Chapter 36
Danger Is Dangerous
After changing in the locker room, we passed reception and headed for the gate.
Wearing our 'spirit armaments,' we stepped into the dungeon.
Along with that strange sensation, we arrived in the lair of the monsters.
The soles of my boots crunched into the dirt. Short weeds grew here and there, and trees stood spaced far apart.
Some of the trees were so massive that even an adult couldn't wrap their arms around them. Looking up, I saw branches and leaves spreading luxuriantly more than ten meters overhead.
Dappled sunlight illuminated the area, giving me a clear view. Clean air filled my lungs, a gentle breeze brushed my cheeks, and the scent of earth tickled my nostrils.
It was the sort of place where I could almost expect to hear birds chirping—so much so that no one would think it was the lair of man-eating monsters.
I slowly drew my sword. When I looked toward Takanashi-san, she silently readied her staff and gave a small nod.
We had decided beforehand that I would take the frontline, while she would provide support and navigation. We began by searching the area for the Self-Defense Force's markers.
Normally, dungeons use ink that can only be seen under blacklight, so monsters can't erase the markings.
But in this dungeon, large numerals and letters had been painted conspicuously in yellow on the tree trunks.
If they did that in a real forest, they'd probably get chewed out for violating nature conservation.
"Judging by the direction the paint is facing, I believe we're here."
Takanashi-san came closer and showed me her smartphone.
Her long black hair, so close beside me, made me flustered, but I somehow brought my attention back to the dungeon.
"...We're a little far from the exit gate."
"Yes. But if we're traversing cliffs and slopes, it shouldn't be a major problem."
"Got it. I'll leave route selection to you, Takanashi-san."
"Understood."
We nodded to each other and began our exploration in earnest.
It was a dungeon where the cool air seemed almost visible. Following the patches of dappled sunlight, my eyes naturally turned upward.
The sky visible through gaps in the leaves. It was a fake sky.
Apparently, it was actually structured like a gigantic dome of rock. That was what the Agency for Spiritual Affairs' website said.
Rocks in the upper part of the dungeon glowed blue, making it look like a clear sky. Naturally, there was no sun.
Many dungeons had similar structures, and the leading theory at present was that they mimicked places where monsters had once lived...
I wondered if asking Takanashi-san would tell me more, but lowered my gaze and focused ahead.
I mustn't forget that this was a dangerous place.
This was my first dungeon since the lycanthrope spiritual disaster. After getting through a major battle, perhaps I'd let my guard down a little.
Just as I consciously steeled myself again, my magic eyes detected magical power approaching us.
"Takanashi-san. One at ten o'clock. It's approaching."
"Understood."
It soon reached a position where we could see it with the naked eye.
I could hear the thud-thud-thud of its footsteps.
Its black fur was illuminated by dappled sunlight. Its body, covered in that fur, was as large as or larger than a calf.
Its head came up to an adult's stomach. It was over a meter wide, and its powerful limbs kicked against the earth in proportion to its massive build.
With a pig's snout and a pair of long, sharp tusks like spearheads, it was a monster resembling a wild boar.
'Crazy Boar'
An absurdly straightforward name: a boar that charges like it's gone crazy. Even so, adventurers liked it because it described the monster perfectly.
'Vvvvvvooo!'
With a roar, the Crazy Boar charged straight toward us.
Its charge was powerful enough to overturn a passenger car, and rumor had it that it had even flipped a one-ton truck.
The fifty-meter distance was cut in half in two seconds. As the monster continued accelerating, I lowered my center of gravity and readied my sword.
But.
Takanashi-san calmly cast a spell.
The spell fired from the staff's muzzle-like tip landed in the Crazy Boar's path. She hadn't missed. If anything, it had landed dead center.
'Scroll: Ground Manipulation'
Another spell with a straightforward name. Just as the name suggested, it let the earth change shape at will.
The resulting dust cloud robbed the Crazy Boar of its vision for a moment. An ordinary boar would have flinched, but this monster didn't stop charging.
And so it leaped straight into a pit deep enough to reach its knees.
'Bgyah!?'
The monster leaped into the hole at full speed and lost its balance. Its huge body was lifted by its momentum, then flipped forward—toward us—and overturned.
The Crazy Boar slammed onto its back and rolled over while scraping the ground. As it moved its limbs, trying to stand, I stomped hard on its flank.
A monster could easily throw off a human's weight, but it couldn't do so instantly.
When it paused for the briefest moment, I swung my sword down at its neck.
'Bgyaaaaaaaaah!'
"Ngh...!"
The Crazy Boar thrashed especially violently and let out a scream. Its appearance seemed no different from that of an ordinary boar.
Even so, I shoved the sword deeper and moved it sideways. I must have severed its carotid artery, because blood spurted out like water from a squirt gun.
After pinning it to the ground with my sword for several seconds while getting sprayed with blood, sensation vanished from the soles of my feet, and the Crazy Boar turned into black mist.
"Pheeeew..."
"Good work, Yahiro-san."
"No, you too, Takanashi-san."
I unconsciously tried to wipe the blood spattered across my face guard, but there was no trace of the Crazy Boar left on it.
Monsters really are impossible to understand.
"Looks like we can defeat them reliably this way."
