41 From 40.20 to 23 layers.txt (1/2)

The next day, me and Rustyala were both trying the 21 layers of the labyrinth again.

''-- Well!　Finally, we can do some serious labyrinth exploration. Christ.

'Yeah. But there's probably a big difference between what you think is authentic and what I think is authentic, though.

We took a shortcut to the 20th level of the labyrinth via our house magic, the Connection. It's a fresh sensation to be in the depths of the 20th layer so early in the morning.

Rastiara is happily walking behind me as she unravels her body.

Unlike yesterday, I'm leading the way today.

In order to make the most of my abilities, I have returned to my original position.

I walk through the 21st layer while conducting a search for the enemy, but Rustyala's noisy talking behind me doesn't stop.

'Christ!　I'm aiming for 30 layers!

...... No, let's go one layer at a time and see how things go. We'll start with the 21st layer to get our shoulders used to it, and then set our immediate goal at the end of the 'Righteous Path'--

'Long story about Christ!

As I was presenting the policy, Rustyala prodded it sulkily.

In terms of policy in the labyrinth, the two of us were not at all compatible. Although we had been discussing it since early morning, even now that we had entered the labyrinth, we hadn't been able to integrate those policies.

-- though I'm sure this is fine.

I knew from the beginning that it would be difficult to control Rastiala.

I have no choice but to adjust to her, but if I give in and coddle Rastiara from the beginning, it will resonate later.

Ideally, I should balance the too aggressive Rustyala with the too passive me. So it's just right that neither of us give in.

''My story may be long, but I don't think I'm saying anything wrong in advancing through the labyrinth.

'It's a boring thing to say as you move through the labyrinth, though.

Righteousness and boredom are in direct proportion to each other. Also, I'm not here for fun.

'But, Christ. That would be a breach of contract, right?　I'm going to help Christ with his goal of attacking the labyrinth, so he has an obligation to help me with my goal of enjoying the labyrinth.

Yeah, that's right. --this is a 'deal'. So, let's pause for a moment, Rustyala. It's all right for you to have fun. But don't forget what I'm up to. Just keep your hands to yourself as little as possible.

'Oh ....... You've been stubborn all morning to put that nail in the coffin: ......

This guy needs to be nailed down like this to feel safe.

He's a completely different type of person than the ones I've worked with, such as Dia and Maria.

It's because of your bad behavior. This is the end of your chatter at ...... since the day I met you.

As I was talking to Rastiara, I noticed the monster's approach with the magic 《Dimension》.

''Ooh, it's here quickly. Well, it's useful. Christ's Searching Magic.

There's one enemy ahead of us. It's the same big monkey from yesterday. I'll jump in first to draw them away. Then you jump in after him. I'll do the combinations.

'You don't think I'm a boar or something?　Well, I'll follow you now.

Let's go--!

I start running at the same time as I call out.

Despite the fact that I'm running in earnest, Rustyala is following closely behind me. After all, it's a guy who is secure in his abilities.

As I turn one corner of the corridor, I am able to see the odd-shaped monster.

It's the same monster from yesterday, a Fury.

The Fury notices that I'm approaching and tries to intercept me with its four arms.

I duck underneath his four strong arms and slip past his crotch to get behind him. Fury tries to twist his body to attack me as I turn behind him. But Rustyala, who was following him, won't let him.

Fury catches Rustiala's sword with two arms. Then she extends her remaining arm toward me. I dodge it and shift my body further into Fury's blind spot. Fury tries to turn his face toward me so that he doesn't lose sight of me - but he gives up because of Rustiala's presence in front of him. He must have had a hunch that if he removed his gaze from Rustiala here, he would receive a fatal wound.

Fury prioritized crushing the Rastiara in front of him first.

Leaving me behind, he tries to grab onto Rustiala, leaving me behind.

At this moment, I'm convinced of victory.

The moment that his powerful arm reaches Rustiala, my sword slashes through his arm's shoulder. The slashing of my shoulder causes my arm, which was trying to grab Rastiara, to stop moving for a moment. Rastiara doesn't miss the opening, and scrapes through the powerful arm and slashes through Fury's torso.

Fury rages aloud and is eager to crush Rustiala.

I swing my sword again in time with that enemy's breathing. Naturally, Fury's movements stop for another moment.

It's a dead end.

As long as I'm behind him, Fury can't make a decent attack.

This is a trick that can be done because the magic Dimension constantly alerts us to the movements of Rustyala and the enemy.

Rastiara slices and dices the Fury, who creates many gaps, many times. In the end, the sword slices through Fury's neck, and as it does so, I also stab Fury in the heart from the back.

