12-2 Part 2
The Mysterious Book Says to Descend
the White Stake, Seventh Pillar Labyrinth
- Ancient Malice -
Translator : PolterGlast
As soon as we reached the 7th underground floor, I glowed
this time too.
「Whoa, Zanshi, you're bright!」
「Or rather, why are you glowing?」
「No, why are you glowing, that's
weird, right?!」
「I
(Ore) am starting to get used to it... He says it's that kind of constitution.」
Since there was no way to hide this, I gave up. If I act
dignified, it's nothing to worry about. Just a human glowing.
「No, what kind of constitution is
that?!」
「Think of it like a firefly.」
「No, that's forcing it! Can a human
glow, idiot!」
「Everything about you is weird!」
「Or rather, there's absolutely no
need to glow in this situation!」
Direct those complaints to the bizarre book and Zirant...
Seriously, can't something be done about this specification...?
『Impossible, give up on that. At this
point, wouldn't it be dull if you stopped glowing? In the first place, glowing
is a divine thing, you know?』
I don't desire such elements in my life.
- Adventure -
【Reach B7 of the Labyrinth of Stakes
in Ratatosk】 Completed
- Reward: EXP 900 / Digging 30x (Active) (Acquired)
- 『You finally obtained it. You
could call this the power to connect spaces together. Use it with careful consideration.』
- Table of Contents –
【Name】 Ashley
【Lv】 36 → 39
【Exp】 6380 → 6450 → 7350
【STR】 96 → 100
【VIT】 266 → 275
【DEX】 142 → 150
【AGI】 221 → 230
【Skill】 Shovel LV 5 Scoop
LV 1 Imperial Bond LV 1 Direction Sense LV 1 Digging 30x (Active)
『With your current self, unless you
are poisoned, you won't die easily.』
Finding an opening to glance down at the Book of the Evil
Dragon, the usual exaggerated Zirant was there, so I quietly closed
it. I'm starting to want to return to the excavation site in the Imperial
Capital right now...
◇ ◆ ◇
No, however. Before we could find the stairs to the 8th
underground floor, we had arrived at a strange space. It was a creepy room with
an atmosphere somehow different from the rest.
「Leader, behind us!」
Furthermore, as soon as all of us entered that large room,
the door behind us closed on its own, so this is by no means peaceful.
「Something's bad...」
「I've heard this before. Rooms where
the door closes behind you are super bad news!」
Having our retreat blocked is bad. So, receiving Kachua's
eyes of expectation and anxiety, I pierced the door behind us with the Shovel.
「This is hard.」
「But you can do it, do your best, Shinza!」
「Right, you were here... Alright,
we'll investigate this room. I leave that side to you.」
It's what you call a division of roles. While the
adventurers carefully checked the interior of the room, I cut through the door,
which was strangely sturdy despite being stone, thrust by thrust with the Shovel.
「This is my first time seeing such a
stubborn stone.」
「That's a line only you could say, Shinza.」
Even when I thrust the Shovel in, there was a sticky
sensation and I couldn't cut through it easily. To think such a strange object
exists. The Labyrinth of Stakes is truly incomprehensible.
「Looks like we can kick it down, help
me out. ...Kachua?」
「Shinza, that... look at that! That's not a statue, it's
moving—ah...」
At Kachua's words, I turned my gaze to the center of
the room. The adventurers had surrounded a giant statue, but it seemed that
wasn't a statue but actual armor.
It suddenly started moving and swept its surroundings with
the greatsword in its right hand. Immediately, screams and blood spray rose.
Following that, Zirant shouted loudly from within me.
『Ashley, hurry! That is a Cherubim Armor!』
Even if you call it a Cherubim whatever, I don't really get
it, but it must be a dangerous existence enough for Zirant to lose her
composure. Actually, with just that one sweep just now, roughly four
adventurers suffered fatal wounds. This is a formidable enemy far exceeding
those Abyss Ants.
