Magical Explorer

Gabby has a pale face.

Well, it’s understandable. She entered the dungeon with all the confidence in the world and suddenly she made a mistake that miraculously sent her to some hidden floor and now she doesn’t know what to do next. Moreover, if you normally fall from such height you would already be dead.

Honestly, I want to hug her right this instant and whisper to her that everything will be fine. Of course, there’s no way I could do that right now. Depending on how I do it, I might even get beat up by Yuika after all.

I sit the still shaking Gabby down on the floor and tell her [Don’t worry about it] to calm her down. Then I head out together with Yuika to explore the floor.

Just like inside the game [Twilight Road] is an orthodox cave-like dungeon. The wall, ceiling, and ground are all made of stone. You have to mind your step on some of the scaffolding as well.

Also, the dungeon is again illuminated with unknown light sources like usual so we don’t have to worry about lighting.

As I stare into the passage, I recall how Gabby struggled in my arm.

The number one reason why her nickname is Gabby is that she often screams [GYAAA] in the game. Of course, since the nickname for Gabriella in English is also Gabby, that also played a part as well.

“Unn. it seems we have no choice but to continue on ahead……the escape item is not working too.”

Looking at the path that leads to the next floor, Yuika said that after she examined the floor we fell from.

“I think this is probably some kind of special floor.”

Escape items might not work on some floors of the dungeon or on special floors.

“I think returning to the previous floor is no good too. We can’t possibly climb that wall. Fortunately, this place seems to be a safety zone though.”

Well, there’s no point in climbing anyway since we arrived here via transfer magic, not a trap hole. There’s no proof that we can find an exit up there after all.

“I’m sorry………..”

As I was talking with Yuika, Gabby who had lost her momentum completely said so downheartedly.

“I told you right? Don’t worry about it. Something like this can always happen after all.”

Contrary to how she looked, Gabby is a rather serious and responsible person.

That’s the reason why she doesn’t suit the Shikibukai in the first place though.

“Let’s be optimistic about this. Gabriella-san just discovered a hidden room that no one ever set foot in before right? There might be undiscovered treasure lying around here you know.”

“Th, that’s true. I found a hidden room……”

It’s no good. Despite saying that she is clearly depressed. Rather, her voice was shaking.

Yuika is probably wanting to apologize to Gabby too. She understands that this is not the time to put blame on Gabby. That’s why she keeps her usual smile and didn’t say anything. However, she is surely irritated, I want her to stop pinching me every time I try to calm Gabby down.

But unexpectedly, Yuika doesn’t seem depressed or panicked like Gabby. Rather than panicked, I would say that she’s calm. I’m fine because I knew what is in store for us but it’s weird for her who doesn’t know anything to not be panicked.

“Take Yuika for example, she stepped on those keys as well and she’s still totally oblivious right?”

“Haaa? What are you saying Takioto-san–?”

Umm, I was just trying to reduce Gabby’s guilty feeling. I wasn’t trying to criticize you or anything so please don’t get so angry. Rather, aren’t you great at reading the mood!?

“……Well, that’s certainly true!”

“Th, that’s right! If Yuika-san didn’t also step on it, the magic wouldn’t activate in the first place!”

Please, don’t pinch my back, don’t twist it either!?

“R, Right! Let’s think of a way to get out of here together. Nanami and the others must be worrying about us too.”

“That’s true. Haaaa, let’s get out of here.”

I follow after Yuika who started walking away in a huff.

“This is quite a strange feeling isn’t it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Fighting together as a team with this member, you know.”

Saying so, she drives her fist wrapped in light attributes magic into the [Sunakake-Baba]’s chest.

As the Sunakake-Baba floats up in the air she follows up with a superhuman mid-air combo like the one you would find in a fighting game.

However, the other monsters won’t just stand by and watch as she beat up Sunakake-Baba. The imp that appeared together with the Sunakake-Baba has its aim at Yuika and starts casting low-level dark magic.

Visual Aid

“Takioto-san.”

Of course, before she finishes her sentence, I had already moved.

