Chapter 50

I moved my eyes, tracking the four boulder monsters charging toward us.

"I'll draw their attention. Ruche, get used to their movements and aim for the one with the crying face."

"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!"

If we took out the Cry directing them, the remaining Smiles' movements would fall apart at once.

With Ruche's speed, it shouldn't be hard for her to target the leader, the Cry, while I kept the Smiles occupied.

"When their bodies glow, that's the tell for 〈Acceleration〉! It's a troublesome Skill, but once it's activated, they can only move straight ahead! Focus on dodging at first. Once you've got the timing down, evade them and land a hit!"

Clowns were naturally good at dodging an opponent's big movements and striking back.

On top of being able to boost her burst speed with 〈Acrobatic Footwork〉, she could move freely along the walls, so she couldn't be cornered with nowhere to escape.

As I charged forward, the boulders' bodies began to glow.

First, I moved clear of the paths of two of them using 〈Acceleration〉.

I knocked one aside with my sword using 〈Parry〉, then blocked the fourth one—the Cry, their leader—as it charged with 〈Charge〉, using my shield.

"Ruche, take the high ground!"

I jumped backward to let the impact pass through, then launched the Cry into the air as if scooping it up.

"〈Shield Bash〉!"

The Cry shot straight up and slammed its rocky body against the ceiling.

That worked!

I used the surface of my shield like a slide, redirecting the force of its 〈Acceleration〉 toward the ceiling.

They were boulder monsters without arms or legs.

They had few Skills, and their intelligence wasn't particularly high.

Once they were launched into the air, they couldn't do anything.

And on the ceiling, where the Cry had been launched, Ruche was waiting with her knife ready.

With her feet planted against the ceiling using 〈Acrobatic Footwork〉, she thrust her 〈Blacksteel Knife〉 while hanging upside down.

"〈Dice Thrust〉!"

The number six appeared in midair.

The black blade pierced the Cry's rocky surface.

Cracks spread across its entire body, and the next instant it shattered.

【You acquired 772 experience points.】

【Your level increased from 43 to 45.】

【You acquired 2 Skill Points.】

All right! We took out the leader, the Cry, right away!

Ruche's speed, wide range of movement, and the sheer force of her critical hits were powerful.

Her attack power had shot up with her Blacksteel gear, and she finished the Cry off with a single strike.

The remaining three Smiles were little more than rabble.

That made the fight much easier.

Two Smiles charged toward me using 〈Acceleration〉.

"W-Watch out, Elymas-san! Those Smiles are closing off every escape route...!"

Ruche, who'd been wearing a smug smile up on the ceiling, turned pale when she saw the Smiles' movements.

"I'll tell you why Smiles don't form groups when there isn't a Cry directing them."

I raised my shield as I spoke.

I lightly knocked the Smile on my right aside with my sword using 〈Parry〉, then let the one on my left slide along the surface of my shield to divert its path.

Then I jumped and twisted my body, dodging their pincer attack with the smallest movement possible.

When I landed, the two Smiles crashed into each other with a loud bang.

Cracks spread across both their bodies, and they rolled feebly along the ground.

Looks like both of them were stunned.

"It's because when you recklessly charge around the battlefield, even a slight change in your trajectory turns you into a pinball."

"Hyaaaaaah!"

Ruche kicked off the ceiling and came down swinging her 〈Blacksteel Knife〉.

One of the stunned Smiles shattered.

【You acquired 459 experience points.】

I quickly lunged at the other stunned Smile.

"〈Counter Slash〉!"

【You acquired 689 experience points.】

【Your level increased from 45 to 46.】

【You acquired 1 Skill Point.】

All right... That's what you'd expect from the first Skill you can learn in 〈Basic Swordsmanship〉—and from the Heavy Knight's main weapon.

It's a dependable Skill that makes up for the Heavy Knight's low attack power reasonably well and reliably.

"And now we're down to the last one."

I raised my sword and slowly approached the last Smile.

Still wearing a smile, the Smile turned its head left and right in confusion, checking its surroundings.

Then it spun around and turned its back to us.

The glow of 〈Acceleration〉 covered the Smile's body.

"Like I'd let you get away!"

I quickly stepped on the Smile's shadow, restricting its range of movement.

The Smile charged off toward the opposite side, but its movement soon stopped as if it had been pulled back by the shadow.

Ruche leapt high into the air and struck at the back of the immobilized Smile.

"I'll take that Blacksteel!"

Ruche flew around the Smile, rapidly landing a series of slashes.

The Smile hurriedly tried to counterattack, but 〈Shadow Treading〉 kept it from moving very far, so its attacks couldn't reach Ruche once she was out of range.

It took Ruche's blade one-sidedly and stopped moving in no time.

【You acquired 613 experience points.】

We took down the last one cleanly, without much trouble either.

"Hah... hah... I was worried for a moment about how things would turn out, but I'm glad we got through it safely... I'm pretty tired. Let's take a little break..."

Taking out the leader, the Cry, right away and getting the pinball trick to work had made a big difference.

If that hadn't happened, we probably wouldn't have lost, but the fight would've dragged on for quite a while.

I took a waterskin out of my 〈Magic Bag〉 and handed it to Ruche.

"You did great, Ruche. I thought I'd have to use 〈Death's Edge Rampage〉 here, but I still have quite a bit left in the tank."

Looks like our exploration of the 〈Centipede Tunnel〉 will go quite smoothly from here.

We might even surpass the results of our last trip to 〈Angel's Toy Box〉, where we hunted Gilded Ranas.

"Elymas-san, you're way too dependable...! I-I have to work hard too...!"

I looked back at the Smiles' remains.

As the boulders returned to mana and began to dissipate, I spotted their large magic stones and the dull gleam of Blacksteel.

And inside the boulder with the most sorrowful face—the Cry—was a beautiful spherical item shining even more brightly.

I felt the corners of my mouth turn up.

Sure enough, that rare item had dropped as well.