Chapter 194: The Future and Chance Meeting (1/2)
3 days passed.
It seems like those 3 have stopped lying in wait for us. We haven’t seen them once since then.
They might have left the city already.
In these 3 days, we have explored around half of the 4th Floor.
Lizardmen, Sahagins, Mantises, Crabs.
The monsters weren’t dangerous to the point of feeling they were strong, but they weren’t easy to deal with like the 3rd Floor monsters either. This is most likely the floor that suits our level.
We haven’t encountered a Lamia or Scylla, but I don’t think we will be cornered into a despairing situation.
…Well, we have the cheat item that is the Barrier Stone, so it is also because our safety margin is a lot bigger than that of native explorers.
“At this pace, we will reach the Lamia nest by tomorrow. The Scylla is there too, right?” (Hikaru)
“Right. There’s apparently times when she is there and times when she is not.” (Rifreya)
“Even if the Scylla is in the nest, it would be impossible to fight them all at once. We should be able to manage somehow if we hook Lamias one by one and reduce their numbers like that though.” (Jeanne)
“Hook, you say… They are not fishes.” (Hikaru)
We opened up the handmade map and began our strategy meeting.
Even within the tough monsters of the 4th Floor, the Lamias and Scyllas are especially strong monsters.
Especially the Scylla. It is several times stronger, is big, and there’s quite a high risk in a small party like ours to face it.
Even so, we have decided to fight.
“If we defeat the Scylla, we get to Gold Rank, huh. We are still Ebony Rank though. Can you jump ranks?” (Hikaru)
“You can. It is impossible to subjugate a Scylla if you are half-baked after all. There’s also no means to cheat.” (Rifreya)
“So there really are people who try to cheat the system?” (Hikaru)
“There apparently are until the Silver Rank. The guild isn’t supervising that part too strictly it seems.” (Rifreya)
By cheating, it refers to selling Spirit Stones only to raise your contribution despite not actually contributing as an explorer.
The reality is that you can buy Spirit Stones from other explorers for higher than market price as long as you have the coin. If you do that, you can increase your contribution in the guild.
The guild can’t moderate this. If they make the exchange in the dungeon, it is difficult to find the perpetrator after all.
“That’s why the ones in Gold and higher are special. In order to become Gnome Rank, you have to apply for the subjugation of a Scylla, and a guild staff member will follow you partway, and will be evaluating the party.” (Rifreya)
“There’s even something like that? I thought the guild didn’t do jobs like that.” (Hikaru)
“The guild almost never does…jobs where they have to enter the dungeon. It is technically just to make the Gold Rank assessment.” (Rifreya)
“I see. In that case, it would be only a few times or none every year.” (Hikaru)
Anyways, Gnome Rank… In order to obtain the gold rank tag, you have to subjugate the strongest monster of the 4th Floor, the Scylla.
By the way, the one higher than that is Undine Rank; the mithril rank tag.
In order to become that one, you have to reach the 6th Floor. The 6th Floor is a floor that hasn’t been cleared for several decades already. The monsters are apparently super strong.
At the time when the master of Rifreya was an explorer, reaching the 5th Floor was the condition to become mithril. It seems like the difficulty increases as time passes.
It might be natural that advancing through untrodden spaces makes you a ‘real explorer’, so being a high rank is just on par with the job.
“Master got to Salamandor Rank by defeating the strongest monster in the 5th Floor, the Pit Fiend. Master’s party was apparently the first one of them all.” (Rifreya)
“It is not like that now?” (Hikaru)
“The information of a monster that has been defeated once will spread around after all. It makes defeating it a bit easier. In order to become Salamandor, you have to defeat the strongest monster of the current lowest floor. The Crimson Vials are challenging the 6th Floor, but the monsters deep in are crazy strong, and they apparently can’t defeat them yet. If they manage to defeat it, they will become Salamandors.” (Rifreya)
“A monster that even they can’t defeat, huh.” (Hikaru)
I have only seen how the Crimson Vials fight in the 3rd Floor for 1 day. Even when comparing them to Rifreya, they held strength on a whole other dimension.
Even a party like that can’t defeat the boss of the 6th Floor…
“But if they have reached the boss, haven’t they already found the stairs to the lower floor? They can just go check out the 7th Floor first.” (Jeanne)
“Jeanne-san, about that…that monster is apparently protecting the stairs to the lower floor.” (Rifreya)
“Hooh, sounds like a game.” (Jeanne)
Game, she says.
Well, I do get her. It does sound like the scenario of a game.
“There’s no need to bother about the lower floors right now. The problem is the Scylla. What do we do? Are we really going to defeat them?” (Hikaru)
“Of course, we will. Or more like, I want to quickly clear the 4th Floor and head to the 5th Floor.” (Jeanne)
“The 4th Floor is damp, cold, and dark after all… I also agree with Jeanne.” (Rifreya)
“Then, the next one will be the Scylla subjugation.” (Hikaru)
“A blood boiling adventure! I will massacre them!” (Jeanne)
“Jeanne-san is pretty dangerous, isn’t she?” (Hikaru)
She even made the party name Battle Junkies after all.
It is clear that Jeanne is enjoying battles, and I think we are pretty active even when compared to other parties. Because of that, our Tiers are increasing and we are getting stronger…apparently, but I can’t really tell well.
I am fighting normally even in the 4th Floor, so I do think I am stronger than before though.
Now then.
We are currently having this talk at the living room with a map spread on the table. Today is a day off.
Our schedule is diving into the dungeon for several consecutive days, and resting for 1 day.
That’s why the Scylla subjugation will be from tomorrow on.
From here on, it is free time.
“Then, I will go check the state of Worigami-san for a bit.” (Hikaru)
“I will do the cooking today, okay? You are always the one cooking for us after all, Hikaru.” (Rifreya)
“Then, I will go take a bath.” (Jeanne)
And so, I left the house.
I showed up at the guild and registered to enter the dungeon. I won’t be stopped at the entrance even if I don’t do this, but it is customary. If you properly register here when you go missing, it will be judged that you died inside the dungeon.
I enter the 1st Floor and search for Worigami-san.
“Oh, there he is. He is fighting an armed one now, huh… Will he be okay?” (Hikaru)
The danger level between an armed Skeleton and an unarmed one is totally different. Worigami-san was holding the iron rod firmly in his hands. He avoided the attack of the skeleton and immediately moved on the offensive. It is not a fighting style that aims for the weak spot, but one where he hits wherever he can hit.
Having its wrist hit, the Skeleton drops its weapon, and Worigami-san immediately attacks the head.
The cranium disconnects and it disappears just like that.
The skeleton changed into a small black Spirit Stone. Complete victory.
“Worigami-san, good work. Looks like even an armed one is no match for you!” (Hikaru)
“Ooh, Hikaru-kun! Man, I am finally getting the hang of this. I am still not used to the animal shaped ones though.” (Worigami)
Worigami-san waves his arm energetically while being modest.
By animal shaped ones, he is referring to the horse and dog skeletons. I have only fought them a few times myself, but it is true that they are difficult to defeat if you are not used to it.
By the way, the 1st Floor monsters are Skeletons, and the types of those Skeletons are: humanoid, humanoid (armed), dog, and horse. They are all weak, and they are perfect training partners for Bronze Rank explorers and their clubs.