ch201-ch220 · 209-ch209

Chapter 209: Testing the Flirting Theory

"I did say even twenty would be fine, but THIS number... is abnormal. We have no room to collect magic stones. I'm destroying them."

To bring Kasumi-san back from THAT state, the Love-Love Strategy was the only option...

But of course, actually carrying it out leads to this.

"They all look like sand, but at this rate we'll be surrounded. Let's go down the slope and set up to meet all of them head-on."

About twenty Sand Golems are closing in around us.

Apparently, we were judged to be flirting.

But ours was a perfectly decorous Love-Love Strategy!

We kept a proper distance and didn't even touch hands—maybe that's why only Sand Golems came out.

No wait—by the earlier theory, the golems that respawn after this might be metal...

"Understood. This time I'll take point for real. I'm leaving the rear to you, then?"

I follow Kasumi-san down the slope.

I'd love to lead, but if I charged ahead unbidden while we're being surrounded, it would come across as abandoning Kasumi-san and running—not acceptable.

We were just lovey-doveying a minute ago; that would not do. I meekly hand her the front.

Golems are slow, so strictly speaking we don't need to fight.

We could outrun them on foot, no 【Gate】 needed.

With a party of five including slow-footed jobs, that would change—but Kasumi-san and I can outpace them no problem.

But the whole point of this trip is leveling up, so fighting itself is unavoidable.

(Come to think of it—if you had the stamina to sprint up each floor's mountain for about 30 minutes, couldn't you reach Floor 40 through the 30s without fighting at all?)

I brought this up with Kasumi-san afterward. She said: it's only because the Chiba Dungeon is deserted that I'd even think it; in the HQ dungeon it would count as dragging monsters around—the infamous MPK, or "training"—so absolutely do not do it.

Put that way, fair enough.

Conquering dungeons is hard.

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"Hahh, hahh... It really was nothing but Sand Golems. Haruki-san, are you hurt anywhere?"

We finished off the attacking Sand Golems and can finally catch our breath.

"I'm fine. 【Status】.... HP isn't even down."

A few times along the way I deliberately took hits on the Shield Gauntlet, and it seems the attacks were handled nicely.

With Endurance at 160, I learned I can take Sand Golem attacks on my shield even without super mode.

Of course, taking them anywhere but the shield, or getting crushed top-down, would mean serious injury—care is still required.

"【Status】.... Just as I thought, my level has gone up. Level 34 now. I should have a little breathing room on this floor."

"Ah, congratulations! Let's keep pushing hard at this pace!"

Name: Watanabe Kasumi

Job: 【Spear King】【Naginata User】【Long Spearman】

Lv: 34

HP: 2108

MP: 680

Strength: 159

Endurance: 136

Agility: 112

Magic: 68

Skills: 【Equipment Weight Reduction】【Weapon Enhancement・Spear・High】【Weapon Enhancement・Naginata】【Slash】【Deflection】【Counter】【Weapon Enhancement・Spear】【Spear Mastery】【Aiming】......

Skill Points: 1

Her status looks something like that, I think?

There may be more skills.

Skill Points should be 1 right now—she said she's saving up until 2 to take 【Javelin】.

Now then, how far can we get before noon?

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"In the end, no metal golems showed... Friendly conversation between the two of us just brings a flood of Sand Golems—honestly, a boon for EXP. I don't know if THAT counts as flirting, but was the operation a success?"

It hit noon, so we came back to Mia-san's shop for a bit.

We promised everyone lunch together.

We reached the Floor 32 summit and pushed halfway through Floor 33, but from then on only Sand Golems appeared.

Maybe holding hands and a lovey-dovey atmosphere isn't enough to bring out metal golems.

Could golem rarity scale with the degree of flirting?

If so...

"As an adventure, a success—but as the Flirting Strategy, the goal was to bring out metal golems, so I'd call it a failure..."

"What's this 'Flirting Strategy'? What ARE you two doing in the dungeon? Ah, more Copper Golems? Four of them, too. Ooh, all in perfect shape. One hit each? That's our Kasumi, huh."

Ah—Mia-san overheard the conversation.

We got back, relaxed, and let our guard down...

"Mmm-mmm-mmm. There it is, Mia-san! Is there some problem with Haruki-san and me flirting? Suspicious as ever."

Ah—she was supposed to be back in a good mood thanks to the Love-Love Strategy...

"Huh? What? That's creepy, you know? Think about it normally—flirting in a dungeon is a no-go..."