Chapter 34 - 034_Stone Giant
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034_Stone Giant
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「Big Brother, you're late!」
Now that she could finally explore the labyrinth, Emilia was thrilled.
This labyrinth is in a lake called Oburosu Lake in the central part of the kingdom, and is known as the Oburosu Labyrinth. As far as has been confirmed, it is a labyrinth with many waterside areas.
Accompanying Rodney in this labyrinth are Emilia, Yulin, Rodmel, Roxwell, and the domain soldiers Zados, Geraldo, Keldo, Sage, and Zodofus.
Crossing from the shore of Oburosu Lake via a fairly small bridge leads to a small island, where a shrine-like building stands. That is the entrance to the labyrinth.
There is a knight's post at the bridge crossing, and in the morning many knights are there. Since it is now close to noon, the number of knights is small. They have all entered the Oburosu Labyrinth.
They showed the imperial charter to the knights and entered the labyrinth. Since the rumor that Rodney became Sage Daguldor's disciple spread through the kingdom in an instant, the knights also knew about it.
Many knights treated Rodney, Sage Daguldor's disciple, very politely, but some knights showed hostility. Among those who showed hostility, many seemed to have been rejected as disciples by Sage Daguldor.
The first layer of the Oburosu Labyrinth was a swamp area. Their feet got stuck in the mud making movement difficult, but since it was not underwater, they could fight.
Rodmel also uses a sword, but he is originally a battle-axe user. He is a rare type for an attendant, but there are not no battle-axe users at all.
That same Rodmel carries a large battle-axe on his back and walks at the very front with domain soldier Zados.
Immediately behind them walk Emilia and attendant Roxwell. Roxwell, who has a scar on his cheek, is Emilia's master in the Merilis-style rapier technique.
It is rare for an attendant to use a rapier. This is because rapiers break easily in melee and are not preferred. However, the two now are equipped with rapiers of red true steel, so they probably won't break easily.
About 2 rom (4 meters) away from Emilia and the others, Rodney, Geraldo, Sage, and Zodofus walk. Rodney is surrounded by the three domain soldiers. This is by Rodmel's order—the three soldiers are strictly commanded to never leave Rodney's side and to protect him no matter what.
About 2 rom from Rodney, Yulin and domain soldier Keldo guard the rear.
This formation basically fights with the four: Rodmel, Zados, Emilia, and Roxwell.
As the group advances through the swamp, a Cellbanoi called a mud cow appeared.
The mud cow is a cow-type Cellbanoi about 1 rom in height. As its name suggests, its body is made of mud, so it is resistant to blunt and cutting attacks.
Its main attack is a charge, but it also runs while scattering mud, which easily robs one's vision.
「Here it comes! Zados, hold it!」
Zados, equipped with a shield, steps forward and blocks the mud cow's charge. His feet sink into the mud, but Zados, an elite domain soldier, has learned the intermediate root power Steel Arm and is not losing to the mud cow's strength.
Rodmel's battle-axe slammed into the mud cow, whose movement had stopped. Rodmel's battle-axe severed the body of the mud cow, which was resistant to cutting. It was pure brute force.
「Rodmel-san, you're too fast. There's no chance for me.」
「Hahaha. My apologies, Ojou. I'll leave the next one to you, so please forgive me.」
All the attendants except Yulin call Emilia "Ojou." Since Emilia has been called Ojou since she was little, there is no sense of discomfort at all.
The second mud cow appeared immediately. It charged towards its prey (humans) like a raging bull.
「This time it's my and Shishou's turn!」
「I'll be watching your skill, Ojou.」
Emilia and Roxwell dash out. Since the Merilis-style rapier is a school where speed is paramount, the swamp seems like a poor match.
The two ran through the swamp using a running method of lifting their feet before they sank into the mud.
「Whoa, is that really humanly possible?」
Seeing foot movements that he himself could not imitate, Rodney muttered unintentionally.
「I understand because Roxwell-sama is a master of the Merilis-style rapier, but it's amazing that Ojou-sama is not losing out at all.」
Zodofus is amazed. Zodofus is the youngest among the five domain soldiers, but still around 40, an age like a father to Rodney. He is also an archer, rare among the domain soldiers of Dedel Territory.
Since he often watches his allies' battles from the rear, he knows the habits of the attendants and domain soldiers well.
Emilia leaps up, spins once in the air, and slashes the mud cow's back. This slows the mud cow's momentum, and Roxwell quickly circles around to slash its neck.
The cuts they made were as sharp as if cut by a razor, but the mud on the mud cow's surface sealed the wounds.
