Chapter 67

CHAPTER 2 Curse-Lifting Ore and an Encounter with a Formidable Foe Part I: The Tremulous Foothills, Floor One The Tremulous Foothills were said to be located in a slightly elevated area of District Five’s northern sections. On our way there, we came across another party apparently headed for a different labyrinth. “…Natalia, aren’t they…?” “I knew we would meet again.” Among their members were Natalia and Leonard, two Seekers we’d found on the second floor of the Twilight Lakeside Stroll. They’d been under attack by the Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper when we jumped in to their rescue. Leonard was skilled in a martial art that revolved around kicks. Now, however, his legs were equipped with something like greaves. Maybe the labyrinth they were headed to didn’t have very sandy terrain. Natalia was wearing a fluffy fur hat that made her look like a hunter from some snowy arctic land. Their party was called Eisenritter, if I remembered correctly, and today they had two more women with them. One had a wild, pirate-inspired look with a bandanna tied around her head, and the other wore glasses, a cap, and some sort of tactical vest. “Ah…i-is that my harpoon? The one I dropped…?” “I found it on the first floor of the Twilight Lakeside Stroll and picked it up for you. I’m sorry; I forgot to return it.” Evidently, the trident Nelzex Harpoon Igarashi carried belonged to the woman in the bandanna. Though tough and intense in appearance, she broke into a friendly smile as soon as she retrieved the weapon from Igarashi. “I can’t believe how spineless I was, but that ghost or whatever hit us with a sneak attack and we got separated from the hired sword in our party. I couldn’t get any closer to the Water Serpent, and arrows were flying at us, though I couldn’t tell from where… I really did Natalia and Leonard dirty. I’m supposed to be the frontline tank, but I couldn’t protect them.” “We should’ve had a plan for safely getting out of those phantom-infested shores. Also, sell-swords really won’t do more than they’re paid for, so we shouldn’t have brought one with us on such a challenging expedition… You have it nice, little fella, with so many people in your party.” “Natalia,” I said, “I’m not so sold on that little fella… I’m twenty-nine, you know.” “Heh-heh… We can’t help but see you as a little guy, though, more than an older gent.” Not once had I ever been told I looked younger than my age. But perhaps this had something to do with Natalia’s culture in her home country, so I let it slide. “E-excuse me… Please allow me to thank you for saving my friends the other day. My name is Yuuho Nanamori, the healer of this party.” “My name is Arihito Atobe.” “Ah, so you are from Japan. My name in kanji means ‘having a long walk in seven forests,’” the woman in the tactical vest explained as she readjusted her glasses. I got the impression that her Japanese name had something to do with shogi. “…S-sorry,” she said, “you didn’t even ask and yet here I am, babbling…” “O-oh, no, not at all. The kanji in my name means ‘having a person in the back section.’” “Ah, so we share a kanji between us. I didn’t expect to have something like that in common.” “Atobe and his friends saved us, Yuuho,” said the bandanna woman. “There’s nothing wrong with small talk, but we should do something to thank them, too.” I hadn’t even considered asking them for compensation, but maybe they had some information we could use. My party seemed content to leave the talking to me. “My name’s Vanessa. I’m the eldest in our party, but that puts me at three years younger than you, Atobe. As you can see, I’m a Fisher.” I shook Vanessa’s outstretched hand. She reminded me of the Four Seasons ladies. Somehow, I got the feeling she and Ryouko would get along. “About how many labyrinths have you explored in this district?” I asked them. “We’ve checked out eight of them, just barely scratching the surface of the first floor, though. I wanted to go after the Water Serpent with this harpoon, since it seemed like it’d be useful, but it wasn’t that easy.” “I imagine it must’ve been a tough experience, but I’m glad you’re all right,” I replied. “We’re about to raid the Trembling Foothills ourselves…” “If you’re looking for ore and the like, watch out for the monsters lurking in those areas. Some camouflage as rocks so well, you don’t even realize they’re there until they move.” “Thank you, Leonard. I’ll keep that in mind, man.” That seemed to surprise Leonard for a second, but he quickly smiled and held out his right hand, which I shook as I had Vanessa’s. “Anything else you care to know, little fella?” “Mr. Atobe, if I may?” “Yes, of course, Seraphina.” “Would any of you happen to know where we can locate