episode_0039

Until now, among the rewards gained while hunting on the 1st to 3rd floors, the low floors, finding even a 3-cost card, let alone a 4-cost card, was difficult.

As soon as I arrived on the 4th floor, the very first reward was full of good cards.

[Meteor (7)] – Drops a meteor from the sky.

[Earthquake (5)] – Causes a powerful earthquake.

[Chain Hell (3)] – Summons countless chains to bind the target.

The fact that can be known from this.

Is that the reward tables for the low, mid, and high floors are different.

Because new cards, which weren’t even glimpsed on the low floors, appeared.

In other words, to become stronger, one must constantly go up.

But among these, what should I choose.

First, [Meteor], an attack card with a whopping 7 cost.

In fact, if I tried to use it, I could somehow.

If used in conjunction with [Mana Overload], which doubles mana.

But it’s a cost that is too burdensome.

Even though I can keep carrying 1 card with the White Storage Box, it’s a card that is too heavy to choose right now.

No matter how much I aim for the high score, it seems impossible to put [Meteor] in now.

It would only be something to consider after getting a few more Energy Relics or Energy Cards.

If so, I have to choose between [Earthquake (5)] and [Chain Hell (3)].

Earthquake is also 5 cost, so it’s too limited, just like [Meteor].

Because [Momentum] or [Mana Overload] are essential.

Although I was greedy, I still chose [Chain Hell (3)], which can be used anytime.

Of course, it’s not an attack card, so it could be seen as over-investment.

But if I think of it as a card to support Kairek, it’s not bad.

Because Kairek isn’t yet capable of hitting things that fly around like a divine bowman.

Swish.

The [Chain Hell] card goes into the deck.

*

After defeating the white armadillo and going up the stairs behind, there were 4 doors.

And in the center of the 4 doors, there was a map, as expected.

“That blue flame is our location.”

At the very bottom of the map, on the 1st floor, a blue flame was flickering.

Centering on that, paths split into 4 directions upwards.

At the end of them were ‘?’ and monster faces.

Where should we go from here.

After thinking for a moment, I decided to ask Kairek, who had experience.

“Kairek. How did you usually get around the 4th floor?”

“I spent time fighting monsters!”

“Then, shall we also hunt monsters?”

“That looks good!”

Once the conclusion was reached, Grace approached the map.

“Then, how about going this way, then this way, and then this way?”

Grace describing the route she thought of with her whole body.

There was no particular reason to refuse.

“Then let’s go!!”

Immediately, we opened the 2nd door, the one with a monster face drawn on it.

Creak.

A completely black space.

Nothing was visible.

As soon as we passed through the door, the door we entered through closed and disappeared by itself.

“The door has disappeared.”

“That’s why you can’t go down to the lower floors.”

“That’s right!! So if you’re going to rest, you must rest in front of the map!”

Whoosh!!

At that moment, the blue torch flared up again.

The dark space brightens.

What appeared before our eyes was another group of monsters.

Among them, a familiar monster was visible.

Goblin Hero.

Not just heroes, but Goblin Shamans, Warriors, etc. Goblins of various types were gathered.

“It’s a goblin group!!”

As soon as Grace shouted, positions were taken.

『Combat Start. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Electrocution (2)] [Darkness (1)] [Charge (1)]

The hand isn’t bad.

It’s just that nothing was drawn to help with the attack side.

Moreover, [Darkness], if used alone, would be different, but in a situation with comrades, it’s a card with a high chance of trolling, so it cannot be used.

And goblins move well in the dark.

Clang!!!

A suddenly flying spear strongly strikes Hans’s shield.

Of course, it couldn’t penetrate and fell to the ground.

The Goblin Hero’s spear.

Seeing that spear, the day I first fell into this other world comes to mind.

Back then, I truly fought with sheer will and grit and won.

Now it’s different.

Putting aside the fact that I’ve become much stronger, I also have comrades on this side.

“What should we do?”

Grace, as well as everyone, is waiting for my command.

Unlike my comrades who can always exert the same strength, my combat power differs from time to time.

My comrades, who came to know that, gave me the right to strategize.

Although it was decided to move on our own in urgent situations like with the armadillo earlier.

Looking at my cards, I quickly formed a tactic.

“…Let’s receive them here.”

As soon as I said that, Hans firmly took his stance.

The goblin group also didn’t easily approach us and were watching from afar, throwing spears or shooting arrows.

Of course, I said we would wait here, but it doesn’t mean we won’t attack.

“Kairek.”

“I’ll shoot!!”

Kairek shoots an arrow.

The arrow that advanced, cutting through the wind, passed the goblin in front and hit a lesser mob behind.

“Kururururuk?!!”

Taking Kairek’s attack as a signal, the goblin lesser mobs who were just watching began to rush towards us.

The goblin lesser mobs spreading out in all directions, trying to surround us.

The elites were watching from behind.

“Luca!!”

“Uwaaaaaa!!!”

Luca, who immediately grasped my intention, used [Taunt], causing the scattered goblins to bunch up and rush forward.

