Chapter 74

After arriving at the thirtieth floor, I think more than an hour has passed.

We have been steadily advancing while engaging in multiple battles.

It's inevitable that our pace is slower than during the previous guided exploration.

Last time, we followed the instructions of our seniors, but this time, we have to make all the decisions ourselves.

Still, we have already covered about eighty percent of the route.

If we keep this up, we will reach the boss area in a little while.

"Be on your guard; we're about to enter a wide area."

Since we are a party of three, we have been choosing relatively narrow paths where we don't have to spread out.

However, there are places where we have to enter a wide space.

If we fight in a wide space, the sheer number of enemies can work to our disadvantage.

I've heard that on the thirtieth floor, groups of more than six enemies don't appear, but we can't let our guard down.

"Ugh, I'm so tired. Why do we have to do this right after arriving in town?"

"Well, there's no choice. The Great Southern Labyrinth doesn't have the crystals registered at the entrance of each floor. So, we had to come down from the first floor. Our motivation is already low, so please don't complain."

When we entered the wide space, we encountered another exploration party.

"It's another party. What should we do about the log?"

Encountering other exploration parties during dungeon exploration is quite common.

The frequency of encounters decreases as you go deeper due to the vastness of the floors and the fewer number of explorers, but in the upper and middle floors, it's the opposite, so it's not unusual.

When encountering another party, we need to adjust our routes to avoid conflicts over resources like magic stones and materials.

--- That's what Orun told me.

"First, we need to find out their purpose. If they are exploring, we'll let them take the route we planned to take. --- Hello! May I have a moment?"

"Huh? What do you want, kid?"

When Log spoke, a muscular man replied with a lazy voice.

... He's a bit scary.

There are three others as well.

It seems to be a party of four. One is a thin man, one is a woman, and the last one is wearing a hooded robe, so it's impossible to determine their gender.

"We are here to conquer this floor. If your purpose is exploration, could you please let us take the route we planned to take?"

Log asked them to let us have the route they were planning to take.

"Sure, do as you please. I have no use for kids."

He's a rude person, but he's letting us have the route, so let's move quickly.

I think it's best not to get involved with such people.

"Thank you. Then we will---"

"Wait."

Just as Log was about to thank them and move on, the thin man stopped him.

"---What is it?"

"Are you explorers of the 'Silver Hare of the Night Sky'?"

Why is he asking that?

Is it because he recognized our clothing as that of the 'Silver Hare of the Night Sky'?

"The 'Silver Hare of the Night Sky'? I've heard of it somewhere. Where was it again?"

"Are you an idiot? Maybe your brain is all muscle too?"

"What!?"

"The 'Silver Hare of the Night Sky' is the clan that the 'Dragon Slayer' belongs to!"

The 'Dragon Slayer' is Orun, right?

He's really famous.

That's amazing...

"Oh, right! Hey, do you guys know the 'Dragon Slayer'?"

"..."

All of us fell silent.

Information is important, as Orun has said many times.

Until we understand why they are asking about Orun, it's best not to say anything rash.

"Silence is taken as a yes."

The thin man spoke in a threatening tone.

"Zuriel, check it out."

The person in the hood, who had been silent until now, spoke.

Her voice was clear and beautiful.

I think it's a woman.

"As you wish."

"---!"

The moment the man spoke, Log gasped.

... What happened?

"Bingo. This boy and the 'Dragon Slayer' are not just acquaintances but have a master-disciple relationship. Using these guys as bait, we might be able to lure the 'Dragon Slayer'."

"Why...!?"

Log is panicking.

How did they know without us saying anything!?

Do they have some kind of mind-reading ability?

"Hahaha! We're lucky! We don't have to do the tedious job of conquering the dungeon!"

A bad vibe is emanating from the four of them.

It's the kind of malice I used to feel every day when I was little.

But it's not just malice; I can also sense a desire to kill.

I don't understand why these people are directing their malice at us, but we need to run.

They are stronger than us.

"Carol! Log! Let's run the route in reverse and escape!"

Just as I suggested this to the two of them, a loud noise came from behind us.

When we turned around, the passage we had entered was blocked by a wall.

Not only that, but the other two passages were also blocked...

"Let them escape?!"

It seems the muscular man used magic.

Despite his appearance, he can use magic.

"Why are you doing this!?"

"It's simple. Because you are close to the 'Dragon Slayer'. You don't need to know anything more."

The thin man spoke in a threatening tone.

"Hey! You guys stay out of this. I'll take care of them myself. I have a lot of pent-up frustration!"

"I feel the same way! But I'll let you have them. I'll save the fun for when I kill the 'Dragon Slayer'."

Kill Orun...?

Why!?

"There's no way we can escape. You two, break down the walls of the passages! I'll buy us some time!"

After telling us this, Carol charged at the muscular man.

"Idiot! Don't rush in alone!"

Log's words were ignored as Carol attacked the muscular man.

"You scared the two of them! I won't forgive you!"

"---Huh?"

---Eh?

Carol, who was supposed to charge at the muscular man, was suddenly thrown back and crashed into the wall behind us.

"Carol!?"

"...Ugh... ugh..."

I finally realized that the cause of Carol being thrown back was the large sword the muscular man had somehow drawn.

"Heh, jumping back to reduce the impact, good reflexes. But, he won't be able to fight anymore."

As the muscular man said, Carol, who had been thrown into the wall, had lost consciousness.

She doesn't seem to have any visible injuries, but she might have broken bones.

"---! Sophie! Focus! The three behind us won't attack! Concentrate on this man!"

"O-Okay!"

Log's words helped me refocus.

I'm worried about Carol, but she's still breathing.

Carol has the ability to heal herself, so she'll probably be fine.

We need to figure out a way to escape before Carol can recover...!

I'm scared, but if we don't fight, we'll die. I don't want to die here!

"Lightning Strike!"

I cast an attack spell in sync with Log's movements.

Log also attacks bravely, but the muscular man, despite his size, dodges our attacks with surprising agility.

"Ugh!"

Then Log is thrown back and falls near me.

"Log, are you okay!?"

I don't see any external injuries, but I cast a healing spell just in case.

If I could use parallel construction, it would be helpful in situations like this...

"...You're not bad, but you're still too weak."

The muscular man swings his large sword horizontally, just like he did with Carol.

Log reacts and blocks with his spear, but the spear is broken, and the large sword continues its swing.

The blade is aimed at Log.

"No! No! No! No! No!"

The answer I came up with after thinking was a gamble, but I had to try.

--- To address the strange feeling I had been experiencing.

And I won the bet.

"...What!? What's happening! I can't move my body...!"

The large sword stopped just before it reached Log's body.

(---That's what it was.)

I instantly understood my ability.

"With this... ---Fly back!"

I used my ability to interfere with the muscular man and sent him flying back.

I wanted to slam him into the wall, but the distance was too great.

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