Chapter 86 \nChapter 86 – Passing Through the Spacious Room\n
Even after the encounter with the Massive Chameleons Kazane and the others continued advancing. Even though they were taken unawares by the Massive Chameleon the first time, their scent was not impossible to discover if she concentrated, so after that they didn't let their guard down and didn't receive any more surprise attacks. However, the Massive Chameleon was not the only monster in this layer.
◎ Rock Hold Cave 26th Layer
Kazane swung her sword with all her might at the neck of the jumping Street Gazelle. She attacked it many times to weaken its movements before『Crushing Blow』finally activated.
And Kazane immediately collapsed wearily.
「Ah, you did it. Even though you had to fight unusually hard.」
Yumika was also reasonably tired.
「Dealing with their terribly quick hit and run attacks repeatedly is tiring, after all.」
Street Gazelles started appearing around the mid-20 layers and had unrivaled running speed inside the dungeon, and their special characteristic was that they would charge with their horns and separate a bit with their continued charge before turning around and attacking again. Their pace was too fast to run away or catch them, so there was no choice but to counterattack as they attacked again.
Although Zinray and Yumika were able to counter at that speed, Kazane could not hit them with Killing Leg, but could only accumulate damage with light attacks from her sword to weaken them. Well, that is how they are normally fought, though.
「But I obtained their skill, so I think I will be able to smoothly defeat them starting next time.」
Kazane replied while looking at her skill list. The skill『Dash』was displayed on the list. That was a skill that would allow her to run a short distance at the same speed as the Street Gazelle.
「Ara, although you didn't get any from the Army Ants.」
「They are already covered by the same species, so isn't it useless?」
From the 20th layer the higher ranked version of Worker Ants, Army Ants, started appearing, and they had entered battle with them many times, but she had yet to obtain a skill from them.
「Well, they spit formic acid unlike the Workers, so I thought that Kazane would be able to learn it.」
「Something like a human girl spitting formic acid is gross.」
Kazane replied with a truly grossed out face. Imagining Kazane drooling and her saliva dissolving the ground Yumika nodded and said「well, that's true.」
「By the way, Kazane. Couldn't you stop them with Tebasaki-san?」
Zinray was breathing a little roughly as he asked and Kazane groaned. Even Zinray seemed to have trouble with an opponent he could only hit with glancing blows.
「Mm. Directly seizing them is impossible, but I might be able to hinder their running.」
「Try it. It might be a good idea to aim and fire at a place where they could be hit by Tiara-sama's Flame Knight.」
「That's right. I can't catch up with Flare Bird.」
Tiara nodded with a depressed face. Its movement speed was capable of opposing them, but its attacks were completely unable to hit them.
「It is important to use the proper thing according to the situation.」
『Because it was awful for that moment.』
Tiara's face sunk further at the merciless words of Louise and Mefirus.
Sieg, who was sitting on the front of Hippo-kun, replied. He was considerably limp from repeatedly saving Magic Power and firing White Fang. What was now asked of Sieg was combat experience with 100 percent White Fang.
「Well, we have to find accommodation soon, so if we meet any opponents on the way to the nearest hidden room please take care of them.」
Sieg said admirably with a worn out face, and Kazane gently stroked his head while saying「do your best.」It made Sieg feel good about it.
Tiara was happily hanging on to Kazane from behind. It seemed that Tiara's dependence on Kazane had been increasing since the Orc battle.
A pink and calm atmosphere was flowing there.
◎ Rock Hold Cave 26th Layer Hidden Room
Kazane opened the treasure chest and took out what was inside. Yumika closely observed them.
「Are they similar to the Flame Burst Orbs?」
「That's right, they're the ice version.」
A few hours ago they started heading towards a discovered hidden room to camp. On the way Kazane discovered a new hidden room, so they decided to spend the night there.
「I thought there would be a more amazing item.」
Kazane complained when Zinray came to replace her for the night watch.
「Its rarity is certainly low for this layer, but it should be useful when fighting the Black Rock dragon.」
「Kazane, the futon's ready.」
「Yeah, I'm coming now. Zinray-san, guard us well. Call out if anything comes. 」
「I know. You should rest well.」
Kazane and Tiara went inside the futon together.
