Chapter 144 (1/2)

Chapter 144 — Swamp

We had transferred via Teleportation magic to the 28th level which turned out to be a swamp stretching out towards the horizon. We were standing on a wooden walkway, about 1.5 metres wide, built a little above the swamp and leading off into the distance.

“This walkway, it’s the way we have to go right?” I didn’t fancy trying to wade through the swamp. It looked nasty and how deep was it? Were there sinkholes and quicksands? What sort of monsters lurked under the surface?

“Umu.” Fer said, looking around. “We’ll be attacked by monsters as we go and we can’t avoid them or hide or sneak up on them since we have to stay on the walkway. It’s an extra difficulty compared to a forest or desert level.”

…What’s with this dungeon, really? Did it truly have to be so unfair? When I asked him about this Fer explained that all dungeons were different and you had to accept what came along. I couldn’t be as philosophical as Fer about it though.

“A level which is all swamp and nothing else is definitely unusual.” Fer added, after scanning the area. So there wasn’t a convenient short-cut, a dry land route to the end of the level somewhere? It was all like this? Dora-chan could fly across the swamp but unless we could get a boat or something like that then the walkway was going to be our only route through the level and we’d get ambushed by assorted monsters as we went.

“Ugh, water…” Fer said in a disgusted voice. Ah, that’s right, Fer wasn’t happy with the idea of getting wet. “We should get through the level as fast as possible.” Fer announced. He was really unhappy with the idea of getting wet… “I’ll run all night tonight.”

Can you actually do that, Fer? “I can see a bit now because it’s dusk, but after the sun goes down and it gets dark will you be able to see?” For now the sun was still in the ‘sky’ so I could see some of the scenery around here but in the dark staying on the walkway, especially at the speed Fer runs at would be a problem, surely? The walkway ahead of us wasn’t straight, it twisted and turned. The monsters hidden in the swamp wouldn’t be visible too, and…

“Don’t worry, I’ve got good night vision.” Fer said. “Moving around, even running in the dark won’t be a problem.”

“I can see in the dark too.” Dora-chan piped up. Ah, you too? I wondered if Sui-chan was also able to see at night and I was the only one in this party who couldn’t…

“But can you actually run all night, Fer?” I asked.

“Humph, I’m not so weak that an overnight run would tire me out.” Fer declared.

“Me too. I can fly for three days straight, easy peasy.” Dora-chan added.

There wasn’t going to be a problem going ahead with Fer’s plan, it seemed. Sui-chan couldn’t stay awake all night but she’d be OK in her leather bag. I was the only one who’d have difficulties, I’d have to stay firmly on Fer’s back all night and not get shaken off. If that happened and I ended up falling in the swamp, well…

“Before we leave, let’s eat first.” Fer said.

“What the big guy said. I’m hungry.” Dora-chan added.

“Sui is hungry too-”

I looked at the wooden walkway and decided it was too narrow for me to bring out my Black Magic Cooking Stove to prepare a meal. I wasn’t even sure if the walkway would support its weight. Should I use the little gas stoves to cook something?

“Hurry up. Let’s eat and get moving.” Fer said, his eyes scanning the area around us. He really really didn’t like this water-logged level. I wondered… I had decided that feeding them different-world food from the Net Super again was a bad idea but maybe I was wrong? Fer was going to be running all night and fighting monsters all the way, and Dora-chan would be flying alongside providing supporting fire so an energy boost from eating Net Super products would help them. Yosh, Net Super food it is! I decided quickly against getting more wagyu beef steaks, I couldn’t cook them easily and it would take time.

I opened Net Super and started buying side dishes and ready-to-eat entrees that caught my eye. Yakitori, deep-fried chicken, beef croquette, shumai steamed meat dumplings, Chinese spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, pork loin cutlets over rice, beef ribs and more, piled into large dishes and put down on the walkway for the Gluttonous Trio to get stuck in. I bought seafood and salad for myself since I’d been eating a lot of meat recently and the idea of more of the same was a little off-putting. After providing “”Seconds”” for Fer and Sui-chan a few times we were finished.

“Well then, ready to get going?” Fer asked.

“Aruji, Sui is sleepy-” Sui-chan murmured, already half-asleep after the meat feast. She was always the first to fall asleep after we ate.

“Sui should go to bed and sleep.” I told her.

“Okay-” Sui-chan climbed into her bag and settled down.

‘Hey you, get on my back and hang on tight.” Fer commanded.

“Y- yeah, I will.” I straddled Fer’s back, holding on as firmly as I could.

“Oh, hey.” I had a sudden thought. “Do you need a light?” It had become totally dark while we were eating dinner and I only had my pocket flashlight to work with now but there were other sorts of flashlights, lamps, LED lanterns and such for sale in the Net Super. I could buy-

“No, no lights.” Fer said. “Lights at night in this swamp would just attract more monsters.” Ah, would it? In that case, no lights are good. Safety first after all. I switched off my own flashlight and stowed it carefully in my pocket.

“I’ll put my Barrier up for you and Dora, just in case.” Fer positioned himself on the walkway and I felt him tense, ready for his sprint.

“Nah, no need to do that for me, big guy.” Dora-chan retorted. “I’ll take the lead and spot any monsters you are going to run into, smack down the little ones.”

“Good idea.” Fer acknowledged.

“Right then, let’s get going.” Dora-chan buzzed off into the darkness and Fer launched himself down the walkway after the little Pixie Dragon. As soon as we moved away from the start of the level a couple of monsters attacked us. One was a giant frog and the other was some kind of fish, about 30cm long and flat like an ankou. They jumped clear out of the water from either side of the walkway but they bounced off Fer’s Barrier. We didn’t bother to stop to fight them but we just kept going, leaving them behind. We didn’t have time to deal with every monster we encountered. Besides, and I smiled to myself at the pun, they were just the sort of small fry Fer kept on referring to. Fish, small fry, get it? Okay, one was a frog but… oh, never mind.

Up ahead in the darkness I could hear the sounds of battle and see occasional flashes of fire magic. Dora-chan was fighting some monsters, it seemed. I felt a vague disappointment that we were leaving drops behind but I had decided before we set off we wouldn’t stop to collect any drops on this floor, we just wanted to get through the swamp and face off against the level boss. We had collected a lot of drops on the previous level but it had taken us quite some time. There were bound to be some good drops from this level’s boss once we defeated him anyway and I’d be sure to collect those high-value ones before we advanced to the next level.

As we proceeded the monsters that Dora-chan had subjugated had all disappeared but the signs of the battles were clear where the walkway was broken or damaged. Fer nimbly avoided the loose boards and gaping holes and kept running incredibly fast into the darkness while I held on for dear life.

When the sun rose Fer slowed to a stop on a patch of the walkway that had suffered comparatively little damage. He raised his muzzle and sniffed then declared that the level’s boss wasn’t that far off now. Dora-chan came flying back after a few moments and settled down beside us.

“The walkway just here seems solid enough.” I said, climbing off Fer’s back with a groan. All my muscles hurt from the pounding ride. I stretched and then my belly clock went off. Hmmm, this was as good a place as any. “Do you want to eat some breakfast before we get to the boss?” I asked.

“Umu, that would be good.” Fer said.

“Oh, food at last.” Dora-chan agreed.