Volume 2 Chapter 33 Into the Middle
......Ryukyu Dungeon – 1st Floor: Upper Floors
"W-wait. Is that... a sugarcane field!?"
The moment we stepped into Ryukyu Dungeon, we were greeted by what looked like an endless field of swaying sugarcane.
Rustle, rustle...
I blinked.
"I thought we read the dungeon briefing in the car, but... seriously? The first floor is just a giant sugarcane field?"
"Y-yeah, it was in the notes, but actually seeing it? It's like reading about a UFO and then getting abducted five minutes later."
Nagisa-san muttered.
"Right? Dungeons are just built different."
I said, shaking my head.
Then, as if on cue—
"Oh? We've got company already!"
"I-it's huge...!?"
Carlos-san, aka 'Just a bit strong,' pointed ahead. Sure enough, about five enormous hermit crabs were scuttling toward us, making an ominous clatter, clatter, clatter sound.
"This one's called a 'Rock Hermit Crab.' They always show up in groups. Fun fact—their shells are made from creatures in this dungeon, and they harden like stone, hence the name."
"I-I see..."
"That said, they're only tough if you're at the appropriate level. Otherwise..." Carlos-san trailed off.
And then—
CRACK!
He casually punched one. The thing shattered. Shell, body, the whole deal—obliterated in one hit.
"Y-you just... barehanded...?"
The Valkyrie squad just stood there, jaws on the floor, watching the absurd display of raw power.
No wonder.
Still, looking at those shells, I had a feeling I could do it too... and then—
"Omega. Wanna have a little contest? See who can take down more of them?"
I smirked.
"Oh, you're on."
Right on cue, the remaining crabs must've hit the emergency alarm, because suddenly, twenty more scuttled into view.
"Uh... I think they just called backup."
"Nice, more to crush."
Carlos-san grinned.
"Uh, Ayumi-san, you guys should probably use weapons and skills instead of, y'know, your fists."
I suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds more reasonable."
Ayumi-san nodded.
"Alright then... Ready? GO!"
*
Some time (and a lot of crab-smashing) later...
"Hah... hah... Damn, Omega, you're something else."
"No, no, I only won by one crab! Pure luck."
In the end, I edged out Carlos-san in our 'Rock Hermit Crab Hunt' by a single point. Which, by the way, Rock Hermit Crab Hunt is way harder to say out loud than it should be.
"Luck or not, you're not even out of breath."
Carlos-san pointed out.
"Huh? Oh... I guess not."
"Hahaha... yeah, you're built different."
"Uh, thanks?"
Meanwhile, the Valkyrie squad was straight-up collapsed on the ground, spread out like a bunch of overworked office workers on a Friday night.
They weren't exactly struggling, but at some point, the number of crabs skyrocketed to forty, and even the C-rankers were looking done.
Fun fact—Rock Hermit Crabs don't usually show up in such ridiculous numbers.
But Carlos-san, being Carlos-san, let a few escape on purpose... so they'd go call more.
Yeah. He farmed them.
I mean, I had fun, so no complaints. But, uh, the others?
"Maybe we should take a break before moving on?" I suggested.
"""""YES. IMMEDIATELY."""""
Welp. That was unanimous.
*
After we rested up, Carlos-san cleared his throat.
"Okay, so. Uh. I kinda brought Omega here for some casual sightseeing and light dungeon exploration. We weren't actually supposed to fight today. But, y'know. Got a little carried away. So... let's head back to the hotel, yeah?"
Wait.
Wait.
We weren't supposed to fight today!?
Carlos-san, we just held an impromptu all-you-can-brawl hermit crab massacre.
I was about to process this when—
"No, actually, now that I'm warmed up, I wanna keep going."
I said.
Carlos-san brightened.
"Oh? What about you guys?"
The Valkyries, still half-dead.
""""I-I'm... fine...!""""
Lies. All of them.
But hey, leveling up takes priority.
"Alright then! Let's push forward to the Floor Boss!"
"Huh!?"
Excuse me!?
What happened to 'just a quick look inside'!?
The Valkyrie squad looked like they just got hit with a truck.
I mean... it's fine, I guess!
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