CH 26

Courageous Escape

“Goblins, huh.”

I mutter upon realizing the identity of the approaching shadows.

Goblins– green-skinned Demonic Beasts with a physique resembling that of a human child. Because humanoid Demonic Beasts move similarly to humans, it is easy enough to anticipate their movements, but their physical strength is incomparable to that of humans. Though they are the size of a child, their strength is greater than that of an adult.

“Not just Goblins…there’s a Hobgoblin mixed in.”

Gran announced in a tense voice.

Behind the Goblins was a noticeably larger Goblin.

Hobgoblins– goblins that have grown to the size of an adult. Even Mize can handle something on the level of a Goblin, but a Hobgoblin can be dangerous even for our current line-up if we were negligent.

I took a glance at the three: Gran, Mize, and Elysia.

The number of Goblins is 4. There is 1 Hobgoblin. To encounter enemies of this scale on the First Layer, can definitely be attributed to bad luck. Elysia looks calm and ready for combat, but Gran and Mize are in bewilderment.

And perhaps, the bandits are after us.

If we were to take any strange, rash actions leading to us returning aboveground, there is a possibility that we’ll encounter the bandits.

In order to defeat the bandits, I would like to lure them a bit deeper into the Labyrinth.

“…Oz, can you handle it?”

I whisper to Oz beside me.

“Yup. Ah, but thinking about it, because we still have to escort, I’d have to change my fighting style…what should I do, and how much effort should I put into this?”

“…You can use up to Parallel Activation. Don’t use Multiple Parallel Activation…Synthesis or Outburst.”

“Roger that!”

After giving a small nod, Oz leapt ahead of us.

“Can you leave this to me?”

“B-but, Oz-san, doing it alone would be…”

“Ahaha, it’s fine. This will be over soon.”

Having said that, Oz thrust both arms ahead of her.

Her left arm emitted a green light, while her right arm emitted a blue light. Kiiin, a high-pitched noise resounded as magic power converged within both of Oz’s arms.

Perhaps because they a sense of impeding danger, the Goblins approached Oz in a panic. But faster than the Demonic Beasts could stop Oz–.

“Boom!”

At the same time as Oz’s exclamation, two magics were released from both of Oz’s arms.

A blast of wind and a blast of water plunged into the group of Demonic Beasts.

Two shots exploded in the centre of the group of Demonic Beasts.

A thunderous roar echoes within the underground space. The ear-splitting sound of destruction forces our faces into a grimace.

“Okay, it’s over~!”

While waving back to us, Oz says with a large smile on her face.

Looking at it, the group of Goblins had disappeared without a trace.

“Just now, were those the C-ranked magics <Wind Cannon> and <Water Cannon>? And that was both of them, at the same time…”

Elysia says haltingly, with both her eyes wide open in amazement.

“Wasn’t that Parallel Activation?”

Reacting to Mize’s mutter, my eyes widen.

“You know about it?”

“Yes. I’ve read about it from a book in the library before. Activating multiple magics simultaneously…it requires Magical Speed to be completed in a short amount of time, but in a situation when it is invoked over a period of time, it is a technique that requires Magical Stamina.”

An exemplary answer, one appropriate from the diligent Mize.

Parallel Activation does not complicate the construction of magic itself, so Magical Control is not as necessary. However, since magic power in the body is consumed even while activating magic, Parallel Activation requires either Magical Speed to reduce the amount of magic power being consumed, or Magical Stamina to withstand the consumption of magic power.

In Oz’s case, because she excels in the latter ability, she can use Parallel Activation.

It may take a longer time to construct magic, but its instantaneous firepower is quite high.– That is why she was assigned to me as my assistant for this mission.

“You’re not just an immediate asset, but rather, the main asset…”

“Mm-hmm!”

While Gran was shuddering in awe, Oz happily puffed out her flat chest.

She may be taking it easy, but she still has the most firepower out of any of us at the moment.

“Come to think of it, we forgot to decide this in advance, but what should we do with the raw materials we collect from the Demonic Beasts?”

Elysia raises a question to all of us.

Because the power of Oz’s attack was too high, most of the Demonic Beasts’ flesh was obliterated, but there were several bits and pieces that could still be recovered as raw materials.

“We don’t need to recover them now. While for the Goblins, there is a demand for eyeballs, and for the Hobgoblin, there is a demand for some internal organs in addition to eyeballs, there is a certain trick to removing both of them properly. Besides, even if we do recover them here, we’ll have to carry the gore and viscera with us until we complete the commission.”

“…I’d hate that.”

Elysia’s face was twitching, and the rest of our line-up agreed with her.

Incidentally, out of all the Goblin’s internal organs, the testicles are the ones that often sell at the highest price. They can be compounded to make an excellent vitality-boosting drug.

◆

Our exploration of the Labyrinth, “The Swirling Depths of the Royal Tomb” proceeded smoothly, and we’ve reached the Fourth Layer.

This Labyrinth continues down to the lower levels in a spiral, making it easy to predict where the staircases are. Furthermore, since we also bought a map at the Guild, we haven’t gotten lost yet.

“There are no walls beyond that point, so be careful. The path may seem wide, but if you fall off, that will be the end of the line for you.”

Elysia says.

The walls on both sides disappeared, revealing a passageway that resembled a suspension bridge. From this point on, we would be walking through such dangerous places.

