Volume 4 Chapter 9-2 The Seafloor of Shadow Waves
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
But still, this is the 5th Floor after all.
We were up against some tough enemies right from the start.
No one has received a mortal wound yet, but I’m covered in small cuts along with Kéa.
They moved like they were underwater──it was hard to dodge them completely.
Lifia’s even breathing heavy through her shoulder.
Using that 6-character Spirit Magic is a big strain, I bet.
Sweat was trickling down her forehead──puh-sweat.
Against that monster, Lifia’s full-power magic was our lifeline.
Kéa’s and my swords just aren’t enough.
And with Lifia in this state, she can’t keep firing like that.
We should avoid back-to-back fights if we can.
If we’re not careful, the next battle could really hurt us.
I’m starting to think we need to play it safe.
* * *
”A school of fish, you say…”
Back at the Love Hotel, we were talking to Tifi.
Tifi works the desk at the adventurers’ guild.
Even though the 5th Floor is uncharted territory, she knows a lot about monsters and dungeons.
Maybe she can think of some useful strategies.
”Yeah, and they weren’t just any old school of fish. They were moving in tight formation.”
I answered while reliving the fight in my head.
If they were just gathering together, that’d be one thing, but they moved like one giant fish, surrounding and attacking us.
If we got surrounded, we could’ve been swallowed up in one gulp.
”I need to check──did you find any magic stones inside the little fish?”
”Magic stones?”
I repeated the words without thinking.
Magic stones are the crystals found inside monsters.
Monsters are supposed to have them, by default.
We don’t usually dismantle monsters.
We just kill them and move on, so I never really thought about it.
”Didn’t notice any. Kéa, what about you?”
”I did not feel the sensation of cutting through a magic stone.”
Kéa answered right away.
Hearing that, I started to think.
Even if they were small magic stones, cutting through that many should’ve hit the sword a few times.
If that never happened, it means they didn’t have any magic stones at all.
Still, to be able to tell if there’s a magic stone just from the feel of the slice.
Kéa is amazing.
”If an individual in the group doesn’t have a magic stone, there should be a leader-level monster with one. There’s a chance that leader is the one coordinating the group.”
”So if we take down the leader, the group will be powerless?”
”I’m not sure how much they’ll weaken, but they’ll probably lose some of their teamwork.”
”It must be that red fish!”
Kéa raises her voice.
So, that red fish Kéa saw last was the leader, huh.
”Next time, we’ll target that red guy first!”
Kéa declares confidently.
Yeah, that’s the plan.
But…
”Can we find it?”
”Ugh…”
Kéa is at a loss for words.
In fact, the red fish was hiding at the back of the group until the very end.
It only showed up because the group thinned out, so finding it in the middle of battle is a tall order.
As I’m wracking my brain for what to do, Lifia speaks up quietly.
”If we could somehow send instructions to the group, we might be able to hear that voice.”
Lifia’s Spirit Magic has the power to hear a creature’s ‘voice’.
Using that, we might be able to pinpoint the leader’s location even in the chaos of battle.
”Alright. Let’s try using Lifia’s Spirit Magic to find the group’s leader and take aim. We’ll go with that strategy.”
”Yes, I’ll give it a try!”
”Understood!”
And so, we worked out our battle plan for the next fight.
* * *
Then we challenged the dungeon’s 5th Floor again.
We were fully prepared and had our strategy down.
The result was…
”It’s embarrassing…”
”I’m sorry…”
Kéa and Lifia hang their heads in dejection.
I look at both of them and slowly shake my head.
”No, it’s fine. You both did well.”
Using Lifia’s detection magic, we succeeded in finding the fish boss.
Our target was clear.
But the problem was what came next.
To take down the boss leading the group, Lifia unleashed her magic from a distance.
But the opponent won’t go down so easily.
Schools of fish bunch up like shields in front of the boss, blocking the magic’s direct hit.
Sacrificing their own lives to protect the boss, this habit makes me think of worker bees.
To break through the school’s wall, we need more firepower.
Increasing the number of Spirit Magic words can boost our firepower.
But then the magic gets harder, harder to control, and it gets sloppy.
And the hit rate drops.
Plus, Lifia has to take on more burden.
So Kéa tries a rush attack.
Swings her Two-handed, slicing through the fish wave aiming for the boss.
But she gets blocked by the wave of fish coming from all sides.
Before reaching the boss, her stamina and spirit get drained, and she’s forced to retreat with no choice.
The plan wasn’t bad.
But the enemy’s defense was even stronger.
This is just with the first monster showing up.
If all the other monsters are as tough or tougher, we can’t handle this now.
Maybe the 5th Floor is too early for us.
”No choice, let’s retreat from the fifth layer for now.”
We can level up on the 4th Floor or snag some powerful magic tools from treasure chests, so we can still get stronger.
”No need to rush. Let’s go safely first.”
”Yeah, that’s right.”
”Understood.”
Got a wife now, and a kid on the way.
Can’t let them become widows.
If I push too hard and get hurt, there’s no point.
…Speaking of pushing,
I wonder what those brave guys are doing now?
Maybe I should check on them during a break, see how they’re holding up.
If they’re risking themselves recklessly and hurting themselves again, I’ll just point and laugh.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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