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.
Posts
