kscans

Chapter 32 - Treant

After gearing up, we passed through the gate. The space beyond was bright, even without a lantern.

However, there were no SDF lights installed.

The ground was dark brown soil, the walls made of stone. Vines and roots encroached upon the walls, and from them, flowers bloomed here and there.

These glowing blossoms illuminated the dungeon. Not figuratively, but literally.

The vines extended not only across the walls but also to the ceiling, and the mysterious flowers growing from them lit up the entire labyrinth.

It was a truly wondrous sight. A fantastical place that could not exist in the natural world.

Dungeons are full of mysteries, and much research has yet to be done. Those flowers are one such mystery. No toxins have been confirmed so far, but I was told during my orientation to be careful about touching them.

In any case, it was time to explore.

I gave Erina-san a heads-up and created Byakuren's body. I showed the marble-like eyeballs a picture of this dungeon's monsters and gave it instructions.

Preparations complete. I touched my earring and reported to Aira-san.

"Sorry for the wait. We're ready to go."

`Good. Well then, you two, let's get to it with high spirits! I expect great results!!`

"OOOOOOH!!"

"So loud."

Monsters generally don't come running just because of a shout or two, but what's with this high tension?

Feeling slightly exasperated, I saw that the other two seemed to have switched gears as well, and the exploration began as usual.

The corridors were wide, and the ceiling was quite high in this dungeon. There were no issues with swinging a sword around.

In fact, the width, just enough for two trucks to barely pass each other, and the ceiling, which must have been over ten meters high, made me feel a sense of unease when considering 'this place's monsters.'

And so, not even three minutes after we started walking.

"Footsteps. Just one."

Erina-san's ears picked up the enemy.

"At the next crossroads, it's coming from the right. Want to let it pass?"

"…No, let's take it down."

"Okay!"

Right after hearing her reply, I began to hear the monster's footsteps as well.

Thud, thud. A sound like the earth trembling. Its mass was undoubtedly greater than the Orc Champion's.

This time, I didn't reach for my knife. It would be 'too small.'

I gripped my sword with both hands from the start, taking a stance similar to hassō-no-kamae.

The opponent might have noticed us as well. The interval between its footsteps shortened, and slowly, a large hand was placed on the vine-covered wall.

What appeared was a giant made of wood.

It had no neck, and its eyes were dark, hollow-like cavities. It had young, green leaves like hair.

Its inverted triangular torso and thick, powerful limbs were all formed from wood. Shedding pieces of mossy bark, the monster opened its zipper-like mouth wide.

"OOOOOOOOOOHH!!"

Treant.

A monster of wood, standing nearly four meters tall. Its mass was on a literally different level from the F-Rank 'Lesser' version.

The Treant spread its sharp, branch-like fingers and reached for me. In response, I stepped forward.

It's scary to charge at a huge opponent. But I could 'see' it clearly. If I knew where it wouldn't hit, I could step in.

Matching the movement of the approaching giant arm, I swung my sword down. The diagonal slash cut off its thumb.

But it seemed to have no sense of pain, as the arm continued forward without slowing down. I stepped diagonally and rotated my sword. It was a 'Serpentine Cut,' one of the forms I had been practicing.

I stepped into the space where the thumb had been and swung my half-sword from the upper right to the lower left.

The blade, accelerated by the wind, sliced deep into its wrist. Combined with the impact of its palm hitting the ground, the arm was torn off, scattering wood chips.

The Treant hurriedly took a step back, but it was too late.

Despite its mass and size, the reason this monster was only D-Rank was for one reason: its slowness.

Back when I wasn't an Awakened Person, I would have been crushed without being able to do a thing, but to my current self, it was too sluggish.

"OOOOH!?"

A ninja sword flew and pierced the flustered Treant's left side.

It was Erina-san's support, just as we had planned. I immediately kicked off the ninja sword in its right knee, leaped up, and landed on its right shoulder. Then, I switched my grip from the hilt to the blade.

Of course, the Treant tried to swat me away with its left hand, but it was still too slow.

"Hraaaah!"

Imbuing my blade with wind, I delivered a 'Modschlag.' I swung the sword like a hammer, landing a heavy blow on its face.

