The next day arrived—
Kiraboshi, having stepped into the A-Rank Dungeon “Underwater Crystal Cave,” was immediately captivated by the beauty of the dungeon itself, which resembled an aquarium.
A path lined with gravel and fragments of coral, as if walking on the seabed.
Looking up, sea-colored walls stretched from one side to the ceiling, and occasionally, the shadow of a shark-like fish could be seen swimming leisurely within the walls.
It was as if this was what the scenery would look like if a path of air ran through the sea…
“It reminds me of an aquarium. Dungeons are truly mysterious,” Kiraboshi said.
“It’s an ‘Ocean’ stage. If it were opened as a tourist spot, it would surely become popular. But the fish swimming in the walls are called ‘Wall Sharks,’ and they have a tendency to jump out unexpectedly, so please be careful,” Kageichi warned.
“…There are Monsters like that too, huh?”
“The ‘Ocean’ stage itself tends to be more difficult than ‘Plain,’ ‘Forest,’ or ‘Cave’ stages. It’s below the ‘Snowfield,’ but please be cautious.”
Ignoring the wary Kiraboshi, Kageichi proceeded along the path leading from the Teleport Stone warp hole.
The A-Rank Dungeon “Underwater Crystal Cave” spans a total of five floors, but thanks to the Teleport Stones distributed by the Labyrinth Agency, they were starting from the fifth floor.
All that remained was to simply aim for the Boss, but—
What stood in their way was the unique structure of the fifth floor of this Labyrinth.
Passageways neatly divided vertically and horizontally, like a Go board.
Between each passageway were doors, all leading to small rooms… It was a bizarre floor, completely different from the usual maze-like dungeons.
“As explained by the Labyrinth Agency, the fifth floor is a Boss-exclusive floor,” Kageichi said.
“Yes… After the Boss ‘Mother Sphere’ explodes, the Splinter escape into each of the small rooms, right?” Kiraboshi confirmed.
“Yes. Our job is to defeat them individually… As a further point of caution, each small room has gimmicks set up,” Kageichi added.
Some rooms were empty, while others contained Treasure Chests.
Some rooms had traps disguised as Treasure Chests, while others would lock you in upon entry.
Also, since many Boss battles would take place in small rooms, there was the disadvantage of being unable to receive external support easily.
At the very least, one would need to be skilled enough to defeat the Splinter solo, or the battle would be a tough one.
Kiraboshi clenched her fist tightly.
“…Sensei. Can I do it?”
“It’s a job, isn’t it?” Kageichi replied with a smile.
Ah, so I can do it, Kiraboshi thought, nodding.
He was a taskmaster, but Kiraboshi now knew that he wouldn’t assign her something she couldn’t do.
“That being said, accidents are inevitable in Dungeons. Just in case, I’ll give you this Potion, Kiraboshi-san,” Kageichi said, handing her a blue Potion.
I’ve never seen this before…
“Sensei, what is this?” Kiraboshi asked.
“‘Guts Potion.’ It’s an item that allows you to withstand a fatal blow from an enemy for a certain period of time after use. It’s actually quite a rare item, you know? Use it to endure in case of an emergency,” Kageichi explained.
“I understand… Wait, Sensei!?”
That would leave me with almost zero Magical Power, even if I endure it, right?
It looks like a near-death state no matter how you look at it, right?
“Don’t worry. Your life will be saved,” Kageichi reassured.
“Only my life will be saved, right!? I’ll just be getting beaten up in a near-death state, right!?”
He’s completely imagining a situation where I’m getting wrecked…!
Hiee, Kiraboshi shuddered, recalling the trauma of the Ice Dragon battle.
That battle had been a lesson for the heart, but honestly, she never wanted to remember it again. She wanted to avoid dying and pain.
“I’ll do my best to avoid a situation where I have to use it,” Kiraboshi declared.
“By all means. But if you need to, don’t hesitate to make good use of it,” Kageichi replied.
