Sousetsuka

570 Restless Fidgeting

Back in the room I booked. I grabbed the mithril katana from the magic bag I left there.
Then I handed it to Balga sitting ahead of me.

"Mind if I draw it?"

I nodded to give my consent.
The katana looks quite small relative to Balga's build. It's like a kodachi, a small sword in his hand.
He should be around 180 cm tall with bulging muscles. Such a man is taking great care slowly drawing the katana.

"How many surprises will I get today... This is another incredible thing. A katana forged from mithril huh. And I believe this has been enchanted too, no?"

The katana let out a shine as Balga stared in fixation.

"I do not often bear witness to such an incredible item. This exquisiteness is beyond what a sword could show..."

Is Balga talkative? I don't know how he's like normally.
He talked a lot too during our fight in the ring. I ended up thinking if he's lonely being a champion and has nobody to talk with.

"Hey? Could you show me the way you swing this katana? My main weapon is a sword. I would like a chance to watch a weapon this rare in action. How about it?"

I had no reason to refuse so I complied.
But does this inn have a space for it?
Balga resolved that issue at once.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"There's a work space behind this inn. It's pretty big too. I'll go get permission to borrow it. I've known this inn's landlady for a long time, you see. Let's go."

Balga happily stood up. I laughed a bit seeing him fidgeting restlessly like a child.
The inn gave the OK and by the time we got to the backyard, everything was already prepared.
The garden has bamboo-like plants as its hedge. One of which is put in the center.

(What's going on... Have I been led around by the nose all this time?)

"Oh I asked the landlady to put that target there when I went to borrow this backyard. I mean, we're gonna check out that katana's sharpness."

Balga explained to me when he saw me staring blankly at the target.
He's too well prepared. I gave up resisting. I'd probably get swept up if I did, with an unknown future awaiting me.
Nobody knows what kind of future awaits me for doing this either.

"I'm counting on you. This is gonna be fun. How amazing is a katana I wonder? Maybe I could give it a swing too later?"

I don't know how old is Balga. But watching an adult fidgeting like that brought a wry smile to my face.

"Here goes."

I haven't had a chance to wield my katana in a while, I'm getting fired up. Might as well use this opportunity to go all out.

My quickdraw style slash soundlessly cut the target. This body houses some real monstrous strength for sure.
There was no resistance at all as my stroke slid past the target so smoothly it surprised even me.
Normally, a katana, a hard object, would produce a loud sound when it hits another another hard object.
This bamboo-like plant should make a rattling sound. At least in my mind.
Yet there was no sound of slashing.
The target is around 170cm tall, about my height. I cut at the neck part.
The complete lack of resistance almost led me to believe I didn't cut anything. But then after about three seconds, the cut part gradually slid down.
And finally it fell off and hit the ground, producing a loud dry sound 'CLACK!'

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Next Chapter

Malice-less Shaking

This chapter starts from Alma's POV

"Puhaa! The drink after a hard day's work is just the best!"

"...Reina, you sound like an old man."

『Pii.』

"How could you!?"


We're having a breather with juices at the end of the day.
I let that slip out after watching dad drinking a glass of cold ale with the same exact expression as Reina's...


"...I can feel a gaze colder than this ale from my daughter. Must be my mind playing tricks..."

"Ufufu, how can she not when you and Reina-chan look like two peas in a pod. You two are like father and daughter."

"I only have one daughter though?"

"Personally I would love it if Duke-san was my father. Why not tell them that I'm actually your love child?"

"...Dear, what does she mean by that?"

"Don't ask me! Reina-kun, don't joke around about that! What if Lunati took it seriously!"

"Fufu, oh you jest. I would raise your love child like my own if you had one."

"Give me a break Lunati... You'd give me a heart attack..."


Dad sighed with an exasperated look.
Mom knew they were just joking around and played along.
Dad definitely won't do anything as suicidal as cheating on mom. Actually, I can't imagine him loving women other than mom.


"You really trust your husband, don't you."

"Of course I do. He could try cheating on me, I'd just kill him with his affair partner before taking my own life."

"T-that's real heavy love...!!"

"Don't even joke about that, Alma is gonna be left on her own if you did that. Well, I don't see other women besides Lunati as a member of opposite sex though."

"My, look at you flattering me dear... But, you're right, we can't leave Alma by herself. I suppose beating you to half dead will do."

"Or maybe something less violent..."


Mom was blushing a bit as she happily joked back.
The world's strongest couple look like ordinary lovebirds you could find anywhere.
They suit each other so much I feel embarrassed just watching.


"The one holding the rein in our family was the dad, but it's the complete opposite in Alma-san's case, I see."

"Your mom must have been desperate trying to get you out, Reina."

"Ufufufu. You two will understand how a mom feels once you have your own children yourselves. It was a surprise even to me at how far I'm willing to go for my cute as button daughter."

"Moms are real powerhouse ain't they. Gotta say I wish dads coulda have a little more room though."


Mother... Mother huh.
I always believed I would marry someone, have children and build a happily family like my mom without any basis.
I don't even know how to make children.


"Alma-chan especially. It might not be long until you learned to be a mom."

"...What are you talking about."

"I'm sure you're aware of your feelings already? I would like to see my cute grandchildren's faces."

"What are you talking about!"

"Kyaa, how scaary~."


I yelled before I realized.
My face feels hot. I don't understand myself why it's so embarrassing to me.
Seeing mom smiling looking at my state makes it even worse.


"Lunati, don't tease her too much."

"Yeppers. Besides, those two haven't even kissed. Me think grandchild is still ways off."

"Really now? That's a shame. I'm about 70% serious too."

"That makes it worse... Heck, that's hella skewed ratio."

"...Well, he did pai-touch her during one of practice sessions tho'."

"G I M M E D E T A I L."

"Hiii! D-Duke-san! Your eyes, they're bloodshot!!"

"My my, I suppose it really won't be long now."


Dad went berserk again thanks to Reina's irresponsible remark.
Mom is looking at them with a smile. Please stop those two.


<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~~~Kajikawa Hikaru's POV~~~~~~~~~~






"...."

"...."


Fake Alma has her sword out with her usual expressionless face.
Yep, I know it's a fake yet I'm still greatly shaken.
Do we really have no other choice but to fight...?


"Hikaru, why don't you heal yourself?"

"...I drank a potion already. I'm fine."

"Okay."


...The fake was worried about my well being with Alma's face and voice.
This is just nasty. In poor taste. Really, what a distasteful magic beast.

This thing likely has Alma's memory and personality fully replicated too, and not just my perceptions of her.
Hence, her worry must be genuine, not at all an acting.

Which makes it all the nastier. I would rather her acting mean and condescending yet the thing showed no sign of that.
Excluding the fact that she's standing on my way, everything about her makes me see her as if she's Alma herself. And it's not a matter of logic.


"Just to be sure, is there a way to proceed ahead without fighting you..."

"Nope. I'm this Floor's boss. You can't get to Floor 21 if you don't beat the boss. The door here is especially sturdy not even Demon King could break it."

"...I see."


This Alma seems to be aware that she's not the real thing as she divulged the mechanism here.
This is the worst. Really the very worst.


"I'm sorry, Hikaru. I should have taken my own life here but my body won't follow my orders when I try to."

"D, don't do it. You don't have to go that far!"

"I also can't let you win without resistance. My hand took my sword on its own. So, Hikaru... Fight, me. Defeat, me."

"...Ah, dammit! Okay fine, I just gotta do it dammit!"

"...Sorry."


Don't apologize! It makes me feel even worse!
Don't cliches like this usually have the fake act all bad to shake me up!

No, in a way, this is way more damaging to my heart.
I'd not hesitate to beat this thing up if it provoked me while laughing evilly using her face, but having the usual Alma just be there is far more effective as a mental attack.

I don't want to fight if I could help it. But I can't keep going if I don't.
Hitting a dead end here risks Demon King finding and killing me for good. Then the harm would definitely extend to Alma and the others in a not so distant future.

I cannot let that happen, no matter what.


"...Here I come!"

"Un...!"


I steeled my resolved and faced Alma.
...I'll at least make it as painless as possible--


"Fsh!"

"!!?"


Alma's sword showed up right before my face in the blink of an eye.
This is her 『Finisher』! It's gotten way faster than that time at the tourney!

<<Almatina's current Level is 60. She has greatly leveled up since her separation from Kajikawa Hikaru. Her new strength has been replicated as well.>>

F, for real. Can anyone get this strong that fast without even going in a dungeon!?
Heck, she might actually be faster than Oni-sensei!


"Raa!!"

"Haa!"


Metallic clashing sound resounded every time my blade hand met her black sword.
It's heavy...! The weights behind these swings rival that of Alma Papa's!
She might get me if I'm not careful. Shouldn't have expected less.


"Fh! Ha! Taa!!"

"Hngah!!"


She mixed in martial arts and Offensive Magic in between her slashes, giving me no time to catch my breath.
She used Energy Control only when she moved her limbs to minimize consumption and explosively raised the buff whenever she found the right moment. I was astonished at how meticulous she was.

She's aware that she can't win if she just buffs randomly.
I can feel her earnest wish to win against me in her attacks.


"Haaa!!"

"Woo!?"


S-she even drove in a Pile Bunker when I was kicking!?
Can't believe she'd aim for my focal leg while my other leg was up in the air and swept me off the ground.
It seems Alma has perfected her fighting style as well.


But, still too naive!


