Chapter 3
Night before Awakening
The water droplets that fell from the sky constantly hit the window.
Eina laid on the table and lifted her head to look at the outside scenery.
(It started to rain……)
The golden moon, that was here earlier, was covered by thick and heavy clouds,
and a downpour of rain came down. The people on the outside were trying to seek
for shelter, and soon, the people on the streets disappeared.
Inside the guild headquarters, Eina, who was undergoing this and that kind of work,
stopped working, listened to the continuous raining sounds, and looked blankly
outside the window.
“Ugggh~, overtime and also heavy rain, I’m really unlucky~ah”
“……It should only be a rain shower, it should stop when we leave”
Eina’s colleague approached the table that was filled with a mountain-like amount
of papers, watching this heavy rain with a sigh.
It was currently 9 o’ clock in the evening. Inside the office facing the main hall, the
employees were currently fighting hard against the overtime. The superiors were
wearing an expression as if they were forced in a corner, while dealing with the
documents, Eina’s friend and colleague, a human girl, said that it was enough, and
leaned on Eina’s back.
“I know that currently we are busy managing the festival period, but I really hoped
that the boss would be sympathetic to us on this side~. Not everyone is as capable
as Eina”
“Get off me Misha, you’re heavy. Don’t hinder my work!”
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“Huh, ara? Could it be that Eina has already finished with the matters of the
festival?”
The colleague, ignoring Eina’s light protest, looked at the documents placed on the
table, her eyes widened.
She stretched out her hand into the thick pile of documents and, before Eina said
anything, secretly pulled out a piece of paper.
“Introduction information about becoming an adventurer……Ah ah, Eina recently
accepted that, that rookie-kun!”
“……I heard that I have to hand this over to team leader, so I summed up the
detailed contents.”
Feeling that nothing she said would help her, Eina sighed and honestly replied.
The paper that her colleague took recorded simple information about that person.
Their race, birthplace, experience, which <Familia> they belong to, you could say
that it recorded all the basic information that is required to live in the Labyrinth
City,
The name recorded on the top of the paper was <Bell Cranel>
“Uwaah~! ? He is only a solo, but he reached the fifth floor in half a month! This
kid is really amazing!”
“That isn’t the case. He did not carefully raid each floor. He only recklessly dived
down, and luckily reached the fifth floor. And he almost died there”
He did not comply to the things that this side had repeatedly warned him about,
said Eina, while lifting up her beautiful eyelashes.
She was sincerely worried about the state of the youth, so her own words seemed
somewhat unnatural, looking at her own expression, her human colleague seemed
to have suddenly understood, then gave off a wry smile.
“But, isn’t it caused by the Minotaur that the <Loki Familia> carelessly allowed to
escape? If you meet this monster, even if you’re not a rookie, you would still be
killed”
91
“That’s true, the Minotaur was abnormal……but for that kid, exploring the fifth
floor is still too reckless now”
Eina took back the information about Bell from her colleague and looked at the
data reference about that boy.
“From the fifth floor onwards, the monsters will begin to change, and the
dungeon’s structure will also become extremely complex. For the current Bell, if
he wants to pass through it……He will definitely die.”
The current bad equipment he had. Not even with a single companion, and
exploring the dungeon alone.
Compared to these, he still had not left the immature <Status> of a rookie.
You think that an adventurer that only experienced half a month worth of time,
could easily raid it? Then you’ve underestimated the dungeon. After considering
all the elements, it was still too early for Bell to raid the fifth floor, this was the
conclusion Eina had reached.
“Anyways. As long as I am still looking after him, I will absolutely not let him
continue onwards”
“Overprotective eh—. Could it be Eina is concerned about that child?”
“——What”
While saying this, it felt like everything was empty in general.
Her friend’s casual remark startled Eina’s unprepared heart.
Suddenly what flashed through her head was, two days ago, the “I love you”
phrase that the youth had said to her before leaving. With that half-jokingly
confession and the innocent smile, thinking about this, Eina reflexively blushed.
She, as a half-elf, recognized that her own pointy ears were boiling, Eina slowly
and calmly took a deep breath then seriously looked and said to her colleague.
“……Misha~?”
“Uwahh—Scca—rry!”
92
Watching the silhouette of her colleague leaving the table and going far away, Eina
relaxed the corners of her eyes and sat on the chair.
(I got toyed around with, really……)
In her heart, Eina reprimanded the boy that caused all this.
After all, it was just a cute boy that was like a brother to her, in her mind, she
accepted this conclusion and desperately apologized. Against her overly realistic
imagination, Eina’s smile almost leaked out her saliva.
