Chapter 176 New Dungeon Exploration (Part 3️⃣)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Gieze’s POV)
”Enchant: Wind…”
Karin──Karina cast wind magic on my curved sword (shamshir) and Noriss’s short sword. This not only adds magic damage to physical attacks but also increases the speed of our strikes.
”Alright. We’re ready.”
Karina, Lotta, and Noriss nod.
”I’ll jump in first. While the goblins are distracted, Noriss, you sneak around to their blind spot. At the same time, Lotta, launch a magic attack. Karina, prepare a Protection spell just in case. ──Here we go!”
I jumped into the hall.
”Over here, goblins!”
I shouted loudly to draw their attention. Five goblins came charging at me.
(First, take out the one on the edge!)
I sprinted with all my might, closing the distance.
(Draw my sword!)
As I stepped in, I swung my body to the side and drew my curved sword (shamshir), slashing horizontally at their torso.
”Gyaboo!”
With an unpleasant scream, the severed upper body fell to the ground.
I dashed through, turning around to sheathe my sword. A goblin was rushing towards me, stepping over the corpse of my fallen comrade. I swung my sword, and the head of a goblin holding a club fell off. I caught a glimpse of Noriss, who had just finished a clean swing with his short sword.
(Noriss, nice swordplay!)
”Ice Arrow!”
At the same time as Lotta’s shout, another goblin was sent flying. It looked like the ice arrow hit its torso and head directly.
(Only 2 left!)
I lowered my stance, reaching for the curved sword (shamshir) at my left hip. As the approaching goblin got closer, I drew and slashed upward in a diagonal cut.
(Only one left!)
One of them headed towards the entrance of the hall where Lotta and Karina were, but Noriss slashed it down from behind with his short sword.
”Thanks, Noriss.”
Noriss sheathed his short sword and returned my smile.
I wanted to take down another one, but I was slow because I couldn’t figure out where the goblins were.
(Knowing the positions of enemies and allies on the battlefield. That’s something to work on for the future… )
The goblins’ corpses turned into black mist and disappeared, leaving behind small magic stones.
”Good job, everyone! You all moved well.”
Ms. Liz and the others entered the hall. Mr. Hiroya looked at me and nodded with a smile.
(I really did well…!)
It seemed like I was able to show the results of my morning training, and I couldn’t help but smile a little.
* * *
(Kazumi’s POV)
”Are these guys different from the goblins on the surface?”
While collecting the magic stones, I asked Rena.
”They’re physically the same. But for some reason, when you defeat monsters in the dungeon, they turn into black mist and only the magic stones are left.”
”That’s kind of strange.”
”Probably the miasma that made up their bodies is collected by the Dungeon Core. In a way, miasma is the source that creates monsters…”
”Ms. Martina! There’s a big wooden box here!”
Noriss’s loud voice echoed in the hall, interrupting my conversation with Rena.
”Could it be treasure?”
”Let’s go check it out!”
Rena and I headed over to Noriss.
* * *
”It looks like… there are no traps.”
Martina was checking a box about the size of a tangerine crate. She took something like a wire out of her pouch and inserted it into the keyhole.
After a few seconds, the lock opened easily, and Martina lifted the lid.
”…Stones?”
When I peeked in from behind, the box was packed full of stones.
”Aluda! Eluda! Meluda! Can you take a look at this?”
Aluda and Eluda are checking Gièze’s curved sword and Noriss’s short sword, so Meluda, who is free, responds to Liz’s call and comes over.
”Yeah. This is… iron ore, and copper ore. There are also a few stones with some gems. Since they’re not refined, I can’t really tell their value, though.”
”Hmm. Not bad loot. ──Suu! Can you help?”
At Liz’s call, Suu, who has been assigned as the ‘Porter’ this time, runs over.
”Sure! No problem at all!”
Suu pulls out a different bag from the one with food and cooking tools and tosses the stones from the wooden box into it.
”Are you okay? Is it heavy?”
Hiroya asks with concern.
”I’m fine! I can still carry more! Thanks for worrying about me, Sir Hiroya!”
Suu replies with a smile. The maid outfit, which doesn’t quite fit the dungeon setting, looks really cute.
”Snow Wolf has both strength and stamina, so being a ‘Porter’ really suits you.”
Rena nods in agreement. Yeah, they’re really reliable for dungeon exploration.
* * *
”I checked the hall, but it seems like a dead end here.”
Martina and Noriss report to Liz.
”I see. Then let’s head back to the last fork. Martina, how’s the mapping going?”
”All good, I’ve got it all in my head.”
”…Ms. Martina is amazing…”
Yeah, really amazing.
”We can’t keep writing everything down while exploring. ──I’ll make sure to write it all out tonight, Big Sister Liz.”
”Oh, okay. I’m counting on you.”
Martina smiles brightly and moves ahead with Noriss.
”I gave up on being a ‘Ranger’ because I can’t do that. I’m really not good at mapping…”
Liz, feeling a bit down, seems to pull herself together and calls out to everyone.
”Alright, let’s head down a different route!”
* * *
”This cave, or corridor, or whatever you call it, is still huge.”
”Yeah, just looking at this makes me realize how massive this dungeon is.”
”That’s why it’s easier to fight in large groups here, and we can use ranged weapons effectively too.”
Gorge and Dorothy agreed with my thoughts.
* * *
We encountered several forks in the path, but as usual, we chose to go left.
Along the way, we came across swarms of giant ants a few times, but we managed to scatter them with our fire power pocket tactics.
At each hall, there were groups of goblins and orcs, so we let the rookie members like Gièze take care of them.
The wooden chests mostly contained minor precious metals and ores.
We took a late lunch break in the hall where we defeated the orcs. Suu cooked the bland dried meat deliciously. Asuka was also busy helping out. She’s been learning household chores from Ms. Hanna every time she visits our place, so she might be the most domestic one among us?
* * *
”So far, we haven’t encountered any threatening monsters. Even beginner adventurers should be able to make it through here without issues if they’re in a proper party.”
Liz enjoyed the tenderly cooked dried meat.
”I’d like to reach the next floor. I want to understand the monster environment up to that point and the profit rate of the loot.”
”Yes, and we should be able to estimate the overall scale of this dungeon.”
’Investigating for the sake of other adventurers, especially the beginners.’
From Liz and Dorothy’s conversation, the purpose of this exploration was clear.
That’s just like our clan, ‘Famière’, isn’t it?
I listened to their exchange with a smile.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply