Funfufu~. I hum as I spread killer bee honey on some bread.
I bring it to my mouth, and with a crunchy feeling, the sweetness of the honey spreads inside it, starting my day off with the greatest joy.
It would’ve been perfect if it was ant queen honey, but we can’t be too greedy.
I take a sip of my drip coffee, and yes, tasty.
Even instant coffee tastes better if I convince myself it’s drip coffee.
I turn on the TV and watch the morning news.
This or that cheated on that, someone’s in love… To be honest, I really don’t care, but I watch with the magnanimous feeling of ‘that’s tough, I hope you find happiness’.
I managed to get myself some extra income yesterday, but I also managed to relieve pent up stress. It’s important to relieve stress occasionally, and make sure it doesn’t build up.
People say sickness and health starts with the mind, and I feel like a step further, and I’ll get a healthy life.
I can exercise and release stress at the same time. It costs a little, well, a lot of money, but the dungeon might really be a healthy work environment.
Some stuff pisses me off, but yesterday was mostly a good day.
I met who I wanted to see and achieved my goal. It was without a doubt a good day.
I used magic on injured seekers without thinking, but I regained my composure after telling myself it wasn’t like how it was with them.
I won’t use them as an excuse for anger. I decided it that day, I won’t use them as a reason.
That’s why that was just annoyance, it had nothing to do with them.
I held back my feelings and said hi while raising my hand, and got a spear thrust at me in return.
That was a pretty dangerous greeting, but I saw it before, so I pulled one leg back, crouched, and easily avoided it.
The greatsword of fortitude spewed flames in return, but it also took on my sword, so it easily dodged.
Suddenly a light turned on in my joyful heart, and a raging battle started.
That said, while I ran away before because I was outnumbered, I wasn’t going to lose in a one on one fight.
Fighting while surrounded by over a hundred hobgoblins was always going to be too harsh, but this time it wouldn’t be a problem unless I got careless.
The real battle began when the armored hobgoblin got off the horse, but I traced its moves, so it was well within what I could handle.
The more time passed, the worse it was for it. I saw through its trump card of expanding its spear, and while I was scratched, I avoided a direct hit.
It ended when the greatsword of fortitude separated its upper half from its lower half.
I exhaled, drunk on a fresh feeling of accomplishment, when the horse approached its owner and let out a neigh that sounded like it was crying.
Then its whole body lost its color, and it disappeared into mist.
It was like it chased its owner to the afterlife, and a skill orb rolled near my feet.
Anyway, I’m beaming after completing the quest from the weapon shop owner.
I’m going there to deliver the spear the armored hobgoblin used, and get new defensive equipment while I’m at it. I won yesterday, but I wasn’t unharmed, and the equipment was destroyed.
Also, I need to contact that party from yesterday to ask when they’re transferring the money.
Guardian elastic spear
Its length can be changed at will by infusing it with magic energy. It is very sturdy but flexible, and comes with an assist feature when using magic.
*Once used by the imperial guard that served the Kingdom of Demins.
Attack power: 45
Durability: 73
Purchase price: 17000000 yen
Guardian beast armor (horse) (damaged)
Allows for a horse to be summoned when equipped. Its breed and abilities vary depending on who has it equipped, meaning it can range from a powerful partner to a useless horse. It sports high durability, and magic damage resistance.
*Once used by the imperial guard that served the Kingdom of Demins.
Durability: 115
Special effect: Summon (horse)
Purchase price: 20000000 yen
Yes, this is nice. Wait, Kingdom of Demins?
I ask the weapon shop owner what that’s about, and he says they sometimes display names of countries that don’t exist.
I’m impressed, and think it’s interesting, but he gives me a warning.
“Don’t start investigating. Everyone who does that for fun ends up dead.”
His normally silly face has a serious expression as he looks at me. Are you that worried about me?
“Who’s got a silly face? I’ll mince you.”
Oops, I accidentally said it.
I didn’t mean anything by it, just that it’s rare, is the excuse I tell him.
So, what’s that about? If they died that sounds scary. Is it that dangerous?
Hn? You don’t know? Everyone you knew who investigated it died?
Are you sure they didn’t just run away or something?
They weren’t that kind of people?
Anyway, I just have to not do it, right?
More importantly, you said you’d buy this spear, so I have a proposal…
I propose that he let me use the guardian beast armor.
He resized the magic mirror armor, so I figure he can do it with this too.
It’s not bad as an armor, and neither is its special ability. Not to mention that I wouldn’t have the money to buy this. So I’m thinking I should use it.