(……What are you doing now, Bell-kun)
Looking outside the window, the rain became heavier once again.
The endless crying sounds from the dark sky, like her own explosive feelings,
violently continued to rain.
× × ×
A single step.
Kicking off from the ground.
“Ahhhhhh! ?”
The staggering blade strike past there.
The monster behind fell down with a short hum, and the resounding sound echoed
as it scattered on the ground.
Turning around, a frog monster with a single large eye, had died due to the dark
red liquid leaking out from the sliced off part.
The frog monster that uses its long tongue to attack adventurers, <Frog Shooter>.
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I looked at the monster that had its eyes sunk in without any expression, turned
around and walked around.
Ignoring the fatigue from my limbs, only concentrating my gaze at things that were
moving, I entered the complex dungeon.
The flat floor and walls, from the ceiling, began to construct an organized maze.
No matter where I walked to, it was the same boring empty space, so I continued to
walk on this endless path.
It was different than the morning explorations, the dungeon had a trace of cold air,
and was quiet. The breathing from the monsters could not be felt at all by the
adventurers.
Listening to the sound of my own footsteps, that headed towards the path in front.
“……”
As if I was possessed by a ghost, I continued to head straight ahead.
I did not bring any personal armor. My entire body was riddled with traces of
monster claws, teeth or from being grabbed. The shredded clothing made it seem
as if I had been robbed. My right hand or perhaps, the dagger that I use for
emergencies, had already been offered countless monster’s dripping blood.
(It is already tattered……)
My equipment was basically not adjusted, it feels that the me, with all these scars,
was a completely different person, never stopping, and quietly closed my eyes.
Running, running, running, running.
Running from the bar and past the streets, and flying into the dungeon.
Only pursuing monsters, and running around the dungeon.
Swinging, swinging, swinging, swinging.
I admitted my own powerlessness, abandoning myself to despair.
94
Using the regret that gushed out from my heart as fuel, I swung the only weapon I
had in my hands.
If I wanted to chase after that person that was far far away, how much troublesome
hardship would I have to pass through.
The idiotic passion lit up and became my heart’s will, allowing myself to take rash
actions.
(……Here, where am I)
Then, right now.
After a period of time where I abandoned my own reasoning, the fire in my heart
had gradually receded.
Constantly dealing with the monsters I encountered, my head had finally started to
deal with my own situation, my confusion had begun to clear up.
The dungeon walls that I was currently leaning on had changed from light blue to
light green. The width of the path has begun to become very small, the structure of
the dungeon has also become extremely complicated.
The monsters that I had met earlier also became different from the low level
monsters from before.
(5th Floor……No, it’s the 6th floor)
Using my vague memory, I calculated how many floors I had descended.
Looks like I had reached a floor that I not achieved yet.
The me, who had completely no sensibility, continued to linger around the never
yet achieved 6th floor. Heading back, this option had never been considered to me,
whose feelings were paralyzed.
My awareness became thin again, as if I was stimulated and was constantly
searching for the next prey.
“Ha, haaa……”
95
My breathing had started to become ragged. Looks like I accumulated more fatigue
than I had expected.
How long ago did I enter the dungeon, even I did not know.
The phosphorescent ceiling in the dungeon allowed me to ignore lighting issues,
rather, the brightness was just like when the sun was about to rise or when it was
about to set. For me, who didn’t carry a watch, there was no way to determine the
time.
(……Here is)
Constantly walking. I went inside a wide room.
The room was square-shaped, and there was nothing to block my sight. There was
only the light green walls that acted as the scenery there.
I headed to the center of the room. Then I looked around and could not see any
paths at all. Looks like the path that I walked in from was the only exit.
Then, I finally understood that this place was a dead end, and prepared to turn
back——At that time.
Bikiri,
“——“
Bikiri, Bikiri.
From the inside of this quiet space, there was a sound of something breaking, but I
completely did not know where the sound came from.
My legs were frozen stiff, I instantly lifted my head and looked around.
Within the wide space that had no objects covering it, I could not see any
monster’s body. Only the sound of something constantly knocking entered my ears.
It was the first time that I had encountered this situation, so my brain could only
think of one possibility.
I used my five senses that were enhanced by the <Status> ——Relying on my
sense of hearing, I searched for the source of the sound and walked towards it.
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The light green walls of the dungeon.
The dungeon wall in front of me was emitting the sound, which was gradually
becoming louder.
In a short period of time, the dungeon wall in front of me was broken.
“……!”
Monsters are born from within the dungeon.
