Chapter 38
The next morning.
When I went down to the dining hall of the Silver Wheat Inn, Felicia was already eating breakfast.
"Good morning, Allen-san."
"Good morning. Are you feeling all right?"
"Yes. I slept soundly, so I'm fine."
She'd been pretty drunk yesterday, but she was back to her usual self now.
I sat down across from her.
"...Did I cause you any trouble yesterday?"
"You were a little drunk."
"I remember that much, but I don't remember much after that..."
"I see."
"I didn't do anything weird, did I?"
"............"
"Why are you pausing like that?"
"I just walked you back to the inn."
"Really?"
"Yes."
There was no need to tell her every single detail.
Felicia let out a relieved breath.
"That's a relief..."
"Do you think you'll be up for the dungeon today?"
"Of course."
"Should we take the quest we saw yesterday for the fifteenth floor?"
"Yes. I'd like to try it."
After breakfast, we headed to the Adventurers' Guild.
◇
The B-Rank board was lined with quests we hadn't been able to see until yesterday.
Large monsters.
Investigations in dangerous areas.
The thirteenth floor, the fifteenth floor, and even farther beyond.
I took the quest notice that had caught my eye yesterday.
【Slay Three Blade Mantises】
【Target: Belgrant Western Dungeon, Fifteenth Floor】
【Reward: 620,000 Jenny】
"This one."
"Yes."
We took it to the reception desk.
The receptionist we'd seen before glanced at the quest notice, then looked straight at us.
"I knew you'd choose the fifteenth floor."
"You knew?"
"I was watching you the whole time yesterday."
"Did I look that eager to go?"
The receptionist sighed.
"Now that you're B-Rank, you can enter up to the twentieth floor."
"The twentieth floor?"
"Yes. But being allowed in and being able to fight safely are two different things."
"I understand."
"How far are you planning to go today?"
"We'll stop at the fifteenth floor today."
"...That makes me feel a little better."
Felicia said quietly.
"She doesn't trust us."
"I think that's the result of our actions so far."
"Even you, Felicia-san?"
The receptionist looked back at the quest notice.
"Blade Mantises are quite fast. Their scythe-like arms are powerful, too. They can leave deep gashes even in reinforced-steel armor."
"Understood."
"Make sure you save enough strength for the trip back, too."
"Yes."
"I'm a little worried, but... good luck."
◇
First floor of the dungeon.
When we touched the teleportation stone, pale blue light filled our vision.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in the small room on the tenth floor.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
I checked the Flamefang Sword and descended the stairs leading to the eleventh floor.
This was my first time in a dungeon since returning from the battlefield.
Our opponents weren't human.
That alone made me feel quite different.
On the eleventh floor, several metallic veins ran through the dark gray rock walls.
The sound of water dripping echoed down the long passage.
A Steel Lizard appeared along the way.
"Grrrr...!"
It kicked off the ground and charged at me.
Before, I would have dodged far to the side before counterattacking.
Now, I watched its forelegs and waist instead of its head.
Its right leg stepped forward.
Its head dipped ever so slightly.
Here it comes!
I shifted just half a step to the left.
Its silver-gray bulk rushed past right beside me.
I swung the Flamefang Sword up from below, cutting into the base of its foreleg.
"Gyaaah!"
It lost its balance.
I struck its neck a second time as it started to fall.
The Steel Lizard sank onto the rocky floor.
【You acquired 800P】
【Balance: 6,825P】
【Total P Acquired: 33,735P】
"You're faster than before."
"My physical abilities have improved, too."
"I don't think that's all."
I could tell, too.
The sense I'd gained in my fight with the Sword Saint—the feeling of watching my opponent's body.
That was still with me.
We gathered the materials and continued straight on to the twelfth floor.
◇
The passage on the twelfth floor was narrow, and black ore jutted out of the rock walls.
A little farther ahead, we heard a sound like metal scraping against metal.
A Metal Scorpion.
"May I handle this one?"
"I'll step in if it gets dangerous."
"Please do."
Felicia stepped forward.
She dodged a strike from its tail and pointed her staff at it.
"Magic Bullet!"
One shot.
Then, without pause,
"Magic Bullet!"
A second shot.
Then a third.
There was almost no delay between them.
"You're faster now."
"It's thanks to Mana Control."
Before, she needed a moment to gather her magic again after each shot.
Now, she was clearly much faster at shaping her magic and firing it.
And the first shot hit its leg.
The second struck its shell.
The third hit beside its eye.
She wasn't just firing rapidly—she was changing her aim, too.
The Metal Scorpion raised its tail.
Felicia readied her staff.
This time, the Magic Bullet was smaller.
"I'll compress it."
The pale blue magic didn't spread out. It gathered at a single point.
"Magic Bullet!"
A sharp sound rang out.
The Magic Bullet pierced its shell.
The Metal Scorpion shuddered violently, then collapsed.
"...I did it."
"Didn't you make it stronger, too?"
"I'm using almost the same amount of magic. I just made sure it didn't disperse."
"I see."
Even with the same amount of magic, how you used it made a difference.
