Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Night CityInhabitant

We, the Arrivers have arrived at the sixteenth floor. The second visit. Unlike last time, the objective this time is to clear the floor.

Man, its creepy here~

Forces grumbling complaint echoes in the distance. Even if you speak in a normal voice it stands out in this dark Night City.

Somehow, there is a total lack of life

The houses are still standing, but it doesnt look like anyone lives in them. We open one of them to look inside, there is a table, a kitchen and a bathroom, but no dishes, tableware or knick-knacks. There werent any monsters lurking inside the house either.

A little ways down, theres a monster on the road, but there doesnt seem to be any in the house

I rely on Enemy Search and Mapping to find the monsters. From this floor onwards we have no maps to rely on, so the information-gathering depends on my skills. I have finally been given a role. It makes me a bit happy.

Although the worlds rules dont apply to the dungeon, here too there is a law. And that one law is, The gate to the next floor is always directly opposite to the gate to the previous floor. While relying on that rule we advance, exploring the whole way.

Although this rule can be used when the floor has an open layout like this one, it is not very useful when the floor consists of winding and narrow caves. You cant figure out the direction youre moving in and then theres no way of knowing if youre even moving toward the boss room.

It might be said that open floors like this one are easier, but it also leads to the high probability of being attacked by monsters on all sides.

Well, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

After passing the main street, we leave the house-packed residential area and begin to see buildings that look like shops.

Look at that! It looks like there is something displayed!

Neme rushes to the items on display, they have been set up on shelves outside the shop. Needless to say, I dont stop her because withEnemy Search I know there are no monsters around.

There is something painted on the tent that was raised on the shops roof. Is it writing? Thats what it feels like. But Im not able to read it, no matter how hard I try, so I dont really know.

Super Neigh is what it says huh Erin murmurs beside me.

What!? You can read that!?

Of course not

Wait, why of course Haha, could it be that Erin was born here, as a dungeon monster?

There is no such thing! It is only natural for a first-class mage like me to understand dungeon-writing!

Dungeon-writing?

I tilt my head. Erin exhales like she cant believe what shes hearing.

You know I dont know much about your dungeon, right?

And its true, I really dont know. When I lived with Miya in the village, I never even imagined of exploring a dangerous dungeon like this. Oh, and I also dont know much about mages.

There was no mage in the small village of Changs and I was never really that curious about magic either.

To become a mage you need both money and the right environment.

Those that aim to become mages usually start receiving instruction at a young age from their school and parents. In doing so, it seems they are able to increase the speed at which they gain magical power and knowledge. Furthermore, after going through that kind of training, gaining a magic related skill becomes easy.

This isnt something specific to

magic though, if you train swordsmanship, it also becomes easier to attain a sword related skill.

By the way, I also received some special instruction with the sword, and yet the skill I came out with wasMapping.

And thats why I have very little knowledge pertaining to the field of magic.

Dungeon-writing is writing that is in the dungeon!

Thats your explanation? Erin-sensei?

Oh, shut up. Be quiet and listen to the rest

Ignoring my joke, Erin continues her explanation. Though, she could have joined in just a bit

Dungeon-writing is filled with all kinds of useful information, from what floor you are currently on, to hints on how to clear it and knowledge related to spells and arts.

Why is something like that written in the dungeon?

Even the Magic Society doesnt know, its considered an eternal mystery Right now, the predominant theory is that whoever made the dungeon wants us, humanity, to clear it. Thats why they say that the dungeon is a trial made by God.

With so much information coming in at once, I wasnt able to keep up. Whats a Magic Society? Dont just throw in a new word!

If Erin got a job as a teacher in a school, she would probably be the type of teacher about which the students would always be complaining behind her back with, That teachers teaching is so hard to understand!.

Next, theres why mages study dungeon-writing! Thats because

After hearing what youve said so far, I think I get the gist of it. Seeing as you study spells, you probably need as much information about them as you can get, and if dungeon-writing contains spell information, you need to read it as well, right?

Mmm Well, I guess thats about right Then Next is

With a groan, Erin was about to continue, when Neme raised her voice.

Guys, come here! This store only sells carrots!

At Nemes words, we all exchanged glances. What could she possibly mean? Did something happen to her head?

In order to find out, everyone headed towards her.