I may have lost my balance, but I simply use Mana Flight to forcefully get it back!
Followed by a charge attack!


"Daaaa!!"

"Auuu!?"


I carried Alma with me as I kept flying ahead.
I'm gonna slam her into the wall and end this!


"Not, happening!"

"Uwao!?"


But my flight was cut short and I fell off the air.
Alma seemed to have wrapped hardened mana on herself and put a brake on it.
...Oy, oy, are you saying Alma has even learned Mana Flight!? What an incredible growth rate...!


As a result.


"Ah..."

"E,err..."


...We ended up in a position where I pushed Alma down.
Alma's face reddened up with a dumbfounded look.
N-no. This is situation critical even if the other party is a fake!


"S, sorry...! I'll get off you now...!"

"U, un..."


Both of us bashfully and hurriedly got away from each other.
...What's with this awkward atmosphere! I can't believe it'd even go for my mental!
Alma, I'm sorry. She may be fake, but I just cannot, not see her as you...

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569 Soul Food

"Saito? That's your name huh. Fumu, it's got an unusual ring to it. Hm, pardon, that was uncalled for. My bad. Forgive me."

Balga bowed while apologizing.

"Oh I don't really mind. I do think it's unusual myself."

In this world, calling myself with a katakana name would feel weird. I don't want to be called 'Michael' or 'Bill' with this Japanese face of mine.
Hence, what slipped out naturally was my old name, 'Saito'. But the characters that make up that name must be different in this world than what I have in mind, same with pronunciation and nuances.
Guess it'll do just fine as a nickname.

The waitress came by just as we were about to finish our meal.
She carried a tray with that dazzling white object on it.

"O, ooooh! Oooooooh!"

My tension went up to MAX. It's white rice. The light of its hopeful existence dazzled me.
There's also a teapot.

"You may pour the soup in this into the container."

It's stock soup tea. This inn is simply perfect.

(Rice is in this world... Amazing... I wanna cry.)

I was sure it couldn't conveniently exist in this fantasy world.
The happiness in front of me makes all of that stuff irrelevant.

"Ah, so good... This must be seaweed stock soup... Uu, this is happiness..."

I immediately poured the tea on my rice. The taste heals my soul I can't stop my tears.
Balga had a 'What's wrong with you?' look on his face.
But he seemingly couldn't find a word to comment and kept it to himself.
Balga also poured tea on his rice and worked on it.
We ate our own ochazuke silently.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"What a curious taste. I love it, but well, if I got to say. I've got nothing on you, Saito. I'm guessing you're familiar with this meal, no? ...Well, I won't be boorish and pry today."

He must have watched me as I skillfully handled my chopsticks.
Of course, this world likely has no culture of eating with chopsticks. No wait, that Hinomoto country probably has one.
But that can't be true to this city, chopsticks are likely reserved to specific inns.
Yet I could handle my way with them even though this was my first time here.
Balga must think I came from somewhere with a different culture.

"This inn was built by president of a company at a faraway port town, you see. It's packed full with cutting edge stuff. What's more, all of this is nothing more than a pastime to that president. That company deals in seafood, they're loaded. You're aware how much it costs to stay here yeah?"

It wouldn't have been strange if this inn costed way more considering this world's standards.
Can't believe this whole place is just someone's pastime. Wonder how much are they in the red?

"The inn serves as a promotion for the products used in this meal. I'm talking about seafood. Once you get a taste, you'd want to know where they're sold. They're for sale at the souvenir shop here which sells out every day."

So a loss leader huh. Even so, isn't that just too lofty? Even if they had a souvenir shop to sell goods.

"And yet the sources of this inn's foundation and all the techs in it is wrapped in a mystery. Well, I can see why they'd want to keep it to themselves. Rumors on the streets say that the president hosted a Hinomoto guest at the port town. This inn was built the year after."

Yep, that's it. Must be. That Hinomoto guest must have been given a cheat from the god here. Either knowledge or technological cheat.
The latter if they made it themselves. The former if they had craftsmen make it for them.

(The architectural style is also that of Japan. Ah but even if they have that stuffed in their head, there's no telling if it's just memory like in my case.)

Our break after meal was over while we were talking about this inn's past.
And it's now time to fulfill my supposed promise, showing Balga my katana.

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Tactics in Poor Taste

『Guru.』


Oni-sensei-shapeshifted boss made a familiar low growl while taking a stance.

The thing before me is a fake who can't use most of his Skill Abilities.
Nothing but an imitation created from my memory of the real thing.


But


But!


『Guru.』

"Uooooooaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"


The swiftness, intensity, and weight behind every single one of his attacks do not fall behind the real thing in the least!
Each and every strike is lethal. This one may be fake but its strength is legit.


His straight punch is capable of pulverizing mountain, even the me now would have lost most my HP if I got hit. Three strikes and I'm out.

His kicks are even worse. The moment I lost my footing even for a little, he would mercilessly unleash chained kicks far more powerful than his punches. I'll be out of commission with just one of those.

If I didn't immediately react with Mana Control to flick his hands away whenever I showed an opening, he'd grab and crush me or throw me into the horizon.


He's utterly invincible on the offensive side. Alma Papa is probably the only one that can match Oni-sensei.
On top of all that, his evasion and defense are also the topmost of notch.

Trying to land a punch without any trick will net me a counter pretty much instantaneously.

Yet, he'd go on the offensive before I made an attempt to feint as if he knew beforehand.

Yet again, he'd also foresee if I moved efficiently and immediately parry or dodge my attack.


Truly the strongest. He's like the very image of my ideal 『I'm OP!』 in the flesh.
There would be absolutely no winning this if our Attributes were equal. My base Attributes are around 3000 right now, slightly below Oni-sensei.
I've buffed them to around 10000s with Energy Control to barely just keep up.

...How in the hell? Oni-sensei only has around 3500-4000 base Attributes, and he can't use most of his Skill Abilities right now.
Yet he's on par with someone with nearly triple his stats.

I am absolutely confident it won't even be a fight if our positions were swapped. There's just no making up a gap that big.
If I were forced to fight, I'd try to brute force it by buffing my Attributes.
Or maybe with the help of support items, and all kinds of unfair tricks. Yet, this Oni-sensei don't even have an item, let alone a weapon.


His experience in battlefields must be what enables him to bury such a hopeless moat.
Dunno how many strong foes he vanquished, how many times has he swung those fists, and how long has he lived, but all that experience is too dense to be depicted on Status screen.
...Nobody could have won if he added Skill Abilities on top of all that. Demon King might have made it, but it can't be an easy victory.

Watching this thing exerting all that power like it's his own is peeving me.
Not like I'm one to talk with my External Status support...


Normally, I naturally don't use items or vicious Mana Control during my practice with Oni-sensei. I'd drive a pile or two at most.
The goal was training my close quarter combat ability, not winning after all.
I mean, even if I did resort to cheap nasty tricks, Oni-sensei would probably just swat them all down.

But that's with him freely using his Skills.
It should work just fine against this fake who can't use powerful Skills like True Beast Release.


『Guru!』

"Raa!!"


I swiftly deployed a thick mana shield matching the fake's attack.
Average fighters would have their fists broken yet the fake kept hitting the shield without caring.

W-what an amazing attack. The impact transmitted to me feels like I'm blocking a cannon bombardment.
My mana is decreasing rapidly every time an attack connects. My shield won't hold up for long.
Not like I'm gonna keep tanking like an idiot though.


『!?』


Oni-sensei (fake) frowned a bit. That's a rare expression.
I transformed the shield mana property from metal-like hardness to ductile softness while he was attacking.

I transformed the shield shape into an ivy and made it coil around his arms.
He immediately tried to peel it off, which I responded by making the mana sticky.
There's no tearing that off. You're only gonna get it stick even harder.

Now's my chance!
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

My preparation for high powered pile bunker alarmed the fake. It tried to jump away from me.
Good intuition you got there. Saw that coming miles away tho'.


『Guga...!!? Gugugu...!!』


Yep. It's everyone's favorite electricity conversion. One pattern? Leave me alone.
Oni-sensei would have just brushed it off if that hit his skin, but by piercing needle-shaped mana inside its body to send electricity from the inside out, it looks to be working well.

Electric shocks stiffens the body. I'm well aware just how much that robs you off bodily motor functions.
And that's exactly why this attack won't miss!

I closed in on the immobile fake and drove a high powered pile bunker!!


『Gugaa!!』


!!


The high powered pile's explosion echoed throughout the boss floor.


The impact sent the fake flying to the wall.
Same goes for me which got blown away into the opposite direction's wall.


『Gagwa!!』

"Guaa!!"


The fake and me fell down the ground while spitting blood.
...Oy oy, are you for real. He forced his body to move through the electric shock and kicked me as I drove the pile on him...!
I had a mana armor on me to defend against the high powered pile explosion, yet one kick was all it took to blow through my entire HP and deal damage directly on my real body.

I might have died then and there if not for my HP buffer.
Despite the differences in Attributes, hitting vitals would still deal damage.
This fake... No, Oni-sensei can seemingly pinpoint his opponents' vitals without a sweat. He went straight for my internal organs.

Looking back, the real Oni-sensei almost never aimed for my vitals.
I only realized after fighting this fake, that he always made sure to hold back when he hit my face so I still got a sliver of HP left.

Heck, shouldn't this fake hold back too if he was made based off my experience.
That counter was a real desperate attack I never saw Oni-sensei did.

