arc4 · 065-ch65

Episode 65: Speckled Spider

The first Saturday of November. Suzuka passed through the automatic doors of the Hachioji Explorer Association and headed inside.

As usual, he operated the terminal to enter the exploration schedule, but today was a little different.

Until last week, Suzuka had been raising Sugō's level, so the exploration location had been District 1-1. But today's exploration location is District 1-4. Suzuka's dungeon exploration resumes today.

And the scheduled end time for exploration is tomorrow at 22:00. Suzuka won't explore that late, but since contact would be sent to his parents if he goes beyond that, he set it later.

Yes. From today, the long-awaited overnight dungeon exploration begins.

Suzuka passed through the security door in high spirits and entered the dungeon, carrying a larger load than usual. Usually, he only carried lunch and drinks for day trips, so a small backpack was sufficient.

But this time, it's an overnight stay. Necessary gear will keep appearing. People who are used to camping or those who stay overnight in the dungeon probably carry even less luggage and have it more refined, but this is Suzuka's first experience.

He had gone camping before, but since he had rented everything, he had never prepared his own gear, and since he went by car, he could bring extra things. However, in the dungeon, he needs to fight while carrying luggage on his back. The result of carefully considering one thing after another is inside this large luggage.

Suzuka, wearing a large mountaineering backpack, ran to District 4 with footsteps that didn't show the weight. Since it's for mountaineering, the backpack fits close to his body, so it doesn't feel like it's in the way even when moving.

"Feels good. Glad I asked the store clerk."

The gear Suzuka prepared for overnight stays was selected at the Seekers Shop where he bought the tracksuit he's currently wearing. He went shopping with Yasu on the way back from Hachioji Explorer High School's cultural festival.

New gear really gets you excited. Since camping gear costs quite a bit, he had hesitated to buy it in his previous world, so being able to buy whatever he liked without worrying about price was significant.

Despite carrying a large load, Suzuka proceeded faster than usual. In an hour, he reached the boundary separating District 3 and District 4.

"Been a while since District 4. Yeah. That creepy feeling coming through, nice."

After running to District 4, Suzuka did some light stretching, then took out 'Calm Short Sword' from storage and crossed into District 4.

An indescribable tension. The monsters living here are formidable enemies that even the high-status Suzuka struggles to defeat.

In this area with poor visibility due to the trees, surprise encounters occur frequently unlike before, with monsters hiding behind trees or swooping down from branches. Additionally, some monsters attack from above the trees, so compared to the flat battles until now, the three-dimensional attacks put pressure on his processing capacity.

And the grass at his feet is annoying too. Perhaps because it's a forest, the trees aren't densely packed, so sunlight filters through the gaps between branches and leaves. Thanks to that, visibility is good, but the sunlight also hits the grass growing on the ground, causing it to grow thick.

Suzuka had been charging straight through until District 1-3, but in District 4, he proceeds cautiously. With his Presence Detection skill at full power, he walks while watching behind trees and overhead.

After proceeding a little like that, there were three Speckled Spiders with webs stretched between the trees.

With three monsters in a battle after a long time, the burden is heavy, but Suzuka, who thinks complaining lowers his status, pulls 'Calm Short Sword' from its scabbard.

Speckled Spider: 52

Speckled Spider: 46

Speckled Spider: 55

There are Speckled Spiders at higher levels than Suzuka's level 49. But defeating them is what allows growth.

Speckled Spiders are spiders, but their appearance is closer to tortoises. The size is about the same, about as big as a balance ball. Their torso is covered in a hard shell, and they're monsters with eight short, thick legs. Because the legs are short and thick, they feel somewhat deformed, which is slightly better, but for Suzuka who dislikes insects, they're not welcome opponents.

The three spiders wait with webs stretched between tree and tree, branch and branch. Even if he uses Presence Concealment, it's immediately noticed by District 4 monsters, so he cautiously closes the distance.

He pours mana into 'Calm Short Sword.' He's already been spotted. When he reached that distance, Suzuka swung 'Calm Short Sword' toward empty space and fired the weapon's effect, water blade.

The water blades fired in succession hit the Speckled Spiders splendidly, but they were deflected by the hard shells and only succeeded in lightly cutting the surface.

"Can't do it, huh. Guess I have to knock them to the ground, just like the theory says."

Since Speckled Spiders are overhead, attacks won't reach like this. Therefore, he needed to shoot water blades at the webs to eliminate their footing and drop them to the ground.

But Speckled Spiders don't just watch that either. Each of the three spiders spits spider silk toward Suzuka.

Since the trajectory is linear, Suzuka dodges while being careful not to hit the luggage on his back. But Speckled Spider attacks don't end. As they clack their fangs at their mouths, the silk ignites and spreads to the silk fired with tremendous momentum.

Since he dodged, even if the silk burns, the heat wave attacking Suzuka is about the extent of it, but if he had been entangled, it would have been an attack straight to becoming a charred corpse. The silk is adhesive, so once entangled, it can't be easily peeled off, making it quite a troublesome attack.

Despite being in the forest, the roaring burning flames don't spread to the trees. Whether it's because it's magic or because they're dungeon trees, just knowing that the entire area won't catch fire and prevent escape is enough.

"Hot!! What if I get burned, dammit!!"

Suzuka also fires water blades in retaliation. This time, not aiming at the Speckled Spiders, he shoots to cut the spider webs serving as footing along with the branches. During that time, spider silk is fired ceaselessly, and they clack their jaws and set them on fire.

Speckled Spiders specialize in long-range attacks, and since they're in the trees, close-range attacks are difficult. It was fortunate that Water Blade Weasel dropped a weapon. With 'Calm Short Sword,' he can both shoot water blades to tear spider webs and wrap water blades to cut the supporting tree at the base. However, with his previous main weapon, the Magic Iron Pipe, either would have been difficult.

