The next day, the six of us go explore the second floor, while Argo’s party goes to another floor.
We’re checking on what floor we should use the shamal horn.
“You can use it on the second floor if it’s too much trouble.”
Is what they said, but I can use Map, so maybe it will be fine.
However, I feel like there are even more people here compared to the first floor.
Ah, I think it’s because each party has more members.
Also, there are hobgoblins here, and the fact that their skin can be sold as a material might have to do with it.
Sure enough, there are people selling monsters by the staircase. They call out to us, but we ignore them.
Argo told us that if we don’t show any interest, they’ll realize it’s a waste of time and stop.
“I felt the mood in the guild was different when we walked in today.”
“Yes. It’s like people did a double-take.”
Say Mia and Sera, and I do feel there were more eyes on us this time.
“Master, I sense monsters. Which way do we go?”
There’s a crossroad in front of us, and we’ll find monsters if we head forward or to the right.
“If there are monsters in two directions… It’s closer to the right.”
“There aren’t other parties here either, so how about we split up?”
Rurika is right, no one else is around.
“All right. But since the next location is also up ahead, once we’re done hunting on the right side, we’re coming back here.”
And so, I go to the right with Hikari and Chris, and the others go forward.
Normally, the three childhood friends would be together, but it’s best if Mia and I are split up because we can use holy magic, just in case.
Maybe it would be better if Chris and I were on different sides too, since we can both use magic, but that would ruin the balance.
I’m sure it will be different when Mia is used to fighting up close.
There’s also the fact that I have the Map skill.
After Rurika and the others are done hunting, they’ll wait there, and we’ll meet up with them. This way, we won’t miss each other.
“Be careful, Rurika.”
“That’s my line. Hikari, look after those two.”
“Leave it to me.”
It’s clear in Rurika’s eyes that Hikari is the most reliable to her.
We split up, and head straight to the monster reactions.
After walking for about two hundred meters, we turn left, and see hobgoblins. Four of them thirty meters away. They haven’t noticed us yet.
We can attack them from here and catch them by surprise, but I use Provoke to lure them here.
They’re affected by the skill, and run towards us after a yell, but never reach us.
Hikari swings her dagger four times, and all four are downed by her Project Slash skill.
We approach the dead hobgoblins, collect the magic stones, and go back.
The monster reactions over where the others are disappear before we get there.
After five minutes, we reach the others, who are chatting.
“Did anything happen?”
“Not really. We were just talking about how Mia was fighting.”
Apparently Mia asked them how she did.
According to Rurika and Sera, Mia took out five of the seven hobgoblins.
“We were going to jump in if it was necessary…”
“But it really wasn’t.”
It sounds like she didn’t have any trouble.
Still, Mia herself is unsure, so she wanted to know if she did anything wrong.
“Master, next.”
As we’re wrapping up this discussion, Hikari pulls my sleeve.
I check Map, and we head towards the next location.
Sadly, there are adventurers near the closest hobgoblins, so we have to change course.
After an hour, we take down three more. We then have lunch, and three hours later, take down a hobgoblin, and then four more.
We need to take down twenty on the second floor, meaning there’s one more to go, but unfortunately, there aren’t any nearby. I see… Two an hour away.
“…Let’s go take them down. We can camp and come back tomorrow.”
Says Rurika, reaching the conclusion that it will be worse if we go rest and someone else hunts them.
I could go by myself, but they’re not going to let me go alone, so we decide to all go, camp, and then leave the next day.
We register in the boss room while we’re at it on the way back, and luckily I guess, there are only five parties waiting, so we decide we might as well take it on.
There are ten hobgoblins in the boss room, with one of them being bigger than the others. However, Appraisal doesn’t say it’s a superior species.
We take them out without any problem, collect the contents of the treasure chest, and then return to the inn, where Argo and the others are waiting.
By the way, the treasure chest contained ten hobgoblin magic stones.
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Easy peasy! 😉
Thanks for the treat.