Chapter 7

I still couldn't advance to the floors below the 51st floor.

Yes, it's because the larvae of those beetles, which don't get along with me, are currently infesting those floors.

When I first attacked the 51st floor, there weren't as many of them, but they started to infest in large numbers soon after.

I wonder why, maybe it's their mating season or something.

Because of this, for the past few days, I've been repeatedly fighting the greedy rich pig boss on the 50th floor, depending on the respawn.

No, it's not a fight but a one-sided massacre.

Then I realized that this pig unexpectedly gives a lot of experience.

Really a lot.

My skills in Otherworldly Appraisal went up to level 5, Phantom Evasion to level 4, and Water Magic to level 9, all with a 2x boost.

Here's my current status.

【Status】

Name ≫ Hikaru Amikawa

Title ≫ Number 1

Skills≫ Passive ≫ Super Dynamic Vision Lv.max

Precocious Lv.max

≫ Active≫ Otherworldly Appraisal Lv.5

Item Box Lv.max

Phantom Evasion Lv.4

Magic ≫ Water Magic Lv.9

Equipment ≫

Otherworldly Appraisal can now provide more detailed appraisals, and Phantom Evasion extends the duration of the phantom and increases the speed of evasion as the level goes up.

Furthermore, Water Magic has learned two new spells: Water Moon and Water Light Sword.

【Water Magic】

Water Sorcerer

Water Jet

Water Floor

Water Bullet

Water Bind

Wave Water

Water Healing

Water Moon (NEW)

Water Light Sword (NEW)

The Water Moon spell, learned at level 8, is a magic that sends a crescent-shaped blade of water.

The Water Light Sword spell, learned at level 9, is a close-range magic that allows you to freely activate crescent-shaped blades of water from all over your body, similar to Water Moon.

I can finally use two highly lethal spells!

I'm really happy because until now, I could only use impact-type spells.

――And now, while practicing Water Magic in front of the boss room door, I heard a "Bwaaah!!" from inside the door.

The boss has respawned.

Probably saying something like "I'm back!" or something.

Just a guess, though.

So, I immediately head into the boss room.

"Hey, Piggy. Could you drop a Skill Scroll soon, please? I'm a gamer, and I'm getting tired of grinding the boss."

Really, I'm desperate.

So, I immediately activate Water Moon.

I send a water blade before the boss can summon little pigs.

As usual, the big pig is surprised and split in half from the torso.

It looks a bit comical.

Then, it turns into light.

When the large amount of light particles from the boss pig's body disappear, the usual drop is there.

【Result】

Marbled Pork (Prime) ×1

"Che, marbled pork again?"

Soon, the Item Box will be filled with marbled pork.

Two slots, which means 200 pieces.

Then, instead of going down to the lower floors, I leave the boss room and sit down against the wall.

******************************

"Bwaaah!!"

The boss has respawned again, so I immediately head into the dungeon and take it down quickly.

As usual, a large amount of light particles disappear, and a treasure chest with elaborate decorations appears, which I've never seen before.

"Wow, finally a new drop! This is the first time a treasure chest has appeared in this dungeon. Let's see what's inside."

I approach the treasure chest with a slightly excited feeling.

Whoa, be careful.

Treasure chests in dungeons... there's a risk of traps.

But I don't have a trap detection skill or anything, so what should I do?

...Yeah, there's no safe way to open it right now.

I'll go to the rest area first.

I put the treasure chest in my Item Box and head to the rest area on the floor below.

I enter the rest area, take out the treasure chest, and place it in the center of the room.

I hold the longest spear and stand ready to leave the room quickly.

In that position, I use the spear tip to skillfully open the treasure chest.

White smoke starts to come out of the treasure chest.

I quickly put away the spear and run out of the room, closing the door.

"Sure enough, it was a trap. I'm glad I didn't open it recklessly."

I wait for the smoke to settle and then open the door again.

However, the room is still full of white smoke, and I touch it slightly.

"Cold!"

The smoke was just cold air.

So, I was just trembling in fear over cold air.

I cautiously enter the cold room and check the contents of the treasure chest.

Inside, there was a beautifully clear, white Flanders-cut gemstone, emitting cold air.

When I appraise it, it shows:

【Result】

Name ≫ Spirit Sealing Stone (White)

Description ≫ A stone in which a spirit is sealed. To unseal it, a door is required.

Another spirit.

And a door, which must be that owl...

Suddenly, a huge amount of cold air is emitted from the sealing stone, and my vision is enveloped in white.

Whoa, what is this?

It's cold, seriously.

The cold air in the room converges at one point.

Then.

A small white fox, emitting cold air, is sitting there.

"Ku?"

Ku? So cute.

Is this fox a spirit?

"Um, are you the spirit?"

"Ku!"

"Let me appraise you."

"Ku!"

【Status】

Race ≫ Armor Spirit · Cold Fox

Name ≫

Contractor≫ Hikaru Amikawa

Skills≫ Passive ≫ Mutual Prosperity

≫ Active≫ Armorization

Magic ≫ Ice Snow Magic Lv.5

"Too sudden, I have a lot of questions, but first, are you really my contractor?"

