kscans

Chapter 159 - The Nue's Nest

"KREEEEEEEEEEE!"

The Nue's cry changed from a sound like a strong gust of wind to something like a crane's call.

Instantly, its form blurred and grew faint.

`[Transparency]`

Almost simultaneously, it closed in on me. Thanks to its feline limbs, the mononoke crept forward almost silently.

A pleased grin spread across its monkey face.

───Fast. But I can see it.

I parried the incoming left claw with my sword. The Nue's eyes widened, but it immediately followed up with its right claw without missing a beat.

I batted that away with my blade as well, and it used the momentum to unleash a high-speed, six-hit combo.

Despite its surprise at being seen through its invisibility, there was no flaw in its movements. Sparks flew with every clash, and the sound of steel on claw rang out.

It was like being forced to play a rhythm game. Immediately after the barrage, as if for a finisher, its powerful tiger forelegs swung at me from both sides.

If I retreated, a slash awaited; if I stood my ground, a strike. So, I moved forward.

My raised blade bit into the Nue's left forearm, and the back of my left fist slammed into its thick right paw.

"GRAH...?!"

Bolstered by its own strength, blood spurted from the wound on its arm. The Nue's face twisted in pain, but its 'other head' had different ideas.

The snake head slithered towards me from my feet. My [Spirit Eye]'s wide field of vision caught it trying to coil around my leg.

But there was no need to dodge.

"HISSS?!"

The snake that tried to wrap around my leg was instead ensnared by a wire.

Erina-san had fired her grappling hook and was pulling on it with `Ukon`.

With both its forelegs and its snake tail sealed, the Nue's eyes burned with fury as it opened its large mouth.

Mana converged in its oral cavity. Sparks of electricity crackled between its fangs.

Judging that a lightning strike was coming, I relaxed my grip on the hilt and kicked its tanuki-like belly. The size difference sent my own body flying backward.

The Nue staggered but kept its aim locked on me, preparing to fire the lightning bolt───

THOOOM...!

At that very moment, a flail swung down from above and pulverized its skull. The force of the impact was so great that the ground beneath the Nue's feet caved in. A cloud of dust billowed out, but I blew it away with a gust of wind to confirm the enemy's status.

Its monkey head was completely crushed. The spiked iron ball was reeled back to its wielder by a rattling chain. Watching it out of the corner of my eye, I thrust my sword into the immobilized snake head.

The Nue has two heads. It doesn't disappear just because one part of its body dies. Of course, unlike a cockatrice, the connection between its bodies is weak, so it can't control the remaining part.

I pulled out my blade and took a ready stance. Cautiously, I watched as the mononoke before me turned into a pile of salt.

"No enemies in the area."

"Haaa..."

I exhaled at Erina-san's words and lowered my stance.

I checked my left gauntlet; sure enough, a deep claw mark was carved into it. If it had cut just a little deeper, it might have reached my flesh.

Of course, if it had dug in that far, an ice spear or a grappling hook would have pierced the Nue's neck before it could pull its claw back.

I re-materialized only the gauntlet, repairing it. Once I confirmed it was back to perfect condition, I turned to my companions.

"You two okay?"

"Of course!"

"Yes. I was more worried about you, Kyouta-kun..."

"The gauntlet stopped the claws, so there's no problem."

Though, honestly, I was pretty freaked out.

I'd heard it was a monster that specialized in surprise attacks, but I didn't expect to be hit the moment we walked in.

"Glad to see the battle ended safely. Still, that was quite a fiery welcome," Aira-san commented.

"Yeah..."

I nodded at her words and glanced at the drop item Ukon had collected.

Pulled from the pile of salt was a small piece of fur. It was just a little bigger than the palm of my hand.

Getting just this for defeating that massive beast felt a little anticlimactic, but it sold for a high price, so I couldn't complain.

Apparently, it was incredibly durable against both magic and physical attacks. Furthermore, for reasons unknown, it was almost completely non-conductive to electricity.