So I body-slammed the half-open door three times to secure
an escape route, but—this is impossible, I gave up.
「Take your distance, you guys pry
this door open!」
「Sh-Shinza, you can't go!!」
『Are you an idiot! Not that thing, no
matter what, just not that! Retreat, listen to Wagahai's orders!
That was created using a cursed method—』
But if I don't do that, the surviving wounded won't be able
to escape. I'm just buying a little bit of time. Don't fret so needlessly. I
jumped into the battlefield that was turning into a pool of blood and
encouraged my comrades who had lost their nerve.
「Hurry up and stand! I'll buy time,
so even if you have to crawl, escape from here!」
「It's impossible, run away, Shinzaaa!!」
Kachua's arrows
were fired at the Cherubim Armor or whatever, but they were merely repelled by
the giant clad in full body armor. Having finished its sweep, that giant body
was now aiming for me with a diagonal slash. The next moment, a godspeed
downward swing was smashed toward me.
「Tch... Certainly, this exceeds the
realm of a monster.」
The slash turned into an explosion and smashed the paving
stones. Wearing the hemp robe was the right choice. If I didn't have this stiff
fabric, small pebbles would have pierced my skin.
I swept the sluggish armored giant's right leg with the
strongest Shovel that pierces even iron.
「I'm surprised. I can't cut this...」
『That's why I told you, you idiot!
Run, I'm begging you, run, Ashley!』
「I can't do that. If my cheap life
can save the other guys, it's a small price.」
『Your life is not the same as those
bugs around here, you idiot! You are the man who will become Emperor for Wagahai's
sake!』
Even if I thrust with the tip, or aimed at a different part,
my blade simply wouldn't go through the armor. What on earth is it made of,
this steel monster...
『Listen! That is a slaughter doll
created in ancient times to pry open the door to the heavenly realm, and even
further back in ancient times, to annihilate an old race that was a failure! It
is not made to be defeated so easily! That's why I'm telling you to run because
it's impossible!』
Circling around to its back to let the sweep pass, I dodged
a high-stance slash accompanied by an explosion as if diving between its legs.
However, no matter how much I tried, my Shovel never pierced it.
So I took out the Scoop, used them as twin swords, and stabbed the joints of its
knees and shoulders one after another. By doing so, I succeeded in dulling the
enemy's movements. But it seems I couldn't stab deeply.
『Kuh, it's been countermeasured... I
heard it worked better in the past...』
「It would be great if now were the
past. Now then, what should I do about this.」
「Shinza, everyone who can move has evacuated! You hurry up too, Shinza!」
「I see, then you take care of
guarding them. I'll somehow make this guy unable to move.」
「What are you saying, are you sane,
idiot?!」
「Trust me, more importantly, hurry up
and pry that door open.」
「U-Understood, but you can't push
yourself! Everyone, we're going to ram it on three!」
I am the hero of Corin Village. Kachua knows
the miracle I caused that day. Therefore, trusting me, they continued to
body-slam the door in unison. But for some reason, it wouldn't open.
It's so sturdy it's almost as if the parts I cut are
repairing themselves on their own.
『Don't look away, it's coming!』
「—Tch!」
Using the Shovel as a shield, I jumped backward away
from the sweep. But it seems it grazed me. An unbelievable amount of kinetic
energy was generated, and I was blown away to the wall of the room.
『Didn't Kachua also tell you
not to push yourself, you idiot!』
「Then you could lend me that ice
power, couldn't you.」
『I would if I could! Magic doesn't
work on that thing!』
「Then that guy is invincible. But—it
seems I found an escape route.」
『Mu, what did you say...?』
I was lucky. Perhaps it's also a benefit of the Direction
Sense skill. I don't know why, but I started to feel like there was another
space beyond the wall I was just smashed against.
So, ignoring the approaching Cherubim Armor, I demonstrated the power of the 30x Shovel, and dug and dug and dug like crazy. Bingo. The other side of the wall connected to another labyrinth. With this, we can escape.
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