The strike, delivered with my gauntlet-covered hand gripping the blade tightly, sent wood chips flying with a satisfying crack.

With nearly half its face blown off, I used the momentum of my swing to rotate again and step in.

With the second blow, I completely blew its head off. I leaped from the teetering giant's body, slowing my descent with wind, and then jumped back slightly to distance myself from the Treant's body.

The giant fell face-first and turned to salt. I wasn't about to get caught in the collapse and be covered in salt.

Getting covered in salt instead of blood is no laughing matter. If you don't brush it off properly, monsters will chase you.

Well, a small amount that you don't notice isn't a problem, and during combat, I'm enveloped in wind, so the salt falls off on its own… but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Besides, I wouldn't want to be buried in salt anyway.

"Good work, Kyouta-chan!"

"Yeah. You too, nice job."

I replied to Erina-san and turned my gaze back to the pile of salt. A brown object was sticking out from the white powder.

I approached, pulled it out, and brushed off the salt. It was a small sapling.

About 20 centimeters long, it had no leaves, just thin roots sprouting here and there. This was the Treant's drop item.

According to my alchemy book, it can be used for various materials… but for now, I'm still obligated to turn it in to the Dungeon Store.

I wish the 'free sale of drop items' that the Dungeon Agency announced would get approved soon. I want to take home the ones I don't use for experiments.

"Erina-san, can you take this?"

"Sure!"

I felt a pang of regret as the sapling was put into her [Item Box], but I forced myself to move on.

`You seem to have won without much trouble. But Treants also have magic. Be careful.`

"Right."

"Oh-kay!"

I replied to Aira-san and resumed the exploration. Following her instructions, we came to a dead end.

However, this was supposedly the 'correct route.'

Apparently, this dungeon sometimes has huge 'ledges' like this. The Treants can climb them easily, but a wall over five meters high is tough for humans.

There aren't many of them, but they seem to be placed in quite annoying spots. Both Aira-san and Erina-san had said that 'whichever path you take, you'll have to cross a wall at least once.'

I could probably jump over it with my current body if I got a running start. But I heard at the store that sometimes there are wooden stakes waiting at the top, so I can't be careless.

So, with that in mind.

"Chowaaah!"

With a mysterious cry, Erina-san threw her grappling hook. After confirming it had caught on something high up, she quickly tied this end to Byakuren's head.

We were going to climb the wall with this rope. It might be a rather adventurer-like scene.

"Okay, I'll go first! I don't hear any weird sounds nearby, but we still need to be careful!"

"Got it. Byakuren, if a monster approaches, clap your hands to let me know."

After Byakuren nodded, Erina-san began to climb the rope with ease. Following her, I also grabbed the rope and──.

When I looked up, I could see inside her kimono.

She wasn't wearing hakama, just an inner garment like a competitive swimsuit with a single layer over it, tied with an obi. Looking up from below like this, the inside of her kimono, which spread out like a skirt, naturally came into view.

"I'm sorry!"

I hastily let go of the rope and moved to stand guard with Byakuren.

But my body has incredibly good dynamic visual acuity. Even for a moment, I clearly remembered what I saw.

The black inner wear, the curve of her buttocks peeking out from it. Her plump thighs, and yet her slender legs from the knee down.

The scene was seared into my brain, and my cheeks naturally grew hot.

"What's wrong, Kyouta-chan? This isn't underwear, you know?"

"Well, I…"

`You must understand, Erina-kun. Even if it's not underwear, men get excited by things that look like underwear.`

"Could you please stop repeating the word 'underwear'!?"

"Kyouta-chaaan."

"It wasn't on purpose! I'm sorry!!"

"I'm at the top now, so come on up!"

"I'm on my way!!"

`Whoa there, Kyouta-kun. That's a little too eager—`

"Be quiet, you disappointing college student!"

I averted my eyes from Erina-san, who was waving her hands vigorously from above, and focused on the rope.

It had been since elementary school P.E. that I had climbed a rope, but I managed it easily with my enhanced physical abilities.

I reached the top of the ledge, deactivated Byakuren's golem body, and pulled up the rope to retrieve the teapot-shaped head.

"Um… from now on, I'll go first, or let's climb one at a time."

"Aww! But you're slow at climbing, Kyouta-chan. What did they teach you at the ninja academy!!"