<<The only thing that cannot be fully replicated is Skill Abilities that are never witnessed. Its strength is perfectly replicated to a point. Its memory is not based on information from the target either. It is replicated fully from the shapeshifted being itself.>>

...Eh? So you're telling me this fake has Oni-sensei's memory?

<<Affirmative.>>


....Oho. I see, oh I see.


.....


Forgive me, Oni-sensei.


『Guru!』


He shook his head and brushed off the dust off his body before rushing my way.
I took a combative stance while drinking a heal potion.

I hold my hand out at the incoming Oni-sensei.


"Eat this!!"

『Guru!?』



I grabbed a karaage from Item Screen and threw it at Oni-sensei.


『!! Hagu!』


...Oni-sensei caught the karaage at his fastest speed yet in this battle. This thing really went and replicated sensei's ravenous appetite.
I feel kinda bad watching him chewing with such relish, but I can't afford sympathy here.

I kept hurling karaage all of which he caught with his mouth.
I remember Oni-sensei eating the karaage I had too when we first met.


『Hagu... Ga...』


Oni-sensei stopped moving right as he chowed down the last karaage.
Blood seeped out of the holes on his face as he collapsed.

I had loaded every single karaage with a trace amount of mana, life force, energy blend which recombined in his body and used it to drive a pile bunker from inside.
He'd have sensed it if I loaded a huge amount of mana in one karaage, but he never suspected a thing when only a small amount came from many.
This would have never worked if this fake didn't have Oni-sensei's perception of 'Karaage tastes good'.

This probably works on the real thing as well but I don't wanna win like this.
I had no choice this time due to my situation. But the act of eating food should be something you have a peace of mind about, I loathe the idea of poisoning food.
I want to beat the real Oni-sensei fair and square... Dunno how long will that take though.


Oni-sensei's body turned back into mist which then dispersed away.
Mist filled the room once again.

But then it started to converge into one lump again. Time for the next shapeshift it seems.
There's gonna be three in total, right?

<<Affirmative. The first is 'Individual with the highest battle prowess you have encountered', the second is 'Individual you hold the dearest and don't want to hurt most.'>>


Eh, what, that's nasty as all hell.
It's super clear who's it gonna be even before it comes out of the mist.



The mist reconverged into a humanoid outline again.
The body is small and slim, someone I used to see almost every day ever since I came to this world.


Short shoulder-length black hair.

A perfectly proportional body despite being slim.

Her light purple pupils are looking straight at me. Her black sword is drawn out.


".......Are you for real man......."


I facepalmed and sighed on reflex.
Ah dammit, I won't be satisfied with just one or two punches if this dungeon's designer is also the one who came up with this magic beast.
Damn, dammit!!


"Alma...!!"

"...Hikaru."

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568 Pointing to

In a private room at a high class Japanese inn. We're sitting cross legged on a cushion put on the tatami floor, opposite to each other over a table.
A grand feast has been put on top of this low legged table. It's the full course of Japanese meals only seen in TV. Very extravagant.
But I don't see my hope and dream, white rice anywhere. Shame, I'd like to eat tea-poured rice.

"Come, let's have a feast! This inn has the most daintily exquisite dishes. The more you eat the tastier it gets. Don't forget about the booze."

Balga poured liquor in his cup. While I had plain water.

"Hm? Are you not drinking? Fumu, there's no fun in me drinking alone. Won't you drink with me? This booze is quite surprising with its transparent color. The mellow sweetness and aroma tickle the nostril. Have a taste."

I peeked at the cup he poured the booze in, and smelled Japanese sake. This means my hope and dream, rice hasn't been dashed yet.

"Ah, I'm good with booze. But if you insist. I'll have this much."

I held out a small cup that was on the table.
My interest on the booze is piqued now. I'd like to verify if it tastes the same as Japanese sake.
I won't get my hopes up since this is fantasy after all. Can't deny the possibility of it being completely different thing despite all signs pointing to yes.
Also, even though I have come of age in this world, my mentality is still that of a Japanese.
You can drink once you're an adult in this world as well, but I just can't shake away the agreed upon 'Drinking age is 20' custom.

However, I convinced myself a sip is okay.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Balga poured the sake in the small cup to which I sipped. A nostalgic flavor spread out in my mouth.

(Aah... It's a Japanese rice wine... Crap, I'm gonna cry...)

My mind was greatly shaken. I had given up ever tasting this again in this world.
Yet here I am drinking it. Tears ran down my throat, hot from the sake.

"What do you think? Good stuff ain't it? Oy oy, that so good you cried? Oh boy, I really can't read you, eh."

Hahaha, Balga laughed. Thus we chatted over meal.

"Let's have a proper introduction. Let me start. As you may know, I'm a gladiator of this city. The champion. I sensed something unlike anything I have ever witnessed when I first saw you, I couldn't contain my excitement. I should have done my due diligence first before contacting you earlier, but there was no stopping the urge to fight. Even forgot my introduction."

Balga laughed heartily without a hint of being apologetic.

"Now then, how about you? I get the sense you don't want to stand out. You won't talk in public will you? But us are the only two here. I hope you'd open up as your friend."

I'm mulling over it. I don't really mind telling him. My birthplace is just a normal village.
My reason being here is to tour the place during a journey I took after coming of age.
But I don't want to spell my name out.

"I come from an exceedingly ordinary village. I grew up and left the place to go on a journey. I'm here as a tourist."

I'm an irregular in this world. Hence I aim to live and die quietly.
I don't want to get my name known. Therefore I won't say it.
I'm afraid of getting cursed by someone holding a grudge on me due to this power.
Magic exists in this world. A way to curse someone with their name may too.
It's a fantasy world. Being overly cautious is nonsense. I have zero knowledge on magic. I can't just brush aside the possibility of curse existing.

"My goal is to live in a remote plot of land somewhere quietly by myself."

I like and am proud of the name I got from my parents in this world.
It's loaded with love from my father and mother who raised me.
But I had tucked away that name in the corner of my mind the day I left my village.
My parents should be the only two people who know my name in this world. They have the right. That's what I believe.
However, I do think it's inconvenient for other people if they have no idea what to call me.
I thought of using a 'nickname'.

"Fumu, you just left an ordinary village? So you must be, 15 year old...? How did you hone such power at such a young age? You're a bundle of mystery! Did you perhaps inherit a hidden generational school of sword?"

But my looks alone carry a lot of impact, hence I never felt the need for a nickname.
'Who that is' is enough. Black eyes, black hair. I haven't seen or even heard a single rumor about someone with that trait other than me.
I'm probably the only black haired black eyed guy in this world.

"I did learn a lot of things. But it's not any specific sword school really."

The 'Black Clad' depicted in Binota's research must have the same line of thinking as I do.
After all, despite all the documents pertaining Black Clad Binota had, he never once spoke of their names.
Which means none of those documents mentioned it.
That must be the reason why Binota never uttered a name.
He should have plenty of reason to distinguish between specific Black Clad.
But let's forget that, it's not the time and place to think all that.
I'm gonna focus enjoying this full course meal.

"The reason behind your strength gets curious and curiouser. Hahaha! What an enigma you are. Oh right, what about your name? I don't think I have heard it yet. I can't keep calling you, 'you', can I?"

I uttered my name in my previous life like it was only natural.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

How're You The Opening Performer

I opened the door to the floor below while pushing away crystal wreckage.
It took some time, but once I could move around like normal again, I had no issue taking it down.

Crushing the core would have finished the deed faster, but apparently its core can be made into a Skill granting equipment like slime's cores, so I opted to destroy all other parts instead.
It did counter attack with spells, but they barely had any effect on me and my Attributes buffed to five digits.

Might have been dicey if it could shoot dozens of magic at once like Alma Mama. Thankfully that crystal got no Master Skill of that kind.
It was so weak without its gravity tricks. Pretty anticlimatic I'd say~.


The core I got has 'Gravity Magic' embedded on it. By processing this core into an equipment, the wearer will be able to use Gravity Magic.
Naturally it doesn't have enough power to cover an entire dungeon floor, and yet it's more than powerful enough.

As usual, this Skill granting effect doesn't work on me.
It's the same principle as the offensive magic necklace I had Reina wear back then. These equipment grant a temporary access to Skills for the wearer so as someone who can't obtain Skill--(abbreviated)

...Once I got it processed, I'm gonna present it to Alma who's got plentiful of mana and high INT.
I'm sure she'll surprise me and master it in no time... Kinda scared of her generating a black hole or something though.


Ah, I've been alone for so long.
Looking back, I met Alma not long after I got thrown in this world and then we stayed together permanently. I never acted alone for so long like this.

Food feels flavorless alone no matter how good it is.
Beating a tough opponent loses its shine when you don't have anyone to celebrate together with.
...Gotta keep at it. I'll press on ahead.


I took a break at the safe zone between Floor 19 and 20.
According to Menu, even though there's no trap in Floor 20, the magic beasts proliferating there as well as the boss are special. They're far more troublesome than any foes I've ever faced.

No, they're not Demon King class or anything, but they're still highly dangerous.
In exchange, the floor's got plenty of items that may prove useful in the future.

Even Floor 19's loot is already incredible as is, I wonder Floor 20 is like.
I'd love a mat for my new great hammer, but there's no way they'll just randomly hand out materials harder than orichalcum... Seriously what am I gonna do with that.



