Volume 5 Chapter 9 Off To The Dungeon
Without taking a break, they walked 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), moving through the forest.
Finally, they arrived at a huge ruin.
In the center of the ruins, there were stairs leading underground. There were also several buildings around the ruins.
A tool shop, a weapon shop, and even a blacksmith.
Surprisingly, there were a lot of people. Since everyone was geared up, it was clear they were adventurers.
Bob pointed to the entrance of the underground ruins and said,
"This is the dungeon, 'Nest of the Insect Poison.'"
"It's pretty lively here. I'm a bit surprised."
"Hahaha. Dungeons tend to be like this. The way the royal family manages dungeons is different from how the 'Adventurers' Guild' does it."
"The Adventurers' Guild..."
Elk said quietly, and Bob chuckled, saying, "Oh, I forgot to explain."
"The Adventurers' Guild is, well... an organization that manages adventurers. It's not run by the country, but by experienced adventurers."
"I see."
At this point, Elwood leaned over to whisper to Elk.
"The dungeons managed by the royal family and those managed by the Adventurers' Guild are completely different in how they are run. Plus, the Adventurers' Guild manages more dungeons than the royal family. But in terms of quality, the royal family's dungeons are way better... so, they don't get along too well."
"That hits a bit close to home..."
Bob seemed to hear that and smiled wryly. Elk also sensed the tension and didn't ask more.
Bob showed something like a plate at the reception in front of the entrance.
"Hey Bob, it's rare to see you here. Oh... hahaha, are you training a newbie?"
"Something like that. Here, check this."
"Alright. A-class adventurer Bob, confirmed. And rookies, welcome to the dungeon!"
The receptionist was smiling happily.
"By the way, this plate shows the adventurer's rank. Well, for now, just know that... So, are you all ready?"
"Yes!"
"Yup!"
"...Yeah."
"Then, we will start the 'Dungeon Practice' now. Don't let your guard down, you all."
Elk and the others' dungeon practice began.
Elk wore an eye patch and a hood... quietly cracking his fingers.
* * *
Inside the dungeon.
A wide stone corridor. It was over 5m (16 feet) high, and strangely, the corridor was bright.
Elk and the others looked around... then Bob spoke.
"Be cautious from here. We're already inside the dungeon... the home of the monsters, in their belly."
Janet gulped.
Elwood, an experienced dungeon explorer, placed his hands on his twin swords, staying alert.
Elk was also on guard. Kaya was particularly calm, and Soara was the same.
And then───Elk noticed.
"...There."
"Huh?"
"There are monsters───... over there."
As Elk pointed to the wall, several insects were clinging to the gray surface.
They were camouflaged. The small spider magical beast called 'Gitai Spider' blended in with the wall.
Elk aimed at the Gitai Spider and fired a telekinesis blast. The beast was squished and vanished.
Bob whistled, "Hoo."
"Nice job. You noticed the Gitai Spider's disguise."
"I kind of figured it out. It was moving slowly, maybe it was targeting Janet."
"!? D-Don't scare me like that!!"
"No, really───... whoa, there are still more."
"Yikes!?"
Creepy, creepy... the Gitaispider stuck to the wall started to move.
Bob held the axe he was carrying.
"Alright, this is combat training!! In the dungeon, especially in narrow paths like this... watch out for friendly fire!!"
Elk noticed.
Janet's hands were shaking.
With her trembling hands, she nocked an arrow and aimed at the Gitaispider... but.
"Whoa!? Hey, be careful!!"
"Eek!?"
The arrow Janet shot flew towards Soara.
Elk used Telekinesis to stop the arrow and decided to manipulate it instead.
"Fly!!"
The arrow, now moving as if it had a mind of its own thanks to Telekinesis, pierced through several Gitaispiders. Since it was wrapped in the power of Telekinesis, the arrow didn't break.
"Wow, nice job!!"
"Telekinesis───... truly, it's an unbelievable power!!"
Bob crushed a Gitaispider underfoot, while Elwood sliced it apart.
Elk manipulated the arrow while stabbing a Gitaispider that jumped at him with his blade.
Janet, scared of accidentally shooting again, couldn't release a second arrow.
Soara was───... just standing there, lost in thought.
And then, Kaya.