It had been born right in front of my eyes, it was as if I had witnessed a life coming
from within the walls of the dungeon. The speed of its growth was extremely fast,
and instantly evolved into a state that could battle.
This huge dungeon was indeed the mother of the monsters that could threaten the
humans.
From the crack on the wall jumped out a monster’s hands that struggled in the air.
One hand was clinging onto the walls with all its strength, the other was exposed
outside. The dungeon walls messily fell apart.
At the end, a huge explosive sound ignited and the monster landed on the floor.
To express it in one word, it was a <Shadow>
It was about 160 cm tall. It had a body similar to mine although, from his head to
the legs, it was completely black and the shape of the two arms and legs were
extremely similar to a human’s. However, without the hair and the skin, it did not
feel like an animal and its entire body was completely painted black.
The only difference was the cross-shaped head with a face that was like a round
mirror embedded onto it.
Just like a shadow that had turned into monster.
The monster that appears on the 6th floor, <War Shadow>
“~……”
Gasha, a sound appeared from behind, turning my head around, another War
Shadow was born from the wall, and was falling down.
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A pincer attack.
No, two versus one. It was an unfavorable situation.
From the previously completely silent state, instantly —— as I had fallen into a
trap —— the original face of the dungeon appeared.
“……”
The War Shadow that had no vocal organs, silently moved their bodies, quietly
preparing for battle.
From the incredulous luster that was emitted from their face, it was staring at its
prey.
“……haaa”
Breathing out a sigh, I once again gripped tightly onto the dagger that was dyed red.
I estimated that I had reached a state where I was not able to completely defeat
them, so it was complete despair.
My brain had thought back to the scene that happened at the bar. The body that had
cooled down because of the despair, instantly reignited once again.
Ignoring the instinct that was warning me, I rushed out to fight the foolhardy battle
in front of my eyes.
× × ×
The War Shadow has very sharp <Fingers>
In front of the unusual two arms, were three fingers, those three thin and long
fingers were shaped like a knife. It climbs at a speed that was incomparable to the
Kobolds and Goblins, and with their two hands as weapons, they were ready to
attack.
98
The War Shadow’s combat abilities were among the best in the 6th floor.
The War Shadow was designated as the first monster that a rookie adventurer
could not defeat in the upper floors of the dungeon, which is within the 1-12 floor
range.
“——! ?”
In fact, it ended exactly that way.
While initiating the attack, I was injured.
The two War Shadows moved independently and, although it was very repetitive,
they had terrifying power and speed. Using that speed that I had never experienced
before, swinging their black hands around, my clothes and even my skin were
gently scratched.
The long arms could also retract themselves. It had a decisive advantage in
attacking range over the opponent, so it would not let the opponent come close
easily.
It was completely different to the monsters I have seen up to now.
Unable to fight back, there were no weaknesses and no chance to escape.
It was, simply put, strong.
“……”
“Kuuuu——! ?”
The soundless attack was a deadly attack.
The curved hook-shaped black edges approached my eyes, so my heartbeat
increased, wanting to jump above it and avoid the attack, but I could not do it
because, right now, another attack was coming from outside my vision.
From the front, the side and the back.
With me at the center, the four black arms continuously attacked.
99
My body was like a top, being constantly attacked by the monsters. My sight had
already been blurred by the huge amount of sweat and fresh blood, and
unconsciously, my life was about to reach to the edge. Suddenly I felt that my life
was in danger.
Once I noticed this, I calmly breathed out.
(——Why)
Although it was a bit late, but I felt that my own sense of anxiety was, at the same
time, a strong and uncomfortable feeling.
My poor ability to think was startled by my sense of crisis, which allowed me to
retrieve a little bit of cool, finally I could confront the current situation.
——Why am I still alive?
The first thing that I had to notice was this.
Why is my body still comfortable on the 6th floor.
Thinking carefully, this was indeed strange. For an adventurer that had just begun
entering the dungeon half a month ago, it was impossible to survive on this floor.
After encountering the War Shadow and barely managing to survive, it was
completely impossible.
I was indeed taught that by that half-elf. And I have also been warned.
With a rookie’s <Status> it was absolutely impossible to pass this floor——
(——Sta…tus?)
The thought that instantly passed through my brain, despite only being updated
once there was a crazy growth of abnormal numbers.
Does that mean my brain was filled with all sorts of ideas.
The <Sacred Text> engraved on the back seemed to be aware of this.
“Ah, Kuuu——!?”
100
The sudden shock that pierced through my body, brought my own consciousness
back to reality.
While I was unnecessarily thinking, the War Shadow had directly attacked my
body.
