Chapter 397 - Episode 350: Coordinated Play
"Whoa, before that, this."
From my inventory, I took out a wooden dish of [Camlus Fruit] compote.
Sweee and Raz instantly snatched one each. Pan and I took one each, and Lupi, Leda, and Roy each got one too.
And then,
"Alright, the reaction might be a bit slow, but…"
Yes!
【Reaper】"Don't mind us here!"
【Bluesha】"Lupi-chan, fight!"
【Shakeena】"Sweee-sama, be careful~."
【Marsal】"Pan-kun, do your best!"
etcetc...
A quick glance at the comment section showed no problems, so—
"Let's go."
"Woof."
Lupi, with a determined expression, nodded, looking both cool and cute.
First, we proceeded from the front of the abandoned mansion, to the right, where I had previously pulled weeds and cleaned up.
"Bow."
Leda, walking a little ahead, signaled that there were no problems.
Turning around, Roy, who was guarding the rear, also responded that there were no issues.
"Now, the back entrance we found before, but…"
The [Stone Wall] blocks piled in front of the door had collapsed, leaving the door half-open…
""Ah…""
【Gossol】"As expected of a first-class flag architect!"
【Storay】"Something either came out or went in…"
【Nireno】"I'm scared now, can we go home?"
etcetc...
"[Spirit's Blessing]!"
I cast [Spirit's Blessing] to calm my mind.
At least no monster bigger than this house should come out.
I had Leda and Roy continue their vigilance.
"I'm using [Shared Presence Detection]. Lupi, if you please."
"Woof."
I left the explanation entirely to Mion, activated the [Shared Presence Detection] art, and had Lupi go ahead.
She reached a spot where she could see inside the door, but there was nothing particularly unusual.
"Pan and the others, wait here."
"Ryu."
I left Sweee and Raz with Pan, and moved to where Lupi was. We both peeked inside… It seemed okay.
When I put my hand on the half-open door and fully opened it, Lupi stepped inside without making a sound.
"Mmm, it's fine."
I beckoned Pan and the others, and called Leda and Roy to come inside. Sweee immediately conjured light from the Light Spirit.
"Thanks."
"~~~ ♪"
In the now brightly lit room, there was a table that had collapsed with a broken leg, and a dilapidated cupboard.
To the far left was a room connected to a corridor, and although there was a window to the right, it was firmly shut.
And to the front left,
"A kitchen?"
A sink near the entrance. Next to it, a workbench?
It looks like a kitchen.
I wanted to close the door we entered through tightly to prevent intrusion from outside, but…
"Woof!"
"Bow!"
As I was wondering what to do, Leda and Roy advanced to the far left, sat down, and fixed their gaze ahead in surveillance mode.
And then,
"Ryu."
Pan handed me the hammer he had hanging from his waist, to use as a bolt.
"I see. Thanks, Pan."
I'm glad he keeps it with him all the time. Maybe I should make him one out of Mithril next time.
Shou-kun. Is that a stove in the back?
"Hmm? Oh!"
【Ashleaf】"Magic stove?"
【Matchrou】"There's the same kind in the Necropolis residential area~."
【Rocol】"Can you use it?"
etcetc...
I immediately used [Appraisal] on what looked like an induction cooktop.
[Ancient Magic Stove]
*A stove for heating food. Can be used by consuming mana from the attached Magic Crystal Stone.
Cuisine: Can be used for heating and cooking.*
"Ohh, amazing."
According to the comments, stoves that could be operated with [Magic Crystal Stones] were rare.
Most of the [Magic Stoves] in the Necropolis didn't have a [Magic Crystal Stone] and required continuous MP infusion, which was apparently bothersome.
Is it because this is an island?
"Could be. Is it like a big portable gas stove?"
So, where was the attached [Magic Crystal Stone]?
Ah, it's probably in the cupboard below, if I open it…
""Bow!""
Leda and Roy barked in unison, and I quickly braced myself.
"Pan and the others, go back."
"Ryu."
I had Pan, Sweee, and Raz retreat, as I didn't know what might appear.
As I stepped between the two, who were bracing their limbs and staring ahead, I sensed a large presence beyond…
I raised my [Mithril Round Shield] and prepared my magic.
"DIEEEEEEE!"
"Whoa!"
Suddenly appearing at the end of the corridor and lunging at us was a rat as big as a Drab Wolf! [Bolyzerat]?
I deflected its headbutt (?) with my [Mithril Round Shield], but it skillfully righted itself and landed.
"GAH!"
"DIEEE!"
It avoided Lupi's attack with a backstep and let out an unpleasant shriek.
[Bolyzerat]
A voracious rat monster that attacks even larger opponents. Its attacks may cause plague status.
"Ugh… Leda, Roy, don't overdo it."
Lupi and I had plague resistance thanks to our scarf and bandana, but the others didn't.
I wanted to defeat it with as little damage as possible…
"[Ice Spear]!"
I fired an [Ice Spear] at the menacing [Bolyzerat], but it dodged with a sidestep. However,
"Grrr!"
Raz's needle-like fire arrow (Spirit Magic?) seemed to hit its cheek, dealing damage.
"DIEEEEEEEE!"
It shrieked in pain, and…
"Are you serious?"
What appeared at the end of the hallway were many glowing eyes.
They seemed a size smaller, but their numbers… there must have been over a dozen.
Shou-kun! You should run!
As Mion said, it felt better to retreat for now. Block the corridor with a [Stone Wall], and then get out…
"~~~!"
"Hmm? Understood. [Earth Wall]!"
Sweee seemed to have a plan, so I built an [Earth Wall] covering the corridor as she indicated. However, I could hear digging sounds from the other side. Would it not last long?
"~~~!" "Ryu!"
""Eh?""
Sweee and Pan suddenly cast magic (?), and as the green light orb hit the [Earth Wall], vines extended in all directions from it.
I see, so by making an [Earth Wall], they're conjuring Tree Spirit Magic thorns!
"Tree Spirit!"
With my help, the vines rapidly grew and covered the [Earth Wall]. After that…
"Dii!"
A small [Bolyzerat] burst through the hole.
However, it was immediately restrained by the thorn vines, and—
"[Stone Projectile]!" "Grrr!"
It was hit by my [Stone Projectile] and Raz's fire needle. The ones that fell were then—
"GAH!" ""BOW!""
—taken down by Lupi, Leda, and Roy in a pattern.
Now, the only one left to worry about was the big one we first encountered…