Chapter 18 (1/2)

A Steady Advance

On the second floor, gra.s.s grew on the floor and ivy twined up the labyrinth walls.

The ceiling was brighter than the first floor’s. It’s probably for photosynthesis.

“There are many monstrous beasts on the second floor. The same monsters as the ones on the first floor also appear, but few of the insects.”

We continued our steady advance.

Using the shortest path, we advanced by breaking walls.

Wolfs and tigers attacked, as well as wildlife like bears turned into monsters. It grew horns that held poison.

Splitting up the same as before, the groups of two and four defeated them.

Ria plucked off the beasts’ limbs as usual while Maal finished them off with a crossbow.

It was to raise the lowest leveled person in the party, Maal. Serge also recognized it as so-called power leveling.

The other four also gradually smoothed out their cooperation.

The basis, Carlos would defend the first attacks with his s.h.i.+eld while the rear guard keeps them at bay with magic.

While Gig stops their movement with sheer power, Carlos pierces their vitals with his sword and Serge cuts them apart with magic blades.

Since there were a lot of monsters with fur, it was a lot of work to skin them. Again, Maal was skilled at this.

Though Serge stored the skins, he still had a lot of room left.

“How much s.p.a.ce do you have left to put things in?”

“I could put no less than one hundred things larger than Gig in. I’ve tried it before.”

Furthermore, it seems that the storage capacity increased steadily.

“… If Serge dies, what happens to everything inside?”

“It would probably just stay as it is. Though I don’t know how much would be in this labyrinth, it would disappear between s.p.a.ce.”

He seemed to understand something of what would happen.

“In other words, Serge should be protected with the highest priority?”

“Please.”

Advancing through the labyrinth pa.s.sageways, they appeared in a huge room.

Huge trees rose up with birds flying between them.

“There are some big rooms like these among the layers. Since there are strong monsters, please be careful.”

Maal’s previous party seems to have avoided large rooms like this. But these six people judged it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Our sight is limited huh. Let’s advance in close formation.”

On the floors that don’t have many traps, Ria took the lead. The formation was like an arrowhead.

“Be careful of surprise attacks. Particularly overhead!”

With a shout, she drew her katana.

Attacking from a tree, a leopard was cut by Quick Draw. Its face was splendidly cut in two.

While its fur was being stripped, Ria treated her katana. The sword that the Ogre King gave her had cut down many monsters up till now, but still wasn’t nicked. It hadn’t become dull either.

(This is a good katana~)

Ria wiped down the blade while grinning, looking like a dangerous character in all respects.

Before long they arrived at the mirror in the central part of the room. Serge threw in the towel.

“Sorry, but I’m already tired and worn out. My magic is also at its limit.”

Just like outside, the light in the labyrinth also lowered somewhat. Feels like dusk.

“It’s already night outside huh. Since this floor won’t darken any further, we don’t need to make camp yet.”

Here, Ria opened her mouth and said something unexpected.

“Let’s take a bath.”

The tall human that had known her for a long time had a cramped smile on his face, while the short human had on a puzzled expression.

“… But this area has neither water nor a hot spring here…”

Maal’s reaction was the most honest, but she didn’t comprehend Ria.

She scooped out the ground of the labyrinth with earth magic. Similarly, she hardened the walls in the same manner. After she filled it with water using water magic, she heated it with a fireball.

“This is a pseudo open air bath!”

Maal clapped her hands towards the happy Ria.

For the time being, the sleeping Serge was thrown into the bath with the other men. We got a meal ready in the mean time.

Maal managed it and cooked. Thanks to the magic bag, we weren’t lacking in seasonings, ingredients, and cookware.

“Maal is good at cooking.”

“Really? I’m pretty average.”

With Lulu who could only do minimal cooking, to Ria anything is good when put into her stomach. According to the two, Maal’s skill was like a mother’s.

When the meal was finished, she raised the temperature of the bath again and the women soaked in the hot water. Ria was hugging Maal.

“But being able to take a bath in a labyrinth, it’s absurd~”

Maal said while being drained of her strength.

“Aside from me, everyone was considerably sweaty and dirty. If you can keep your body clean, you should not neglect it.”

After this, Ria intended to make baths whenever possible. Though for herself, she practically didn’t sweat nor have blood on her at all.

Her previous life was as a j.a.panese, and was brought up in a somewhat luxurious life in the royal capital. She simply liked taking baths.

“Oi, no peeking! You guys!”

Though there was no possibility that they would do that, Ria said it like a beauty would.

“Ah~ nevertheless, Lulu’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s are pretty big huh~”

“Wait, they’ll hear!”

“Isn’t that fine? These b.r.e.a.s.t.s are in a good dome shape. Though it’s often said that elfs have small b.r.e.a.s.t.s, halfs are different after all~”

“Please don’t rub them while saying that… wai-!”

Only able to hear the voices, the men slouched forward.

As for the person on guard duty, Ria served willingly. The Sleep Reduction Gift was convenient.

Standing guard alone with a big grin, she secretly polished her katana.