An attack that was like a clenched fist hit my shoulder. My entire body followed
the flow of the attack and flew away, the strong impact made me drop the dagger
in my hand onto the floor.
My only one weapon issued a crisp sound on the floor.
“!”
My own black shadow also immediately climbed to the location where I landed
onto the floor.
The War Shadow that had just attacked and the other one moved their right arms
that had stopped earlier on.
Its eyes became very small.
The immediate scene became as if the passage of time had slowed down.
My past memories suddenly flowed through my mind. Like a revolving lantern, the
things that I had experienced so far began to replay themselves.
That includes the newest one which is the fateful encounter I had.
(——)
Then, it was the one that granted me the Grace……My most important memory:
Kami-sama’s smile.
“——! !”
After a moment, I used all my strength to move my body once again.
Jumping up from the ground of the dungeon, I used my right arm to attack the eye
of the War Shadow.
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The long black arm passed through my cheek, even if my skin was scratched, I still
used all my strength to fully grasp the fist in my right hand and attacked towards
the enemy’s face.
What was heard was a dull crushing sound.
“…… , ……! ?”
The fist that contained all my power destroyed the enemy’s mirror-like face, and
pierced through the head.
After being pierced, a black liquid leaked out from the back of his head. The War
Shadow, in a state where it crossed its arms, had a little spasm, its entire body lost
its strength, and fell to the knees.
“——Fuuu!”
I could not stop now.
Retrieving my hand from the face of the monster, I used a lightning-like speed to
approach the War Shadow, that was frozen due to his companion being defeated.
I took advantage and picked up the dagger that had fallen to the ground, rushed
towards the arms of the enemy.
The swaying body of the War Shadow prepared to intercept the attack, but I
reached it first, so I won.
Instantly my dagger.
Towards earning another victory, it sliced off the enemy’s chest.
“————! !”
The Magic Stone within the sliced chest, unfortunately, was broken.
It could not emit any sound and died, the monster’s dark black body turned into
ashes.
I, who drew the dagger out, remained at that spot, after looking at the large amount
of ashes lying on the floor, I suddenly lost my strength and began to gasp.
102
“Ha——, Ha——, Haaa……!”
Allowing my lungs to violently breath, I stared at the sky.
Once the tension of being nervous was cut off, the fatigue appeared from my body.
Needless to say, this was certainly a very dangerous battle. Gently opening my
eyes, I listened to the sound of my rapid heartbeat.
What exactly happened to my own body?
The enemy that was one level higher than me and which I was not supposed to
have overcome, was defeated by myself. This overturned common knowledge, was
it because of the sharp rise of my <Status>?
What exactly happened to my body, I completely did not know.
Problems that continued to appear one by one, made me completely unable to
respond to it, suddenly it feels that my leg was about to break, seems like I reached
my limits. I stopped thinking about these issues and began to move my scarred and
tattered body.
Right now, I should escape as soon as possible.
As if I was being pulled by my re-awakened reason, I headed towards the entrance.
However, just like it was informing me that I <can’t escape>…… Gasha.
“——“
I stopped breathing. Lifting up my head, on the left and right hand side, the walls
seemed to be like a spider’s nest, constantly splitting apart. Instantly, four, which is
double the previous amount, of War Shadows were born from the dungeon.
……This is one of the reasons Eina-san had mentioned about why you do not
venture down to the lower floors of the dungeon.
From the 6th, no, 5th floor, the frequency of the monsters being born was
completely different than before.
I could only speechlessly daze off there, plus, a sound, as if I was cornered, entered
my ears.
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Turning around, from the only entrance, appeared a lot of monster eyes.
(——……Uwaahh)
One following another, the 5th floor monsters began to enter the wide space.
After the only entrance was sealed, I immediately entered a deadlock state. The
War Shadows were also surrounded by other monsters.
Although it was like this, my head remained unusually calm.
“……”
I slowly walked over to the place where I defeated the earlier War Shadow and
bent down.
Picking up the <War Shadow’s Finger> that was dropped when it turned into ashes.
Equipping the remaining one finger out of the three, I instantly completed my gear.
Holding onto the dagger that did not have any handle, my hands split apart, and
blood continuously flowed out.
——Let’s do this then.
I, who was holding onto two weapons, narrowed my eyes.
I, who was cornered, did not hold the idea of giving up, but rather the
determination and will of one who would die here.
There is a height which I wished to achieve.
I would not be stopped by this place.
I, who was surrounded by the roars of the monsters, was renewed.
As if I was driven by a burning imprint, I grabbed onto my weapons.
After a while, I began to fight the rushing monsters.