“You guys target the Goblin Hero or the other fellows.”

“Understood!!”

“…Yeah.”

Realizing something strange and running to the second line, I left the goblin elites to Kairek and Luca, and I moved behind Hans and played a card.

[Electrocution]

The electricity generated around my body gathered into my right hand.

Perhaps because it was enhanced by the effect of [Cat’s Paw], the electricity for electrocution was much larger than usual.

I threw the electricity towards the goblins who had reached Hans’s nose before I knew it.

Fizzzzz!!!

The electricity first electrocuted the goblins coming forward, and then continued to pass behind, electrocuting all the goblins who were crowding forward.

It doesn’t end here.

“Self-destruct!!”

A golem that popped out of subspace entered the electrocuted goblin group and exploded.

Booooom!!!

“……?”

The status window showed nothing.

No more cards were drawn either.

Energy was also unchanged.

Surely, it should be normal for all goblins caught in the explosion to die?

As the dust from the explosion cleared, the reason was revealed.

A strange shield-like thing was protecting the goblins.

Of course, that didn’t mean the electrocuted goblins had recovered.

“Dodge!!!”

Grace grabbed my head and pushed it down.

At the same time, a spear crossing the spot where I was.

It was a Goblin Hero.

It targeted me after seeing me use Electrocution.

“Tch.”

“…I’ll go.”

Watching Luca rush towards the Goblin Hero, I sensed where the shield was coming from.

“This shield, did the Goblin Shaman make it?”

“That’s right. I’ll go remove it……”

At that moment, Grace held me and retreated.

Because the black curse created by the Goblin Shaman poured down onto the spot where we were.

The black curse that shattered the floor.

Seeing that sight, Grace and I felt something strange.

The content was so different from the book containing information about the 4th floor.

“Something’s strange. The goblins’ level is higher than expected, isn’t it?”

“Furthermore, there are too many elites. I was told there was only 1 Goblin Hero originally.”

“Now there are 3, right?”

“Is that book wrong?”

“That can’t be.”

Shaaaat!!

This time, goblin rogues’ daggers flew towards me in a shower.

Grace held me and rolled to dodge.

“When is the next magic possible?”

“……”

『Until next draw 32…』

“In 30 seconds.”

“Understood!!! Hold on tight!”

Grace holds me and sprints.

The goblins also seemed to have realized that killing me was the most important thing, attacks coming towards me.

But Grace quickly avoids all of it.

While her movements are fast.

Her excellent senses are reading all the attacks.

Trusting her, I extend my senses to observe the surroundings.

At that moment, something strange was happening among the electrocuted goblins.

“The goblins are killing each other? No, that’s not it.”

“One goblin is eating other goblins.”

“No way, I’ve never heard of such a monster?”

It’s ominous.

Because it’s common sense that monsters who prey on their own kind are strong.

At that moment, the goblin that had eaten all the lesser goblin mobs.

Unlike the other goblins, it had uniquely black skin.

His mouth was covered in blood.

Grin.

Grace’s hair stood on end.

This omen is only one.

“…Dodge.”

Grace, hearing my words, rolled sideways greatly.

A single lightning strike fell where we had been.

That wasn’t the end.

Lightning strikes continued to fall where we were.

Grace was narrowly avoiding them.

“Kairek!!! Eliminate that goblin!!”

“Understood!!!”

Kairek, who felt the omen just like us, shot an explosive arrow towards the black goblin, but.

The shield created by the Goblin Shaman protected it.

“I’ll destroy it….”

At that moment, a spear pierced Kairek’s body.

It was a Goblin Hero’s spear.

Even if it was Kairek, it seemed damage was now being dealt, and his posture was disturbed as he bled.

A Goblin Hero and a Goblin Hammerman rushed at such a Kairek.

Kuaaaang!!!

Hans’s situation was also no different.

Although there would be no problem as he was so sturdy, he was blocking all sorts of attacks by himself.

Luca, the only one strong in close combat, was taking down the goblins one by one.

Flash!!

A lightning strike fell right next to us.

To the point where it felt dangerous.

“…What should we do? That goblin is stronger than we thought, isn’t it?”

“10.”

“I’ll hold out.”

Grace somehow running and dodging the lightning strikes.

Her dazzling movements were enough to draw admiration.

After playing [Charge] to use on the next turn.

I waited for the time.

『Until next draw 6… 5… 4』

『Until next draw 3… 2… 1』

『Until next draw 0』

『It is your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

[Strike (1)] [Strike (1)] [Shield (1)] [Wind Blade (0)] [Strike (1)]

“……”

“Did you draw well?”

“…No. It’s not bad.”

This much is enough.

Since the goblins’ bodies are weak, a 3-cost attack card is just a luxury.

[Strike]

A Strike enhanced by Charge flies towards the Goblin Shaman.

Thump!!

The Goblin Shaman is pushed back significantly without even reacting.

But it’s not dead yet.

[Strike]

[Strike]

Thump! Thump!

