Chapter 65

We continued to run from Behemoth, who had been chasing us all along, and thought about how we could break through. If we were just running, we could have escaped using the escape device.

However, we couldn't leave Noelle and the others behind. Another option was to go outside once, return to the transfer point, and transfer to meet up again.

But there was no guarantee that we would end up in the same place. We could also wait outside for Noelle and the others to clear the area and return, but that would be a last resort.

"What do we do? If we don't defeat that thing, we can't move forward or go back!"

"I'm thinking too! Damn it, is there anything, anything at all... Ah, wait, maybe I have something that could work!"

Various ideas came to mind, but in the end, we had to do something about Behemoth.

And then... I found it. There was a way to deal with that monster among the items I had.

"What is it?"

"Magic Dynamite and Magic Blade! They have the Ignore Defense effect, so they should be able to cut through that membrane!"

"But we have to get close to attack! How do we stop that thing!?"

"I'll take the hit! Then I'll throw this into the membrane where the goblins are! If we can deal around 8000 HP, we should be able to take it down!"

"But... but..."

"Don't worry! With its attack power, I won't die instantly! Don't worry!"

I took out the Magic Blade, which had a white, cylindrical handle, and three long, green sticks from my bag. I had been keeping them aside because I hadn't found a use for them, but this time they should work.

---

● Magic Dynamite

Consumes MP to ignite.

Explodes a few seconds after ignition, dealing about 3000 damage.

Handle with care. Use as soon as possible after materialization.

---

If I can cut through the membrane with the Ignore Defense blade and insert this dynamite, it should be an instant kill. Normally, it would take several hits to deal 8000 damage.

I don't think we would have the time to attack Behemoth while riding on it. But with this method, we can do it in the moment it pauses.

I also have the Charge skill, so I need to act before it uses that. If it charges like a Minotaur, we won't be able to catch up. The sooner we act, the better.

I think if we don't act with momentum, our decision will waver.

"Alright, let's do it! I'm counting on you to heal and throw the dynamite!"

"W-What? Wait! Ohtsuka, wait—"

So I handed the items to Sisha, turned my body around, and stopped to brace myself to receive Behemoth.

The thought of taking an attack with 4500 power made my legs tremble. It will definitely hurt.

But my defense is over 4000, and with Sisha's defense boost, I shouldn't die.

As I braced myself, the massive body of Behemoth, which was shaking the ground, came into view. It was huge.

It was like standing still in front of a dump truck coming towards me.

Behemoth roared from the depths of its belly and charged at me to knock me away.

"---Buh! ? Ah, c-come on, Sisha, hurry—Sisha, do it!"

"Ugh! Are you an idiot!"

I hit the pot lid on the head of Behemoth as it charged, then pressed it down with both hands.

The impact was so intense that I thought my body would fall apart. My legs, which were braced, started to slide back.

But this managed to stop its movement, even if only for a moment.

I heard Sisha's scolding voice, and my body was enveloped in particles of light, easing the pain.

I couldn't see it, but she was moving to help me.

I held on to Behemoth with the pot lid, hoping it would end soon, and braced my legs as hard as I could.

As I focused on holding back Behemoth, the explosion I had wished for finally echoed in the room. Sisha had climbed onto its back and successfully inserted the dynamite into the goblins.

Behemoth, which I was holding back, stopped moving at the sound of the explosion.

"Ouch... Is it over?"

I confirmed that Behemoth had completely stopped moving and sat down on the ground. My heart was pounding from the collision with Behemoth. I felt hot and took off my helm.

Looking at Behemoth again, I was impressed with myself for facing such a monster head-on.

If Noelle and the others were here, I probably wouldn't have done this. The feeling of having to do something in a situation where it was just me and Sisha pushed me to take such a bold action.

The stopped Behemoth then turned into particles of light and disappeared from in front of me, leaving behind its fangs, horns, and skin.

As I had expected, it was linked to the goblins. If Estelle were here, she could have targeted and instantly killed the goblins... If Behemoth had appeared alone, there would have been no way to deal with it.

The light that had been shining on the walls faded, and the walls blocking the entrance and exit moved down. It seems this was the boss.

