Chapter 43: Estoc of Petrification
『Sherry』Current Levels & Equipment:Master Smith Lv.34
Equipment:Powerful Steel SpearChainmailHardened Leather HelmetHardened Leather GlovesHardened Leather BootsSacrificial Misanga
The last night was hot.
I was clinging to Vesta when I woke up this morning. Her cold body felt good. The members of the Dragonkin tribe seem to be cooling their own bodies by releasing the heat on hot nights.
After spring comes summer, naturally.
Under the dim light, I get up.
Miria brings my shirt in a hurry. Vesta also required her help putting on her equipment, and once they were done with it, she expresses her gratitude towards her.
「Miria, thank you.」
「Okay, desu.」
After I put on my equipment, I express my gratitude, too. After having confirmed that everyone was geared up, I cast 「Warp」. Vesta is apparently fine as well, even though it’s morning, so we move to the Labyrinth.
It’s not particularly hot inside of the Labyrinth. Temperature here seems to be maintained at a consistent level, somehow, which is nice.
It must be colder outside of Haruba’s Labyrinth because it is situated in the north.
「Vesta seems to be able to fight properly, so for now, during the exploration, let her stand in the center of the front. There is no need to be worried about the number or the type of monsters either.」
「Understood.」
I issue instructions to Roxanne.
Because Vesta now has better equipment, there’s no further need for using 「Plating」on her anymore, and we might be able to explore the Labyrinth for a while longer. I also decide to remove Alchemist in order to level up Bounty Hunter after setting it as my Fifth Job.
If I use only Fourth job, I could get both 「1/20th of Required Experience」 and 「Increase Gained Experience 20x」, but it can’t be helped right now.
There will be no problem if she can fend off monsters’ attacks in this fashion, but she might have some difficulties with parrying the monster’s attacks.
After I finish off the Fly Traps using Fire Magic, we surround the remaining Clam Shell. Vesta takes it down using both her swords at the same time. She’s especially scary when she attacks from the side.
The spectacle looks like someone beating a drum. The Clamshell desperately hurls its body at her in response. It tries to attack Vesta from the side, but Vesta receives that attack with her sword. Or rather than receiving the attack, it was more like she was offsetting the attack with a slash of her own.
Had it attacked Roxanne instead, she would have dodged it lightly.
You can’t tell if it is a Clam Shell anymore. I shoot a 「Sand Ball」at it, and the Clam Shell finally collapses. My attack settled the battle immediately.
「It was a long battle, but it didn’t look like anyone had a hard time. I guess it will be fine if we advance to higher floors as we are.」
「Yes. As we are, there should not be any problem.」
Roxanne says. Rather, if there were an enemy strong even for Roxanne, everyone except her would get wiped out.
「Vesta doesn’t seem to have any problems as well.」
「Yes, I am fine.」
「It was an impressive attack back there.」
「Thank you very much.」
Because I have changed her equipment, I am not using 「Plating」on her anymore. I should perhaps let an attack hit Vesta on purpose, but I don’t want to make it a habit. Receiving an attack is not a pleasant experience, so it is better not to force her to do it, especially since I made her do it only yesterday.
Judging from yesterday, I feel that she would be fine even if she received several attacks directly though.
At the very least, there is no chance for her to die from a single blow, and with the way she fights, she will end up receiving attacks anyway.
Even though I was of that idea, we reached the Boss Room of the eighteenth floor of Haruba’s Labyrinth without Vesta having received a single attack. Is it thanks to the change in our pattern of exploration? I should be happy about the fact that she didn’t receive any attack.
I bring Durandal out, and enter the Boss Room. We knock down the Kettle Mermaid and the Animal Trap without any difficulties to speak of.
During the Floor Boss battles, I could give Durandal to Vesta and fall back while using magic in order to become like a battery, but it might not be the formation with the most offensive power to it.