Chapter 88

We will fight just as we always do.

Hime will create one clone to accompany us. Of course, don't forget to equip the clone with the substitute bracelet.

〔Huh? Wasn't the unique skill supposed to be harder to get?〕

〔Blonde, ninja, shadow clone, twin-tailed beauty... Ugh, my head.〕

〔I'm curious about the skill name. It sounds like a ninja's shadow clone technique, but it could also be Doppelganger.〕

〔So, we can do a real-life "Doppelganger!" like the comedy duo.〕

〔Should we call them Alpha-One and Alpha-Two?〕

However, they seem quite relaxed despite the crisis in Japan.

While it might be better to have a bit of tension, their lighthearted comments are actually helpful right now.

Hime doesn't answer any questions.

"But the comments are surprisingly few for a crisis in Japan. I thought there would be a lot more."

When I mutter this,

〔It seems only the first 100 premium members can comment here.〕

〔Those who made strange comments have been banned and replaced.〕

〔Oh, Alpha and the others don't know the situation here.〕

〔The number of concurrent viewers has exceeded 10 million. Also, the exploration of dungeons around the world is being broadcast simultaneously.〕

〔Explorers from Country D and Country E dropped out at the first level. The situation there is so bad that there are even deaths. It's really good that Alpha, Gamma, and Delta are safe.〕

I'm...! But the situation in other countries is really bad.

Bite Wolf Leaders are just grunts to us, but if you're not well-trained, they can track you down using their sense of smell.

If we were around level 20, we would have been the ones dying.

"Three enemy presences ahead, around the corner. They are waiting."

"Understood. I'll go first."

Hime's clone heads forward.

This time, three Bite Wolf Leaders leap at us simultaneously.

However, Hime's clone dodges them gracefully.

Then, where Hime dodged—

"Sure-hit Sword"

"「Aim Slash」"

With our combined attack, we take down the Bite Wolf Leaders.

Well, for us who usually fight on the 20th floor, the monsters on the 9th floor are just grunts.

The three monsters turned into magic stones, and only the one I killed dropped a sphere.

I pick it up.

Just as I'm about to appraise it,

〔It's a Guide Orb. When you light it, the smoke will lead you to the exit.〕

〔Why would a wolf drop this?〕

〔Signal flares were made using wolf droppings.〕

〔So, Beta is holding a clump of Bite Wolf Leader droppings.〕

Even without appraising it, they tell me it's a clump of droppings.

I chuckle and put it in my inventory.

We continue to defeat more monsters, but so far, only monsters from the 9th or 10th floor have appeared.

Oh, another Bite Wolf Leader.

This time, I take it down alone.

This time, only a magic stone dropped.

〔No Guide Orb this time.〕

〔Guide Orb: Minimum Luck 40, Drop Rate 20%. With Beta's estimated luck of around 100, it should drop about 50% of the time.〕

There are comments guessing my luck.

In reality, I'm using the automatic storage function of my inventory to keep it from being noticed, and I've definitely picked up the Guide Orb.

During my time in PD, thanks to Hime's advice, I practiced toggling the automatic storage for different items.

Before, if I had automatic storage on, everything would be stored, and if someone saw, it would look strange that no D-coins dropped when I killed a monster.

Now, I only keep the magic stones.

From the previous survey, my luck is estimated to be around 100, so while it's inevitable for the first drop, I need to adjust for subsequent drops.

We find the stairs leading to the second floor.

Since this isn't a survey, we immediately descend when we find them.

The monsters that appear are zombies.

"Zombies... Will we turn into zombies if bitten?"

"I don't really like these kinds of things..."

Hime makes a visibly displeased face.

Well, I don't think many girls like this kind of thing.

They are quite smelly, so I don't want to get too close.

〔These aren't zombies but ghouls. If bitten, you won't turn into a zombie but will be in a severe poisoning state.〕

〔Ghouls are rare in Japan...〕

〔Since Japan has a cremation culture, it's difficult for zombie-like creatures to appear.〕

〔But the zombies on SNS keep spawning.〕

〔This is a crisis in Japan, not a time to joke around.〕

〔That's what I was thinking. This fight isn't a game.〕

〔It's also important to lighten the mood.〕

"Please don't fight, listeners. We're still relaxed here, but once we go deeper, we won't have the luxury to chat. It would be helpful if you could provide necessary information."

I say this and think about defeating the zombies—no, ghouls.

"Release: Wind Rapid Arrows"

Ayame's wind arrows are fired like a Gatling gun, tearing the ghouls to shreds.

〔Wow!! Gamma was using powerful magic casually even last time, and she's even stronger now.〕

〔Gross... Please add a mosaic.〕

〔Just think of it as minced meat. (´ﾟДﾟ`)〕

〔I'm eating Taiwanese mixed noodles right now...〕

〔I can handle this level. (´ﾟДﾟ`)〕

〔Please add a tag for graphic content.〕

〔I'm in love with Gamma's ruthlessness. I want to tip her.〕

〔Gamma, be careful with your magic power.〕

〔Even if you tip, the money will go to the video uploader, Dumper.〕

〔Oh, really!?〕

Yeah, it's pretty gross.

And even though they are torn to shreds, they don't turn into magic stones... Oh, they just did.

Hmm, ghouls are tough to kill.

It would be a hassle to kill them with a sword.

"Even if we aim for the vital points with a gun, it won't be effective."

"Whether crushing the head kills a zombie depends on the work."

"Zombie movies often say, 'Don't aim for the head, aim for the legs to stop them!'"

"I don't watch many zombie movies, so I don't know. I'll leave this to the three of you."

The two Himes who were leading move to the back.

〔Alpha is so cute for being scared of zombies.〕

〔Ghouls are tough. They can keep moving for a while even after their HP reaches zero. They have a skill called 'Undying Will.'〕

〔Undying Will can be nullified by a holy attack.〕

A holy attack.

I remember my Kusanagi sword has a holy effect.

Should I use it?

But I don't want to cut a ghoul and risk corrosion.

Then, a listener gives advice.

〔Delta's Holy Water can probably take care of ghouls, right?〕

At this unexpected suggestion,

"Oh, I haven't used it in a while, so I forgot."

Milk says this.

We three had also forgotten about it.

Not completely forgotten, but it didn't come to mind immediately.

Sure, for regular zombies, it's easier and less mana-consuming to shoot them with a gun or crush them with magic.

〔Are we really okay leaving this to them?〕

〔Let's keep the tension up!〕

Well, the exploration of Kusayo Park D feels like it was months ago for us.

In the dungeon, Milk's attacks were always with a gun, and she never used Holy Water.

Her potion magic has been enhanced, and she can produce various potions, but magic is something you can use once you learn the skill, and you don't see a list of available spells just by checking your stats.

It's natural that it didn't come to mind immediately.