Chapter 39

Today's update! ('ω')!

I silently follow behind Nene.

We pass through the indoor forest, walk down a corridor that resembles a wooden house, and go through a dark, small room like an underground waterway with puddles everywhere.

There are remnants of already disposed monsters here and there, and we proceed while collecting them. Some I've seen before, and some I haven't.

Maybe I should have brought the 'GoPro' for Nene.

I'll make plans to prepare for the next dungeon attack.

"Stop here."

At some point, the corridor has turned into a dirt wall, and Nene stops us.

She seems to be peering around the corner with a hand mirror.

"Sure enough, it looks like a resident of the room. We can't avoid it, so we'll have to eliminate it."

When prompted, I look in the mirror and see a creature I've never seen before in a slightly open area that looks like a room.

I search my memory of records and streams, but I can't place it.

"What do you think it is?"

"Maybe a hybrid beast or a demon?"

Indeed, that seems reasonable.

It has a hammerhead shark's head, a large, hairy torso, and stands upright with a big axe in its hand.

It's a strange creature, like a minotaur's head on a hammerhead shark's body.

"I can't tell the monster rank... We'll have to take it down."

Assuming it's a minotaur, the monster's rank would be B.

That would make it about the same as Zalnag, but fighting an unknown creature in our first battle in a new dungeon is not ideal.

Or maybe it's a good thing.

This could be useful for documentation.

While casting buffs, I think about how to fight.

"...Hm?"

I look down the corridor, searching for something off.

The corridor where we are is quite narrow compared to where the monster is.

The unique disjointedness of this 'Colorless Darkness' seems to be working in our favor.

"Let's take it down in the corridor. We'll attack with magic and bows."

"We can't use swords in the room, can we, Marina?"

"No, I think we can. Marina."

Marina nods in response to my question.

I've equipped her with another weapon for close-quarters combat.

"Actually, it would be more dangerous if it could swing that big axe freely. In this corridor, it won't be able to."

"Got it. I'll support with ninjutsu."

'Ninja' is an Eastern-originated class, and its defining feature is 'Super Job'.

They have high scouting abilities and the same technical skills as thieves, using swords, wakizashi, and shuriken for combat, and mastering a unique type of magic called ninjutsu, which is somewhat similar to alchemy.

...People who manifest this class are extremely rare.

Nene says she changed from a 'Thief' to a 'Ninja'... but I suspect Mamaru forced or implanted this talent in her.

After all, her mentor as an adventurer is the legendary 'Ninja' known as the 'Gray Hermit'.

"I'll use that magic. Rain, use compact attack spells. Silk, attack with your bow as usual. Aim for the head if possible. Marina, it's time for your new weapon."

"Leave it to me!"

I take out a heavy crossbow from my magic bag and hand it to Marina.

It's a magic crossbow I found at a flea market and repaired.

It's quite heavy and difficult to handle, so it can only be used for ambushes, but with this, Marina can participate in ranged combat.

We all nod in agreement, and I begin the incantation.

"–Rozaj folioj, hurlantaj nigraj hundoj, la maro glutanta la sunsubiron, blanka miksaĵo kun nigro, stagno kun helaj koloroj……!"

This time, I have plenty of time. I carefully and meticulously construct the spell formula, then dash around the corner and release the 'Distorted Light Arrow' at the monster.

The monster rushes down the corridor upon spotting us, but the light with a tainted radiance is absorbed by the trapped creature... and in the next moment, the monster kneels.

This time, I've woven the magic power thoroughly. It should be effective enough to decide the battle if it doesn't resist.

"Ugh... Vah..."

The monster, which is now lying on the ground, convulses and shakes, spewing purple smoke and bubbles from its orifices.

Rain's 'Flame Spear', Marina's large crossbow bolt, and Silk's three arrows follow up.

"...Vah!"

The monster, which shook violently, stops moving, and I feel the debuff magic wearing off.

"Good, it's done."

I cast 'Continuous Magic Recovery' on myself and Rain, then approach the unknown monster. The more I look at it, the stranger it seems.

"Just in case, I'll collect it in a bag for documentation."

I mutter this for the stream and store the monster's corpse in a spare magic bag.

"My turn didn't come up... What was that magic?"

"I guess I haven't shown you that. It's called 'Distorted Light Arrow'... I created it."

"Huh?"

Nene's eyes narrow vertically.

She's so cat-like even in this situation...!

"Look, I do alchemy, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, I mixed some things and it turned out like this."

"Huh?"

This is the second "Huh?" today.

"Nene, if you worry about everything Yuu does... you'll get sick. Let's go with the flow?"

"Yeah, you're right. In the end, it doesn't matter where it comes from, as long as it works."

"Right. It's too complicated anyway."

Strange, I explained it properly to Rain once.

Maybe my explanation was poor.

"I'll go ahead and scout. Please wait here."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm not exhausted, so it's fine! Please rest, everyone."

I wave goodbye as Nene disappears down the corridor.

Having an excellent scout really makes a difference in fatigue levels.

When I was in 'Thunderpike', I used to pretend to be a scout.

"Everyone, come here!"

Nene, who went ahead to scout, returns quickly.

"Nene, what's up?"

"There's a treasure chest. And I found what looks like a safe zone from the documentation."

Finding a treasure chest on the first floor is quite lucky.

It's our first achievement in the coveted 'Colorless Darkness'. I'm starting to get excited.

"Let's go there and take a break."

How was it? ('ω')

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