Fury let out a decapitated roar, spurted out blood, and disappeared as a light.

I picked up the fallen magic stone and checked with Rastiara as I picked up the fallen magic stone.

''Are you hurt?''

I didn't get any blood back. No problem. I mean, it's just too bad about the monster right now. You can't do anything about it: ......

'This is what happens when we give it our all. It's like harvesting rice, and I love it.

'Hmm ....... If it's too overwhelming, the fun is ......

Don't worry, though, the 21st level starts here. --It's a magical dimension.

I expand my magical senses.

The characteristic of these 21 layers is that monsters with overwhelming power will spring out in large numbers.

The roar of the decapitated demon from earlier should be involved in that mechanism.

I'm going to figure out all the monsters in the area where the roar will reach. As expected, all those monsters heard the current roar and were coming towards us.

''Well?''

Just as I suspected. You take one down, and all the monsters around you seem to hear about it and come around.

Yesterday, I didn't have time to search carefully and far away, but today was different.

There is room to grasp its movements.

''I see. The more you defeat them, the more they surround you, right?

'But it's a pointless partnership for me. With my magic, I can't be surrounded. Rastiara, follow me.

Copy that. Are you going to use the two-body-one tactic you used earlier and keep taking them down?

'We'll do that for the basics, but if it gets too much trouble, we might do it all at once. And if we're surrounded, I'm sure we'll be fine.

Of course.

Rustyala laughs and replies, following me.

In fact, me and Rustyala are typical solo player types.

It can be said that in one-on-many, the true value of this type of game is shown.

As I mentioned before, it is true that we are strong even when working together, but that is because we are close to each other's abilities and fighting methods. Normally, there is no one who can match Rustyala's movements. Knowing that, Rastiara probably wanted to be my companion.

''There's a monster in a little while. This time I think I can surprise them from behind.''

All right. ...... Oh, you can hunt monsters, but make sure you head to the 22nd level too, okay?

If I could afford it, I would.

As a matter of fact, there's only so much room. Because if you're running at the speed of me and Rastiala, you won't be surrounded unless there's something really wrong with you.

That's why we can have a chat.

The Fury struggled yesterday, but honestly, it posed no threat.

At any rate, it is blocked from attacking in a pack, which is its characteristic, so it can't be helped.

We repeatedly destroyed each one of them and stepped through the 21 layers.

We had to leave the ”right-of-way” and take a detour to avoid being surrounded, but we managed to get to the 22nd level of stairs without any problems.

It takes about an hour to get there.

The number of Fury's defeats was over ten.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

When we reached the front of the 22-story staircase, we were recovering while keeping an eye on our surroundings.

We said we had plenty of time to spare, but as the numbers piled up, mistakes were bound to happen. We were surrounded a few times, so we weren't completely unscathed. It wasn't a serious injury, but it was damage that required recovery magic.

''World of Immaculate Cleanliness,'' ''In the pale sunshine.'' -- ”Cure Fool.

Rastiara chants, gathers magic, and casts a recovery spell.

I stare at it and throw a question at Rastiara.

'Does that ...... poetry-like thing before the magic mean anything to you?'

Poetry?　Oh, this. Hmm, it's just an image aid, so I don't need it. It's kind of a habit, I guess.

Yeah.

It seems that the same magic can have quirks for different people.

The way of imagining is different, and the way of chanting is also different. The magic itself is in the body, so that may be natural.

''Good. Now you are fully recovered.

Thank you.

We checked each other's MP and, while doing so, checked our experience levels.

We hadn't hunted properly since the Teeda battle, so our experience levels were quickly accumulated. As I thought, the experience value per unit of a monster in a deeper layer is dramatically different.

Also, the fact that we were hunting in deeper than proper levels was probably a big factor.

Me and Rastiara are able to fight at a deeper level than the original proper layer thanks to their extraordinary 'qualities'. That Tida even told me that I had the ability of a general 20 level range at 10th level. Since I can fight high level monsters at low levels, of course I can accumulate experience faster than normal.

''And while we're at it, let's level up too. Christ, stay alert.

I'm on it.

Rastiara must have seen the experience too.

He decides that he can level up and casts a level-up spell.

[Status]

Name: Aikawa Uzumi HP321/372 MP334/623-200 Class.

Level 12.

Strength 7.12 Strength 7.45 Skill 8.55 Speed 10.92 Wisdom 10.88 Magic 26.91 Element 7.00

State: confusion 7.93

[Status]

Name: Rustyala Hoozeyers HP 670/709 MP 283/325 Class: Hero