episode_0027

A perpetually lasting night sky.

Damp and unpleasant dark ground stretching endlessly across a plain.

Numerous gravestones revealing it to be a cemetery, and rotten trees devoid of a single leaf.

Undead-type monsters occasionally appearing.

This place is the [Great Cemetery], located in the west of the 3rd floor of the Labyrinth.

The view is wide open, but an unpleasant white fog hangs everywhere, so visibility isn’t very good.

Nevertheless, it was surprising not to have seen a single explorer for the past 7 hours.

Even though we were the ones doing an ‘open run’, there’s a reason the Great Cemetery is an unpopular hunting ground.

There are no explorers inside.

But thanks to that, I was able to farm comfortably after a long time.

While farming this time, I learned one thing.

It was that the quality of cards found increased sharply as the floor number got higher.

I even found 5-cost cards that are tricky to use right now.

This fact means only one thing.

That when I go to higher floors later, the cards I have now might become almost useless.

[Earth Wall] was actually discarded as soon as I obtained [Terrain Manipulation].

Knowing that, I couldn’t help but choose cards more carefully.

Because if I just shove them in randomly, it feels like big trouble later.

The two decks are already somewhat functional anyway.

Still, I obtained exactly one card that was worth using.

[Heal (1)] – Recovers.

I got it from the Paladin’s deck. Although the effect is weak, like a low-grade potion, I kept it because I thought it might be useful someday.

Since the Paladin’s deck characteristic allows it to essentially function as an infinite deck after just a few turns, it can be used repeatedly.

I also decided on the deck concepts while I was at it.

If the Elementalist deck keeps adding strong magic.

The Paladin’s deck would be a deck for adding support magic and shields.

No matter how overpowered infinite shields are. They take too long to build up.

For short battles, the Elementalist deck.

For long battles, the Paladin’s deck.

Having two decks is attractive because I can fight according to each situation.

It would probably be better to handle the two decks I get later with this kind of feel.

Originally, a triangle strongly protruding in one direction is much better than a small hexagon.

Just as I was walking, thinking various thoughts.

Grace suddenly approached me.

“Aren’t those all meteorite irons over there?”

“……?”

Heading towards where Grace pointed, I saw stones with holes all over them.

The meteorite iron that Lyman mentioned was found in a pile.

A meteorite iron zone visible far beyond the edge of sight.

I hadn’t seen it until now, so I thought it was rarer than I expected. It felt more like it was gathered in veins.

“They’re quite large. How should I take them with me?”

“I’ll break them.”

Luca swings his axe with a confident expression, but it bounces off.

“……?”

A flustered Luca keeps bringing his axe down, but seeing the blade getting damaged, he gives up.

“Is it harder than I thought?”

“I will try to break it!!”

Khairek shoots an arrow, but again, it only leaves a small scratch and doesn’t break at all.

Carrying this whole thing seems too big though.

I think I know why Lyman said the supply wasn’t good.

There are places where meteorite iron is gathered so much you could kick it, but transporting it itself is the problem.

It doesn’t cut.

Fortunately, looking around, there were some smaller ones, so I gathered those.

There weren’t many though.

Still, this should be enough for Lyman to use.

I immediately put the meteorite iron into my subspace bag.

Just as we were about to leave this place. Grace sniffed as if she smelled something.

“There are people up ahead. Around 2 people? Or maybe more.”

“Maybe they are people mining meteorite iron.”

How on earth do they take these stones out?

When you don’t know something, asking is usually the answer.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I immediately went in the direction Grace mentioned.

“There are more than I thought?”

“Yeah.”

A group of explorers was visible.

Seeing that they all had the same emblem drawn on their cloaks, they seem to be members of the same clan.

The members included laborers mining meteorite iron.

And explorers protecting them.

They even had a wagon.

Unfortunately, there were no horses, but there was one barbarian dozing on the spot.

“Oh, fellow tribesman! I’ll go and meet them for a moment!”

Khairek ran, wearing a rare bright smile.

The explorer guarding the laborers tried to stop him, but couldn’t prevent the barbarians’ passionate reunion.

While we were at it, we also naturally approached.

Naturally, the explorers were wary of us.

I raised both hands, indicating I had no hostility.

