by Hiro Ainana
Focusing on Zena’s marker on my radar, I pushed past the people and slimes locked in a free-for-all.
There she is! Zena was fighting off slimes with a long staff, protecting a group of priestesses who were in turn protecting the Oracle. The fact that she was using her staff must mean she’d finally run out of magic.
I thought I might try to snipe the nuclei with coins from a distance, but I didn’t have a good angle. If I messed up, I’d hit the Oracle instead.
One of the monsters attempted to suck in Zena’s staff, pulling her down.
She let out a cry of anguish.
I’m coming!
I unfastened my cloak as I ran, tossed it over the slime that was covering the magic soldier, and used it to pull her attacker off.
With the sound of cloth ripping and a short cry from Zena, I managed to toss the slime behind me. Holding it off with fire, I pulled out a rarely used knife and threw it at the creature’s nucleus, destroying it.
“Are you all right?”
I turned to Zena to make sure she was safe—but my voice cut off in a squeak of surprise.
The indecent slime had torn a huge hole in her blouse. On top of that, it had even melted through part of her chest wrapping, making it come undone.
In short, well…there was nothing left to hide her modest femininity.
Having narrowly escaped a brush with death, Zena herself didn’t seem to have noticed this yet.
It would be wrong to stare, so I reached into Storage via my bag and pulled out a clean piece of cloth, tossing it over to cover her front.
“Oh—thank you! …Satou?!”
Covering her chest with the fabric, Zena finally noticed my presence; with a cry of surprise, she leaped up to embrace me.
Uh, you’re gonna drop the all-important cloth I just gave you!
“Satou! I’m so glad you’re all right!”
I wasn’t sure if our relationship was really close enough to warrant all that, but I wasn’t going to complain about a cute girl hugging me. Besides, I was happy to be reunited, too.
And it was all well and good for me to enjoy her soft embrace until she came to her senses, but I did think the agonizing screams of battle all around us dampened the mood a little bit.
The Oracle priestess whom Zena had been protecting approached from behind her. Huh? Come to think of it, what was the Parion Oracle doing in a place like this? I knew they’d been on their way to a house call in the west quarter, so maybe they’d gotten caught up in the labyrinth business on their way back?
“Zena, please save your excitement about your reunion for later. For now, finishing off these monsters takes priority.”
“Ah, s-sorry about that! Gosh, what am I doing?”
“Don’t worry. I’m happy that you were so pleased to see me.”
The Oracle pointed at the piece of cloth that was now at a priestess’s feet, and the priestess collected it and handed it to Zena. Flustered, she hurriedly tied it around the front of her blouse; I watched her fondly for a second before turning to the Oracle.
“From your performance a moment ago, it would seem that you know the weak point of these creatures, do you not?”
“Yes, that’s right. Slimes all have nuclei, so if you strike that, you can defeat them easily.”
“Leave it to you, Satou! You’re not just nimble—you’re also very knowledgeable, too!”
“Not at all. I just learned that from Liza.”
“Liza? I-is that a woman?”
On hearing the unfamiliar name, Zena pressed closer to me. Right. I guess I named her while we were in the dungeon, so Zena wouldn’t know her name.
“Save your infidelity interrogation for later, please. Is there a way to tell by sight where the slime’s nucleus is?”
Excuse you, Oracle. “Infidelity”? Thanks for making me look bad with a groundless accusation. Well, I can clear up this misunderstanding later.
“There is. The nucleus is a slightly different color, and if you approach it with fire, the slime will recoil and try to keep it away from you—so if you know what to look for, it’s easy to find.”
“Zena, can you use Whisper Wind?”
“I’m sorry; I used up all my magic, so I won’t be able to for a while…”
If only I could transfer some of my unnecessarily plentiful MP to her. Still, I had to wonder if the rate or method of recovery varied from person to person; these young ladies’ magic showed no signs of replenishing.
Whoops, better save my analysis for later. I wonder if I’d gain some sort of useful communication skill by shouting?
I sucked in air deeply, filling my lungs, and shouted as loudly as I could. “Aim for the slimes’ nuclei!”
> Skill Acquired: “Amplification”
Due to the nature of my line of work, I wasn’t really used to shouting, and my voice cracked…but I managed to get the skill anyway. I put some points into it, then repeated my cry, adding on a supplementary explanation.
It was a short clarification but seemed to have effectively reached the soldiers, because they started to eliminate the slimes with pinpoint accuracy. This was probably thanks to their expertise as soldiers, but it might also have something to do with my “Direction” skill.
A nearby slime started creeping up on us from its hiding place, but Liza and the girls caught up just in time to take it out.
The soldiers seemed to be fine, but there were a few groups of civilians who were being driven back to the wall, so I brought the girls with me to come to their aid. Before we parted, I handed the priestesses a lit torch. There weren’t any monsters around them, but just to be safe.
In a foolproof winning strategy, Pochi and Tama were driving back the slimes with torchlight while Liza stabbed the nuclei, steadily whittling down the enemy numbers.