what’s known as a Holy Stone?” “Looks like you really need Lady Luck on your side if you want to find those rare metals. We’re keepin’ our eyes out for Holy Stones, too, but unfortunately haven’t spotted any yet,” Vanessa explained. “Weapons fortified with a Holy Stone would’ve probably come in handy against those phantoms. But not everything falls into your lap as you like, I suppose,” said Leonard, his eyes cast down toward his greaves. He had a point. Holy-attribute weapons would’ve probably been useful in a battle against the Ice Remnant ghost monsters. “Wait a moment—Arihito, did you just call Lena by—?” “I’ve heard you can find the Holy Stones on the first floor, too. They apparently glow in dark places, so keep an eye out for that. If you’ll excuse us…” Cutting Yuuho off before she could finish her sentence, Leonard gave us the extra tip and walked away. “Oh, I know,” said Yuuho. “If you’re going to be excavating, I’ve got something that might help. It’s called a Dwarf’s Mattock.” “A mattock… You mean a pickax?” “Yes, ones used in mining ore. It’s a magical tool, so it may look small, but it cuts into the dirt like butter. Please feel free to take my spare, if you’d like.” Yuuho rummaged unsuccessfully through the countless pockets of her tactical vest until she finally found the mattock and handed it to me. Then, with a light wave, she ran off to catch up with her party members. “Connections are vital, aren’t they…? I cannot help but be convinced of it now,” Seraphina noted. “Indeed. We just need to find that Holy Stone.” I tucked the mattock away in my bag. Seeing as we were heading for foothills, I wondered if we should’ve prepared more for a proper hike. But neither Leonard nor his friends had mentioned anything, so chances were we’d be okay without special preparations. “If this rests on luck, then I guess you’re up, Misaki,” Elitia mused. “Luck’s the only thing keepin’ me alive, anyway. By the way, Ari-poo, remember how I’ve got my Bat Leather Cape? Now we’re all matchy-matchy. Kinda like a couple’s outfit.” “That’s not quite right… But at least you look happy, Misaki.” “You gotta find happiness in the little things, right?” What mattered most was my equipment’s utility, although the idea of a couple’s outfit left me a little unsettled…but I put that out of my mind for the moment. “I’ll bet your Big Lotto will be a big help here, Misaki,” I said. “Yep, yep, absoluuutely. One round of that and it’ll be tsumo for me!” “…Tsumo?” Clearly, Misaki had played her fair share of mahjong. Melissa was apparently unfamiliar, so Misaki explained it referred to the moment when you draw your own winning tile in the game. The mention warmed a little nostalgic corner of my heart. As we kept on walking, the ground rose into a gentle, spiraling slope. At the top, we came upon a large, ringlike structure of stacked stones. Through the ring we saw not a continuation of the outside scene but a view of what looked like the inside of a labyrinth. Seraphina dipped in first, and the rest of us followed her in formation. The sense of teleporting hit me as I felt the air around me change. It felt more elevated than the town’s, but not at all thin—only a little cool. We then found ourselves on a rocky stretch of land underneath a big, blue sky. A game trail led up to the summit of the mountain, whose face was covered with towering boulders we had to crane our necks to see. They formed formidable obstacles blocking the way, but the tracks Seekers before us had left cutting around them had naturally created a path through. “This totally takes me back to when we went hiking in, like, middle school. All we need is some gym jerseys and backpacks and we’ve got a perfect reenactment going on.” “This mountain is so big… Getting back down will be a real challenge.” “Watch where you’re walking, everyone,” I cautioned. “You too, Cion.” “Bow!” But Cion hardly needed my warning. Apparently cut out for this type of terrain, she trotted along without any trouble. What impressed me more was Seraphina, who carried her enormous shield yet showed no signs it hindered her at all. “I don’t see any monsters, but it looks like there’s a bird over there,” Elitia noted, pointing out a ptarmigan-type bird the likes of which I’d only ever seen on TV. It looked a little small for a monster, though, and my license didn’t recognize it as a threat, either. “Think we could just scratch up that boulder over there and get our metals?” asked Misaki. “I wonder. If metal was what we were after, we could try using the mattock, but…I doubt we’d find any Holy Stones around here,” I told her. “If they were here, these stones would all be broken up by now.” Hiking took a bit of effort, so from then on we abandoned our chat and