CH 278

The dungeon we had come to today was «Rokumori Thundering Tree Dungeon».

Thick and dense trees populated the whole surrounding but the strangest thing about the trees were they were crackling with lightning.

"Woah!? What's this, trees are emitting lightning!?"

"Indeed, that's why it's also known as ‹Lightning Forest›."

The one to raise their voice in surprise when we entered into the dungeon was Lana. It's been a while since I have seen her genuinely surprised reaction.

Though I could relate with their surprise they're feeling seeing it for the first time. Even I who was supposed to have seen this scene on the game screen was astounded by the difference in visual impact in reality. I was moved to some extent.

"By the way, don't carelessly touch the trees, it will shave off your HP otherwise."

"Really? So this means the trees are like traps?"

"...Explode them?"

This damage was what is generally known as terrain damage. This type of terrain damage comes under the same category like your stamina gradually depleting when you're in a volcano. The terrain damage was another new factor that makes its entry from the intermediate dungeon.

That being said, there's no need to fear as long as one doesn't touch them.

Karua looked around the forest with a slightly surprised expression at my advice and then looked at the ‹Extreme Speed Star Boots› she was equipped with while uttering such dangerous words.

After all, the skill ‹Trap Explosion› was equipped in those shoes.

"You don't need to do so, because there's no end to these trees and you will just tire yourself out. The main thing is this dungeon is an important source of income for ‹Collection Department› and ‹Trap Disarming Department› because the trees here give lightning attribute laced limber by collecting the trees of this dungeon. You wouldn't want to wish to see the glaring expression of upperclassmen by exploding their source of money at the entrance, do you?"

"Oh, so that's the case."

"Hnn, no explosion."

A careful scrutinizing of the surrounding would reveal upperclassmen felling trees here and there.

The expression with which Rika and Karua were looking at the trees changed as the realization dawned upon them at my word.

These trees, while forming dangerous traps and transmitting terrain damage, were an income source at the same time.

Hannah's eyes would have immediately turned into Mir if she had been here most likely.

"I'm going to get some lumber. Can you wait here for a while?"

"? What're you doing Zephyr?"

Lana voiced out her doubt to which I raised my hand saying it's nothing and took out ‹Gentle Axe›, a part of ‹Gentle Harvesting Series› from the bag.

It was one of the dropped items from a gold chest Lulu and the party had gotten after taking down ‹Battle Wolf› last week, the same day I was interviewing Rina. I borrowed it today.

Equipped with the skills [‹Logging LV3› ‹Quality Up› ‹Double Drop›], it was originally meant to be used only in the beginner dungeon but that's where ‹3rd Order Reinforcement Jewel› came into play.

‹3rd Order Reinforcement Jewel› is an important item that has the ability to upgrade the level of skills that comes attached with equipment or items.

I had used the two ‹3rd Order Reinforcement Jewel› we had gotten from the ‹Beautifying› phenomenon after crushing ‹Cowboy Cactus› into ‹Gentle Harvesting Series›.

I used the first jewel on the ‹Gentle Scoop› I had purchased from Marie-senpai while I ended up using the other one on this ‹Gentle Axe› that had dropped last week. This upgraded their skills to ‹Harvesting LV6› and ‹Logging LV6› and turned them into items that could be used upto Int-low.

I also have ‹Gentle Pickaxe› but decided not to bring it since we have no use of ore related items except selling them as of now.

Another reason why I upgraded ‹Gentle Axe› was because the ‹Hexa-Thunder Wood› from the thunder attribute trees of this dungeon was material that could also be used in alchemy.

"Here we go."

The tree felled by ‹Gentle Axe› disappeared into effect together with a faint Plonk sound, leaving behind several timber of ‹Hexa-Thunder Wood›.

"Ohh. It tingle the moment I cut it."

The sensation was the same as putting your hand into a pool of static electricity. That was kinda tickling. Though it also shaves off the HP.

"Hey Zephyr, what're you doing keeping all the fun parts to yourself! I want to try it too!"

"Sure so. However, after my turn, let me try it three more times."

"You can do it after my turn too!"

"No, surely you can wait for a while, right!?"

The advent of the formerly selfish princess we have, huh. I guess she will not listen to me. But it kind of doesn't feel bad to give in to her considering Ester's words that she ever showed such selfish behavior only to me.

Gotta listen to Her Highness huh, I handed the ‹Gentle Axe› to Lana.

"Thank you Zephyr!"

"It's fine~. Ah, that's not how you hold it, you should hold it this way. Otherwise it will be hard to use it when swinging."

"Ug... It looked so easy but it's surprisingly difficult."

Lana was improperly holding the axe so I quickly corrected her grip. Come to think of it, Lana had hardly ever held any weapon as far as I could recall. This might be her first time holding it surprisingly.

In fact, even her center of gravity wasn't in correct position which was dangerous so I supported her by holding the axe from behind.

The situation kinda turned out like I was hugging her behind. Her smell tickled my nose. She had a sweet smell.

"Ugh, this is kind of nerve-wrecking."

"Don't lose your focus, swinging the axe is quite dangerous, you know."

Our gazes met when Lana looked over shoulder when I was admonishing her while looking at her.

Our gazes were just a few inches apart since we were almost hugging each other. The distance so close our lips could touch others with slight movement. My movement froze as if someone pressed the pause button, my gaze involuntarily attracted to her deep blue eyes, reminiscing of the ocean, that had been widened to their limit. And after what seemed to be a moment that lasted for a while,

"一一A, A, A, Ack."

"Woah!?"

Lana's face flushed red in a heartbeat and went poof.

"Lana-sama!?"

Ester rushed in an flustered appearance. I handed Lana in my arms to her.

I had already retrieved ‹Gentle Axe› from her carefully so it was fine.

"Kyu."

"Get a hold on yourself, Lana-sama!"

Ester quickly nursed Lana whose eyes were swimming in circles and vapor rising from her face.

"Hn, turn away your face in the opposite direction Zephyr."

"Karua's right, Zephyr. Lana-dono's health doesn't seem to be quite right. You move in the opposite direction and cut down trees for a while until we call in."

"Huh, ah. Okay."

Karua and Rika immediately stopped me just as I was about to help out in nursing Lana. To top it off, they even asked me to distance myself in the opposite direction.

Ugh, my heart just received a slight shock at that.

But it seemed like I was the main reason for Lana's current situation, so I quietly moved to another location and busied myself into gathering wood until Lana was back on her feets again.