83 82.26 floors, 27 floors.txt (2/2)

I find a one-meter long crystal ant wandering around alone and I attack it with my sword.

[Monster] Crystal Ant: Rank 26.

From its name, I judge it to be a crystal golem that has acquired the habits of ants.

And its small stature gives me a faint hope. If it's not the huge body of a crystal golem, the sword will pass.

The sword wielded in that hope - is flicked off with a high-pitched sound.

''Poof!''

My all-out blow was no match for ripping the Crystal Ant's body apart.

However, unlike with the Crystal Golem, there was a crack. If I just look at the defensive strength alone, I can see that this guy is lower than the Crystal Golem.

The Crystal Ant turned its fangs against the attackers, screeching and screaming.

Hearing that unique voice, I think of different monsters in my head, monsters of the 21st and 22nd layers. They are monsters that use swarming as a weapon, and they make a voice similar to the one they make when calling out to their friends.

As I continue attacking, I use Dimension to figure out the monsters a bit further away.

Sure enough, the other crystal ants that heard the screeching voice suddenly made a quick and agile move and came towards us.

''Not good!　They're even gathering ants around!

...... Ugh, wow.

I don't have a choice in the matter, and I take out a large axe for snow from my 'possessions'. Then, with all my strength, I strike the Crystal Ant and slam it into the wall.

If this were a crystal golem, it wouldn't make a single crack.

However, the difference in defense, which was slightly lower than the crystal golem, and the difference in material at the end of the strike made the difference between the two.

The Crystal Ant that hit the crystal wall cracked its body and slowed its movements. Then Snow's blow struck and the Crystal Ant shattered into pieces.

Although I was able to defeat it faster than I expected, there was no time to relax.

A great number of crystal ants are coming here.

I look at the great axe in my hand.

In just one attack, the blade had spilled out beautifully. Snow's weapon was also crushed by the blade, turning it into nothing more than a striking weapon.

''Snow, let's go back to the 26th level for now.

I agree with .......

If we continue to fight without thinking of any countermeasures, we will run out of weapons to ”own”. Realizing this, we went back the way we came.

While we were returning, we were attacked by several crystal ants.

The more we wielded our weapons to intercept them, the more they were being damaged. When the replacement weapons were no longer available, he finally managed to get through the onslaught of the crystal ants and reached the 26th level.

Unlike the 27th layer, there were only slow monsters here.

We took a breath and talked with each other.

''Is this the limit for today ......?''

Let's go to ...... or go home.

Snow agreed without a second thought.

If we pushed ourselves, we could probably get through 27 layers. But I would be afraid to march with Snow. Even if we were to do it, it would have to be just me, as I was very fast.

I'm not going to be able to get a hold of you.

”...the magic connection...

Neither me nor Snow have lost HP.

But instead, many of our weapons became useless. We learned that there are ways to make people retreat like this, and we finished exploring the labyrinth.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

This is quite a mess you've made.

The enemy is hard. ......

We then came to Alibers' workshop and showed him all the damaged weapons.

Unlike the last time we were here, the workshop was hectic.

There were a few more strange-looking blacksmiths working busily in the small space. As I ordered, they must have increased the number of people and increased the speed of work.

'Are the enemies hard?'

'Yes, the monsters around layer 26 are tricky with their crystal bodies.

Twenty-six layers? We're in a world we've never imagined. --You're right. Do they have any magic stones?

I have some.

I take out a crystal golem magic stone from my 'belongings' and show it to him.

''Is this ......, a crystal golem magic stone?''

How do you know?

''I believe that the monsters that appear in the Spirit Mountain in the far west have the same material as this one. It's a very high-grade mineral. I'm sure it's called 'ray crystal'. Huh, so you can get it in the labyrinth too?

Apparently, those hard monsters exist outside the labyrinth as well.

''I want a sword that can slay those 'ray crystals'.

'Well, I'd like to say that our master is unreasonable ......, but the truth is, if you'll bear with me until tomorrow, the problem will be solved.'

...... Huh?

''The weapon you ordered for example can cut. I'm sure you'll find that the Crescent Pectrazuli is a better mineral than the Ray Crystal. The amount of magic power it contains is incomparable.

That's good. So, when will you be ready with the weapon?

'We're mobilizing this many people on a budget of this size. We'll have it done by tomorrow night. We'll make it happen.

Tomorrow night. Okay.

I'm relieved that I'm closer to the completion date than I thought.

I don't know anything about iron-making, but I still don't expect the sword to be easy to make. Maybe it's the benefit of magical technology, or maybe the blacksmiths here are good at what they do.

''Are you free after this?''

All that's left is to get some rest.

'Then why don't you tell me about your master's quest for the labyrinth?

I'm talking about me?

'Yeah, if you tell me what you had trouble with in the labyrinth and what would help if you had, I can make that up with what's on hand. Also, though, I'd like to hear what the 'hero', the Master, has to say to me personally.

I'm not a 'hero,' but we certainly need to share information: ......

We should be able to take care of Mr. Alibers many times in the future. If we deepen our cooperation with him, our future labyrinth exploration will be easier.

I nodded and slowly began to talk about exploring the labyrinth.

Incidentally, Snow, who was following me, said ”I'm going home to sleep” and left the workshop. He must have thought that the day would end with another long story. I'm not wrong, so I'm not stopping him in particular.

Right now our leverage is from layer 24.

I'm going to talk about that area in particular.

''I see. I see that you got a magic stone with a flame attribute in that lava area. If you're having trouble with the heat, you can make a magic item that can interfere with the flame. Fortunately, we have plenty of magic stones with the flame attribute.

Thank you. I'll hunt and get more if I need more.

'I don't need that much, that's fine. I just need to make a simple necklace. I'd really like to make a full body armor or shield that would look good on the Master, but it wouldn't fit the Master's fighting style.

I don't want anything heavy: ......

'Some magic items that could be adapted to lakes and swamps would be useful. Let's see if we can mend them.

...... really helps.

The rest is ...... right. You should get a log from somewhere.

Well, a log?

It's a snowball's weapon. If you're going to break it, you might as well fight it with a log. Besides, from what I've heard, blows are more effective against crystalline monsters.

I think you're right, sir.

Alibers and I also discuss the combat aspect of the game.

On the way there, I give him a wood carving that I've been making in my spare time, and he orders something he's wanted for a while. He says he's never made one before, but he's willing to give it a try.

After much discussion, we pick up the repaired weapons and head to where we can get some logs. The area around the Allies was still being settled and the price of wood was low.

For now, I bought about a hundred logs and put them in my 'belongings'.

I was a little worried that they might be too big, but they went in with no problem. While I was at it, I tested the size of the logs in my ”possessions” to see how big they would fit, and they seemed to fit in as big as I could carry them.

That's all the preparation I can do now.

I went back to Maria's room, thinking about the 26th layer of attack.