Ch.156Ghost Mansion (5)

This Vampire Lord, despite being a vampire, had strong survival abilities. If not dissolved immediately, it would self-heal and reset the battle to square one.

That’s why dissolving it in one go was the key.

“Hyaaaah!!!”

Sasith quickly closed the distance toward the Vampire Lord’s flank.

Swoosh-!!! Slash-!!

Immediately after, Sasith severed the Vampire Lord’s left arm and leg.

“Guhk!!!”

The Vampire Lord was about to fall.

“That’s it!! Sasith!!!”

I couldn’t be outdone either. I immediately cut off the Vampire Lord’s right arm and leg.

With that, the vampire was dismembered and about to collapse face-first.

“Formation Five Limbs Dissatisfaction!!!”

The detail of changing formation names on the spot!!

As the vampire was falling, Tina immediately took position in front of it.

“Flying knee kick!!!!!”

Tina’s knee kick struck right between the vampire’s eyes.

Crack-!!!

Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary knee kick. The vampire’s head shattered and flew off upon impact. With a single blow, the Vampire Lord’s body dispersed into mist.

Damn, she’s really strong…. Should I quit swordsmanship and learn martial arts instead? I briefly thought.

‘My disciple!!! Are you planning to abandon me?!’

At that moment, Gonzaemon’s cry echoed in my mind. Right… such thoughts would hurt Gonzaemon’s feelings.

Anyway, with that, we took care of the Vampire Lord.

Ding-!!!

Everyone’s levels increased. Somehow, all party members had reached the mid-40s in level. At this rate, we might hit level 50 just in this dungeon. I couldn’t help thinking that.

Everyone’s levels were rising quickly here.

I… naturally didn’t level up. Not only was leveling slow for me here, but my level was already locked. When will this disappear?

Ding-!

Tina’s level became 46.

“Ooh… what’s this? Everyone has numbers above their heads.”

Tina looked curiously at the numbers that appeared above her head.

“That’s your level. It’s just like in games. As you level up, you get stronger and can defeat monsters more easily.”

I explained.

“But… why is she already at level 46?”

“Yeah, this is her first expedition with us.”

Umi and Taiga seemed disgruntled about this. Well… after joining early and going through thick and thin, it must feel unfair to be at the same level as someone who just joined.

But… it couldn’t be helped. Not only was Tina naturally strong, but this was also a standard JRPG rule.

Late-joining party members get level adjustments. It’s for the gamer’s convenience. If they joined at level 1, you’d have to level them up again, and they’d end up as unused bench members.

Usually, new party members join at an appropriate level based on the story progression. That principle must have applied to Tina as well.

“It’s okay. We have bonds that can’t be expressed through levels, right?”

I tried to console Umi and Taiga.

“Y-Yeah? Experience is what counts!!”

Umi’s expression immediately brightened.

“Right! A newbie is still a newbie!”

Taiga said with a smile.

“Hey! Shota!! Are you saying we don’t have a bond?!”

Tina puffed her cheeks in protest.

“No… that’s not what I meant!”

Hmm. Maintaining a harem is quite challenging. I realized that.

——–

We headed to the next room. Sasith’s eyes lit up, eager to solve the puzzle.

However, I was the ultimate speedrunner. Japanese folks, taste the speed-running instinct of a Korean!

I immediately solved the puzzle.

It required proper table setting in the dining room.

“Two forks on the left. One knife on the right. Place glasses and plates on the side, and we’re good!”

Then, I rang the kitchen bell.

Ding-!

With that, a safe in the corner opened.

Inside the safe was a jewel. A blue jewel. I immediately acquired it.

“Can we… sell this?”

Umi’s eyes gleamed with greed. She really loses her mind when she sees jewels.

“No. It’s a puzzle-solving tool.”

I secured the jewel.

“But… this is getting annoying.”

Taiga spoke with frustration.

“Solving puzzles should open doors wide, not just give us these trivial items.”

Taiga looked at the keys and jewels dangling from my possession.

“Well, be patient. You can go wild during boss fights.”

I said.

“Well… I guess we need to save them.”

At that moment, Umi looked toward a corner of the mansion.

“Uhhh…!!”

“Help me…!!”

Souls were everywhere, all bound in restraints. Yes, unfortunately, these were people who had been reduced to invalids by monsters. We had to save them.

“Right. Let’s save these people.”

I smiled and put my arm around Umi’s shoulder.

“Ooooh!!! Shota is truly… a legendary hero!!”

Tina’s eyes sparkled. She believed without a doubt that I was a hero.

“This is something only we can do. Let’s do it.”