Chapter 3
Night before Awakening
The water droplets that fell from the sky constantly hit the window.
Eina laid on the table and lifted her head to look at the outside scenery.
(It started to rain……)
The golden moon, that was here earlier, was covered by thick and heavy clouds,
and a downpour of rain came down. The people on the outside were trying to seek
for shelter, and soon, the people on the streets disappeared.
Inside the guild headquarters, Eina, who was undergoing this and that kind of work,
stopped working, listened to the continuous raining sounds, and looked blankly
outside the window.
“Ugggh~, overtime and also heavy rain, I’m really unlucky~ah”
“……It should only be a rain shower, it should stop when we leave”
Eina’s colleague approached the table that was filled with a mountain-like amount
of papers, watching this heavy rain with a sigh.
It was currently 9 o’ clock in the evening. Inside the office facing the main hall, the
employees were currently fighting hard against the overtime. The superiors were
wearing an expression as if they were forced in a corner, while dealing with the
documents, Eina’s friend and colleague, a human girl, said that it was enough, and
leaned on Eina’s back.
“I know that currently we are busy managing the festival period, but I really hoped
that the boss would be sympathetic to us on this side~. Not everyone is as capable
as Eina”
“Get off me Misha, you’re heavy. Don’t hinder my work!”
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“Huh, ara? Could it be that Eina has already finished with the matters of the
festival?”
The colleague, ignoring Eina’s light protest, looked at the documents placed on the
table, her eyes widened.
She stretched out her hand into the thick pile of documents and, before Eina said
anything, secretly pulled out a piece of paper.
“Introduction information about becoming an adventurer……Ah ah, Eina recently
accepted that, that rookie-kun!”
“……I heard that I have to hand this over to team leader, so I summed up the
detailed contents.”
Feeling that nothing she said would help her, Eina sighed and honestly replied.
The paper that her colleague took recorded simple information about that person.
Their race, birthplace, experience, which <Familia> they belong to, you could say
that it recorded all the basic information that is required to live in the Labyrinth
City,
The name recorded on the top of the paper was <Bell Cranel>
“Uwaah~! ? He is only a solo, but he reached the fifth floor in half a month! This
kid is really amazing!”
“That isn’t the case. He did not carefully raid each floor. He only recklessly dived
down, and luckily reached the fifth floor. And he almost died there”
He did not comply to the things that this side had repeatedly warned him about,
said Eina, while lifting up her beautiful eyelashes.
She was sincerely worried about the state of the youth, so her own words seemed
somewhat unnatural, looking at her own expression, her human colleague seemed
to have suddenly understood, then gave off a wry smile.
“But, isn’t it caused by the Minotaur that the <Loki Familia> carelessly allowed to
escape? If you meet this monster, even if you’re not a rookie, you would still be
killed”
91
“That’s true, the Minotaur was abnormal……but for that kid, exploring the fifth
floor is still too reckless now”
Eina took back the information about Bell from her colleague and looked at the
data reference about that boy.
“From the fifth floor onwards, the monsters will begin to change, and the
dungeon’s structure will also become extremely complex. For the current Bell, if
he wants to pass through it……He will definitely die.”
The current bad equipment he had. Not even with a single companion, and
exploring the dungeon alone.
Compared to these, he still had not left the immature <Status> of a rookie.
You think that an adventurer that only experienced half a month worth of time,
could easily raid it? Then you’ve underestimated the dungeon. After considering
all the elements, it was still too early for Bell to raid the fifth floor, this was the
conclusion Eina had reached.
“Anyways. As long as I am still looking after him, I will absolutely not let him
continue onwards”
“Overprotective eh—. Could it be Eina is concerned about that child?”
“——What”
While saying this, it felt like everything was empty in general.
Her friend’s casual remark startled Eina’s unprepared heart.
Suddenly what flashed through her head was, two days ago, the “I love you”
phrase that the youth had said to her before leaving. With that half-jokingly
confession and the innocent smile, thinking about this, Eina reflexively blushed.
She, as a half-elf, recognized that her own pointy ears were boiling, Eina slowly
and calmly took a deep breath then seriously looked and said to her colleague.
“……Misha~?”
“Uwahh—Scca—rry!”
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Watching the silhouette of her colleague leaving the table and going far away, Eina
relaxed the corners of her eyes and sat on the chair.
(I got toyed around with, really……)
In her heart, Eina reprimanded the boy that caused all this.
After all, it was just a cute boy that was like a brother to her, in her mind, she
accepted this conclusion and desperately apologized. Against her overly realistic
imagination, Eina’s smile almost leaked out her saliva.