"Shigaraki Naginata Technique, 'Needle Sparrow'!!"
The continuous thrusts of the naginata overwhelmed the Gitaispider.
Then, the tip of the naginata came off, turning into a shape like a small sword, and Kaya skillfully slashed the approaching Gitaispider with impressive combat.
Furthermore, the separated 'staff' split into 3, connected by thin chains. She skillfully swung the naginata, sweeping away the Gitaispiders.
"That's amazing..."
"Got it. That was a 'naginata' from Yamato, right? And then there's the 'short sword' and '3-section staff'... A warrior who can use one weapon in 3 different forms and control it freely. I want to spar with them someday."
Elwood, standing back-to-back with Elk, explained as he sliced through the Gita Spider.
Kaya is pretty strong.
Of course, Bob is too. Elwood as well. And Elk, definitely.
But───Janet is not.
"U-uh..."
"Are you okay?"
Janet didn't ready her second arrow and was being petted by Soara.
* * *
They defeated all the Gita Spiders.
While fighting, Elk noticed something. There were many small green stones scattered at their feet.
He picked one up and showed it to Bob.
"Hey, is this...?"
"Ah, it's a magic stone. It's small, but you can sell it for money. Most monsters in dungeons drop magic stones. They vary in size depending on their strength and rank."
"Wow..."
It might be a good souvenir for Emma and Nickes. Elk thought this and decided to put 2 magic stones in his Storage Ring's 'Item Box.'
"Hey, don't be stingy, put in more. There's a saying in Yamato: um... 'dust, even dust...'"
"'Even dust can accumulate into a mountain,' right?"
"That's it! Haha, I shouldn't act like I know everything. Well, that's how it is. We'll share it all."
Kaya and Elwood quietly picked up stones, but Janet was looking down.
Concerned, Elk spoke to her.
"Aren't you going to pick any up?"
"...Do you think I deserve to?"
"Huh?"
"...I couldn't do anything."
"Huh?"
"I'm about to shoot my friend, Ms. Soara. If you weren't here, I would..."
Elk didn't know what to say. Then, Bob spoke up.
"Don't worry about it."
"...Huh?"
"This isn't a fancy stage battle. Besides, it's the very beginning. I didn't expect you to handle it well, and I'm not counting on you as a fighter."
"W-What...?"
"But don't forget."
"...Huh?"
"Don't forget this moment today. Sure, you couldn't move. You almost shot your friend. Don't forget that. This experience will definitely make you stronger... so, overcome it."
"......"
"Now, pick up the magic stone. Let's grab it and move on."
"...Okay!! Of course!!"
Janet started to pick up the magic stone. Then she said to Soara.
"Ms. Soara, I'm sorry... I almost shot you."
"Yeah, it's fine. I saw it coming and was able to dodge."
"R-Really...?"
Soara gave a thumbs-up with a blank expression.
* * *
In the deepest part of the dungeon 'Nest of Insect Poison,' there was a man.
"Huhi, huhihi... they've come, they've come."
The priest who controls 'Ugly,' Balthazar. The space where Balthazar was had sticky threads stretching everywhere. There, Balthazar wore an ugly smile.
"Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu~~~... Gwooooh!?"
Balthazar's stomach suddenly swelled. And what he spat out was... a giant, bipedal insect. Full body orange. It had a huge beetle-like body and firmly held scythe-like claws with its 5 fingers.
They spread their wings wide and knelt before Balthazar.
"Father, give me your command."
"Hehe, just wait a bit longer."
Balthazar also released 2 'insects.'
One looked like a pill bug, and the other was a female insect with moth-like wings.
Both knelt beside the one still on the ground.
"Father, your command."
"Papa, just tell me what to do!"
"Hehe. I created these 'bug people' with a lot of power... Go and hunt down all the humans in this dungeon."
"Understood, Father."
"Okay! Papa's orders!"
"Got it. Leave it to me, Father."
Bug people.
They are human-shaped insects created by Balthazar's skill 'Insect Creation.'
He can only create 3 a day, but they are very strong.
Balthazar pointed at each one.
"You are Muska. You are Dantalion. You are Felice. Now, go wild. Hehehe."
The priest Balthazar, who controls 'Ugly.'
The 'bug people' created by Balthazar were unleashed into the dungeon.
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