N.e.x.t.i.n.?..?..?..
Year 7446, Month 6, Day 30
"I guess that the Minotaur was the guard that protects the teleport crystal room for the 8th floor. It seems that normally it would have been best to charge in and defeat it with everyone but...After defeating the guard the cage disappeared and the effect of the Anti-Skill Area was released I guess?"
And Miduchi said, so I thought, I see now. Incidentally, right now we're in the teleport crystal room and excluding the fact that there's only one entrance it's no different from the other floors. From a glance it's a room of about 30 meters and in the center is the pedestal with the teleport crystal.
"But will that Minotaur? Was it? but there's no guarantee it won't revive and a different monster might revive as well right?"
Bel said nervously but Miduchi gently denied it.
"We were able to use magic and Special Skills after defeating the Minotaur and the places other than here are still bright. Also, no monsters will approach the area of about 100 meters around the teleport crystal right? Probably but I think that the Minotaur is a special monster and after all I think it's natural to think it was a mid boss. There's no basis for it but it probably won't revive I think?"
No one Could clearly object to Miduchi's opinion. However, in that case wouldn't that fellow from the 14th floor not revive either? I don't really get it. I never want to go back again to check.
"Even if it were to revive, the problem is whether or not it will enter into this teleport crystal room right."
Toris said. Certainly that's true.
"Right. If it were to come into this room then it would be difficult to make it into a base."
Basutoral said as well. I'm of the same opinion.
In the past, I saw a {Scavenger Crawler} revive right in front of me in a room on the 1st floor. That time if I remember correctly something like a white fog appeared after about 10 hours and started whirling, then after giving off a single small flash of light it appeared. It might not be bad to spend half a day or so here keeping an eye on things to confirm whether or not it revives.
Conveniently it's still before noon right now.
"It can't be helped. Shall we wait on standby here for almost the whole day and confirm whether it revives..Let's patrol around outside until lunch."
While taking a break in the teleport crystal room we decided on the plan for today.
................
We patrolled around this circular room together with everyone but as expected of it having a diameter of 2 km, we were only able to look around at just a bit of it until lunch. We returned to the teleport crystal room once and had lunch, then started looking around the room again in the afternoon. The time changed to evening and even by 7 pm the room was still as bright as the 7th floor. We didn't encounter any monsters either.
"I guess we've seen most of it right...Gwine, how was it?"
"..I saw almost all of it. Another seven areas, there's spots I wasn't able to see though..from here it would take a bit of walking but what should we do?"
After spending a bit of time searching her brain Gwine replied.
"Hn~ I'll think while eating. Shall we return?"
Just in case but before the 10 hours passed since I defeated the Minotaur I wanted us to return to the teleport crystal room. It should have been just past 10 am when I defeated it. I want to return by 8 pm or so.
We returned to the teleport room and ate the bento that Giberuti made for us this morning as dinner. We decided to do the remaining exploration tomorrow morning before we take a look in the 9th floor. This morning, when we went to leave the teleport room on the 7th floor I told Giberuti, "I intend to clear past the 8th floor so depending on the case we might not return for 2 days or so but don't worry too much." but the bento we received from him at that time was only enough until tomorrow morning. We intended on pulling through with preserved food after that.
I said that because it would be a pain to come here again but if that Minotaur revives again then in regards to the supplies from here on out, I'll need to think even more seriously about them. Everyone's worries were focused on that point. Also, if the Minotaur revives then whether or not that Anti-Skill Area revives is also a problem.
If the Anti-Skill Area doesn't revive as well then it's not much of a problem. Putting aside Unique Abilities, if we can use magic then as long as we don't let our guards down considerably then it's safe to say there's no problem. However, it could be thought that the Minotaur might use magic as well so there's a good and a bad to it.
Let alone, if a different type of monster were revive then letting it use some kind of Special Skill might be even more troublesome. Even when it comes to that {Gazer}, if it couldn't use Special Skills then it wouldn't be able to float or fire off beams as it rolls around on the ground, so all we'd have to do is surround and beat it to death that sort of of easy win.
After eating our bentos and even when the time passed 8 pm there was no sign of a monster reviving and the outside was still bright. After all it seems it's just as Miduchi said and that Minotaur might be the type that doesn't revive.
I was just a bit relieved. No, we still can't let our guards down.
