We were carried by Succubi, flying further beyond the Item Dungeon, over the mountains.
We found a place shrouded in black mist between mountain ranges and descended.
“So this is the Death Dungeon,” I muttered.
“There seems to be a base that should have been purified,” Helen replied.
“Alright, Helen, let’s head there.” “Understood.”
From above, we could see six huts. Upon landing, we found they were not manned but available for free use.
“What’s this? A large rock is standing here.”
“That’s a cenotaph. There must have been many victims.”
Clarice said, offering a prayer.
The surrounding huts seemed to be unmanned resting inns and luggage warehouses.
And even here, they were separated for Imperial use and foreigners.
“Pathetic,” I scoffed.
“Yes, I suppose this is what they call discrimination.”
“Which of these huts can we set up a Teleportation Magic Circle in?”
We had flown here instantly, but looking down, the route seemed quite arduous.
It would be convenient if we could come here instantly from the Adventurer Guild.
(That would require a resident Illusionist, a high-level one, though.)
And then there’s the teleportation item using Gas Magic Stones, enabling instantaneous movement.
Apparently, the Gas Magic Stones that are its material can be obtained here…
“Let’s go in immediately. Since Anju isn’t here, we’ll make a retreat decision sooner.”
“Yes, I hear that sometimes people’s bodies are half gone before they realize it.”
“Even an Elixir wouldn’t help then. Let’s be cautious.”
Stepping forward from the safe zone, a Shadow immediately appeared from the dungeon entrance.
“A Normal one, the lowest rank.”
“Even so, being surrounded by many can be dangerous.”
“Clarice.” “Yes!”
She dispatched them with a simple, incantation-less purification spell.
“Now, Deles, do you understand our objective this time?”
“Uh, it’s still the Gas Magic Stones, right?”
“I heard that Houkra hunted them in large numbers by himself.”
(In other words, there’s a method.)
While we were talking, Clarice illuminated the cave interior.
We proceeded through the first underground floor, purifying the wide interior with Light Magic.
For now, Succubi were guarding us diligently from all sides, above, and below.
(If it comes to that, the victims would be limited to Succubi. A waste, but…)
They say the reason this place is so dangerous isn’t just the Gas Magic Stones, but the delicious EXP.
However, the enemy appearances are sporadic; even on the first floor, there are times when dozens of Shadows surround you.
Still, Clarice’s Light Magic, which she casts as easily as breathing, instantly kills them the moment they appear.
“For now, we’re just passing through this area.”
“Right. In the meantime, let’s devise a method to obtain Gas Magic Stones.”
“Um, the method to obtain Gas Magic Stones from Shadow-types using Shucco was manual, wasn’t it?”
It involved slaves or desperate adventurers throwing themselves at Shadows, and by touch, locating and carrying out the power source, the gaseous magic stone, from a vast subspace.
It was an ultra-extremely difficult task, impossible unless you were willing to exhaust a massive number of slaves.
“But I heard that Master Houkra brought back a large quantity.”
“Could it be the Hero’s initial special ability? If so, we’re out of luck.”
“No, I heard at the Adventurer Guild that it’s not such a special ability.”
Hey, isn’t that information leakage!
“Is it okay for you to hear something like that?”
“It was merely a ‘conjecture,’ apparently, from that notable Assassin.”
“Ah, that’s a relief. You didn’t hear it from the Guild Master or staff.”
In that case, is that Rabbit-beastman, Natsu-nee, an Appraiser?
Or did she delve with him? Did she hear it in bed…?
“Perhaps it can be obtained by a unique method from high-ranking Shadows residing in the deeper parts.”
“We’ll have to see. If we can get a lot of Gas Magic Stones, our dreams will grow!”
“Yes. Helen can level up or increase her proficiency to summon Shadow-type Succubi.”
Maybe, just maybe,
the name of that Succubus will be ‘Shadow Succubus’!
“Alright, this is the entrance to the second floor. Clarice, from here on, we’re mapping.”
“Yes. I’ve also been confirming and mapping the first floor.”
As per a simple request from the Adventurer Guild,
we’re also reviewing maps created in the past.
She said the first floor is completely mapped, but the second floor and beyond are incomplete.
“Helen, you still have all your Succubi, right?”
“Yes, everything’s been fine so far. In fact, I haven’t even been touched once.”
“Good, then let’s proceed.”
The enemies on the second floor are called Quick Shadows, and their speed is doubled.
However, they only manage to touch Clarice’s constantly emitted purification magic faster.
They appear quickly and disappear just as quickly, yielding a massive amount of EXP.
The Fairy Ring was transferred to Helen in this dungeon.
“Not only their speed but their numbers are also immense.”
“How did Houkra come here alone in a place like this?”
“What do you think, Clarice?”
Clarice, the brightest mind in our party, spoke.
“…Indeed, from what I can tell, the conclusion is…”
Oh, as expected of Clarice, she’s already figured it out!
“I believe asking Master Houkra directly would be best.”
*Sigh.*
“Hmm, that’s true. We’ll ask him when we return to the Adventurer Guild.”
“Leaving that aside for now, could there be a special way to defeat them?”
“A method that isn’t normal?”
“Yes, either Hero Magic or an item.”
“I see. We’ll gather that information at the Guild as well.”
Did such Hero Magic even exist?
I should probably ask them to look it up again in the magic tome-like book at the Adventurer Guild.
It’s only about the types of magic for all Heroes, so it shouldn’t constitute information leakage about Houkra.
“Come on, let’s hurry and map up to the third underground floor!”
