kscans

Chapter 131 - The Longhorn Trail and the 20th Floor's Area Guardian

Mizuki pushed the door open. We entered slowly, scanning our surroundings. There were no monsters in sight. A vast, dome-shaped space spread out before us, the floor paved with stone.

"I wonder why only six people can enter this room,"

Mizuki said.

"Who knows. But the six-pointed star was the symbol for that monotheistic religion in the east, the one with the legends about the Ark we're chasing. Maybe there's a connection,"

I mused. It was the familiar design formed by two overlapping equilateral triangles.

"...Mash, are you looking for the Ark?"

Mo asked.

"Well, to be precise..."

As I started to answer her, the door we'd come through slammed shut. Particles of light began to rain down in the center of the room. From within that brilliance, the shape of a monster started to form. The light faded, revealing our foe. A Grimtal stood in the center, flanked by five Shadow Mantles. The Shadow Mantles were the same size as the ones we'd seen on the way here, but this Grimtal was even more massive. It was so tall that hitting its head with my sword was impossible. Its long arms also had a formidable reach, making it difficult to close the distance.

"They really think bigger is always better, don't they?"

Mizuki commented, eyeing the Grimtal.

"Coming from you, who's so fond of my size."

"Stop saying embarrassing things and get ready to fight!"

We all drew our weapons.

"...Releasing maximum output lightning strike,"

Mo announced, raising her wand. A flash of lightning shot toward the Grimtal, but a magic barrier appeared and deflected it. With a deafening roar, the lightning and the barrier exploded. The Grimtal charged through the aftershock on long strides. It thrust its arm like a spear, aiming for Mo.

"Look out!"

Mizuki instinctively jumped in front of her, trying to block with her shield, but she couldn't absorb the full impact and was sent flying. The attack grazed past a stunned Mo, the force of it knocking her onto her backside.

"Mizuki, Mo!"

This time, the Grimtal's arm cracked like a whip, swinging down toward Mo. Mizuki once again threw herself in the way, trying to parry with her shield, but her arms wouldn't rise, likely due to the damage from the last blow. She took a direct hit. Her body flew backward, colliding with the seated Mo. The Grimtal raised its arm again, preparing to deliver another spear-like strike to the two of them.

"Famu! Get Mo! I'll get Mizuki!"

The monster's hand-blade sliced down toward Mizuki and Mo. I dragged a limp Mizuki out of the way while, from the opposite side, Famu supported Mo and pulled her to safety, narrowly avoiding the blow. We were now in a Y-shaped formation. The base of the Y was the center of the dome, with the five Shadow Mantles there and the Grimtal at the fork. I was at one upper tip with Mizuki, and Famu and Mo were at the other.

"Mizuki!"

I shook her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open. She tensed her body, grimacing in pain.

"It hurts... I tried to protect Mo, and my [Super Save] activated to dodge. But if I dodged, I couldn't protect her, so... Mash, my whole body hurts. I don't even know where it hurts."

So she'd canceled [Super Save] to try and block it with her shield. The Shadow Mantles launched fireballs at us. I instantly created a water sphere to absorb the impact, but the Grimtal's whipping arm batted it away.

"Just drink the healing potion!"

I pulled her close, holding the potion to her lips.

"Mash, when we get back to our world, I want us to hike a mountain ridge like the one we walked today. At night, we'll eat curry together, drink coffee together, look at the stars together... and spend the night in a tent together..."

"Idiot, stop talking and drink!"

"...And when morning comes, we'll walk together again... and soak in a hot spring deep in the mountains together."

"I get it. We'll go mountain climbing together. So please, drink the potion!"

Another of the Grimtal's blows came hurtling toward us. I tried to pull Mizuki's body out of the way, but I could barely move. A magical barrier appeared before us, deflecting the Grimtal's attack. It must have been Mo's magic. Looking over, I saw Famu and Mo standing a short distance away, watching us. Mo's wand was pointed in our direction. A follow-up barrage of fireballs from the Shadow Mantles shattered the barrier.

"Mash, I love you..."

"I love you too. Now hurry up and drink the damn potion!"

"That's not what I mean. Say it to me, too. It's not fair that you only say it to Famu..."

Mizuki pleaded. What did she mean, only Famu? I glanced at Famu. She was watching us, her expression unreadable, distant and cold. Her lips moved as if she was about to say something, but she remained silent and lowered her gaze. Her attention shifted back to the enemy. I turned back to Mizuki.

"Stop talking nonsense. You and Famu are the same to me!"

I forced the potion into her mouth, and she drank it. As the Grimtal prepared another attack, Mo unleashed a lightning strike. The monster faltered, but it didn't stop its assault. I managed to drag Mizuki's body just out of the way. If Mo hadn't weakened the blow, we would have taken it head-on. After drinking the potion, Mizuki lost consciousness. I frantically felt for the spot below her left breast. I could feel her heartbeat, still beating strong. The gentle rise and fall of her chest. She was only sleeping. A sigh of relief escaped me. This was my fault. I'd pushed her too hard again. But I would make this right. I gripped my katana, laid her down gently, and rose to my feet.

