Chapter 25

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 25

Chapter Title: Rover's Combat Capabilities

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'People are popping up more often.'

As we passed the fifth floor of the labyrinth and descended to the sixth, we started spotting people here and there.

If anything, there were no monsters in sight—just people—but since it was the sixth floor, it felt kind of natural.

'The first through fourth floors are monster-free anyway.'

That naturally meant the fifth and sixth floors served as the entrance to the hunting grounds.

Which was why I figured there were more people than monsters, and I slowly moved along while eyeing them.

'Their weapons look pretty worn out.'

The armor they wore was battered and torn in places too.

From what I could see, the hunters' situation wasn't all that great either.

'Maybe I should put up some gear for hunters sometime.'

Now that more people were delving into the labyrinth, it seemed like a good idea.

"Hey? Isn't that the Hero over there?"

Apart from that, the people who spotted us immediately recognized the Hero Party.

It was to the point where pretty much everyone in the labyrinth probably knew Elisicia's face by now.

"Looks like the Hero's heading down again."

"But what's that thing Rubyel's riding?"

"A wolf? Nah, looks more like a hunting dog...?"

For reference, Rubyel was currently riding on Rover as we traveled.

She'd said she wanted to try it out, so I'd let her without much thought.

"Rover, right? This is way more comfortable than I expected."

At that moment, Rubyel shared her thoughts on riding Rover.

"That comfortable?"

"Yeah. It's super stable since it walks so quietly. And the saddle's all soft and cushy."

I glanced down at the mention of stability to check it out myself.

As a four-channel product, it probably wasn't just stuffed with basic cushions.

'Quick Fix Doctor mentioned it had accessory parts, so maybe some special tech's built in?'

With that thought, my eyes landed on Rubyel's bouncy rear.

"......"

To avoid any weird misunderstandings, I quickly turned my head away—and that's when I heard voices from the people again.

"But I don't see the Castaway."

"Why would the Castaway come down into the labyrinth anyway?"

I'd been wearing the hood of my stealth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cloak since the fourth floor.

The cloak's effect hid me even from the people on the sixth floor.

"Oh, yeah, I think I've heard something. They said the Castaway grew four arms or whatever?"

"Four arms?"

"Straight from his own mouth, apparently."

"Four arms...?"

Suddenly, the people on the sixth floor started staring intently at Rover, with Rubyel on its back.

'No way they're thinking I'm Rover, right?'

I thought that, but dismissed it as ridiculous deep down.

Hell, if I were Rover, how would I even use the gallery or post items?

'People aren't that dumb.'

Or so I believed.

"Whoa. Never thought the Castaway turned into a dog."

"Or maybe he was a dog from the start?"

"Nah, probably transforms into one like a beastkin."

I stared at them in disbelief at the ongoing conversation.

Even if I could transform like a beastkin, turning into metal like Rover? Come on.

"Why don't you go talk to it?"

"Now that I think about it, didn't he say he got a puppy from some doctor? That looks like the one."

"A puppy? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That's no puppy—it's huge."

"Yeah, it could probably bite through a sixth-floor monster."

At that point, I got curious about Rover's combat capabilities.

Truth be told, I'd been wondering about them for a while but never had a chance to check.

'Maybe now's the time?'

The thought hit me, and I turned to Rubyel.

"Rubyel, mind hopping off for a sec?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Wanna test Rover's combat abilities."

"Combat abilities? Rover can fight?"

Can it fight?

"It's my guard dog to begin with. Of course it can."

"This cute little pup can fight?"

Rubyel stroked the back of Rover's head, still looking skeptical.

Anyone watching might think Rubyel was Rover's owner, not me.

"Fine. I'm curious how well it fights too."

With that, Rubyel dismounted.

She kept petting it even as she got off—clearly smitten.

'Maybe I should snag another one.'

As I thought that, Elisicia glanced at the elf, Lineth.

Lineth seemed to get the hint just from the look, twitching her long ears a few times.

"Monster presence to the left."

"Shall we head left for a bit then?"

It looked like she'd overheard Rubyel and me and was offering to help.

I'd only been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thinking of monsters we'd run into on the way down, so I checked if it was okay.

"You sure?"

"No rush. Plus, it's good to scout each other's strengths."

Elisicia answered casually and turned left.

We followed her for a good while until a monster—the kind I'd only heard about—appeared ahead.

"Is that a labyrinth monster?"

"Yes. More precisely, a creation of the Evil God."

The monster ahead was shrouded in shadowy black, like a living darkness.