Mana Control looked like it had more uses than I'd expected.
"I'll practice more."
"I can't let myself fall behind, either."
"Is this a competition?"
"If it is, I won't lose."
"Neither will I."
We gathered the materials and descended to the thirteenth floor.
◇
On the thirteenth floor, transparent ore had begun to appear in the walls.
It reflected the light of the magic lamps faintly.
A shallow stream flowed beneath our feet, making a soft splashing sound with every step.
A Crystal Horn appeared there.
It was about the size of a horse.
Two translucent horns jutted from its forehead.
It charged straight at me.
The passage was narrow.
I watched its forelegs as well as its horns.
Right.
Left.
I shifted my body in time with its next step.
Its horns passed beside my shoulder.
As it rushed past, I struck one of its hind legs.
The Crystal Horn tilted to one side and crashed into the wall with all its momentum.
I chased after it, sending magic into the Flamefang Sword.
I used Mana Control to keep the spreading flames close along the blade.
I swung at its neck.
【You acquired 1,100P】
【Balance: 7,925P】
【Total P Acquired: 34,835P】
Then we continued to the fourteenth floor.
It was a wide space lined with several enormous stone pillars.
The ceiling was so high that the magic lamps couldn't reach it, and a breeze flowed in from somewhere.
A Cave Wyvern attacked from above.
"I'll handle it!"
Felicia pointed her staff upward.
"Magic Bullet!"
It dodged the first shot.
But the second was already heading toward where it had dodged.
"Gyaah!"
It hit the wyvern's wing.
Then came the third shot.
And the fourth.
She changed her aim with every shot.
At last, a compressed Magic Bullet struck it squarely in the chest, and the Cave Wyvern fell onto the stone floor.
"You're getting really good at firing them in quick succession."
"Not yet. I missed two shots."
"It was flying, wasn't it?"
"That's why I want to hit it."
"You're strict with yourself."
"I don't want to hear that from you, Allen-san."
We passed through the fourteenth floor and descended the stairs to the fifteenth.
◇
The fifteenth floor.
A vast space stretched out beyond the stairs.
The rocks underfoot were riddled with cracks, and jagged, sword-shaped rocks jutted out here and there.
There were many thick stone pillars, too.
It was spacious, but visibility was poor.
A low sound rang out whenever the wind passed through the gaps in the rocks.
"The fifteenth floor..."
"It feels different from the floors we've seen before."
We slowed our pace and continued.
A few minutes later.
Click.
Something hard struck the rock.
"It's here."
A large green body appeared from beyond a stone pillar.
It was about two meters tall.
On either side were sword-like scythes.
"Blade Mantis."
The next instant, it kicked off the ground.
"It's fast!"
Its right scythe came at me from the side.
I brought the Flamefang Sword up to meet it.
Giiiing!
It was heavy.
This wasn't an opponent I could keep meeting head-on.
I angled my sword and let the scythe slide away from me.
Sparks flew.
The scythe on the other side came right after it.
I didn't back away.
I moved inside its reach.
Its scythes were long.
The closer I got to their bases, the less freely they could move.
The Blade Mantis twisted its body.
I watched the base of its right arm.
The next scythe came down from above.
Half a step forward.
The blade passed overhead.
I swung the Flamefang Sword upward.
Clang!
I'd damaged its shell, but its arm didn't come off.
"It's tough."
The Blade Mantis put some distance between us.
It spread both arms.
Fast.
Tough.
But it wasn't on the Sword Saints' level.
With those two, I could hardly see their next move coming.
This monster had telltale movements.
Its legs.
The angle of its torso.
The base of its scythes.
There were places I could watch.
"Allen-san, left!"
Felicia's voice.
I lowered my body.
The left scythe passed overhead.
I kicked off the ground at once.
As I moved inside its reach, I sent magic into the Flamefang Sword.
I gathered the red flames in a thin line around the blade.
Toward the base of the right arm I'd wounded a moment ago.
Shnk!
The enormous scythe fell to the ground.
"Gshaaah!"
Its remaining scythe swung wildly.
I circled to the side.
The Blade Mantis's leg caught in a crack in the rock.
For an instant, it stopped moving.
I swung the Flamefang Sword at its neck.
【You acquired 1,300P】
【Balance: 9,225P】
【Total P Acquired: 36,135P】
"Thirteen hundred..."
"That's the fifteenth floor for you."
We gathered the materials and went farther in.
The second one was in a clearing surrounded by stone pillars.
It charged straight at us.
Its right scythe rose.
Right?
Just as I thought that, its left leg stepped forward first.
"No."
The right was a feint.
Its left scythe whipped upward from a low position.
I knocked its trajectory aside with the Flamefang Sword.
Then came the right.
Above.
Across.
At an angle.
I dodged each strike one by one, watching how it moved.
After it swung its right scythe in a wide arc, its left leg moved forward.
Its abdomen was exposed only right after it used both arms.
Its next attack.
Right.
Left.
Both arms spread wide.
"Now!"
"Magic Bullet!"
Felicia's shot hit its left leg.
Its body tilted.
I stepped in and drove the Flamefang Sword into its abdomen.