Floor 20 would look perfect as the last dungeon in a game.
And not in a way where the walls are made of moving flesh or being a castle. In fact, it looks like the polar opposite of those kinds of 'Stronghold of Baddies'.


Floor 20 is a super gorgeous place where walls and floors are made of exquisite jewelry.
The walls are made of transparent crystals, while the carvings on the walls and floors are adorned with rubies, sapphires partitioned by diamonds.
The total value housed in one room alone must be astronomical. You could play around for years from picking those.


Uwao. Despite all the extravagance, it doesn't feel like it's in poor taste at all.
Despite the generous use of jewels, the design work is simply superb just gazing at them gives me goosebumps.

I'm already overwhelmed by the exquisite sight and I just got here... Wish the girls could see this with me here.
For now, let's take pics with my phone. It doesn't have the impact of the real thing but better than nothing.


As I was nonchalantly enjoying the sight, I sensed a mana reaction coming this way.
...What is this reading? It's akin to a magic beast yet the outline is fluctuating.

And it's not the same as a slime.
It's like an awfully unstable lump of mana that's about to disperse.

Yet, it's not at all weak or small.


The reading ran past the corridor and entered the room I was in.
It looks like an aggregation of faint white mist. I thought I was watching a giant moving cotton candy for a moment there.

W, what is that thing.
I can't tell what kind of magic beast it is from looks alone. Heck, is that even a living creature?


<<[Shapeshifter]. They have the ability to read Kill Log of humans they encounter and randomly choose one to fully copy into, complete with the Status.>>

<<These magic beasts are akin to Floor 20 boss's split bodies. Therefore you do not gain experience point by defeating them and they disappear when defeated, leaving nothing to loot. It is recommended to avoid engaging them as much as possible.>>


Uwaa, what's up with that.
What even the point of beating them then. I'm just gonna get tired for nothing.
Even goblins are better.


『Gii?』


The Shapeshifter who had shapeshifted into a small green skinned humanoid magic beast tilted its head as it stared at me.
Uh no, I wasn't asking you to turn into a goblin...
Hee, it looks exactly like the real thing I can't spot any difference at all.

Its mana and life force seem to have followed the real thing as well. They got so small now.
It's pretty much harmless, just gonna leave it be.

<<Inadvisable. When a Shapeshifter transforms into a weak magic beast, there is a probability of it transforming into an even stronger beast given enough time. It is recommended to defeat one when they are weak to minimize resource usage.>>

I see... I don't like bullying the weak but neither can I leave that kind of risk be. Forgive me.


"Tei."

『Pagya!』
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

...I flicked the goblin's head, then it dispersed into white mist as the head got blown away.
These Shapeshifters really leave absolutely nothing behind.
It would have been a mess if it were a real goblin. Not gonna describe it!

I can't even flick someone's forehead carelessly now. Not when that's equal a lethal weapon.
I'm gonna need to come up with a new way to deal with belligerent people weaker than me. How though.

I'm gonna avoid as many Shapeshifters as I could while making beelines for treasure chests.
If they could randomly pick any magic beast I've beaten in the past no matter how weak or strong, then that gravity crystal is a candidate too.
In the worst case scenario, I might end up having to deal with multiple at once. I should keep in mind so that never comes to pass.


A Shapeshifter has no corporeal body before they transform. I tried wrapping them in mana but it failed to capture them.
The moment they perceived me, they would immediately take the shape of a magic beast I had defeated in the past.

Goblins and Kobolds I saw at the Magic Beast Forest.
Werewolf I fought in Stampede.
Jet Boar Alma and I narrowly managed to defeat.
High Cave Bears we over hunted in that cave.
Platinum Cock I engaged in a mortal combat with at the Monster Prairie.

And a lot more, it was as if I was retreading my journey.
It hasn't even been a year yet seeing all those beasts made me feel nostalgic all the same.

Well, I got incomparably stronger than I was when I fought them, they were a cinch, yet that engendered a mixed feeling between a sense of superiority and loneliness.
Jet Boar, your ramming attack couldn't have been this weak. How could a forehead flick do you in...


As for the loot, it's all been good stuff befitting of the last proper floor.
Stuff like special equipment that alters your Skill abilities and performances, or a scapegoat doll that prevents death once.

I even got an item that lets you evolve Unique Monster equipment one rank higher unconditionally! Two of them!
These should greatly power up Alma's black sword and Reina lightning dagger.
...I'm just wondering why do they look exactly like wrapped round candy though.

<<It is advisable to wait using these items until immediately after evolving the equipment the normal way first.>>

Eh? Ah, that'll let those gear evolve twice right away.
But Alma's sword requires her to defeat a dragon. Kinda a high hurdle.
If only she fought that Lava Dragon with me. Oh well, another opportunity should arise before long.





...Now then, I had some fun time midway through exploring this floor despite my worries, yet I couldn't help my frown once I sensed the presence emanating from the boss in the deepest part.
I have zero clue what kind of magic beast it is from the presence alone.

It's probably the same type as Shapeshifters yet the density of aura it exudes is simply far beyond them.
The mist is pretty thick too. You'd think it's lighted up a bonfire inside the room with all the fog.

The magic beast's name [★Open Scar] doesn't help at all identifying it either.


<<Warning: This magic beast shapeshifts into something that matches its target thrice.>>

<<The first transformation carries the biggest risk, Status-wise. One mistake could lead to instant death. Be warned.>>


But if it takes after one magic beast from my Kill Log, how can I not beat it?


<<Negative. This magic beast does not shapeshift by referring to Kill Log.>>


Eh, then what?


<<The first transformation is [Individual with the highest battle prowess the target has encountered], excluding Hero and Demon King. However, it can only deploy Skill Abilities its target has witnessed.>>

<<In Kajikawa Hikaru's case-->>



The mist filling the room converges into a dense lump while Menu is giving an explanation.
A two meter tall humanoid figure... This outline, seems kinda familiar...


......Eh, wait, ain't that...!!?







『Guru.』


<<It corresponds to 『★Fierce Deity of Fist』.>>

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

567 Championic Friend

Right as I dipped in the hot water, the other guests here made a commotion.
They're not looking at me. It's directed at the open air bath's entrance.

"Haha, this place is as wonderful as ever! There's nothing quite like the liberating feeling here!"

I know that brawny figure. It's the person I just had a match with today.
Is it a coincidence? Or perhaps he tailed me?
It's Balgaranda. The champion of this coliseum city.
Of course people can't contain themselves when he shows up. People asides from me.

(What's he here for... I mean I guess he could be a regular of this inn.)

He likely has a house in this city. But he also might be the type that loves to stay at various inns for fun. Or maybe he's looking for a change of pace.
Guy is even hailed as a hero. He must be loaded.
He paid me 30 gold coins just for a little match after all. Money can't be an issue for him.
He found me and spoke. In whisper.

"Oh hey, what a coincidence. Here I was just thinking I'd like to see you again. Might as well, mind showing me that thing as promised?"

I don't remember making any promise. I tried to recall what is this thing he's talking about.
I thought of pretending I don't know him but abandoned the idea.
It's not gonna work anyway, heck, it might work against me instead.
Thus, I wracked my brain recalling what the promise is about.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Ah, are you referring to my katana? Balgaranda-san."

"Just call me Balga. We're match buddies now. So, how about it, do you mind? You're staying here ain't you? This inn's food is some real delish stuff. The impact I felt when I had my first taste can't compare to any hit I got in the ring."

He quickly washed his body and dipped in the hot water as he spoke. Next to me.

"I know you don't like standing out, sorry about this. Rumors about you being close to me are probably going to spread. But I do wish to get along with you. Will you be my friend?"

I dunno how to respond. I did not foresee this development.
What kind of future events would I run into after Balga? I ran multiple simulations to anticipate those events but none went like this.
I can't imagine the outcomes from either saying yes or no.

"...That's fine. As a friend. Let's have a meal together tonight to commemorate this occasion."

I might have been starving for friends. Or maybe my brain wasn't working right in the hot water.

"Oh! So you agree! I shall book a private room here! Let's be frank to each other!"

Who can say if his delighted expressions hides a different intention.

(This wasn't in the gotcha I thought of... Just gonna hope it won't make me go down the wrong path...)

I left the hot water along with a delighted Balga.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Commencing Conquest

I consumed my stamina buffing my Attributes to around 6000s.
I'm expending more than usual, likely due to the high gravity pull. This should only be usable twice, thrice in real combat and last for about five minutes.


"U, guuuu...!!"


My body is creaking. It doesn't hurt or anything but I still can tell it's bearing a huge load.
It only feels like I've got my usual physique back once I added in Mana Powered Armor on top of Energy Control buff.

Nothing will be done if I can't move. I have to get close to that crystal and smash it with pile bunker.
My body is so heavy now, Mana Flight doesn't work. Guess I gotta leg it there.


"Hmph...! Hmmphmph...! Hmphhhh.....!!"


I couldn't help heaving every time I took a step.
My body gradually feels even heavier, my step is getting shorter each time.
The gravity pull gets more intense the closer you are to this thing...!

Not good, I'm gonna get flattened before I get in melee range.
Should I attack with Remote Mana Control...!?

W, what the heck, the flat ground I was treading on suddenly turned into a slope.
No wait, the ground is gradually rising, toppled over?


No, that's not it, that crystal has changed the gravity direction in this room!
What the heck is this ability!? It's gonna be a big hit for an amusement park's attraction!