focused on the climb. After about an hour, we came to a fork with one path leading farther up the mountain and another tracing along a ridge. We found the remains of a campsite beneath the roof of a nearby boulder. It must have come under attack, though, because the tent had been torn up and abandoned, and traces of blood still stained the rock face. “If we take too long here, we’ll have to camp out, too…,” Elitia noted. “In an uncomfortably dangerous place, at that.” “Look, there’s a hole blasted into the rock itself… I guess there’s a monster out here that can do that,” Igarashi added. As the two inspected the roughed-up campsite, I used Hawk Eyes to survey the area—and landed on movement. Some sort of rabbit had come out from behind a big boulder along the ridge. Its fur was light pink, and it at least looked pretty adorable. And yet my mind raced back to the first monster I’d encountered in the Labyrinth Country: that white, fluffy Cotton Ball that had so suddenly and viciously attacked us. “Hey, guys, check that out. I think it’s a monster. What should we do?” “It looks…like a Cotton Ball. But we can’t let our guard down. It is a District Five monster, after all.” “…Grrrr…” Cion’s hackles were clearly raised. Still, it didn’t look very dangerous from here. ♦Monster Encountered♦ > ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER Level Unknown On Guard Resistance Unknown Dropped Loot: ??? “Some help this thing is, huh…?” “We don’t want it following after us if we take the path up the mountain, so I think we’d better fight here where we have space,” Elitia reasoned. “Good point… All right. Let me shoot at it first and see how it goes.” Since I wasn’t sure of its resistance, I debated whether to try and give it a weakness with Force Shot: Freeze or go for a status ailment. With no guarantee either would work, I decided to go for the one that’d have the biggest impact: the status ailment. “Arihito, I’ll take aim as well,” said Suzuna. “Thanks. Stagger your shot, about a second after mine…!” “Okay…!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated VINE SHOT > SUZUNA activated FORBIDDEN ARROW My slingshot’s vine bullet and Suzuna’s arrow flew toward the target. I was afraid of that…! “SHAHGIIII!!” Out of what looked like nothing but a pink fluff ball sprouted two gigantic arms that then wrapped themselves around the monster’s body, the picture of an impregnable defensive stance. ♦Current Status♦ > ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER activated BOXER’S FISTS Unfolded arms > ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER activated PEEK-A-BOO STYLE Defense increased Nullified VINE SHOT My bullet bounced off the monster, and its defensive stance remained strong. Still, I added my support to Suzuna’s staggered shot in an attempt to find even the smallest opening. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT: FREEZE > FORBIDDEN ARROW hit ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER was Frozen “GEEEE…GEESHAAA!!” “A-a little tyke would never screech like that…!!” The monster froze for a moment, then immediately snapped out of it—almost as if it was merely stunned. Even so, the Forbidden Arrow did seem to hit the beast, which looked as if it cringed in pain for a split second. “Now…!” Elitia was already on the move. She’d activated Comet Raid and was closing in on the monster, though eschewing the most direct route for one filled with twists and turns—she knew exactly how dangerous those arms could be if they got to her up close. Igarashi and Theresia also charged from the opposite flank, while Melissa rode Cion hot on Elitia’s heels, aiming for an opening after her attack. “Warning. The next attack will cause devastating damage to my devotees—” I heard Ariadne say. It was all I needed to grasp the impending danger. Our enemy was preparing a big move aimed at those in the rear: Suzuna, Misaki, and me. For the first time in a while, I felt the chill of death. I can’t let this be the end. How could it happen so suddenly, so quickly, and now of all times—? “SHAHGYAAAAAA!!” ♦Current Status♦ > ?PEACH-PINK MONSTER was revealed to be ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT activated CANNON FORM Arms transformed > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT activated RABBIT TORNADO The pink monster’s arms coalesced to form one huge cannon-like structure. It charged for a second, waited leisurely until Elitia’s and the others’ attacks reached it, then unleashed a pink storm over a ridiculously wide range. Neither Suzuna nor Misaki could so much as move—and neither could I. But Seraphina did not run. She stood before us and raised her shield, no doubt fully aware that if the blow hit her, it would take her