「Ojou!」
「Yeah!」
Breathing in unison, Emilia and Roxwell unleashed a flurry of blows too fast for the eye to follow. Their combined attacks gouged deep into the mud cow's body. With this attack, the mud cow fell and disappeared.
While the power of a single blow is inferior to Rodmel's battle-axe, the Merilis-style rapier compensates for lack of strength with number of strikes. Moreover, the two master and student were perfectly in sync, and their synergy increased their attack power.
As Rodney and the others advanced through the first layer, a mud ogre appeared. It was an ogre about 0.8 rom in height, made of mud, and was strong and capable of shooting mud projectiles.
The mud ogre shoots mud bullets with a "tat-tat-tat-tat" sound. Zados blocks the mud bullets with his shield, but mud scatters all around.
「That guy, the worst!」
Emilia, splattered with mud, fumed with anger and moved at blinding speed to cut off the mud ogre's head.
「Serves you right!」
Emilia flicked the mud off her rapier and sheathed it.
「The mud ogre is still alive!」
Reacting to Roxwell's voice, Emilia turned around and saw the mud ogre, its head regenerating, about to attack.
「!?」
Emilia put distance between herself and the mud ogre. The attack had grazed her, but there was almost no damage.
Roxwell's flurry of attacks blew out the mud ogre's chest, and it vanished.
「Ojou, you must not let your guard down until the very end. Maintain your stance.」
「…Yes.」
Although there was almost no damage, the fact that she was hit by something as low as a mud ogre filled her with regret. More than anything, she had wanted to show a good side to her Shishou Roxwell and everyone, but she had embarrassed herself.
Rodney placed a hand on Emilia's head, who was biting her lip.
「It was a good lesson. From now on, be sure not to let your guard down until the very end.」
「Yeah.」
Rodney gently stroked Emilia's head.
The group's exploration progressed, reaching deep into the third layer. As long as they didn't let their guard down, there were no threatening Cellbanoi. This was also because everyone possessed at least intermediate root power.
「Rodmel. Stop.」
As they walked along a small stream lined with stones and rocks, Rodney ordered a halt. Rodney stared at a giant rock by the stream, and everyone stared either at Rodney or at the giant rock.
Rodney, who always kept Keen Senses activated, had sensed the strange atmosphere emanating from that giant rock.
「Prepare for battle!」
At Rodney's voice, everyone readied their weapons.
「Rodmel. That giant rock.」
「Understood!」
Zados, shield raised, and Rodmel, battle-axe ready, approached to about 5 rom, and the giant rock began to tremble. The rock rose up, revealing its full form little by little.
「What is this?」
Seeing the humanoid stone, Rodmel let out a cry of astonishment. It was a stone giant with three heads and eight arms, about 5 rom tall. It was a stone giant far larger than the rock giants found in the labyrinth in the southern territory.
There was no information about this kind of Cellbanoi in the materials Rodney borrowed from Sage Daguldor or in the books he owned. Sage Daguldor had said that sometimes they might discover Cellbanoi not recorded in the materials, but Rodney smiled wryly, thinking it actually happened.
In fact, Rodney recalled that in the Abandoned House Labyrinth in Dedel Territory, there was an evil spirit believed to be a Rekafu (long-lived species) that had tormented them.
「This looks worth defeating!」
Rodmel made a ferocious expression.
「We'll all take this on!」
Rodney takes command.
「Zados and Sage, to the front!」
「"Right!"」
The two shield-bearers move to the front.
「Rodmel, Yulin, Geraldo, Keldo, surround it from all sides and attack!」
「"Right!"」
「Yes!」
He positioned the four as the vanguard attackers.
「Emilia and Roxwell, support the vanguard!」
「Right!」
「Got it!」
Since the two rapier users seem to have a bad matchup against the stone giant, he ordered them to support the vanguard.
「Zodofus, keep watch on the surroundings.」
「Right!」
He entrusts Zodofus, who uses a bow, with perimeter security.
「I'll start the battle with my attack.」
Rodney fired High Heat Flame Bullet. The High Heat Flame Bullet flew at high speed, hit the stone giant's chest, and exploded with a thunderous roar.
The explosion of the High Heat Flame Bullet became the signal, and the battle began.
The stone giant's chest was gouged by the High Heat Flame Bullet, but it moved as if the damage was insignificant. With a loud "gatun," Rodmel's battle-axe slammed into the stone giant's leg. Rodmel's attack, with Steel Arm activated, gouged the stone.