What was the ground becomes a wall now with the crystal sitting at the end of the room which is the top now.
Oy oy, forget about even trying to get closer. Can ranged attacks even reach that thing?


『Stone Bullet.』


!!

The crystal made a mechanical sound voice as it shot out bullets of stone.
F-fast!? A rain of stones the size of a head poured down at near mach speed, likely due to the gravity pull.

How is Stone Bullet this powerful! These things packed way more firepower than Alma's buffed Stone Bullet.
The crystal shooting this spell ceaselessly when even a hit would have taken a huge chunk of my HP. I'd get turned into a beehive, no, a minced meat at this rate.
I can't keep dodging this forever. Gotta think up a way to block it!


I molded my hardened mana into the shape of a shield and put it above of me. It's about 3 meter in diameter.
I also spread out mana cushion below the shield to soften the blows.


...H, huh, I can't spread the cushion well...!?
Feels like it's being pushed down every time I tried to.
The heck, dammit, I'm gonna force it open! I'll cover my body in cushion and then put it below the shield--


Huh, what, my body is getting pulled to the wall?

I fell down to the ground that had been turned into wall. Has the gravity direction returned to normal.
No, wrong. I'm the only one getting pulled to the real ground, the stones that crystal shot are still stuck on the wall.


Wait, my body, feels light?


Once I enveloped my whole body in Mana Cushion, the intense gravity pull disappeared like a dream.
Is it because I've wrapped myself in Mana Cushion instead of Mana Armor?

<<[Gravity Magic] is a Skill that disperses user's mana in an entire space and puts load in an arbitrary direction. Replicating effects akin to gravitational manipulation.>>

<<It is estimated that Kajikawa Hikaru has escaped the effects of Gravity Magic by pushing away the dispersed mana with his own mana enveloping his body's vicinity.>>


I, I don't really get it, but I guess it means I'm free from Gravity Magic's mana grasp.
Umu, my body feels so light. It felt so heavy as if I was encased in lead, yet I feel like I can fly without mana now.


I twisted and stretched my body now protected by mana cushion.
Once I was done stretching, my entire being felt like it was brimming with strength.


"Phew... Now, let's do this."

『...[Rock Break].』


The crystal cast Intermediate Magic, or more like Advanced due to its stat and rained down a volley of five meter big boulders my way.
It would have taken me everything just to deal with this if it was like before, but this is nothing now.

Alright, my Energy Control consumption is also back to normal. Then...!
It's time to strike back. Say your prayer, darned crystal.


Buffing my Attributes to 10000s with Energy Control!!




