I told Mr. Gray that it was nothing, but I might have made the wrong choice.
Even after resuming our dungeon raid after my nap, that song, which I can’t even tell if I actually heard or just imagined, is stuck in my head and won’t leave.
As they say, regret comes too late.
This situation, where I can’t concentrate properly because I’m preoccupied with it, has been going on for half a day now.
Even in this state, my body, detached from my thoughts, reacts to the killing intent and performs actions to defeat the opponent before I can even think.
Despite merely swinging it lightly, my Ore Tree cut through the air, separating the neck and torso of an armadillo-like crocodile.
With the Ore Tree, which has become even sharper since I gained the ability to connect with it, cutting through rocky skin is no different from slicing yokan.
So, it now comes down to how I can parry the opponent’s attacks, depending on my judgment.
I step into their range, slash, and repeat the process, which is working for now.
In this situation, it’s a good thing that after reaching the deeper levels, I’ve been able to deal with being surrounded by mobs and not letting my guard down without any problems, but I can’t stop thinking about the dream I had earlier.
The song’s voice won’t leave my head as we travel through the dungeon.
Normally, I only remember nightmares, but this time is an exception in that I remember it so vividly.
To be specific, regarding the nightmares, I always dream the same thing on nights I trained with the instructors…
Huh?
You’re saying that’s reality, right?
I see the same thing twice!!
Thanks to that, my review is perfect, and I can apply it to the next situation. However, those two surpass even that with glee!!
Who am I even complaining to?
Well, that doesn’t matter… let’s get back to the story.
The fact that I remember the dream so clearly, even after time has passed, leads me to believe that the dream is notifying me of danger.
I think it’s what they call a precognitive dream.
However, I can’t say that my intuition has finally stepped into the realm of precognition with any joy. In fact, I think it’s not something I can be optimistic about at all.
Somehow, I have a feeling this is going to be troublesome.
My intuition tells me so.
“We’re almost at our first destination.”
“Ah, the monster attacks have stopped. This means we’ve entered another monster’s territory. And judging by the location, it should be soon.”
“Which one is it?”
“Wait a moment… I found it. It’s a Nightmare Sheep.”
But it seems I won’t have time to dwell on that.
Mr. Mait, who had been using spirits to scout the surroundings while hiding behind rocks, opened his eyelids and pointed to our path forward.
“There’s an area ahead that replicates plains. That’s where the Nightmare Sheep flock is… approximately one hundred of them.”
“A hundred, huh… We’re targeting the females, right? What’s the ratio?”
“About twenty percent of the total.”
“I’d heard, but that’s few.”
“It’s unavoidable given their ecology. Moreover, if the number of males decreases, the females will flee. Their survival instinct isn’t wrong, but it doesn’t make things easy for us.”
“So, if we get bogged down by the males, we can’t hunt them. Does that mean we have to stick to the plan?”
“Yes, the basic strategy is to launch a surprise attack and hunt the females all at once. Since using wind magic or water magic can damage their wool, I’ll mostly be providing support.”
“I’ll try to recover the spoils before the monsters damage them.”
“Understood, please do that.”
Once the plan is set, all that’s left is to proceed while being wary of monsters.
This dungeon is different from the type of dungeons we usually tackle.
In the company’s dungeons, the monsters are unified by species, such as Oni, insects, or Undead.
This is done to maintain order and make them easier to manage, but this dungeon is different.
Each floor has multiple species of monsters establishing territories, ensuring variety.
This makes coordination more difficult, but it also requires adaptability from those who challenge it.
Being able to deal with only one type of monster won’t get you through, which is quite troublesome.
Fortunately, so far, we haven’t encountered any monsters we couldn’t defeat, so we’ve been able to proceed without issue.
If we were to encounter an opponent we couldn’t defeat, as someone who can only use body reinforcement-like magic, Mr. Mait’s spirit magic would be my lifeline.
On the other hand, unlike the company’s dungeons, the range of military strength here is wide but feels thin.
While adaptability is required, breaking through itself is not as difficult as in the company’s dungeons where larger numbers can be amassed.
The evidence for this is that these territorial boundaries, so to speak, form buffer zones where monster encounters are sparse.
This allows us to take short breaks like this.
This is a dungeon that makes me think about how to combine the merits of continuous offense with the benefits of expanding adaptability.
That said, this dungeon is quite old, so my thoughts on current dungeon design philosophies might be irrelevant by now, as I don’t know how they’ve been fixed.
“I see it, wow, there are really a lot of them.”
Even as we talk, our feet move forward. While speaking in hushed tones to avoid being heard, I peer into the destination from behind the wall.
