Chapter 82 Dungeon
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Just so you know, I’m going to tie you up, okay?”
For now, Rena made sure that Asuka couldn’t move. Let’s ignore the fact that Asuka let out a little “ah~♡” when she was tying the rope.
”So… what should we do with her?”
It’s possible to hand her over to the military and guild for fighting against adventurers, but I want to hurry.
According to Roana and Gorge, Otto and his group have kidnapped 2 members from another party and are keeping them in a ‘sl*ve’ state.
”Creating sl*ves in the kingdom is already a serious crime… and on top of that… Marty is missing.”
Liz bites her nails.
”I want to send Roana and Gorge, but I also don’t want to split the party when we’re heading to the dungeon where Otto is.”
Liz and I can’t come to a conclusion.
”At least, if we could join up with another party…”
”Well… we can’t rely on a party we don’t even know where they are…”
Rena dismisses Kazumi’s suggestion.
”I think it’s better to move quickly rather than worry and waste time.”
Martina’s point is valid.
”…Shouldn’t we split into 2 groups, Mr. Hiroya? Luckily, we’ve weakened Ms. Asuka’s strength, and Otto should be deeper in the dungeon.”
”…Yeah. Either way, we have to deal with Otto. If we can just hold back that magician named Sora, we should be fine.”
Dorothy’s suggestion seems the most realistic.
”Right… Since there’s a dangerous element like Asuka, I’ll take responsibility and head to the village.”
Liz raises her hand to join the group heading to the village.
”I want magicians and other close combat fighters in the dungeon group. We need to be ready to face the two who were kidnapped and ensl*ved from another party.”
”…Then we can’t leave out Dorothy, who can do both.”
Kazumi supports Dorothy.
”Also… I would like either Rena or Kazumi to come with us.”
”Rena, who can use healing magic, is more suitable too…”
Kazumi makes the selection here.
”So, I’ll go to the village with Liz and Martina. If we meet other parties on the way, we’ll hand over the situation to them and head to the dungeon right away. Is that okay?”
Everyone nods at Kazumi’s conclusion.
”Be careful in the dungeon group…”
Liz says worriedly.
”Yeah. I’ll definitely take care of Otto… He’ll pay for enslaving our fellow adventurers.”
* * *
Rena, Dorothy, and I move deeper into the forest.
”…It seems like there are no monsters around for a while. Thanks to the previous party.”
Rena, holding my left hand, looks around as we walk.
”I didn’t think Koichi’s party would have entered.”
”Apparently, their party rank is D, but they formed a party with advanced class classmates, so they work well together.”
”…That group got kidnapped… it must be tough for them.”
Koichi is serious. He must feel responsible.
”Um…”
Dorothy is fidgeting behind us.
”Even with my ‘Detection,’ I can’t sense any monsters… so… um…”
Oh, I see. I extend my right hand to the blushing Dorothy.
”How about we hold hands and walk?”
”Yes!”
The 3 of us hold hands and walk through the very dangerous forest, feeling like we’re in a safe place.
* * *
We continue walking through the day, biting into bread. We should reach Otto’s campsite by evening.
”…Monsters…”
Rena stares deep into the forest.
”That is…! ──Let’s hide! At this distance, they haven’t noticed us yet!”
Dorothy pulls Rena’s and my hands and runs into the bushes.
”A hellhound… that’s not a monster that should be in this forest…”
”Yeah… it’s a monster called the ‘Hellhound.’ It’s not a natural occurrence caused by the increase of miasma.”
Rena and Dorothy are whispering to each other.
”There’s no doubt, it’s someone’s summoning… the dungeon master?”
”So, that means… the cause of the dungeon burst is that an S-rank demon has descended as the dungeon master, right?”
At my words, Rena and Dorothy nod at the same time.
”What should we do? That thing is immune to fire magic, and its fur is tough, making it hard to cut through.”
”If its fur is tough… then thrusting attacks should work, right?”
”Ms. Rena. Can you please use ‘water-type’ enhancement magic on Mr. Hiroya’s sword and my estoc?”
Dorothy pulls out her estoc from her back. I also draw ‘Yamikirimaru.’
”Got it. ‘Enchant’.”
The estoc and ‘Yamikirimaru’ glow a light blue.
”We’re about to be detected by the hellhound. Rena will hold it off, and then you can attack. …Also, be careful of its fire breath.”
It has breath attacks… I need to fight while keeping my distance from Rena.
”Ice Bind!”
As Rena casts her magic, the ground beneath the hellhound starts to freeze.
”Hurry! Water is its weakness, but we can’t hold it for long since the hellhound is strong with fire!”
At Rena’s words, Dorothy and I jump out from the bushes. The hellhound, with its limbs frozen, notices us and raises its head.
”Mr. Hiroya! It’s going to breathe fire!”
”I’m going in! Dorothy, dodge! ‘Physical Boost’!”
I leap at the exposed throat of the hellhound and deliver a surprise strike.
(Indeed, slashing attacks won’t work.)
That said, ‘Yamikirimaru’ is impressive. Its power against demonic creatures far exceeds that of normal weapons. With a deafening roar, the hellhound’s breath is canceled.
”Haaah!”
Dorothy, having circled around, delivers a heavy thrust with her estoc, putting all her weight into it. The estoc pierces through the body of the hellhound, which is as big as a horse, all the way through to the other side.
”Water Arrow!”
Countless blue arrows shoot from Rena’s palms, attacking the hellhound. The hellhound raises its head again and breathes fire, trying to shoot down the arrows. It manages to knock some away but takes about half of them, groaning in pain.
”Now!”
With ‘Yamikirimaru’ still drawn, I charge forward. Aiming for its defenseless head after the breath attack, I thrust sharply between its eyes.
”Graaaah!”
That one strike, which was definitely a fatal blow, makes the hellhound let out a deathly roar and writhe in agony. Eventually, it turns into black mist and disappears, leaving behind Dorothy’s estoc and a black shining stone about the size of an adult’s fist.
”A chunk of miasma… it’s quite large…”
Dorothy picks up the estoc and takes the shining black stone in her hand.
”Summoned monsters can’t stray too far from their summoner… it’s close.”
Rena murmurs as she walks out from the bushes.
”Ah… I can already see ‘it’… the entrance to the dungeon…”
Even while fighting the hellhound, ‘Yamikirimaru’ in my hand was trembling, wanting to leap toward that direction.
After defeating the hellhound, my vision cleared as if the mist in the dark forest had lifted, revealing a large open entrance to the dungeon, as if it were ready to swallow us whole…
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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