Watching Speckled Spiders launching fierce flame attacks, he's painfully reminded again that District 4 monsters have high lethal power. If he carelessly blocked such an attack with a shield, the shield would burn and it would be so hot he'd probably let go of it immediately. It's an attack where even defending requires consideration.

Through the exchange of attacks from long range, he somehow succeeds in dropping one Speckled Spider to the ground. With three spiders, the webs cut by water blades are often reinforced, which is a bottleneck as battles take time.

Before the fallen Speckled Spider could climb back into the trees, Suzuka closed in. Naturally, the distance to the Speckled Spiders overhead also becomes closer, so the density of the spider silk fired in rapid fire increases, and as soon as he dodges, they ignite, making the blowing heat waves severe.

Even so, Suzuka stepped forward and slashed at the Speckled Spider moving its small legs. His target was the joints, which are movable parts. Aside from that, everything is covered in hard shells, so cutting them would be a bone-breaking effort.

He cut off two legs, and on the return swing, severed the head. The moment it turned to smoke, he immediately leapt backward.

Immediately after, spider silk spat out by the two spiders impacted the spot where Suzuka and the Speckled Spider had been, transforming the surrounding area into flames.

First one down. Being able to immediately defeat the fallen Speckled Spider was significant. When Speckled Spiders fall to the ground, they sometimes scatter silk all around, turning the surroundings into a sea of flames.

Probably when it's down to the last one, it will unleash that technique, so he wants to finish off two at once if possible.

Pouring mana into the gripping short sword, Suzuka swung 'Calm Short Sword.'

◇

"Really, this tracksuit is excellent. Glad I bought it."

With the surrounding area scorched, Suzuka stood there unharmed, slightly dirty with soot.

The Naru-Tsuru-manufactured tracksuit that has become his favorite now is made with dungeon exploration in mind, so even with sparks of fire, holes won't open, and it's a highly durable item.

Sheathing 'Calm Short Sword,' he quickly left the area where traces of battle remained thick.

"Three really takes time, huh. Seriously, I wish they'd stop that desperate flame festival at the end."

In the end, he couldn't defeat two at once, and the remaining last one scattered silk in all directions with a desperate resolve, turning the surroundings into a sea of flames. When that happens, Suzuka can't easily approach, so in poor visibility flickering with flames, he somehow has no choice but to fire water blades in rapid succession and sever the head.

"If only I had a strong long-range attack. I use poison magic too, but it doesn't grow much."

He glances at his status display and checks the skills section. While Poison Magic (1) is there, the skill level is 1.

Suzuka was able to manifest Poison Magic in the final battle with Water Blade Weasel. He has continued to use it since then, but the skill level just won't go up much.

"Other than Poison Magic, nothing's going up either, huh."

Today marks the 9th day exploring in District 4. The only skill level that went up was Swordsmanship from 4 to 5; aside from that, no growth. His level only went up 3 as well, so he thinks it can't be helped, but since he spent the entire month of September on this, it feels slow.

Skills are said to grow when one's talent blooms or when one strongly desires it. When Suzuka has acquired skills until now, many have grown during battles when he was pushed into corners.

Currently, he's not equipped with 'Ring of Twin Poisons' that raises Poison Magic skill level by 1, or 'Mimicry Mantle' that raises Presence Concealment skill level by 1. He's concerned that equipping these will prevent skill level growth.

For example, if he equips the ring, Poison Magic becomes skill level 2. But if Suzuka's current skill level aptitude is 2, then equipping the ring would make him reach 2, so he wondered if that meant it wouldn't grow.

Whether that theory is correct or not, one thing is certain: skills also require training, so he wants to use useful skills aggressively and raise their skill levels.

"Oh! A treasure chest!!"

Hidden as if disappearing in the thick grass behind a tree, a treasure chest was quietly placed. The wooden treasure chest was dirty-looking and gave a sense of age.

Monsters that mimic treasure chests are a staple, but so far, including other floors, none have been confirmed. Therefore, Suzuka opens the treasure chest without hesitation.

When the lid opens, black smoke overflows from inside just like when defeating monsters, and is sucked into Suzuka. When the smoke finishes coming out, the treasure chest turned into particles of light and disappeared into the air.

"I wonder what came out... 'Ingredients (Meat),' huh. Not bad."

If he's greedy, he'd like a potion, but ingredients aren't bad either. All items appearing from treasure chests are useful to Suzuka, so if he finds one, it's a lucky existence.

"Since I can stay overnight today and explore late, I want to find 4... no, 5!"

Treasure chests aren't that easy to find, and explorers active on Floor 2 and above might find one in 5 explorations if lucky. But thanks to no one exploring District 4, treasure chests are everywhere there, and if he explores for a day, he can find 2-3. Since he can explore until the last moment today, he wants to find as many treasure chests as possible.

His target is Stamina Potions. After all, you never know what you'll encounter in the dungeon. Especially in District 4, monsters are strong, and there are many monsters like Speckled Spiders that use highly lethal attacks. Each monster has high defense or is hard to attack, and prolonged battles are undesirable.

There's also the risk of attracting other monsters and fighting consecutive battles, and one mistake could cause a serious injury. To respond to such unforeseen circumstances, he wants to secure as many potions as possible.

Currently, by obtaining a Stamina Potion from a treasure chest, he holds one each of the lower-grade Stamina, Mana, and Status Abnormality Potions. How many potions he can increase during this District 4 exploration will become important in future activities.

Thus, while searching for treasure chests, Suzuka set out to find the next monster.