“I can’t see anything down there…”

“I-I’m scared…”

Gran and Mize peer into the darkness beneath their feet and become nervous.

We took our time and slowly made our way across the passageway.

“…Eh?”

Elysia, who was holding the map, questioned the scenery before her eyes.

Did something happen? Gran and I, who were walking in front, turn around and look at her.

“This place, it’s slightly different from the information on the map. Look, here.”

“Come to think of it, you’re right. Perhaps this place collapsed during the earthquake?”

Mize says while peeking at the map Elysia is holding.

At the end of the passageway that we were currently walking on, the floor had collapsed. The opening was so large, that even if we used <Rage>, we wouldn’t be able to leap across it.

“This is bad; the staircase is right ahead…it’ll be a hassle, but we’ll have to take a detour here.”

Elysia says, mixed with a sigh.

We decided to retrace our steps a little, then aim for the staircase using another passageway.

Although our exploration has been going well so far, our stamina continues to be drained. This issue came up shortly after we decided to take a short rest.

Each one of us is showing signs of fatigue, but we should be exerting ourselves here.

I started to walk after regaining my motivation, but then–.

“– Stop.”

I inform everyone behind in a small voice.

I only caught a glimpse of it from the corner of the passageway, but a large shadow was standing in the room ahead.

“It’s a Chimera…it’ll take some effort to deal with that thing.”

The head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a venomous serpent for a tail.

A Demonic Beast with the appearance of 3 animals patched together– Chimera. Although it looks distorted, its flesh is tough, and it can breathe flames from its mouth. excluding the lion’s head, it has a goat’s head on its back, and a venomous serpent’s head on the tip of its tail; a total of six eyes were darting about, keeping a lookout of its surroundings.

It is a much more formidable enemy than a Hobgoblin.

With Oz and I here, it would be simple matter to defeat it, but it would be a nuisance if it breathed fire in this narrow space.

“But the staircase is over there. And if we go the other way, the floor has collapsed so we can’t get through…”

Elysia says.

At that moment, the head of the venomous serpent on the Chimera’s tail glared at us.

“Oh no, it’s noticed us!”

The Chimera lets out a roar.

Its pressure shook the atmosphere, and it made goosebumps appear all over our skin.

The Chimera turned to face to us and opened its large maw.

At the back of its throat, we could see scorching flames.

“Retreat!”

At the same time as I tell the other four, the Chimera releases flames from its mouth.

From around the corner of the passageway, a fierce, hot wind blew away everything behind us as we hurriedly evacuated.

“W-what should we do!?”

“We can’t deal with that thing! Let’s run to a safe place!”

Mize shouts while running, and Gran also responds while looking panicked.

I agree with Gran on this.

Anyways, once we get back from here–

“Tweight, up ahead!”

Elysia exclaims with an impatient look on her face.

— I know.

I instantly use <Rage> to greatly enhance my physical abilities.

I parry the large fist that approaches, while quickly adjusting my stance.

— A Hobgoblin.

The fact that we encountered one on the First Layer can be attributed to bad luck, but it isn’t as unusual to encounter Hobgoblins on the Fourth Layer.

But– to encounter one at this timing, could only be due to bad luck.

“A pincer attack, huh…”

“We’re kinda, in a pickle now, right…?”

Gran says, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

Now that we are sandwiched between the Chimera and the Hobgoblin, we are definitely in a critical situation. With Oz’s firepower, we may be able to eradicate them, but it is more likely that in the time it takes to activate, it will be too late.

But it’s not like we don’t have a way out.

While being wary of the two Demonic Beasts, I glance at the suspension bridge-like passageway we had been walking on a while ago.

As a matter of fact, the floor of the Fifth Layer is just beneath that passageway. While it is necessary to have some courage to jump down, if we use <Rage>, we should be able to descend without getting hurt.

Since this route cannot be used to get back, I wanted to pass through the proper path to the Fifth Layer so we wouldn’t get lost…but at this point, we have no other choice.

I exchange a glance with Oz.

There is a way we can run from the 2 Demonic Beasts. I tried to get her to say, but at that time–.

“– Down here!”

Mize shouts.

“If we jump off this passageway, there’s a foothold! It’s hard to see in the dark, but if we use <Rage> we should be able to land properly!”

“I-is that true, Mize!?”

“Yes! Please follow me!”

After saying that, Mize activated <Rage> and ran towards the passageway.

While following after her, I exchange a glance with Oz.

— Why does Mize know about it?

It’s dark beneath that passageway; at the very least, even if you jump off, you can’t see the floor below with just your eyes.

Mize said that this was her first time visiting this Labyrinth. Was that a lie? …No, I remember that when she first entered the Labyrinth, she looked like she was brimming with curiosity. I don’t think that was just an act; and she has no reason to lie about it.

Mize directly jumped off from the passageway, leaving the rest of us in confusion.

Mize’s body was swallowed by the darkness beneath our feet. But shortly thereafter, Mize waved a torch for us to see that she had safely landed on the floor of the Fifth Layer.

“W-we really can go there!”

“Yeah. Let’s go as well.”

There is a mountain of things we want to ask, but survival is the top priority.

Following Mize’s lead, we activate <Rage> before jumping off the passageway.

Author’s Note:

I have a feeling that there will be more foreshadowing in the next chapter.