“And so, mother-in-law…”
“…Yes, it’s time to give it another shot.”
Miki’s face is red, like she isn’t used to being called mother-in-law yet, and I tell her we’re going to conquer the third floor. She’s already seen footage of the training we did yesterday in preparation to face Lamia.
She has also seen the unedited footage of our fight with a Lamia, so she’s familiar with its physical abilities and moves. She made the decision that it won’t be a problem, and gave us the go ahead.
“It seems like you’re all ready, but battles aren’t absolute. Be careful out there.”
“Yes. We are going to take down one Lamia, and if there isn’t a problem, we want to finish the powered up rare monster of the snake area. Then, if possible, we want to use that house we talked about around the camping area of the third floor, to test how it feels… What is the camping area like?”
“Thanks to you, it’s booming. There wasn’t enough room near the entrance to the fourth floor and exit of the third. So even the exit of the fourth floor and entrance of the fifth are full of people.”
“Ou…”
It even spread to the fifth? Is this okay?
“Ah, Shouta. There were people camping on the fifth floor anyway, so it’s not a problem from that point of view.”
“Really?”
“It’s the deepest part of the beginner dungeon. Its relative difficulty means it’s usually busy with adventurers on the verge of graduating.”
“Precisely. So don’t worry.”
“Eh…”
I really want to see what it’s like.
“If it’s that busy, wouldn’t it be better to camp somewhere like the entrance to the third floor?”
“Amachi, the safe zones in entrances and exits vary depending on the floor. The one on the entrance to the third floor is quite narrow, so if you are setting up a tent… Or rather, a container house, you should do it in the exit of the second floor, or in the special area of the fourth floor like before.”
“Hm, the fourth floor…”
“I understand your reluctance. It’s not quite as comfortable anymore.”
“No, it’s okay. But those people staying there for a long time are only eating orc meat, right? I guess I don’t want to take the girls there and stay for too long…”
“Oh my.”
I feel piercing eyes from all sides, but I’m just saying how I feel, so I won’t say anything about that.
“That can’t be helped then. I will announce that you will be staying near the exit of the third floor. I can post guards as well.”
“No, that’s okay. We have Enki, Enril, and Iris to stand guard without sleeping.”
‘Goh.’
‘Popo.’
‘Pururu.’
“I see. So… It’s a slime this time. I heard about it, but first golems, now a slime… You just never know with you. What will you bring next?”
“No, I wasn’t planning on taking Iris with me, Enki picked it up.”
‘Goh, gogo.’
‘Puruouru.’
“Fine. Good luck conquering the third floor. I know you received specialized training, but don’t let it get to your head. You don’t know if the real thing will go according to your training.”
“Yes mother-in-law. I will be going.”
“Have a safe trip. I will pray for your safety.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
After reaching the third floor, I put Enki on the ground and give it orders.
“Enki, giant form.”
‘Gogo!’
Enki controls a lot of sand and transforms into its giant form.
Its skill evolved into Iron Sand Control, but it’s only level one, so it’s difficult for it to become giant and cover its whole body in iron. It’s limited to one meter.
But even though it evolved, it can still use Sand Control LvMAX like it did before, and turn into a rock giant with iron only on its fists and feet. Like it was when it reached Lv8, it’s limited to a little over six meters, but for balance reasons, this size is just right.
We take position on its arms or on top of its head, and start exploring the third floor.
“Enki, turn left here. And move forward until further instructions.”
‘Gogo!’
First, like last time, we fill the map around spawning areas. As expected, the third floor is still a place most adventurers ignore, so despite my map being incomplete, I see a few green reactions, telling me there are treasure chests.
But I don’t have time to mind them now. I sit cross-legged on Enki’s head, and use Hawk Eye to fill the map along with image training. Enki keeps advancing while crushing monsters, and Enril takes down the ones that climb. Aira collects drops and counts how many monsters have gone down.
Once again, around the time when we’ve filled about seventy percent of a snake area, Aira tells me we took out ninety-nine. Enki changes direction, and runs straight to a marshland.
I guess the timing is just right, because smoke comes out from below its feet just as we’re approaching it.
Iris also took down five along the way, and not only did they count towards a hundred, but they dropped everything too.
“Well then.. Is it time?”
“Good luck.”
“Be careful.”
“Do your best!”
“I won’t be watching, but I will cheer for you in spirit.”
“Yes!”
I jump down from Enki, and look at the smoke welling up in the center of the marsh.
Orochi appears from there, and I check its stats.
＊＊＊＊＊
Name: Orochi
Level: 45
Physical Strength: 600
Dexterity: 800
Constitution: 450
Agility: 50
Magic Energy: 100
Intelligence: 100
Luck: None
Skills: Earth-Shaking, Water Current Control Lv1
Drops: Orochi skin, Orochi reitan
Magic stone: Large
＊＊＊＊＊
Last time I got hit with paralysis right from the start and had to let it hit me… But not this time.
It has Evil Eye. Like Lamia, it takes effect the moment our eyes meet. It’s perfect to train before the Lamia.
I close my eyes, and take a deep breath.
“Ahh…”
A large mass falls on the marsh, and I can hear and feel it on my skin that something abnormal is emerging.
“Payback time.”
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