On the 222nd floor underground, we arrived at a hunting ground that offered little other than EXP.
“Hmph! Hmph! Touahh!”
Nina-san swung her massive Berserk Sword around, while I cut through enemies with the Pride Sword, a weapon I was long accustomed to. Behind us, Clarice provided support with the ultra-high-performance staff she claimed she only wanted to use for boss battles.
“W-well, it’s a three-person party this time, and I’m wearing the Fairy Ring, so…”
Although we were a small, elite group, I had recently neglected leveling up Nina and Clarice. We had been fighting, so our bodies hadn’t gotten sluggish, but we still needed to get stronger.
“…Clarice, please keep using that staff regularly. In return…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“No, I’m telling myself this, but let’s stop relying on Mariu-san for only the absolute bare minimum.”
I made this resolve as I sliced through the enemy before me, the “Shadows Bulspatium.” They were an incomprehensible enemy, like three-dimensional masses of shadow or gas, terrifyingly capable of making anyone who let their guard down vanish, but there was no problem as long as we didn’t let any slip through.
“Four coming from your left-diagonal rear!”
“Haaah!”
Thanks to Clarice’s precise instructions, Nina took them down. They didn’t offer much of a challenge, but they did dissipate into mist when properly cut, so I assumed she had defeated them.
“Anju! For now… Ah, sorry.”
As the enemies began to overwhelm us, Nina inadvertently called out to a missing companion. I understood.
“I’ll take care of them all at once. You two, retreat for now.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Energized, I swiftly defeated all the “Shadows” that came into view, and then we retreated.
“It seems they didn’t follow.”
“Yeah, supposedly, parties can sometimes be careless and one member might disappear without anyone noticing.”
“There are also people who are lucky enough to emerge from other Shadows.”
Where do those who aren’t so lucky end up? Survivors say it’s pitch black inside.
“…Alright, it should be safe around here now.”
“Here’s some water. Clarice, you too.”
“Thank you.”
After calming down a bit, we began to talk.
“This place is said to have extremely good EXP, in exchange for the risk of instant death if you get absorbed. I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s right. When we’re done, I’ll ask Clarice for all her information again.”
“I also feel frustrated having to rely solely on this staff, but…”
I flinched at passing figures, but they were just other parties heading out to hunt. They passed with a slight nod.
“Hmm, Derus, regarding raising your level before Korome, how about focusing on Derus instead of Anju?”
“Me? Certainly, I’m level eighty now. If Korome is estimated to be between eighty and ninety, I might surpass Anju-chan sooner.”
“Ah, and Derus’s simple appraisal might also level up, allowing for more detailed information.”
Come to think of it, that was an option. However, for certainty, Anju-chan was still the better choice.
“But still, even if I level up, it will be difficult to prove Korome’s lie.”
“True. Therefore, regarding the creation of a high-class appraisal crystal, what about the magic stone from that Undead Dance Dragon we fought before?”
“Nina-sama, that has too strong a dark attribute. Purifying the magic stone will surely take considerable effort.”
Clarice offered her opinion with a cautious tone. I see, so it’s difficult.
“Certainly, a regular blacksmith wouldn’t be able to do it, but…”
Nina-san looked at me.
“Ah, Mariu-san. Indeed, she might be able to manage something like that.”
If we could create a crystal that could appraise up to just barely level 100, perhaps…
“Derus, honestly, I don’t want to break Derus’s spirit any further.”
“That’s right, Lord Derus. Why don’t you wear a sackcloth over your face instead?”
“That was an option! — No, that’s not it!! Well, I’ll brace myself and get over it. But I want to minimize the number of times I have to do it.”
If I were a strong-hearted person who didn’t resist deceiving women, I might have had them shower me with massive amounts of gold coins, making their weapons, armor, and items incredibly powerful, and then embrace them to my heart’s content after each enhancement. But I didn’t want to become such a cruel man, nor was my heart strong.
(It’s obvious that Nina-san and the others are worried and jealous.)
“Alright, tonight, as Nina Starlights, I’ll go consult with the magic stone.”
“Everyone is going? Understood.”
“Lord Derus, we will protect your chastity!”
It’s already too late, but well, that’s fine.
“Now, let’s descend one floor. Today is for Clarice’s training.”
“I’d like to go until Clarice learns a new magic, but what do you think?”
“We shouldn’t overdo it in case something happens to Lord Derus or Nina-sama. Let’s not push ourselves.”
Thus, on the 223rd floor, while defeating the higher species “Shadows Altrodimension” from earlier, we continued to rapidly raise Clarice’s EXP.
(I’m losing track of time~)
Lost in our hunt, I suddenly noticed a sign.
“Emergency Elevator to East S Area Ahead”
I blinked, surprised to find such a thing here. Checking ahead, I confirmed it was there, but unmanned. Moreover, there was no safe area outside. I wanted to ride it, but it didn’t seem like the right time.
“Derus, are there any problems with riding this?”
“Yes, it seems there aren’t, but it appears to be for escorted departure to Area A.”
“It’s like an emergency escape device. Let’s remember the location.”
Wishing Anju-chan was here, we retraced our steps.
(Alright, just one more push!)