"I have never attended such a school. Then let's do it one at a time. Considering safety, it's the more natural decision."

"But won't that waste time? I'll make sure to hook the rope so we can both climb at the same time, okay?"

"It's better to have a lookout and guard besides Byakuren. To respond flexibly and adaptively to any crisis, I think it's more appropriate to go one by one."

"You think so… Maybe?"

`I see, Kyouta-kun. So you want to focus on peeking from below. Is that`

"Aira-san. I'm going to get seriously angry soon."

`So-rry.`

I coiled the rope, handed it to Erina-san, and placed Byakuren on the ground to create its golem body again.

Fortunately, Erina-san didn't seem to mind, but I'd rather not have something like this cause a rift in the party.

…Besides, my cheeks are still hot. I need to forget that sight, but I feel like it's going to be stuck in my head for a while.

"Ah, Kyouta-chan."

"Yes?"

"Looks like an enemy is approaching. Two of them."

"Got it."

I forcibly shifted my thoughts and drew my sword.

There were no paths to the left or right, just a single straight path ahead. From an L-shaped corner about ten meters away, two Treants slowly emerged.

They seemed to have been aware of our presence, as they unhesitatingly thrust one arm into the ground.

"Byakuren! Be a wall for Erina-san!"

Almost simultaneously with my command, several wooden stakes burst through the ground.

Stakes like those used against cavalry in the old days extended in front of the Treants. They were then launched towards us with great force.

Each one was as thick and long as a human leg. The SDF says they fly at about 120 km/h, and a direct hit would not leave even an `Awakened Person` unscathed.

But I can see them.

Charging at the monsters, I slipped through the gaps in their attack. Without any obstacles, I closed the distance.

"Buoh!?"

The Treants let out a low growl, and perhaps due to their agitation, they were slow to pull their arms out.

I used that opening to deliver a sweeping blow, destroying the left one's wrist. With the momentum, I slashed at the right Treant's arm as well.

No, it was more like hitting than cutting. I gouged it out with a hammer of wind, and their hands, pulled from the ground, were torn off by their own weight.

"OOOOOOOOOOHH!!"

With a roar of anger, a Treant tried to kick me away with its giant foot. I dodged it and slammed my left arm into its supporting leg with all my might.

My fist struck its knee directly, shattering it. The creature lost its balance and fell heavily on its backside.

The remaining one tried to punch me, but with one leg immobile, it pitched forward and fell.

I saw that a grappling hook was wrapped around its leg, the end connected to one of the wooden stakes that had been fired first. The missed attack seemed to have lodged itself deep in the ground, fulfilling the stake's original purpose.

"OOOOH!"

With a roar, the Treant easily pulled on the rope and yanked the stake out.

But that was enough of an opening.

"And… heave!"

I gripped the tip of my sword and delivered a full swing from below. The pommel struck its head as it fell.

The Treant's head cracked apart. I then turned on the other one, which was trying to make a last stand by thrusting its left arm into the ground, and struck it as well.

My downward swing landed at almost the same time as the wooden stakes sprouted. Wood chips scattered, and the stakes remained in the ground without being launched.

The headless bodies turned to salt. I watched them and let out a small sigh of relief.

…A towering giant, with strength and resilience to match. And on top of that, ranged attacks with magic.

I could clearly see why 'D-Rank' is called the level of pros and elites. The level of danger is clearly different from the ranks before it.

"Kyouta-chan! Nice fight!"

I gave a thumbs-up back to Erina-san, who was doing the same, though I felt a little awkward.

Well… one way or another, it seems I can manage at this rank.

"Oh, Kyouta-chan! Byakuren's arm got blown off!"

"Ah, well, I can fix it right away…"

After all, I procure the materials for that on-site.

I repaired Byakuren's arm and we continued our exploration. We were able to return safely.

…As expected, we didn't run into Miyoshi-san inside.

Her car was gone from the parking lot, and if an adventurer who went in doesn't return for more than three hours, the store is supposed to send out a search party, so she probably got back safely too.

Arisugawa Aira-san and Miyoshi Mia-san.

A complex family situation, evident just from their last names. But it wasn't my place to get involved, so I pushed aside my budding curiosity and headed home.