“…Not enough.”
Ah? What?
“You don’t have enough money.”
Wait wait, even if I sell a seventeen million spear? That’s not a nice joke~.
…It’s serious?
◇ ◇ ◇
He tells me it’s at least twenty million.
Apparently I shouldn’t have bisected it. I should’ve been smart and gone for the neck.
That gets me feeling down, and this time, it’s the owner who has a proposal.
Have a bout against him.
I’ll do it if it means I can use that armor, but it gets me worried if it’s really all right.
He looks to be over sixty. What good could come from going one on one with an old man like him?
Only he knows why he asked, but I don’t feel like asking. After all, I might ruin this for me.
And so, I just accept.
◇ ◇ ◇
I leave the weapon store, and sit down on a chair to make a phone call.
I’m calling the leader of the party from yesterday. They were beaten by the armored hobgoblin, but it wasn’t life threatening, and potions healed them.
I was promised compensation, but I want to know when I’m getting it.
◇ ◇ ◇
Hello, this is Tanaka. Yes, yes. Ah, I see. Hum, I’m not selling cosmetics.
What Tanaka?
Yesterday’s Tanaka.
No, not the savage Tanaka.
The Tanaka you met in the dungeon. Who you people tried to kill. Is that enough to jog your memory?
She finally realizes who I am, and I’m relieved.
Apparently she wants to meet in person to thank me, and asks if we can meet tomorrow morning.
Well, as long as I can get it. We’ll meet tomorrow in the guild early in the morning.
After the phone call, I exhale and a question comes to mind.
Thank me?
For what?
Are they going around settling scores?
She called me to the guild too, so is she going to surround me with her seeker friends and attack me?
Which one’s savage? What happened yesterday was your fault.
No no, let’s not make assumptions. I don’t want unnecessary trouble. But I’ll be ready just in case.
◇ ◇ ◇
The thirty-first floor
I walk through the dungeon in my damaged protector.
It’s damaged, but usable. The head and torso are broken, but it protects my limbs.
I’m not too happy that it doesn’t protect my vitals, but I don’t have money to buy something else, so it’s this or nothing.
I get myself fired up as I start my exploration, but the calm scenery relaxes me again.
And then I’m attacked by invisible wind magic. Carelessness is a mortal enemy.
A lump of wind the size of a giant hammer blows me away from behind.
I also use Wind Magic to envelop myself.
The winds blow in opposite directions, scraping away at each other, until it’s all spent and dissipates.
I turn around, and see six hobgoblins. Two have their hands stretched towards me, so those were the ones who used magic at the same time.
Composite magic? Interesting.
Will you use that again, I think as their front line warriors come this way.
I create three rock spears with Earth Magic, and activate the Speed Up magic circle to launch them at the monsters.
I hear a quiet but shrieking sound, and the next moment, three hobgoblins are down with large holes in their stomachs.
That leaves the mages and an archer.
I run towards them, take a firm step, and use Wind Magic to project myself like a bullet.
I accelerate, envelop myself in more wind, and thrust with my left leg to course correct.
Take this! Rider Kick!!
I grow the talons from my divine bird boots, hit the archer directly, and drag it across the floor after catching it.
As I land, I face the mages. They put their left and right hands together, and hold up the others towards me.
I can feel the hum of magic energy.
A small whirlwind appears in front of them, that quickly turns into a tornado. It’s then enveloped in fire, creating a raging burning wind.
Ooh, I’m impressed. This is composite magic.
But that’s all it is.
I infuse the greatsword of fortitude with magic energy, and swing horizontally to send a projectile slash flying, which rips through the fire tornado and its casters.
I was wondering if I should use this whole putting two spells together thing as reference, but something feels off.
They upped the power of the flames with wind, but why a slow tornado? Why not a fireball that flew directly at me? And if it’s about upping the power, it’s faster to use magic circles.
I have Earth Magic and Wind Magic, so I want to try using them together too somehow.
As I think I now have homework, I continue my exploration.
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Haruto Tanaka (24)
Level: 26
Skills: Earth Magic, Trace, Healing Magic, Spatial Grasp, Toughness, Magic Energy Control, Physical Strengthening, Poison Resistance, Storage Space, See Through, Parallel Thinking, Sewing, Limit Break, Dismantling, Magic Energy Circulation, Consumption Reduction (Stamina), Wind Magic, Curse Resistance
Equipment: Greatsword of fortitude, divine bird boots
Status: Fat (All abilities boosted)
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