Its shell split.
I darted past it.
By the time the Blade Mantis tried to turn around, I was already at its neck.
I swung the Flamefang Sword.
Its massive body fell.
【You acquired 1,300P】
【Balance: 10,525P】
【Total P Acquired: 37,435P】
"...I'm over ten thousand."
"Does that mean...?"
"Yes."
I opened Membership.
【Membership Rank: Gold】
【Balance: 10,525P】
The list of Unique Skills.
【10,000P】
【Enchantment】
【Swordmaster】
【Magic Master】
【Bow Master】
【Axe Master】
【Spear Master】
【Fist Master】
I selected Swordmaster.
【Swordmaster】
【A high-level Swordsmanship Skill that grants advanced sword techniques】
【Required Points: 10,000P】
"I'll buy it."
"Here?"
"If I can use it, wouldn't now be the best time?"
"You did the same thing with Mana Control."
【Purchase Swordmaster?】
【Required Points: 10,000P】
【Balance: 10,525P】
I confirmed the purchase.
【You spent 10,000P】
【You acquired the Unique Skill Swordmaster】
【Balance: 525P】
"...There it is."
My strength hadn't increased.
I didn't feel any faster, either.
And yet, the moment I held the Flamefang Sword, I could tell something had changed.
Where I gripped it.
The angle of my wrist.
My elbow.
My stance.
My center of gravity.
My body naturally settled into a slightly more natural position in each respect.
I gave it a light swing.
Whoosh.
It was a small movement, but the tip of the sword moved quickly.
I wasn't relying on brute force. I was using the sword's weight as it was.
"So this is Swordmaster..."
Click.
A sound came from beyond a stone pillar.
The third Blade Mantis appeared.
"Perfect timing."
"Want to try it out?"
"Of course."
I readied the Flamefang Sword.
The Blade Mantis charged at me.
It was moving at the same speed as the first two.
But I saw it differently.
Its right scythe.
I brought the Flamefang Sword up to meet it.
Clang!
Instead of stopping it, I used the flat of my blade to guide it outward.
Its body opened up.
The left scythe came at me.
I didn't swing widely.
I slid my blade inside the scythe and only changed its trajectory.
"...!"
I barely used any strength at all.
I stepped forward with my left foot.
I turned the tip of my sword around.
Shnk!
Its right arm fell.
The Blade Mantis raised its remaining scythe.
But I was already out of the way of its attack.
I moved to the side.
The seam in the shell of its abdomen.
One strike.
It went in deep.
I pulled the blade free and swept its tip toward its neck.
Its massive body crumpled onto the rocky floor.
【You acquired 1,300P】
【Balance: 1,825P】
【Total P Acquired: 38,735P】
"............"
"Allen-san."
"Yes?"
"You're completely different."
"I think so, too."
My stats hadn't changed.
Only the way I used a sword had changed.
When I fought the Sword Saint, I hadn't been outmatched physically.
Even so, my opponent's swordsmanship had clearly been better than mine.
Now I was closer to that level than I'd been back then.
"Swordmaster is amazing."
"It did cost ten thousand P."
"But now you've spent almost all of it again."
"I still have 1,825P."
"You have enough left for recovery. That's good."
That completed the quest.
We gathered proof of the kills and started back.
◇
We encountered monsters several times on the way back, too.
On the fourteenth floor, we ran into two Cave Wyverns.
Felicia fired Magic Bullets in quick succession, read their movements, and took down both of them.
On the thirteenth floor, we encountered a Crystal Horn.
She focused her Magic Bullets on its legs to stop it moving, then finished it off with a compressed shot.
When we returned to the twelfth floor, a Metal Scorpion leaped out from behind a rock.
"It's coming!"
Its tail shot straight at us.
Before, I would have dodged with my whole body.
Now, I moved the tip of the Flamefang Sword just slightly.
Clang!
I struck the side of its stinger, changing only its trajectory.
Its tail passed beside my shoulder.
In the same motion, I stepped inside its reach.
I didn't need to cut through its shell itself.
The base of its legs.
The seams on its underside.
Its neck.
The places where I could strike came naturally into view.
The first blow threw it off balance.
The second struck its neck.
The Metal Scorpion sank onto the rocky floor.
【You acquired 1,000P】
【Balance: 2,825P】
【Total P Acquired: 39,735P】
"...That's a monster from the twelfth floor, right?"
Felicia looked at the fallen Metal Scorpion.
"That's right."
"You took it down so easily."
"Swordmaster seems to make a big difference."
"It did cost ten thousand P."
"How many times have you said that today?"
"It's important."
We didn't encounter any monsters on the eleventh floor, and made it back to the tenth floor without trouble.
We entered the small room with the teleportation stone.
Today, we'd made it to the fifteenth floor.
We'd defeated three Blade Mantises.
Felicia was starting to master Mana Control, too.
And I had, as well.
【Unique Skill: Swordmaster】
I'd gained a new power.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yes."
We touched the teleportation stone together.
Pale blue light spread around us.
Next time, I felt like we could go even farther.
Total P Acquired = 39,735P