Chapter 267 Lower Floor Team (Part VII)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Gieze’s POV)
Gieze, Gunilla, and Romy are in a pinch at two different locations.
Now, let’s get into the main story.
In the massive Second Floor boss hall, which is larger than a normal hall, the entire ceiling warps for a moment before two gigantic shadows come crashing down.
One of them is right in front of me.
Convenient.
But the other one…
”Lotta!”
I gave the order to spread out, but leaving it up to everyone’s judgment backfired.
The two magicians had separated and retreated.
Since Karina and Lotta moved apart, Ms. Eluda probably hesitated and chose to protect Karina.
As a result, Lotta was left isolated.
I want to rush to Lotta, but I have to deal with the ‘2-headed snake’ that just appeared in front of me.
The same goes for Mr. Gorge and Noriss; the three of us vanguards have completely been cut off from the other members.
(Just hold on, Lotta!)
I need to take down the enemy in front of me quickly.
I signaled to Mr. Gorge and Noriss with my eyes while charging at the ‘2-headed snake.’ The two heads stretch out toward me and Mr. Gorge.
Luckily, their targets are split.
I turn and dash in the opposite direction from Mr. Gorge.
──CRASH!
The heads of the two-headed snake split to the sides.
The head coming at me suddenly stops.
I assume Mr. Gorge’s head does the same.
Taking advantage of that moment, Noriss, who had circled around behind, slashes at the body with a short sword.
──SWISH!
In pain, the two-headed snake lifts its head.
(Now’s my chance!)
I leap at its neck, aiming my curved sword (shamshir) and swing it sideways.
I kick the severed neck and jump, bringing my shamshir down from above toward the other head that Mr. Gorge is engaging.
* * *
(Lotta’s POV)
(I failed…)
Following Ms. Gieze’s command to “scatter,” I hurriedly ran to the corner of the room—without thinking at all.
Ms. Karina ran in the opposite direction.
Seeing that, I realized my mistake.
(We, who should be protected, and Ms. Karina have ‘separated’…)
Ms. Eluda, who was taking on the ‘Tank’ role, hesitated for a moment before running toward Ms. Karina.
Because…
(Up close… it’s huge…)
The ‘2-headed snake’ that landed right in front of me had divided me from my other teammates.
(Calm down, Lotta Dressel… I need to cast the quickest spell I can…)
”Ice Arrow!”
I shot two ice arrows that appeared in the air at one of the snake’s heads.
At the same time, the other head lunged at me from my left side.
The wall was behind me.
Even if I jumped to the right, I probably wouldn’t be able to dodge it.
I suppressed the rising fear and threw my body forward.
Just after, the snake’s jaw grazed past me.
I managed to temporarily avoid the attack, but…
I realized I had trapped myself in a deadly situation.
The unscathed head that had just passed by was now ‘wrapping around me.’ Its neck quickly surrounded me.
”Ugh… ‘Blast’!”
I touched the neck that was closing in on me and tried to cast a spell for internal destruction, but…
perhaps due to my panic, it failed.
”Oh no…!”
My vision narrowed as the snake’s neck coiled around my entire body…
With a loud slashing sound, my view opened up.
”Lotta, are you okay?”
Ms. Simona, with one foot on the snake’s head and a ‘Great Sword’ resting on her shoulder, was smiling.
”You did well to destroy one of its heads. See… you don’t have to cry anymore.”
Saying that, Ms. Simona extended her left hand.
Just in the nick of time, I was saved by Ms. Simona…
and I burst into tears.
* * *
(Simona’s POV)
”We somehow beat that floor boss. ──But, even though we got ambushed outta nowhere…”
At my words, Gieze and the others looked down.
”…Alright, let’s pick up the magic stones. ──Noriss is in charge of collecting the loot. Watch out for traps, okay?”
”Y-Yes!”
Gieze and Lotta pick up the two-headed snake’s magic stone and hand it to Noo.
Noriss quickly opens a box and hands a few recovered accessories to Noo.
”Okay, let’s go. We’ll use the teleportation circle to the ‘Safety Zone’ on the Third Floor──.”
”Wait, Ms. Simona!”
As I start walking toward the stairs leading to the Third Floor, Gieze calls out to me from behind.
”I… I made a mistake. Because of that, our abilities are stuck at this point. I ain’t gonna argue with that judgment.”
”No, it ain’t that you made that judgment. Our original goal was the ‘Safety Zone’ on the Third Floor.”
I understand what Gieze is trying to say.
But I have to be a bit tough here.
It’s part of my role as the instructor.
”The situation has changed. Everyone is worried about Gunilla and Romy…”
Gieze speaks while looking down.
She must be frustrated, as she grips her hands tightly, shaking with emotion.
”Of course, there’s a chance Ms. Liz and the others are protecting them. But just in case…”
”You want to move ahead and search for Gunilla and Romy, right?”
Gieze nods while still looking down.
After a moment of silence, she lifts her head and looks at me with determination.
”The exploration as the ‘Lower Floor Group’ ends here. Our abilities aren’t enough to go further… but…”
She bows her head to me.
”──But, as the ‘Famière’ party… I want to search for Gunilla and Romy! I want to move forward to help them!”
(Yeah… this girl’s got a good head on her…)
”…I can’t argue with Gieze’s point. I want to help those girls too.”
Hearing my words, Gieze lifts her head.
Everyone else looks happy as well.
”Noo! You think you can track their scent?”
”Yeah! I remember it well! I can do this without transforming!”
I called out to Noo and turned back, placing my hand on Gieze’s shoulder.
”Alright then, count me in. Nice to meet ya, leader!”
* * *
(This team’s strength can definitely hold its own on the Third Floor… but sorry… I’m still gonna be tough…)
My role this time is to be the ‘instructor.’ I won’t be too loud or pushy, just an ‘observer.’ But I need to teach them that one wrong decision can lead to a crisis for the party.
Gieze made a mistake in directing us.
Lotta and Karina, who should be protected by ‘Tank’ Eluda, also made the mistake of ‘spreading out.’ So, right now, our party’s strength is only ‘this much.’ I was planning to oppose the idea of ‘wanting to move forward.’ I wanted to send everyone back and search for Gunilla and Romy by myself.
(Gieze—You’re a smart kid…)
It’s frustrating, but I acknowledged our party’s strength and said,
”I want to move forward as Famière.”
With this team, I don’t think they’ll ‘misunderstand their own strength’ just because I joined.
(A party that can admit when they mess up and accept it as their strength gets stronger…)
I couldn’t help but smile.
(I wanted to be close to Hiroya, but… I’m really glad I joined ‘Famière’…)
With Noriss and Noo leading the way, I followed everyone down the stairs.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply