ch41-ch60 · 060-ch60

Chapter 60: To the 20th Floor

As for luggage, I don't have much of anything worth mentioning.

I just left some spare clothes and a towel on the 2nd floor.

Since I use my 'Right Gate' to get to the 1st floor warehouse, it would be best to keep my nagamaki nearby.

I'll take the rental spear with me.

Today, I need to clear the 20th floor first, so it's better to start with a weapon I'm familiar with.

I should probably wear a backpack too.

It would be a waste of MP to keep returning every time I pick up a magic stone.

I put on my helmet securely, and the other thing I'm bringing is some of that delicious dungeon water.

I'd like to keep some stock in the warehouse too. Maybe I should buy a refrigerator?

"It's wider than I thought it would be."

Worthy of being called a warehouse, it's spacious.

It's about as tall as a typical two-story building, and about 5 meters wide.

There's an electric shutter in front, big enough that it looks like two cars could fit inside side by side.

With this, I should be able to bring in large items.

The depth is even longer, nearly 10 meters, and beyond that, there's another 3 meters or so with a two-story structure, though the height is only half.

The second floor section has proper walls and is fully air-conditioned, so it seems usable as an office space.

However, without a toilet or running water, it would be inconvenient as a living space.

The floor is concrete, but without water, cleaning it would be quite troublesome if it gets dirty.

There's a staircase separating the warehouse from the two-story structure, and at the bottom of the stairs, there's a rear entrance.

The entrance and exit are just the shutter and this rear entrance.

Only the second-floor room has windows, so it seems there's no worry about being watched.

Best of all, I can use my [Gate] without any concerns.

But for all this, the rent is 300,000 yen per month plus electricity.

The size is nice, but for such minimal facilities, this price is way too high.

I'm counting on that high-rank adventurer discount.

With the magic stones I currently have entrusted to Watanabe-san, I should be able to pay for 3 months, so I'll make sure not to touch that money.

"[Gate]."

Just in case, I create my 'Right Gate' in the middle of the warehouse.

My 'Left Gate' is already placed on the 19th floor.

Through it lies the 'Gate to the 20th Floor.'

There's no need to hesitate.

I go straight through the 'Gate to the 20th Floor.'

According to Sato-san, the 20th floor boss is an Orc General with 10 Orc Knights.

The Knights consist of 2 each with swords and shields, hammers, spears, bows, and mages.

I have to defeat all of them to get a sub-job, and I can't leave the 20th floor until I do.

The boss area is just a single small hill.

Since I'm alone, the boss won't appear for 1 minute.

I could climb up before the boss spawns, but for now, I'll follow the advice and wait down below.

"[Status]."

Name: Kasugano Haruki

Job: [Charge Spearman]

Lv: 24

HP: 720/720

MP: 359/360

Strength: 60

Endurance: 60

Agility: 48

Magic: 36

Skill: [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: 14

I'll be using super mode, so I should display my status.

Almost a minute has passed now.

They appear as if bubbling up from below.

They really weren't kidding when they said monsters "spawn."

The monsters that appeared are just as the information said.

On top of the hill stands the Orc General.

Next to him are the mages and archers, 2 each on the left and right, totaling 4.

Being called Knights, these guys are wearing armor too.

These ones aren't moving.

Already coming toward me are the 6 total Knights: 2 each with swords and shields, hammers, and spears.

They come charging down the hill.

""Fugoh, fugoh.""

Just one second until contact.

"[Charge・Spear], [Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear], [Charge・Spear・Strength Up], [Charge・Spear・Endurance Up], [Charge・Spear・Agility Up]."

The movements of the Orc Knights slow down.

First, I'll deal with the shield-bearers.

I thrust my rental spear into the face of one of the Orcs holding a sword and shield.

They're in full body armor, but there's an opening under the helmet's visor.

Orcs have pig-like faces, so their noses and mouths stick out from their helmets.

It was a thrust at a clear weak point, but the Orc couldn't react in time.

I pull out my spear and check the other shield-bearer, but it's already guarding with its shield.

I'll deal with this one later.

MP: 359→358

My MP decreased.

So it's only been 1 second until now.

My sense of time feels off.

I attacked with a thrust, but the [Charge・Spear] effect is still active.

I'm getting better at this.

Here come the spear users.

Two of them at the same time.

But they feel slow.

I dodge them smoothly, and as the two Orcs' bodies extend, I deliver one thrust each to their faces, two strikes in total.

MP: 358→357

Too shallow, maybe?

It might be because I tried something I'm not used to, like a two-hit combo.

The spear-wielding Orc Knights aren't dead instantly.

These guys are bosses too.

Because of their high HP, they don't die immediately.

They don't die right away, but with holes in their faces, it's only a matter of time.

I'll leave them be.

One shield-bearer and two spear-users—I've defeated half of the Orcs that came forward.

The remaining are two hammer users and one shield-bearer.

The shield one is still on guard, watching me warily.

In that case, I'll go for the hammer users first.

I casually take one step closer to the hammer-wielding Orc Knight.

MP: 357→356

The hammer Orc Knight raises its weapon.

Normally, I'd compete with speed here, but today I'll try a different approach.

I'll let it attack.

I dodge it by taking one step back.

The hammer stabs into the ground.

Now this guy is full of openings.

Watanabe-san did this when she fought me.

She would let me attack and then strike the opening.

One quick thrust to the neck.

I can feel the impact.

This guy is probably dead instantly.

I pull out my spear and immediately get back in position.

At the same time, another hammer comes flying.

I dodge it the same way, and thrust the same way.

Then I get back in position again.

This is Watanabe-san's ironclad stance.

MP: 356→354

Now, all that's left is the shield-bearer.

He's still wary, holding his shield up as before, but since there's only one, I can handle him however I want.

I swing my spear up from below, forcefully lifting his shield.

The Orc strains to resist, but in the process, the shield ends up lowered too much.

Without missing that opening, I thrust at its face.

Too shallow again?

Just in case, one more hit.

MP: 354→352

"GOAAARRR!"

Just as I was thinking about finishing off the two spear-users, a roar comes from above.

The Orc General seems to be coming down.

His pace is suitably heavy for a boss.

And his 4 followers are slowly coming from behind.

MP: 352→351→350→349

It's only been 10 seconds until now.

MP Charge is at 10.

I have the minimum amount, but this is my first time facing this boss, so I'd like to build up a bit more, maybe to around 30.

I'll wait down here while keeping an eye on the archers.

MP: 349→329

Just as my MP Charge reached 30, the archers stopped in their tracks.

Time to go.

I dash up the hill.

"GOAAARRR!""

Seeing me charge in, the Orc General also seems to enter a combat-ready state.

MP: 329→327

Was I this fast on my feet?

At this pace, I'm right in front of the General in no time.

The Orc General raises its halberd.

I'm faster than you.

Is my reach too short because of the slope and attacking from below?

I stretch my body as far as I can.

"[Charge・Spear・Aiming]."

With a bursting sound, the Orc General's helmet flies far, far away.

There's nothing above the Orc General's neck.

But it's not over yet.

There are still 4 more left.

The mages are fine.

I have plenty of time to dodge their magic even after seeing it.

The archer has already nocked an arrow and is aiming at me.

"Ugh."

My body feels heavy.

The [Charge・Spear] effect has worn off.

Well, I did release all the charged MP, so that's only natural.

The speed of everything around me has returned to normal too.

This is bad.

([Charge・Spear], [Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear], [Charge・Spear・Strength Up], [Charge・Spear・Endurance Up], [Charge・Spear・Agility Up].)

I activate it once more and dodge the incoming arrow right in front of me.

There's another archer over there.

I dodge that arrow too.

Can I really dodge arrows?

I'm impressed with myself.

MP: 317→316

First, I'll deal with the archer on the right.

One thrust while it's desperately trying to nock an arrow.

While I'm at it, I also thrust at the face of the nearby mage.

MP: 315→314

The archer on the left is already shooting its next arrow.

But I can dodge it.

After it finishes shooting and is full of openings, I rush in and strike with one blow.

Mages are defenseless while casting magic, so the last one gets one hit too.

MP: 315→313