It really is just carrots

Standing in the storefront, Jin lifts up a long and narrow red vegetable. Its an ordinary carrot.

I guess we wont have to worry about food on this floor

Force is looking at the carrots with a troubled expression.

Im going to get so sick of carrots

I agree with Force wholeheartedly.

Yo, Note! Why dont you make us some delicious food so we dont get tired of ErinsCooking Small?

Rosalia Dont fuck with Erin though me Im being glared at

How is this my fault!?

Look over there! That shop also has nothing but carrots in it!

Neme rushes to the opposite shop.

SFX: pekepeke

And sure enough, when we arrived, there were nothing but carrots.

Whats up with this floor?

Erin had a point. After that, we went to several shops, but everywhere we checked there were only carrots.

There were no other goods to be found. To the extent that Im going crazy by just looking at carrots. I had a similar experience in the weapon shop, when I walked in to see all those carrots hanging on the walls, I couldnt help but question whether or not a carrot was really a vegetable.

Well, we are about to encounter monsters, so please be prepared I warned all party members.

About 100m away. I feel the presence of monsters just ahead, three in buildings and two on the road. The total is ten. Its a lot.

There are no strong monsters among them. Examining their presence, I can see they are all of equal strength.

Theyre far enough away that we dont have to fight them if we dont want to. But I want to understand the opponents characteristics and get used to them Is that okay with everyone?

Everyone nodded in response to Jins proposal.

Going through an alley between two buildings, we approach the monsters.

We headed in the direction the monsters were moving to and waited behind a corner.

While usingStealthJin looks around the corner to check on the enemys progress.

What the Jin muttered with fascination.

Neme then turned to me and urged me to use Stealth as well. There was no way around it, so I put my hand on her shoulder so we could both take a peek.

Theres a walking horse

Whats with that description

Erin nitpicked at the words Id accidentally slipped. Just look at it. Theres no better way to put it.

That horse-man, Jin

Whats a horse-man!? I still dont get it, but Im getting more and more worried!

Its a term coined by Neme!

As always, absolutely no naming-sense!

What are talking about, Erin. Ive never seen something like that, so I can say that.

Anyone who saw that would think the same way. Nemes term is spot-on.

Well, then lets launch a surprise-attack.

On Jins mark, the party jumped out.

Whaa! Its really a horse-man!

Ignoring Erins noisy cry, Jin uses Climb to run up the building walls.

Its an armor-wearing, one-handed-spear-baring bipedal horse. And now that horse-mans head is being cut off by Jin. Blood sprays everywhere.

Piiiiiiiii!

In response to Jins attack, a whistle blows from the horse-mans hip. Force, who had followed Jins attack with his own seemed wary. He stopped before reaching top speed and attacked the horse-man group with caution.

Its a signal of some sort! Its alerting his friends!

ThroughEnemy SearchI was able to detect the gathering monsters around us. If you blow a whistle in an open place like this, the sound will resound all around, and a huge quantity of monsters will come.

Lets run! This was my mistake, lets go to the next floors gate!

Although Jin moved his mouth, his black sword never stopped. Moving like a living thing, the sword cut off a horse-mans leg. Jin seems to have switched his focus from killing the enemy to simply immobilizing him. Following suit, Force does the same thing as he confronted the horse-man group.

The horse-men are right behind us. We are running in the order of Rosalia, Erin, me and Neme.

Neme is falling behind.

I rush back to pick her up. Holding her under my arm, we promptly reach Rosalia and the others.

Forces group has also caught up to us.

Rosalia! Turn right there!

We need to avoid as many of the approaching horse-men as possible.

From this distance, Rosalia who is running in first place, wont be able to hear me. I raise my pace in order to keep up with her.

Theres three of them coming! Be careful!

Even with the full use ofMappingandEnergy Search, collisions with the horse-men are inevitable.

Without slowing down, Rosalia barrels through a horse-man that appears from an alley. Without losing momentum, she sends his shield flying.

Then she turns around slashes him with her holy sword.

Piiiiiii!

The sound comes from the horse-man Rosalia just killed. Its a signal to call his friends here.

Frustrated, Rosalia glares at the horse-mans whistle.

Ignore it! Lets go!

Jin, who has caught up with Rosalia, gives a withdrawal order. She nodded and gives Jin the lead.

The Arrivers receive their sixteenths floor baptism at the very beginning.