Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Law of Competition and Distribution (3)
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The moving magic stone to ascend to the 7th Floor was easy to find.
‘From the start, the area where Skeleton Knights spawn is near the moving magic stone anyway.’
After walking for about ten minutes, it came into view right away.
Touching the glittering stone created a portal leading upward.
“Are we heading up a bit earlier than planned?”
“Yes. It’s about a day or two faster than the schedule I set.”
“The Skeleton Knights showing up turned out to be a stroke of luck. Heh heh. And we made a nice haul too.”
Regan exchanged a few words with Greg before entering the portal.
They had been delayed a little by getting caught in the boss fight, but even that was still ahead of the original plan.
‘The trash mobs that should’ve blocked our path were all gathered in one spot, so we didn’t waste time on pointless battles.’
The 6th Floor was originally full of endlessly respawning Skeletons.
And the gimmicks blocking the paths in between ate up a ton of time.
Thanks to the Skeleton Knights, they’d skipped all that, so they had some time to spare.
“Hmm. Gaining about two days...”
Greg continued, staring at the portal.
“I agree with what Celia said earlier. If you want to look for that Manannan guy, go ahead.”
“Yes. I plan to head up first and then decide.”
“Is that so?”
Regan nodded.
In his hand was a fragment of the Heart Diamond he’d pulled out earlier.
He hadn’t taken it out and held it for no reason.
‘It’s an item that reacts to the Saint’s Sword. Well, it doesn’t point it out intuitively like a landmine detector or anything.’
At the very least, it would let him sense if it was nearby.
“If the Saint’s Sword is detected nearby once we reach the 7th Floor, we’ll change plans then.”
Regan and his companions stepped into the portal.
Toward the Skull Castle Part 2.
* * *
There wasn’t much difference between the 6th and 7th Floors, really.
‘It’s easier to think of them as consecutive sections.’
Following the 6th Floor called the Skull Castle, the 7th Floor continued with the castle’s layout.
Swish—
As they emerged from the portal, a familiar landscape entered Regan’s view.
He’d seen it plenty in the game, but it felt even more familiar because it resembled the 6th Floor scenery.
‘The difference is that the castle is a bit closer now.’
The castle—where the king and his family resided—was visible nearer.
Called the Skull Castle, that place would be the main stage from the 8th to 9th Floors.
Having reached the 7th Floor, the castle looked much closer. A few hours of walking would get them there.
“It’s been a while here too.”
“Celia, you said you spent a long time on the 6th Floor?”
“Yeah. To be honest...”
Celia looked around as she spoke.
“The 7th Floor is a place where you suffer a ton for almost no rewards.”
“That’s right. The difficulty is unnecessarily high too.”
“With Skeleton Archers around, it’s not easy to move carefree.”
The 7th Floor had the same monsters as the 6th.
Skeleton Soldiers appeared, along with Skeleton Mages, which were key for farming magic crystals.
In fact, there were even more Mages than on the 6th Floor, and the Archers were the real problem.
Swish—
Celia’s gaze quickly scanned the ruined buildings around them.
Not peering inside, but focusing on the edges like walls.
“They love sniping from hiding. They can poke out just their bows from high spots like that, so everyone stay sharp.”
“Got it.”
There are monsters commonly called “sneaky bastards.”
Ones without high specs, but with dirty fighting styles.
The 7th Floor Skeleton Archers were one prime example.
‘I remember cursing them a lot for hugging walls and sniping.’
One or two arrows? Whatever, he could tank or dodge them.
But when they came nonstop, especially mid-battle, it changed things.
Get unlucky and hit by a poisoned arrow? Kiss your break goodbye.
You’d have to heal first before moving.
‘It’s not like there are no gimmicks either. It’s just the 6th Floor with extra difficulty slapped on.’
That’s why no one bundled the 6th and 7th Floors together as the “hell section” for nothing.
Back when DAT was all the rage, most of the complaints were about this stretch.
“Still, it’s a comfort that you can resupply food ingredients here.”
Greg looked around as he said it.
Unlike Celia, his eyes were sparkling.
“Since non-monster animals show up.”
“That’s true too.”
It did have some distinction from the 6th Floor.
Grrr—
“Lucky.”
“Yeah. Didn’t expect to run into Hogs right away.”
“Would’ve been better if it was just Hogs.”
Two animals resembling a cross between wild boars and pigs appeared with grunts.
In DAT, they were called Hogs—fierce pig-like beasts.
The issue was the Skeleton Soldiers riding atop them.
“Skeleton Riders. Let’s take them down quick.”
“Yeah. Let’s clear them and stock up on meat for once.”
The 7th Floor had plenty of wild animals—or ones tamed by Skeletons.
Well, “animals” wasn’t quite like Earth ones... they were mutated by mana.
‘But edible all the same.’
Not just Greg—Regan and Celia’s eyes were sparkling too, unlike before.