life. Defense Support isn’t going to cut it—1 or 2. But there is one move that could give us a chance. That’s exactly why she’s planted herself in front of us. Fylgja, please… Protect Seraphina…! Seraphina began to shine brightly, with a brilliance that seemed to struggle directly against the tempest portending destruction to all before it. And then— “My name is Fylgja, she who arms her Hidden God and protects her devotees.” “Haaaaah…!!” Seraphina let out a roar as she activated every defensive skill in her power. All sound drained from the world as Suzuna, Misaki, and I stood there, unable to do anything but watch. Part II: The Labyrinth-Wise “…!!” The Rabbit Tornado tore into the rocky terrain as it barreled into Seraphina, whose armor had transformed. Ariadne had summoned Fylgja, and her protection. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO requested temporary assistance from ARIADNE > ARIADNE summoned FYLGJA > FYLGJA activated CHANGE ARMOR Fortified SERAPHINA’s GUARDIAN’S MAIL +4 > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD and DEFENSE FORCE > FYLGJA activated CONSTRUCT Defenses will be fortified with every activation of a defensive skill “Khh…urggh…!!” Seraphina struggled against the tempest for a second that seemed to stretch on forever. My defensive powers might not make the slightest difference. But I didn’t care—as long as I could support her in the slightest way. “Seraphina, I’ll support you!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 2 Support Type: GUARD ARM > RABBIT TORNADO hit SERAPHINA ARIHITO’s resistance reduced damage My armor’s shining…and so is my Dhampir’s Cape. Oh, I see… Ariadne’s Guard Arm and all the resistances I have get applied to Seraphina through Defense Support 2…! “Aaaaaah…!!” ““Eeeek…!”” ♦Current Status♦ > SERAPHINA’s MIRRORED SHELL PAVIS +1 repelled RABBIT TORNADO > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT activated ARM FORM and WHIRLWIND FISTS Nullified RABBIT TORNADO > MIRRORED SHELL PAVIS +1’s durability decreased > FYLGJA was unequipped > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT began charging breath attack Seraphina rebuffed the Rabbit Tornado, sending it barreling back. Even so, the gusts swept Misaki and Suzuna off their feet. I only just barely caught them from behind. “That skill activation consumed more magic than expected. I must carefully consider when to provide support.” “Lady Fylgja, you have my gratitude…!” Seraphina called. Luckily, we’d managed to fend off this one attack, but an instantaneous, high-powered defense came at a heavy cost. The brilliance peeled off Seraphina’s armor, which then resumed its normal shape. Her Mirrored Shell Pavis could potentially reflect a breath attack to its instigator. It activated this power, bouncing Rabbit Tornado back, but the Demon Rabbit rapidly spun its arms to create a gale that canceled out the rebounded storm. Rabbit Tornado was a breath-type attack, which evidently meant the Demon Rabbit would need to recharge before unleashing it again. “Keep your eyes on me!” Elitia yelled at her foe. “SHWOOO…!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated COMET RAID Added SWORD BARRIER > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT attacked ELITIA evaded Elitia seized the opening, drawing the Demon Rabbit’s attention to her and ducking under the arms it whipped out at her as she picked up speed, running so low to the ground, she was almost crawling. “Flicker in brilliance and scatter…!” “SHAHGIIII!” “Elitia, I’ll support you!” Right now, we need to focus on the number of hits—as long as we make contact, we can absolutely chip away at it with the set damage from Attack Support 1. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > ELITIA activated ULTIMATUM Attack power and speed increased Added SCARLET TRAILS > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT activated SHIELD FORM > ELITIA activated STAR PARADE Number of attacks increased > ELITIA activated LUMINOUS FLOW > ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT activated MACHINE GUN BLOCK “SHARARARARARA!!” With terrifying speed, the Demon Rabbit transformed its arms into a shield and blocked all of Elitia’s attacks. All we needed was a hit for the support damage to kick in, but we couldn’t even get one to count. “RARARARARAH!!” “…!” “Ellie!” ♦Current Status♦ > KYOUKA activated THUNDERBOLT Hit ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT ROVING TEMPEST DEMON RABBIT was Electrocuted 13 support damage At the rate things were going, every single one of Elitia’s blows would be rebuffed, and she’d be left vulnerable to attack. Luckily, Igarashi jumped in at the very last second with a magical attack to back her up. “Haaah!” “SHAHGIIII…!!”