I had heard the numbers, but seeing the flock in person evokes a different feeling.
I almost feel overwhelmed by the difference between the number and the actual sight, but I rally myself, telling myself that I can’t afford to be discouraged when another species is waiting after this.
“Is the one in the center…?”
“Yes, it’s a female. Can you see the difference in their fur?”
“Yes, only the one in the middle is sparkling.”
The male’s wool was probably good once, too, but their fur has become dull due to their ferocity.
On the other hand, the female’s wool, as if they know nothing of battle, shows a magnificent white.
The females, with their white wool, which shines with the reflection of light, as if to show off, though not with the brilliance of jewels.
Indeed, even an amateur like me can tell they are high-quality.
And they haven’t noticed us yet, making it a perfect situation for a surprise attack.
It took some effort, but we’ve finally reached the point where we can obtain the first item.
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
Yet, I can’t take a step forward.
Mr. Gray, who found my hesitation suspicious, asks me, but I can’t answer due to an unfounded unease.
I look to my left, there’s nothing. I look up, nothing. I look behind me and confirm Mr. Mait is there.
Turning my gaze forward, the scenery, which at first glance looks like I’ve wandered into a ranch, remains unchanged.
“…”
“…”
Sensing that something is wrong with my only response being silence, Mr. Gray and Mr. Mait also become alert to our surroundings.
I have a strange premonition.
I feel an atmosphere as if this entire space itself is a trap.
“There’s nothing here?”
“Yes, I don’t feel anything either.”
“I don’t feel anything either. But I have a strange premonition.”
“A premonition?”
“I’ve only recently started to feel it, but this intuition… whether it’s good or bad, it’s been a hundred percent accurate when it comes to bad things.”
I can’t pinpoint the exact time, but I’ve only become aware of it recently.
However, I feel like the accuracy of my bad premonitions was high even before that.
I’m feeling the same sensation now.
“When you’re feeling that sensation?”
“Yes, maybe we should retreat.”
I’m speaking based on this clear, unfounded feeling, but I don’t even understand what I’m saying myself.
Looking around, there’s no sign of a trap, no unknown enemies, and no obviously dangerous strong opponents.
There are just the target monsters right in front of us.
To an observer, I must look like I’m chickening out.
I’m aware that my attitude is such that I can’t be blamed for appearing that way.
But something within me whispers that if we stay here, something irrecoverable might happen.
“?” I’ve found another party. They’re coming this way. But their movement… are they running from something? They seem quite panicked.”
“Something? Is something very bad approaching?”
“Yes, it might be. They’re a little distance away from that party, but I can feel a strange power. That’s why even the spirits are agitated. Jiro-kun might be right, we should probably withdraw for now.”
At that moment, the spirits Mr. Mait had sent out for scouting seemed to have detected a party within the dungeon.
Being able to descend this far means they must have considerable strength.
But if such a party is fleeing, are they perhaps living with a Dragon?
Perhaps the Nightmare Sheep also noticed the sound of battle, and both the males leisurely grazing and the females lazily lying around all turned their faces in that direction.
It’s because the sound of battle was so clearly audible.
If I didn’t have this sinking feeling, I’d see this as a golden opportunity and launch a surprise attack, but the Nightmare Sheep’s movements only seem to confirm my bad premonition.
“We’re withdrawing. Is that okay?”
“…”
“Ah.”
“Mr. Mait?”
Immediate decision, immediate action.
That’s what kept me alive.
I quickly turned and tried to leave the area, but Mr. Mait, as if sensing something, didn’t reply and stared fixedly in the direction of the battle sounds.
“Are you alright!? Hey, snap out of it!!”
“What do we do!! Ahead of us is a flock of Nightmare Sheep!”
“I know!! He won’t attack monsters, but he should at least be a wall!! For now, just focus on running!! If we cross into another floor, he certainly won’t be able to follow us!”
“I know, but!! My spirits are about to give out too! In this situation, without a shield!”
We had completely missed the timing to escape, but conversely, I understood why Mr. Mait couldn’t leave.
A party of Dark Elves burst out from a different passage, opposite to ours.
For a moment, I thought it was a male and female pair, but the man was carrying another Dark Elf woman on his back.
And following them, as if blown away, was a person wearing cracked armor on the back of a lion-sized, green-furred dog, presumably their spirit.
Following them, a spirit about the same size as a human, with a tail so wide and flat it could conceal them, like a Raccoon dog, was blown away.
“Mars!”
The Raccoon dog, with blue fur, desperately tried to intimidate the opponent to protect its master.
But reality was cruel, and its intimidation seemed to have no effect.
