Chapter 9

I swing down my sword.

Its level must have been low or at the very least, the last tentacle plant was only on that level as its body came apart into 4 pieces easily.

“Whew.”

After the annihilation of the swarm, I took a breather.

Numerous drops littered the dungeon.

We had already reached the 24th layer.

Even if it was only the middling layers, the closer we got, the stronger the monsters become. An intermediate level adventurer for example would need to organize a party as an essential requirement.

Even I would need to prepare well in advance if I were to tackle it on solo.

Be that as it may, my levels are still enough for it, and I’m not alone right now.

I turned around and called the priestess who was waiting at the rear guard.

“Kokoru, give me a hand in collecting the drops. I don’t think I can handle this much alone.”

“I-I’m on it.”

Kokoru runs to the dropped items, opens the status screen, and begins to store them away.

The items dropped by the monster disappear by itself over time. Same with the monster’s body.

Once I put it into storage, or take it out in the dungeon, that doesn’t happen but due to that characteristic, a large number of drops often leads to it disappearing before being picked up.

That’s why even though I said I would haul it on my person earlier, I ended up having Kokoru help me out.

Although the priest class has a hard time raising the maximum carrying capacity, It seems there’s still plenty of space for her because of the super high level she has.

What a rare companion I have here.

I smirked as I collected the items and coins.

I never thought the day would come when I would get so many drops. Just seeing the storage fill up conversely fills me with joy too.

No, I should stop. I’m taking this luxury for granted.

At least for now, It’s only just a benefit of Kokoru’s skills while she’s still here with me.

I shouldn’t rest on my laurels.

“Looks like everything has been picked up.”

I look around the dungeon floor and then say it to Kokoru.

“We’ve walked quite a way off. We can rest, if you want.”

“No need to worry. If it’s ok with you, Sir Alvin, we can go on till the next safe point.”

“Let’s go ahead then.”

I gave a short reply and resumed walking.

We were advancing in silence for some time when Kokoru suddenly called out to me from behind.

“…Uhmm.”

“Yeah?”

“Is there something special about your sword?”

“My sword? No. I must admit it packs quite a bit of power but it’s your normal everyday sword. It’s not imbued with any special properties. Any swordsman worth his salt diving into the depths has one of these.”

“I see… Then do you have any special abilities? Like ‘One-Shot Death Blow’.”

“N-no, I possess nothing like that, and something like that probably doesn’t exist… Why do you ask?”

“But…”

Kokoru says in a lowered voice.

“The monsters slashed by Sir Alvin were killed in a single strike…. Even a Level 43 swordsman would usually find it impossible to one shot monsters on the 24th layer. That’s why it’s on my mind.”

“Aaah… That’s for sure,” I go on to explain, “There are a few reasons. While I don’t have a skill like ‘One-Shot Death Blow’ I have parameter raising skills. Thanks to that, my actual stats are above the level I’m actually at. Plus there’s your buff.”

Kokoru has been supplementing me with buffs right around the 20th level.

With added stuff like damage reduction, strength buffs, and poison resist buffs, I was able to plow through easily.

I had wondered if her MP was still good to go, but it seems she has no problems at all. That’s a level 80 priestess for you.

But it looks like Kokoru still wasn’t convinced with that.

“Hmmm…… I still don’t think you can hit them in one blow though.”

“Not at all. With attack power like this, a middling level monster can be taken down in a single hit as long as you hit the weak points.”

“….Eh? Have you been hitting the weak points of every monster all the while?”

“Of course, I couldn’t do it for all of them, but the ones that only took a single blow were.”

“Eeeh……. R-Really. What kind of prowess do you need to have to achieve that?…..”

Kokoru says in surprise.

“I’ve participated in many high level parties, but I’ve never seen a swordsman like you Sir Alvin. Likewise, with your skill, but doesn’t that mean you memorized the weaknesses of the monsters right? It’s very well unlikely if you don’t have the fighting experience…”

“Experience is a given, yes. But I’ve read the materials in the guild’s archives and have been persistently listening and studying off of experienced adventurers”

I say with a wry smile.

