Ch.68April, and the Dungeon (6)

Floor 10, it was both a boss room and a place with quite deep significance.

‘The boss drop items are awesome.’

A blade with brutal damage had dropped.

It was a sword called Tomado (討魔刀). In Japanese pronunciation, it would be “Tomato.” Looking at its meaning, it had the cool meaning of “a sword that subjugates demons,” but when put together, it was just the name of a fresh vegetable.

There were no additional effects, but its raw damage was insane. For me, who dealt with situations through pure physical strength without any special magic, it was the optimal equipment.

“Great!! Let’s do this!!!”

A boss mob that guaranteed a fresh item drop—an element that made a gamer’s heart race.

I had already fed items to the other party members, so there was no need for a bidding competition.

‘No bid in front of the boss room.’

Just saying that would ensure the item would come to me.

A user who gathers energy without bidding and acts like a ninja… the type I absolutely despise, but at this moment, I had no choice but to do something trashy myself.

I still can’t forget that paladin bastard who devoured cloth items with intelligence bonuses—not plate or chain mail—and vanished without a trace. I wonder how he’s doing?

Anyway, I was filled with thoughts of getting the item.

This Japanese sword I bought from Greenbeard was good, but it was about time to replace my equipment.

A good weapon meant combat power.

“Let’s go!!”

I immediately flung open the boss room door.

“Hahaha! Shota! You sound like an old man! Even my dad doesn’t use words like that…!”

Umi burst into laughter. She lacked any sense of crisis despite being right before the boss room.

The second dungeon’s boss, the Nutcracker, was a boss that would give you quite a hard time if you didn’t farm properly.

First of all, it fought with two dogs. The dogs would bite at the player party from the front line, and once their health was sufficiently drained, the Nutcracker would step forward and unleash area attacks with its sword toward the player party.

These dogs were so strong that there were even rumors online that the two dogs were the main body.

Fighting in a pack like cowards… they were definitely not to my liking. Well, we also fight as a group. When the protagonist’s party does it, it’s always legal, right?

Clunk-!!!!

As the heavy door of the boss room opened, the scene inside was revealed.

Two dogs made of toy blocks, and in the center, a giant Nutcracker standing with a sword.

And behind them, there were numerous action figures in human form.

“Save me…!”

“It’s suffocating…! Please…!”

“Mom… I’m here…!”

The action figures were desperately trying to move their stiff bodies, pleading for help. They were humans whose souls had been trapped in the mirror world. Rescuing those people was our mission.

“They look strong.”

Sasith muttered in a cautious tone while surveying the surroundings.

“Let’s go with our usual formation. I’ll draw attention from the front, and you follow my instructions to concentrate your spells. Umi, click away when you think our health is dropping.”

That’s what I said.

“Don’t call it clicking!! Call it healing!!!”

Umi immediately ignited her healer sensibilities.

“Alright. Let’s go in!!”

At Sasith’s words, I charged toward the front, holding my sword and shield (Pinocchio).

“Hello there!!!!!!”

I immediately shouted to draw the attention of the two dogs in front.

“Grrrrrrrr!!!!!”

The block-made dogs charged toward me.

Claaaaaang-!!!!

I raised my shield to somehow block the dogs’ charge.

Screeeech-!!

But I couldn’t completely negate the impact. My body was pushed back significantly.

The Nutcracker behind was observing the whole situation. It was also a bit of a clicker, waiting for our health bars to be depleted while watching its pets fight.

Clang-!! Clang-! Clang-!!!

The dogs tried to attack me as if they were in heat. The combined attack of the two large dogs was quite formidable. Each time I was attacked, my body was pushed back significantly.

I couldn’t hold out for long. I needed to melt the dogs quickly and then face the main body, the Nutcracker.

“Taiga!! Pour fire-type spells on the left dog!!! Sasith!!! The right dog’s weakness is darkness!!! Don’t worry about SP, just fire away!!!”

I immediately gave orders.

While the party members behind me were casting spells, I had one job.

I had to clench my butt tight and push these guys back to create an opening.

“Uryaaaaaaah!!!!”

I let out a roar and pushed the two dogs back with my shield, putting all my weight into it.

“Grrrr…!!”

For just a moment, the two dogs were pushed back. As the dogs’ bodies floated in the air, a vulnerability appeared.

“Fire!!!!!!!”

At the perfect timing, Fenrir, summoned by Taiga, breathed out flames.

Whoooooosh-!!!!!

The flames from Fenrir’s mouth burned the body of the left dog.

“Grrrrrr!!!”

The dog, hit at its weakness, immediately flipped over and fell.

Simultaneously, Sasith summoned an imp to concentrate dark-type spells.

“Death Swarm!!!!!”

Ominous black mist spewed from the imp’s hands. The mist swarmed like bees toward the right dog.

“Woof!! Woof!!!”

The right dog also rolled on the ground, exposing its belly.

Now was the chance, with both of them incapacitated.

Thud-!!

I threw away Pinocchio, which I was holding in my right hand, and gripped the sword with both hands. The power came out when holding the sword with both hands.

“Die!!!!!!”

Swoooooosh-!!!!

I swung my sword with all my might. The left dog’s body was split in two and scattered.

“Not done yet!!!!”

I leaped into the air and immediately took a downward slash stance.

Swoooooosh-!!!

The slash flew straight and cut off the right dog’s neck.

Thud-!!! Thump-!!

The two dogs were cut in half and fell apart.

‘Taking them down in one go…’

Normally, I would have had to struggle for quite a few turns against the two dogs, but I took them down in one shot.

Yes, this was reality, and there was no need to fight in a turn-based manner, taking turns like “your move, my move.”