Black haze rose from its whole body, and its eyes glowed blood-red—unmistakably monstrous.

"Looks scary, but it's a living thing. Slash it with a sword, and it'll bleed."

"Ah... right."

I hadn't really wanted to know that, but I eyed the two approaching monsters anyway.

They had distorted beast heads, walked on two legs, and especially long claws.

'But this is the sixth floor, right?'

It meant newbies delving into the labyrinth had to face things like this first.

"Can beginners handle monsters like that?"

"Alone? Tough. But a group could manage."

Coming from the Hero herself, I had to believe it.

Personally, though, I thought a machete wouldn't cut it.

'I threw up a spear too just in case, but still feels iffy.'

Today's uploads included two weapons and one shield.

One was the cheap machete; the other, a wooden spear.

-African Warrior's Wooden Spear: 80 points

'Four or five people jabbing with spears might work.'

I mulled that over and stared at the monsters, who seemed to be sizing us up.

They were wary, but more like pondering how to attack.

"Rover. Take down those two monsters ahead."

My goal was still testing Rover's combat skills, after all.

I gave the order right away, and Rover nodded.

And then.

I expected it to charge, but it stayed put and just opened its mouth wide.

'Huh?'

The moment I wondered why it was yawning like that—

Click—

A gun barrel popped out of Rover's mouth, aiming at the monsters.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!—

Then bullets sprayed out like from a machine gun, shredding the monsters ahead to pieces.

"......"

The scene was so far from what I'd imagined that I just stared at Rover blankly.

Rover looked back at me, almost like it was asking what I thought, despite being a machine.

"Whoa, what was that just now?"

Unlike me, Rubyel was purely impressed.

"Th-that's a gun. Didn't know Rover could use one."

"A gun? If that's a thing, you should list some in the exchange."

"Too dangerous. As you saw."

Weapons' danger depends on the user, I figured, but I said that much.

'But if it fires bullets, that means it needs ammo recharges.'

Pondering ammo, I recalled [Resource Recharge].

If bullets counted as 'resources,' maybe it'd work. I opened the gallery and tried it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on Rover.

'Whoa.'

Amazingly, [Resource Recharge] even refilled spent ammo.

Meant bullets were classified as 'resources'—great news for me.

"Recharge."

'This opens up way more ways to use Rover.'

Of course, I'd have to be careful.

If Rover got wrecked, I'd have to trust 4chan's scammer-filled repairs.

'If it comes to that, Quick Fix Doctor's my only bet.'

Anyway, having learned something new, I eyed Rover and pondered.

Rover's combat wasn't what I'd pictured, so I wondered if we should test more.

"Castaway. Want to hunt a few more monsters?"

"Huh? You sure?"

"No reason not to. I told you—knowing each other's power is important."

Elisicia picked up on my expression and suggested it first.

Besides, the sixth floor was perfect for testing Rover's limits.

'Monsters get stronger the deeper you go.'

Delaying meant higher risk of Rover breaking, so better wrap it up here.

"Yeah. Mind if we do a bit more?"

"Not a hassle. It's just monster hunting anyway."

And so, the Hero Party and I wandered the sixth floor a little longer to gauge Rover's performance.

After that, we wrapped up with exactly four more fights before descending further.

We got a solid read on Rover's combat abilities—and they were way better than expected.

'Rips monster flesh off with its teeth in seconds...'

Or embeds those teeth and unleashes electricity.

It even slashed a monster in half with its front paw.

'Elisicia said a thin, sharp blade popped out when it swung.'

I hadn't seen it, but she had, clear as day.

Having roughly assessed Rover, Elisicia gave her take.

"Should handle up to floors 10 or 11 without issue."

"And beyond?"

"It'd win, but might take some damage?"

Meaning it could break after the eleventh.

No big deal—Rover was backup for emergencies anyway.

'Plus, I've got Telekinesis and Plasma Pistol.'

After that, we camped near the path to the tenth floor.

Basically, at the edge of the ninth—swampy territory—so I asked why there.

"Any reason to camp on the ninth specifically?"

"Tenth's like a wasteland. Too open—no cover like last night."

Good reason to stick to the ninth.

'Rest here tonight, hit the tenth tomorrow.'

I nodded and set up the tent and shower at a spot Elisicia picked.

'Hmm.'

What about 5chan's Melani?

She should've messaged by now, but nothing.

'Oh.'

Thinking it over, I realized I hadn't friended her yet.

She might not know how to DM, so I messaged first.

She accepted the 1:1 chat right away, like she'd been waiting.