arc3 · 161-ch161

Chapter 161: Kachofūgetsu ①

Now then — today's the day I take Kachofūgetsu through the Inubosaki Tower Dungeon. This party is C-rank, same as Hyakka Ryouran. They're on the stronger side too, so this time I'm planning to focus purely on filming.

I did a thorough advance scout yesterday, so the filming spots are locked down perfectly. I hope you'll look forward to it. Of course, if danger gets close, I'll do everything I can — but I'm hoping it won't come to that.

I ate breakfast early, powered Asahi up, and sent it toward the Inubosaki Tower Dungeon. One difference this time, though: I'm leaving Shiden at Yamamoto Electronics. If it turns out I need Shiden, I can always just resummon it next to Asahi.

I've also been allowed to keep a stock of various potions at President Yamamoto's office, so that in a worst-case scenario I can send them from Shiden to Hayate.

While I was chatting with President Yamamoto about this and that, Asahi arrived at the Inubosaki Tower Dungeon. I summoned Hayate and brought it down in front of the four figures standing nervously at the dungeon entrance.

"N-Nice to meet you. I'm Hananoi Saki, leader of Kachofūgetsu. I'll be in your care t-today."

The gentle-looking woman in the pale-purple robe had stumbled over her words. Stumbled hard. Seeing her so embarrassed made me feel a little bad for her. So even C-rank explorers get nervous, huh.

"And I'm SS. Thank you for having me today."

Meanwhile, me — former communications-cripple — spoke as smoothly as if that past had never happened. Come to think of it, maybe the thing I've grown the most in isn't my skills or my stats, but my ability to communicate.

While I was mulling that over, the four of Kachofūgetsu began their introductions.

Leader Hananoi-san has a rare job for an explorer: Flower Diviner. Apparently, a Flower Diviner can use all sorts of support magic by channeling their own mana into flower petals.

Next up was Toba Mitaka-san. A fine young man with short hair — no way he didn't play baseball in high school. He has another rare job: Thrower. Apparently he deals damage by throwing knives and balls made of Magic Steel. That must be a seriously expensive job to run.

Then came Kazamaki Arashi-san. And would you look at that — he's apparently a Wind Mage. That spiky brown hair is very in-style these days. Despite the delinquent-ish looks, he carries an elegant staff. Fitting for a C-rank party's mage, I suppose.

Last to introduce themselves was Tsukimori Chizuru-san. With a huge bow slung over their back, they must hold the Longbow Archer job. If I remember right, people with bow jobs have their arrowheads made of Magic Steel. Two money-hungry jobs in one party must be rough.

With everyone's introductions done, we headed straight into the Inubosaki Tower Dungeon. This time we're transferring to floor twenty and aiming for the floor thirty boss. Incidentally, the floor thirty boss is the B-minus-rank Fear Wolf — and its roar, I hear, can throw its victims into a panic.

"Mitaka, you're up."

At leader Hananoi-san's word, Toba-san took point on scouting. Behind him came Tsukimori-san, then Kazamaki-san, then Hananoi-san. But hold on — looking closely, does this party even have a front line?

Oblivious to my worries, the four pressed steadily onward. I filmed their progress with Asahi and Hayate.

"Found them. Three Bark Wolves."

Toba-san at the front had spotted the Bark Wolves. That's quite a distance — does he have some kind of eyesight-enhancing skill?

"Same as always, everyone."

Everyone nodded at Hananoi-san's words, and Kazamaki-san began his incantation.

The opening attack came from Tsukimori-san's bow. The fully drawn string snapped forward, and the arrow flew sharp and true at a Bark Wolf. Hot on the arrow's tail came Hayate.

"Gyau!"

Tsukimori-san's arrow landed beautifully, piercing clean into one of the Bark Wolves.

"Wind Cutter!"

The Bark Wolves had noticed the enemy and came charging — and Kazamaki-san, incantation finished, loosed his wind magic at them.

"Wind Cutter!"

Countless blades of wind shredded the Bark Wolves. I got this from the front and back with Hayate and Asahi.

"Here goes!"

At the wounded Bark Wolf, Toba-san threw a knife.

Doshu!

The three knives, thrown in rapid succession, all sank into the Bark Wolves' foreheads — the finishing blows.

(A party that wins by one-siding things with ranged attacks, huh. An unusual style.)

"To think it can fly at almost the same speed as my arrow — what a high-performance drone."

Apparently my Hayate keeping pace with the arrow had surprised them — Tsukimori-san bestowed some high praise on me.

"Make sure you film us looking as cool as Kokushi Musou or Hyakka Ryouran, got it!?"

Something about that line from spiky-haired Kazamaki-san gave off the same scent as Nishikyo-san. No — I guess he's more restrained than that guy.

"You can leave the filming to me."

After everything I've been through, I've gotten pretty confident in my filming. This time too, I'll put that experience to use and make a video that really pops. A party built around ranged attacks is rare, so I want to capture that specialty without missing a thing.

By the way, all four of them have short swords hanging at their waists. Presumably that's what they fall back on if something closes the distance — though I'm a bit worried what happens against a strong monster.

Up to floor twenty-three the monsters were mostly D-rank, so they pushed through without much trouble. A coordinated ranged barrage, when it lands right, lets you win without taking a scratch — the enemy never even gets to counter.

And sure enough — this party climbed all the way to C-rank on this style. They have precise attack methods of different types, and their fighting was rock-steady. What's more, that ranged offense is highly effective against airborne enemies; they dropped Cutter Swallows, Shadow Crows, and the like without breaking a sweat.

"You were filming from the sky earlier, from the monsters' point of view, right? I can't wait to see what our attacks look like from a monster's eyes!"

Toba-san said that with sparkling eyes, but I'm pretty sure your footage is going to look just like a baseball catcher-cam...

"Yes — please look forward to it."

Not a hint of that showing on my face, I gave him my reply.