38. For Whose Sake, the Hundred-Handed Monster
Today was dungeon day. The now-routine breakfast meeting was underway.
"Why the 12th floor? I think the 10th is fine," Mizuki said, posing a perfectly reasonable question.
"For Myra's sake," I answered.
"Why would it be for my sake?" Myra asked.
"Myra, Mash is probably just thinking about something perverted anyway."
Spot on, but I crossed my arms, closed my eyes in mock contemplation, and pretended to mull it over seriously.
"I'm with Mash. Sounds reasonable to me," Cecily said.
"Me too, with Mash," Ira added.
"Fam?"
"..." Fam fell silent, lost in thought.
"Fam?"
"...I want to go to the 41st floor. We have three experienced members in this party."
"Fam, if you really want to get stronger, think about the path ahead and act accordingly. Skip the self-indulgent challenges and efforts—they'll just get you hurt and make you miserable for nothing."
I had my experience-up skill. All we needed was time to grind EXP. With the same amount of time, Fam would definitely pull ahead. Better to play it safe—no need to take risks.
Everyone already knew about yesterday's robed woman and the black panther beastkin girl. I'd only told Mizuki about the possibility they were transferrees. I hadn't fully filled in Myra, who commuted from the church.
I hadn't directly told Cecily and Ira that Mizuki and I were transferrees, or that we had three special skills. It was only until Migurutto, after all. But they'd been there when the priest examined my abilities, so they probably suspected something.
"Fam, Mash is right. I get how you feel, but no one's at a level to fight on that floor yet."
Mizuki backed me up. We'd only reached it thanks to that high-level adventurer Lead and his slave decoy.
"Fam, the black panther girl was just a stepping stone. Don't get hung up on her."
"...Yes. Then the 10th floor, like Mizuki."
Fam conceded, making it two against two. Myra would be the tiebreaker. As usual, where did my vote go? I was supposed to be the leader.
"Myra, trust Ira," Cecily pressed her.
"Hmph, Cecily and Ira are in cahoots with Mash today. Don't trust them, Myra."
Mizuki was picking up on the sketchiness.
"Even if we were, what would we gain? It's for Myra's sake, isn't it?"
Cecily shot back. No substance whatsoever.
"So why does going to the 12th floor benefit Myra? I don't get the reason."
"...Ira, Big Sis... can I trust you?"
"Yes," Ira nodded.
"Big Sis, let's ride this big wave!"
The 12th floor it was. I pumped my fist inwardly.
The vendor's dungeon map only went up to the 10th floor.
Instead, they handed me paper and a pen.
"This is inefficient..."
"I’ve got some old strategy notes, just in case."
Myra pulled a handmade map from her storage.
"Alright, we'll wander around a bit and head back. Let's go!"
"...Why are you so pumped?" Mizuki eyed me suspiciously.
"For Myra's sake!"
Stepping into the transfer circle, all floors up to 41 lit up. My power only reached the 3rd now, but it was still moving. I selected the 12th. Vision went black, then snapped back like nothing happened.
"Mash, traps start from the 11th floor. Be careful."
I nodded to Myra. Her map marked trap spots too. With two healers, we should be fine.
Opening the first door, four giant bees charged us. Huge—over a meter long. Massive wingbeats.
Knife or bow? While I hesitated, one closed in. Fam leaped between us, slashing its belly. The bee climbed, fleeing.
I drew my bow and loosed. Miss.
Glancing around, Mizuki and Myra faced one each. The last dive-bombed Ira, who blocked with a barrier. Cecily hurled a fireball at it. The bee dodged but singed its wings and crashed.
"Someone finish it!"
Handing my foe to Fam, I rushed over, switched to knife, and cleaved the tumbling bee. It vanished.
"Mash, watch out—more in the back!"
As Cecily shouted, the bees ascended.
A gale whipped through.
"!"
Pain stung my arms and body. A gash on my arm. Area-wide sickle wind, huh.
But this damage was manageable.
Checking the team: Ira and Cecily safe behind barriers. Myra unharmed. Fam and Mizuki took the same hits as me.
"I'll handle the back ones."
Slash before the next spell. As I charged, a bee swooped down.
"Get lost!"
Kesa slash—easily dodged. Fast.
"Mash, I'll take the back."
Mizuki dashed past.
I faced the bee in chokudō stance.
Precise footwork, no wild swings—shortest arc strike. It dodged, stabbing with its stinger. I parried with the flat of my blade.
Sloppy step-in. Fear. My old habit.
Again. Shortest distance, step in, strike.
"Kishaaaa!"
Cleaved its head. It tried to rise; I gutted it.
Bee gone.
Scanning: Myra and Fam finished theirs.
Mizuki battled a tree monster—branches whipping like arms, roots shuffling like feet. Creepy. She hacked away, but it wouldn't drop.
"Move, Mizuki!"
Cecily's fireball ignited it. Up in flames, gone.
"Which one?" I asked Cecily.
"The bee."
Checked drops: Mana Seeds from all four.
"Bust..."
"Huh?" Mizuki caught my disappointment.
