Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: 5: Shadow Theater -1
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Schwaak!
The sound of something being rent apart echoed.
Followed shortly by chunks of mangled meat pattering to the ground.
"Please be born into a kinder life next time."
The sound of a sword being sheathed rang out, and the situation came to an end.
Are we venturing deeper and deeper?
Unlike just moments ago when we could still see some sunlit areas, this place now fully resembled a swamp.
The squelching ground that sank underfoot, the insects starting to buzz around.
And then.
"Cut it more gently. Green crocodile hide makes for good material."
"Our goal is the honey fruit anyway, isn't it?"
"Still, better to grab what we can. Or do you plan to just let that debtor walk free?"
Ophelia glanced at me.
For some reason, her eyes seemed to be filling with pity.
"Should I cut it more gently?"
"No. Better to finish it cleanly than risk injury. Don't worry about it."
Indeed.
"The hide fetches a good price, but it's not worth you getting hurt over. Got it?"
"...Understood, Senior."
"You too, Melissa."
"Got it, assistant."
I didn't want them getting hurt on my account.
Besides, Ophelia and Melissa needed to stay in top form for the boss fight.
Ophelia spoke in a solemn tone.
"We'll escort you safely to the boss stage."
She was reliable.
I supposed all those free drinks and snacks had paid off.
Not that I'd done it expecting that, but if it meant they'd push harder to help, it made things easier for me.
The key player herself, Melissa, on the other hand...
"Senior~ Feelin' gooood~"
"...Please stop."
"Hard to believe that's the same person who lectured me earlier."
"That was because it was hot."
Melissa giggled.
I mediated between the two and pressed onward.
We had time, but the Shadow Theater Troupe nagged at my mind. We couldn't rule out the chance they might show up here.
That was one reason I wasn't picking up other items...
In any case, as we delved deeper, more and more fruits began appearing. All of them ones I'd seen in the game.
Honey fruit was the goal right now, so I passed them by, but maybe I could swing back later for dessert ideas?
I'd mark them down and return later.
"Senior, over there."
Ophelia pointed at a building with her finger.
It was a structure built from stacked stones.
Even with moss clinging here and there, it exuded a somehow sacred aura. That was a dead giveaway.
This was a temple.
I'd never seen one in person, but it reminded me of an Aztec temple.
"I smell blood."
The metallic tang grew thicker the closer we got to the temple.
Melissa wrinkled her nose and muttered, "Nasty."
I felt the same disgust, but turning back now was out of the question.
"Let's go."
As we entered, we realized.
Why the stench of blood was so overpowering here.
"Gruesome."
"Looks like they got taken down by a pack of crocs."
"Hold on, I'll recover their student IDs at least."
Even in the game, the crocs inside this temple were particularly tough specimens. If the ones outside were around level 5, these were level 10.
No wonder they couldn't hold out against repeated attacks.
Corpses torn and chewed everywhere.
"Rest easy. I'll make sure to carry your proof out of here."
Ophelia recovered the student IDs from the bodies and began mourning them.
I...
'It's definitely gorier in the sequel.'
I was reminded anew that this world was like mine yet somehow different.
That one wrong move, and I could end up like them.
While Ophelia mourned, a few crocs approached us. Melissa cast her spells, and I bashed their heads.
That should soothe their souls a bit.
"Just a little further and we're done."
A small garden would appear in the center of this temple.
"Is that it, Senior?"
"Yeah."
We entered the small garden and looked around at the suddenly changed scenery. A greenhouse inside the temple.
At least it was better than the fishy reek of blood.
And above all.
"Red honey fruits!"
We'd found the red honey fruits.
"Where?"
"There."
"They're ridiculously tiny. Blueberries? No, even smaller maybe."
"You'll have to step it up, earth mage."
"I'm not an earth mage!"
We uprooted the honey fruits and planted them in pots. A bit tedious, but safer this way.
Damaged roots don't last long.
Melissa had earth magic, sure, but better safe than sorry.
"So what's so special about these honey fruits that we're going through all this trouble?"
You came all this way without knowing?
"You know honey's good for fatigue recovery, right?"
"I know that much."
"The honey inside these is a superior version. Amazing for fatigue."
"Oh ho. So drinking that brew lets you sleep deeply?"
"We'll see. It's the best option right now anyway."
Higher star dungeons or spending money would work too, but this was optimal for now.
Gulp...
"Ophelia."
"Y-yes? Senior."
"You want some too?"
Ophelia fidgeted with her fingers.
It'd been less than two weeks since I got to know her, but I'd learned one thing.
"C-could I ask for some?"
She absolutely loved sweet desserts.
I'd already dangled the promise of VIP treatment at my cafe if she helped today.
"Doesn't matter to me?"
"...Can't be helped. You did help, after all."
"Thank you, Senior. And... and..."
"Hmph, I'll let you have some, so stop tailing me."
"...As long as you don't cause any incidents."
Ophelia looked thrilled at the thought of honey fruit drink.
'Hope she stays like that going forward.'
A girl who could be tamed with sweets.
How convenient.
No worries about getting stabbed either.
"Shall we head back then?"
