Arifureta Vol 5 Chapter 4 (2/2)

“… …Flag rabbit!”

While Hajime and s.h.i.+a talked, an unpleasant sound resounded, and suddenly the stair’s steps disappeared. It was a considerably inclined staircase, and with the disappearance of the steps it became a slope. Moreover, tar-like slippery liquid began to overflow from the countless small holes on the surface.

“Kuh, this—!”

When the steps became a slope, Hajime immediately trans.m.u.tated the minerals on the bottom of his shoes into spikes, his artificial arm’s fingers were also made into spikes so that he wouldn’t slip down. Yue immediately jumped to Hajime before she started to slip. Hajime who read that also braced himself. As expected, they were harmonized even in this place.

However, there was still one more person who was unable to do that kind of cooperation. It goes without saying that it was s.h.i.+a.

“Ukyaaa!?”

When it became a slope, s.h.i.+a raised a scream then the back of her head hit the surface hard. “Nuuaa!”, as she writhed in pain, then slipped along while covered in that liquid. In that state, with her legs opened in a M character, she collided with Hajime’s face.

“Bu!?”

The spikes on his artificial arm came off because of the impact, Hajime was overturned backward with his left arm holding Yue. Then the spikes on his feet also came off, he slipped down the slope headfirst. s.h.i.+a was on top of Hajime with a reversed position.

“You! Clumsy rabbit! Move now!”

” I am sorry, but to move-~”

While slipping, their speed became faster. Hajime desperately tried to stab the spikes on his artificial arm and shoes on the ground, but they were too fast, so it didn’t go well. Then, he tried to trans.m.u.te the staircase but with the strong disintegration inside the dungeon, it also didn’t turn out well.

s.h.i.+a, while struggling was somehow able to get up. Now, it was as if she was riding Hajime.

“Use Doryukken’s stake!”

Hajime gave an instruction to s.h.i.+a. The Sledgehammer Doryukken that s.h.i.+a carried had a few gimmicks prepared inside, one of them was to form a stake on the head part of the hammer. It was a mechanism to raise the penetrative power by focusing on one spot. If that was stabbed on the surface they should be able to stop.

“Y-yes, leave it to me!? Hajime-san! The road—!”

s.h.i.+a tried to remove Doryukken from its fastening/holding device on her back. Then, s.h.i.+a who looked forward immediately raised an uneasy voice.

Hajime was able to realize what had happened. When s.h.i.+a slipped before, it was likely dropped.

“Kh! Yue!”

“Nn!”

Hajime immediately called out Yue’s name. Even with only that Yue was able to read Hajime’s intentions.

“s.h.i.+a, hold on tight!”

“Y-yes!”

While still riding Hajime, s.h.i.+a tightly clung to him.

Finally, they reached the end of the slope and they were thrown in the air. One moment of weightlessness/floating. At that chance, Yue invoked her magic.

“”Soar”!”

It was an elementary-ranked magic of wind system. It magic created a strong vertical updraft, and it’d increased one’s jumping power. An expert would be able to make pseudo-flight using this magic. However, in this place magical power was hard to maintain. That’s why, Yue’s magic only lasted for a few seconds and its effect only made Hajime and his party float.

“It’s enough.”

Hajime’s voice that was mixed with praise resounded. That’s right, for Hajime, it was enough if he got the time to confirm their surroundings. Yue completely and splendidly answered his expectations.

Hajime, with Yue on his left arm, and s.h.i.+a clinging to his neck, hung his artificial arm toward the ceiling. Then, he poured his magic power…

PASHU!

A sound come out along with a thin wire with an anchor installed on it and shot out from his artificial arm, it pierced the ceiling’s wall. Then, because of the anchor they were fixed to their place.

Hajime and his party were currently hanging with one wire that hung on the ceiling, they felt relieved after confirming the anchor did not come off.

Then, they felt regret when they saw what was under them.

Kasakasakasa, washawashawasha, kiikii, kasakasakasa.

Those sounds came from a lot of scorpions wriggling around. Its length around 10 cm. Although it didn’t give off the same feeling as that scorpion-look-alike, it gave them the psychological feeling of disgust. If they didn’t halt their fall with the anchor, they would dive into a sea of scorpions, and it gave them gooseb.u.mps all over their bodies when they thought that.

“”” … …”””

The trio fell into silence. Because they didn’t want to look below, they looked at the ceiling. Then, somehow they noticed lights emitting into some characters. It was already too late, Hajime and his party inadvertently read it.

“These guys doesn’t have lethal poison.”

“But, you’ll be paralyzed.”

“Please be satisfied by lying with these cute children, pugya—!!”

Maybe she purposely set up these phosphorus ores there, those characters were standing out in the dim s.p.a.ce. Those who fell here would surely, with scorpions wriggling around their body, desperately try to move, and try to reach out to heaven (ceiling). Then, they’d discover it. Those playful words.

“”” … …”””

Once again, Hajime and his party fell into silence but because of something else. “Ignore it, ignore it”,was what they told to themselves, and somehow they were able to observe their surroundings.

“… … Hajime, over there.”

“Nn?”

Because Yue noticed something, she pointed her finger to a certain place below. There was an empty tunnel.

“A tunnel… … what should we do? Are we going to climb up to our previous location or are we going over there?”

“I-I will follow Hajime-san’s decision. I have been nothing but a burden after all…”

“No need, the punishment will come from the dungeon, so don’t mind it.”

“That only makes me even more anxious! Isn’t it better to just say “don’t mind it”~”

“… …Impudent. The punishment will become twice.”

“Wh-wha, Yue-san also joined him!? Uu, even if the dungeon is conquered, the future looks dark.”

Hajime and Yue forgave s.h.i.+a who lamented.

“Haa, no matter, what would be useful is if we could use your “chosen future”~”

“Uu, that was still. Although I’ve been practicing…”

“Chosen future” was s.h.i.+a’s special magic. It was able to catch a glimpse of the future under some a.s.sumptions. However, it can only be used once a day, it was impractical because this special magic required large amounts of magic power to use. Even though s.h.i.+a specialized in body strengthening, if her magic power drained she’d only be a shameless rabbit. Although the amount of consumption was decreasing because of daily training… … it was still a long way from mastering it.

“Well, it can’t be helped if we can’t use it. Rather than returning, it feels better to advance, so let’s go to the tunnel.”

“… … Nn”

“Yes.”

Hajime shot out another anchor then moved just like tarzan until they safely reached the tunnel.

Hajime and his party advanced in the pa.s.sageway that was lit by phosphorus ores while being vigilant about any unpleasant traps that might appear.

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