Sasith also burned with determination. That’s a typical game dialogue.

“A mere party member should be quiet!! The hero is speaking!!”

Tina shouted at Sasith.

“Party member?!!! I’m the original leader of this party!!”

Sasith yelled loudly.

“What are you talking about!! Shota is the leader?! I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for Shota!!”

Tina shouted.

“I never asked you to join us!!!”

Sasith, having abandoned his cool persona, began a real-time keyboard battle.

There was a bickering atmosphere between Tina and Sasith.

“Everyone… don’t fight because of me!!”

I jumped between them and shouted.

“Who’s fighting because of you!!! That’s disgusting!!”

Sasith yelled loudly.

Well… my position was awkward. It was Sasith’s party, but it felt like a “Shota faction” had formed.

“From now on, Sasith is the leader!!! Tina! If you say things like that again, I’ll pinch your nipples!”

I said.

“Oh… that’s not punishment but a reward…”

Tina seemed to want me to pinch her there.

“Anyway!! I am the hero!! But Sasith is beyond a hero!!”

I said to Tina.

“You like being called a hero, huh.”

“That’s so Shota-like.”

Umi and Taiga immediately chimed in. Hey. Quiet.

“Beyond a hero…!!”

Tina’s eyes sparkled.

“The hero of heroes, the Great Hero!! That is Sasith!”

I declared firmly.

“Great Hero… to think such a being exists!!”

Tina exclaimed, caught up in the moment.

“Great Hero…!!! I don’t want such an embarrassing title!! It sounds so basic!!”

Sasith shouted.

“What’s wrong with Great Hero?!!”

“Then Max Hero?!! Super Hero?!! What exactly do you want, you greedy person!!”

“It sounds like a restaurant’s rice bowl size! I don’t want to size up!”

Sasith objected.

“If possible, I’d prefer the concept of a forgotten hero that no one knows!!”

Sasith stated his request.

Ah… chuunibyou types go crazy for that concept. I understand.

Everyone gets excited about the concept of being an unknown, forgotten existence who is actually extraordinary.

“Alright. Then, the Forgotten Great Hero.”

I said. Really… what a picky person.

“Ooooh… that sounds good!!”

Tina also agreed.

“Anyway!! Today we’ll collect all these trinkets! The official strategy starts tomorrow, okay?!”

I summarized the plan.

“Okay!!!!”

Everyone seemed to have regained their motivation.

———

After that, we continued solving puzzles throughout the first floor.

We obtained as many as 7 jewels. And 5 miscellaneous keys… it felt a bit excessive.

We could have used the keys to open doors and advance to the next level immediately, but that would have taken longer for the complete strategy. Today, we’d just collect key items, and tomorrow we’d open blocked paths as needed—that would be faster.

“Huaaah!!”

“Hyaaaah!!!”

Now ghost-themed monsters floated around, trying to attack us.

Whoosh-!!

However, aerial combat didn’t weaken our fighting power. I jumped high and swung my sword.

Slash-slash-slash-slash-slash-!!!!!

As the sword wind swept through, the ghosts’ bodies were torn to shreds.

‘Normally, physical attacks wouldn’t work on these creatures…’

But I, having learned Flash Slash, was different.

I had achieved enlightenment after cutting that Nendoroid thing on the ferry of fighting spirits. Cutting through mist-form enemies was no problem.

——–

Thanks to everyone’s thorough exploration, we secured all puzzle items from the first floor.

“It’s about time.”

I muttered, looking at my watch. It was 1:30 AM. Soon it would be 2 AM, and the mirror world’s encroachment would temporarily subside.

“Time?”

Tina, being a beginner, tilted her head in confusion.

“At 2 AM, the mirror world disappears, and we return to the original world. That’s why we can only explore for two hours each day.”

Sasith explained.

“Right. Let’s head back. We’ve made progress. We’ll complete the strategy tomorrow.”

I said.

“So the people who’ve been reduced to invalids have to wait another day.”

Umi murmured. Well, that would be concerning.

“If we rush and have an accident, it’ll be all for nothing.”

I stated firmly.

“True. Let’s go back then.”

Taiga was already ready to disband.

And so, we all exited the mansion.

“By the way, where is everyone sleeping tonight?”

Tina asked then.

“Ah…”

Whether to sleep at home or at the hideout—that was the question.

“We just got a hideout!!! Let’s have a celebration party and all sleep there!!”

Umi said. As expected of a social butterfly who loves parties…!!

“Ah. Sounds good.”

Taiga also smiled and agreed.

“Then… let’s buy some chicken or something.”

Sasith was surprisingly good at going with the flow.

And so, we decided to have an after-party.