Chapter 18
The next morning.
After breakfast at the Silver Wheat Inn, we headed to the Adventurers' Guild.
Today, we were going to the seventh floor.
When we checked the D-Rank request board, we found one that looked just right.
【Subjugate Two Grand Lizards】
【Target: Belgrant Western Dungeon, Seventh Floor】
【Reward: 120,000 Jenny】
"Shall we take this one?"
"Yes."
We took the request form to the reception desk.
The receptionist who usually helped us checked the details, then looked a little surprised.
"You're going to the seventh floor?"
"That's the plan."
"You were on the sixth floor until yesterday, right?"
"Yes."
"...Understood. Just be aware that the monsters on the seventh floor are even stronger.
If you think it's too much, come back right away."
"Understood."
We accepted the request and headed to the dungeon.
◇
We made our way from the first floor to the sixth with hardly a pause.
On the second floor, we defeated six Cave Rats.
【You acquired 30P】
A Stone Lizard appeared on the third floor.
I dodged as it leaped at me and thrust my sword into its belly.
【You acquired 120P】
【Total P Acquired: 10,150P】
【Your points: 440P】
We hardly encountered any other monsters and continued straight through the sixth floor.
Felicia stopped in front of the stairs leading to the seventh floor.
"Here we go."
"Let's try out your Magic Bullet."
"Yes. I want to see how much it changes now that my Magic has increased."
The two of us descended the stairs.
◇
The seventh-floor passages were wider than those on the sixth.
The rock walls were damp, with water dripping from them here and there.
As we proceeded with our lantern, a large figure appeared from the far end of the passage.
"It's a Grand Lizard."
It was the monster depicted on the request form.
A huge, four-legged lizard.
It was nearly twice as large as the Stone Lizard on the third floor, with thick scales covering its back and flanks.
"Grrr..."
The Grand Lizard growled low.
"Can I try shooting it first?"
"Please do."
Felicia aimed her staff.
"Magic Bullet!"
A glowing projectile shot forward.
Smack!
It hit the Grand Lizard in the shoulder.
"Graaah!"
But its thick scales were barely scratched.
"...It doesn't seem any stronger than before."
"Even though my Magic has increased."
Felicia looked at the tip of her staff.
The Grand Lizard moved.
"Magic Bullet!"
Her second shot.
This time, it missed.
The Grand Lizard charged straight at Felicia.
I started to move between them.
"I'm all right!"
Felicia moved to the side.
Its huge jaws snapped shut on empty air.
Thanks to Sharing, I could keep up with the pace on the seventh floor just fine.
"Magic Bullet!"
The third shot hit its foreleg.
The Grand Lizard slowed down slightly.
Felicia backed away.
"If I just fire normally, it's no different from before."
"But you have more Magic to use now, right?"
"Yes."
Felicia thought for a moment.
"Then maybe I can put more Magic into each shot."
"Can you do that?"
"I'll try."
Felicia didn't shoot right away.
She focused on the tip of her staff.
The light slowly grew larger.
It was clearly gathering more Magic than her usual Magic Bullet.
"Grrraah!"
The Grand Lizard charged again.
"Felicia-san!"
"Just a little longer...!"
The distance between them closed.
Felicia looked up.
"Magic Bullet!"
Boom!
It made a different sound from before.
The glowing projectile struck the Grand Lizard's shoulder.
"Graaah!"
Its thick scales cracked.
"...It cracked."
Felicia herself seemed the most surprised of all.
"That's quite a difference."
"Yes. I put much more Magic into it than usual."
The Grand Lizard got back to its feet.
"I'll finish it off."
"Please do!"
I stepped forward.
I could see its movements well enough.
I thrust my sword into the spot where its scales had cracked.
"Graaah!"
One more strike.
Its massive body fell to the ground.
【You acquired 500P】
【Total P Acquired: 10,650P】
【Your points: 940P】
"Five hundred P."
"That's a lot for the seventh floor."
We collected its magic stone and scales.
Felicia was still looking at the tip of her staff.
"What is it?"
"I think I can use them differently depending on the situation."
"Use them differently?"
"If I do it the usual way, I can shoot right away and don't use much Magic.
But if I put in more Magic like I did just now, it takes longer, but I can increase the power."
"I see."
"It seems like I should choose based on the opponent."
Felicia smiled, looking a little pleased.
"I'll practice."
◇
We continued farther along the seventh floor.
The next monster to appear was an ape-like creature a little smaller than an Armored Ape.
Long fangs jutted from its mouth.
"It's a Fang Ape!"
"Ugaaah!"
It kicked off the ground.
Fast.
It was aiming for Felicia from the start.