It was in high demand, both as a material for equipment and for research in electrical engineering.

"Alright, let's resume the exploration."

"Right."

After replenishing `Byakuren`'s mana, we started walking again.

Moving forward under the constant rumbling of thunder from directly overhead was quite stressful. It stimulated a primal fear.

"...Normally, when there's this much lightning, you'd want to be inside a building."

I nodded at Mia-san's wry comment and drew a knife.

"Yeah. But apparently, that's the trap..."

I threw the knife at a nearby longhouse. It pierced the wall, and a sound like the crack of a whip, CRACKLE, came from inside.

I could see a black mist through the hole in the wall. Even from here, I could tell it was charged with electricity.

"For some reason, neither the storm clouds above nor the black mist spreading inside the longhouses emits lightning outwards. Well, to be precise, they are discharging at very close range... In any case, unless a Nue does something, they're harmless as long as you don't touch them."

"So if you saw the state of the ceiling and tried to take shelter inside a building, it would be a disaster..."

"It would. If this technology could be deciphered, I wonder what would happen to the power generation industry."

Dungeons truly are strange places.

As I was thinking that, I spotted an SDF marker painted on the wall of a longhouse.

"Aira-san. We're currently at B-34."

"Got it. Let's see... this dungeon has a large mansion in the center. Tell me which direction it's in."

"...Even knowing it's safe, flying up in the middle of all this lightning is terrifying."

"Courage is a man's virtue. Do your best, Kyouta-kun."

"Should I climb up onto the roof?"

"No, no. As the eldest here, I should..."

"No... I'll go."

"Be my guest."

"This isn't a comedy routine, you hapless university student."

Reluctantly, I kicked off the air as if climbing stairs and ascended to a position higher than the longhouse roofs.

Once I had enough altitude, I scanned my surroundings.

"Found it. From the direction we were heading, it's at the four o'clock position."

"Hmm. In that case, continue straight, then turn left at the third intersection. Good work, Kyouta-kun."

"Yeah, yeah..."

I broke out in a cold sweat from the rumbling thunder, which felt closer now, and jumped back down to the ground.

I released a burst of wind just before landing to slow my descent. The feeling of earth through my boots was a relief.

This dungeon was really mentally taxing.

We proceeded as instructed. After a while, Erina-san's voice came through my earring in a hushed tone.

"Kyouta, senpai. There are Nue two corners ahead. Three of them. They seem to be waiting in ambush."

"...Roger."

I replied in a low voice through my own earring and tightened my grip on my sword.

"I know I sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again. Even with [Concept Interference], do not attack the Nue through the black mist."

"Understood..."

I replied to Aira-san, picturing the Nue's skills in my mind.

They had three: `[Wind and Thunder Magic]`, `[Transparency]`, and `[Lightning Eater]`.

They possessed a power similar to the 'Lefkos'' `[Fire Eater]`. I didn't know how my attacks would work against them when they were intertwined with the concept of electricity.

Noticing that our footsteps had stopped, the Nue emerged from the wooden walls, their `[Transparency]` still active.

They took one step, then another, closing the distance as we avoided eye contact.

When they were about five meters away.

"SKREEEEEEOOW!"

They all pounced at me, the one in the lead, at once.

───An opening!───

I instantly dropped my center of gravity and swung my sword, now cloaked in wind and flame, in a wide arc.

As the Nue shrieked from being burned all at once, six blades pierced the one on the far right.

"Sei... h!"

The wires connected to the blades were yanked powerfully upward.

"Hnngh!"

"GAAH?!"

That one was thrown into the air as if in a shoulder throw, then slammed back down to the ground.

I glanced at it and charged the one in the center. The one on the left was being engaged by the stone spears and the golems.

"SKREEEEOOW!"

The Nue let out a cry like the wind and swung its right foreleg down in a massive arc. Its movements were slightly stiff, likely due to the severe burns.