Ah, come to think of it since we couldn't use Abilities I guess that means my 【Gift of Natural Talent】 was no good either huh? It seems my experience points have increased but it's probably not three times more, I'm sure. I felt like it was just a bit of a waste but normally there's nothing like the amount of experience points gained increasing. Quite literally unless you have something like my 【Gift of Natural Talent】 or Miduchi's 【Party-ization】 then the chance of gaining increased experience points wouldn't happen so I guess it's hard to call it a waste or anything else.
This day after deciding on the order for keeping lookout we decided to rest as far from the entrance as possible. Among the lookout team I told them to always have at least one person looking around inside of the room. Normally I'd like to have it two person per team and have them patrol around outside of the pillar but in the worst case on the occasion the monster revives I want to observe the point on whether it will enter the room so this time I just had them keeping watch of the entrance. Also, even for those resting I have us still wearing our armor and our weapons in an easy to grab location, a stance of vigilance unseen recently.
.................
Around 2 am I was woken up by Miduchi to switch out keeping lookout. Since I was just laying on a bed of dirt made with magic with my armor still on, honestly speaking I don't feel rested at all. This sort of thing can't even be considered a proper rest. It seems going too far in for long periods might be difficult. I wonder if around the 9th floor will be the limit?
Toris, Bel, Gwine, and Zulu were sitting in a circle a bit of distance from the entrance. It looks like no one was able to get much rest and are making rough faces not much different than myself. In order to wake from the sleep I created some hot water and made tea, then sipped it while making a sullen face with them.
I think it was a bit over the full 2 hours since we switched lookouts? The light shining in from the entrance rapidly faded.
In a hurry I called out to everyone and tried using Identify at the same time.
I can't use it!
"Gwine! Wake everyone up! Zulu and Toris watch the entrance! Bel prepare your bow!"
Ordered by me Zulu immediately took his sword and shield and fortified the entrance together with Toris on both sides. Gwine was yelling "Wake up!!" in a loud voice as she tried to shake them awake, Bel retreated back to around the teleport crystal and pulled out an arrow from her quiver.
"Magic..It's no good!"
"I can't either."
It seems Toris and Bel tried to use it right away. I went on guard with my bayonet as well while standing a bit away from the front passage leading to the entrance. The passage which has a height and width of about 2 meters and length of 10 meters to the room has already gotten quite dark. I noticed after approaching it but I could tell that whirlpool of fog that appears when monsters revive was there. The fog which appeared in an area centered about 4-5 meters from the entrance was slowly whirling.
Miduchi, Zenom, Ralpha, Basutoral, and Angela all ran over in full equipment after being woken up by Gwine.
"Miduchi. Unfortunately it seems your prediction was off. That fog is the sign of a monster reviving...And also we can't use skills or magic again."
I explained to Miduchi while also explaining to everyone else on guard and raised the level of caution.
"What should we do? Should we all charge at it the moment it revives? In that case while we still can now we should all go outside.."
Ralpha commented.
"Nn..That might not be bad either but I want to check the state of things. Until either it makes a move towards us or I say something no one move. Also Angela you keep an eye on things in the room. I can't imagine a monster appearing in this room but being careful just in case."
Previously, when we fell down to the 14th floor, it's regrettable that we returned right away. It would have been good if I paid a little bit more attention to what was outside of the rooms..and regretting it now is too late. That time, we had just escaped a huge crisis, riding on the momentum I made Miduchi my own, and we even talked to Lilus, so by the way I split ways with Miduchi and returned to being alone I didn't have enough leeway to think about things like that. That was just two years and a bit ago huh...
I lick my lips and try to relieve even just a bit of the tension. Toris was licking his lips with his longer forked tongue as well.
It seems the whirl of fog is gradually increasing in force but it's still not very big. However, I feel like the time with the {Scavenger Crawler} it increased in force in a slightly shorter amount of time. That time if I remember correctly, after I defeated a different monster what revive was the {Scavenger Crawler}. I wonder what will happen this time?
Just like Miduchi said it's not like I don't feel like the room outside of here is different from a normal monster room.
If I think about how it appears this close to the teleport crystal right from the start then it's probably true that it's special. Also, in the case that the Minotaur really does revive again it might be possible that we'll get hands on another {Magic.Item} as well.