At that moment, a man spotted the deck on my wrist, then whispered into the ear of the man who seemed to be the leader.

“[Witch Slayer] Ivan, you say?”

It was a familiar epithet.

Because recently, wherever I went, I could hear that epithet, [Witch Slayer].

The leader lowered his hand from his sword and approached me with a friendly attitude.

“Witch Slayer. I’ve heard of your exploits. You did something great!”

“Thank you.”

The wary attitude disappeared instantly.

I actually thought making my name widely known would be a poison, but it seems there are advantages like this too.

“Are you mining meteorite iron here?”

“That’s right! Our clan has a contract to supply meteorite iron to a workshop regularly.”

As Lyman said, they seem to be explorers who regularly supply large workshops.

Indeed, there’s no law saying you must only hunt monsters in the Labyrinth.

Cards and magic stones come out by chance, so the daily earnings fluctuate.

While there are people who like to make a big score, there are also those who earn money steadily.

“Are there usually no people in the Great Cemetery like this?”

“That’s right. Still, there are quite a few people in the meteorite iron zones scattered around. But it’s nothing compared to other places on the 3rd floor.”

Just then, a dwarf laborer approached.

“Augh!! It’d be great if we could just take all this meteorite iron out, but the explorers don’t even think about coming this way!”

It seems he’s a dwarf who holds a grudge, similar to Lyman.

“Ah, I see.”

Letting the unnecessary complaints of the dwarf laborer flow into one ear, I looked around.

The laborers were a mix of various races, but most were dwarves.

While splitting and mining the meteorite iron, they constantly uttered annoyed remarks.

Are all dwarves the same? Today I’m becoming a racial discriminator.

Still, I learned how they split the meteorite iron.

They pound something like a strange nail into it and hit it with a large hammer, then it splits.

A very common-sense method.

I had expected there might be some new method.

“I’m back!”

Khairek returned after finishing his meeting with his fellow tribesmen.

There was no longer a reason to stay here, so we left.

After leaving the meteorite iron zone, we headed towards the safe zone, continuing to hunt.

About 4 hours passed like that. It was time to take a break.

“It’s about time to rest. Let’s find a place to rest.”

The Great Cemetery is often wide open in all directions, making it difficult to find a suitable place to rest.

But that’s only the case for ordinary explorers.

I throw a card.

[Terrain Manipulation]

Rumble rumble.

By manipulating the terrain to block three directions, we can light a fire inside and rest.

“It’s really good having a mage.”

Grace appealed unnecessarily again.

“…Go light a fire.”

“Yes.”

Grace headed towards where Khairek and Luca were.

Feeling sheepish, I scratched my head and slowly lifted the ground.

Flinch!

Something got caught.

‘Stairs…?’

Unexpectedly, there were stairs underground.

Could it possibly be some kind of hidden area?

I immediately called Grace.

“Ohhh!! How did you find this?”

“Is this a hidden area?”

“Yes! Let’s sleep later and go in quickly!! We’re lucky this time!!”

Grace immediately ran to the party members who were lighting a fire.

Seeing a Treasure Mole that’s hard to encounter even once, and also discovering a hidden area.

Is light finally shining upon a life that was filled only with misfortune until now!

We immediately went down the stairs with the party members.

Just in case, I returned the terrain to its original state.

As we went down the stairs, a huge cave appeared.

What stood out was a strange structure in the center.

“It turned out to be something good. If you press the button there, monsters keep coming out from all directions, and if you fend them off, you get cards!!”

“How long does it take?”

“It takes about an hour. If you’re tired, shall we sleep for a bit and then do it?”

“An hour should be enough. Is everyone okay with that?”

The response was naturally affirmative.

We immediately put our luggage on the stairs, then stood in front of the structure.

“Let’s do some preparation.”

[Terrain Manipulation]

Power cards can be used outside of combat, but unlike during combat, there’s a usage limit.

They also consume a lot and lot of mana.

But there was enough time to prepare.

After raising the terrain to create walls, blocking all directions.

Just one spot. I created a passage for monsters to enter.

Monsters attacking from all sides are threatening, but if we block them in a narrow passage, the difficulty decreases.

Lastly, I created a high ground for Khairek to use.