Before it could attack, I sliced its torso horizontally, then stepped in and destroyed its heart with a diagonal slash. Ignoring the foreleg that swung limply in the wrong direction, I shattered the snake head lunging for my neck with my left fist.

I finished the sequence of attacks as I passed through it and instantly turned around to check on my companions.

But it seemed no one needed my help.

A ninja sword was gouging out the eyes of the one that had been slammed to the ground, churning its insides. The snake that had tried to ambush from behind was sliced off as the blade was withdrawn.

The last one was pinned from both sides by Ukon and Sakon with forked staves, its torso and tail pierced by stone spears jutting from the ground. As a finishing blow, the iron ball slammed into its skull.

I approached my allies, my bastard sword held at the ready. Only after hearing Erina-san's "All clear," did I finally lower my weapon.

"Phew... Good work, everyone."

"Good work."

"Yup yup~. They turn invisible sometimes, but you can still hear them breathing, so they're easy to track."

"No, I think that's just you."

Seriously, what's with her ears? I'm sure her skills help, but how does she process all that information without her head exploding?

I've read in manga about people having hearing that's 'too good,' but that doesn't seem to be a problem for Erina-san.

"I managed to get the golems to grapple it before it turned invisible... Between this time and the last, it's terrible for my heart."

Mia-san wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, a wry smile on her face.

Her scouting abilities were the only ones among us that were just above average, so it couldn't be helped. On the other hand, when we needed to deal with enemies over a wide area, we relied on her.

"I'm just glad everyone's safe. But you know, seeing you all in action makes me think you could probably take down the boss monster here."

"We are not fighting it."

"Of course not. If the professor found out I instigated you, she would undoubtedly kill me."

She said it jokingly, but Aira-san's face, reflected in the mirror attached to Sakon's chest, was twitching. She'd probably been given a stern warning beforehand.

"To be honest, I'd love for you to investigate that central building... It's the only place without that black mist inside, after all."

"And it's also where the boss monster is guaranteed to be."

The boss monster here was called the `Raiju`.

Compared to a normal Nue, its appearance was unchanged, save for having two snake tails and being about three times larger. Legends often described it as resembling a weasel, but in this dungeon, it looked just like a Nue. Then again, some legends do say that the 'Nue is a type of Raiju.'

But its speed was on another level.

If only for a moment, the Raiju could apparently run at literal 'lightning speed.' I didn't know if that was true, and I had no intention of finding out.

Strangely, it only ever appeared inside the central mansion and in the sky directly above it, so it was best to let sleeping dogs lie.

"Such a shame...! It's clearly an important facility...! And what's with its appearance? It looks just like a shinden-zukuri style mansion! What kind of lives did the inhabitants of this dungeon lead?! Or is it a fusion of multiple cultures?! Most of the others are Western-style! Why do ones from completely different cultural spheres pop up from time to time?! It's such a mystery!"

"I don't know, and please spare me the lecture while we're exploring."

"Grrr...!"

I admit, I was curious about those things too, but my own life came first. I had no intention of poking the hornet's nest for the sake of curiosity.

Besides, when I told the SDF I was going to this dungeon today, they warned me so many times my ears were about to fall off.

If I went anywhere near that building now, I'd probably be kicked out of the 'B-Rank Candidates' program.

"More importantly, we're resuming our exploration, so please navigate for us."

"Very well. I shall refrain for now. You may praise me through your tears of gratitude!"

"THANK YOOOOU, SEEEENPAAAAIIII!"

"My ears?!"

Was that a sonic weapon?

It seemed Aira-san's eardrums were spared, so we continued our exploration.

After a few more battles, we placed a marker near the exit where the SDF was waiting. Then, we made our way towards the outer perimeter.

It was a dome-shaped dungeon. As the rocky wall was reflected in the mirror, Aira-san let out a small groan.

"As I thought, this was not formed naturally."

"Well, obviously."

"Tsk, tsk, Kyouta-kun. Confirming the obvious is a crucial part of research."

"...My apologies."