(……What are you doing now, Bell-kun)
Looking outside the window, the rain became heavier once again.
The endless crying sounds from the dark sky, like her own explosive feelings,
violently continued to rain.
× × ×
A single step.
Kicking off from the ground.
“Ahhhhhh! ?”
The staggering blade strike past there.
The monster behind fell down with a short hum, and the resounding sound echoed
as it scattered on the ground.
Turning around, a frog monster with a single large eye, had died due to the dark
red liquid leaking out from the sliced off part.
The frog monster that uses its long tongue to attack adventurers, <Frog Shooter>.
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I looked at the monster that had its eyes sunk in without any expression, turned
around and walked around.
Ignoring the fatigue from my limbs, only concentrating my gaze at things that were
moving, I entered the complex dungeon.
The flat floor and walls, from the ceiling, began to construct an organized maze.
No matter where I walked to, it was the same boring empty space, so I continued to
walk on this endless path.
It was different than the morning explorations, the dungeon had a trace of cold air,
and was quiet. The breathing from the monsters could not be felt at all by the
adventurers.
Listening to the sound of my own footsteps, that headed towards the path in front.
“……”
As if I was possessed by a ghost, I continued to head straight ahead.
I did not bring any personal armor. My entire body was riddled with traces of
monster claws, teeth or from being grabbed. The shredded clothing made it seem
as if I had been robbed. My right hand or perhaps, the dagger that I use for
emergencies, had already been offered countless monster’s dripping blood.
(It is already tattered……)
My equipment was basically not adjusted, it feels that the me, with all these scars,
was a completely different person, never stopping, and quietly closed my eyes.
Running, running, running, running.
Running from the bar and past the streets, and flying into the dungeon.
Only pursuing monsters, and running around the dungeon.
Swinging, swinging, swinging, swinging.
I admitted my own powerlessness, abandoning myself to despair.
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Using the regret that gushed out from my heart as fuel, I swung the only weapon I
had in my hands.
If I wanted to chase after that person that was far far away, how much troublesome
hardship would I have to pass through.
The idiotic passion lit up and became my heart’s will, allowing myself to take rash
actions.
(……Here, where am I)
Then, right now.
After a period of time where I abandoned my own reasoning, the fire in my heart
had gradually receded.
Constantly dealing with the monsters I encountered, my head had finally started to
deal with my own situation, my confusion had begun to clear up.
The dungeon walls that I was currently leaning on had changed from light blue to
light green. The width of the path has begun to become very small, the structure of
the dungeon has also become extremely complicated.
The monsters that I had met earlier also became different from the low level
monsters from before.
(5th Floor……No, it’s the 6th floor)
Using my vague memory, I calculated how many floors I had descended.
Looks like I had reached a floor that I not achieved yet.
The me, who had completely no sensibility, continued to linger around the never
yet achieved 6th floor. Heading back, this option had never been considered to me,
whose feelings were paralyzed.
My awareness became thin again, as if I was stimulated and was constantly
searching for the next prey.
“Ha, haaa……”
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My breathing had started to become ragged. Looks like I accumulated more fatigue
than I had expected.
How long ago did I enter the dungeon, even I did not know.
The phosphorescent ceiling in the dungeon allowed me to ignore lighting issues,
rather, the brightness was just like when the sun was about to rise or when it was
about to set. For me, who didn’t carry a watch, there was no way to determine the
time.
(……Here is)
Constantly walking. I went inside a wide room.
The room was square-shaped, and there was nothing to block my sight. There was
only the light green walls that acted as the scenery there.
I headed to the center of the room. Then I looked around and could not see any
paths at all. Looks like the path that I walked in from was the only exit.
Then, I finally understood that this place was a dead end, and prepared to turn
back——At that time.
Bikiri,
“——“
Bikiri, Bikiri.
From the inside of this quiet space, there was a sound of something breaking, but I
completely did not know where the sound came from.
My legs were frozen stiff, I instantly lifted my head and looked around.
Within the wide space that had no objects covering it, I could not see any
monster’s body. Only the sound of something constantly knocking entered my ears.
It was the first time that I had encountered this situation, so my brain could only
think of one possibility.
I used my five senses that were enhanced by the <Status> ——Relying on my
sense of hearing, I searched for the source of the sound and walked towards it.
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The light green walls of the dungeon.
The dungeon wall in front of me was emitting the sound, which was gradually
becoming louder.
In a short period of time, the dungeon wall in front of me was broken.
“……!”
Monsters are born from within the dungeon.
