Chapter 1 - Competition
At the magic circle, the warp point on the first layer, I ran into that bastard Gallard.
I'm curious to see how far he's gotten in exploring the ninth layer.
I'll have to keep an eye on the other A-rank parties.
"Alec, what the hell was that?"
Letty folded her arms and immediately started to bite me.
"We're exchanging information about adventurers, right?"
"If you hadn't told Gallard about the spear trap, it could have killed a few people, so why would you even hint at it? You're not very good at probing.
"I did some probing, but that was a courtesy. They've got enough party members that if one or two vanguards die, they'll just replace them and move on."
"Then what was the reason?"
Serina asks me, but she's always asking strange questions. Where's your usual sense of justice? No, you thought I had some kind of ulterior motive.
"I'm saying it's a free thank you. You think I want other adventurers to die?"
"Ah, no, that's not what I meant. ...... Well, no matter how much competition there is, it's still bad to die."
"Keeh, You're a good man, brother, to be so kind as to tell them that!"
Jouga said.
"Yeah, you're a little lewd, but I like that about you."
Luka said
"Yes, he is."
Ione said
"I'm impressed, Alec."
Hannah said
"May God bless you for your good deeds."
Fianna said
"I thought Alec would tell them."
Saki said.
"That's my master!"
said Meena, as usual.
Everyone praised me, but that's how it usually is.
Nene is also looking at me with sparkling eyes, and I guess she feels the same way.
Lily seems to be doubting my intentions with a scandalous look on her face.
"So, if you don't have other questions, let's move on."
""" Okay! """
We explored the place where we left off last time, but it was filled with disgusting traps and enemies, such as a passage that spewed out poisonous gas and a combination of traps and chimeras set in the dark zone.
"Clear!"
"This one clear too!"
"It's clear!"
"All right, everyone, walk along the right wall. In the middle, there are traps all over the place. Letty, hold Nene in your arms and come with levitation magic."
""" Okay ""
We exit the dark zone and take a break.
"Meena, Serina, take a look around. We're going to take a short break here."
""Phew.""
A few of them sigh in relief, they seem to be more nervous than I am. Should we take a break a little more often?
"If it weren't for Alec here, I'm sure some people would have died at my own party."
Serina said this as she kept her eyes on the end of the passage.
"Maybe so. But if I'm not here, you'll have to make the best of it."
"Ehh? Of course I will."
"I don't want you to die, M-Master!"
It seems that Meena misunderstood my advice, but I didn't mean it as a death flag or a will.
"Idiot, there will be teleportation traps here too, so don't panic."
"Yeah, I understand."
"Hmm, the vanguard and Letty will be fine, but Nene-chan and Lily are in danger if they split up."
Saki said.
"Ehh? I'm trained in trap skills, so I'm fine even without Alec."
Lily said back.
"If three chimeras come out and surround you, will you be able to defeat them?"
"Ugh. Ha! Hey Alec! I don't think I'm safe here at all!"
"Don't worry, Lily, I'll give you some points so you can learn the skill of hiding from enemies. You'll be fine."
I say softly, winking at Saki.
Lily is a useful asset, and I want to take her with me as much as possible. And her level has gone up quite a bit.
"Hmm, I took the [Odorless] skill. If it's dark, will they be able to find me?"
"You're gonna be okay. Just try not to make too much noise and you'll be fine."
The problem is Dullahan, but I think Lily will be able to dodge him. She can do it.
"If we get separated, our priority is to meet up."
Serina says with a chuckle as she watches us
"Yes, but if it's too difficult, it's important to stay where you are."
Hannah said, and she was right.
If you're in a hurry, you're bound to make a mistake.
"Then Saki and I will take over the watch, while Serina and Meena rest."
We'll use the members with high scouting ability to pay close attention to the situation, and don't forget to take a break.
"It's all right, Master."
"I'm well rested, too."
"Alright, let's go."
After taking a break, we proceeded to the passage of the ninth layer.
The eerie, dark purple stone walls continue on.
And then, in a complete reversal of the intricate maze we had been in, We found ourselves in a hall.
There was a relief carved on the side wall, but other than that, nothing. It was an empty hall.
"It looks like there are no enemies, but ......"
"I don't know, but it looks suspicious."
Serina and Saki, who have good intuition, are on alert. Well, it's not like there's nothing here.
"Stop. I'll take a look."
I didn't go into the room right away, but decided to look around the entrance to see what was going on inside.
I try to use [Appraisal], but it only says "wall of the ninth layer".
Both Serina's [Enemy Counter] and Meena's nose tell me that there are no enemies, and I can't detect them either.
...... There are no enemies, huh?
"When it come to that, it's probably a trap. Saki, find out as much as you can from there."
"Got it, leave it to me!
Saki took out an iron ball about five centimeters in diameter from the item storage and threw it as hard as she could with a throwing form that raised her feet straight up toward the floor in the center.
*thump*, The iron ball that collided with the other side of the room made a noise and rolled over there.
"Another one! A big goofy ball!"
"Saki, don't say anything, just throw it normally."
"Eeehhh, I'm in the mood. Well, okay, here you go!"
The iron ball hit at random places, but there was no particular reaction on the floor.
"Alright, no problem."
"Then I'm next."
I slowly enter the hall by [Levitation].
As expected, nothing happens. There were no arrows whizzing by from the walls on either side.
I stand on the floor with both feet.
"Okay, everyone, come on in."
The whole party entered the hall, but nothing happened.
"Mmm, there's nothing here. Alec and the others are scaring the crap out of me and I'm wasting my MP on levitation magic."
Letty, who had been floating, came down and said.
"Don't let your guard down yet. And don't touch or step on anything weird."
"What do you mean, "Weird places"? Huh, What's that? Only the tiles on this floor are a different color. *hup*!"
Letty jumped up and landed on the tile with both feet. There was a clunk, and the tile dented about five centimeters.
"Oi!"
That's the one I was talking about.
"Ugh, I feel like I've done it. ......"
"Hey, Letty, that's ......"
We all look at Letty with a serious look on our faces.
"Ehh? What is it? There might be a hidden door or a hidden item, right?"
That idea is crazy.
"Everyone, go back to the entrance."
I give the order and we all start to head back, but as Letty removes her foot from the dented tile, *shud!* The stone door slid down from above and closed with a loud bang. The entrance in front of me was blocked.
"Damn it, over there!"
I aimed for the passage in the opposite direction, but it was also blocked by a stone door that had fallen from above.
There are only two left, one on each side.
"It doesn't matter who it is., stop that door from falling!"
I shouted and used [Instantaneous Movement] to fly towards the door on the right.
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