"That's better. But you know, I can't see any strata in this wall. Instead, there are these strange marks. What are they?"

"...Most likely, it's magic."

Mia-san's eyes were serious as she slowly traced the wall with her finger.

"`Civil Engineering Magic`... I think a great number of people used the spell simultaneously. For a single powerful magician to have done this, there are too many marks that look like seams."

"Hmm... I wonder for what purpose this dome-shaped wall was created. To prevent intrusion from the outside? Or to prevent something from escaping to the outside? Either way, who, and for what reason... And when you consider the gates, the mystery only deepens."

"Sorry. That's enough speculation."

Erina-san's voice rang out, so calm it sounded almost robotic.

She was the only one with her back to the wall, looking up at the sky.

"A lot of Nue are heading this way. Probably more than twenty, less than thirty. They look ready for a fight. They're fast. And they're flying."

"Roger."

I answered Erina-san and shouldered my sword.

At the same time, the swarm of Nue came into view. They were riding on the black mist, their massive mouths pointed towards us.

Mana gathered in the mononokes' mouths. Lightning leaked from between their fangs as they took aim.

In an instant, they unleashed a volley of lightning spears. As they all shot towards me, I pushed off the ground with all my might and leaped into the air.

`[Concept Interference]`

"Ooooh...!"

I met the oncoming lightning head-on, wrapping it all around my blade.

Heavy...! By forcibly degrading the lightning, which should have no mass, into something 'tangible,' its contained mana was converted directly into weight, pressing down on my arms.

Returning it was impossible. But diverting it was.

I redirected the blindingly bright light towards a longhouse several buildings away. A deafening roar erupted as the roof exploded, but the lightning was swallowed up by the black mist inside, preventing a fire.

Their all-out volley had been blocked, and the Nue's momentum faltered. Just then, an earth dragon rose from the ground.

"SKREEEEEEE!"

The Nue immediately turned invisible, but even without looking, I knew Erina-san was giving Mia-san directions.

Multiple dragons made of earth latched onto the Nue with their jaws, slamming them down to the ground with their massive bodies.

I soared through the air and dove into the fray as they fought back with claws and fangs. I lopped off the head of a Nue that stared at me in shock, then killed its snake tail.

I kicked off the tanuki's back before it turned to salt and accelerated. I sliced off the arm of another Nue that had noticed me and raised its claw, then followed up with a diagonal slash.

When the blade reached the center of its chest, I twisted the hilt. I pulled the sword upwards in a 'V' shape, and as the giant's strength left it, an earth dragon brought its massive body down upon it.

Just after I created some distance, a strong gust of wind slammed the remaining snake tail into the ground.

With that at my back, I used the wind as a foothold and dashed towards my next target.

I thrust my sword into a Nue's skull with the momentum, twisting the blade with my whole body. I kicked the snake head as an afterthought and leaped again.

I felt like Yoshitsune doing his eight-boat leap, but I had to be careful not to end up like the Hare of Inaba.

I launched a surprise attack on the backs of the Nue, who were distracted by the dragons on the ground. I slit throats, split torsos, and leaped from tail to tail.

The battle was decided in about two minutes from the point of contact. As I breathed a sigh of relief that the enemies were gone, the sound of thunder right next to me made me jump.

...This dungeon was going to give me a phobia of lightning.

I was never a fan of it to begin with, but hearing it this close was bad for my heart.

I quickly descended, breaking out in a cold sweat at the rumble-rumble sound.

I might never want to come back to this dungeon again.

───Of course, that thought was blown away by the amount of money I'd get for selling the Nue pelts.

After returning from the dungeon, the number of zeroes in my bank account made my eyes glaze over. B-Rank Dungeons were incredible. How many Byakurens was that worth?

If B-Rank Dungeons were ever opened to the public, the price of these drop items might fall. I had to earn as much as I could now. It was good for leveling up, too.

I'm such a mercenary person. For a while, it seemed I'd be commuting between Utuq and the Nue dungeon, except when I had investigation requests for other dungeons.