Chapter : Exploring the Eighth Underground Floor of the Dungeon (Part 5)
With Bach’s transfer gate, we returned once more to the wide chamber where Kuromitsu waited. This time, we headed down the last remaining path—the one to the right.
We advanced cautiously, but it seemed there were no traps along the way.
The corridor gradually widened. Soon, we entered a passage where both sides rose up one step higher.
And there, lining the raised platforms, sat stone statues of frogs.
Six on the left, six on the right.
Yeah… if we keep moving forward, those frog statues are definitely going to attack.
Hmm, maybe this is a good chance to let Daria handle things?
She’s still the lowest rank among us. Better to let her rack up some experience whenever possible.
“Daria! If those frog statues start moving, can I count on you to take them down?” I asked.
She nodded firmly.
“Misuzu-san, everyone—please wait here for now.”
“Got it,” Misuzu-san replied with a small smile.
“If Daria can’t finish them all off, lend her a hand, okay?”
At my words, the other spirits also nodded in agreement.
“Alright. Let’s do this.”
I stepped forward into the corridor.
Just as expected, the stone coating peeled away, revealing the monsters beneath.
The frog monsters were pitch black, with ominous red markings streaked across their bodies.
“Poison frogs! Be careful!” Misuzu-san called out.
The creatures oozed a black liquid, their whole bodies becoming slick with the stuff.
That had to be the poison.
…Pretty disgusting, honestly. But as long as we didn’t touch it, we’d be fine.
“Daria, begin the attack!”
At my command, Daria unleashed her fire magic.
Whooosh!
A torrent of flames roared forth, just like a flamethrower.
The fire engulfed the frog monsters, burning them to ash.
When the blaze subsided, only magic stones and what looked like a nutritional drink bottle remained on the ground.
A drop item.
Misuzu-san and the others walked up. She picked up the vial and appraised it.
“Takaya-san, this one’s an antidote,” she said.
Freesia, the light spirit, could purify poison with light magic, and Shiratama also had healing spells.
So… should we sell it to the Adventurer’s Guild? Or just keep it for now?
In the end, I decided to have Bach store it away for the time being.
With the poison frogs dealt with, we pressed on through the corridor.
After a while, we arrived at the boss chamber.
Hand in hand with Misuzu-san, I stepped onto the raised platform.
Particles of light began to gather.
When the glow settled, a giant mantis monster stood before us, its twin scythes raised high like it was striking a fighting pose.
The knights charged in.
One intercepted its right scythe.
Another clashed with the left.
They parried the mantis’s attacks with their swords, giving Boonin the opening he needed to dart in close and drive his blade deep into its body.
The monster thrashed violently for a time, but at last it collapsed, dissolving into light.
Their training was paying off—our knights’ coordination was flawless.
Once the mantis was defeated, light once again pooled in the center of the boss chamber.
And when it faded, a treasure chest appeared.
I glanced at Misuzu-san. She was smiling so brightly that I couldn’t help but smile too.
Yeah. She really was always cute… and seeing her this happy meant everything to me.
Still hand in hand, we walked up to the chest.
Anemone nodded—no traps.
“Misuzu, it’s safe. Go ahead and open it.”
“Okay!”
She released my hand and opened the chest.
Inside lay a staff.
Misuzu-san carefully lifted it out and appraised it.
“Takaya-san! This is an S-rank magic staff!” she exclaimed.
“It increases the power of all magic by 5%!”
At that, Bach spoke up.
“If I may, Misuzu-sama, I recommend you keep this staff. When you acquired the Goddess Job, you should have gained magical skills. Such an artifact, once lost, will never return. Better that it stays in your hands.”
I nodded. “I agree with Bach.”
With both of us urging her to, Misuzu-san placed the staff into her storage pouch, keeping it safe and ready for use at any time.
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