Episode 29.8 (1/2)
Once again, the two stairway rooms on the floor were occupied.
The closest room got eight people inside and five outside.
The farthest one got ten inside and none outside.
They decided to head for the farthest room.
But then, on their way there, Lecan sensed another party coming closer to that room, then one of that party's members got inside alone before immediately coming out. That party then stopped moving in front of the room.
(Must be waiting for their turn.)
Change of plan, Lecan and Arios went for the closest room instead.
As they arrived in front of the room, the five dots there turned out to be knights. All of them are standing upright, none is sitting.
The knights glanced at the approaching Lecan and Arios, an uncomfortable kind of glance.
As Lecan sat at a distance away from them, one of the knights called out to him.
”This room is currently in use by us, the Knights of Gido.”
”Hm? You guys aren't waiting for your turn?”
”Watch your tongue.”
”Lecan-dono. Let's just go.”
That was when two knights rushed out of the room.
Then two other knights standing by near the entrance got in the room in their stead.
The two knights that just got out took up positions in the back of the line, and drank some small red potions.
A knight peeked out of the room.
”All hands, go forth in!”
All the five knights who were standing by outside went in the room in a hurry, but Lecan could tell with his <Life Detection> that the blue enemy dots inside the room had disappeared. Lecan stopped walking and decided to observe the situation.
Afterward, those knights made a weird movement.
11 out of 13 of them got in the stairway before immediately getting right back out into the room. Then all 13 of them went out of the room.
”Hm? You. You're still here?”
The knight who was telling them off earlier looked at Lecan and Arios like they were dirt.
Since Arios was tugging his sleeve, Lecan silently left walking toward the farther giant variant room.
”What was that all about?”
”Oh they're dungeon knights. Good for nothing bunch.”
”Dungeon knights?”
That sounded familiar to Lecan and then it hit him. Norma explained to him about them once. Dungeon knights are knights serving regional lords who have obtained strength in dungeons.
”They don't look that strong though.”
”Oh those bunch are not the kind people who would make an effort at bettering their swordsmanship.”
Arios was being unusually harsh.
”Those bunch you see. They brute force their way to take on dungeons relying fully on good equipment and an abundance of consumables. After all you enjoy a boost on your physical strength by exploring dungeons with others, no need to actually attack correctly or even partake in combat.”
”Ah, I see.”
Even if they don't have the combat skill, having a huge number of knights with enormous life forces and extraordinary raw strength will be quite a force to be reckoned in a defensive battle. And they can polish on their combat skill later on since they're harder to die.
(Guess that works in a way.)
However, it seems Arios has antipathy against those who only participate in a dungeon exploration to gain power without honing their skills. Perhaps he's had experience fighting someone like that.
(There might have been a story behind.)
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka.com >
(Why this guy never went inside a dungeon before.)
(Fumu.)
(There's some diverging points from what Norma told me.)