If that's really the case then who would seriously explore something like the 9th floor? I'd just check it out and after obtaining the magic stone from an unusual monster it's good-bye.
Not yet huh...
There's tension in everyone's faces.
Still not yet, not yet huh?
Gulp. Someone swallowed their saliva.
I guess it's about time?
Now!
Along with a short flash of light the fog dispersed. And then, almost like the {Terminator} that time slipped from the future, I can see a back rising up from the ground. The deep brown-bronze skin of what you could call it a big man. What's different from the {Terminator} is only the point that it's wearing a crude loincloth.
Seeing that Zulu and Toris both flinched and reacted but I guess they quickly remembered my order and started carefully observing things.
On both of my sides I could tell Miduchi and Ralpha stiffened up recognizing the monster.
Zenom fixed his grip on his magic axe.
Just like that several tens of seconds passed.
The man with a crude loincloth on slowly stood up with his back to us. I can't see anything but the back of it's head but it's got shaggy hair and I can confirm two cow horns growing from above it's head. In it's right hand it's holding a one-handed axe with a long handle, a {bardiche} huh?
It's a Minotaur.
After the Minotaur stood up it stopped moving with it's back still facing us almost like a statue.
I guess he couldn't endure the tension, I could feel the presence of Basutoral shifting positions behind me.
"Don't move yet."
I said it in a whisper.
I guess around a few minutes passed?
No one moved or talked and there was no change in the Minotaur that could be seen.
Ah, come to think of it there's no sign of the {Lightning Bolt} cage appearing either.
I quietly turned around to Bel and gave her a sign with my eyes.
Following that I moved my left hand around to the front pointing to my right shoulder.
And then pointed at the Minotaur.
After nodding Bel fixed an arrow on her bow, pulled back the strings, and fired it.
The fired arrow splendidly stabbed into the collar bone of the Minotaur's right shoulder a bit closer to the spine.
"Gwidye!!"
The Minotaur let out a dull scream as it jumped in surprise and turned around here.
However, it quickly started restlessly looking around the area.
It still has it's posture lowered and axe at the ready.
It feels almost like it can't see into the passage that continues into the teleport crystal room.
Just like that we waited for a short while and after watching the Minotaur struggle to pull the arrow out, I gave the sign to Bel again.
"Vioo~!!"
Once again the Minotaur screamed in agony from the pain and quickly turned around over here with it's axe ready.
There was a strange light in it's eyes as it slowly took it's left hand from it's axe and stretched it out towards the entrance.
"Hick! Ah.."
It seems Gwine hiccuped from the tension but the only ones who reacted to that was just us.
The Minotaur was just trying to stroke the space around the entrance and didn't show any sort of reaction.
Hmm.
I guess it can't see over here from there?
"Everyone, don't move..WA!!"
I shouted in a slightly loud voice to check but it didn't react at all.
"..It seems like it can't hear us."
Toris turned around towards me and said.
"Also, it seems like it can't tell the entrance right."
Miduchi narrowed her eyes and observed the Minotaur while saying.
"That thing, is it an idiot?"
You are too. Though I say that, it's certainly true that the Minotaur that looks like it's just touching an invisible wall investigating doesn't look like anything but an idiot.
"What should we do? Shall we all charge in at once?"
Basutoral said in a tense voice.
"Somehow, I feel like I could just shoot it to death like this. Should I crush it's eyes?"
It's eyes aren't as huge as the {Ice Monster}? Can you do it? Bel.
"Wait just a moment. Let's test things out a bit more. Zulu, stick your leg just one step out from the passage."
Miduchi said that to Zulu and he took one step out from the passage.
There's no change in the Minotaur.
It should be fine already.
"Return."
I called Zulu back in.
"Somehow it seems it can't come inside. Also, it seems it's fine even taking one step or so out from the passage. It seems like our voices aren't reaching it either.."
Toris said after keeping an eye on things.
"Then, it seems there's merit in making this place into a base."
"That's true.."
I replied to Gwine while thinking for a bit. Most likely it's probably not all that difficult to defeat that Minotaur. If Bel just keeps shooting it with arrows I'm sure it'll die eventually and if that's a waste of arrows then we could just have her crush it's eyes then after standing Zulu and Toris at the front have Gwine and Basutoral stab it with their spears all at once just that would probably put it on the verge of death.
