Seeker 132

Test

Chapter 132. Ambush

We're leaving the room with the treasure chest. 

We walked along the corridor and once again came across a door.

"Kazane-san, do you sense any monsters beyond this door?"

"I don't think so... but there's something, a strange feeling."

Kazane-san replied to my question with ambiguous words.

"A strange feeling? What do you mean?"

"Yeah, it's like the feeling of someone using the [Stealth] skill... but also a bit different. I don't sense any monsters, but there's something faintly bothering me."

"Understood. Let's assume there's 'something' and proceed with a flexible response. Aria-san, please do the same."

"Understood."

With heightened caution, I took the lead and opened the door.

Inside was indeed another room, but much larger than the previous ones.

There were no signs of monsters, nor anything else noteworthy. 

There was another door leading further on the opposite wall.

"It seems like there's nothing... but..."

I cautiously stepped into the room.

The other three followed after me.

The anomaly occurred when we walked closer to the center of the room.

Suddenly, a shrill sound came from behind us--

Immediately after, the door we entered closed shut.

We heard the sound of a lock clicking.

"Wa... the door closed by itself!? Are we trapped!?"

Aria-san showed signs of unease.

Indeed, it seemed almost inevitable. 

Teleportation magic circles were just as deadly to first-timers.

If poisonous gas were to be released into the room now, we'd be in serious trouble.

I ran forward while calling out to Kazane-san.

"I will check if the front door opens! Kazane-san, investigate the door we came through! If both are sealed, I'll attempt to break the door!"

"Understood! ...Wait! Something's appearing, on the right and left!"

In two different spots on each side of the room, 4 Onibi (will-o'-the-wisp) lights appeared.

They manifested in places that flanked us, transforming into 2 Gargoyles on the right and 2 Flame Skulls on the left.

"Monsters appeared out of nowhere!? What's going on!?"

Aria-san's voice expressed even more astonishment.

But we couldn't afford to be surprised.

The Gargoyles flapped their wings and flew towards us, and Flame Skulls emitted red shines, indicating their preparation for casting magic.

At this point, we had to prioritize dealing with the monsters rather than thinking about escaping the room.

I quickly formulated a plan in my mind.

At this moment, if we use area-of-effect magic, we'd hit each other along with the Gargoyles. 

That was not a viable option.

On the other hand, using Yuzuki's flame magic against the Flame Skulls would have minimal effect.

In that case, focusing on individual attacks against the monsters seemed wiser.

"Yuzuki, use Fenrir Bow to shoot down the Flame Skulls! Kazane-san and I will deal with the Gargoyles!"

""Understood!""

"I-I will also attack Flame Skulls!"

"Please do!"

As a Gargoyle jumped towards us from the right, Kazane-san and I stood in its way.

Facing the 2 Flame Skulls on the left, Yuzuki readied her Fenrir Bow, and Aria-san wielded her slender sword as she rushed forward.

No more need for instructions, as a single warrior, I should focus on my battle.

My target was 1 Gargoyle.

As the creature lunged at me, I activated my skill with my spear.

Before the Gargoyle's claws could strike me, I delivered a counterattack.

"Take this, [Three Strikes]!"

I couldn't afford to hold back. 

I struck the Gargoyle with my most powerful attack.

Gagagaa... A strong and satisfying impact, as if piercing through rocks.

Though Gargoyles were known for their high physical defense, the creature vanished into a black haze instantly.

A magic stone fell to the ground. 

Good.

A physical attacker who could defeat a Gargoyle in one blow was a rare sight, even among skilled seekers.

Now, onto the next one.

As Kazane-san fought the other Gargoyle, I glanced her way.

"Haa...!"

She had just taken damage, unable to avoid Gargoyle's attack completely.

Though her chest was lightly slashed, there was only a small amount of blood. It didn't seem like a serious injury.

"I got you!"

Kazane-san retaliated with her short sword.

Though she landed a fierce two-hit combo, Gargoyle didn't fall.

"It's tough! My second strike didn't finish it!?"

Gargoyle must have already taken damage once before.

Despite that, it remained standing even after Kazane-san's attack. 

Her slight sense of urgency was visible.

I quickly intervened with a spear thrust from the side, preventing the Gargoyle from landing another attack.

"Ha!"

The blow I delivered was the finishing blow, and Gargoyle vanished into a magic stone.

"Daichi-kun! Did you defeat the other one already?"

"Yes. Now let's support Yuzuki and Aria-san."

"Got it!"

But as it turned out, they didn't need our support anymore.

When I turned my gaze toward Flame Skulls, 1 had already turned into a magic stone, and the other had just dissipated into a black haze.

Yumizuki and Aria-san defeated both Flame Skulls without any problems.

At the same time, I heard the sounds of two doors.

The one we entered through and the one on the opposite side, opening.

Both doors were functioning normally, meaning this room was no longer inescapable.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

However, just like the teleportation magic circle, the traps themselves were unconditionally deadly, yet the events that followed were not as threatening as I would expect.

It gave me a strange sense of incongruity.

But strange events are nothing new in this story.

Now, after securing safety, it's time to recover.

"Anyone injured during the last battle, please let me know so I can heal you."

"Yes, I took 8 points of damage from the Gargoyle's claws."

"Yes, I was hit by 2 Flame Skulls' spells and lost 23 HP."

"Wait...? Are you 2 lying? How can you sustain such little damage from attacks by enemies of that level? When I got hit by a concentrated attack from those 4, I almost instantly died..."

Aria-san had a bunch of question marks floating above her head.

It's no wonder she's surprised. 

Kazane-san, equipped with Black Clothes and a Camellia Hairpin, had an abnormal physical defense, and Yuzuki, the magic beast, had an impressive magic defense.

Well, it can't be helped.

I healed the minor injuries the two sustained using my [Earth Heal] and Aria-san's [Aqua Heal], and then we continued forward.

But seriously, how far does this dungeon go?

As we moved along the corridor, we finally reached what seemed to be the endpoint.