The other companions were already asleep.
As soon as they entered the futon Tiara hugged Kazane.
「Mou, Tiara has recently been acting like a spoiled child.」
Kazane smiled wryly. I don't particularly dislike hugging while sleeping, so that's fine, but it's not okay to rely on me too much….thought Kazane. Kazane was also keeping that in mind. Probably.
Tiara was aware of it herself and became despondent at Kazane's remark. \n「It's still a bit scary, right?」
「Yes, you could say that.」
At Kazane's words Tiara nodded.
「Every time I remember that figure I start trembling.」
Tiara's eyes slightly moistened. Kazane thought that she might be thinking about when she was kidnapped by the Ogres.
At that time, Kazane and the others only came across Tiara by chance before she became deflowered, but it was almost certain that the Ogres kidnapped her to do reproductive deeds. If they were monsters in a dungeon it would be nothing but relieving of lust, but whether such deeds were necessary for Ogre reproduction or if they did it in mimicry to enjoy themselves couldn't be said.
Well, it was not the kind of story that someone could say「it wasn't dangerous」to the victim.
「But I might also be scared for a different reason.」
「I am good since I'm still being protected by everybody. But Kazane is out in front, isn't she?」
Kazane was in the vanguard and was a vital part of their offensive, so there was no other way. Tiara understood that, but her next remark overrode that.
「I worry, whenever I think about Kazane not being here anymore I can't help but be anxious.」
Tiara said as she clung to Kazane again.
「I don't want Kazane to leave.」
Kazane made a hopeless face and Tiara gave a somewhat lonely smile as she loosened her arms and replied「I'm sorry.」
「I do understand. However, please let me be a spoiled child for a bit longer. I will definitely return to normal after a while.」
Kazane groaned while she looked at Tiara and nodded.
「Understood. I believe in Tiara.」
Kazane's words relieved Tiara, and she said「thank you, Kazane」as she continued leaning on her and closed her eyes.
(Well, after the dragon extermination I wonder if she will be a little relieved)
Kazane thought that maybe Tiara had accumulated a great amount of stress from the successive dungeon dives and exploration. Then she patted Tiara's back and cuddled her like a child as she also closed her eyes.
They were also getting up early tomorrow. She needed to recover her stamina.
◎ Rock Hold Cave 29th Layer – Evening
Kazane's party stayed overnight in the hidden room and descended to the 26th layer the next morning, and in the evening they reached a massive room on the 29th layer.
「There are many wide places on this level.」
The ceiling was a purple sky completely filled with fissures. The blue sun had already set and night was arriving.
「This place also has a magnificent view. We won't see it this time since we aren't descending that far, but after the 40th layer the dungeon will be completely different from a cavern with various different types of places like grasslands, volcanoes, and castles.」
「That fact isn't really clicking. I guess I can't really believe it until I see it for myself.」
\nIt was exactly when they came near the center of the room. Kazane suddenly looked around.
Kazane's menacing face as she looked around was too grim, so Zinray asked Kazane what was going on, but Kazane didn't answer, and with a loud voice she commanded Hippo-kun.
「Hippo-kun, runnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!」
In response to that word, the two Hippo-kun began running forcefully.
Yumika also felt an abnormal presence in the surroundings and her expression changed. Zinray and then the other companions successively noticed.
「Multiple reactions of magical power, it has really come…」
Louise's eyes opened wide.
Lights in geometric pattern appeared one after the other in the surroundings, and shortly after they descended to the ground monsters appeared.
Zinray grasped his dragonbone spear tightly and scowled at the surroundings.
Several dozens of Orcs, Army Ants, Street Gazelles, Burrow Tigers etc. appeared, filling the spacious room.
When the forced summoning was completed the number of materialized monsters exceeded 200. And then the dungeon's greatest trap called Monster House suddenly attacked Kazane and the others.
Occupation: Magic Swordswoman
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
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』『Dash』
Yumika:「What a huge amount.」