It had been born right in front of my eyes, it was as if I had witnessed a life coming
from within the walls of the dungeon. The speed of its growth was extremely fast,
and instantly evolved into a state that could battle.
This huge dungeon was indeed the mother of the monsters that could threaten the
humans.
From the crack on the wall jumped out a monster’s hands that struggled in the air.
One hand was clinging onto the walls with all its strength, the other was exposed
outside. The dungeon walls messily fell apart.
At the end, a huge explosive sound ignited and the monster landed on the floor.
To express it in one word, it was a <Shadow>
It was about 160 cm tall. It had a body similar to mine although, from his head to
the legs, it was completely black and the shape of the two arms and legs were
extremely similar to a human’s. However, without the hair and the skin, it did not
feel like an animal and its entire body was completely painted black.
The only difference was the cross-shaped head with a face that was like a round
mirror embedded onto it.
Just like a shadow that had turned into monster.
The monster that appears on the 6th floor, <War Shadow>
“~……”
Gasha, a sound appeared from behind, turning my head around, another War
Shadow was born from the wall, and was falling down.
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A pincer attack.
No, two versus one. It was an unfavorable situation.
From the previously completely silent state, instantly —— as I had fallen into a
trap —— the original face of the dungeon appeared.
“……”
The War Shadow that had no vocal organs, silently moved their bodies, quietly
preparing for battle.
From the incredulous luster that was emitted from their face, it was staring at its
prey.
“……haaa”
Breathing out a sigh, I once again gripped tightly onto the dagger that was dyed red.
I estimated that I had reached a state where I was not able to completely defeat
them, so it was complete despair.
My brain had thought back to the scene that happened at the bar. The body that had
cooled down because of the despair, instantly reignited once again.
Ignoring the instinct that was warning me, I rushed out to fight the foolhardy battle
in front of my eyes.
× × ×
The War Shadow has very sharp <Fingers>
In front of the unusual two arms, were three fingers, those three thin and long
fingers were shaped like a knife. It climbs at a speed that was incomparable to the
Kobolds and Goblins, and with their two hands as weapons, they were ready to
attack.
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The War Shadow’s combat abilities were among the best in the 6th floor.
The War Shadow was designated as the first monster that a rookie adventurer
could not defeat in the upper floors of the dungeon, which is within the 1-12 floor
range.
“——! ?”
In fact, it ended exactly that way.
While initiating the attack, I was injured.
The two War Shadows moved independently and, although it was very repetitive,
they had terrifying power and speed. Using that speed that I had never experienced
before, swinging their black hands around, my clothes and even my skin were
gently scratched.
The long arms could also retract themselves. It had a decisive advantage in
attacking range over the opponent, so it would not let the opponent come close
easily.
It was completely different to the monsters I have seen up to now.
Unable to fight back, there were no weaknesses and no chance to escape.
It was, simply put, strong.
“……”
“Kuuuu——! ?”
The soundless attack was a deadly attack.
The curved hook-shaped black edges approached my eyes, so my heartbeat
increased, wanting to jump above it and avoid the attack, but I could not do it
because, right now, another attack was coming from outside my vision.
From the front, the side and the back.
With me at the center, the four black arms continuously attacked.
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My body was like a top, being constantly attacked by the monsters. My sight had
already been blurred by the huge amount of sweat and fresh blood, and
unconsciously, my life was about to reach to the edge. Suddenly I felt that my life
was in danger.
Once I noticed this, I calmly breathed out.
(——Why)
Although it was a bit late, but I felt that my own sense of anxiety was, at the same
time, a strong and uncomfortable feeling.
My poor ability to think was startled by my sense of crisis, which allowed me to
retrieve a little bit of cool, finally I could confront the current situation.
——Why am I still alive?
The first thing that I had to notice was this.
Why is my body still comfortable on the 6th floor.
Thinking carefully, this was indeed strange. For an adventurer that had just begun
entering the dungeon half a month ago, it was impossible to survive on this floor.
After encountering the War Shadow and barely managing to survive, it was
completely impossible.
I was indeed taught that by that half-elf. And I have also been warned.
With a rookie’s <Status> it was absolutely impossible to pass this floor——
(——Sta…tus?)
The thought that instantly passed through my brain, despite only being updated
once there was a crazy growth of abnormal numbers.
Does that mean my brain was filled with all sorts of ideas.
The <Sacred Text> engraved on the back seemed to be aware of this.
“Ah, Kuuu——!?”
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The sudden shock that pierced through my body, brought my own consciousness
back to reality.
While I was unnecessarily thinking, the War Shadow had directly attacked my
body.
