ch121-ch140 · 121-ch121
Chapter 121: The Kind of Thing the Dungeon Might Think Up
"No way. There is no option where only Kasumi-san does all the work. Let's stick to the original plan and make enough money in four years to live easy. We keep the skill hidden, and the 30s floors are fair game, right? Let's go hunt up some gold golems, or diamond ones, or something."
"I don't believe there are any diamond ones... In that case, should we not be aiming for Floor 50?"
I could go, but if we can't make it public, there's no point in going at all, and if we can't cash in what we find, we'd only be losing out.
Besides, the railgun introduction looks like it's been decided, so the 40s floors are dangerous now.
"Right. Just for Floor 40, once we can break through it, we clear it and simply don't report it. That works, doesn't it? Floor 50 we don't especially need to clear."
It should be safe to at least pick up a high-rank sub-job on Floor 40.
After all, right now there's no way for anyone to learn about special skills, and no way to check someone's job.
As long as we don't turn in any magic stones, it shouldn't get found out.
"Was that not your dream? Are you truly fine giving up on becoming the world's greatest adventurer?"
"It was never quite a dream. More than that, I want a life where I get to spend my days laughing together with Kasumi-san."
Kasumi-san comes first.
I won't do anything Kasumi-san would hate.
"Haruki-san... for my sake... I'm sorry. But this is the only way I can protect you. If you would accept someone like me... I will stay by your side, always..."
The distance between us and Kasumi-san shrinks.
This is... here it comes.
"Kasumi-san, it's been about thirty minutes, so it'll be coming. It will definitely come."
"Huh?"
I stand up and take the jumonji spear in hand.
"..."
After a beat, 【Presence Detection】 picks up a reaction. Right side—and pretty close.
A Minotaur.
If I'd stayed sitting, it would be at a spot where Kasumi-san could see it but I couldn't.
The classic pattern: just as you lean in for the kiss, only Kasumi-san notices the Minotaur, and you get shot down.
(The kind of thing the dungeon might think up.)
Fortunately, it's my turn.
I break into a run toward the Minotaur.
The Minotaur winds up as I charge in... slow.
Same move the one Kasumi-san fought just now made.
Using the side blades, I take its head off with a single thrust.
What a remarkably sharp spear.
I hadn't even used weapon enhancement, yet it cut so cleanly I could barely feel any resistance.
If it can do this to a Minotaur—not a goblin—then even the Forest Ogres of the 20s floors should be no problem without weapon enhancement either.
(No, never mind that—the main event.)
"Time our break ended, I'd say."
Exactly~
Isn't this precisely what the dungeon was aiming for...
'The dungeon willed it.'
'The kind of thing the dungeon might think up.'
In the dungeon, things happen all the time that can only be explained that way—there's even a dedicated thread for it.
And every single time Kasumi-san and I try to get lovey-dovey, something just has to interrupt us.
︙
︙
"Let's punch straight through."
Sweeping aside the orcs of the 10s floors, we made our way up to Floor 18.
From here on out, watchman orcs appear, so the normal approach is to take the detour route.
Incidentally, the one proposing we go straight is not me—it's Kasumi-san.
"I've always wanted to try it once. Please don't step in at first."
That's what she says.
【Berserker】, maybe?
When a watchman orc blows its horn, every orc on that hill comes swarming, but anyone holding a combat high-rank job should be able to handle it even if they all charge at once.
There's no chance of leveling up on these floors anymore, so it's nothing but a hassle.
Going straight is faster than the detour, so for a party at Triple-Rank level it's a legitimate option—but apparently she wants to do it solo...
"It's not something I can do with other people around."
You'd almost never come this far alone.
This might be the last chance I ever get to watch her do it.
I stay out of the hill myself and settle in to watch the show.
"Bwooon."
The horn sounds.
Kasumi-san charges the nearest orc herself.
A diagonal rising slash with the naginata, one clean stroke.
Kasumi-san's backbone is as a 'naginata' competitor, so even as 【Spear King】, her mainstay is still the slash.
If anything, being skilled at slashing while being a 'spear user' is her strength.
After that, she cuts down every orc that comes near her in a single hit.
Oh, a magic-casting orc, incoming.
Ignoring the orc right in front of her, Kasumi-san breaks into a dash and takes down the caster before its chant finishes.
That part is exactly how I do it—or rather, if you can pull that off, you can break through a watchman-orc hill without any trouble.
Without a hitch, she finished off every last orc in under five minutes.
"My, I have grown strong indeed. Against opponents of this caliber, I can no longer even tell how much stronger I've become. Oh my? What are you—?"
"There's something I want to test, so I was thinking I'd borrow an orc spear..."
The fight was over, and there'd been two spear-wielding orcs, so I came over to Kasumi-san's side while collecting their spears from the corpses—wooden shafts with iron heads.
Not great quality, but they're disposable, so it should be fine.
"Something to test? And what might that be? Well then, it is your turn next, Haruki-san. Go right ahead."
My turn, huh...
Well, that's exactly why I was picking up the spears.
"【Status】"
Name: Kasugano Haruki
Job: 【Charge Shielder】【Charge Spearman】【Scout】
Lv: 30
HP: 2250/2250
MP: 585/600
Strength: 120
Endurance: 150
Agility: 105
Magic: 60
Skills: 【Gate】【Charge・Shield・High】【Charge・Shield・Armor Enhancement・Shield・High】【Charge・Shield・Strength Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Endurance Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Agility Up・High】【Charge・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】【Charge・Spear・Aiming】【Presence Concealment】【Presence Detection】【Scouting】【Night Vision】
Skill Points: 0