My role was just to call out to the people who were alarmed by the sudden appearance of the beastfolk and get them to calm down.
Man, I wish things were always this easy.
When most of the slimes had been taken care of, I headed back toward Zena and the others.
At some point, Nidoren, Viscount Belton, and the other man had arrived in the room as well. They, too, found some friends and rejoiced at their reunion.
“Sir Satou, we truly appreciate your help.”
“It’s all right. I’m just glad I made it in time.”
When I got back to Zena’s group, the priestesses thanked me as well.
Zena and the Oracle were sitting on the ground with their eyes closed. Are they meditating or something? My guess was that this was an easy stance from which to regain MP. They seemed to be recovering it much faster than before.
Keeping an eye on the two as they meditated peacefully, I looked around at the rest of the room.
Of the fifty or so soldiers who’d been trapped in the labyrinth, about 70 percent were here. It seemed that seven of them had been killed, and five were with another group in the demon’s maze.
Aside from the soldiers, about twenty civilians were here, too, including the ones we’d seen fleeing the room before.
One of the other priestesses was gathering the wounded near the Oracle. It seemed like she was going to use some kind of AOE healing spell, so we moved back to give her space.
With most of her magic recovered, the priestess chanted a really long incantation.
The chant took a good two or three minutes; looking bored, Pochi and Tama yawned and stretched. Or maybe they’re just tired?
“… Area Heal Han’i Kaifuku!”
When the spell was complete, a cone of soft light shone down on the priestess and spread out to encompass the people around her. Where’s that coming from? Curious, I reached out to touch the light.
> Skill Acquired: “Holy Magic: Parion Faith”
Whoa, I gained the skill just by touching it. Once again, this seems a little too easy…
It looked like this magic had healed most of the injured.
The Oracle priestess seemed to h
ave used up most of her MP with this spell, so her companion priestesses went about casting additional healing spells on those who needed them.
Having finished her meditation, Zena ran her fingers through her hair as she spoke to me.
“I really am glad you’re all right, though.”
“Well, these girls were a big help there.” I reintroduced the beastfolk to the relieved Zena.
“Ah, the demi-human children from back in the plaza.”
“My name…is Pochi.”
“Tamaaa.”
“I am called Liza.”
Shyly, Pochi and Tama introduced themselves as briefly as possible and hid behind my legs. Only Liza seemed to remember that Zena had defended them before.
“We’re immensely grateful that you protected us from those stones on the surface. Without your sorcery, I doubt these children and I would have survived for long. Thank you very much.” Liza bowed deeply as she thanked Zena.
Apparently remembering Liza’s words, Pochi and Tama emerged from behind me and bowed.
“Thanks!”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Zena giggled. “You’re welcome.”
Amusingly, the girls immediately used me as a shield again once they’d thanked her.
“Oh, that’s right, Satou! The exit might not be far from this room!”
“Really? Did you find that out with magic?”
“Yes, I have a spell called Path Finder that can get information from the flow of the air!” Zena told me in a whisper. “But you see, since it’s based on the air, it’s hard to say whether it came from a path that’s accessible to people. There’s a scout investigating right now, so we’ll have to wait a little longer.”
“Sure. Then let’s hope for good news.”
Apparently, right after that scout had left, the slimes had dropped from the ceiling, and that’s how the whole situation had started.
While we waited, I observed the room around us. The civilians had gathered in a corner to rest.
The viscount seemed to be discussing something with what looked like the army unit’s captain. Maybe next time you can actually do something useful with your “Blaze Magic.”
It seemed that past this room was a long passageway that led to the exit, but there was a small problem.
Like the setup of some messed-up dungeon master, there was a Skeleton Room partway through in an unavoidable location.
The soldiers and the viscount’s magic could probably dispatch the thirty-odd skeletons between levels 10 and 15, but there were three more formidable enemies: a level 30 skeleton knight, skeleton warrior, and skeleton death scythe.
The death scythe, in particular, seemed to have an insta-kill attack that we couldn’t afford to ignore. If we had a Turn Undead–type move that purified evil creatures, like in a game, then we could beat this easily.
Strategically, then, the best move was probably to wait for the Oracle and the priestesses to recover their magic.
The scout who’d been sent ahead to investigate the path soon returned and reported to the captain the same information I’d just investigated. The captain gathered his best staff, the priestesses, and the viscount to come up with a strategy.
Pochi and Tama seemed tired of all the waiting and were starting to doze off, so I let them take a quick nap in my lap. Liza, too, rested up for a while by my side.
Then, after the captain’s explanation, the battle began. We were left out of the proceedings.
The group’s strategy was to shave down the skeletons’ HP with the viscount’s magic, use Zena’s magic to break apart the enemies, then lure them one by one back to the room we were in to finish them off.
It seemed that they were using the narrow hallway to create a one-versus-many situation in their favor. Three of the priestesses supported the soldiers from behind, using a Turn Undead spell.
The civilians had been moved to a smaller room, with those capable of battle—like hunters and merchants’ guards—patrolling the hallway to protect the room from monsters.
We’d been evacuated here, too, but now we were getting ready to leave.
