Chapter 38

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictional and have no connection to any real entities.

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036＿Exploring the 6th Floor

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It's the 17th day since my reincarnation. This morning, I went around suspicious stalls to buy some mage equipment.

At the stalls, I was looking for accessories that could boost INT or MIN, but there was nothing good today, including other effects. What a pity.

- Mage's Staff: MATK+6, INT+2, Durability 12/12

- Mage's Robe: MDEF+2, MIN+2, Durability 10/10

- Mage's Hat: MDEF+3, INT+1, MIN+1, Durability 10/10

- Labyrinth Cow Leather Gloves: DEF+4, VIT+1, DEX+1, Durability 14/14

- Labyrinth Cow Leather Boots: DEF+4, VIT+2, Durability 15/15

- Lucky Necklace: Avoids instant death three times (3/3)

- Lucky Tail: Increases rare drop rate by 5%. No duplicate effect.

The equipment other than accessories is the same as what Annelise has, but the effects are slightly different.

I decided to change my clothes inside the dungeon, a bit early, but I'll do it at noon.

When I go out, I set my job to Traveler. Compared to Annelise and Rosalina's jobs, a level 1 Traveler looks inferior. Still, I set it to Traveler because that's the job people know me by. If something happens, I think the two of them will protect me, so it should be fine.

I entered a slightly fancy store, but it turned out to be a set meal restaurant.

Since they only offer five sets for lunch, Annelise ordered the meat set, Rosalina the fish set, and I ordered the half meat and half fish set.

I'm starting to miss rice. I also want to have miso soup again.

There's a sauce called burgan that's similar to soy sauce, so I think it would be nice to have miso too. I've made miso before, but I can't make it without koji. I can't make koji on my own, of course.

Next time, I'll ask Mr. Golteo if he has any miso.

As soon as we entered the dungeon, we used Dungeon Move to go to the 6th floor. We started exploring from where we left off yesterday. I keep saying this, but Dungeon Move is really convenient.

We walked a little and a gargoyle appeared. I wonder if only gargoyles appear on the 6th floor.

"Enchant Fire"

A small fire flew to Rosalina, and flames enveloped her fist.

Hmm, can I make it wrap around her feet too? I'll try it next time.

While I was thinking about that, the gargoyle was instantly killed.

"Good job~"

"I'm not tired at all."

"Master's Enchant Fire is so strong that Rosalina's attack ends in three hits."

Annelise says that Rosalina is unsatisfied, and that Enchant Fire is strong.

"Gargoyles have high VIT but very low MIN."

A level 18 gargoyle has ATK=108, DEF=180, MATK=48, MDEF=42. As you can see, the physical defense DEF is abnormally high, but the magical defense MDEF is low.

The attack power of Enchant Fire depends on my MATK as an Enchanter. Even though I'm only level 8, my MATK is 111 with equipment.

If I can't deal a lot of damage to a gargoyle with low MDEF, then stats are meaningless.

"I want to try something, so can you help me?"

"What are you going to try?"

Rosalina doesn't understand complicated things, so she doesn't ask about such things. On the other hand, Annelise asks with great interest. It's fun to see the difference between the two.

"There are two Enchanter spells called Enchant Hard and Enchant Accelerate. I want to try them out."

Using them in battle is risky. Plus, right after defeating a monster, there shouldn't be any other monsters around to attack us.

"I'll cast Enchant Hard on Rosalina, is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Then, Enchant Hard!"

I cast Enchant Hard, but there doesn't seem to be any change in Rosalina.

"That's strange? I thought it activated. Rosalina, did you notice any changes?"

"......"

Rosalina doesn't respond. She's not ignoring me, right?

"Master, please touch Rosalina's body."

Annelise is touching Rosalina's arm. I also touch Rosalina's arm, and it feels very hard.

"Could it be......"

"Exactly."

Then Rosalina starts moving.

"I was surprised! I couldn't move my body at all!"

"「As expected」"

When I ask Rosalina, she says she could breathe and move her eyes, but her mouth and body wouldn't move at all.

Enchant Hard nullifies all damage, but if you can't run away, it's not very useful. It's a tricky spell to use.

"Next, I'll try Enchant Accelerate. Rosalina, is that okay?"

"I'm fine with it!"

"Enchant Accelerate!"

I cast Enchant Accelerate.

"Try running."

"Yes."

Whoosh.

"Whoa!"

"I couldn't see her at all."

"Me neither."

Rosalina seemed to disappear.

If I were an Assassin, I might have been able to see her, but I'm an Enchanter level 8, now level 9, and it seems that even with my magic user job, I can't keep up with her speed.

"My body feels so light!"

Rosalina looks happy when she returns.

For now, I think I'll rely on Enchant Accelerate and Enchant Fire.

With that, we can instantly kill gargoyles, navigate the map without getting lost, and avoid traps with Annelise's magic sense. We make a good party, don't we?

We arrived in front of the boss room on the 6th floor. No one is waiting in line.

Up to the 5th floor, we avoided other explorers, but there are few explorers on this 6th floor.

Without magic, the 6th floor is tough, so I guess they're wandering around the 5th floor to level up as swordsmen or spearmen. If things go well, they might be able to change to a higher job or get a magic book to drop.

"Based on the pattern so far, the boss should be a higher species. I want to stay as an Enchanter, but what do Annelise and Rosalina think?"

"If it's a higher species of gargoyle, it will be strong against physical attacks. I think being an Enchanter is fine."

Annelise agrees.

"I don't understand."

I expected Rosalina to say that.

