Volume 2 Chapter 2 Part9 (1/2)

TL: I'm sorry for the delay. I have found another light novel to read (Knight and Magic vol 6) and I have been looking for the job for after I graduate next year. Light novel, Part-Time Job, and Looking for the job those things are binding me right now. Hehe…

ED: Okay so, Ridwan gave the chapter to me before April Fool's, but because there's already been so many fake chapters up during the time I wanted to work on this, I decided to put it off. Then, college happened. So, sorry!

A creature with the size of a bear and the speed of a wolf was approaching.

I can't explain how it looks very well considering it's a monster. It's red and covered with the sh.e.l.l like a lobster complete with scissor-like arms, which it swings right at me. I dodged and countered by attacking the monster's joints, but failed because even those were hard.

Just how many times did I miss? To add to my troubles, my footing is bad because the terrain is covered in mud. Thanks to that, I've only been able to barely match myself with the enemy's movements.

While I was fighting for my footing, I heard Maria's voice from behind.

「《Firefly》!」

A small fire hit the enemy's head.

The flame bound the monster, spreading its limbs.

Presented with an opportunity, it would be foolish to let it slip away. This is also payback for earlier. I run to the monster and used all my strength to cut off both its arms.

The monster fell screaming.

I follow through, but considering I had no idea where its weak points are, I just slashed and crushed anything I could reach, whether it was a joint or a limb.

「ーWoooooooo!」

Soon, the monster fell.

A bitter smile form on my lips as I looked over the body of the monster.

「t.i.tle 『Those lurking in the swamp』is acquired」

Magic power increased by +0.05

「……What a pain」

「Congratulation, Master.」

「I told you to stop calling me “Master”」

Maria congratulates me on a job done.

After we learned new magic, we've been spending the time exploring the dungeon.

We've been able to advance and grind levels without a problem. I want to go up to the tenth floor and make a《Connection》there so we could get back up easily, so that's our goal for today.

With Maria's help, we were able to beat the eighth floor's boss just now, so we're allowed a few moments of relief. So, I took this chance to try and get Maria to stop calling me ”Master”, but Maria, ignoring me, asks:

「Did you have trouble?」

「Not much, it's just hard to move in this kind of terrain. But your a.s.sist was on point. Thanks.」

「No no, it's because I can't do much that I try to help out even just a little…」

Maria shows quite a depressed look on her face.

Perhaps she's not satisfied with her role as a rear-laner the whole time.

Well, with experience, Maria's confidence should build up.

Well, it isn't just her. This kind of lack of confidence should be apparent to anyone who levels up so fast.

However, as Maria is quite thoughtful about her situation, her confidence shouldn't be able to rise that high. Especially now after hours of training, she's realized that her stamina is worse than lacking.

She might think that those are her only problems. But even though I could use 《Dimension》to watch our immediate surroundings, there are still blind spots, disabling me from being able to guarantee Maria's protection.

「Nah, you could probably even handle the boss all on your own, Maria. But, I can't really be sure about being able to protect you if the boss went after you. So I suggest we raise our levels up a bit more.」

「Don't you think you should just abandon a slave like me if that happened?」

「You're not a slave anymore, and I won't do such a thing.」

I think of Maria as my partner, but she herself still thinks of our relations.h.i.+p as that of a master and slave. Well, let's say I did what Maria suggested. That would make sense in her point of view, but the feeling of guilt will probably cripple me…

Or maybe she knows my situation but is persisting on hers…

「Sigh, you're too soft, Master

」

「That doesn't make me soft. That's just how I am. I just want you to earn your keep.」

「Yet another lie. You're just being overprotective.」

As she was saying that, Maria was playing with her knife, throwing it up to the air and catching it, up, down, up down…

Since she's already level 7, her skills should have increased as well. Ah, she's walking quite fast, such enthusiasm.

Her att.i.tude is shouting ”I can't stand it any longer”.

「It doesn't mean I'm being overprotective towards you. It's because, for me, you're still lacking in some aspects. I can't let you die considering I bought you for a few gold coins. Gotta get my money's worth. 」

「Another lie. You're saying things without even thinking about it, aren't you? Didn't you already say that you don't care if I run away? 」

(ED: LOL REKT)

Ahaha, she got me. Like she said, I did say that. I can't go against her now.