"Magic Bullet!"
This time, she didn't charge it up.
She fired right away.
The Fang Ape twisted its body and dodged.
Then it circled around to the side.
Felicia moved, too.
"Magic Bullet!"
The second shot hit its leg.
"Gah!"
Its speed dropped a little.
Felicia moved farther away.
"Magic Bullet!"
The third shot.
The same leg.
The Fang Ape lost its balance.
I charged in.
I struck it in the neck with my sword.
【You acquired 450P】
【Total P Acquired: 11,100P】
【Your points: 1,390P】
"You didn't put as much into that shot, did you?"
"No. Against something that fast, it'll get close while I'm charging it."
"That's true."
"I'll practice both types: the normal shot and the stronger one."
"Sounds good."
We continued deeper into the dungeon.
◇
It was a while before we found the second Grand Lizard.
"Grrr..."
"This time, I'll try to crack its scales by myself."
"Please do."
Felicia aimed her staff.
She began putting more Magic into it than usual right from the start.
The light grew larger.
"Magic Bullet!"
She fired.
But the Grand Lizard moved its head.
The high-powered Magic Bullet flew past its shoulder and struck the rock wall.
"I missed!"
The Grand Lizard charged.
Felicia dodged to the side and put some distance between them.
"It's hard to aim while charging it, after all."
This time, she fired right away.
"Magic Bullet!"
It hit the foreleg.
Another shot.
"Magic Bullet!"
It hit the same spot.
The Grand Lizard's movements slowed.
Felicia stopped moving there.
She gathered Magic at the tip of her staff.
"This time, for sure...!"
The Grand Lizard still couldn't run properly.
"Magic Bullet!"
Boom!
The high-powered shot struck its flank.
Its scales cracked.
"I did it!"
"I'm going in!"
I thrust my sword into the cracked spot.
One more strike.
【You acquired 500P】
【Total P Acquired: 11,600P】
【Your points: 1,890P】
Felicia hurried over to me.
"That was good."
"Yes. I don't have to aim for a powerful shot right from the start."
"It's easier to hit once you've slowed it down, too."
"Stop it with a regular Magic Bullet, then land a stronger one."
Felicia nodded.
"I think I can make this work."
We'd defeated both targets for the request.
There was still time left.
"What should we do?"
I asked.
Felicia thought for a moment before answering.
"Shall we go a little farther?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I think I can fight on the seventh floor."
"I've still got plenty of strength, too."
"Then let's go."
We explored the seventh floor for a while longer, then decided to head back before evening.
◇
We returned to the guild and presented proof that we'd defeated two Grand Lizards.
"I've confirmed it. The request is complete."
The reward was 120,000 Jenny.
Next, we had the materials we'd collected today appraised.
The magic stones and scales from two Grand Lizards.
The Fang Ape's magic stone and fangs.
The materials from the monsters we'd defeated along the way.
They appraised everything at 430,000 Jenny.
"That makes 550,000 Jenny, including the request reward."
"Five hundred and fifty thousand..."
Felicia looked at the amount.
Split between us, that was 275,000 Jenny each.
"The earnings have gone up again on the seventh floor."
"The materials are higher quality, too."
The receptionist answered.
"Still..."
"What is it?"
"You only took the seventh-floor request this morning, right?"
"Yes."
"And you're not injured?"
"No."
The receptionist looked back and forth between Felicia and me.
"...That's amazing."
Felicia smiled a little.
"It looks like we'll be fine on the seventh floor."
"Already?"
"Yes."
The receptionist seemed about to say something, but let it go.
Just then, a display appeared.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【P Acquired Today: 1,700P】
【Total P Acquired: 11,700P】
【Your points: 1,990P】
We'd earned P for completing the request, too.
◇
That night.
I opened Membership in my room at the Silver Wheat Inn.
【Your points: 1,990P】
I had enough P to buy one ability enhancement.
【Strength Enhancement (Large): 1,000P】
【Endurance Enhancement (Large): 1,000P】
【Agility Enhancement (Large): 1,000P】
【Magic Enhancement (Large): 1,000P】
Below those, I opened Unique Skill Purchase, too.
【Imbuement: 10,000P】
I wouldn't use any P this time.
I'd decided to save up until I could buy Imbuement.
I closed the display and went down to the dining hall on the first floor.
Felicia was already seated.
"What should we do tomorrow?"
"I'd like to practice the high-powered Magic Bullet a little more."
"Then, the seventh floor?"
Felicia smiled a little.
"...Why don't we try the eighth floor?"
"I was about to suggest the same thing."
"Then it's settled."
Tomorrow, we'd go to the eighth floor.
【Total P Acquired: 11,700P】