Chapter-10 · EP-152
Episode 152: Long-Awaited Level Up
I took the used harpoon from Sendo and handed him the wooden sword I'd been holding.
Sendo did a few practice swings, remembering the familiar feel.
"This is definitely easier to use."
I unscrewed the joints of the harpoon's shaft, separated it into three pieces, and put them in a special bag.
The three seemed ready to fight on the second floor, so I began explaining.
"When I first came to the second floor, I mistook a Giant Frog for a rock and got scared. You might also be surprised when you see non-slime monsters for the first time, but try not to lose your cool."
The three listened to my knowledgeable explanation silently, with serious faces.
They were earnest guys.
Then Sendo, perhaps using his skill, reported that he'd detected a monster.
"I sense a monster ahead."
We focused our attention in the direction Sendo indicated.
I tried to ease their tension with an explanation.
"Don't worry. The monsters on this floor aren't very agile. Only the Giant Bats are fast. The ones that walk on the ground are generally slow, so just stay calm and deal with them."
As we cautiously advanced, a giant slug monster, a Giant Slug, appeared.
The Giant Slug undulated its slimy, glistening body surface, slowly inching toward us.
Judging that it wasn't very dangerous due to its slowness, the three prepared to deal with it calmly.
"Let me go first."
Akaishi, wielding the most powerful weapon, the mace, stepped forward.
Sendo and Murasakimura nodded at his words.
Akaishi carefully approached the Large Slug and wound up the mace as if swinging a baseball bat.
Then, with a whoosh cutting through the air, he hit the Large Slug with all his might.
Splat!
The Giant Slug splattered forcefully.
It happened so quickly that its body disappeared almost instantly, but if that had been a real creature on the surface instead of a dungeon monster, Akaishi would have been covered in goo.
Akaishi seemed a bit underwhelmed at having defeated it in one blow.
"Amazing, Akaishi-kun!"
"Yeah, that was a truly impressive blow!"
Murasakimura and Sendo praised his strike.
Hmm? When I first came to the second floor at level 2, I remember struggling more... Isn't Akaishi's mace incredibly powerful?
N-no, the one I fought was a Giant Frog, and that thing was tougher than the Giant Slug.
That must be why... Still, Akaishi's high attack power was noteworthy.
Even Iori was unstoppable around the second floor, but somehow, D-Class was full of amazing people, wasn't it?
As I stood there speechless in surprise, Murasakimura and Sendo looked back at me, concerned about my silence.
"Ah, yeah. That was a splendid blow. I guess that weapon is really something."
"Yeah. I got a good weapon."
Akaishi seemed pleased with the mace he'd just bought today.
"Then we need to show our good sides too."
"Yeah, I'm definitely motivated now."
We advanced through the second floor, the two of them looking for prey.
Along the way, we passed another party surrounding and fighting a Large Lizard.
"This place really is crowded. It's hard to find prey."
"Yeah, Akaishi seems comfortable on this floor, so once Murasakimura and Sendo each get a feel for fighting, let's aim for the third floor right away."
"That's right. Today's goal is to explore the third floor."
Murasakimura nodded seriously.
Then Sendo detected another monster.
"I sense two monsters this way."
"Then, Murasakimura and Sendo, you each take one. Akaishi, you provide backup in case something happens."
"Okay." "Yeah." "Got it."
Somehow, I felt like I was their teacher.
As we advanced a bit further, a Giant Bat appeared, flying in the air.
It fluttered erratically, looking for an opportunity to attack.
"These guys are fast, so they're hard to hit, but they have low durability, so if you can land a hit, they go down easily. But landing a hit is the hard part."
The two nodded silently at my words, focused.
Then, when the two bats flew toward Murasakimura and Sendo, they attacked simultaneously.
Their wooden sword strikes caught the Giant Bats perfectly, defeating them in one blow.
Then Murasakimura called out.
"I felt a surge of power just now! Maybe I leveled up!"
Murasakimura said with a beaming smile.
I immediately peeked at his status.
Kyoya Murasakimura: LV2 ▶
Skill: Lightning Magic LV1 ▶
Party: Mamoru Sendo, Tetsuya Akaishi, Shirou Ichinose
Oh! Murasakimura finally reached level 2, his long-awaited goal!
...Huh? Didn't he just defeat a second-floor monster in one blow while still level 1?
In my line of sight, Sendo and Akaishi were celebrating Murasakimura's level-up.
Murasakimura answered them bashfully.
"I won't know for sure until I check the Skill Board."
Yeah, but I secretly checked, so now I know Murasakimura can safely challenge the third floor.
"Then, let's go for the floor boss!"
Another wait in line, and then we challenged the second-floor boss.
The second-floor boss, the Giant Lizard.
"Kishaaa!"
It looked almost like a crocodile – a short-snouted crocodile. But its walking speed was probably faster than a crocodile's.
"It has higher durability than the monsters so far. Be careful not to get bitten. Well, even if you get bitten, we have potions, so you'll be fine, but it'll hurt. Also, when it plants its four legs, it'll swing its tail."
After listening to my explanation, the three formed a formation and advanced toward the Giant Lizard.
Akaishi stood in front, with Murasakimura on the right and Sendo circling to the left.
The Giant Lizard charged at Akaishi. He wound up his mace and swung it down with all his might.
With a thwack, a blow landed on the Giant Lizard's head.
The scales on its head were damaged, and it was bleeding.
Immediately, Murasakimura struck from the right with a lightning-clad blow. The moment that strike landed, the Giant Lizard reacted by jumping, then flipped over and convulsed.
"Hey! This is our chance!"
It was probably paralyzed by the electric shock. The three beat the overturned Giant Lizard, and succeeded in defeating it surprisingly easily.
"I'm surprised. Maybe it was easier than the Huge Slime."
Murasakimura commented.
"Probably your fighting styles just weren't well-suited to the Huge Slime since only the core took damage. Also, Murasakimura's Lightning Magic was effective against this one."
"I see."
Murasakimura and the others nodded at my explanation.
"Now comes the main event: the third floor. You might be confused by humanoid monsters for the first time, but the swordsmanship you've been training should really come in handy! Let's go!"