With this, preparations were complete.

“Aren’t you preparing shields this time?”

“…It takes time. I could do it if needed.”

“Ah, well, it’s not that bad.”

Hans and Luca, standing in the narrow passage, sent a signal that they were ready.

Grace immediately headed towards the structure and placed her hand on the button.

“Then I’ll press it!!”

Press!!

As she pressed the button.

A bizarre sound began to emanate from the structure.

SCRRREEEEECH!!!!

As soon as the unpleasantly loud sound came out, the cave walls collapsed, and monsters began to pour out from behind them.

Without exception, they were undead-type monsters.

They were familiar monsters that we had fought a lot in the Great Cemetery.

『Combat Start. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Strike] [Strike] [Shield]

A completely ruined hand.

But even so, I wasn’t worried.

Because I wasn’t alone anymore.

Skeletons and undead crowding into the passage.

“Dodge!!!!!”

As soon as Khairek shouted, Hans and Luca stepped aside.

Into the center of it, Khairek shot a gigantic harpoon arrow.

His accuracy wasn’t very good yet.

But the power was perfect.

KOOOOM!!!

Crushed skeleton bones and Zombie Man flesh.

The first wave was pushed back just like that.

The harpoon arrow immediately began to disappear.

It returned to Khairek’s hand.

This skill is Khairek’s card, [Arrow Return].

It’s a skill that astonishingly retrieves the arrow shot.

The cooldown is long at 1 minute, and it’s not a very useful card for ordinary archers who just shoot a lot of arrows.

But originally, such minor skills suit those with unique characteristics.

He immediately carried out a second attack.

KOOOOM!!

The harpoon arrow that destroyed everything it touched shattered the next wave of monsters.

Now Khairek’s time was over.

The remaining empty time was filled by the others.

Luca, rushing forward, swung his axe wildly, sweeping away the monsters.

The monsters that broke through were first blocked by Hans, then Grace moved quickly one by one to deal with them.

It was truly perfect harmony.

It felt like a program I coded was running perfectly.

At this rate, maybe I’m not needed?

GROOOOAR!!!

Just then, a gigantic golem appeared amidst the short, squat undead.

A disgusting appearance, as if the undead had clumped together to form a single colony.

Seeing that sight, Luca flinched in disgust and stepped back slightly.

『Your Turn. Draw 5 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Momentum (1)] [Darkness (1)] [Freeze (2)] [Ifrit (4)] [Ice Arrow (1)]

It was a decent hand.

Normally, I might build up momentum and aim for something later.

But right now, for some reason, I wanted to use some power.

I threw a card.

[Ifrit]

WHOOOSH!!

A gigantic fire spirit descended behind me.

Seeing Ifrit, Hans and Luca had already moved out of the passage.

Let’s try unleashing maximum power once.

Stagger!

A large amount of mana draining from my body.

But I didn’t regret it.

Because Ifrit unleashed a powerful fiery fist towards the passage.

WHIIIIIIISH!!!!

A powerful stream of fire, enough to melt the dirt walls created by Terrain Manipulation, passed through the passage.

The monsters inside, like undead and skeletons, all met their demise.

What remained was a handful of ash.

No, it was too much to call a handful. Let’s call it a large amount of ash.

WHOOOSH.

Although the fiery fist Ifrit unleashed was over, it still remained, continuously burning the passage.

But monsters kept rushing in, pushing past the burning passage.

Their appearance, dragging their burning bodies inside, was impressive.

Stagger!!

“Are you okay!!!!”

Khairek shouted, looking at me staggering.

“…I’m fine.”

Slither.

Ifrit, which had shrunk to the size of one hand, proportional to my depleted mana.

My mana was almost depleted, and I was completely drained of energy.

You might ask if this would be a problem.

But I’m a card mage.

Now, all I need to do is solve the rest with cards.

『[Butcher’s Gloves] consumes blood.』

『Energy increases by 1, and you draw 1 card.』

『Energy increases by 1, and you draw 1 card.』

『Energy increases by 1, and you draw 1 card.』

『Energy increases b…』

『Energy…』

The status window kept appearing without end, and my hand was full before I knew it.

Looking at the incoming monsters, I threw a card again.