ch1-ch20 · 017-ch17

Chapter 17: To Floor 7

"What is this?"

A. That is a hobgoblin's magic stone.

After school, I came to the dungeon and now stood in front of Watanabe-san to cash in.

Watanabe-san's surprise was understandable.

She probably thought I'd gone home yesterday with just those.

If I suddenly have more magic stones, of course she'd be surprised.

...She's surprised, but she's not angry, right?

"You went back down to Floor 5 after that? Into the dungeon at night? ...I'll process the exchange. That's 29 stones. That comes to 14,500 yen."

"...Thank you very much."

Maybe she really is angry.

But 14,500 yen, huh.

One hobgoblin is worth 500 yen. Isn't that too profitable?

"...Have you considered strategies for fighting multiple opponents?"

"Um, pull the spear out right after thrusting, or something like that?"

"It seems you've been to Floor 6 as well."

Leading the witness!?

"The important thing is to never stop moving. And maintain proper spacing even while moving."

"Yes ma'am."

Spacing, huh? So she means keep my distance?

"Is it difficult? Use obstacles to your advantage, use enemies as walls against each other, and sometimes show them your back and run. Goblins aren't fast. If it looks impossible, run away."

Finally, she hands me the spear.

Time to go to Floor 7.

It's just past 4 PM.

From behind a tree on Floor 2, I use the 'Right Gate' to instantly jump to Floor 7.

The monster that appears on Floor 7 is the sword-wielding hobgoblin.

Instead, the unarmed goblins no longer appear.

"So from here on, I'll be fighting three at once."

The forest is dim probably because of the tall trees.

The number of trees hasn't changed, so there's still enough space to swing a spear.

Even though it's a forest, the ground isn't uneven—probably because it's a dungeon.

Seems easy to run on. That helps.

I'll start by searching for enemies carefully.

One hobgoblin and two goblins.

All of them have clubs as weapons.

A preemptive attack while running in.

I'll target the hobgoblin first.

"The leg."

From the very edge of my attack range, I slash deep into its thigh, then run past it to the side.

That should immobilize the hobgoblin.

Two goblins chase after me.

I've got plenty of distance.

I turn around and head toward the goblins.

Moving clockwise while sweeping right.

The goblin holding the club in its right hand can't block.

I slash open its belly.

Step back once, twice, and then it's one-on-one.

I thrust at the goblin leaping at me.

"That wasn't good."

I caught it in the heart as intended, but the goblin's momentum as it leaped caused the spear to go straight through its back.

If I'd done this at the beginning, another goblin would have jumped me before I could pull the spear free.

I swing the spear around and pull it out, throwing the goblin off.

Now for the hobgoblin.

Even with its leg slashed, it hasn't lost its will to fight. Kneeling, it swings its club wildly to keep me at bay.

But my weapon is a spear.

From outside its range, I thrust at its neck as if slashing.

Blue blood sprays out, and the battle ends.

Collect the magic stone and move on.

A running first strike to turn 3-on-1 into 2-on-1, then take the flank of the two lined up enemies to make it two separate 1-on-1s.

I thought this would work even against three opponents.

But after five battles, it happened.

Three club-wielding hobgoblins.

I cut off one's leg and ran past—that part went well.

But maybe it was bad that I took a slightly longer distance since two hobgoblins remained.

Three more in the direction I'd run.

Two sword-wielding hobgoblins and one spear-wielding goblin.

I'm surrounded.

"I'll charge straight through."

Same as before.

No matter how many there are, I just need to run and slash.

I slash into the side of the spear-wielding goblin on the right edge while running past.

Turn around and repeat, running past the right edge again.

"Huff huff huff... huh?"

"""Gyagya."""

Just when I thought all six had stopped moving, seconds later three more arrived.

Just goblins, but three of them.

"I can't run anymore."

I stop, using my spear as a walking stick.

...Nine scattered corpses lay in various positions.

"I can do this, huh."

Theoretically, I should be able to handle even ten or twenty by targeting the ones on the edges and running past.

If my stamina holds out, that is.

Just as I somehow collected all nine magic stones, three more appeared. As expected, I decided to run.

"[Gate]"

With the 'Left Gate,' I head to Floor 2.

I'll rest behind a tree...

([Status])

Name: Kasugano Haruki

Job: [None]

Lv: 8

HP: 71/80

MP: 68/80

Strength: 8

Endurance: 8

Agility: 8

Magic: 8

Skill: [Gate]

"Of course it went up."

I had a feeling it increased when I defeated the sixth one.

Apparently, if you're not injured, the HP increase from leveling up recovers immediately.

Even though I'm tired from running, the recovery is happening.

MP was at 68 after spending a day outside at Level 7's max of 70, using [Gate] twice.

Now that I've leveled up, it's 68/80.

All my stats became 8.

If Agility increases, I should be able to run faster.

Is stamina included in Endurance?

Since Agility went up, my stamina consumption should have increased too, so even with higher Endurance, it probably cancels out...

Maybe I should start running in the mornings from tomorrow?

It's 5 PM.

Parties trickle into the 'Gate to Floor 1' on Floor 2, heading home.

"There were other people in this dungeon besides me..."