The royal army rested on the twenty-first floor and then they stepped into the twenty-second floor. The entire floor is filled with water, and the only way to get forward is through the stone path that stretch to the horizon.
“I don’t think this is drinkable.”
Arvish peers into the water and clicks his tongue. Coby hurriedly pulled Arvish away from the edge of the water.
“Danna-sama, don’t go near the water, you will get eaten.”
“Eaten? Is there something here?”
“Well, on the twenty-second floor—”
“Gyaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!”
Just as Coby was about to explain, a soldier screamed. A number of dragonflies, which could be described as gigantic, had gathered right above the soldiers. When the insect finds a soldier who is remarkable, it catches the soldier at an incredible speed. Each of them quickly picks a soldier up and take him away to the horizon. Some of the soldiers were stabbed in the head on the spot.
With such sudden occurrence, the kingdom’s army is thrown into chaos. In an attempt to save their own lives, some soldiers even turned their swords on their allies.
“Hiiii!”
Someone jumped into the water from the top of the stone path. Dragonflies do not aim at prey that falls into the water. He was the first to notice this fact. However, at that moment, something drags the swimming soldiers deep into the water one after another. Then-, like others, something like a thick and long rope wrapped around his neck, he was pulled deep into the water without having time to resist.
Arvish, who cut off the dragonfly as he passes, gives instructions,
“Don’t stop! Move forward!”
With Arvish in the lead, the soldiers rushed out in unison. The dragonflies were chasing them in increasing numbers so that they would not escape.
“Air Cutter! Air Cutter!”
Feria runs as she fires series of spells at the attacking dragonflies. However, more magical beasts gather than they kill. Hundreds of dragonflies are already flying right above them. Coby called out to Arvish as he ran.
“This is bad! Those damn bugs get’s excited when they get food! This way of gathering is abnormal!”
“Even I know that! Is there any way to get rid of those bugs!?”
“It’s fire! They are afraid of fire! I remember using a torch to drive them away when we passed through here!”
“Got it, fire it is. Professor! Use the lich to burn those dragonflies!”
Lich ran behind Arvish, and Professor Jill was on its back.
“Don’t order me! But the situation this time is not favorable to me either. If you want me to kill those bugs, then I can do so. Ignis!”
The one who responded to the professor’s call was the Lich who had a red magic stone embedded in its forehead. Its name is Ignis. It is one of the artificial lich who specializes in fire. In addition, there is Aquanis who specializes in water magic. Ael, who specialized in wind magic. Lastly, Tila, who specialized in earth magic. They are all named by Professor Jill.
Ignis defies the flow of soldiers rushing forward and stops in his tracks. He raised his hands to unleash his magic. Shortly after, hundreds of fireballs appeared above them. The soldiers involuntarily stopped in their tracks and stared at the scene. The dragonflies that were chasing their prey also stopped moving temporarily.
“Katakata”
Ignis clattered his jaw and the fireballs were fired in unison. A flash of light spreads in all directions and explodes. The sky was dyed bright red. The dragonflies lost their head and wings then they fall into the water and in the stone path in a cloud of white smoke.
“It can do something like that level…”
“Kuhahaha, are you surprised? My lich boasts an abundance of magical power and is able to use it effectively. I don’t think any of the human mages out there can copy that.”
Arvish couldn’t hide his joy hearing Professor Jill’s words. He thought that if it was a magical beast with that much power, Shinichi Tanaka wouldn’t be able to fight at all.
Feria immediately vented her anger,
“Even I, a master level magician, can do that kind of magic! It’s just a multiple deployment of beginner magic! I think you shouldn’t get so excited by that!”
“Hoh~, even a little girl like you could do that? That was unexpected. Oh well, that level of magic is just a play for my lich anyway. There’s no point in comparing that to someone who is of a lower level.”
“Lower level!?”
Feria’s eyes widen and she trembles with anger. Arvish intervened between the two of them as such conflict is no good.
“We are supposed to be working together to defeat the Homeless. Don’t do anything that will cause unnecessary anger.”
“It’s because that little girl despises my lich. It’s that elf who is to blame.”
“Professor!”
“…… Hmph!”
Carried by a Lich, Professor Jill moved ahead. Feria is still fuming and is glaring at the professor’s back.
“There’s no point in breaking up with our companions at this moment. In order to defeat them, we have to borrow the power of that man you see.”
“I know that. Still, I get annoyed every time. I really don’t like the way he acts. He’s always acting like a big shot, even though he’s just borrowing the power of a magical beast.”
“Alright, bear with it. Let me tell you, it’s only a temporary relationship. Once this operation is over, that man will never see the sun again.”
“What do you mean?”
“His Majesty seems to be planning to have Professor Jill mass-produce those Lich. He will probably continue producing them until he dies. This is his last free moment.”
Feria grins hearing that. Instantly, her anger disappeared somewhere.
“I understand what you’re saying. There’s no way I’ll be angry with a man like that.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Arvish kissed the back of Feria’s hand.
◇◇◇
Coby, who was walking in the lead, pointed to the end of the road as he explained,
“It’s almost time to see the building, there should be a staircase leading down inside.”
Arvish furrowed his brow then he spoke his thoughts,
“What’s the 23rd floor like? No more giant insects, right?”