“…….!!”

The Nutcracker seemed flustered, clicking its mouth part.

Shiiiiing-!!

But quickly regaining its composure, the Nutcracker immediately raised its sword.

A single-edged sword with a glowing red blade—that was the legendary sword “Tomato” I was aiming for. It was indeed red, true to its name.

Whoosh-!!!

The Nutcracker closed the distance toward me.

Claaaaaang-!!

My sword and the Nutcracker’s sword collided. I tried to quickly give orders, but the Nutcracker didn’t give me the chance and swung its sword.

As expected of a boss mob. Its sword-swinging pattern was quite vicious. It was fast enough to cut you if you weren’t paying attention.

Clang-!! Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!!!

Sparks flew everywhere as the swords clashed.

But creating an opening was the ultimate in swordsmanship.

‘You’re… weaker than Saito Kana!!!!!!’

It was much weaker than Saito Kana’s Thousand Thought Heart Style that I had faced before.

Claaaaaang-!!!

I blocked a straight strike once.

Whoooosh-!!

Right after, I dodged a sword strike coming from the right.

An opening was created with one dodge.

“Sasith!!!! Without asking or questioning, fire light attribute, dark attribute, light attribute skills in that order!!!!”

There was no time for more orders. The Nutcracker’s combo attacks came again.

It was quite a reckless command, but trust had sprouted between Sasith and me. Sasith faithfully carried out my orders.

“Pupung!!!! Light’s Judgment!!!”

Flaaaaaaash-!!!!

A pillar of light burned the Nutcracker’s body.

“Grrrr…..!!!”

Upon being hit by the light attribute attack, the Nutcracker immediately changed its attribute. It had wrapped its body in a barrier that absorbed light attribute attacks. In this situation, pouring light attribute attacks would only replenish the enemy’s health.

‘I expected that much.’

That’s why I ordered to use dark attribute attacks right after.

“Come forth!! Imp!!!! Shadow Rush!!!!!”

Sasith poured dark attribute magic as ordered.

Booooom-!!

A black beam pierced through half of the Nutcracker’s body.

“Kheugh…..!”

The Nutcracker staggered and changed the barrier around its body. This time, it was a black barrier that absorbed dark attribute attacks.

However, the response was too late. Sasith had already switched from Psychorobo to Pupung to charge a light attribute spell.

“Sword of Light!!!!!!”

Sasith used the highest light attribute technique available at this point.

Booooooom-!!!

A sword made of light cleanly cut through the Nutcracker’s body.

“Kaaaah!!!!”

With that, the Nutcracker’s posture completely collapsed.

“Now!! All-out attack!!!!”

I shouted while holding my sword.

“Beat it up!!!”

Taiga, Umi, and Sasith drew their weapons and immediately rushed toward the Nutcracker.

Thud-!! Thud-!! Crack-!! Thud-!! Boom-!!!!

A one-sided group lynching of the boss mob continued.

Eventually, the boss mob’s body shattered into pieces.

“Ugaaaah!!!”

As befitting a boss mob, it let out a tragic cry as a bonus.

Booooom-!!!

The Nutcracker’s body completely exploded.

In the place where the boss mob disappeared, a sword was neatly placed in its scabbard.

Yes, it was the legendary sword, Tomato.

“Wooooooh…..!!!!”

I immediately picked up the sword. Finally… I had obtained a sword worthy of being called a legendary blade. Just obtaining it made me feel much stronger.

“Everyone, good job.”

Sasith said with a smile.

“Yeah!! Sasith!! You too!”

I smiled and patted Sasith’s shoulder.

“Shota… this bastard has gotten really strong. I barely had anything to do.”

Taiga said with a smile.

“I know. I didn’t even need to heal.”

Umi agreed.

“Well… this is what happens when I get serious?”

Truly, they were all weaklings. I was feeling the overwhelming boredom that comes with being too strong.

“There goes Shota, showing off again.”

Umi said with a smirk.

“But there’s something pathetic and cute about the way he shows off.”

Taiga said.

“Ah. Agreed.”

Umi concurred. It seemed like some kind of understanding had sprouted between the two.

Anyway.

Whoooosh-!!!

Only after defeating the boss were the souls trapped in the action figures liberated. With that, we had saved the people who had become shut-ins. We had done what was expected of a protagonist party.

“Then… shall we head back?”

I asked my companions. Honestly, I was a bit tired. I wanted to go home early, take a shower, and sleep. Just thinking about it made me want to dance.

“Let’s grab some late-night food on the way back! We need to celebrate!!”

Party-loving Umi immediately suggested a dinner.

“Hehehe. Eating at night makes you gain weight… but I am hungry.”

Taiga readily accepted Umi’s suggestion.

“Chicken… maybe we should stop by a fast food place. They have discounts at night.”

Sasith made a frugal comment.

“Ah! Speaking of fast food, I just remembered! I went with Shota the other day! And there, we saw our homeroom teacher…..”

“Umi!!! Don’t talk about that!!! Don’t expose the teacher’s private life!!!!!”

Anyway, as we were chatting and getting ready to wrap things up, something unexpected happened.

Rumble-!!!!

The ground beneath me caved in.

“Huh?”

After a moment of confusion, I was immediately sucked downward.

“Shota!!!!!”

“Damn it!! Shota!!!”

“What’s happening…!!”

Despite my party members’ screams, I immediately fell to the 9th floor of the dungeon.

Someone had pulled me from below. And I could immediately identify the culprit.

“Yo. Long time no see, Arigiri Shota.”

A large man in full armor blocked my path.

It was Jack, an executive of Apocalypse.

Why was he here…? I was filled with such questions.