167 - - The night before the Battle of the labyrinth

By the time Thor and his team arrived at the passage leading to the seventh layer, more than ten hours had already passed.

It seemed that they had been fighting for almost a whole day.

Looking back, they see the eerie scene of dead ants lying endlessly in the corridor.

Feeling satisfied with their accomplishment, the group entered the only remaining side passage and cleared out the last of the ants in the small room.

The group prepares to stay the night in front of the ramp that peeks out from the back of the room.

The number of ants we have defeated is approximately over six hundred.

The skill points of the black and green ants are fifty, the same as those of the yellow and green ants.

The red jade and blue jade ants, which are smaller than the masters of the fifth layer, seem to have 80 skill points.

Incidentally, the reason why we can know the skill points of the defeated monsters is that the special adventurer's card of the Kongo class has a light spot that shines in units of one hundred.

This time, since we were hunting with eight persons, we obtained only about 10,000 points.

It is a frightening fact, however, that this is almost the result of the last three and a half months of hunting.

"If I keep coming here, I can reach the upper branches in a month, can't I?

"Yes, that's right. It might be a good idea to open it to the public as a training hunting ground.

"Even ten gold coins per entry will attract a rush. Ushshi-shi, you're going to make a fortune, aren't you, Ram?"

The three of them talked about trivial matters with weary faces, but they knew it would be difficult.

The great miasma hole that had not been sealed would contaminate the surrounding land with every passing moment.

The effects are slow at first, but spread rapidly, causing strange phenomena everywhere.

Crops and well water are altered, and the offspring of livestock are deformed.

Monsters become more and more ferocious, and their numbers grow to an unmanageable number.

When this happens, you will be forced to abandon your current city and evacuate to a city behind it.

In order to prevent this, the labyrinth master must be exterminated regularly, but at present, only a limited number of people are able to do so.

This is not a realistic solution since there are other dungeons that need to be held.

Moreover, this dungeon is changing every time you attempt to enter it.

If it is an outbreak type dungeon where similar moves work over and over again, it is relatively easy to conquer it, but this is not the case with the type of dungeon that learns and adapts to the new situation.

The longer you prolong the conquest of such a fast-growing dungeon, the greater the threat becomes.

There is also a problem on the adventurer's side.

Even if you earn skill points and grow branches, you are as good as dead if you do not have enough experience to use them.

It is necessary to have a good sense honed through actual battle to judge the right moment and release the best and most effective martial arts and magic techniques.

Frankly speaking, a wizard like Yuril, who can neutralize monsters with pinpoint accuracy without impeding the movements of the vanguard during battle, is so rare that even Ninessa, a skilled wielder of the vajra class, would be astonished.

And of course, if you don't continue to use it for a long time, the fighting spirit and magical power corresponding to the skill will not increase.

Therefore, Thor and his team concluded that this dungeon was not a suitable place for training.

It's really a nasty dungeon, isn't it? Can we win in this dungeon?

I don't know. I don't know, but we're going to have to try.

Kugase, who had completed the reconnaissance of the seventh layer with us, inquired in a tone of exasperation.

Originally, we were supposed to go in as we were, but the Lord's unexpected change in our minds made us decide to take a good night's rest.

Naturally, there is no room for a charcoal stove, and only one supper of shriveled golden berries.

"What a tasteless meal!

"Don't you have any meat?　Tor-chan. Moo, I haven't eaten this much meat already!"

Thor apologizes, scratching the bottom of his chin, to the child who emphasizes the number by holding all the fingers of both hands.

"I'm sorry, but tomorrow we'll have a treat when we get back upstairs, so you just have to be patient a little longer."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it!"

"I can't help it now, To-chan."

"I'd rather take a bath as soon as possible. I'm a little troubled by the fact that I seem to sweat a lot when I'm young.

Ulil, who likes to keep clean, seems to find the idea of being in his clothes for five days quite unbearable.

However, since all of them look alike, his nose is so used to it that he doesn't even care.

Thor's lips lifted slightly at the three's lack of concern for the battle with the master of the labyrinth that was to take place tomorrow.

Yuril, whose ears are tinted red, turns his head to the side, perhaps thinking that they are laughing at him about the bath.

I'm sorry, I just thought everyone was acting as usual. I'm looking forward to the bath too.

"Mr. Yuril, I'd love to join you."

"I'm going to get you cleaned up too, Yoo Grandma."

"Mmm, please, Mumu."

Since we had no sleeping bag, we had to lie down on the ground softened by the clay figures.

As soon as Thor lay down, Moo and Sora immediately lay down side by side, and on the other side Yuril, who was still a little conscious of his surroundings, came over to him with some reservations.

Ninessa was lying on the other side of the room with Rammerla and Kugase on either side of her.

Stratchia was alone, leaning against the wall with a flaming glass bottle in her arms and her eyes closed.

As he closes his eyes and exhales slowly, a voice whispers comfortingly in Thor's ear.

"May I?　Mr. Thor."

Thor, remembering the earful during the day, shook his head slightly without turning his head to Yuril.

Sola and the others seem to have fallen asleep quickly, and regular sleeping breaths can be heard from the other side of the room.

Ninessa and her friends seem to be having a good time whispering to each other.

"...... Thor, was this your first time in the maze of the maze of the maze of the maze of the maze of the miasma hole?"

Yes, this is my first time here.

"So you don't know anything about it.

Ulir took a small, hesitant breath, but then began to speak as if he had made up his mind.

The maze is a special place," he said. Here, the conventional wisdom of the labyrinth does not apply.

"Yes, I was very much aware of the curse."

Therefore, a special method of containment is required.

"It's not just a matter of defeating the master of the labyrinth, is it?"

Yes, that's only for dungeons that are generated. I'm sorry, but not here. No matter how many times you defeat the master of the labyrinth, as long as there is time, it will return to its original state.

"...... So you think that fire has something to do with its containment?"

"Thank you for speaking so quickly."

Taking a small breath again, Yuril continued to speak in a low, clear voice.

"This is a matter known only to those of the Vajrayana class or those close to them who are involved in sealing the great maelstrom of maelstrom. In order to seal the source of the great miasma, a special offering is needed.

"Tribute?"

Yes, a fragment of power left behind by the six deities, called a relic.

You think that's what that fire is?

"Yes, I am not familiar with the secrets of other temples, but it looks just like the one I was shown at the previous party.

Yuril's story was as follows.

Although it is called a relic, it is technically an alter ego of the relic, and the main body of the relic is enshrined in the main shrine of each country.

And since it is an alter ego, it is not as powerful as the main body, and is only able to seal the noxious gas holes.

And its power must be stored up over time by enshrining it in temples around the country.

The relic that Straccia possesses is called the "lamp of greed-eaters" and is said to have the divinity to absorb the desires of others.

"I see, that is appropriate for the Liberation Temple."

"It is a dangerous relic. If possible, it is best to stay away from ......."

I understand. I'll be careful.

"Yes, I hope my fears are unfounded. ......"

The next morning, after a good night's rest, the group had breakfast and headed for the seventh layer.

After descending a long ramp, they found themselves in a wide open space.

Waiting for Thor and his group at the lowest level of the horrifying nest was a swarm of ants lined up in a row.