Volume 5 - CH 7

Cyclo and the others confirmed their collaboration in the forests near Northfolia and leveled Mist.

The next day. The group visited the Deep Hole, the worst dungeon.

“–Then, let’s check today’s schedule.”

In front of the entrance to the Deep Hole, Cyclo talks to Mist and Karim.

“We’re going to go to the really shallow level of the Deep Hole, so Mist can get a feel for what this dungeon is like. After that, we’ll practice coordination in a small, confined space like a cave, and the same leveling we did yesterday.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best again today!”

Mist makes a guts pose enthusiastically.

“Well, if it’s at Mist’s level now, you can challenge the first level where the first boss is located. The boss there is a monster of the same rank as Killer Bear, after all.”

Karim said that, but then went on to say the exact opposite.

“But it’s still better to be cautious and experience the shallower levels. I wouldn’t want Cyclo to shoot me in the back either, you know?”

Karim looked at Cyclo.

“I wouldn’t screw up like that.”

“Ahaha, I’m just kidding! I know you’re careful enough not to mess up like that!”

Karim smiles as he pats Cyclo on the shoulder and says.

After giving Karim a displeased look, Cyclo once again turns to the entrance of the deep hole.

“Then–let’s go!”

“Yes!”

“All right!”

Thus begins the first dungeon exploration for the three of them.

The Deep Hole, also known as “The Worst Dungeon”.

The reason for such a nickname is derived not only from the difficulty of the dungeon, but also from the types of monsters that appear.

“The first level of the Deep Hole is the level where skeletons mainly appear.”

Karim leads the way through the dungeon, explaining about the monsters that appear.

“Vampire bats also sometimes appear. –Then If you dive a little deeper, you will find the Black Goblin, a mutant of the Goblin species.”

Karim looks disgusted as he speaks.

“The black goblins that come out here are very special. They always come out with a head-cutting scythe. And they always aim for the heads of adventurers.”

“T-That’s kind of scary ……”

Karim’s words made Mist’s face turn pale as she imagined the scene.

“The deeper you go into this dungeon, the more grotesque and tasteless the monsters become. That’s why it’s called the ‘worst dungeon’.”

Karim readied her sword as she spoke of the origin of the nickname of the ‘worst dungeon’.

“They’re here.”

Karim said, and a few moments later, skeletons appeared from around the corner of the cave.

There are three of them. It is not uncommon for such groups of skeletons to appear in dungeons.

“– I’ll stop them here, Mist, so you finish them off!”

Karim said quickly and instantly moved forward.

“Shuu!”

She then swung her sword and first cut off the leg of the skeleton that was in the lead.

it’s impossible for a skeleton to balance with only one leg, so it collapses in an instant.

As it is, Karim closes in on one of the two at the back.

Cyclo confirms this and opens fire with his mystletainn on the other remaining skeleton.

With a bang, the bullet strikes the skeleton in the knee, shattering the bone.

“Nice, Cyclo!”

Karim cuts off the skeleton’s leg with a look of satisfaction while praising Cyclo’s covering fire.

Three skeletons are thus instantly incapacitated.

At the same time, Mist’s magic is ready.

“I’m shooting!”

Hearing Mist’s word, Karim immediately falls back while opening a line of fire.

“[Holy burst]!”

The magic that Mist released was in the form of a ball of light, which flew to the skeleton at the speed of a projectile.

As soon as it hits the skeletons, the ball bursts, creating a shockwave of light.

The shockwave of light engulfs and damages the three skeletons.

The skeletons make a shaking sound instead of a monster’s scream.

By the time the light subsided, the skeletons were reduced to mere bones.

“Nice, I guess we’ve taken down the skeleton without any problems!”

Karim said, smiling as she returned to Cyclo and Mist.

“–No. Not yet.”

“Hm? Is there anything still out there?”

“It’s just around the corner. There’s a large group of skeletons.”

Cyclo tells Karim, who has returned, what the clock sensing has revealed.

“I see. Do you know how many they are?”

“About twenty, definitely.”

“That makes it a little difficult for Mist to practice with them.”

Karim’s face turns bitter as she says this.

“–Well, leave it to me this time.”

Cyclo said, stepping forward on his own and approaching the corner.

“What is it? What are you going to do, Cyclo?”

“If we’re going to check our coordination, shouldn’t you also check my hand in advance?”

When he says this, Cyclo puts out his hand and produces with the “Clock Generation” on his palm.

Cyclo shows them the magical tool, which appears to be nothing more than a pocket watch.

“…… What’s that? Is it an ordinary watch?”

“But the hands aren’t moving.”

“Well, yeah. Even if I want to make something that is not a clock, the closer it is to a clock, the faster I can make it. If I build in a mechanism similar to a clock like this, I can produce it in less than one-tenth of a second.”

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Cyclo put his finger through the ring attached to the twelve o’clock of the pocket watch-type magic tool and pulled it out forcefully.

The ring seems to be a pin of some sort, and as soon as it is removed from the watch, the hands begin to advance.

“This pin is a safety device and a detonator. As soon as the pin is pulled out, the hands of the watch will start to advance.”

Saying this, Cyclo throws the pocket watch into the air and throws it behind a corner.

Then, after counting a few seconds.

Bang!! With a thunderous sound, a blast of air is released.

Mist and Karim are startled by the sudden explosion and jump up, their bodies jerking.

With these two people watching, Cyclo continues his explanation proudly.

“–Just like that. As soon as it reaches zero, it explodes.”

Saying this, Cyclo turns to the two.

“Hm? What’s up, you two?”

“…… Cyclo.”

Karim glances at Cyclo with an expression of dismay and says.

“You’re forbidden to use that! At least don’t use it when I’m in front of you, no matter what!”

“What! Why!? Even though I worked so hard to design it! Clock-shaped grenades!!”

“Of course it’s dangerous! I can’t handle it when someone suddenly throws something like that from behind!”

“…… Damn. I was so proud of it too.”

Cyclo shows a dissatisfied look at Karim’s protests.

“Ahaha …… However, Master. I think it was very powerful!”

Mist follows up, but still did not agree with the use of that magic tool in battle this time.

After that — in the end, the issue of the use of the clock-shaped grenade was somehow settled by exchanging a promise that it should be used only after obtaining permission depending on the situation.

Other than that, the three of them proceeded smoothly through the dungeon without any particular problems.

And so they entered the second level, their planned destination.