"I see. But is this really for me? Will my turn really come? Or are you just sidelining me to have fun among yourselves..."
Myra had figured it out. But now she was sulking. Feeling bad, I reached for her chest—glared down by Mizuki.
"...Myra, tend the wounded."
At Mizuki's urging, she healed me, Fam, and herself.
"Big Bee, Rampage Tree, right? Watch for Big Hornets too—their poison can be fatal if not treated fast."
Myra dropped that bombshell casually. If Big Bees kept dropping Mana Seeds, pointless—let's bail.
"What's the area guarder here?"
"12th is Big Bee hive."
"Swarm? Might be too much."
"No problem. I'll burn 'em."
Cecily said it like no big deal.
"Still, Mash, you focus too much on the enemy in front. Couldn't support with magic. You're the leader—watch the whole field."
"...Yes." Cecily scolded me. No comeback.
Then, another party entered from the entrance.
Eye contact with the black panther beastkin girl up front.
"Hmph..."
Snorted.
The robed woman was there too, plus a monkish man and warrior-ish man. Both around 30s.
"Meet again. Barely moved from start—what're you doing?"
The robed woman spoke. Deep hood hid her face, but she seemed amused.
"Enemies here too strong for us. Debating retreat."
"Heard you bailed on 3rd floor."
"That was five days ago. True story." Glanced at Cecily; she looked away.
"Heh, sure. Mind if we go ahead?"
"Go for it. We'll rest more."
They passed. Panther girl snorted again.
"Fam met them yesterday. Thoughts?" I vaguely asked Mizuki.
"Chase and Goddess Summon from behind—wipe 'em out? Pisses me off."
Cecily answered for her. Your provocation started this, but she's ally now—staying quiet.
"Nah, that's too much..."
Though, it was an option.
"Robe, monk, or warrior with us?"
Mizuki probing transferrees.
"...Probably. But only three. Fourth not here today maybe."
"Didn't look low-level."
"Yeah."
But the warrior dude might be level 1 under that tough-guy act. EXP-up skill like mine? Troublesome.
"Really coincidence?"
Cecily said. We'd chatted at the entrance vendor—easy to overhear 12th floor plan.
"The warrior was at the entrance shrine," Fam said.
"What? You remember?"
Recalled some adventurers, but not him.
"No, the grilled corn smell stuck."
That was him.
"Then maybe tailing us for real."
Cecily noted. They loitered openly, passed casually. Scouting our style?
"Possible..."
Hard to buy coincidence. No conclusion.
"Awkward if we meet again? Switch floors?"
Not like Mizuki. Sounded like me. But couldn't back out now.
"Wanna fight a few more. But no area guarder."
"...Got it."
Mizuki nodded.
We fought on.
Ten straight Mana Seeds—I nearly summoned Rakushel to complain, stopped by Mizuki. Then, honey extract drops started.
All to Cecily.
"Never seen Mana Seed drops before... but yeah, first meeting too. What is this?"
Cecily took the honey extract, weirded out.
"Enough?"
"Yeah, but sell Mana Seeds, buy more cheaper."
"Oh..."
True. I knelt. Should've bailed after first fight.
"But listen, Cecily. Drinking what you made and doing it with you—that's the hottest."
"...Yeah, yeah."
Cecily sighed. I was serious.
"Time to spill—what's this for Myra?"
Mizuki was pissed.
"Mizuki, Cecily plans aphrodisiacs from the honey extract—for Mash."
Myra spilled.
"...Fam, let's go. Prep for day after tomorrow."
Mizuki grabbed Fam to leave.
"Mizuki, Master plans to add Big Sis. You bail now, I'm stuck with just her. Your turn never comes."
Fam went raw. Read my mind perfectly. Then read my feelings from tower-top yesterday. And Cecily, Ira. Rakushel, Claire too.
Aphrodisiacs urgent. But saying so? Mizuki rage—zipped.
"...Hmph."
Mizuki turned back.
"Mizuki, didn't know you wanted to get lewd with me."
Grinned at her.
"Tch, true so can't argue... wanna punch Mash. Super Kill if I could."
Mizuki's violent—ease off teasing.
"...Everyone's experienced, fine, but... um..."
Myra fumbling words—time to explore more.
"Myra, map wrong. Dead end ahead."
Straight hall to wall. Should continue.
"No way... no, monster."
Myra readied mace. Others weapons up.
Humanoid, multi-armed monster. Bigger than Goblin King before.
Easily over three meters. Doofy. Can't fight properly in this hall.
"N-No way..."
Cecily and Ira stunned.
"Hekatonkheires!"
As Mizuki named it, the beast roared.
"RRROOOOAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!"
Eardrums nearly burst. Hall shook—no, warped.
Roar ended; we were in area guarder-like room.
"40th floor area guarder..."
Cecily despaired.
Searched escape. Closed door behind Hekatonkheires.
Back door open?
Turned—another Hekatonkheires behind us.
Thank you for reading.
To those who bookmarked and rated—truly grateful.
Keeps me going. I'll do my best.
Thanks for typo reports.