“Don’t worry, the twenty-third floor is a babu forest so it’s relatively safe. The enemies that come out there are all skeletons, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have a hard time.”
“Skeletons huh. If that’s the case, I think we can at least let the soldiers take a break.”
Arvish’s words reassured the soldiers. At this point, everyone already regretted diving into the Great Dungeon. This is because they realized that humans are just food for the magical beasts here.
Coby continues,
“Danna-sama, let me tell you, the twenty-second floor is still okay. In the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh floor, skeletons come out more frequently. Moreover, it’s rumored that there will be lich and zombies as well.”
“Rumors? Didn’t you meet one?”
“Well, we got the information beforehand, so we burned the incense to ward off magical beasts and immediately went down the stairs. We can’t deal with a large number of skeletons and multiple lich after all you see.”
Arvish inwardly laughed at Coby and his companions. There was no way he could be scared of a skeleton or a lich.
“Huh? Is that a person?”
Coby reacted to the figure at the end of the road. Upon hearing his words, Professor Jill turns her gaze to Arvish and Feria.
There is indeed a figure sitting in the middle of the road. The body was equipped with iron armor, and the exposed head was clearly a skull. The silver skull has a dim red light in its eyes. It held a spear in its hand and sent a murderous intent towards the kingdom’s army.
“Skeleton… It is a skeleton, right?”
“Stand back, Feria. I don’t think it is just a skeleton. Someone, please use your appraisal skill to examine it.”
Instructions were given, and a soldier with an appraisal skill examined the mysterious skeleton. Meanwhile, the silver skeleton does not move on its spot. It was as if it was waiting for its opponent to appear.
“The results are out. Looks like it is a magical beast called the Homeless Silver Skeleton.”
“What about its magic? The skills?”
“I’m sorry. I-, I only have intermediate level on my Appraisal so I could only check the name.”
The soldier bows his head and apologizes. Appraisal is generally said to be a poorly developed skill. Compared to other skills, it ranks up very slowly. Depending on the talent of the owner, it is not uncommon for it to remain at the beginner level even after 50 years of use. Therefore, if someone made their Appraisal into Advanced or higher, he will be treated as a rare skill holder. The fact that there is an Appraisal (Intermediate level) holder in the team is actually a proof of being an elite.
“If you can’t see it in the appraisal, then it is a master class magical beast. I guess I’ll have to deal with it then.”
“Arvish-sama!”
“Don’t stop me Feria. As a hero, this is the time when I have to show my strength to my soldiers. Just wait there for my victory.”
After stopping Feria, Arvish draws his sword and moves forward. The skeleton that had been sitting slowly stood up and raised the Mithril spear in its hand.
“Oi, skeleton over there. Since you got Homeless in your name, you’re going to have to pay for that guy, you know? In that case, why don’t you follow me instead. I think I’m more suitable to be your master than a man like that.”
“Katakata”
The silver skeleton shook its head. The number “7” was written in large letters on its forehead, and Arvish didn’t know it was a number. This is because it is an Arabic numeral that does not exist in this world. If he had been aware of the numbers at this time, he would probably have turned back from the dungeon.
“I don’t know how he managed to get the silver skeleton under his control, but if it stands in my way, I’ll just get rid of it.”
“Katakata”
Arvish made a powerful attack. Skeleton 7 quickly dodges the heavy slash with his spear and takes a step back from the spot.
“Not over yet!”
The sword does not stop. The barrage of shots, which allowed afterimage to be seen, pushed Skeleton 7 backwards one step at a time. Every time the spear parries the sword, it makes a high-pitched sound and scatters sparks. In the eyes of the soldiers, it seemed that the skeleton was being pushed unilaterally.
“This guy… You are handling my sword with ease.”
“Katakata”
Skeleton 7 had deflected the trajectory of the sword with a skillful spear wielding. That alone makes Arvish realize that it is an extraordinary opponent. The skeleton in front of him is more bizarre than any magical beast he had ever fought.
“Then, how about this! Sword Dance!”
The moment the blade touched the tip of the spear, Skeleton 7 was engulfed in explosive flames. The soldiers cheered, and the mood was as if the victory had been decided. Arvish also lowered his sword and looked at the burning skeleton.
“It was indeed strong for a skeleton, but it is not my enemy right now.”
But―, it doesn’t move from the spot. Arvish suddenly felt a strange stir in his chest.
“Katakata…”
A humanoid flame rose up. Gradually, the flames that were surrounding it disappears, and a silver body emerges from underneath. The iron armor had been blown away by the explosion, and the original body of the skeleton was exposed, ―there was not a single scratch on the skull that glowed with red light.
The soldiers, who were previously delighted to take a step forward, shut their mouths. The area suddenly became quiet. Even Arvish has a bead of sweat running down his forehead.
“Is it…. a real monster?”
“Katakata”
Skeleton 7 takes the compliment and bows to the enemy. Professor Jill, who was watching with the soldiers, exclaimed excitedly,
“Amazing! What a durability! Hey Hero! Get his corpse! That’s the best ingredient for my Lich to reach new heights!”
“Shut up! This isn’t the time for that!”
Arvish made the professor shut up. He was thinking about how to win against the enemy in front of him.
“Katakata”,
Skeleton 7 clattered his jaw.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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