We've been arguing throughout our dungeon exploration, but I've never won against her even once. Perhaps it's because of her ”Insight”? It's like… she knows what I really think or feel.

Right as I get depressed due to my loss in our little debate, 《Dimension》picks up the presence of a monster.

「There's a monster to the right of that corner. I believe you can handle that one on your own.」

「Finally, I get my chance. Leave it to me.」

It's a typical beast-type monster. Because I knew beforehand that it had no unique abilities that could be a threat, I decided to leave it to Maria.

The monster is a level 8 Bound-Dog.

(ED: バウンドドッグ)

It's a monster that usually takes several level 7 players to defeat. Even so, Maria with her one dagger should be enough.

The Bound-Dog was surprised when it first saw us, but it immediately regained its composure, and it managed to dodge Maria's first attack.

Right after dodging, taking advantage of its two sets of legs, it tried to launch an immediate counterattack. It's very fast, but I noticed what it was trying to do beforehand, and it seemed Maria was alerted early as well.

In a split second after the monster's counterattack, Maria jumps over to its back and slices its skin with the dagger.

It was a decent cut, as the Bound-Dog was forced to create a distance from Maria. Afterward, it started to conduct a series of charging attacks at her. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to catch up with its speed, but Maria was now faster than that. In fact, it was the enemy who couldn't match up with her speed.

Despite Maria's physical ability being lower or the same as an average person, she was gifted with two unique skills.

”Insight” was able to predict the monster's movements.

”Hunting” increased her battle proficiency.

Because of the prolonged game of cat and mouse, the monster was eventually showing signs of exhaustion. As time pa.s.sed, the beast started to lose speed as Maria continuously targeted its tendons as it rushed past her.

Finally, Maria managed to burn the monster after severing most of its limb tendons and smas.h.i.+ng its eye. She ended the fight by stabbing its heart.

”Hunting” compliments Maria's overall high status well.

I can't help but feel sorry for Maria if I were to compare her to Dia or me, but she's definitely way better than average explorers in terms of skill and proficiency.

At this point, Maria's already able to take care of most of the monsters in this eighth floor without my help.

「Hahhaaa… Haa ha aaa… I'm sorry, I was only able to help you by this much」

「Nope, it was perfect for your first time」

「No, just being able to be a match against this beast isn't something to be proud of. It felt familiar because I'm used to hunting smaller ones like these from my village…」

「Hee, is that so? No wonder」

No wonder she possesses the skill “Hunting.”

「If look myself now, my past self can't even compare. I'm different now. My body is so light it feels like it's floating. It's amazing. For one such as myself to be able to fight against that monster…」

Maria happily played with her dagger by throwing it up and down, and thanks to that the blood on it scattered all over the place. Being able to best this monster alone must have felt like such an achievement for her.

(TL: Have you ever play Seal-Online? if you know how the “Clown” job hold the dagger, maybe Maria wield the dagger in that way too)

This ”Hunting” skill allows her to do this much. Moreover, she's now level 7, so the possibilities are immense.

Well, the important thing is that I don't have to worry that much anymore about when a monster rushes at her.

An opponent that lacks any unique skills has no chance against ”Insight”. Rather, I wonder if fighting stronger enemies would make Maria grow faster? Her unique ability should be on the same level as mine.

Anyway, the ninth floor is next. On this floor, the monsters are too strong for her to handle by herself. So, in this floor, I resume my role as the vanguard while Maria would just use 《Fire Fly》 to support.

The tenth floor's owner is Alty. It's basically just a floor covered in flames.

Of course, n.o.body dared to enter this floor.

「Alty? Do you hear me? Alty!」

It felt like calling someone, but not with a phone, but with fire.

「Oi, Alty. Do you hear……ー」

「Ah, I can hear you. That place is my home after all, so it's connected to me. 」

The fire changed shape to that of a mouth and responded to me. I can feel Maria's shock from behind.

「At first I doubted it, but it really does work. 」

「Ah, But, I'm kinda busy now. My bad, I can't stay and talk for too long. 」

「Okay, I'll get to the point then. Do you mind me using magic on your floor? 」

「Oh, the magic we discussed before huh? I don't mind. Should I get a s.p.a.ce ready for you? 」