Seeker 83

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Chapter 83. To 9th Floor

After defeating the boss of the forest floor, Demon's Flower, we descended the spiral staircase from the back of the boss room. 

The structure beyond the boss room was almost identical to the one after clearing the cave floor.

As we continued down the spiral staircase, we eventually reached a small room, which served as a relay point.

In the center of the room was a teleportation magic circle. 

At the back of the small room, the descending spiral staircase continued.

Beyond that lies the 9th floor, also known as the ruins floor. 

And speaking of the 9th floor, there is the matter of the dungeon fairy incident.

If we go to the southwest edge of the 9th floor, something is bound to happen.

Will the path to the room with the treasure chest open again?

Or will something else happen?

While I'm eager to find out, there is something more important now.

And that is.

"Senpai~, I'm hungry~!"

"Yeah, yeah. What do you feel like eating? Ramen, soba, donburi, or maybe a set meal at a restaurant?"

"You're as unromantic as ever. Well, I don't have any complaints about that either."

"If you have no complaints, then that's fine. Just don't expect me to be romantic."

"Hahaha. Let's hop on the teleportation magic circle and head outside the dungeon."

"That sounds good. Food, food~!"

We entered the dungeon a little past 9 in the morning, and it's now a little past 13:00. 

Today, we planned to have lunch outside after clearing the boss battle, so we didn't bring any bento boxes. 

In other words, the three of us are starving. 

Therefore, the three of us hopped on the teleportation magic circle and made our way to the dungeon exit.

We first confirmed whether we could teleport to the relay point between the 8th and 9th floors before leaving the dungeon to have lunch.

***

We're back. We had lunch and returned. 

Although we just finished a boss battle, we still have plenty of MP left, so I thought we should taste the Ninth Layer. 

As for how much MP we have left, it's about this much.

Musou daichi MP: 106/144

Kodachi Kazane MP: 68/105

Yuzuki Hotaru MP: 184/270

We fought nearly ten battles on the forest floor from the morning until noon and made it to the boss battle. 

We have more than enough leeway to taste the 9th floor. 

So, we landed at the relay point between the 8th and 9th floors using the teleportation magic circle and descended the spiral staircase from there.

We arrived at a stone maze. 

After descending the spiral staircase, we are standing in a square room. 

It's about ten meters in all directions. 

Unlike the forest floor, there is a ceiling here. 

The height from the floor to the ceiling is about twice my height. 

As usual, the walls emit a faint glow, so there's no need to prepare special lighting. 

With the stairs behind us, there are passages in front of us, to the right, and left. 

Apart from that, there is nothing special, just plain stone walls covering all directions. 

I exchanged glances with Kazane-san and Hozuki, and the three of us proceeded further into the dungeon. 

We chose the left path.

I had checked the map of the 9th floor in advance on the internet, and this is the way to the southwest edge.

"This feels like a dungeon indeed." 

"Certainly. When it comes to the Forest Layer or dungeons in general, I couldn't quite picture it." 

"The monsters that appear on this floor are Gargoyles and Flame Skull, right? Gargoyles have high defense, so parties focused on physical attacks will have a hard time, as it says." 

"I don't like a flame skull. What's with their fire resistance? Are they teasing me?" 

"Well, we had an easier time in the latter half of the forest floor. It can't be helped." 

"...In that case, Senpai, will you protect me?" 

"As usual. But since flame skull uses magic, I think Yuzuki will inevitably be the target of their attacks." 

"Ugh. It'd be nice if you said something more charming." 

"I told you not to expect charm from me. Besides, what's the point of using such things against you?" 

"Hahaha, you two are still the same. But when it comes to magic attacks, the higher your magical power, the higher your magic defense, so Hotaru-chan might be relatively safe. I might be in more danger." 

"That's true. Even Kazane-san, an evasion specialist, will find it difficult to dodge magic attacks." 

"Regarding magic... I've also learned [Evasion Enhanchement], so I might be able to dodge them to some extent. But my black outfit doesn't provide any defense, so I'm not suited for this opponent either." 

While having such a conversation mixed with small talk and strategy, the three of us continued further into the stone dungeon. And soon, we encountered the first group of monsters. 

"Oh no, flame skull suddenly appeared. Ugh, I hate this." 

As Yuzuki complained, the monsters that appeared were the ones we had just talked about. 

There were three of them. 

To describe their appearance in one word, they were "floating skulls enveloped in blue flame." 

Only the skull of human skeletons was floating in the air. It was surrounded by burning blue flames. 

The three flame skulls that appeared from the corner of the passage began to emit a red shine around them. 

It must be a preparation for casting magic. 

We also started moving as soon as we encountered them. 

Yuzuki enhanced her magic power to prepare for casting her magic, while Kazane-san and I rushed into close combat. 

The first battle on the 9th floor has begun.