"Yes. However, I'm a little concerned about how many scrolls we'll have to use."
Looking at her revolver-shaped staff, Takanashi-san continued.
"Yahiro-san's scroll-production speed is above average. However, it would be unwise to consume a large number in a single expedition."
"Maybe you're right...?"
We had used up a considerable number of scrolls in our recent battle with the lycanthropes.
I had thought a stockpile in the triple digits at home meant we had plenty, but hearing her put it that way made me anxious.
I had prepared a relatively large number of the 'Wind Bullet' scrolls I used regularly, but not all of my stock was for combat.
Whether we conserved them or increased our production pace, either way, it would be a little difficult.
"Let's try fighting in this dungeon without using magic except in emergencies."
"But then, how are we going to stop the Crazy Boar's charge...?"
Was she telling me to take it head-on?
I thought I could probably do it. But it would be terrifying as hell.
In that case, maybe I could dodge the charge and attack it once it stopped. When I told the Master over the phone that we were going to this dungeon, the Master had suggested that approach.
As I considered that, Takanashi-san took something out.
"What's that...?"
"A bola."
It was a Y-shaped braided rope with weights attached to each end.
If I remembered correctly, it was a hunting tool used long ago. However, ordinary objects weren't effective against monsters.
I was about to say so, but then...
"Huh, that rope...?"
"Yes. It has magical power in it."
I could sense the familiar magical power from the rope used in the bola.
Actually, it was my own magical power.
"I used the tree bark Yahiro-san cultivated with his Unique Ability to braid the rope. The coating and weights are ordinary products, but it should be sufficient if the rope tangles around a monster's legs."
"I see..."
"This is my first time using one in actual combat, but this dungeon should also be good practice, since the opponent's movements are easy to read."
"Got it. Please do it, Takanashi-san."
"Yes."
We collected the magic stone lying on the ground and resumed exploring.
Despite being a vast dungeon, we encountered our next enemy only a few minutes later.
I sensed the enemy's location with my magic eyes and turned to Takanashi-san.
"One at two o'clock. It hasn't noticed us yet."
"Understood."
Takanashi-san answered briefly and began swinging the bola.
Whether it heard the sound of the bola cutting through the air or sensed it by smell, the instant the Crazy Boar turned toward us, it kicked off the ground.
'Bwaaah!'
The monster came rushing at us with tremendous force. Takanashi-san, however, remained calm.
With a whoosh, she threw the bola. Spinning through the air, it caught the Crazy Boar's foreleg perfectly.
The rope wrapped around its leg, and the monster tried to keep running anyway, only to fall flat on its face.
'Bgyah!?'
I leaped at the Crazy Boar as it rolled over. This time, I wasn't holding my sword.
"Take this!"
I approached from behind the monster, gripping its flank with my right hand, pinning the base of its foreleg with my right knee, and gripping one of its tusks with my left hand.
Naturally, the Crazy Boar thrashed, but I held it down with all my strength.
Takanashi-san stepped in with her military saber.
"Hah!"
With a short exhalation, the saber's tip pierced the Crazy Boar's eyeball. The blade must have reached its brain, because the monster's body gave one especially violent twitch before going still.
Just to be sure, she twisted the saber and scrambled its brain. A few seconds later, the Crazy Boar turned into black mist.
"Nice one, Takanashi-san."
"Yes. Thank you too, Yahiro-san."
It had gone better than expected.
This might be a good dungeon for raising our spiritual ranks—in other words, leveling up.
However, I realized something when I picked up the bola along with the magic stone.
"Ah..."
Perhaps the Crazy Boar had been too strong; the rope was on the verge of snapping in several places.
"Takanashi-san. This bola is..."
"It's not a problem."
Cutting me off, Takanashi-san held a different bola in each hand and looked at me.
Though her expression remained blank, she seemed faintly proud.
"I've made plenty of spares. I'm allowed to use as many tools as I like during the manufacturing process."
"As expected..."
Takanashi-san puffed out her chest with a satisfied hmph.
Her enormous breasts, wrapped in the thin, pilot-suit-like 'spirit armament,' gave a soft, bouncy jiggle.
"A-as expected...!"
"You're too kind."
This was bad. I had almost been swallowed up by impure thoughts.
I summoned every last scrap of reason, turned my eyes away, and secretly took a deep breath.
Dangerous. This woman really was dangerous. Her sex appeal was lethal. She had no idea, yet her potential was so absurdly high that her very existence was practically 'R18.'
"Yahiro-san? Is something wrong?"
Apparently oblivious to my inner thoughts, Takanashi-san peered curiously into my face.
I turned my face away with all my might from her breathtaking beauty and the enormous breasts reshaped by her leaning forward.
"No, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine. No, I haven't gotten anything excited, so I'm fine."
"...? I'm sorry. What does that mean?"
"I'm fine."
"I understand."
Those innocent eyes hurt...!
Riko-senpai. Please teach Takanashi-san about sex education—or at least how incredibly attractive she is.
My reason is in danger—and dangerously so!
I continued exploring the dungeon while slightly delirious.
This was a dangerous place, a monster lair where I could lose my life if I let my guard down. I repeated that to myself over and over.
Hold on, my reason!