Chapter 23

The interior had an atmosphere reminiscent of an ancient underground ruin.

The passage was quite wide, wide enough for more than ten people to walk side by side.

Still, it felt a bit cramped due to the large number of people, perhaps because it was still the entrance.

"Further in, the crowd will thin out. This floor alone is about half the size of the Sword City."

The dungeon here seems to have a structure that goes deeper and deeper underground.

If one floor is about half the size of a city, the entire labyrinth must be terrifyingly vast.

We moved deeper into the labyrinth to avoid the crowd.

After a while, multiple figures blocked our path.

"What are these? They're trying to obstruct our way."

These figures were clad in full armor, with full-face helmets covering their heads, making it impossible to discern their faces, ages, or genders.

However, they each held a sword, clearly ready for combat.

"There are no humans among them. These are moving armors—Living Armors, a type of monster."

"Monsters? These are monsters?"

"Yes. Ah, they're coming, be careful."

Interrupting my conversation with Lilia, I prepared to face the approaching armored figures.

Despite their heavy armor, they moved surprisingly fast.

The one at the front launched a slash.

Blades approached from both sides simultaneously... Is this a "Dual Blade Slash"?

"Too slow."

My sword struck first, shattering the helmet and head of the armored figure.

"What...?"

Despite the destruction of its head, the armored figure continued to slash at my arms as if nothing had happened.

"Be careful! They don't feel pain and don't have vital points like humans!"

Hmm. You should have said that earlier.

I took a hit from the sword, and my blessing was slightly reduced.

"Thanks to the training with Rina, it's not much of a loss."

The absence of human vital points is a bit troublesome, but there are ways to deal with it.

I cut off the arm of the armored figure.

Without an arm, it wouldn't be able to wield a sword.

"Hmm. They're still attacking even without arms. Quite a tenacious spirit."

Someone should learn from this.

I dodged the charge and cut off its legs.

It fell to the ground with a loud clatter, unable to get up without arms, thrashing about.

Soon, the second and third armored figures attacked, but I neutralized them as I did the first.

"Ah, they've stopped moving."

The armored figures clanked for a while but then suddenly fell silent.

"The dungeon has cut off their magical power supply."

"So, they were powered by magic. But they were using skills?"

"Yes. That's right. Actually, in this dungeon, only Living Armors appear, but they use skills from swordsmen or knight classes. The ones we just faced were the lowest-level Living Armors, which can only use Swordsmen skills."

According to Lilia, the deeper we go, the more powerful the Living Armors become.

"I haven't encountered them yet, but there are Living Armors that can use the highest-level Swordsmen skills."

I see.

That sounds interesting.

While it's different from fighting humans, this will certainly be good practical training for combat.

As we moved a bit further, more Living Armors blocked our path.

"Ah, let us fight too."

Lilia drew her sword.

Since they are the lowest-level Living Armors, it should be fine.

"By the way, I've never seen Lilia fight before. What's your class?"

"I'm a Rapier Swordsman! I'm even called 'Lilia the Flash'!"

So, a Rapier Swordsman.

A Rapier Swordsman is a lower-tier version of a Sword Princess.

In other words,

"There's nothing I can learn from Lilia."

"Harsh!?"

Each floor of the dungeon has a teleportation magic array for traveling between the surface and the dungeon.

You can instantly teleport to a floor you've been to before and return to the surface from there.

"That's convenient."

"Yes. So, it's recommended to return to the surface and rest when you're tired."

Convinced by Lilia, we decided to return to the surface.

Using the teleportation magic array at the entrance to the second floor, we returned to the entrance of the first floor, which was crowded with people.

From now on, we can start directly from the second floor without having to clear the first floor again.

Actually, it took us six hours to reach the second floor.

As expected, it's incredibly vast.

It will take more time to fight the powerful Living Armors.

"How far have you two gone?"

"I've gone to the twelfth floor."

"I've gone to the fourteenth floor."

"Then can't I teleport to those floors with you?"

When I asked, they shook their heads.

"That's not possible. Only the person who has been to that floor can teleport there."

"Well, I could start from the fourteenth floor... but, I'm reluctantly accompanying you."

"No, Rina doesn't have to accompany me."

"N-no, but, however... Lilia...!"

"I have to guide Alar. Without someone who knows the way, we'd get lost."

"Ugh..."

Rina grumbled in frustration.

"(Rather, can't you read the room? I want to be alone with Alar.)"

She didn't say it out loud, but I could somehow read Lilia's thoughts.

Really.

If I were alone with this woman, who knows what she'd do.

"I appreciate Rina being with me."

"Wh-what!?"

Rina let out a strange cry.

"W-what... y-you... h-how much more do you plan to tease me...!?"

"? I'm not teasing you."

Why is her face so red?

"‘Perpetual D-Rank Middle-Aged Adventurer Pulls Out Legendary Sword in a Drunken Frenzy’ is also being serialized. Please look forward to it. (There's a direct link below.)"