"Ku!"

The white fox comes over and places its front paws on my feet.

I'm not particularly fond of animals, but I couldn't help but find it cute.

And I couldn't help but pick it up.

It's just a bit cold, though.

"So, do you have a name?"

"Ku"

The white fox points its right front paw at me.

"Are you asking me to name you?"

"Ku!"

"Hmm, how about Kitsune, Shiro, KitsuKitsu, or Shio?"

"Kuuu..."

The white fox looks down, looking disappointed.

"No, I'm sorry. Asking me to name you was a mistake. My sense of style is terrible. My game character's name is Bonbon Maru, you know?"

Hey, Mr. Fox, don't give me that exasperated look.

"Then, how about Kuu? Because you say 'Ku, Ku.'"

"Ku♪"

The white fox's face brightens up.

It seems I've finally gained a sense of style.

"Then, from today, we'll live together in mutual prosperity, right? The skill also says mutual prosperity."

"Ku!"

Kuu chirps and wriggles out of my hand, jumping onto me and wrapping around my neck.

"Oh, this is the armorization, right? But it's just a scarf, and it's cold, Kuu. Can't you control the cold?"

"Ku? Ku!"

It seems to say, "Leave it to me," and the cold air converges into Kuu, making it a warm animal.

Of course, the scarf is the same temperature as Kuu.

"Wow, that's great! It's warm now!"

However, a tracksuit with a fluffy white scarf is quite awkward.

It's fine now since I'm alone, but I don't want others to see me in this outfit.

Even if I'm a NEET, I still care about my appearance.

And, the first piece of armor I got is a scarf.

Usually, you'd get armor for your torso, legs, or hands first.

A scarf doesn't seem to have much defensive power.

By the way, I should check the ice snow magic spells I can use.

【Ice Snow Magic】

Snow Area

Ice Sword Double

Ice Shield

Ice Thorn

Ice Chain

Wow, from the names, I can imagine they're different from water magic.

I'm quite tired today, so I'll have Kuu show me tomorrow.

"Kuu, I'm tired today, so can you show me the ice snow magic tomorrow?"

"Ku!"

I sink into the bed.

"By the way, Kuu, are you going to sleep as a scarf?"

"Ku? Ku!"

"Oh, I see. And, I've been wondering, but your tail isn't transforming."

"Ku"

Kuu pulls its tail in, looking embarrassed.

******************************

"Okay, Kuu, show me the ice snow magic!"

Currently, I'm facing the beetle larvae on the 51st floor to try to clear it.

"Ku!"

Kuu points at me with its front paws and then armorizes, wrapping around my neck.

"Wait, you want me to do it? I can't, I don't know ice snow magic."

"Ku!!"

You can do it, Kuu seems to say, as it de-armorizes its face and looks at me.

"Okay, I'll try. But don't complain if I can't."

I make sure to emphasize that.

I remember, the first ice snow magic spell is...

"Snow Area!!"

Suddenly, everything within my range is covered in snow.

Then, the beetle larvae in front of me are gradually covered in ice and stop moving.

"Wait, really? Why can I use it?"

I immediately check my status.

【Status】

Name ≫ Hikaru Amikawa

Title ≫ Number 1

Skills≫ Passive ≫ Super Dynamic Vision Lv.max

Precocious Lv.max

≫ Active≫ Otherworldly Appraisal Lv.5

Item Box Lv.max

Phantom Evasion Lv.4

Magic ≫ Water Magic Lv.9

Ice Snow Magic Lv.5 (Mutual Prosperity)

Equipment ≫ Armor Spirit · Cold Fox

First Side Sword

Sure enough, Ice Snow Magic is listed in the magic section.

Does Kuu's Mutual Prosperity skill allow me to share magic?

There are many things I don't understand, but I've learned something.

"So, if Kuu is armorized, I can use ice snow magic, right?"

"Ku!!"

"Great, now that I can use ice snow magic, let's break through the 51st floor! I'll check the other spells on the way!"

So, I ran through the 51st floor with Kuu.

To summarize, the beetles were already beatable, and the larvae could be taken down with one ice snow magic spell, making it a breeze to clear the floor, which was previously a struggle.

After that, up to the 56th floor, the enemies changed to beetles and stag beetles, but thanks to ice snow magic, I could easily clear them.

Ice snow magic is too good.

The effects of the five spells are as follows:

"Snow Area" seems to turn a wide area into a snowfield instantly.

The effect is to create a field that enhances the power of ice snow magic.

"Ice Sword Double" changes both hands into ice swords.

When you slash an enemy, it causes a status effect that prevents healing until the ice is melted.

Otherwise, it's just a sword.

Compared to Water Light Sword, it's a bit harder to use, but it should be easier when used together.

"Ice Shield" creates a strong, circular ice barrier in front of you.

"Ice Thorn" creates an ice floor in any direction from your feet and transforms it into spikes to attack in a mid-range area.

"Ice Chain" releases ice chains from your hands, which can be controlled to some extent.

However, it's quite difficult to control, and for now, I can only make rough movements.

I look forward to how much I can improve with practice.

Then, as usual, I took a break with Kuu in the empty rest area.