"Bel, crush it's eyes. After that Zulu and Toris make a wall with your shields while charging it. Gwine and Basutoral use your spears to stab it to death. However don't go too far. I want to see it's status after all."
"I'll start from it's right eye."
The moment I finished saying it Bel immediately fired off an arrow.
Along with a dull thud the arrow stabbed into the Minotaur's right eye.
"Gimo~o~~!!!'
The Minotaur let out a screm in surprise and unable to endure the pain dropped it's axe holding both of it's hands to it's face.
In that moment Zulu and Toris lined up with their shields and ran off, after that Gwine and Basutoral followed behind them with their spears ready.
Soon after we could hear the muttering voice of the Minotaur and the scene of Toris and Zulu cutting down the Minotaur as it crouched over entered our sight.
And just as I thought that the two of them went on guard with their shields as they put distance between it.
Gwine and Basutoral aren't attacking anymore either.
Did it die?
【Identify】...I guess it's still no good.
I go on guard with my bayonet while approaching but I'm sure it's already on the verge of death.
Ah, I need to try this as well.
I carefully passed by the side of the Minotaur on it's last breath and went outside of the pillar.
And then, I heard the loud sound of the air being torn in the distance again.
The {Lightning Bolt} cage was created surrounding the pillar at a radius of around 200-300 meters.
I see now.
I quietly crouched down to the side of the Minotaur and checked it's status.
【】
【Male/1/7/7446】
【Calf-Person Race】
【Special Skill: Greater Instantaneous】
【Special Skill: Greater Strength】
Hmph.
Here.
Die.
【】
【Male/1/7/7446.Minor Minotaur.Sentinel】
【Condition: Normal】
【Age: 0 Years Old】
【Level: 9】
【HP: -60(200) MP: 10(10)】
【Strength: 30】
【Speed: 20】
【Dexterity: 10】
【Endurance: 60】
【Special Skill: Greater Instantaneous】
【Special Skill: Greater Strength】
I see now.
Now then...
Both the loincloth and the {bardiche} it was holding it from the start were completely normal items...I guess that means things won't go that easily?
N.e.x.t.i.n.?..?..?..
Year 7446, Month 6, Day 30
"I guess that the Minotaur was the guard that protects the teleport crystal room for the 8th floor. It seems that normally it would have been best to charge in and defeat it with everyone but...After defeating the guard the cage disappeared and the effect of the Anti-Skill Area was released I guess?"
And Miduchi said, so I thought, I see now. Incidentally, right now we're in the teleport crystal room and excluding the fact that there's only one entrance it's no different from the other floors. From a glance it's a room of about 30 meters and in the center is the pedestal with the teleport crystal.
"But will that Minotaur? Was it? but there's no guarantee it won't revive and a different monster might revive as well right?"
Bel said nervously but Miduchi gently denied it.
"We were able to use magic and Special Skills after defeating the Minotaur and the places other than here are still bright. Also, no monsters will approach the area of about 100 meters around the teleport crystal right? Probably but I think that the Minotaur is a special monster and after all I think it's natural to think it was a mid boss. There's no basis for it but it probably won't revive I think?"
No one Could clearly object to Miduchi's opinion. However, in that case wouldn't that fellow from the 14th floor not revive either? I don't really get it. I never want to go back again to check.
"Even if it were to revive, the problem is whether or not it will enter into this teleport crystal room right."
Toris said. Certainly that's true.
"Right. If it were to come into this room then it would be difficult to make it into a base."
Basutoral said as well. I'm of the same opinion.
In the past, I saw a {Scavenger Crawler} revive right in front of me in a room on the 1st floor. That time if I remember correctly something like a white fog appeared after about 10 hours and started whirling, then after giving off a single small flash of light it appeared. It might not be bad to spend half a day or so here keeping an eye on things to confirm whether or not it revives.
Conveniently it's still before noon right now.
"It can't be helped. Shall we wait on standby here for almost the whole day and confirm whether it revives..Let's patrol around outside until lunch."
While taking a break in the teleport crystal room we decided on the plan for today.
................
We patrolled around this circular room together with everyone but as expected of it having a diameter of 2 km, we were only able to look around at just a bit of it until lunch. We returned to the teleport crystal room once and had lunch, then started looking around the room again in the afternoon. The time changed to evening and even by 7 pm the room was still as bright as the 7th floor. We didn't encounter any monsters either.