Memories flashed of filling up on dried fruit and hard bread.
Crack—!!
Greg charged first.
His axe smashed through the Skeleton Rider’s bones.
Whoosh!
Celia leaped aside from the charging Hog, subduing the Skeleton on it.
Then, as she went to finish the Hog—
“Tch.”
She leaned back, dodging an incoming arrow.
“Skeleton Archer nearby. This is gonna be annoying.”
“Hmm.”
They usually traveled in groups of two or three.
Meaning two or three arrows would keep flying their way.
“Greg, Celia.”
Regan’s mind raced.
There are plays you always imagined but never tried.
Ones the game system didn’t allow or support.
“Let’s ride the Hogs to move.”
“Ride the... Hogs?”
“Yes. It’ll reduce the arrow threat.”
“...Huh?”
Greg looked confused at the Hogs in front of him.
They were glaring like they’d charge any second.
If Greg wasn’t holding them down bodily, they’d have rushed already.
“How do you even ride these things?”
Swish—
Regan plucked a nearby mushroom and continued.
“Hogs are known to have a good sense of smell. Even the kingdom uses well-trained pigs to hunt valuable mushrooms.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“These mushrooms give off a scent Hogs love. White Mushrooms.”
Regan held the two White Mushrooms he’d gathered to each Hog’s nose.
“We’ll tie them to sticks and hold them in front. They’ll follow the smell.”
“...!!”
“The Skeleton Riders use magic to control them. But we can’t use that magic.”
Regan smirked at the twitching Hogs.
“So we use a method that suits us.”
Regan, who’d done more creative and daring plays in DAT than anyone.
The best part of entering this world was this freedom.
You could try things even more freely than in the game.
“We can eat after we’re done using them.”
* * *
Sniff sniff—!
‘It actually works.’
Regan smirked, looking ahead.
He could see the White Mushroom tied firmly to a stick, held out front.
The Hog carrying Regan and Celia on its back chased it, galloping forward.
‘Normally, you can’t ride Hogs without specific magic.’
Magic came in many types, including non-combat spells handled by certain mages.
The “Illusionist” that Regan had eyed before delving into spellcrafting was one.
Animal-handling magic usually relied on illusion spells.
In DAT, where you couldn’t pick Elf, it was the only way to use animals.
“It’s temporary, but it’s fascinating. Feels like being an Elf.”
“Not super fast, but way better than running.”
“Greg seems scared even at this speed, though.”
Their gazes turned sideways together.
There was Greg, gripping the Hog’s back and grimacing.
Honestly, speed-wise it was like biking fast.
Seeing Greg clinging desperately was pretty funny.
“...Wh-why do I have to ride alone?!”
A bit to the side, Greg yelled while riding fiercely.
“...You agreed to it.”
Aside from Plexis’s Cloak, Regan had almost no defenses against attacks.
Especially vulnerable while riding like this.
‘Can’t help it—mage’s physical limits.’
Greg could tumble off mid-gallop and be fine.
With his armor, he’d even handle ambushes well.
The refitted armor infused with Black Magic Crystal power resisted magic too.
“Celia’s good at keeping balance, and easier to counter ambushes together, so it makes sense for us two.”
“...Ahem. I didn’t realize it’d be this fast.”
“Haha. You’ll get used to it. It’s just a bit quicker than us sprinting full tilt.”
“...”
“Oh, there’s something else I want to try. Let me know once you’re adapted.”
“...What’s that?”
Riding Hogs this way with items was an experiment in itself.
He figured they could ride without illusion magic somehow.
And since it worked, he had another idea.
“What if we apply Wind Path magic to the Hog? Let’s test it at the next break.”
Greg might not realize yet.
That they’d be going even faster soon.
‘I need to check if buff magic works on wild animals.’
Scrolls usually buffed the caster, so testing in-game was tough.
But here, this Hog was perfect for it.
Regan’s mind buzzed busily for the first time in ages.
He had plenty he wanted to try.
“So, we’re sticking to the outskirts like this for now?”
“Yes.”
Originally, he’d planned to head straight to the 8th Floor. Per the plan made while resupplying in the kingdom.
‘Go up and farm the portrait room on the 8th.’
But riding Hogs and the time saved on the 6th created spare time.
‘About three to four days.’
Regan had pondered how to use it.
Could spend it rushing to the 9th, or farm more on the 8th.
If he only cared about his own growth, he might’ve chosen that.
‘...DAT is solo-clearable, but not a game you have to solo.’
Regan glanced back at Celia riding behind him.
And beside them, Greg on another Hog.
“I’m going to look for Bern and Manannan’s party.”
For the eventual 6th Tower and final phase, he needed people to watch his back.
If this run’s Manannan had a changed route, leveraging it to max his potential made sense.
Regan decided to use the three days that way.
“If they’re searching for something on the 7th Floor...”
“Searching for something?”
“They won’t escape with their own power.”