Expanding the stole, I deflect the magic and was about to move to attack the imp but I stop my feet after I noticed the light spear flying from behind me.

“Strange? That’s my line.”

The intermediate light attribute magic, [Light Spear]. Depending on the power of the user, the number of the spear will increase. Even if it was just one spear, to be able to use an intermediate magic like this at this point in time is already proof that she’s an elite…….or so. That’s what Gabby said so it must be true.

The imp that was impaled by the light spear was sent flying to the wall and eventually turns into magic element.

Seeing the imp got attacked by an attack that exploits its weakness, I sigh………no matter how I think about this, I am really handicapped huh.

[Sunakake-Baba], [Imp] along with the boss that is further inside are weak toward light magic. Even if you normally capture the first five floors, all the monsters there are weak against light magic as well.

It is a dungeon that Yuika and Gabriella who specialized in light magic shine. Well, there is a difference because Yuika is specialized in close-range combat while Gabby is specialized in long-range combat though.

“OH HO HO HO! Did you see? Witness my power!”

“Aa– yeah sure, amazing.”

Seriously, she doesn’t even know what’s lying ahead of us and still keep using intermediate magic like that. Just what is she thinking? Hearing Yuika mutter, I make a bitter smile. Personally, I’m relieved that Gabby is gradually returning to usual though. Moreover, even if she ran out of magic power I can just transfer some to her later.

Seeing that it wouldn’t develop into a quarrel, I move to the disappearing Sunakake-Baba.

When I saw this monster in the game for the first time, I didn’t think that it would be Sunakake-Baba. Normally, a Sunakake-Baba would just look like a crumpled old lady.

Well, its tattered long white hair and deep wrinkles on its face made it look like an old man. However, on top of its strangely big mouth, its fangs are long and there’s a small horn grown on its head.

It’s an Oni no matter how you look.

I would never pass up a chance to post this tight midriff wouldn’t I.

I pick up a small magic stone and continue inside.

Then, after searching for dozens of minutes, we found a large door and a safety room.

“So it is a boss floor. It was shorter than I thought.”

“That’s true. Comparing to the beginner dungeon it is really shorter.”

Yuika and Gabby are surprised that it didn’t take them even an hour to arrive at the boss’s room.

“It seems to be a common trend in transfer magic traps you know.”

There are several types of transfer magic traps.

The most common one is the one that transfers you somewhere else within the same floor. Since it is on the same floor you can easily escape it by using escape items.

The second most common one is the one that activates an event on a special floor like this or teleports you to a monster floor. Clearing those floors will allow you to delve deeper inside the dungeon faster than a normal route.

If you return to the original floor, the place will often be built to be smaller and in case you go deeper, the floor will be much wider with an unusual number of monsters appearing.

It is probably to adjust the game’s balance.

This event floor was constructed to let us return to the previous floor so it is smaller than usual.

“I wonder what’s ahead……”

“It will be all right no matter what happens, I am here after all! OH HO HO HO!”

“Well, with this member it should be fine……let’s focus and head inside.”

With that said, I enchanted the stole with light attribute. Then I pushed the door open with third hand. It’s good that I don’t have to put in too much power despite it being a large door. Rather, I felt that it did open by itself.

With the door opened, a wide space lies ahead of us. It is around a field in an elementary school big.

We entered the room. After we advanced for a few steps, we heard howling from above.

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! !”

It was a body piercing voice. I felt an illusion like I was electrified from my nails to my heart.

Soon after, I see a black fireball falling from the sky so I immediately deployed my stole. Then I grab both Gabby who was blankly staring up and Yuika who put magic power into her fist and pull them away.

It’s good that I already enchanted my stole with light attribute. Every time the attack hit the stole, it disappeared with a sizzling sound like water on the fire and only one fell in front of Gabby.

At the same time as the black flame falls in front of Gabby, a monster descends from above.

“……! So SMELLY!”

Yuika’s expression distorted as she uses her hand to cover her nose.

A rotten smell spread through our surroundings and a jet-black dog dropped on all four in front of us. Gray eyes with no pupils or irises, it is….