"I guess we've seen most of it right...Gwine, how was it?"
"..I saw almost all of it. Another seven areas, there's spots I wasn't able to see though..from here it would take a bit of walking but what should we do?"
After spending a bit of time searching her brain Gwine replied.
"Hn~ I'll think while eating. Shall we return?"
Just in case but before the 10 hours passed since I defeated the Minotaur I wanted us to return to the teleport crystal room. It should have been just past 10 am when I defeated it. I want to return by 8 pm or so.
We returned to the teleport room and ate the bento that Giberuti made for us this morning as dinner. We decided to do the remaining exploration tomorrow morning before we take a look in the 9th floor. This morning, when we went to leave the teleport room on the 7th floor I told Giberuti, "I intend to clear past the 8th floor so depending on the case we might not return for 2 days or so but don't worry too much." but the bento we received from him at that time was only enough until tomorrow morning. We intended on pulling through with preserved food after that.
I said that because it would be a pain to come here again but if that Minotaur revives again then in regards to the supplies from here on out, I'll need to think even more seriously about them. Everyone's worries were focused on that point. Also, if the Minotaur revives then whether or not that Anti-Skill Area revives is also a problem.
If the Anti-Skill Area doesn't revive as well then it's not much of a problem. Putting aside Unique Abilities, if we can use magic then as long as we don't let our guards down considerably then it's safe to say there's no problem. However, it could be thought that the Minotaur might use magic as well so there's a good and a bad to it.
Let alone, if a different type of monster were revive then letting it use some kind of Special Skill might be even more troublesome. Even when it comes to that {Gazer}, if it couldn't use Special Skills then it wouldn't be able to float or fire off beams as it rolls around on the ground, so all we'd have to do is surround and beat it to death that sort of of easy win.
After eating our bentos and even when the time passed 8 pm there was no sign of a monster reviving and the outside was still bright. After all it seems it's just as Miduchi said and that Minotaur might be the type that doesn't revive.
I was just a bit relieved. No, we still can't let our guards down.
Ah, come to think of it since we couldn't use Abilities I guess that means my 【Gift of Natural Talent】 was no good either huh? It seems my experience points have increased but it's probably not three times more, I'm sure. I felt like it was just a bit of a waste but normally there's nothing like the amount of experience points gained increasing. Quite literally unless you have something like my 【Gift of Natural Talent】 or Miduchi's 【Party-ization】 then the chance of gaining increased experience points wouldn't happen so I guess it's hard to call it a waste or anything else.
This day after deciding on the order for keeping lookout we decided to rest as far from the entrance as possible. Among the lookout team I told them to always have at least one person looking around inside of the room. Normally I'd like to have it two person per team and have them patrol around outside of the pillar but in the worst case on the occasion the monster revives I want to observe the point on whether it will enter the room so this time I just had them keeping watch of the entrance. Also, even for those resting I have us still wearing our armor and our weapons in an easy to grab location, a stance of vigilance unseen recently.
.................
Around 2 am I was woken up by Miduchi to switch out keeping lookout. Since I was just laying on a bed of dirt made with magic with my armor still on, honestly speaking I don't feel rested at all. This sort of thing can't even be considered a proper rest. It seems going too far in for long periods might be difficult. I wonder if around the 9th floor will be the limit?
Toris, Bel, Gwine, and Zulu were sitting in a circle a bit of distance from the entrance. It looks like no one was able to get much rest and are making rough faces not much different than myself. In order to wake from the sleep I created some hot water and made tea, then sipped it while making a sullen face with them.
I think it was a bit over the full 2 hours since we switched lookouts? The light shining in from the entrance rapidly faded.
In a hurry I called out to everyone and tried using Identify at the same time.
I can't use it!
"Gwine! Wake everyone up! Zulu and Toris watch the entrance! Bel prepare your bow!"
Ordered by me Zulu immediately took his sword and shield and fortified the entrance together with Toris on both sides. Gwine was yelling "Wake up!!" in a loud voice as she tried to shake them awake, Bel retreated back to around the teleport crystal and pulled out an arrow from her quiver.
"Magic..It's no good!"
"I can't either."
