ch21-ch40 · 031-ch31

Chapter 31: He Who Controls Information Controls the Dungeon

I wiped out all the orcs and came down from the hill, but things weren't going well.

I was able to move by activating [Charge・Spear].

But every time I attacked, the [Charge・Spear] effect would end.

Not just thrusts, but slashes, attacks with the spear butt, and even the handle—all of them failed.

Moreover, unless it was a thrusting attack that I had planned to release with [Charge・Spear] beforehand, it wouldn't count as an MP-enhanced attack, and my MP would just disappear.

Of course, while [Charge・Spear] was active, everything around me felt like it was in slow motion, so in terms of mobility and agility, it felt like about a 1.5x boost...

But MP-wise, there's no difference either way, so I just have to reactivate [Charge・Spear] again, but each time I do that, my movements come to a stop.

"Whoa, that looks like a staff, doesn't it?"

Just as I reached the next hill, I spotted an orc holding a staff—in other words, a magic-using orc.

I want to take that one out first.

MP: 201/255

I haven't even used 60 MP up to this point.

That means the battle lasted only about a minute.

Any more [Charge・Spear] activations would just be a waste of MP unless I think of a solution and practice, so I'll hold off on using it.

︙ ︙

Collecting magic stones takes more time and is more tiring than the actual battle.

Especially the orcs I defeated up on the hill.

From now on, I'm not going to bother picking up the ones on top of the hills.

As far as combat goes, the marathon strategy was a huge success.

Even without using [Charge・Spear], as long as I keep running, the orcs can't catch up.

Especially the shield-bearers, who are one step slower than the other orcs because of those large shields.

Leaving them alone and defeating them later is probably the right move.

"[Status]."

I felt like my magic stone collection speed had increased during the third collection session, so I checked my status.

Name: Kasugano Haruki
Job: [Charge Spearman]
Lv: 18

HP: 510/540
MP: 201/270

Strength: 45
Endurance: 45
Agility: 36
Magic: 27

Skills: [Gate]
[Charge・Spear]
[Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear]
[Charge・Spear・Strength Up]
[Charge・Spear・Endurance Up]
[Charge・Spear・Agility Up]
[Charge・Spear・Aiming]

Skill Points: 8

I should be able to go to the 18th floor now.

It's not even 11 AM yet, so it's still early morning.

If there are no problems, I'll probably rest after reaching level 19 on the 18th floor.

︙ ︙

There was a problem. But I forced my way through it.

What increased on the 18th floor were the lookout orcs. One stands at the very top of each hill, and when you enter its hill, it signals with a horn, and all the orcs on that hill come charging at you.

Just as I started walking between the hills, planning to fight on flat ground, I heard horns from both hills.

At this point, I was wondering if I could handle twice the usual number, but I was being naive.

Normally, only the monsters on the visible side of the hills would approach.

But the monsters on the unseen back side also came.

Four times the usual amount.

And probably due to the increased floor level, the number of orcs on each hill had increased, the ratio of shield-bearers and magic-users had gone up, and they were even stronger...

This became more of a battle while running around rather than just running.

Even so, I was able to fight without escaping into my [Gate].

The magic-using orcs can't move once they start casting.

When I moved back outside the fireball's range, they would chase me and start casting all over again.

Against me, who kept backing away and continuously evading, the orcs gradually decreased in number.

Finally, only the slow shield-bearer and a magic-using orc remained, and I defeated them in order—magic-user first, then shield-bearer. Game set.

The lookout orc came charging after blowing its horn, so I think I defeated it early on.

I don't know if you'd call it honorable or what...

If I had to run away and then got asked for help by the next hill, I might have actually escaped through my 'Left Gate'.

While collecting the magic stones, I noticed there were fewer corpses.

The ones I defeated early on seemed to have been absorbed by the dungeon.

I had anticipated this, so I'll just have to give up on them.

I headed straight for the next hill, making sure not to overlap with the range of the other hills.

And then, when I reached the summit after wiping out all the orcs on this hill, the 'Gate to Floor 19' was visible far between the hills.

I could also feel that I had probably reached level 19, but at the same time, I realized something terrifying.

Don't tell me I have to deal with all the orcs on the hills along the way...?

There's the option of just running through, but there's a possibility.

The possibility that another party is here, that is.

Hayashi-san mentioned in the first day's lecture that training monsters, or MPK—monster picking—could result in having your adventurer's license revoked.

Today's a holiday, so there are many people.

And in this Chiba Dungeon, there are Double-Rank adventurers, and there are even parties active beyond the 20th floor. That's also according to Hayashi-san.

If it's just Doubles, I could probably handle them myself, but there's a non-zero chance that a Single on their way to fight a floor 20 boss might be here.

As long as it's not zero, the run-through strategy is probably a no-go.

"I guess I have no choice but to do them all."

With that resolution, I charged into the next hill.

By the time I reached the 'Gate to Floor 19', I had reached level 20.

And it was almost 2 o'clock to boot.

I should have taken my lunch break earlier...

Just like near the 'Gate to Floor 17' where I entered, the area around the 'Gate to Floor 19' also seems not to be within the range of the nearby hills, so the lookout orcs don't blow their horns.

I'll set up my 'Left Gate' at the 'Gate to Floor 19' and take a break.

The plan is that if someone comes back while I'm resting, I'll immediately dismiss my 'Left Gate' and insist that I just came out of the 'Gate to Floor 19' now.

Incidentally, I heard this later, but apparently the spaces between the hills aren't all at consistent intervals, and if you pass through areas with wider spacing, the lookout orcs from either hill won't react.

On this 18th floor, although it becomes a detour, it seems you can get through without ever being spotted by lookout orcs.

Information is important.

'He who controls information controls the dungeon'

Or so says the champion of dungeon martial arts... or so they say.