This was thanks to a group of men who seemed to be friends with the one we’d rescued before, who were upsetting the beastfolk with their jeers and complaints.
Nidoren the slave trader and his friends rebuked the group for us, but if I had to be stuck in a hostile environment, I might as well be near the battlefield.
Maybe because they’d saved his life, the young man himself wasn’t saying anything bad about the girls. He was halfheartedly trying to change the subject, but it wasn’t doing much good.
I thanked Nidoren and his friends, and we left to stand near the entrance to the battlefield.
From here, I had a good view of the scene inside the large room.
The path to the Skeleton Room up ahead must have been a straight one, because I could see the faint red glow of fire sweeping the area.
“Here they come! Spears at the ready!”
At the squad leader’s orders, the group of soldiers got into formation, lowering their spears.
Next, Zena and the viscount, who’d been sent ahead to get a head start with their magic, came leaping back into the room, followed shortly by a knight in lightweight armor. Directly behind him was a huge group of skeleton soldiers.
Two heavily armored knights formed a barrier in front of the passageway, halting the skeletons’ advance.
“Spearmen! Don’t stab—swing at them!”
At the squad leader’s orders, a countless number of spears descended on the skeletons, steadily depleting their HP.
Then the priestesses shot their purifying spells into the mix, finishing them off. Their resistance to the magic must have been reduced when they were low on health.
“Two of the big ones are coming! Captain Kigouri, we’re counting on you!”
“Aye! Bouza, can you take one of ’em?”
“Leave it to me, Captain! I’m on fire!”
The broadsword-wielding captain, who was the highest level of the lot, and a heavy soldier with a huge battle-ax and the second-highest level, were apparently in charge of the skeleton knight and the skeleton warrior.
The two large monsters broke through the front lines, and the two men took control, locking in battle with them a little ways away. They exchanged furious blows: the captain’s broadsword against the skeleton knight’s shield, and the hotheaded soldier’s battle-ax against the skeleton warrior’s club.
“… Bind Air Fuubaku!”
To support the heavy soldier, who seemed to be at a slight disadvantage, Zena cast a spell to limit his foe’s movements.
The viscount was standing with his arms crossed and looking decidedly self-important, but it didn’t seem like he was going to do anything.
“… Turn Undead Jouka!”
The Oracle’s purifying magic shot into action. The weaker skeletons collapsed into a pile of bones, but the larger ones resisted it. Still, it seemed to have made them flinch, so the tide of battle was starting to turn.
“Tch! Be careful of the black one! Its scythe can cut through shields!”
There was a torrent of noise and a spray of blood from the front lines.
The skeleton death scythe was the same height as the small-fry, but its bones were pure black. Its scythe was just like the kind that Death itself carries in images—not built for combat, but it could break through shields and cut through armor like paper.
The knights who made up the front lines were more than ten levels lower than the death scythe. If things went on like this, it seemed like the vanguard would crumble.
I took a small penny out of my pocket, fiddling with it in my hand.
I waited for the moment the death scythe swung its weapon and the spearmen moved away, then pitched the coin at the monster. My target was the skeleton’s ankle joint. Between my “Throwing” skill and my “Sniping” skill, I landed a direct hit on the tiny target from a full sixty feet away.
Since I’d timed it along with the skeleton’s attack, the momentum of its swing brought the monster crashing to the ground. To the soldiers fighting it, it should just look like it had swung too hard and fallen.
Not letting the chance go to waste, the soldiers and knights brought down a barrage of maces and the butt ends of spears, destroying the arm that held the blade.
Without letting a second go to waste, the Oracle came in with her purifying magic, reducing the black death scythe to a pile of white bone fragments.
From there, although it was a close game, the army was able to dispatch the rest of the skeletons without a single loss of human life.
Along with the people who’d been taking shelter, we proceeded to the Skeleton Room.
This room was even bigger than the one we’d been in before. It was about as big as two gymnasiums put together. The whole area was made up of bare rock, the natural ups and downs of which made it difficult to walk on the floor.
It was too dark to see the ceiling, but it seemed to be about fifty feet up.
On the way back to the surface, a heavy metal door blocked the passage. It was locked, and nobody seemed to be able to open it.
The knights tried to destroy it with their clubs and maces, but all this accomplished was a lot of loud, fruitless noise. Pochi and Tama covered their ears, cowering unhappily.
The clamor carried on for a while, but finally they seemed to give up and accept that they’d have to rely on magic.
“Viscount Belton, Zena, can either of you destroy it?”
“My Blaze Magic could easily make short work of it, but I would prefer to leave this to the hands of the youth.”
“M-my magic?”
Zena’s Air Hammer only kicked up the dirt around the door, not budging the heavy metal an inch. Air doesn’t weigh anything, so it’s probably not too effective against solid objects.
I’ll have to comfort her later.
Next, the viscount tried his Flame Tongue spell, but all it did was scorch the surface.
Oblivious to the growing gloom of the party, Tama tugged on my sleeve with her latest report. “Master, that wall is…weird!”