It seems Toris and Bel tried to use it right away. I went on guard with my bayonet as well while standing a bit away from the front passage leading to the entrance. The passage which has a height and width of about 2 meters and length of 10 meters to the room has already gotten quite dark. I noticed after approaching it but I could tell that whirlpool of fog that appears when monsters revive was there. The fog which appeared in an area centered about 4-5 meters from the entrance was slowly whirling.
Miduchi, Zenom, Ralpha, Basutoral, and Angela all ran over in full equipment after being woken up by Gwine.
"Miduchi. Unfortunately it seems your prediction was off. That fog is the sign of a monster reviving...And also we can't use skills or magic again."
I explained to Miduchi while also explaining to everyone else on guard and raised the level of caution.
"What should we do? Should we all charge at it the moment it revives? In that case while we still can now we should all go outside.."
Ralpha commented.
"Nn..That might not be bad either but I want to check the state of things. Until either it makes a move towards us or I say something no one move. Also Angela you keep an eye on things in the room. I can't imagine a monster appearing in this room but being careful just in case."
Previously, when we fell down to the 14th floor, it's regrettable that we returned right away. It would have been good if I paid a little bit more attention to what was outside of the rooms..and regretting it now is too late. That time, we had just escaped a huge crisis, riding on the momentum I made Miduchi my own, and we even talked to Lilus, so by the way I split ways with Miduchi and returned to being alone I didn't have enough leeway to think about things like that. That was just two years and a bit ago huh...
I lick my lips and try to relieve even just a bit of the tension. Toris was licking his lips with his longer forked tongue as well.
It seems the whirl of fog is gradually increasing in force but it's still not very big. However, I feel like the time with the {Scavenger Crawler} it increased in force in a slightly shorter amount of time. That time if I remember correctly, after I defeated a different monster what revive was the {Scavenger Crawler}. I wonder what will happen this time?
Just like Miduchi said it's not like I don't feel like the room outside of here is different from a normal monster room.
If I think about how it appears this close to the teleport crystal right from the start then it's probably true that it's special. Also, in the case that the Minotaur really does revive again it might be possible that we'll get hands on another {Magic.Item} as well.
If that's really the case then who would seriously explore something like the 9th floor? I'd just check it out and after obtaining the magic stone from an unusual monster it's good-bye.
Not yet huh...
There's tension in everyone's faces.
Still not yet, not yet huh?
Gulp. Someone swallowed their saliva.
I guess it's about time?
Now!
Along with a short flash of light the fog dispersed. And then, almost like the {Terminator} that time slipped from the future, I can see a back rising up from the ground. The deep brown-bronze skin of what you could call it a big man. What's different from the {Terminator} is only the point that it's wearing a crude loincloth.
Seeing that Zulu and Toris both flinched and reacted but I guess they quickly remembered my order and started carefully observing things.
On both of my sides I could tell Miduchi and Ralpha stiffened up recognizing the monster.
Zenom fixed his grip on his magic axe.
Just like that several tens of seconds passed.
The man with a crude loincloth on slowly stood up with his back to us. I can't see anything but the back of it's head but it's got shaggy hair and I can confirm two cow horns growing from above it's head. In it's right hand it's holding a one-handed axe with a long handle, a {bardiche} huh?
It's a Minotaur.
After the Minotaur stood up it stopped moving with it's back still facing us almost like a statue.
I guess he couldn't endure the tension, I could feel the presence of Basutoral shifting positions behind me.
"Don't move yet."
I said it in a whisper.
I guess around a few minutes passed?
No one moved or talked and there was no change in the Minotaur that could be seen.
Ah, come to think of it there's no sign of the {Lightning Bolt} cage appearing either.
I quietly turned around to Bel and gave her a sign with my eyes.
Following that I moved my left hand around to the front pointing to my right shoulder.
And then pointed at the Minotaur.
After nodding Bel fixed an arrow on her bow, pulled back the strings, and fired it.
The fired arrow splendidly stabbed into the collar bone of the Minotaur's right shoulder a bit closer to the spine.
"Gwidye!!"
The Minotaur let out a dull scream as it jumped in surprise and turned around here.
However, it quickly started restlessly looking around the area.
It still has it's posture lowered and axe at the ready.
It feels almost like it can't see into the passage that continues into the teleport crystal room.
