The steady sound of footsteps echoed through the dungeon, which was shaped like a cave. I still had some healing potions left, but I couldn't push myself too hard, so I was trying to conserve them as much as possible.
I was leaning on Bell's shoulder while keeping watch. Among us, I was the one least burdened physically, having been to this floor before. So, I was mapping the area carefully while staying alert in every direction.
It had been quite some time since we decided to aim for the 18th floor, but so far, none of the group showed signs of serious fatigue.
"...Lili, can you do something about that smell?" Welf suddenly complained, glaring half-open at Lili behind him.
"Please bear with it... If Toki-sama hadn't carried it, one of us would have had to." Lili replied, also half-lidded.
The source of the"smell" Welf was complaining about was actually the"Stink Sac Molburu" I was carrying, well, technically hooked onto a tentacle. It gave off a horrid stench that could make noses curl, but kept monsters at bay.
This item was apparently made by a faction called the Miach Familia, with whom Lili and Bell were on good terms.
"Oh, that's the one ruled by those two 'big player' gods, right?"
"...What do you mean by 'big players'?"
"They're the two gods famous in Orario for charming women. People say they're broke but still good-looking."
"...Oh."
"I think they're broke because they're too good-looking. They do everything out of goodwill without asking for anything in return, so their expenses pile up and income stays low."
"...Yeah, that sounds about right."
By the way, when Lili first pulled out this item, I really wanted it, mainly to use against some annoying wolves.
Yeah, little side stories like this help ease the mood of the party. I have plenty more, so I'll share them little by little.
Suddenly, I sensed movement ahead. Three of them. Size? Probably about the size of a calf.
"Bell, monsters ahead. Three of them. Likely Hellhounds."
Everyone held their breath. Sure enough, three Hellhounds appeared from the corridor ahead.
The corridor was a dead end, no side paths. Even though the Salamander Wool was still intact, one wrong move could mean total annihilation.
The Hellhounds were preparing to attack about 30 meters away, just out of range of the stink sac.
"I'll attack from the shadows. Bell, close the distance while I do."
"No, let me handle this."
Welf interrupted my order. I shifted my gaze to see what he intended.
He extended one arm toward the Hellhounds and began chanting.
[Burn out, illegal work—Will-o-Wisp]
In an instant, the Hellhounds exploded from within.
"Anti magic fire, Ignis Fatuus!?" Lili gasped in shock.
Ignis Fatuus is a phenomenon where a mage loses control over their magic, causing a spontaneous explosion. Usually happens with inexperienced mages or adventurers not used to magic... though I've never experienced it myself.
"So it worked..."
"W-Welf, what was that just now?"
"My magic's a bit special. It triggers an explosion by reacting to a certain magical energy. I'd never tried it on monsters before..."
I got a bad feeling from those words.
"You said 'monsters'... does that mean you've tested it on humans... experimented on them?"
"...I asked Smith for that. He didn't speak to me for about a week, but I made it up to him with a meal."
Bell and I exchanged glances. Could we do the same? Seems like we could.
We communicated silently through eye contact. Hearing stories like these from close friends always made me a little envious.
"For now, Welf, I'm giving you two Magic Potions to restore your mental energy. They're from the Mercurius Familia, so the effect is guaranteed."
"Toki-sama uses products from that Familia?"
"The head deity there is one of my regular clients. I meet them at least once a month for product trials or Familia business."
"You really have connections everywhere."
"Hermes's teachings aren't just for show."
He always knows how to handle anyone skillfully, never making enemies. His whimsical, breezy nature is something I admire.
"By the way, Toki, what's your god Hermes like?"
Bell suddenly asked, probably trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, well, let me tell you..."
I started sharing various stories about Hermes, memories from my travels, things that happened since coming to Orario. Once I start remembering, there's always plenty to talk about.
Isolated, unsupported, with limited items, yet we never give up.
"There it is..."
Bell's whisper caught my attention as I scanned for threats. Around the corner was a vertical shaft. Peering down, we could see a different floor's terrain below.
"Let's go."
We nodded to each other and jumped down. I spread my shadow like a cushion to soften the fall.
Looking around, we found a rocky cave different from before. I recognized the features as belonging to the 16th floor.
"Two more floors to go. Everyone, hang in there."
𓂀═════════════𓂀
After descending to the 16th floor and moving on for a while, the smell suddenly vanished.
"The stink sac... it's gone..."
Lili's faint voice seemed to echo through the cave.
We couldn't afford to despair. Now without the stink sac, we had to move even faster to find another vertical shaft. Just as I was about to say that,
Thud, thud. The sound of heavy footsteps pounding from deeper in the corridor.
Looking up, we saw a massive monster over two meters tall, a Minotaur.
"Vwooooooooh!!"
The Minotaur let out a terrifying roar, a classic monster intimidation tactic. Welf and Lili, both Level 1, visibly faltered.
Ignoring the pain from my broken leg, I took off. Almost simultaneously, my white rabbit friend dashed out from the side.
After a brief glance, he summoned a dagger and slashed off both of the Minotaur's arms. Bell immediately plunged the Hestia Knife into the magic stone embedded in the monster.
With just that, the Minotaur screamed its death cry and vanished.
While Welf and the others were stunned by the sudden event, we remained on guard. Further down the corridor, a nauseating number of Minotaurs were approaching.
Sixteen of them.
"Toki, 20 seconds, please."
Despite everything, we stayed calm.
"Ten seconds is enough. I'll take care of 12."
"Got it."
We bumped fists.
Bell and I had a solid routine, I bought time for Bell's charge-up. Bell's hands sparkled with flickering lights as I darted forward.
My sharp tentacles shot toward a Minotaur's chest at breakneck speed, piercing through its thick muscles.
As the first Minotaur collapsed with a scream, four more charged at us. Bell intercepted them.
Exactly ten seconds later, wielding the natural weapon from the Minotaur we'd just defeated, I charged forward again.
And then, I swung it down quietly.
A dazzling torrent of pure white light engulfed the Minotaurs, erasing them.
I rushed to Bell, pulled out healing and mental restoration potions from the shadows, and forced them down her throat.
The day after discovering this skill, we began studying it.
Bell's ability was powerful, but not without risks, maximum charge time was three minutes, and it cost both physical stamina and mental energy.
If they came at us like that again, we'd be wiped out.
I helped Bell to her feet, but she returned the favor with a weary yet defiant smile.
"Such a cheeky one." I thought, smiling back as we moved forward through the corridor.
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