers!"
He fired High Heat Bullets rapidly. However, they were intercepted by something and even dodged with what seemed like agile movements. As the bullets were evaded and holes opened in the walls, light streamed in and gradually the creature's true form came into view.
"A Black Rurumiru!?"
"It's quite large!"
White Rurumiru had been large, but this Black Rurumiru was even larger. Moreover, it could release something with enough power to intercept High Heat Bullet, so they couldn't let their guard down.
The three positioned themselves to surround the Black Rurumiru.
When Rodney fired a High Heat Bullet, the Black Rurumiru showed an extraordinary reaction speed and dodged it. Then Emilia closed the distance in one go and unleashed a triple thrust, but the Black Rurumiru deformed its body and dodged all the thrusts.
"No wa-a-ay!?"
"This thing isn't an ordinary Rurumiru. It's dangerous."
"It's another long-lived species—a Lecaf."
Emilia had enough power to completely shut down even the Horse Head on the 5th floor. Rodney felt like cursing that there couldn't possibly be a Rurumiru that could match Emilia's speed and even dodge a triple thrust.
That wasn't the only abnormality of the Black Rurumiru. It shot something black at Yulin's greatsword and deflected it.
"Tch, it's good."
Furthermore, the Black Rurumiru extended something like tentacles to pursue, but Yulin leaped back and dodged it.
Then Emilia dived in to slice off the tentacle, but her rapier passed through the Black Rurumiru's tentacle.
"Gah, this thing won't get cut!"
Emilia grimaced as she retreated, dodging the black something that the Black Rurumiru shot.
"Same as evil spirits, huh... what a pain."
Emilia's current weapon was ordinary iron, so it couldn't cut evil spirit types. However, by wrapping Vigor around the sword, it became possible to cut evil spirits too.
Rodney activated Acceleration and closed the distance in one go to cut the Black Rurumiru. He felt a response, but it wasn't enough to defeat it.
"You bastard!"
Emilia, sensing the Black Rurumiru was shaken, unleashed a four-fold thrust with her rapier wrapped in Vigor. The attack pierced the Black Rurumiru, dealing damage. Then Yulin swung her greatsword down, cleaving the Black Rurumiru in two.
The three thought they had won, but to their surprise, the Black Rurumiru split into two and began moving again.
"Damn, at this rate there's no end to it."
"Big Brother, what do we do?"
"What can I do... Buy me some time while I think."
"Fine, but will thinking help?"
"I don't know."
If he knew that, there would be no need to buy time.
In any case, Emilia and Yulin would deal with the two Black Rurumiru while Rodney thought.
What should I do? What can I figure out by thinking?
Rodney shook his head violently, from which nothing came, emptied his mind, and stared at the battle between the Black Rurumiru and the two without preconceptions.
The Black Rurumiru dodged the two's attacks with its reaction speed, and even counterattacked by firing black spheres.
Hmm... is its movement slower than before? Emilia's attacks are slightly grazing it.
Having split into two, the Black Rurumiru's size was about half. Not only that, its speed had decreased. Probably its abilities dropped when it split. However, the difference was slight, so if they attacked and it split further, they might lose in terms of number of attacks. To prevent that, they needed to annihilate it instantly.
The first thing that came to mind as a means to instantly eliminate the Black Rurumiru was High Heat Bullet. However, Rodney vaguely felt that High Heat Bullet wouldn't be powerful enough.
"Tch."
Yulin took a hit from a black sphere, her face contorting. Emilia was also grazed several times by black spheres, with large beads of sweat on her brow. At this rate, the two would...
What do I do? What should I do...
Then Rodney had a flash of inspiration. If one wasn't enough attack power, then he could stack two or three together.
To increase the power of High Heat Bullet, he tried to overlay and activate Fireball. Not activating them consecutively, but simultaneously, and furthermore merging them—the control was extremely difficult. He concentrated so hard he forgot to breathe. Sweat erupted from every pore on his body, and it got into his left eye.
"Dodge, Emilia."
At that voice, Emilia leaped back, and Rodney fired a burning bullet—what could be called a High Heat Flame Bullet, merging High Heat Bullet and Fireball.
The High Heat Flame Bullet flew at super-high speed, wobbling irregularly, leaving a trail of flames, and struck the Black Rurumiru. It appeared to be absorbed into the Black Rurumiru's body, but immediately afterward, the Black Rurumiru's body swelled, was engulfed in flames, and finally burst apart.
"Haa... haa..."
He had defeated one Black Rurumiru, but Rodney's whole body was overcome with a sense of exhaustion, and he collapsed onto the spot.
"Big Brother, you did it!"
"O-oh. Yeah, we did it."
Rodney was breathing heavily, but then Yulin was blown away.
"Yulin!?"
Emilia inserted herself between the Black Rurumiru and Yulin. As expected, she was fast.
Yulin seemed to have taken a direct hit from a black sphere; she was crouched down holding her stomach. Large drops of sweat fell from her forehead, showing how much pain she was in.
"Tch, if not now, when!"
Rodney punched his trembling legs to stand up and once again constructed the High Heat Flame Bullet.
It was so painful that his vision blurred, but he encouraged himself by thinking that Yulin was suffering even more.
"Emilia!"
"Yeah!"
"Take this!"
The super-fast but irregularly wobbling High Heat Flame Bullet struck the Black Rurumiru. Just like before, the flaming Black Rurumiru burst and vanished.
Perhaps relieved at the sight, Rodney's consciousness faded there.
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