An attack that was like a clenched fist hit my shoulder. My entire body followed
the flow of the attack and flew away, the strong impact made me drop the dagger
in my hand onto the floor.
My only one weapon issued a crisp sound on the floor.
“!”
My own black shadow also immediately climbed to the location where I landed
onto the floor.
The War Shadow that had just attacked and the other one moved their right arms
that had stopped earlier on.
Its eyes became very small.
The immediate scene became as if the passage of time had slowed down.
My past memories suddenly flowed through my mind. Like a revolving lantern, the
things that I had experienced so far began to replay themselves.
That includes the newest one which is the fateful encounter I had.
(——)
Then, it was the one that granted me the Grace……My most important memory:
Kami-sama’s smile.
“——! !”
After a moment, I used all my strength to move my body once again.
Jumping up from the ground of the dungeon, I used my right arm to attack the eye
of the War Shadow.
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The long black arm passed through my cheek, even if my skin was scratched, I still
used all my strength to fully grasp the fist in my right hand and attacked towards
the enemy’s face.
What was heard was a dull crushing sound.
“…… , ……! ?”
The fist that contained all my power destroyed the enemy’s mirror-like face, and
pierced through the head.
After being pierced, a black liquid leaked out from the back of his head. The War
Shadow, in a state where it crossed its arms, had a little spasm, its entire body lost
its strength, and fell to the knees.
“——Fuuu!”
I could not stop now.
Retrieving my hand from the face of the monster, I used a lightning-like speed to
approach the War Shadow, that was frozen due to his companion being defeated.
I took advantage and picked up the dagger that had fallen to the ground, rushed
towards the arms of the enemy.
The swaying body of the War Shadow prepared to intercept the attack, but I
reached it first, so I won.
Instantly my dagger.
Towards earning another victory, it sliced off the enemy’s chest.
“————! !”
The Magic Stone within the sliced chest, unfortunately, was broken.
It could not emit any sound and died, the monster’s dark black body turned into
ashes.
I, who drew the dagger out, remained at that spot, after looking at the large amount
of ashes lying on the floor, I suddenly lost my strength and began to gasp.
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“Ha——, Ha——, Haaa……!”
Allowing my lungs to violently breath, I stared at the sky.
Once the tension of being nervous was cut off, the fatigue appeared from my body.
Needless to say, this was certainly a very dangerous battle. Gently opening my
eyes, I listened to the sound of my rapid heartbeat.
What exactly happened to my own body?
The enemy that was one level higher than me and which I was not supposed to
have overcome, was defeated by myself. This overturned common knowledge, was
it because of the sharp rise of my <Status>?
What exactly happened to my body, I completely did not know.
Problems that continued to appear one by one, made me completely unable to
respond to it, suddenly it feels that my leg was about to break, seems like I reached
my limits. I stopped thinking about these issues and began to move my scarred and
tattered body.
Right now, I should escape as soon as possible.
As if I was being pulled by my re-awakened reason, I headed towards the entrance.
However, just like it was informing me that I <can’t escape>…… Gasha.
“——“
I stopped breathing. Lifting up my head, on the left and right hand side, the walls
seemed to be like a spider’s nest, constantly splitting apart. Instantly, four, which is
double the previous amount, of War Shadows were born from the dungeon.
……This is one of the reasons Eina-san had mentioned about why you do not
venture down to the lower floors of the dungeon.
From the 6th, no, 5th floor, the frequency of the monsters being born was
completely different than before.
I could only speechlessly daze off there, plus, a sound, as if I was cornered, entered
my ears.
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Turning around, from the only entrance, appeared a lot of monster eyes.
(——……Uwaahh)
One following another, the 5th floor monsters began to enter the wide space.
After the only entrance was sealed, I immediately entered a deadlock state. The
War Shadows were also surrounded by other monsters.
Although it was like this, my head remained unusually calm.
“……”
I slowly walked over to the place where I defeated the earlier War Shadow and
bent down.
Picking up the <War Shadow’s Finger> that was dropped when it turned into ashes.
Equipping the remaining one finger out of the three, I instantly completed my gear.
Holding onto the dagger that did not have any handle, my hands split apart, and
blood continuously flowed out.
——Let’s do this then.
I, who was holding onto two weapons, narrowed my eyes.
I, who was cornered, did not hold the idea of giving up, but rather the
determination and will of one who would die here.
There is a height which I wished to achieve.
I would not be stopped by this place.
I, who was surrounded by the roars of the monsters, was renewed.
As if I was driven by a burning imprint, I grabbed onto my weapons.
After a while, I began to fight the rushing monsters.