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >



~~~~~~~~~~~~Hero's Group, living a horror game life~~~~~~~~~~







We got away from those noh masked head thingy somehow.
Looking back, those things should be a type of magic beasts too. We could have just taken 'em down.


"Dangit, my Livelihood Ring broke down when I used it. They went out of their way to set up this mechanism. How nasty can a floor be...!"

"Would have eased the mind somewhat if only we could use [Light]..."

"Auu, N-Neora-san, don't let go of my haaaand...!"

"I-it's okay, Olivie, calm down... Also, the hand you've been pressing your chest on is mine... They sure are soft, gununu...!"


Levia, swap with me. Please change with me. Ah, no? Figured.

Livelihood Magic Ring allows the use of 'Light' or 'Ignition' which would be a huge relief in this situation.
Them being unusable is quite a bit of an issue.

And I can't use Item Screen right now. I don't have anything on me that would work as a light source.
There's a rest area after every Floor furnished with magic stove and such so we had no need to carry around stuff like firewood either.

...I thought of taking the stove with us, but it's very clear to me now that cheating like that would get us harshly punished in this trial.
Who can say what kind of penalty they'd impose on us if we did. We'd better braving on this pitch black darkness.


"Can't we use Spells, like 'Shine Ball' or 'Fire Ball' to light this place."

"Doable if you don't mind them fizzling out right away. My control isn't good enough yet."

"We tried to burn wood objects but they wouldn't light up..."

"Yeah, it's like they're made of nonburnable materials. Like trying to set rock on fire."


Not only it's dark here, we're restricted on what we can do as well.
The eeriness is simply out of this world.


"The switches won't turn the lights on either. This place's maker really has the worst personality."

"No telling when those weird faced things are going to come for us again. Let's make haste for the next floor."

"Uuu... I'm gonna see this in my dream..."


Olivie half tearfully muttered while adjusting her glasses.
Can't really blame her. What's the deal with this realistic haunted house anyway.

We may have managed to give those noh mask things the slip, but there's no telling when we're gonna come across another.
I tried to search for presences by concentrating but my head got hot if I did that for long. I'm still not used to the tech.


We found a door-like object. It's a bulky looking stone door that looks out of place in a school. It's probably gonna take us to the next floor.
But it seems to be locked, we can't get it to open. Do we have to search the building for a key or something. This place is pretty large, sounds like a huge pain.

Splitting up would have been the best course of action, but nobody wants to go alone so the three of us are moving as a group.
Going alone in this situation is like setting up your own death flag. I mean we'll get revived anyway, but that's not the issue.

Guess we hafta look for it the old fashioned way, what a hassle.
I opened a door to a classroom while grumbling inwardly--






『Uboa.』

『U, boa.』

『Boaboaboaboaboaboaboaboaboa.』

『Boahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!』

『Hihihifehehehehehahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!』


It's an all you can have apparitions buffet including the noh mask bastards.

A moving anatomical human model.

A man with a hole on his face filled with maggots.

A woman with a mouth split to her forehead.

A fully bandaged mummy riding on a bicycle while swinging a katana around.


A goldfish in a water tank that turned bigger before leaping our way.


『Hehehehehebebebebyagadavaaaaaaa!!』


"Kyaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Noooooooooo!!!"

"I can't take it anymoooooooore!!!"


We promptly turned tail and ran away with all our might.
My body chose to flee on reflex even though they don't seem that strong.
No way. There's no way. What is even that. I'm so done.


"I-I-It's a dead end!? What now!"

"They're gonna catch up to us--"

"Nooooo!!"

"Ah hey, Olivie!?"


Dunno what was on her mind as Olivie suddenly turned around and took a leap.
Toward a glass window. You can see outside from the hallway.

*Crash*, the sound of a smashed glass.


She got so scared out of her mind she'd rather break through a glass window if it could take her away. This is the third floor though?
Ah, she used Air Step before hitting the ground, killing the impact. T-that's some amazing reflex and physique.


"Neora! They're on to us! Let's jump too!"

"O, ou!"


A moment later, Levia and I took a leap of faith as well. The last glass window broke apart.
We killed the impact by Air Step-ping before landing just like Olivie did.


"W-was sure I'm gonna die...!"

"We get revived if we die, but dying is the last thing I want in this floor..."

"I get you."


I'm afraid I'd join those apparitions if I die here. Uh, well, probably not though.
Now that we're here, might as well check out the first floor. That room back then is way too much, not gonna come close anymore.

We need to map out this place and take note on which room to avoid and which to check.
Wouldn't have needed to draw a map manually if only I could use Menu... We really need Menu's help like yesterday.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

566 Whereabouts of Reality

The waitress was blissfully unaware of my inner cry.

"You may ring that blue bell if you wish to go to the open air bath. Ring the yellow bell next to it and we will come to take the dishware if you're done with your meal. Would you like to rest in your room now? Or would you like wash away fatigue in our bath first?"

Apparently I'm looking exhausted from outside perspective. They're being attentive.

"It's still a bit early for meal. I'd like to see the bath."

I don't have a lot of luggage. Only one magic bag. I leave it on the tatami and make my way to the open air bath.

"It's your standard dressing room at the entrance... No compromise huh... They even got the separated curtains for men and women baths..."

It has come to a point where thinking this is Japan feels right.
But reality is a harsh mistress. I groaned at the view inside.
A Japanese-style bath five meter long in diameter. Filled with blond blue eyed people. They look so out of place.
The bath is full of people already. Of course. I didn't rent this place all for myself or anything.
There must be other guests staying here for the open air bath.
After all, the scenery here, blurred by the white steam and the wide open blue sky, is simply the best.
But I can't get into it. I alone can't.

(Ah... I'm drawing gazes... Thanks to these black hair and eyes...)

I really stand out among the people. I'm not wearing a hood after all. My looks are fully exposed. Bare naked. The dress code you're born with.

And then my eyes caught sight of some weird objects. They're familiar to me, just not in this world.

"Jacuzzi, shower... Absolutely zero compromise huh..."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Also a yellow plastic-like pail. And also, soap, as well as a push buttoned shampoo. How perfectionist can you be?
This inn is apparently pretty packed.
The hot water is continuously pouring in like it's drawing from a hot spring.

(Is it a knowledge cheat or perhaps technological? ...This must have cost a fortune no? ...Aren't five silver coins for a night stay way too cheap for this world?)

Isn't this inn on the level of the topmost super high class one considering the standard of this world?
I filled my bucket with hot water from the Jacuzzi stamped with a red mark and poured it on me.

"Let's just enjoy... No. I shouldn't think! Feel!"

All the new information my eyes caught is dizzying me.
I decided to stop thinking and getting stressed out by it.
I haven't been in a bath for quite some time. I'll wash every nooks and crannies. Head too.
I focus my all into that and forget everything else.

I wash the foam on my hair with hot water.

"Ah, when was the last time I washed with a soap... Slippery skin... and shampoo... like thing? It's so refreshing. Yup, glad I chose this inn..."

Feeling whole for once, I immersed myself fully in the hot water.

Previous Chapter

Chapter 567

Struggling Floor Clearing

I kept moving ahead sideways using Mana Control.
This area looks like a run of the mill dungeon asides from the high gravity.

It's full of inhuman traps like previous floors but the gravity alone has made it an order of magnitude harder.
I can't fight properly while lying sideways, and staying too long here is gonna knock me out cold from lack of blood circulating to my head.

I did try fighting while hanging upside down in the air to circumvent that downside but it only makes it harder for both me and my opponent.
Watching magic beasts looking at me wonderingly in the middle of combat was indescribable...


Everything is heavy on Floor 19, even my equipment feels like restraining fetters.
I could put them away in Item Screen out of combat and only equip them during but it's quite a hassle.

The attacking magic beasts suffer from the same environment I do as well, they mostly attack with downward swings to avoid going against the gravity pull so their moves are easy to read.
Dodge once and they leave a huge opening to exploit at, unbecoming of high level magic beasts. It makes dealing with them a cinch. With Mana Powered Armor's assistance, I can move faster than those beasts.

Also, this Floor is an excellent opportunity to forge body if only I had time.
Thanks to the constantly high gravity pull, my STR and AGI have been rapidly increasing even though I've only been here for half a day.
I think they're increasing by 1 every two hours. Staying here for even one month would make an incredible difference. Muscle-wise especially.


The loot has been pretty nice too. LUCK-sensei is finally rearing its shiny head.
Got a lot of Attribute-increasing seeds and even potions that work like Support Magic buff.

I got some knives and spears made of Hihiirogane and even Orichalcum gear at last.
I put them away since they're not fit for this Floor. Wonder if they're usable in the creation of a new great hammer.

<<It is estimated that pure Orichalcum cannot withstand a clash between Kajikawa Hikaru and a Demon King-class opponent.>>>

O, ou, okay.
Isn't Orichalcum supposed to be the hardest metal in this world, even that's no good huh... What do then.
No wait? I think Menu-san mentioned something about how to use Orichalcum and stuff at the end of Hunting Fest back then...  Well, whatever, I'll think about it later.

Taking all this loot back home would not be possible without Item Screen or Item Bags.
This increased item drop rate is probably another way to entrap greedy adventurers. Wicked.


Now then, I'm done with leveling, working out (not by will), and looting. Next up is the boss room.
I'm Lv 76 right now. Raised my level by 11 in this dungeon alone.

So many in just a few days, why don't other adventurers go here... I guess that's suicidal without Menu.
That's it, I'll recommend Hero this leveling spot once he's gotten over his trial.
『Hi, hi, how you doin'? Found me some real nice leveling spot, wanna give it a spin?』 or something.
I can imagine him going 『Meh, I bet it's a real risky place with deaths abound.』



At the farthest reach of Floor 19, there stood a red crystal enveloped in an enormous body of water.
Externally, it looks like an exquisite object of nature, but Menu tells me it's actually a type of magic beast.


It's called 『★Gravity Crystal』, the name says it all about its ability.
It's also got the Unique Skill 【Gravity Magic】, the high gravity pull on this floor is probably caused by this thing.


『........』


Clink, that sound echoed as the red crystal inside the water started emitting an even brighter red light.


"U, guooo...!!?"


My body became unbelievably heavier than ever.
Even Mana Powered Armor feels like it does nothing. Ordinary humans would have been crushed to death.

It's around 20 times higher pull than normal. I could somehow tell how that crystal made this gravity pull happen due to the sheer strength exerted.
The crystal must have spread mana all around it and intensely pushed it downward.
As the load is added on the space itself, everything including air and all objects within are subjected to it.

Ugugugu...!! T-this can't go on...!
My HP hasn't decreased yet, but I'd likely take damage once my blood flow goes haywire from this gravity pull.
Lying sideways does me no good now. The pull is too strong it's as if all my blood is being pushed downward...! The moment my HP goes zero, my blood veins would pop off, killing me!

Using Energy Control to forcefully move my body consumes an unthinkable amount of stamina.
I'd use it all up in five minutes if I were to move like normal. Can I end this thing in that time frame? Absolutely not.

This thing is a Lv91 Unique Monster, it's pretty much on par with Oni-sensei no?
Oni-sensei can probably move just fine if he used True Beast Release, but me? No way in hell.

What do I do, how do I defeat this thing...!?




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~~~POV of hero's group currently enjoying school-themed horror~~~~~~~~







The communication device instructors gave me suddenly rang in the middle of a pitch black darkness.
I pushed the accept button and Dukeris-san's voice came out of the speaker.


『Hello. It's me, you guys got time?』

"Yes. We're in the middle of a run, but we can spare time."

"Instructor! Why did you call now of all time! You almost killed me from shock!"

"I-I can't see anything...! Light, light, where's the light switch at...!?"

『...Sure you guys are alright over there? You kinda sound real distressed, is it a bad time right now...?』

"...Please don't worry about it."


His timing is the worst in a way, but it doesn't seem like anything is coming for us, nor do I feel any suspicious presence.
I can spare time to take a call. In fact, I'd rather have someone to talk with in this situation.


『How's the trial going? Apparently some past heroes spent a month to clear their trials.』

"Ah, we've finally got a breakthrough. I believe we should reach the deepest area in five days at our current pace."

『Oh, smooth sailing I see. Sounds like you didn't hit a big snag.』

"...Well, I did die over 100 times to get this far though."

『O, oh I see. Sounds rough... That's always been your thing anyhow, keep at it. Uh, I guess dying is a weird thing to get used to.』


Tell me again. Death feels so near and close, it's like part of my daily life now. What is this carnage.


"What about your side, instructor? Any issue?"

『Well, I'm ashamed to admit, I've hit a dead end. Truly a shameful display especially when Radia-kun and Alan-kun quickly learned the knack.』

"Ah, please don't fret over it too much. I mean it's Kajikawa-san's directive after all. Can't expect anything ordinary out of it."

『Umu... So, do you have any news on that Kajikawa-san, aka Hikaru-kun?』

"Err, I'm sorry. I can't use Menu in these ruins so I haven't heard a pep from him."


Well, Menu seems usable at his side so our situation must be crystal clear to him.
He's probably counting how many time I die in a day. Kinda embarrassing.


『I still find it hard to believe he is aiming for the Floor 21 of that dungeon. I would have gone and stopped him if it weren't for the situation.』

"Please be sure to keep it from Alma and the girls. They might go after him if you slipped up."

『Yeah, I got it under control. Lunati and I have experienced first hand just how dreadful that dungeon is.』

"Oh, the both of you have conquered Floor 21 then?"

『Umu, well, it wasn't much problem up until Floor 19, but Floor 20...』

"Floor 20? Isn't Floor 21 the most dangerous?"

『Well yeah. Floor 21 houses so many bizarre phenomenon you would think the very laws of the world themselves are distorted there. We got jumped every time we opened a door. The return is worth it though.』

"But you mentioned Floor 20."

『Yeah. The reason we never set foot there again ever since... or, I personally, is more due to the thing awaiting for you on Floor 20 than the horror of Floor 21. I cannot face that the second time.』

"...Just what's on Floor 20?"

『It's--』



"Byaaaaaaaaa!! Aaaa!! There, at the windows, the windooooooows!!"

"Haa, haa, haahi, hahyu, hyu, hyuu...!!"


Levia let out a shrill shriek while I was chatting.
Meanwhile, Olivie was barely breathing she almost sounded like she was laughing.


"O-oy! Levia, it's okay! There's nothing on the windows! Olivie, you too, calm down! Take a deep breath!"

『W-what's happening over there!?』

"O, oh, it's just that the Floor we're tackling on is a real eerie place. So any stimulation garners overreactions..."

『O, oh OK.... Wait, are you scared even though you get revived if you die?』

"No you see, the eeriness here is nothing like the terror of dying. It's like we've been transported to a horror work of fiction as its protagonists... Honestly, I'm super scared myself..."

"Uu, sniffle, sniffle...!"

"...Help... Mom... Dad...!"


Oh no. I got too absorbed with the phone call I didn't catch what came out, but the two's SANity gauges are running dangerously low.
Olivie in particular. Your mom isn't here.


"D-don't cry, Levia. Olivie you too, calm down. Don't get infantile now. Everything is gonna be okay, you hear me?"

『...Things seem to be in chaos over there. Should I hang up?』

"E, err, I know I'm asking a lot but can't you keep the connection for the time being? Just talking with someone like this helps calm my nerve. Or rather, please don't cut me off. Please keep me company for a while...!"

『Y-you're really at your wit's end huh... I don't mind, but the people here get to hear all your screams, that okay with you?』

"Eh? ...By people, you mean Alma and the rest?"

『No, Alma and Reina-kun aren't here... Hey now, Hyula-kun, don't laugh that hard, don't you feel sorry for them. You too Alan-kun, you can't hide your grin by looking away.』

『Ahahahahaha lolololol pfft cough lololol, sorry 'bout that.』

『....Kuku...』


Why are they even there!? Can't you keep your call discrete!?
Heck, what are you guys laughing at! Don't act like haunted house staff you!
Hyumlassa aside, I won't forgive that Aizawa brat laughing at me. I'm gonna get back at h---



*Boof*, that weird sound accompanied a giant faceless head suddenly appearing ahead of me.



Ｏｈ



『Uvyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!』

"Higyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!?"

"Iyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"I don't wanna do this anymoreeeeee!! I wanna go hooooooome!!"


『N-Neora-kun! What happened!? Oy!』

『Buhahahaha lololol what's with that scream lololol my sides I can't lololol.』

『Bufu, kukuku...!』

『Quit your laughter! They're seriously frightened! Hello! Hello, give me a response!』

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565 Optical Illusion

Inside the inn, I was greeted with the kind of high class lobby you see in TV.
There's a tranquil mood oft found in Japan. I was heavily taken aback by this.

"Welcome to our humble establishment. I am this inn's proprietress. This way, if you would."

The proprietress led us to a ramp. It's a place to take off your footwear.
It's Japan. This is Japan. I took off my shoes and went up the ramp.

"My, honored guest, I take it you are well versed in Hinomoto's etiquette?"

Naturally for I am a Japanese inside. I dunno no formal stuff like etiquette, but taking off your shoes before going indoor is just the norm for me. That culture is ingrained. I can't help but follow suit.
The proprietress is wearing a kimono. The way she's kneeling on the floor and bowing with three of her fingers is the very picture of Japanese conduct.
She can't help her blond hair and blue eyes though. I'm not gonna fuss over it.

"If you would please wear these indoors. Our staff member will guide you inside."

I changed to slippers, they're slippers no matter how you slice it, and was led to the counter.
Meanwhile, the proprietress gave my guide some tips. Looks like it's a joint venture. Nicely done.

"It would be three silver coins for one night. Our room has a bathroom, we also have a separate open air bath if you prefer that. The bath is open all time, please feel free to ask our staff if you wish to go."

I couldn't hide my surprise. The person who built this must be a Japanese on the inside. But I won't let my guard down.
That person may only have the knowledge but not their awareness pre-reincarnation.
I'd love to go meet this person but there's no telling what would that entail, hence I chose to forget about it.

"There is a surcharge of two silver coins if you'd like dinner and breakfast. Would you like to?"

So that ends up costing five silver coins per stay. It's a high class inn. But I want to enter that open air bath no matter what.
Besides, I'm curious what the food is like here. I bet they have white rice. I look forward to finding out.

"I'd like to book a room for one night with meals. Also, I want to check out the open air bath. Err, here you go."

I handed one gold coin to the counter.

"Thank you very much. These are your change, five silver coins. This way please."

I came across another guest in the hallways. They're wearing a yukata.
My mind is completely adrift by now.

(Is this Japan? Another world? Who am I? Where am I?)

My mental state was exhausted from my bout with Balgaranda.
Everything I saw in this inn made me escape reality.
The garden visible from the windows is a Japanese style dry garden with wavy lines of white gravels.
There are also plants that look like bamboo. They've been made into fences and a Shishiodoshi there.
The soothing sound of clacking bamboo sends me beyond confusion.
It's not over yet, I then see a pond with several colorful fish surrounded by pine-like trees.

"Dear guest, this will be your room. Please enjoy your stay."

My room had another surprise waiting, naturally.
It's got tatami. There's no holding back punching the line at this point.

"This place is totally a Japanese inn?! A real nifty real purdy inn!"

My mental state was driven to the absolute limit.
Limiting my vocabulary, those were the only words I could squeeze out.

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Dim

I try to move about. My body feels heavier than usual but I can walk just fine.
Or so I thought at first, but then I'm already feeling dizzy after only an hour.
Uuh, my head is killing me... Is it anemia?

<<Due to the increased gravity, Kajikawa Hikaru's blood circulation is getting impended. In order to improve blood flow to head, it is advised to lie down for a while.>>

I gotta have a shut eye for an hour? I ain't got the time.
It might take me several days just to clear this Floor alone. I may have spare days before deadline but I gotta consider the time it's gonna take to conquer Floor 21 too.

...Then again, I can't exactly keep going with this headache.
It might get even worse left alone, then exploring this dungeon would be the least of my worries.

Ah, right. I can wrap my body in mana, lie sideways and move it around.
Moving like this consumes more mana than usual due to the increased gravity pull yet it's not so much to be a problem, surely.

Encountering a magic beast while I'm not feeling well would be risky.
All the more here in this dungeon. I'm gonna focus to stay in a tip-top shape.


『....』


Hmu, a round magic beast is rolling this way.
Is that, an armadillo? Yet another unusual creature.


『? .... !?』


...At first the armadillo only glanced at me but then it did a double take. The sight of someone moving sideways must be surreal.
It's glaring real hard at me with a face full of grudge. Had no idea armadillos were this expressive... Or maybe my weirdness warranted this reaction.


Speaking of armadillo, wonder if Alma is eating her meals right.
...I feel kinda bad recalling her after running into an armadillo. Sorry Alma.

<<After the ginger pork fry intake, Almatina has regained her appetite and health. She is currently following the directive as well.>>

I see, that's a relief. Reina could be working on that request of mine by herself at worst, but the situation with Alma might get worse if she didn't recover quickly.
Had she not gotten better, I'd go see her myself.

<<At which point, Almatina would highly likely ask for her accompaniment in this dungeon conquest, to which Kajikawa Hikaru would highly unlikely refuse.>>

N, nah, of course I wouldn't get swept in the moment and put my companions at risk. I think.

<<Highly, unlikely.>>

...What's with that insistence. Mean much?
I do try to comply with Alma's and Reina's requests, but this case is a hard no. I understand that much.
Ordinary people won't even last minutes on this floor. Even the girls can't possibly last long here.

<<Question: If Almatina asked while shedding tears, would Kajikawa Hikaru refuse her?>>

..........
Y, yup, I will. Of course, right? (trembling voice)
...Yep, not seeing them before delving in this dungeon was the correct choice.

The armadillo went away while I was busy chatting with Menu.
It either didn't want to have anything to do with me or pretended it never saw me. Its eyes looked at me like I was an oddball after all.
...I mean, I really do like one from an outside party's perspective.


<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >




~~~~~~~~~~POV of a hero who's only died eight times today~~~~~~~~~~






O, ogogogogogo...!!
W, we've finally reached a respawn point...!
I'm so sick of getting crushed, burned, shot at, and deceived already....


"Things went a lot smoother once we picked up how to see through those traps."

"But we still died a lot... Neora-san, are you alright? You look really pale."

"Y, yup. I just can't get over my latest death yet... Urp...! I, wanna throw up..."

"N-Neora-san, please don't push yourself! Let's call it a day!"

"I so get you. You don't get to die like that often... Even I feel sick recalling the way you died..."

"Yes, that was just awful... We're probably the only people in this world who discuss about how we die..."


Levia and Olivie grimaced at my terrible death.
If you must know what it is... It's like being turned into a dried skewered sardine.


There are just way too malicious, or more like meta traps all over this dungeon. But then I noticed we could recognize some of those traps if we take a good look.
These ruins were apparently designed by heroes of the past.
How can I tell? Cause they left messages to make fun of us whenever we were stuck with no other choice but to die! In Japanese at that!

Examples being messages like, 'Keep at it, Kouhai', or 'Oh hero, poor you for dying', or 'Hope the next hero does better'. Die. I'm the one dying though.
Traps made by past heroes are randomly set in a room, then once we have cleared a certain number of rooms, we are allowed to reach the farthest room.
Apparently, I'd be granted the ability to set up the traps here once I've conquered these ruins as well. I don't have time for that though, no thank you.


The next floor is the most unique one so far.
And I don't mean stuff like it being another dimension or the walls being made of flesh.

This floor is set up like the 'school' I went to in Japan. The corridors are fashioned like the hallways you see in elementary or middle schools.

A school at night. Neatly lined up chairs and desks. It's bright as if it's got electricity running but the outside is dark which gives off an impression of night time.


"T-this place is kinda weird."

"Careful now, the atmosphere is unlike anything before."


Olivie and Levia are looking around restlessly.
Guess they're not used to schools. Heck, I've yet to see a school in this world, wonder what's the education's like here.

Despite their lack of familiarity on schools, they seem to understand just how eerie a school at night is, they're both gripping my sleeves.
I don't see a trap so far, wonder what kind of gimmicks--


Poof, everything went dark alongside that cut sound.


"Hyawaaaaaa!!?"

"Kyaaaaaa!!?!"

"Wowau!?"


Screams.
The sudden power off bolstered the eeriness factor and made the two scream their lungs out. Me included.
Oy oy, you can't be telling me this is that kind of floor, can you? This is more troublesome to those who revive from death like us.


"W-w-w-w-what!? What is this!?"

"I-it's pitch black! Everything is pitch black!!"

"Calm down! They just turned off the light! We just gotta turn it back on!"


Dammit! It's a different vector of attack from repeated deaths!
Who could've guessed it's an attack on mental type of floor. This place is just the worst for someone who hates horror like me.
Levia and Olivie seem to be just as bad with it. Guess they're still girls.


"W-where!? How should we turn it back on!?"

"L-Levia-san, you can't leave us! Don't leave me alone!"

"The light switches are generally installed near rooms' doors. Just keep looking and--"


Purururururu! Purururururu!


"Waaaaaaaaa!!"

"Hiiiii!!?"

"Kyaaaaaaaa!! W-what is it now!?"


Purururururu! Purururururu!


"N-Neora, I think it's coming from you."

"...Ah, it's the ringtone of the communication magic device instructor left me with."

"Ha, haa, ha, ha...!! I, I thought my heart was about to leap out."


