Vol. 3 - Ch. 201 - Monster detector faster than scout, and flustered Karua

"I will be leaving the rest to you then, Ester. I really feel bad to have you take on such a tedious role.""Please, it's not a problem. Rather, I have to ask Zephyr-dono to take care of Lana-sama."

After saying that and leaving the rest to Ester, I returned from the <Battle Wolf of the Shallow Forest Dungeon> alone.

Just when I arrived at the dungeon gate, I saw other <Eden> members entering the gate.

"Oh, Zephyr! Aren't you quite early today, unlike your usual tardiness. Did the sun rise from the west?"

I have no idea what is going on.

Lana asked with a truly incredulous expression, but I don't remember ever arriving late. They just arrived earlier than me.

Well, I will just keep quiet. I feel like I will be digging my own grave if I get in the bottom since it's a fact that I do make them wait, albeit slightly...

Time for a force majeure!

"So, everyone’s together?"

"That's right. We safely conquer the <Tsukumo Bamboo Forest Dungeon> this morning."

"Although it was our first dungeon exploration of a beginner-high grade dungeon, we were able to win against what was it, ah yeah, <Great Bamboo Puppet>, with ease with the support of everyone"

"Hnn. Cakewalk."

Sierra informed me of their exploration result at my question, Rika has her whole face smiling while Karua gives a thumbs-up.

"Amazing! Congratulations on your first capture of the beginner-high grade dungeon, Karua, Rika."

"Fufu, thank you."

"Thank you, though it's kind of embarrassing when praised by you."

"If you don't mind, would you tell me how it feels to you?"

"Of course, I don't mind."

Seems like Rika was also itching to share her feelings. Well, I guess it's given, the feeling of wanting to brag about their first exploration or battle result! I know how it feels.

The members at present are me, Lana, Sierra, Rika and Karua. We are going to challenge <Flower Garden of the Solitary Island Dungeon>. Thus we quickly began to move.

"Speaking of which, I'm glad that Sierra ultimately decided to tag along."

"Yeah. Well, Hannah was busy in preparing for tomorrow and she also seems to have alchemy to do, which she's going to do this afternoon. You have given the bundle of <Mana Grass> to Hannah, right? You should have seen how her eyes were literally gleaming like a little lamp."

"Ahh, there's that. Now I feel I shouldn't have done that right away."

Actually, it was just me, Lana, Rika, and Karua who were supposed to be at the afternoon members' party, and it was unknown if Sierra and Hannah would join us. Given that classes will start formally tomorrow, I assumed both of them might be busy preparing for that, but seeing Sierra coming along, I'm glad.

Hannah has alchemy to do but apparently, she was requested for something by the academy, so she can't tag along unfortunately.

But oh well, maybe it's in fact for the best, or else the line-up would have been overkill, no?

While my mind was hovering around these thoughts, we arrived at the gate of <Flower Garden of the Solitary Island Dungeon>.

This dungeon's main feature is <Poison> abnormal status. Not to mention the boss, <Slactuar>, is a long range type attacker which has bad compatibility with Rika who's mainly a close combat tank and that's why the party of Rika and others were exploring the <Tsukumo Bamboo Forest Dungeon> till yesterday. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴøvᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

However there's Lana and I this time who have the method to cure <Poison> status, furthermore we have Sierra with <Abnormal Status Resistance Lv10>, so our goal is to quickly capture this dungeon.

"———and that <Great Bamboo Puppet> is so tricky, it retreat awfully quickly whenever you try to attack it"

On the way, I was listening to the details of Rika and other's fight with <Great Bamboo Puppet>.

Rika proudly puffed her chest, saying how she flawlessly dealt with the attacks of the boss with her defensive skills, but whenever she countered, the segway retreated backward with great speed from the force of her attacks, which she didn't like.

"I couldn't connect my <Swallow Flip> with that. I thought I knocked it back too hard. I didn't expect I had that much of strength to blow it so off so mu一...... Cough, forget what I said."

Rika took her eyes off me and averted her face to look at another direction quickly when she realized she blurted out about her STR value.

Although it might be late to say, I guess no girl would like the alias of super-strength attached to them? Maybe it's taboo to ask girls about their STR value. I should confirm it later.

Better be cautious than being hated by girls over this?

"Ah, it's a <Trul>! Prepare for the battle, <Shining Sword of the Sacred Light>!"

"Trultrul!?"

No sooner than the enemy appeared, Lana attacked it with one of her powerful attacks and with a loud noise, the opponent drowned in the effect and vanished.

"It ended before we could even prepare for the battle though."

Why did she even bother to inform…

"I couldn't help it. How should I say, err, that's right, I just had the unbearable itch to take it down. Now I feel better"

"Oh, that's all matter then"

I do also get the urges to bask in the exhilarating feeling of mowing down monsters like grass, being invincible against them and all. So It's fine.

Karua approaches Lana who was feeling a bit awkward.

"Next, I will do it."

"No problem. I will inform you the moment I spot next enemy."

"But the job...... "

It seems like Karua was flustered with the act of Lana searching and destroying the enemy even before her. After all, Lana is a pro at finding the monsters faster than anyone. And Karua, being the scout she is, at least wants to be the one to search for an opponent.

"Hmm, I will not lose. <Sonar>!"

Karua began searching for the monsters with her sound wave based skill <Sonar>. It's a skill where caster put their hand behind the ear and pick up any sound made by monsters.

"Find it, there."

"Ohh, I know Karua can do it! I will be leaving the support to you!"

"Hnn. I'm going."

"I'm also joining in!"

They don't have to be so hyped up with our goal being boss though......

Whatever, as long as they are having fun.

"Ahh, don't make haste, Karua, it's dangerous. At Least wait for me to come with you"

Rika, who was talking with me until now, leaves beside me and hurriedly chases after Karua.

Only Sierra and I were left behind.

"What are we going to do?"

"Maybe chase after them? It sounds fun in itself, don't you think so?"

"You really一... Hmm, maybe that's so. I guess they would lose today's goal if we leave them on their own accord. Let's go after them."

Sierra seemed like she wanted to say something but she shook off her head as if a regular occurrence and followed after me.

Thus, we arrived at the lowest floor at around 4:00 p.m., occasionally taking whimsical detours.