Volume 4 Chapter 34-2 The Magician Archer and the Shadow of the West
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
But everything so far was within expectations.
The true prowess of the magical marksman should be revealed from here on.
In my peripheral vision, a golden arc of light spiraled and circled back.
And then, it plunged once more into the throng of demon sardines.
*Piercing through.*
Yet still, the swarm of demon sardines pressed on, relentless.
It seemed the target hadn’t been hit yet.
But the bullets showed no signs of stopping.
They circled back and lunged at the swarm again.
This dance continued, again and again.
Before I knew it, the swarm’s numbers had dwindled significantly.
Recognizing the threat of the bullets, the entire swarm began to flee from the golden light.
And ultimately──
*Kiiiiiinnn!*
The bullet found its mark.
With a sharp crack, a red specimen exploded.
In that same instant, the bullet burst and vanished.
With the loss of their leader, the remaining demon sardines scattered, disappearing into the dark depths of the sea.
”…I see.”
As I watched the scene unfold, I pondered the feats of that magical marksman I had just witnessed.
It appeared these bullets could change course and pursue their target endlessly until they struck.
”That’s amazing, Master! With that, we can definitely secure a hit on the enemy!”
”And it doesn’t just end with one shot, huh…”
”But what happens if they get deflected or cut down?”
Indeed, it’s a powerful weapon, but it’s not infallible.
Kéa had a valid point.
It couldn’t guarantee an instant kill; while dodging or obstacles come into play before the bullet dissipates.
The swarm of demon sardines was pierced through, but Lifia’s defensive magic had stopped it cold.
Was that due to the difference in defensive strength between Lifia and the demon sardines?
Or was it the gap in magical power between me and the pirate captain?
There just weren’t enough bullets left to confirm my suspicions.
”Well, it’s fine. I’ve confirmed enough of its usefulness. Resupplying the ammo will be the next challenge.”
Concluding this, I stowed the revolver in my bag.
”Now then, shall we move on?”
* * *
Relying on the compass, we ventured into the unknown depths of the sea.
Slaying any monsters that attacked along the way.
After a while, I sensed something amiss.
The needle of the compass, which had been floating horizontally, suddenly fell limp.
I gave it a light shake, but the needle didn’t budge.
What’s going on?
”What, is it out of magic energy?”
Yomi peeks in, then shakes her head. “Nope, it’s not there.”
”I’m pretty sure we’ve got more than enough.”
The compass is still sapping a tiny bit of magic from me.
If that’s the case, could the needle be pointing… beneath the ground?
”So, it’s under the ground?”
Kéa eyes the sandy terrain and speaks up.
”That’s a possibility. Lifia, I’m counting on you.”
”Yes! Mooluum, Cyclone!”
Lifia extends her hand.
Toward where the needle points.
And she releases her magic.
A thunderous boom echoes as the wind rises, blowing the sand away.
The sand dances like a tornado.
After a while, a large crater forms in the ground.
And finally, something comes into view.
A treasure chest.
Sitting at the bottom of the hole, way deeper than expected.
”This shouldn’t have been found.”
I slide into the crater with a wry smile.
I inspect the chest ── doesn’t seem to be any traps.
Slowly, I lift the lid, revealing a dazzling array of coins and gems.
Plus, a collection of beautifully crafted jewelry.
”Wow…!”
Lifia and the others’ eyes light up.
”That’s amazing!”
”So beautiful!”
Sure, it’s treasure alright.
It looks incredibly valuable, though its practical use is a bit iffy.
The girls pick up the jewelry, their eyes sparkling with joy.
To be honest, it feels a bit like the accessories that come with a ‘Love Hotel’ costume, but there’s a difference between seeing it on a menu screen and holding it in your hands.
Well, as long as they’re happy, that’s fine.
”Feel free to use the accessories however you like.”
”Really, Master?!”
”Yeah, we’ll divide it up when we get back. Make sure Tifi gets a share too.”
”Of course!”
The girls are overjoyed.
And so, our exploration for the day came to an end.
* * *
Inside the ‘Love Hotel’, I’m resting and pondering.
Today’s exploration, we took down a pirate captain.
Probably the equivalent of a mid-boss on this dungeon’s fifth floor.
He was a tough opponent.
Which means, the real boss guardian of the fifth layer should be even stronger.
Can we win against it with our current strength?
With the use of a compass, we can pinpoint our location.
We could challenge it right away, I bet.
But the odds are high that it’ll be a tough fight.
There’s no need to take unnecessary risks.
Maybe instead of rushing to the next level, we should build our strength here on the fifth floor.
Luckily, the compass we just obtained will make treasure hunting a breeze.
It might be wiser to gather more useful magic tools and beef up before we take on the challenge.
Lost in thought, Tifi returned from her job.
She seems to be done with her adventurer’s guild duties.
”I’m home…”
But something’s off about her.
Her expression is stiff, and her complexion is pale.
”Tifi, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
I hurry over to her, worried.
Tifi’s carrying my child, and she can’t afford any complications.
”No, it’s not that…”
”Then, did something happen?”
”Well, it’s not confirmed yet, but…”
Tifi hesitates, then opens her mouth with a heavy heart.
”There seem to be signs of a Stampede in the west…”
A Stampede: when monsters overflow from dungeons and forests to ravage populated areas.
Depending on its scale, it could cause massive damage, even wiping out entire villages and towns.
But it seems this isn’t an issue for our Dungeon City.
Then why does Tifi look so grave?
What could have happened out west?
I focus on Tifi.
Her orange eyes are locked onto mine.
Such beautiful, sunset-colored eyes.
A certain scene flashes in my mind.
A wheat field under a sunset sky.
It’s the scenery of Tifi’s birthplace, the orphanage where she grew up.
…That’s right, I remember now.
Tifi’s hometown, the orphanage she was raised in, is in that town to the west.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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