Olivie looked like she almost hyperventilated from the shock. For the time being, let's all take a deep breath. Okay?
What's up with the call timing anyway, instructor! That got me real good!
I mean, they couldn't tell what we were doing here. It's not like they got a choice, I get it.

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564 Seize the Sky

"I suppose I should have a go too. Here I come."

I use it. Acceleration that is. I concentrate hard and get within Balgaranda's spear range.
He's not moving. Of course. I'm in the highest stage of Acceleration right now. Doesn't matter if he's the reigning champion of this city, there is no catching me in this state.
I put the tip of my stick before his chin and undid Acceleration.

"...Fuoo!? ...What's?! ...How did you get in my range... When did it happen?"

I slowly stepped back. With my stick still raised on alert.

"I give up. This is... I don't get it! What kind of move was that! Tell me how you did it! You will right!? I'll do anything I could! Please, teach me will you!?"

Just as I thought. I knew he'd ask.

"Ah, sorry but I can't teach you. Hope you understand."

I denied him coldly. I was sure he was gonna keep pressing but nope.

"Nununu! Right, of course. It's a shame but nobody wants to readily disclose their cards. Indeed, I don't believe in easy power up either. I got carried away there."

Balgaranda cooled off right away. I'm relieved he's a man who can be reasoned with.
And just as I thought it would be bow and magic matches next, he declared he was done.

"Appreciate it! That was truly enlightening! Here is your payment. That experience was worth every coin! I hope you are open for another bout next time!"

I was a bit taken aback by the earlier than expected end but I accepted it nonetheless.

"...Yes, that's fine by me. Just make sure you uphold my term."

"Fumu? Your strength far surpasses mine, is it not an utterly easy matter to supplant me as this coliseum's champion? I suppose you have a reason to stay in the dark. I won't inquire further."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"I'm only here as a tourist. Not to duke it out in the ring."

"Hahaha! Then be sure you enjoy everything this city has to offer! You could spend months touring this city and you wouldn't have seen everything there is! This place has no shortage of fun spots! I hope you find one to your liking!"

Balgaranda laughed loudly with a refreshing smile.

"If you'll excuse me."

I walked away. The observer looked on with a dumbfounded expression.
Balgaranda stayed on the ring even after I got outside.

"A monster that makes me look like an insignificant speck. Yeah, I don't see myself ever reaching his level no matter how strong I get. It's like trying to seize the sky in your hand."

Only the observer overheard his mutter. It never reached my ear of course.

"Ah, welcome back! What would you like to do now? Should I lead the way to an inn?"

I could finally relax after hearing the guide.

"I'm done tonight. Right, you know an inn with a bathroom?"

Thus I decided.

(Ha~ Still got plenty of stamina left but I'm so mentally drained already.)

I followed the guide to an area full of concrete buildings with blinding lights.

We stopped in front of a building that looks exactly like a high class ryokan you typically see in Japan.

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F R E S H

I kicked the mimic flying to reveal another nut... This dungeon's designer must be a jokester.
Well, at least this one's a hit, being a 'Seed of Life' that increases your maximum HP.

I'd rather a stamina one though.
In my case, I can just convert my MP to Stamina no problem but the girls easily run out of stamina if they're not careful.
Attribute buffing with Energy Control is the key to fighting stronger opponents. It's more essential than Mana Control in a way.


Alma, Reina, Hiyoko can stably boost their Attributes by 2-3 times during combat while I can go up to 5-6 times.
Meaning if Alma has say, 1000 base Attribute, she can get them to around 3000.
If we go by magic beast level, it's like being able to go from Lv50 to Lv80 for a brief instance. Super scary.

Trying to boost higher eats up way too much stamina, bringing in the opposite results instead.
And so, the higher your stamina the longer you can keep the buff, and the stronger the buff gets.


By the way, I wasn't using Energy Control when Demon King did me in. No, I could not use it.
I mean, he was clearly way beyond any opponent I had ever faced. It's obvious the usual Energy Control wouldn't have worked.
There was no winning that unless I could raise my Attributes by 10 times. Then while I was contemplating what to do, he got me good before I could even process it. Like putting the cart before the horse. So dumb.

By the way, I'd probably run out of stamina in 10 second flat if the me now try to buff my all my Attributes that high. I've never given it a test but I can somehow tell.
I can probably last longer if I only buff a body part like only my arm or something, but then other body parts aren't buffed. Ununu.

Wonder how high Demon King's attributes get.
Apparently Menu has managed to obtain his status and information on his past. But I can't see it yet since the data is protected and Menu is still in the process of analyzing it.
Maybe Menu is hiding it from me since he's too hopelessly strong so I don't get discouraged?

<<Negative. The data is currently under analysis. It will be disclosed once the process is complete.>>

Oh okay... I know it's hard work but this information is indispensable if we wanna beat Demon King.

I'm counting on you, partner.


<<...Affirmative.>>





Floor 18 is a vast sprawling meadow you wouldn't think this place is inside a dungeon.
It's so refreshing. Neither cold or hot, with a nice breeze and a blue sky with sparse clouds above--

Wait a minute. How am I seeing the sky again. There was a similar floor in that dungeon near Industrial City but it lacked the sky.
Is this place connected to outside world? Wonder if I'm gonna come out of the dungeon if I keep flying.

<<Inadvisable. The sky in the upper part is the scenery outside visible due to spatial fissures. As the upper part of this floor is generated from the stress of spatial rifts, flying toward the sky will cause you to disintegrate once you have crossed a certain line.>>

Wut!? That's super scary! I'm never flying on this floor, nope!
Even this peaceful looking place is chock full of fatal stuff. The designer of this dungeon sure is one nasty person.
What even are spatial fissures. I've come across all kinds of traps and severe environments, but this particular gimmick is unlike any other.

<<It is a spillage of the spatial distortions found on Floor 21.>>

Wha? Spillage, distortions?
So you're saying these aren't manmade, but more like bugs?

<<That is estimated to be the correct answer.>>

Sorry for saying you're nasty, designer. Turned out it was a bug, got you wrong.
But I won't forgive the hell that was Floor 17. The designer is a nasty piece alright. Break a rib will ya.


『Cluclucluck! Cluuck!』

『Barururururu...!!』

『Bugiiiiiii!!』


Oou. The sky may make this place seem like a serene meadow, but magic beasts are prowling around like normal.
Oho, that exquisite looking red feathered chicken is called 'Sun-Color Cock' huh. Haven't seen a chicken magic beast in a hot minute. Hope Hiyoko is doing alright.
It's together with a cow and a pig beasts... Fumu, they're only about as big as ordinary cow and pig yet their levels are quite high at 82.


"They're at a nice age... Meat-wise particularly."


『『『!?』』』


"Which-one-will-it-be... Oy, hold it, why are you running."


Hold up. I was just thinking which one should I fight first.
Wait, wait for me. Hey! Don't run, you! Stop! I said stop!!


"Ya better stop right there darnittt!!"


『Cluaaaaaack!!』
『Bugyaaaaaaa!!』
『Bagyaaaaaaa!!』


Three magic beasts (meat) ran away with all their might. Oh no you don't, I ain't gonna let even one escape!

<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

The game of chase continued on for a while but I succeeded getting all three. Butcher. Safekeep.
They ran like their life depended on it so it ended up taking some time.

...This is bad. Even Lv80 magic beasts now run away when I'm simply showing appetite.
I can't level up efficiently if they keep running away wasting my time. Gotta see to it.


Traps exist in the meadow.
Dunno who set them up, there's traps like grass that coils around your legs when you step on them.
Or trees that shoot out bullet-like hard nuts that react from movements.
Or ordinary looking weed that twirl and stick on you when you touch them. Etc.


"...Oh?"


And also, pitfalls.


I kept my composure and used Mana Flight to fly away when I caught in one but my body suddenly felt heavier as I kept dropping down.
W-what's going on!? Heck, why was there no warning!? What's the deal, Menu-san!?

<<This pitfall is connected to Floor 19, thus it is usable as a shortcut. It is not life-threatening. There is no issue.>>

No no, I haven't finished exploring yet! There's the boss too, my leveling plan is going awry!

<<It is recommended to prioritize exploring Floor 19 over prolonging your stay on this floor. The magic beasts there are higher leveled with more usable items to obtain as well.>>

This is no recommendation, it's a coercion!
Can't you at least give me a word before I fall down... Heck, why does my body feel so heavy anyway!?

<<Floor 19 has a strong gravity pull. It is twice as normal near the entrance while it is around five times at the landing spot of this trap.>>

F, five times?
I weigh around 60 kg so it's gonna be 300 kg by the time I get down there.
C-can I even fly... Ah, I can see the ground. Won't I fall to my death if this keeps up?

<<There is a magic formula that absorbs impact engraved on the landing spot. Therefore there is no associated damage.>>

Whoopsie... It's true, I'm perfectly fine.
I'm thankful that does no damage but it kinda feels sickening instead. Like fwoosh...

Anyways, my body may feel heavy but I'm not unfamiliar with this sensation.
Yep, it's like when I had weighted mana gypsum I had equipped in my nightime running sessions.
By applying the opposite of that with idea, I can use mana gypsum to supplement my movement and lessen the burden.


But man, there's only two floor left including this one huh.
I've got a surplus of remaining days. I gotta start plan ahead once I reach Floor 21.
I just hope I don't get disassembled to pieces by the spacetime rifts the moment I step foot in it. Scary.

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