"Then, let's stay as Enchanter."

I open the door with a kara grass pattern.

Well, will it be a demon or a snake? By the way, goblins are a type of oni. So, Rosalina, who is a goblin fighter, is an oni. There you are, Mr. Oni.

When the door to the boss room closes, the floor soon lights up.

"Here it comes."

"Yes."

"Yes."

A Sword Gargoyle appears from the light. The gargoyles we've seen so far only had a demonic appearance and no weapons, but this one has a sword.

Whether it has a sword or a spear, it's only a higher version of a gargoyle. The MDEF value is still low compared to other stats.

"Enchant Ice. Go, Rosalina."

Ice crystals wrap around Rosalina's fist.

Enchant Ice is a buff spell I learned when I reached level 10 as an Enchanter. Based on the pattern so far, it deals more damage to gargoyles than Enchant Fire.

"Yes."

Rosalina springs out like a spring and rushes to the Sword Gargoyle, striking with her fists. I can't see how many hits she lands, but it's probably several.

"Hmm, this is......"

While reading the detailed appraisal results, I understand the characteristics of the Sword Gargoyle.

"When its HP drops below 30%, it will fully recover."

"That's troublesome. Should I attack too?"

"No, I want to handle this 6th floor with just Rosalina and me. Annelise, please intervene if it gets dangerous, as usual."

"Understood."

We'll do what we can with the two of us. I've decided to let Annelise shine from the 7th floor onward.

On this 6th floor, I've decided to leave all the attacks to Rosalina. If I've made that decision, I'll trust her completely. That's all.

"Enchant Fire"

Flames wrap around Rosalina's feet.

Rosalina's punches and kicks gradually chip away at the Sword Gargoyle's HP. As expected of a boss, its HP is high, so the number of attacks increases.

"Ha!"

"Ha!"

"Phew!"

Rosalina dodges the Sword Gargoyle's sword and strikes. It's a battle that requires mental and physical concentration.

I leave all the attacks to Rosalina. If I had tried to change to a Two-Handed Swordsman and join the battle after casting Enchant Fire, the enchantment would have been reset.

I learned that changing jobs during a spell buff resets the spell.

"Here it comes. Full recovery at 30% HP."

The Sword Gargoyle's body glows for a moment, and its HP is fully restored. It's already tough, and this is unfair. But we have to overcome this to move forward.

"Rosalina, don't lose focus!"

I shout.

"Yes!"

Rosalina shouts back.

It took 2 minutes and 30 seconds to reduce the HP to 70%.

The effects of Enchant Ice and Enchant Fire both last 5 minutes.

With 2 minutes and 30 seconds left, Rosalina can only reduce the Sword Gargoyle's HP to 70%. We're 30% short.

But I have a plan. I have to give Rosalina the right instructions at the right time. If I can't, Rosalina and I won't be able to win.

"Rosalina, activate Iron Fist and Kick Impact!"

"Yes!"

Iron Fist adds 30 points to ATK when attacking with fists, and Kick Impact adds 40 points to ATK when attacking with feet. It's a significant plus for physical attacks, but it's better than nothing.

2 minutes left. HP is just over 80%.

1 minute and 30 seconds left. HP is below 70%. The effects of Iron Fist and Kick Impact are speeding up the HP reduction.

1 minute left. HP is around 50%.

30 seconds left. HP is just over 30%. This is it!

"Rosalina, use Aura! Quadruple your ATK!"

"Yes!"

Rosalina's presence swells with a puff.

It only lasts 30 seconds, but this unique skill quadruples Rosalina's ATK.

But it's not over yet!

"Enchant Accelerate!"

I triple Rosalina's AGI. It's not exactly three times the speed, but roughly three times. This should allow her to land three times as many hits and kicks, and finish off the Sword Gargoyle's HP.

All I can see is Rosalina's afterimage.

But I can tell sparks and ice flowers are flying.

"Rosalina, goooooo!"

"Haahaaaaa!"

Crack.

The Sword Gargoyle disappears.

Rosalina has finished it off.

Immediately after, Enchant Ice, Enchant Fire, Enchant Accelerate, and Aura all wore off.

It was a close battle, but Rosalina defeated the Sword Gargoyle without taking a single hit.

"Congratulations, Master, Rosalina."

"Thank you."

"A little tired, but it was fun."

I receive the dropped item, a Gargoyle Sword, from Annelise. It's a one-handed stone sword, but it's better than a one-handed steel sword.

Checking my status, I've leveled up to 18, and Rosalina has leveled up to 20.

"We're almost catching up to Annelise."

I smile.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Annelise smiles back.

Seeing her smile, I feel refreshed and energized.

"Good job, Rosalina."

I roughly ruffle her sweat-drenched hair.

"Awwww~"

Her reaction is so cute, I can't help but do it.

＜Toi＞

【Job】Enchanter Lv18

【Magic】Magic Power Boost (Mid) Enchant Hard (Mid) Enchant Accelerate (Mid) Enchant Fire (Mid) Enchant Ice (Low)

【Unique Skill】Detailed Appraisal (Mid) Item Box (Mid)

＜Rosalina＞

【Job】Battle Master Lv20

【Skills】Strong Strike (Mid) Iron Fist (Mid) Kick Impact (Mid) Defense Break (Mid) HP Recovery (Low) Ki Technique (Slight)

【Unique Skill】Aura (Low)

- Ki Technique (Slight): For 5 minutes, wrap your fists with ki to deal unattributed damage. Adds 30 points to MATK. Consumes 7 MP. (Active Skill)

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