Chapter 85

Chapter 85 \nChapter 85 – Advancing to the Depths\n

The name of the skill that Kazane got from the Tyrant Orc was『Information Link.』It was an Active skill that allowed the skill owner to shallowly share their consciousness with all their party members. She seemed to have come across an effective ability, even though the Tyrant Orc's subordinates were completely crushed in that battle.

◎ Rock Hold Cave 15th Layer – Afternoon

Kazane learned『Information Link』but,

「Uuuryaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!」

Since battles were decided in a single blow she didn't have a chance to use it.

Two Burrow Tigers were blown away by the power of Sieg's White Fang.

「It's not over yet.」

「Yes.」

At Kazane's remark from behind Sieg swung the sword and fired White Fang two more times. The third and fourth Burrow Tiger were blown away and the battle ended.

「Thanks for the hard work. How was it?」

「Haa, haa. Yes, if I persevered I think I could fire one more.」

After the battle ended Kazane spoke and Sieg answered while panting. Rapid magical power consumption created physical fatigue and mental exhaustion.

「A sum total of four shots if you muster all your strength? The accuracy doesn't seem to have fallen as much as I thought it would.」

「That is probably because the range of White Fang itself has gone up. We confirmed yesterday that as long as his posture isn't disrupted getting direct hits at mid-range isn't a problem.」

Zinray supplemented from behind.

Sieg reached the point that he could shoot White Fang at 100 percent as demanded by Kazane yesterday. Although the setting was 100 percent power, that simply meant that there were no longer any limiters and the power completely relied on the abilities of the user, so 100 percent White Fang wasn't its maximum power. But Sieg's ability to use it while he was still in Minshiana was no match for his current mastery of the White Sword.

「There's no other conclusion than to approve.」

Zinray's approval was granted. Kazane looked at Sieg and spoke.

「Well then, we'll be relying on you, Sieg.」

「Ye, yes.」

Sieg nodded happily at Kazane's words. His behavior like a puppy had not changed.

Sieg had been recognized as worthy. Nonetheless, right now he could barely move. Kazane put the sluggish Sieg on Hippo-kun and they advanced forward.\n

◎ Rock Hold Cave 16th Layer

「Even so, Hippo-kun is amazing to get us this far just after noon.」

Louise muttered as they descended to the next layer.

「Well, from this point the decoy type Hippo-kun will be going first, so the speed will fall.」

Kazane reduced the speed of Hippo-kun when they entered territory they hadn't explored yet and created the decoy type Hippo-kun she had spent yesterday preparing, which then moved forward.

「If we tried to travel this uneven road on foot our stamina would be whittled down. That reason alone is enough to make me grateful that we can travel by horse.」

Zinray's gratitude was not a lie. Accumulated fatigue from long-term dungeon conquest could lead to a fatal situation. It was important to make preservation of stamina during dungeon conquest a high priority.

But Zinray thought it would be scary later if they became too used to the convenience of the current situation.

「So as planned we're going to continue advancing forward like this, right?」

Kazane nodded at Zinray's question.

「Yeah. With Hippo-kun's pace I think we can reach the dragon tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.」

「Hmm, that pace seems a little fast.」

「From the start our plan wasn't to capture the dungeon. We've gotten used to the dungeon and the goal of our request is in sight, so we should give priority to defeating the dragon.」

「Well, certainly. So we're immediately going for the dragon extermination?」

Zinray asked in confirmation, and Kazane nodded.

「If we can I think we should do that. But I'd also like to capture the 30th and 31st floor to some extent. There might be something good in those areas.」

「That's fine, but beyond the 20th layer the monster variety changes, and there are also large groups in open spaces. According to the dungeon map we'll have to pass through a few of those spaces on the route to the descending stairs.」

「I think with Hippo-kun we can escape even if they come from behind?」

「That's true, but when traveling through massive rooms a large quantity of monsters can suddenly be generated.」

At Zinray's remark Kazane made a「geh」face. He was referring to what was called a Monster House. Yumika, Tiara, and Sieg had the same expression as Kazane.

「What's with that?」

「A dungeon is such a thing. I don't know the reason.」

There was nothing to be said in response to those words.

「What's the best thing to do if we run into that situation?」

「Generally you turn around and run the way you came as fast as you can. Although the monsters that appear don't collaborate, the aim is to avoid fighting. The worst option is stopping in the room and receiving attacks from all sides.」

「When moving with Hippo-kun it seems likely they would appear when we're near the center.」\nZinray nodded at Kazane's remark.

「However, I do not know the timing of the generation, so it may possible to break through by dashing at full power.」

「Yeah, but shouldn't we just go carefully? Being impatient would be a mistake.」

『By the way, in the dungeon where we were diving there was a case where 50 Minotaurs generated, and many high-rank parties that were in that place were annihilated.』

At Mefirus' remark all the young members' faces became worse, but this time Zinray's face also turned sour.

「It was certain annihilation even for the team spearheaded by an S rank adventurer that was capturing the deepest portions. After that the Minotaurs spread out, and I recall that subjugating them was a major hardship.」

Louise spoke those words without her usual philosophic face and Zinray intensely nodded.

「That was hell. Even though we were just subjugating them I thought I would really die. If we come across a massive outbreak like that there's no way we could survive.」

It seemed from the experienced party's reaction that it was a worse disaster than they had imagined. It was terrifying.

「Yeah. Anyway, let's go carefully. Very carefully.」

Everyone present nodded at Kazane's remark.

◎ Rock Hold Cave 20th Layer – Evening

「Kururuooo」

It probably would have been dangerous without Intuition.

「Dangerous.」

Kazane raised her hands and guarded with Material Shield.

「Kururuooo」

It was blocked, so it spun and fell to the ground a short distance away.

「Massive Chameleon?」

Zinray shouted as he jumped off Hippo-kun.

(The smell…isn't completely nonexistent, but it's weak)

Kazane and the other companions got off Hippo-kun after Zinray.

「It seems that reptiles have a weak smell.」

「Ah, that's the way it is.」

After Kazane's explanation Zinray remembered hearing that in the past.

「But I didn't notice because of the disappearing skill.」

\nLouise made a wry smile. By linking with Kazane's Intuition it was possible to become surprisingly accurate at scoring direct hits and timing magic attacks to best aid the vanguard's rush.

「Afuu. I feel a little light-headed because I united with Kazane.」

Tiara's face was turning red, and Mefirus shook his head at her.

『No, that's mental fatigue from sharing senses. It's powerful, but using it too much is dangerous.』

「So it is. I might be a little tired.」

Kazane agreed. She didn't notice it while battling, but she was currently feeling faint.

「But there's no mistaking that it is effective. Sieg-sama's White Fang should increase in accuracy, which could be an important factor in the battle against the dragon.」

「Well it's dangerous to use if we're not used to it, so maybe we should use it at suitable times and see how it goes.」

Everyone nodded at Kazane's remark, and they boarded Hippo-kun again and advanced. In addition, Kazane obtained the skill『Optical Camouflage』from the battle as planned.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

Title: Ogre Killer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Silver Breastplate, Silver Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Berserk Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, War Spirit Summoning Ring

Level : 25

Health: 85

Magic Power: 143+300

Strength: 42

Agility: 33

Endurance: 24

Wisdom : 43

Dexterity : 27

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』

Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』

Yumika:「This skill, I thought my head would burst from the awareness of several other people entering my brain at once.」

Kazane:「It's certainly a powerful skill, but because it requires a lot of concentration it looks like we can't use it heavily.」