Finally, it's over... It was a long journey. Now I can feel relieved.

"Ohtsuka"

"Hey, good job, Sisha. You really did—Ugh! ?"

As I sat down, Sisha walked over and called my name.

She did a great job. Even though she usually says she's not a priestess, this time she helped me a lot.

I called out to her to celebrate our victory together, but she didn't respond. She squatted in front of me with a smile and grabbed both my cheeks with one hand.

"Why didn't you listen to me and do something so reckless? Please give me an explanation that I can accept."

She was smiling, but her eyes weren't. Oh, she's angry?

If she scolded me, it would be better, but her polite tone is scary.

"Well, there was no other way, right? I didn't know what would happen if we just kept running..."

"To do something so reckless... You just charged in suddenly. I thought my heart would stop!"

I admit I acted on impulse before I got scared.

But if we had kept running and been hit by a skill, it would have been dangerous. I think it was necessary.

She smiled and then frowned, yelling and letting go of my cheeks.

"Phew, sorry. But I thought Sisha would heal me. I wouldn't have done something so bold if you weren't there."

"Aaah, that's unfair! Being brave and being reckless are different! If you do this again, I'll crush that thing!"

If Sisha wasn't there, I might have just used the escape device. Just knowing I could get support from healing magic made me feel mentally secure.

When I said that, she blushed and yelled even more.

Oh, what is she talking about crushing... If it happens again, I'll have to get permission, right?

---

"So, what's this?"

"Hmm... It looks suspicious."

As we moved forward through the opened passage, we found a large iron door like the one we saw in the dungeon before.

I don't want to think about it, but there might be traps and more battles ahead. The thought of moving forward makes me hesitate...

"But we can't start without going in."

"Yeah... We have no choice but to go in."

We've come this far after defeating that thing. I can't back down now...

I'll peek in like when we saw the slime and decide whether to proceed.

I pushed the iron door, which creaked, and peeked inside.

"Ah! Ohtsuka-sama!"

On the other side of the door was a narrow, black-walled space lit by some kind of lighting. And there were Noelle and Estelle.

They seemed to be on guard, as they looked at us and readied their weapons.

When they confirmed it was me, Noelle ran over with a happy voice.

"Ah! You're safe—Ugh! ? No, Noelle..."

"Ugh! I was really worried! I want to hug you!"

After confirming it was safe, we went inside. Finally, we've met up with them, and I sighed in relief.

The moment Noelle reached me, she hugged me. I was a bit startled, but the sound of her armor creaking made me shudder.

How much strength is she using to hug me!? If I didn't have armor, I think my body would be crushed!

"Noelle, stop, you're making me uncomfortable."

"Ah, I'm sorry..."

"Aah, it's okay."

"Are you okay, brother? Are you hurt? Did you cry from loneliness? Did Sisha do anything weird?"

"What do you think I am!"

Noelle let me go at Estelle's urging. I could sense a bit of embarrassment in her voice.

Estelle came over and put her hand on my cheek, tilting her head as she spoke to me.

At first, she seemed worried, but her words started to sound strange...

"It's good to see you both are safe!"

"I'm glad you're safe too, Noelle."

Sisha also seemed relieved to see them, but she was back in her usual mode.

"Have Noelle and the others been here for a while?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you contact us before entering the door?"

"Various things happened..."

When I heard about what had happened on their side, it seemed different from our experience.

There were orcs mixed in, and the passages were collapsing, and there were many traps where stones fell and chased them.

They reached the square in the momentum of running away, defeated the boss, and came here.

Looking at the back where they were, there was indeed another door.

"But we tried to contact you with the transceiver before entering. But you didn't answer, Ohtsuka-sama."

"I didn't get any notification... Maybe the communication was cut off at that point."

At some point, the signal was jammed so we couldn't contact each other? This dungeon seems designed for people like us.

The entrance felt unnatural, as if it had suddenly appeared... It's a bit scary.

"Well, it's good that everyone is safe. This was good practice for future dungeon exploration."

"We were lucky the enemies were weak, but you should reflect on that, brother."

We learned about the trap that separates us, so we need to be more careful