Magical Explorer

ACADEMY DUNGEON 8

Breaking through 34th and 35th floors was relatively easier, I think?

It was inevitable that I have to deal with the harpies but since I ran away the moment I saw them, it was easier to some extent.

Though There are fewer harpies spawning on the 36th floor, they will be replaced by another troublesome enemy.

The first thing I encountered on the 36th floor was the harpia. Enduring not to beat up the harpia that is leaning on a tree while sunbathing, I get a little away from it and start running away.

I can relieve my stress by beating it up but if it notices my presence and calls its friend then it would turn out to be a disaster.

Then a little after I ran away, the troublesome monster that started spawning after the 36th floor, the Toutetsu appeared.

Most of the toutetsu’s body looked like a sheep but its head is that of a Komainu or a Shisa with sharp fangs in its mouth. If it bit me then it would leave behind a large wound and at worst I would end up as its food. Additionally, there’s a twisted horn on its head. You could say that it is Chimera that mixed sheep and komainu together.

This?

There are a lot of troublesome things about the toutetsu but the most troublesome thing is its speed. In Magiero, its speed was as high as the centaur. I’m impressed that it can dish out such a speed when half of its body is that of a sheep.

Unluckily, it seems like it would take some time to escape from this guy.

The toutetsu noticed my presence, it is side-stepping while making a *guruguru* sound with its throat to intimidate me (TLN: Basically growling). I approach it while putting my magic power inside third hand.

Then the toutetsu react by spit fire at me.

The annoying part about the toutetsu was not only its speed, but it also can attack you from a long distance.

I used third hand to protect myself and immediately run away. Following my movement, the toutetsu spit its fire after me.

The power of its flame is higher than that of the low-level magic stones but it is still far apart from the intimidate-level one. However.

“It would be bad if the centaur and harpy show up too.”

Presuming that I take on the toutetsu who is good at both close-quarter combats and long-range fire attacks alone, if a centaur or a harpia show up then I might have to take on attacks from all directions.

Putting that into consideration, I must break through this and the next floor as soon as possible.

So let’s decide. Whether should I use most of my battle magic stones on these floors that troublesome monsters are overlapping?

I enchant third hand with water attribute and use it to defend against the flame while continuing forward. Stopping its fire attacks, the toutetsu jump at me while trying to scratch me with its claws. I smack it down with fourth hand and finish it off with my sword-draw technique.

If there’s only one toutetsu then I will hunt them. The same goes for the centaur. If there are two I will look around and decide whether should I hunt them or not. If there’s a harpia then I will run away even if I have to spend my items like an idiot.

While planning out my course of action, I collect its magic elements and magic stone. Then immediately after I start running again, I found another monster. I ended up finding another one. And unfortunately, my next opponent seems to be a harpia.

“And it was so easy in the game, well, it was not that easy but I can still normally run away from it back then.”

Aren’t there two totetsus with the harpia in front of me?

Are they taking a walk together?

Annoying monsters taking a walk together huh. If those toutetsu were a pair then it would eventually be difficult to take a walk with such a large family right?

I look for a way to avoid them while thinking about those meaningless things.

Unfortunately, a centaur is now looking my way.

It seems like standing idly to consider my options was a bad idea, the harpia’s group also noticed me and making their way here.

The toutetsus stood in their place and beautifully spread its legs apart. They sure know how to corner their prey huh.

I immediately grabbed a sound magic stone and prepare to activate it. Before the centaur rush at me, I have to decide whether to escape or to get rid of them.

I activated fire and sound magic stone at the harpia that is nose-diving toward me.

————-

“Aah, they got me.”

I never thought the 36th floor would be this hard. The high-performance school uniform that Marino-san made a special order for me in high spirit is a wreck right now.

There were lots of wounds on my body but I can fix them with recovery items. On the other hand, my heart is in the same state as my uniform.

“What should I do…….”

It’s hard to move my body. I know that I have to move but my body is not listening to me. I know that it is seriously bad but my body still not listening to me.

Although I somehow break through the 36th floor, there’s a long way to go from 37th to 40th floor. But rather than my body, my mind is already exhausted. Looking at the time, guess I should have my dinner and go to bed soon.

But if I sleep now, I will have to capture the four remaining floors and defeat the boss in one day.

Should I speed up tomorrow? It would be possible If I have an infinite number of battle magic stones. But realistically that’s impossible.

Since I used a lot of battle magic stones on this floor, it would run out before I reach the 40th floor. And I can throw the idea of saving the magic stones on the 37th floor out of the window. The harpia and toutetsu combo plus the centaur follow-up are extremely disgusting.

The only salvation here is that the centaur will be replaced with a monster that moves slower than a turtle from the 38th floor onward.

Aah, in a time like this I want to cook something simple for a change of mood.

But I don’t feel like doing anything right now.

Seriously, what a bad omen.

I grab a few cookies and put it in my mouth to fill my stomach.

This is simply painful. I’m mentally worn out and my motivation is disappearing.

Normally I would try to sing an eroge song to cheer me up but I can’t utter even a single phrase. I don’t have enough leeway for that.

I know that it is the most important thing to keep my mood up but I don’t feel like it at all.

Only three floors left, even so, it’s still three more floors.

Can I really get to the 40th floor in one day?

There’s a boss on that floor too. Can I beat the boss the way I am now?

I take a look at the cookie I am eating.

It was powdery and rustic. It was not delicious at all. The same goes for the coffee, I don’t feel a shred of satisfaction from drinking it.

I wanted to take a bath. I want to take a hot shower, I want to soak myself in the luxurious bathtub at Marino-san’s house and slowly stretch my back.

Should I head back as it is?

Such an idea crossed my mind.

I done enough already right? If I head back now I will definitely take the first place and I will be able to join the three committees as well. I may not be able to get the first solo capture bonus but there are other places I can get that item from too. This place is just the fastest way to get it with a relatively simple condition.

The more I thought about it, the more comfortable I feel out heading back now. The more you force yourselves the more you put yourselves in danger right.

I can try again anytime. The most important thing here is not to die.

I put my hand into my pocket, besides the return magic stone, there were two square objects in there.

I pull them out of my pocket.

It was the amulets.

One was very beautifully stitched as if it was done with a machine. There was a small waterfall and a stream sewed on it.

Another one has some rough places at the seams. However, it was double sewn to make sure that it doesn’t break. Additionally, a clover sewed on the lower right side.

Suddenly, I remembered what happened at the Hanamura house.

When I and Nanami came back from the turtle hunt, Sempai, Ludi, and Claris-san hurriedly clean up the room. They were behaving somewhat strangely like they tried to hide something from me.

Seeing that, Nanami pouted a little and poke my side while saying [You lucky fellow!]. She also muttered something like [If I have time then I too…….].

“So take a break already, you are working too hard.”

“Goshujin-sama, are you going to take the supreme time away from me?”

“Why are you having a supreme time on your job!?”

I started doing two-person comedy with Nanami after that, Claris-san who was watching was the first person to burst into laughter while preparing tea for Marino-san who got back just got back. Nee-san was silently watching us but sempai and Ludi started to laugh too.

The next day. Sempai gave me the amulet with a smile.

[I wish for your success.] she said.

Ludi looked worried while making a face like she was about to cry.

Then….she wrapped her arms around me.

I tightly hold both amulets in my hand.

Let’s try a little harder.

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