“I absolutely won’t use it!!! What’s with the ‘Guts,’ anyway? Dungeons aren’t something you can overcome with spirit, Sensei…”
Kuuu, Kiraboshi said tearfully as she stored it in her Inventory.
I won’t use it.
I don’t want to use it.
Besides, something terrible is bound to happen when I use this—ah, just imagining it makes me feel awful…
“Well then, shall we head to the Boss room as well?” Kageichi asked.
Invited by Kageichi, Kiraboshi followed after her Sensei, though teary-eyed.
*
When they showed their faces in the central plaza, about ten members of the Labyrinth Agency—including Goto and Torako—were gathered in front of the entrance, preparing for battle.
Further back, other Labyrinth Agency staff and Hunters who appeared to be Quest participants were lined up.
Keeping their distance from them as well, Kiraboshi stood at the very back with Kageichi and observed the Boss from afar.
Seeing the “Mother Sphere” silently in its unactivated state, she shuddered.
“So big… So strong…!”
A star-shaped object about five meters in diameter.
Its entire body was covered in a gray shell, and its floating appearance made it seem like just an object at first glance, but it would react immediately upon approach, ejecting Small-Scale Spheres and scattering bombardments, or so she heard.
—Even from a distance, she could tell.
Kiraboshi wasn’t planning on fighting the main body, but if she were to face it head-on… she would definitely be reduced to ashes.
“Kiraboshi-san, let’s review again. Our role is not to directly confront the Boss, but to track down and defeat the small Mother Sphere Splinter that appear after the Boss self-destructs. Therefore, we will wait at first—”
“Oops!”
While Kageichi was explaining, a man bumped into him from the side with a thud.
A liquid-like substance spilled from the cup in the man’s hand, and Kageichi could be seen dodging it.
What appeared was a large man equipped with silver armor and a silver shield.
He was in his late thirties… but he smiled slovenly, leering at them unpleasantly while making his shiny bald head glisten.
“Sorry, sorry, I was blocking the way. …Oh? Are you okay, little lady, standing around in a daze in a place like this? How about I protect you? (laughs)”
“…Excuse me, but isn’t it common courtesy to apologize first after bumping into someone?” Kageichi asked.
“Oops, did the old man get angry? I didn’t mean any harm. So, little lady. Instead of apologizing, I’ll explain the rest about that Boss for you,” the man offered.
Guhehe, the silver-armored man breathed foul breath on them.
Oh, my name is Sugu Shinuo. The man from the swamp of lions, a cool name, right?
The man introduced himself without being asked. Kiraboshi tried to distance herself, but the man continued to talk without concern.
“That guy is the ‘Mother Sphere.’ The problem with that guy is that he explodes and splits when you damage him. And I’m going to secretly take the drop items that come out when he splits. The Labyrinth Agency guys will be too busy with the battle, so that’s the perfect opportunity,” he revealed.
“Eh… You’re not going to defeat them? Even though it’s an official Quest?” Kiraboshi asked.
“Oh? Is the little lady also a Quest participant? Hmm, no, no, you shouldn’t take on low-paying jobs like the Labyrinth Agency’s Quests. The best way to live is to cleverly skim off the profits,” he advised.
The old man probably doesn’t understand that, huh~, he said.
Kiraboshi muttered, “Are Dungeons always like this…? Is this a coincidence…?” to the man who was making fun of Kageichi,
“I think you should apologize to Sensei… but it’s too late,” Kiraboshi said.
“Eh? What, are you being threatened by this old man? What a bad old man, should I take him down for you?” the man offered.
Just as Kiraboshi had given up, her Smartphone alarm rang.
It was time.
Looking towards the center of the floor, she could see one of the Labyrinth Agency staff raising his arm.
As that arm was swung down, the party formed by the Labyrinth Agency charged into the Boss floor.
They began their attack on the Mother Sphere, and
“—Eh.”
Kiraboshi couldn’t believe her eyes.
Goto, who was standing at the front, disappeared in a flash—and appeared right in front of the Boss.
She couldn’t even catch it in her sight.