「Ora ora oraaa!」
As Rodmel struck again and again with his battle-axe, the stone giant, annoyed, swung its right arm at Rodmel.
Sage, who had activated Steel Arm, Fortitude, and Iron Wall, caught that fist. The ground where Sage stood cratered, showing the ferocity of the impact.
「Sage, are you okay!?」
「No problem!」
Because he had activated Fortitude and Iron Wall, Sage took almost no damage. Perhaps dissatisfied with this, the stone giant opened the mouths of its three faces wide.
「Watch out!」
The inside of the opened mouths began to glow, and everyone became alert.
「Evade!」
As Rodney shouted the order, a blinding light was emitted from the stone giant's mouths. Rodney and the others desperately evaded that beam-like light. They instinctively knew it was something they must not get hit by.
The beam scorched the ground where Rodney had been, but it didn't stop there—it chased Rodney while destroying the ground. Rodney also activated Acceleration to increase his speed and fled from the beam.
「Don't underestimate me!」
Having gained some distance from the beam, Rodney fired Wind Power Water Bullet. The pursuing light intercepted the Wind Power Water Bullet. They clashed violently, and the moisture in the Wind Power Water Bullet evaporated, causing a steam explosion.
That explosion occurred in front of the stone giant's central head, completely destroying it. It also dealt heavy damage to the left and right heads.
「Keldo!?」
Hearing Yulin's tragic voice and looking in that direction, Rodney saw Keldo lying weak, his right shoulder missing and bleeding profusely.
The wound, which would have been instant death under normal circumstances, was less severe thanks to the red true steel armor, but it was still a fatal deep wound.
「Tch, you did this!」
Furious, Rodney fired a rapid succession of High Heat Flame Bullets with Enhance and Amplify added on top.
「You, you, youuuuuuu!」
The High Heat Flame Bullets, imbued with fierce anger, struck the stone giant. Overwhelming heat and devastating explosions destroyed the stone giant.
The stone giant, smashed to pieces, turned to dust and vanished.
「Keldo!」
Keldo's face was bloodless, and his eyes were vacant.
「When I was about to be hit by that light, Keldo saved me,」 Yulin said.
Yulin is pressing on the wound, but the wound is too large to stop the bleeding. The faces of everyone surrounding Keldo are dark. They look resigned, thinking it's hopeless.
「Keldo! Stay with me! Your wedding with Manica is coming up!」
「Ro...dney...-sama...」
He tries to say something, but his mouth doesn't move well and no words come out.
I can't let him die here!
「Yulin, move aside.」
「Rodney-sama,」
「Leave it to me.」
Keldo's life flame was about to go out. Rodney concentrated and activated Swift Recovery.
With Enhance and Amplify added, the amplified Swift Recovery closed Keldo's wounds and regenerated the missing parts.
The regeneration completed fully, and color returned to Keldo's face.
「Whew, you'll be fine now.」
「Rodney-sama. That root power is...?」
Rodmel and the others were stunned by the sight. Emilia and Yulin already knew, but aside from them, only Sage Daguldor and his wife knew about Swift Recovery.
「Don't speak of this root power to others. However, if any attendant or domain soldier is seriously injured, bring them to me.」
「Are you sure?」
「I don't want the royal family or other nobles to know about this. But I won't hesitate to help those under my protection.」
「Understood.」
Rodmel imposed a gag order on everyone, and made sure that life is more important.
Keldo's blood had also regenerated, but since he had suffered a near-fatal injury, they decided to end today's exploration here.
Emilia and Yulin tried to set up a tent to rest, but Yulin told Rodney to use the tent. Rodney refused, saying Emilia was of a certain age, and had the two women share a tent together. Of course, it was consideration for the women, but he didn't intend to say such things aloud.
They took turns keeping watch and everyone rested for a while. Keldo also recovered his condition by resting well.
They had Keldo use the spare equipment stored in the storage bag, and decided to resume exploration. However, Keldo would have to check his condition from time to time. If he seemed unwell, they intended to immediately exit the labyrinth.
That stone giant left an item in addition to a Life Light Stone. It was shaped like a key. There were no doors or other things requiring a key nearby.
But Rodney remembered something about that key. It was the key that dropped when they defeated the evil spirit in the Abandoned House Labyrinth.
He took out the evil spirit's key from the storage bag and compared them. He thought they looked similar. But he didn't know what these keys were used for.
He had completely forgotten about the evil spirit's key, so he had forgotten to ask Sage Daguldor about it. He decided to inquire about these two keys next time.
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