Episode 50: Fire Attribute Monsters
Upon reaching the second layer, we immediately aimed for the cave leading to the lower levels. Since the location varied from layer to layer, we had to spend a considerable amount of time and effort moving around.
We spotted a few fellow Seekers here and there. However, most of them seemed to be heading to the deeper layers, and the Self-Defense Forces stood out on the shallower levels, apparently investigating something.
As we continued through the Dungeon, we encountered fire attribute monsters one after another, such as small lizards that breathed fire and turtles with heat-emitting shells.
However, we ignored them all and passed straight through. Finally, we arrived at our destination, the tenth layer.
A crimson canyon, indistinguishable from the first layer, stretched out before us.
“Alright, let’s get started!”
The president placed the large bag he had been carrying on the ground and took out disassembled weapons from inside.
Maika and Tanaka also took out their respective weapons from their bags. Tanaka had his usual short sword and helmet. He put on his sports glasses and wrapped a towel around his neck.
He was already drenched in sweat, even though he hadn’t done anything yet.
Maika connected the three divided sticks, turning them into a long staff. Apparently, that was Maika’s weapon of choice.
The president was also connecting sticks in the same way, but it was a thick Hexagonal Rod, clearly different from a normal staff.
“That’s a very sturdy-looking weapon,” Yuma said.
“Yeah, I had an acquaintance make it for me as a custom order. It’s a rough build, but I like it.”
The president took out another short sword from the bag. It seemed to be a Magic Enchanted Armament, the same as the one Tanaka always used.
The president gripped the hilt of the short sword tightly and put his strength into it, causing countless thin blue lights to stretch across the entire blade. It was as if blood was flowing through the sword.
After a while, the light subsided, and the president held out the short sword to Yuma.
“Here, I’ve imbued it with Water Magic. Keep it for self-defense.”
“Eh!? You put magic into it for me?”
Magical Power was finite, so using magic inside the Dungeon would reduce the amount of Magical Power one had.
“Is it okay? Using your Magical Power for someone like me…”
“It’s nothing much. Magical Power can’t be stored, so it’ll be gone by tomorrow, but you should be able to use it two or three times today. If you’re attacked by a strong monster, stab it with that!”
“Y-yes!”
Yuma firmly secured the short sword’s sheath to his belt. He didn’t think such strong monsters would appear, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“—And, you brought the usual thing, right?”
“Yes, it’s here…”
Yuma put down the bag he was carrying and took out what was inside.
They were three thin sticks, but not a staff. When assembled, they became Yuma’s beloved “Pickel.”
“In this tenth layer, there are monsters called ‘Salamanders’ if you go deeper, but other than that, they’re not that strong. You should be able to defeat them with that weapon.”
The president put the thick, long Hexagonal Rod on his shoulder and looked around while walking.
“Oh! There, there it is, that’s the one!”
At the end of the president’s gaze, there was a place where the ground was slightly raised. The president raised his voice, “Yo,” and swung the Hexagonal Rod, slamming it into the ground.
Yuma was surprised, but something jumped out from the raised ground.
“Eh!? What is it?”
It was a small creature about twenty centimeters long. It had long whiskers, and its eyes were very small, perhaps atrophied. This was—
“A Fire Mole. It spits weak fire, but it’s not much of a monster.”
The president lightly swung his rod and struck the Fire Mole. With a short scream of “Fugii!” the small monster burst and disappeared.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the president turned back to Yuma.
“Well, that’s about it. Listen, Yuma, we’re professional Seekers. It’s not just about hunting monsters. To efficiently obtain Magic Gems, we have to choose which monsters to defeat. In other words, we have to do profitable subjugation.”
Yuma nodded in agreement, understanding that was the case.
“The most efficient thing to do on the tenth layer is to hunt these Fire Moles. The risk is low, and they’re relatively easy to defeat. They live in clusters, so they’re easy to find. And, above all, the drop rate is slightly higher. Yuma, I want you to hunt these guys.”
“Yes! Understood!”
“You don’t have to be so tense. You can do it while Maika teaches you.”
Looking at Maika, she smiled, saying, “Leave it to me.”
“Tanaka-san and I will go to the lower levels to get Magic Gems. In the meantime, you two hunt Fire Moles here.”
“Okay, leave it to us, President!”
“I’ll do my best!”
When Yuma and Maika answered energetically, the president headed to the lower levels with Tanaka.
“Alright, let’s get started.”
Maika said that and looked around while walking, just like the president. She found several molehills and gave Yuma instructions.
“I think there are Fire Moles near these molehills, so aim for them and hit the ground. Defeat them when they jump out in surprise.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll try it too. I don’t know if I can do it like the president…”
Maika slammed the ground with her staff. When a Fire Mole surprised and poked its head out, she skillfully flicked it up using the tip of her staff.
Aiming at the Fire Mole that had flown into the air, Maika gripped her staff tightly.
At that moment, the handle of the staff that Maika gripped faintly glowed. —Water Magic.
The thin blue light flowed throughout the staff.
When Maika lightly swung the staff, the Fire Mole burst and turned into sand, scattering and disappearing.
“See! It’s easy, right?”
Maika smiled brightly. Yuma was stunned by her skill.