“It’s in part of dragging everyone down with the drops, I had to play an active role even if it was only a little bit.”

I was grasping at straws anyhow, as I would have no place in a party if I was a liability on top of having negative skills.

There was still no place for me when all is said and done, even if I wasn’t a liability though.

“Sir Alvin…..”

“But that’s not all y’know? I couldn’t do this on a solo run. It’s also because of you being here.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. It’s precisely because there is someone supporting me from the backline that I could place a somewhat dangerous bet.”

It’s a hurdle aiming at the weak spots, and if I failed to do so, there’s possible retaliation.

While I am confident in my skills, I refrain from doing so as much as possible when I’m solo. While it’s less efficient to do so, it’s unavoidable.

Having a companion, however, allows you to not have to worry about such things.

Kokoru who heard my explanation, laughs bashfully.

“….Ahehe”

“There’s also another thing…. To be honest, I want to show you a good time too.”

“E-Eeeh!? Wh-why….”

“I can’t have others thinking I’m not a good vanguard. Especially to a companion I’ve just met. I can’t have the great Level 80 priestess abandon me now, can I?”

“Ah…s-so that’s what you meant….”

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing at all”

Kokoru says so as she pouts behind me.

Her mood sometimes sours like this, but I’m not sure why.

“…Hnn?”

Just then, a monster with heavy steps echoed loudly ahead as I look up at the monster that appeared.

It was a body made of large green stone, an emerald golem that’s resistant to wind and physical attacks.

Normally, it would be a nasty monster to deal with, but I was relieved.

It came at a good time. I might dodge what made her angry.

“……Hm.”

I quickly closed in the distance and dealt my first blow on the right leg.

Thanks to the use of my swordsmanship skills, “Zantetsu” the golem was greatly staggered.

But I probably didn’t deal that much damage.

It seems the Golem’s level is high. This could take some time.

I calmly take on the Golem’s counterpunch with my raised sword.

An intense sound wailed out, but I wasn’t shaken.

Its offensive power doesn’t seem to be all that much.

The next step then is to…

“Sir Alvin!”

Kokoru’s voice sounded out from behind me.

Immediately afterwards, I felt as if light was passing through my body, then words appeared for a moment in the corner of my vision.

It’s an indication that a buff has been applied.

“Hwoooh!”

I shout out in excitement. With this buff, it would be a different story.

At the same time, the golem pulled its arms back.

I kicked the ground jumping, thrusting the tip of my sword into its bulky green-colored chest.

The sword ignores its physical resistance and stabs deep into it, reaching the golem’s core deep inside.

Its remaining HP was cut off with a single blow. The emerald golem disperses in an array along with it.

As its name implies, a number of Emerald Ores drop mixed in with coins.

I look back at the priestess.

“Nice. So you’re able to cast a buff like that too. Although, doesn’t a buff that completely disables resistances cost a lot of MP? Are you ok?”

“Yep, absolutely.”

“Amazing. You’re very reliable.”

“….Ehehe. But you have a fast reaction too. That buff has a short duration so I expected to re-apply it several times but…You’re impressive.”

After that exchange, we collected the coins and emerald ore.

The ore catches for a hefty sum so it’s a pretty good drop.

Just as we finished getting the items, Kokoru spoke up.

“All things aside though, this is a pretty messed up dungeon.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you think the monsters that appear have no rhyme or reason? What happened to the fire-attribute and paralyzing poison monsters from the upper floors? Even this floor should have plant-type monsters like Mandrakes or Tentacle Plants, but once you think of that, something like an emerald golem came out.”

“Hnnn~ You have a point.”

“From what’s been seen so far, it’s a rare sight having a nonsensical unknown theme.”

Nonsensical, huh?

You could make a case for that, but…I also feel that it isn’t.

Depending on the level, there was a specific monster that’s inclined to appear at an extent.”

So I have a feeling that there might be a rule that governs this place…but I don’t know just yet.

Putting aside that mystery for now, we head on.