"Famu, Mo, are you two okay?"

I faced the Grimtal, holding my katana in a level stance.

"Yes. Mo and I are fine. What about Mizuki?"

"I gave her a healing potion. She'll be alright, but she's out of the fight."

"..."

Famu must have gasped. In every battle we'd faced, Mizuki had never fallen. She had always been the one supporting the party. We had all fought with the assumption that she was invincible.

"I'll take down the Grimtal. I need you two to handle the Shadow Mantles behind it."

"Master... you are planning to win, right?"

Famu asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Of course. How about you two?"

"...We're fine. Famu and I can win. We are the strongest adventurers of the Mu tribe,"

Mo answered. Famu nodded in agreement.

"What's the 'Mu tribe'?"

"...The Mu tribe is the Mu tribe. There are three of us now."

"...Alright, whatever. I'm counting on you. But Famu, if you think it's getting dangerous, don't hesitate to use your special skill. If we need Laciel's power, just shout. I'll summon her without a second thought."

Seeing the two of them nod, I turned my gaze back to the Grimtal.

Mo's lightning strikes made the room flicker as Famu dashed toward the Shadow Mantles. I took a moment to study the Grimtal again. It was tall and slender, swaying back and forth like a snake slithering across the ground. A single eye looked down on me. I wondered if it even had depth perception. At my height and with my reach, my blade would never touch its head. And its long arms... even with the length of my katana, they were longer than mine. Dashing into its range to strike its torso would be difficult. Dodging the whip-like slashes and spear-like thrusts would be a monumental task. It was like fighting a tower. On top of all that, Mizuki was lying defenseless behind me. If I moved from this spot, the monster would surely finish her off. I had to stay here and, no matter what, cut this enemy down. I swayed the tip of my blade lightly, inching forward to bait an attack. The monster took the bait and lunged with a thrust. I used its momentum to step in and swing my katana. My target wasn't its body, but its fist. Blade and fist collided. A loud clang echoed as a shock, as if striking metal, shot up my arm. I fought the recoil and followed through with my swing. This blade could cut through anything. A sharp pain tore through my body. The severed half of the Grimtal's hand-blade was embedded in my right thigh. The other half lay on the floor.

"Ugh..."

The monster pulled the blade free. Unbearable agony washed over me. It was a miracle I was still standing. I took a slow step forward, but my leg felt numb, devoid of sensation. Still, I raised my katana back into a level stance and closed the distance.

"Come on,"

I taunted. The Grimtal lashed out with its uninjured arm, striking like a whip. I aimed for that arm, stepped in, and swung. The pain in my leg made it impossible to plant my feet firmly. But I focused my strength into my left hand, into my pinky finger, and brought the blade down with precision. I felt the solid impact run through my arm. This time, I was unharmed. The severed arm flew past me, hit the wall, and fell to the ground. I turned back to the monster and took another step forward. The monster took a step back. I closed the distance again, and again it retreated. I wanted to lunge, but the pain in my leg was so intense I didn't think I could support my own weight.

"...You're in the way. Don't back up over here,"

Mo's voice rang out. A bolt of lightning pierced the monster's body. It recoiled violently and then, as if all its strength had vanished, it fell toward me. I swung my katana and severed its head. Enveloped in particles of light, the Grimtal disappeared.


The door at the far end of the room opened. Famu and Mo had finished clearing out the Shadow Mantles. Famu was gathering the kunai she had used in the fight.

"...She looks dead. Is she okay?"

Mo asked, looking at Mizuki.

"She's not dead. And if she looked dead, she wouldn't be okay."

Her words sent a jolt of anxiety through me. I tried to rush to Mizuki's side but stumbled and fell. Famu instantly caught me, supporting my body.

"Master, you should drink a healing potion too."

I drank the potion Famu offered me. I could feel the pain beginning to subside. Leaning on her shoulder, I made my way to where Mizuki lay. Her chest was rising and falling faintly. She was breathing. I placed a hand on her chest and checked her heartbeat as well. She was okay. As I let out a sigh of relief, I noticed Famu staring at me with cold eyes.

"I-I touched her, yes! And there was some impure intent! But it's not what you think! I was just checking her heartbeat!"

I desperately tried to explain, but I couldn't tell if I had cleared up her misunderstanding.

"...Well, I'm glad she's alive. I'll carry Mizuki, so you carry Mash, Famu."

After saying that, Mo said, "Heave-ho,"

grabbed Mizuki's ankles, tucked them under her arms, and began to drag her toward the door.

"Wait, wait, wait! Hold on! Can't you be a little more gentle?"

I hastily stopped her.

"...She's too heavy any other way,"

Mo replied.

"But if you do it like that, everyone will see Mizuki's underwear. Have some decency!"

"...I see..."

Mo nodded and let go of Mizuki's legs. Then she straightened the hem of Mizuki's skirt.

"Famu, sorry about this, but could you take me through the door first, then come back and carry Mizuki with Mo?"

"Understood."

Leaning on her shoulder, I headed for the door.