Chapter 175 New Dungeon Exploration (Part 2️⃣)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We passed through the giant tree’s cavern and proceeded down the stairs we had descended before. Martina and Noriss led the way, walking side by side.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was a hall with 2 doors that we had entered before. It seemed to be used as a security checkpoint.
The spot where the wall had collapsed, revealing the entrance to the new dungeon, had been widened to resemble a gaping maw ready to swallow us whole.
”Be careful.”
We were seen off by the salutes of the guards standing on both sides as we entered through that opening.
* * *
”Alright. The first squad will lead the way. Rena and Karina, create ‘Wisp’ in front of the first squad. Kazumi and Lotta, do the same for the second squad.”
”””””Wisp.”””””
Four voices spoke in unison, and Wisps appeared in front of and behind us, illuminating the dungeon.
”It’s a pretty wide cave”
Liz muttered. Indeed, it was wide enough for 5 or 6 of us to walk side by side.
”Let’s go then. Martina and Noriss, take the lead. Hiroya and Asuka, you’re next. Just follow the formation we decided on.”
”Got it. Noriss, you take the left wall. Like I taught you, be more cautious of traps than enemy detection. I’ll take the right wall and watch for both.”
”Yes, Ms. Martina!”
”Everyone else, just keep a good distance and walk in the middle.”
With that, Martina and Noriss split up and continued forward.
Thanks to the two Wisps floating ahead of them, the visibility was better than expected.
* * *
”We’ve come quite a way. It’s rare to have such a long stretch without any twists or turns.”
Liz speaks up from behind.
”Yeah, it’s been at least half an hour since we started walking, right?”
”Hiroya, don’t let your guard down…”
Asuka warned me from the side. No, I’m not being careless.
”Enemies! There are probably about 10 insect-type ones!”
Martina raised her voice in alarm. At the same time, they came running along the wall towards us. Noriss was coming back the same way. Yeah, good moves.
”Spread out!”
At Liz’s command, everyone split to the left and right walls, aiming their Black Bows and arrows forward. Asuka and I also scattered to the sides, moving to the front.
Gièze and Aluda moved up as well, joining Martina and Noriss to ready their Black Bows.
We moved according to Liz’s formation. Spreading out to create a firepower pocket in front.
”That’s a giant ant.”
The monster that came into our view was an ‘ant’ about the size of a large dog.
”More groups might come from behind! We need to take these out for sure! Everyone, fire at will!”
At Liz’s command, arrows were shot all at once towards the swarm of giant ants.
The giant ants, moving quickly along the ground, were struck by the arrows and fell over with a thud.
”Keep firing! We’ll take them down with just the volley!”
I switched my quiver and continued to fire my Black Bow in rapid succession.
”Stop firing!”
Liz’s voice rang out, and silence returned to the area.
The dead giant ants disappeared one by one into black mist. Small magic stones lay scattered, faintly glowing.
(Ah… so this is what they mean by ‘devoured by the dungeon’…)
”It seems there are no more coming. This is all of them.”
At Martina’s voice, everyone lowered their bows.
”Alright, let’s collect the magic stones and arrows. Remember, any arrows with even a slight scratch can’t be reused.”
The magic stones were about the size of my pinky tip. Collecting these and turning them in to the guild will earn us some income.
”They’re really small, huh?”
”This size of magic stone is the most in demand.”
While picking up the magic stones and arrows, Rena explained. Apparently, this size is often used as a magical power source for everyday magic tools.
”Look, for example, the lanterns that we are using. They must be using magic stones of this size, right?”
We collected 13 magic stones. With this size, each one is worth about a small silver coin.
”But with this many people, the long-range firepower is pretty amazing, huh?”
”Yeah, everyone is moving really well according to the instructions.”
Still, Liz’s leadership is really impressive.
”It seems like it won’t be our turn for a while.”
Asuka chuckles wryly.
”I didn’t know there was a way to fight like this.”
”I-I feel like… I’ve become stronger somehow.”
Gièze looks impressed, and Sister Karina tightens her fist with a “Hmph!”
”The monster rank is probably G or F. With so many of them, beginner adventurers would struggle, and getting bitten by those strong jaws would be dangerous. Well──.”
Liz orders everyone to check their Black Bows and bows, while she inspects her composite bow.
”──A party of 6 rank E adventurers should be able to handle it without any problems.”
* * *
”Now, was there any issue?”
Everyone nods at Liz’s question.
”Alright, then let’s move on.”
* * *
After that, we encountered a few swarms of giant ants, but they didn’t pose much of a challenge for us. When there were about 5 of them, I had Gièze, Aluda, and Noriss engage in close combat.
Aluda’s style was to smash down on the heads with a hammer. Noriss quickly approached from the enemy’s blind spot and took them out with a short sword. Gièze…
”Ha!”
She swiftly got into the enemy’s range, drew her shamshir scimitar, and cleanly sliced through the enemy.
After taking down all the giant ants, she looked at me with a worried expression, so I smiled and nodded, which made her shyly grin back.
(She’s only practiced the basics, but she’s showing good speed and technique.)
Yeah. Gièze really has potential.
* * *
After a few forks in the path, we kept choosing the left side, and finally, we could see what looked like a hall.
”There are… probably 5 goblins.”
Receiving Martina’s report on ‘Detection’, Liz thinks for a moment.
”Five goblins, huh? How about we go with Gièze, Noriss, Karina, and Lotta?”
”Is that okay?”
Gièze responds happily to Liz’s suggestion.
”Uh, um, is it really okay…?”
Sister Karina looks anxious, while Noriss and Lotta nod seriously.
”Don’t worry.”
Kazumi encourages Sister Karina.
”Alright, here’s the plan. First, Karina will ‘Enchant’ Gièze and Noriss’s weapons. Gièze will jump in to grab the goblins’ attention and take one out with the first strike. Meanwhile, Noriss will circle around and take one out from behind. Lotta, you’ll use your best attack magic.”
Sister Karina, Gièze, Noriss, and Lotta nod with serious expressions.
”We’ll take down 3 with this first move. After that, Gièze and Noriss will handle one each. Karina and Lotta will support with magic as needed. Got it?”
”Yes!”
They seem a bit tense, but they probably plan to support each other if things get tough. Rena and Kazumi stand behind them.
”You’ll be fine.”
”This is a good test of your skills! Go for it!”
Eluda and Meluda cheer them on, and Gièze nods back with a smile.
”Then, I’m off.”
Leading the way, Gièze, followed by Noriss, Sister Karina, and Lotta, approaches the hall.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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