「Uoooh!!!」
「Doryaaa!!」
「Haa, haa, Seii!!」
「Hmph! Haa!」
The sound of thick leather slashed and the voices of the four men echoed in the narrow dungeon.
Three men in knight’s armor and a man wearing leather armor holding a large shield are engaging in battle with a two-meter-tall wolf.
They all surround the big wolf skillfully and launch an attack in coordination
Confused by the huge body yet swift movements from the wolf, they attack one after another, and it’s like watching a fantasy adventure movie.
Yeah, the three Badel Knights and Gilbert-san are fighting.
「Ooh, what coordination. They’re skilled against monsters」
「 They also have to hunt monsters at times. But, I think it’s rare to have the opportunity to fight a monster so big that they’re having difficulty.」
「I see. Well, I feel like they’ll get used to it and beat it in no time」
I talk to Euphy while our shoulders touch.
「Still, after getting to the seventh floor, the monsters changed suddenly.
「The big wolf seems to roam the layer on its own. We could’ve beaten it on our own, but we would be in danger if it was a pincer attack」
「True, it’s going to be tough if we’re sandwiched between two of them」
From what I see, Euphy and I could beat it without a problem if we go at it together.
But if we’re sandwiched, and have to fight one-on-one, then Nia’s forced to take the full brunt of it.
At this point, Nia should be getting strong, but it would still be a bit dangerous unless her dagger skill is at level three.
Well, if I’m willing to die for it, I feel like I could go on for one-on-one, but in reality, Euphy and I would probably deal with it one at a time and Nia would be supporting.
While I was thinking, Nia holds me in her arms, looks up at me, and speaks up since we have free time.
「If the seventh layer is as big as the previous levels, then we should be finding the next staircase soon」
「You already remember the structure of the layer?」
「Most of it, I think? After all, the seventh layer is just a straight line. So it’s easy」
「It’s not easy. I don’t even remember where we came from」
Nia’s right, we’re diving on the seventh level with Manos-san and the group.
The reason why we’re able to run all the way down here is that Nia remembers exactly the path from the first to the sixth layer, and also we have five people with combat skill level 3.
「If we have this much war potential, I’m sure we could take down even a small fort」
Manos-san said so it must be quite the force to be reckoned with.
However, whether they could maintain it or not is another story.
I think I get what they’re saying, but it’s difficult for me, a layman.
「Nia-chan. Don’t stay there, come here」
Caria-san, the red-haired former knight of Badel house, took Nia’s hand and held her close.
She’s been bothering Nia since entering the dungeon multiple times. Looks like she’s fond of animal ears and tails, which she diligently grooms with a brush.
There’s a certain lack of tension in the air, but she seems to have a higher detection skill than Nia, so if she senses any danger, she’s able to respond immediately.
Her combat skill is low, but her role is of a scout.
Well, Nia’s feeling good, and even though her combat skills are low, I see her fighting a bit in the upper layers, she definitely had the equivalent of the two swordsmanship skills, so if anything happens, she’ll protect Nia. I let her do what she wants.
While I was watching them, the men returned after the battle.
As soon as they catch their breath, they check on their equipment and began walking to the front.
They’re accustomed to marching while hunting monsters.
After a short distance with them as a vanguard, Gilbert-san approached us.
「This dungeon is a labyrinth of passageways with no rooms」
「Gilbert-san, how much do you know about dungeons?」
「I’ve been in a dungeon once in the past and have some knowledge, but there’s only one dungeon in Mugdam, so I don’t know much about the other ones. But, some of the knowledge I gained at the time was about dungeons of this shape. I believed that they call it a training pattern」
As I listen to Gilbert-san, Manos-san approached.
「I agree with Gilbert-dono. This is a training-type location. Nia-san said that it ends on the tenth floor, so I think this is classified as an elementary one」
「Manos-san, are you well acquainted with dungeons?」
「No, I only have a bit of knowledge. This is actually my first time diving into a dungeon. But, as far as hunting monsters, we’ve done that multiple times during our patrol in our territory, so we can handle them without any problems.
The fact that he looks so accustomed even though it’s his first time in here…I guess his experience applies here too.
As we move further through the passage, admiring them, Caria pointed out that there is an enemy presence ahead.
「Oops, there’s more. Let’s go at it again」
The four who served as the vanguard of the group had their weapons ready and headed toward the large wolf that appeared at the end of the way.
They did say that they’ll take care of this layer, but these guys sure are into it.
After a few more battles, we walked for a bit and found the stairs to the next floor.
We took our lunch break here, and after resting, we went down to the eighth floor.
「The next ones should be large snakes, right?」
「Yes! That’s what the person who explored here before had mentioned」
Nia cheerfully answered my question.
I patted her head because she was being cute, then Caria-san came over and fixed the disheveled hair with a brush.
She now has an exclusive hair specialist.
Upon entering the eighth floor, there’s hardly any change from the floors above.
However, if there’s one different thing, it has a lot of long straight lines like the previous floor.
We just walked straight and we reached over 100 meters.
I wonder why that is, but the answer came up right away.
「That’s too big. It’s covering over half of the passageway, right?」
「It’s almost like the silver scale snake」
「Are there monsters like these outside?」
「Yes, the silver ones are poisonous, but even if they grow large, they’ll only reach about five or six people in length, and this one’s three times that. I don’t know if they’re the same species, but be careful not to get bitten!
「A bite from that would be dangerous, doesn’t matter if they have poison or not」
Euphy’s sweating on her forehead, facing the ridiculously large snake.
When a snake has that size, it’s strangely visible.
The silver snake hasn’t noticed us yet, its eyes are closed.
「What’s the plan?」
「Hmm, I’ll go lead the group and draw it, but it’ll be difficult to handle such a large body.」
Gilbert-san answered, then Manos-san followed.
「Indeed. Let’s all be alert and disperse our attacks. Nikos and Daniel, and flank, support Gilbert-dono so he doesn’t get all the attacks. Nia and Caria will provide support from behind. Euphilite-sama and Daiki-dono, you can move as you please」
Despite both of them being commanders, they were capable people leading their group, so they immediately decided on what to do.
It’s the right people in the right place.
「Got it. Euphy, we’re focusing on attack」
「Certainly. Daiki-sama, leave this to me!
Euphy’s eyes sparkle as she nods.
「Nia, don’t go far from Caria-san」
「Yes, Daiki-nii, and Euphy-nee, be careful!」
I pat Nia’s cheek to reassure her as she was making a slightly uneasy face, Euphy and I followed after Gilbert-san and approached the enemy.
Well then, it’s time to fight the huge snake.