"Yes."
"Mm."
We carefully packed the potted plants into our bags and set off again. Past the temple and straight ahead lay the exit.
Exiting was always easier than entering—that was true for nearly every dungeon.
Now we just needed to stroll out with light hearts.
In fact, nothing happened for a full hour.
We only spotted a couple crocs scrambling away mid-flight.
We paid them no mind and soon reached the exit.
A rippling blue barrier shimmered into view.
Just pass through that, and this trip was over.
"Whew... Dungeons are no joke."
"Didn't you do much, assistant?"
"I cooked. You know soldiers forgive battlefield losses but not messing up rations?"
"No idea."
"That hurts."
Melissa and I bantered as we walked.
Ophelia stayed silent, not joining in.
She'd sensed something.
"Watch out, Senior!"
"Huh?"
"Ngh!"
I realized she was shielding me only after the massive slash came flying.
"Gr... grrr..."
Ophelia's hand trembled violently.
She must have strained blocking that enormous slash.
In other words.
'Something that can make Ophelia shake in a 2-star dungeon?'
An out-of-spec entity that shouldn't exist here had appeared.
The moment I realized that, thudding footsteps echoed.
Our gazes turned.
There stood.
"Nice to see you~ Like this."
A woman in a mask casually waving.
And.
"Director, looks like you stuck me with some tough ones."
A massive crocodile standing on two legs, muttering.
No way those guys.
"Shadow Theater Troupe?"
"That's right. I'm the troupe's Director. This here's one of our actors."
"Name's Karim."
This was bad.
We could've just slipped out.
"We don't want to fight. Mind stepping aside?"
"Sorry. Scriptwriter has something he really wants to check."
Scriptwriter?
Director, actors. Did these guys think the world was a stage?
"What you all need to do here isn't follow the script."
"Then what?"
"Tear it up."
"Troublesome, no?"
"It's exactly what I hoped for. For that purpose."
Boom!
The massive croc slammed its sword down roughly.
"I hold no hatred for you. I merely wish of you."
So said the giant croc.
Its speech and thinking were no different from a human's.
Thick armor encasing its body, a massive axe that could pulverize foes.
If it weren't an enemy, I'd want to inspect it up close—it was that impressive.
"But I do demand courtesy. Show respect to me."
Thud!
The croc struck the ground with its sword, shaking the earth. My legs buckled instinctively.
"Ngh..."
Ophelia jammed her sword into the ground to resist.
"Annoying..."
Melissa glared in fury.
"Grrr...!"
I barely held on using my club as a brace.
Somehow, the three of us endured the pressure. Before we could recover, the croc laughed.
"Impressive. None of you knelt. Especially you—you look particularly frail, yet... good. Your spirit is strong."
Then just let us go.
The croc had no such intention.
"Fine! If this is the scriptwriter's script, then we follow it."
"Incoming. Ophelia, Melissa. Get ready."
"Don't die, fine seeds."
Thud thud thud!
The croc charged.
And.
"Now, the play begins!"
Clap!
The Director clapped her hands.
"Ooooooh!!!"
The croc barreled in with bestial momentum.
Ophelia leaped out first, as expected.
Her sword path dazzled, ravaging the croc's hide and armor.
Sometimes straight and powerful, sometimes curved and graceful.
The net of sword trails they wove would suffice to shred any trapped prey.
"Hmph!"
"Ngh!"
The croc weathered it with sheer toughness, then exploited its size for a body tackle.
Ophelia dodged a direct hit but couldn't avoid rolling on the ground.
Red blood bloomed on her pale skin.
"Opening!"
Next was Melissa's turn.
Melissa Green, president of the Black Magic Club.
She raised her staff high and summoned them.
Black arms too numerous to count.
"Rip it."
They latched onto the croc, trying to tear its hide.
But.
"Petty tricks!"
The croc leaped high in an instant, shaking them off on landing.
Then it sliced the arms with flashy swordplay belying its bulk.
'Strong.'
The croc was strong.
Not 2-star level—probably 4-star.
Even there, final boss material.
"This might be dangerous."
"...Gotta stay sharp."
Ophelia and Melissa gripped their weapons tightly.
Looking at the girls, the croc made its arrogant plea in a grave tone.
"Of you, I wish."
"Don't die."
Clang-!
Ophelia and Melissa blocked the massive croc's swing and resumed the fight.
I...
could only watch helplessly.
"..."
Powerless.
Unable to do a thing.
Ophelia and Melissa.
To me, they were dazzlingly strong.
If I was a firefly, they were suns.
If I was a pebble, they were boulders.
And.
"Come on, try harder!"
"Ngh!"
"Hah!"
A monster that could face both at once?
'No way for me to stand against it.'
No way for me to match it.
Harsh reality.
More precisely, no way I could beat it.
So let's swap subjects.
If Ophelia and Melissa were in my place?
'Might be a way to win.'
If some variable came into play.
...Then my role here was.
"Ophelia! Melissa!"
"Yes! Senior!"
"What! Assistant!"
"Hold on just a bit! I'll be right back!"
To create that variable for their victory.
"I've gotta find it!"
That was my job.