Strong impacts left and right shook the Goblin Shaman’s head, but.

As expected, it didn’t die from this.

But I am not alone now.

Not missing the created opening. Grace’s dagger accurately pierced the Shaman’s head.

“Got it!!”

At the same time, the shield protecting the black goblin was dispelled.

Grace’s dagger flies towards the black goblin.

Kairek’s arrow targets the black goblin.

“Kururururu!!!”

The lightning strikes that were falling on us stopped.

Strong electricity randomly surged around the black goblin.

That electricity perfectly deflected the arrow and the dagger.

“Are there no more ways to attack?!”

“There are, but.”

I don’t know if [Wind Blade] can penetrate that lightning.

“I will go!!”

At that moment, Hans advancing, splitting the electricity.

I worried he wouldn’t get electrocuted and die, but.

Hans was fine.

As if all electricity touching his armor was nullified.

They said it was a power that prevented shields and armor from breaking, but to think it had a function like that too.

“Uwaaaaaaaa!!!”

Hans running and shouting, not stopping for mere electricity.

Kruk?!

The black goblin, flustered, emitted all sorts of electricity, but it had no effect at all.

“You should have dodged instead!!”

Hans shouts and collides with the goblin with his heavy shield.

Hans, whose whole body was surrounded by iron, like a car.

The goblin that collided with him flew high into the air, traveled about 5m, and then hit the ground with its head.

Grace, who had somehow left me and run off, pierced the black goblin’s heart.

As blood gushed, the electricity flickering around disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“Kuaaaaaa!!!”

When the black goblin died, the remaining goblins charged in anger, but.

Ordinary goblins without a shaman or a black goblin were no match for us.

Dding!!

『Confirm card reward.』

[Descent (4) – Power] – Enters Descent state.

[Ragnarok (4)] – Emits a powerful shockwave.

[Reversal (3)] – Reverses gravity for a certain period, raising things into the sky.

It’s another satisfying reward.

The difficulty this time had jumped to a level incomparable to the 3rd floor.

The rewards were decent, so it was worth enduring.

‘What should I choose.’

While I was pondering for a long time.

Kairek approached.

“Strange. I encountered a goblin group on the 4th floor last time too, but this is the first time seeing a goblin like that.”

A serious voice, different from usual.

Grace, hearing Kairek’s words, took out a book and spoke.

“Right? It’s not that I failed to get the information, is it?”

“Furthermore, the armadillo on the 1st floor earlier wasn’t that strong when I saw it last time. There’s something… there.”

Hearing him speak like that in a tone different from usual, I couldn’t easily dismiss it either.

The reward would be chosen later for now.

We sat on the floor and started a meeting.

First, Grace.

“Is it true that they are much stronger than before?”

“Yes. I swear by the ancestral gods, it is true.”

“Knowing I would come to the 4th floor this time, I used all sorts of connections and truly gathered all sorts of information. But I’ve never heard that the monsters have become stronger.”

At that moment, Luca intervened.

“…If so, it’s that. Black mages.”

“Certainly, when strange phenomena occur in most labyrinths, it’s their doing.”

As soon as I heard that, I extended my senses and read the mana around me.

But nothing was felt.

“Then what should we do?”

“How about just staying here?”

“That doesn’t seem right!”

“…What to do.”

In the end, without reaching a conclusion, we were talking about this and that.

I thought deeply and soon reached a conclusion.

“In the end, it’s one of two things. Go up, or endure here until the labyrinth resets. The intervention of black mages or whatever doesn’t matter. That’s all we can do right now.”

“But enduring until the reset is difficult. We don’t have that much food.”

“Precisely. There’s no time to talk about things that aren’t even certain. We need to go up quickly, even now.”

“…That’s right. We aren’t black mages either.”

Everyone went up the stairs again and stood in front of the map.

“If strange phenomena are occurring on the monster side, we just need to proceed while avoiding them as much as possible.”

“Then, shall we plan the route like this?”

Grace planning a route that includes only ‘?’ and torches, not monster faces.

Everyone agreed to ascend that way.

Immediately, we stood in front of the door with ‘?’ drawn on it.

“Because it’s unsettling, it’s going to be a quick decisive battle as soon as we enter.”

“Understood! I will shoot explosive arrows as quickly as possible!!”

“Let’s go!!”

We opened the door and entered triumphantly.

But what greeted us was a desert whose identity was unknown.

“Wait!!”

Grace reached out her hand towards the door to return to where we were originally, but.

The already closed door merely became an illusion and disappeared.

Kairek lowered his head and touched the sand.

“This is also the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

“So it wasn’t just the monsters that had strange phenomena?”

As if we had come to another place.

A desert with the sun high in the sky, to the point where it couldn’t live up to the name ‘Spire’.

I pulled my robe down deep against the intense sunlight.

“Let’s find water or shade first.”

“Yes!!”

Sniff sniff.

Grace sniffed and then, as if she had found something, her long elf ears moved up and down.

“Follow me!!”