ch201-ch220 · 208-ch208

Chapter 208: Mia-san's Threat Level

"They all look like sand."

From a distance, no other types are mixed in.

Looks like 10-plus of them, but if there's no metal, we don't need to run, right?

"On golem legs, it'll take them a bit of time to reach us... Against Sand Golems we wouldn't need coordination, but shall we practice anyway? I'll take the front."

"Hold on. That's no different from how we've always done it. I'll take the front."

Uh-oh.

How does one coordinate, exactly...

Unlike Soushi and the others, Kasumi-san isn't high-maintenance at all.

Which means I don't know what to have her do.

So, having decided that, I break into a run.

"Haruki-san!?"

If I can't manage it, then I'll just have Kasumi-san fuss over me.

Maybe all this time I've been holding back with Kasumi-san.

If trying to match Kasumi-san is why our coordination has been off, then she can match ME.

"Kasumi-san! Protect me!"

"Wha—!? Wait, stop, please! The plan—!"

Since thinking gets me nowhere, I just charge.

Running full tilt, I make contact almost immediately.

We're about to collide, so I bring out the 'Left Eye Gate' in front of the Sand Golem.

Golems can't stop on a dime.

With a gusha-gusha crunch, the Sand Golems behind press in, crushing the lead one and getting crushed themselves in turn.

Unlike Copper Golems, Sand Golems aren't sturdy—some are even losing limbs.

Even taking on this much mass, the 'Left Eye Gate' doesn't budge an inch.

Looks like I really am better off taking point and eating the attacks.

(【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】)

I start destroying the limbs of the toppled, immobile Sand Golems.

Golems really are a pain, aren't they.

They won't die until you deal with the magic stone, so to harvest it, immobilizing them like this is the only way.

"Haruki-san! Weren't you supposed to be protecting me!?"

Kasumi-san joins the fight too.

She seems to be taking on the Sand Golems that stood up unharmed, not the toppled ones.

"I AM protecting you! I'll protect you by beating down every last one."

If the end result is her untouched, that counts as protection. Let's go with that.

"What about the coordination!?"

"Coordination isn't us holding back so neither can show their strength—it's when something greater than full power comes out, right? No more holding back. I'm fighting at full power too! Even if metal golems show up, it's fine. I'll be the shield and stop them dead. And you'd better protect me properly too, you know."

"How am I supposed to protect a Haruki-san running wild wherever he pleases? What idiocy... That's the last one, I take it... No. I don't think this counts as coordination. Against metal golems, this would never fly."

You think?

I don't think metal golems are THAT strong.

Though maybe our coordination is off because my fighting style is bad, sure.

Come to think of it, I feel like I've gotten this far mostly leaving things to Kasumi-san.

If I'd fought alongside her more, maybe I could have won her trust...

"Is that so? I'd say we coordinated better than we ever have... Oh, right! How about having Mia-san make weapons specialized for metal golems? If the enemy is heavy, Kasumi-san should use a heavy weapon too. Let's ask Mia-san for a spear that plays to your special skill. The 'Giant's Spear' we were talking about the other day!"

Even these Sand Golems—without weapon enhancement, getting the magic stone out would be a struggle.

I'd love a dedicated pickaxe, for that matter.

In the first place, Kasumi-san's spear, even just as the original Floor 40 drop, would be worth no less than 2 million yen.

And on top of that, it's been worked over by Mia-san, now the high-rank job 【Master Artisan】.

Setting the 2-million-yen figure aside, 40s-floor drops simply can't be bought even if you want them.

If it breaks, there's no replacement.

So against golems, which chew through weapons, having a dedicated weapon made is the right call.

My jumonji spear took a flashy beating smashing Copper Golems, and the shaft is getting dicey.

"Didn't we agree not to burden Mia-san too much?"

"That's coordination too. Mia-san is a comrade as well, so let's have her suffer a little."

Coordination for everyone—not just Kasumi-san and me.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm. Now I remember. Something has been bothering me. Why did the Copper Golems swarm us when you were together with Mia-san? Isn't that odd? Heaven forbid, but... you weren't flirting, were you?"

I beg your pardon?

"No, no—by then, Kasumi-san had probably just done something incredible to me, and Copper Golems had spawned after the Sand Golems we beat then. They simply came after us while I was with Mia-san, that's all."

I have nothing to be ashamed of, yet here I am talking a mile a minute.

"True. I did rather overdo it that time... I see—the dungeon prepared a horde of Copper Golems to interfere with us... Very well, let us set aside the matter of metal golems spawning this time. However, the story of golems attacking in packs is something I've only ever heard of on the forums. As an urban legend, at that. The only time I've experienced it myself was when it was just the two of us, Haruki-san. And when I recall the circumstances of that time... Suspicious. Mmm-mmm-mmm, indeed."

No more golems coming after these, huh?

Why do they stop spawning entirely whenever this conversation starts...

If we just keep this conversation going, could we get to Floor 40 without fighting?

"No, no—just now we were keeping our distance and adventuring with perfect decorum, weren't we... Maybe even the dungeon misunderstood, with just the two of us there."

"I see. So we behaved in a way that could mislead the dungeon. Then Mia-san's threat level must be raised. What exactly were these actions and conversations? Ah—and I intend to ask Mia-san the same thing tonight, so please answer carefully."

Careful of WHAT?

Also, what on earth is a "threat level"?

And where did the coordination talk go?