Ignoring the intimidation, magic bullets hit its body again, and its massive form was blown away, rolling onto the ground.
However, it also struggled to get back up and bared its fangs again.
Its appearance was covered in wounds, and it was leaking magic like blood, on the verge of disappearing.
Its master, the Dark Elf woman, cried out in concern, but he didn’t have the余裕 to reply.
Its prized tail, usable for offense and defense, was covered in wounds, its claws shattered, its fangs couldn’t reach, and its spirit’s proud magic was on the verge of running out, unusable.
Seeing its state, its master desperately chanted magic to heal its spirit, but the recovery wasn’t keeping up.
All hope was lost.
It was clear they were at a disadvantage and would be wiped out if this continued.
I happened to look at Mr. Mait’s face as he witnessed this scene.
“…Mr. Gray, will you grant my adopted son’s selfish request?”
“…If I meet a Vampire, I’ll do the same. I’ll hear you.”
“Yes, I promise.”
It might be too light to be called resolve, but seeing that, I quickly decided on my course of action.
Even if it’s troublesome, when the conditions are met, people will act.
Mr. Gray, perhaps understanding what I was about to do, sighed with a resigned sigh.
If the opponents had been Beastkin instead of Dark Elves, I would have retreated without hesitation.
If I hadn’t intended to marry Suella, I would have retreated without hesitation.
But if there were any more “ifs,” I had already decided to help them.
“Mr. Mait.”
“Jiro-kun.”
“I’ll help. I’ll drive away the Nightmare Sheep now and guide them over here. Mr. Mait, you focus on their treatment.”
“Sorry.”
“I heard from Suella. Dark Elves are fiercely loyal to their comrades, to the point where they can’t abandon them in the face of mortal danger. So, as someone who plans to join their clan, I can’t ignore that, can I?”
I wonder if it’s good or bad that I’ve learned to face danger with a wry smile.
Where did the indecisive me go? I’m happy that I’ve gained decisiveness, but it also makes me a little sad that I’ve become more prone to sticking my neck into trouble.
“Mr. Gray, you guard them.”
“Hmm, I’ll head over there once this is done. Don’t overexert yourself.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Unlike at the company, I can’t transform into a Magic body here.
Just like Isal, if I die, I die.
Challenging a powerful enemy means risking my life.
With that firmly in mind and with the resolve to survive, I flipped the combat switch within me.
Entrusting their treatment to Mr. Mait and their escort to Mr. Gray, I transformed into a whirlwind of destruction.
At full throttle, I first attacked the Nightmare Sheep, strangely enough, as a surprise attack, to secure the passage.
Originally, I had intended not to spill blood to preserve their wool, but that was no longer necessary.
If that’s the case, individual monsters that show their strength by flocking together might think “troublesome” but not “lose.”
Using the full reach of my Ore Tree, I mass-produced the corpses of Nightmare Sheep.
“W-what? They’re coming this way?”
“Another party!? Run!!”
“Run that way, buy us time.”
Attacked from the opposite direction they were wary of, the Nightmare Sheep had no choice but to expose themselves defenselessly.
Some individuals reacted, but before they could fully respond, I had reached the Dark Elf party and, without stopping, passed them by after conveying a single message.
“Human!? Why are you here?”
“I-I don’t know. Maybe a combat slave. Look, there are Dark Elves over there!”
“Our kin helped us!! Thank you.”
Exchanging the minimum necessary conversation, I stopped after diving into the passage.
Without time to relax and feel relieved that my immediate objective was achieved, hearing the conversation behind me and knowing they had safely headed towards Mr. Mait.
“Now, what shall we do?”
I knew something was lurking in the darkness ahead.
The opponent, whom I couldn’t find any joy in facing, appeared, jingling something like chains.
“Tsk. It’s a fantasy cliché, but honestly, I didn’t want to fight this.”
I scoffed to myself, trying to psych myself up, but I honestly wanted to lament my bad luck.
She was bound by restraints all over her body, two of her three pairs of wings were sealed, and chains with iron balls hung from her arms.
Judging from the curve of her chest, I could tell she was female, but her face was covered by a sinister mask, obscuring her features.
Given that there are demons, I expected there would be angels, but I never imagined encountering one like this.
“If possible, can we resolve this through conversation? ‘Angel’.”
An entity that should oppose the Demon Lord’s Army, a divine messenger with snow-white wings.
Of course, I didn’t expect to be able to converse through a mask.
My words, meant to lighten the mood, were predictably ignored.
The angel, without a word and devoid of reason, attacked me.
I met her assault, and as I drew my blade, I had a hunch that this angel was the singer of the song.
This concludes this installment.
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