Chapter 37

"Phew... I'm so tired today."

"That's true. It's hard to keep track of time when you're inside."

"I guess we were in there longer than I thought."

After finishing our dungeon exploration, we returned to the inn. As expected, we couldn't use the beacon, so we had to spend a long time getting back to the entrance. By the time we got outside, it was already night, and we managed to return to Shuting using the beacon. If we didn't have the beacon, we would have had to camp out.

"Still, to think there are people like that..."

"It makes sense that they require at least a B-rank or higher."

Our first dungeon exploration ended with mixed feelings. The sheer number of monsters trying to kill us was more than I expected, and it was mentally exhausting. My lack of experience, having pushed through to higher ranks, was very apparent. Even the slimes in the upper levels were giving us trouble, so it might still be dangerous to go deeper.

"Hmm, it seems we still lack a lot of things before we can go to the dungeon again. Maybe we need to do that...?"

"Are you seriously thinking about using the gacha again?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so."

"Oh, you don't seem very enthusiastic about it, brother."

I think we lack a lot of things, but there's also a different issue. Against weaker enemies, we can handle ourselves pretty well. However, the Owl Slime we encountered at the end was a different story. We were decisively lacking against it.

So, I think we should use the gacha to make up for that...

"No, I'm actually enthusiastic about using the gacha. If we're going to strengthen the party, I have a specific job in mind for the next one."

"...? What do you mean?"

This time, the conditions for the gacha are a bit different. We'll still end up using it, but the number of tries to get the desired unit will be much higher.

"I think our equipment is pretty good. What we lack is the combat power for party battles."

"I agree. We managed to handle it, but against stronger enemies, we were a bit disorganized."

Exactly, what we lack is the combat power for party battles. We've been relying on their overwhelming stats, but that's individual strength. If we face an enemy that can't be handled by individual strength, it will be difficult to fight. Most of the disorganization was my fault, though...

"To be honest, I'm not much of a combat asset... So, it comes down to you two being the main fighters."

"Oh, you're worried about that. We can cover for you, so please take your time to get used to it, Mr. Ohtsuka."

"Don't get too relaxed in front of the enemy like before, okay?"

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry."

Estelle smiled at me very kindly, but her smile was kind of scary. It was also scary when she said it with a straight face in Asterios, and when we faced the Steel Slime, she had that same look, which made me nervous... It feels like I'm being constantly monitored by a teacher or a boss. In a way, that tension helped me be more careful after the Steel Slime. I don't want to mess up again, so I'll be more cautious...

"So, it's true that we lack combat power, but what we really need is a tank."

"A tank?"

We didn't actually fight it, but facing the Owl Slime in our current state would be dangerous. We might have been able to win, but we're not in a rush, and I don't want to take unnecessary risks. If we had to fight, it would be a tight battle, and we might even be wiped out by a single skill.

"We need a role that can handle the slimes on the 10th floor."

"Do you mean a job with high defense, like a heavy armor knight?"

A job that can withstand the attacks of that monster with minimal damage, like a heavy armor knight, would be ideal. However, a tank isn't just about high defense.

"You might think that, but the most important thing is a cleric. No matter how high the defense, it's useless if there's no healing."

"Can't we just drink potions?"

Just having high defense doesn't make a tank. As Nole said, potions can help, but...

"Nole, can you drink a potion while taking attacks?"

"Oh... No, I can't."

Even with high defense, if you can't find the time to drink a potion, you'll melt. That's why we need a cleric who can heal from a distance. Right now, a cleric is the most needed in our party. Looking back, Dius's party would have been great if it had a mage.

"If we had a cleric, that worry would be gone, and Nole could handle the tank role to some extent."

"Yeah, that's true."

If we had a cleric, Nole could handle the tank role in a pinch. But that's just for the Owl Slime. To progress further in the dungeon, we need both.

"But then we'd have to protect Estelle and the cleric."

"It's getting complicated..."

If we only get a cleric, we'll have two people to protect. Either I or Nole would have to do it, but I'm not confident, and I'd rather have Nole do it. But if I focus on attacking... If I were stronger, it would be easier, but I'm not, and it's embarrassing.

"So, if possible, a cleric is the top priority, and a heavy armor knight would be a big help, but there's a problem."

"Is there more?"

Estelle tilted her head, looking puzzled, as if she thought we had already reached a conclusion. The conclusion is to use the gacha to get a cleric and a heavy armor knight, but...

"The problem is the gacha."

When I said that, they looked at each other, confused.

"The biggest challenge with the gacha is getting a specific character. To be honest, getting a UR isn't that hard."

I used to obsess over URs and even went crazy, but now the goal is much harder. Getting the desired unit from the many URs is incredibly difficult. If the probability is increased in a pickup, it would be easier, but if not, it could take a long time. We might end up with a lot of other units and even push through with them.

"So, if we want to properly build our combat power, getting the right units from the gacha is very challenging."

"Mm, that's true. We also have UR equipment, so getting the desired UR is difficult."

If we can't get them soon, we might need to consider adding people from this world to our party. That would mean talking about the gacha and other things. It's scary if we can't trust them. But I haven't even built any connections... I don't know many people in this town, and I might have been too focused on other things. Since we're stuck for now, maybe we should take on other quests while collecting magic stones?

"Well, we can still hunt magic stones just fine. It seems we can't explore the dungeon for a while."

"That's true. But it's so hard to progress, I'm curious about what's deeper inside."

"Maybe there's a clue to help Mr. Ohtsuka return."

It's such a massive dungeon. What could be at the deepest level? The unnatural entrance and the strange environment inside suggest that there might be a clue to my return. For now, let's aim to conquer the dungeon and focus on strengthening our party.