Just like that we waited for a short while and after watching the Minotaur struggle to pull the arrow out, I gave the sign to Bel again.
"Vioo~!!"
Once again the Minotaur screamed in agony from the pain and quickly turned around over here with it's axe ready.
There was a strange light in it's eyes as it slowly took it's left hand from it's axe and stretched it out towards the entrance.
"Hick! Ah.."
It seems Gwine hiccuped from the tension but the only ones who reacted to that was just us.
The Minotaur was just trying to stroke the space around the entrance and didn't show any sort of reaction.
Hmm.
I guess it can't see over here from there?
"Everyone, don't move..WA!!"
I shouted in a slightly loud voice to check but it didn't react at all.
"..It seems like it can't hear us."
Toris turned around towards me and said.
"Also, it seems like it can't tell the entrance right."
Miduchi narrowed her eyes and observed the Minotaur while saying.
"That thing, is it an idiot?"
You are too. Though I say that, it's certainly true that the Minotaur that looks like it's just touching an invisible wall investigating doesn't look like anything but an idiot.
"What should we do? Shall we all charge in at once?"
Basutoral said in a tense voice.
"Somehow, I feel like I could just shoot it to death like this. Should I crush it's eyes?"
It's eyes aren't as huge as the {Ice Monster}? Can you do it? Bel.
"Wait just a moment. Let's test things out a bit more. Zulu, stick your leg just one step out from the passage."
Miduchi said that to Zulu and he took one step out from the passage.
There's no change in the Minotaur.
It should be fine already.
"Return."
I called Zulu back in.
"Somehow it seems it can't come inside. Also, it seems it's fine even taking one step or so out from the passage. It seems like our voices aren't reaching it either.."
Toris said after keeping an eye on things.
"Then, it seems there's merit in making this place into a base."
"That's true.."
I replied to Gwine while thinking for a bit. Most likely it's probably not all that difficult to defeat that Minotaur. If Bel just keeps shooting it with arrows I'm sure it'll die eventually and if that's a waste of arrows then we could just have her crush it's eyes then after standing Zulu and Toris at the front have Gwine and Basutoral stab it with their spears all at once just that would probably put it on the verge of death.
"Bel, crush it's eyes. After that Zulu and Toris make a wall with your shields while charging it. Gwine and Basutoral use your spears to stab it to death. However don't go too far. I want to see it's status after all."
"I'll start from it's right eye."
The moment I finished saying it Bel immediately fired off an arrow.
Along with a dull thud the arrow stabbed into the Minotaur's right eye.
"Gimo~o~~!!!'
The Minotaur let out a screm in surprise and unable to endure the pain dropped it's axe holding both of it's hands to it's face.
In that moment Zulu and Toris lined up with their shields and ran off, after that Gwine and Basutoral followed behind them with their spears ready.
Soon after we could hear the muttering voice of the Minotaur and the scene of Toris and Zulu cutting down the Minotaur as it crouched over entered our sight.
And just as I thought that the two of them went on guard with their shields as they put distance between it.
Gwine and Basutoral aren't attacking anymore either.
Did it die?
【Identify】...I guess it's still no good.
I go on guard with my bayonet while approaching but I'm sure it's already on the verge of death.
Ah, I need to try this as well.
I carefully passed by the side of the Minotaur on it's last breath and went outside of the pillar.
And then, I heard the loud sound of the air being torn in the distance again.
The {Lightning Bolt} cage was created surrounding the pillar at a radius of around 200-300 meters.
I see now.
I quietly crouched down to the side of the Minotaur and checked it's status.
【】
【Male/1/7/7446】
【Calf-Person Race】
【Special Skill: Greater Instantaneous】
【Special Skill: Greater Strength】
Hmph.
Here.
Die.
【】
【Male/1/7/7446.Minor Minotaur.Sentinel】
【Condition: Normal】
【Age: 0 Years Old】
【Level: 9】
【HP: -60(200) MP: 10(10)】
【Strength: 30】
【Speed: 20】
【Dexterity: 10】
【Endurance: 60】
【Special Skill: Greater Instantaneous】
【Special Skill: Greater Strength】
I see now.
Now then...
Both the loincloth and the {bardiche} it was holding it from the start were completely normal items...I guess that means things won't go that easily?
