episode_0118

From the 1st floor to the 6th floor.

We’ve climbed quite a few floors so far.

But if you were to ask about the level increase of the monsters.

It’s like the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors climbed gradually, then took a big leap at the 4th floor, were smooth up to the 5th floor, and then the difficulty spiked at the 6th floor.

Of course, if you ask if the difference between the monsters on the 5th and 6th floors is overwhelming, it’s not.

It’s just that a troublesome skill was added.

But if the difference between the 6th and 7th floors is as severe as the difference between the 3rd and 4th floors.

I really can’t grasp how much it will be.

While Erica and I were seriously wondering if the 7th floor would be possible.

Noah scratched her face vigorously and said.

“They’re nothing special, just hit them casually.”

When Noah, who hasn’t shown her full power yet, said that, it felt even more reliable, but why such a strong person sometimes gets beaten up, I don’t know.

Perhaps it’s all due to her laxness.

“Well, you never really know until you’ve experienced it yourself.”

Erica and Noah had conflicting opinions.

But experiencing it directly would certainly make it feel much more real.

So, let’s head up for now.

However, anticipating that it wouldn’t be easy.

“Let’s enter around 9 PM, timing it with midnight when the exit door opens.”

This was advice from Erica’s party, who had already experienced the higher floors.

There was no need to refuse.

Walking with a bit of tension, we arrived at the safety zone before we knew it.

However, a lot of time had passed.

No matter how straight the path was, the safety zone on the 6th floor is almost at the end of the floor, so there’s quite a distance.

The sun had already set, and it was past midnight when the portal to the outside opens.

So as soon as we arrived, we found a suitable spot and set up camp.

Of course, clients with a bit more money used the inn.

But for explorers who usually camp a lot, the safety zone inn is a rather expensive luxury.

Though, I must admit, I was tempted for a moment by the bed after a long time.

Anyway, another day had passed.

However, since we decided to go up to the 7th floor a bit late, as we had discussed.

We got some free time after a long while.

Having nothing particularly to do, I decided to look around the 6th floor safety zone.

I hadn’t seen it well the night before because it was so dark.

If the safety zone on the 5th floor was a safe and warm fortress.

The safety zone on the 6th floor felt similar to a giant bomb shelter.

First of all, it’s basically underground.

The entrance is blocked by a huge and thick door.

I don’t know how they found a place like this, but

It’s a place where you feel safe no matter how much a volcano erupts.

However, compared to the 5th floor, the size of the safety zone itself is quite large.

But the number of humans staying inside was very small.

Not only were there few explorers, but there were also few merchants staying inside.

In particular, there was only one priest, so a small number of explorers were gathered in front of the church.

“10 gold!!”

“No, this dried jerky is 10 gold??”

“There’s quite a bit of quantity, isn’t there? And you know well how hard it is to bring it this far.”

Prices had turned even more ruinous.

The 5th floor was cold, and you could get there quickly after passing only the 4th floor, so it was somewhat bearable, but it seems difficult to buy unless it’s a really urgent situation.

Besides, it’s more profitable to just go outside the labyrinth than to buy that, so I don’t know why they bother bringing it here.

When I asked Grace, the informant who knows everything, for the reason.

“Demand is actually higher the further up you go. It’s hard to climb back up to that floor.”

“That might be true.”

“Even now, if our request gets long, it’s more time-efficient to spend more money rather than going outside and then climbing back up.”

“Time is important, after all.”

The higher the floor, the more you can’t ignore the time it takes to climb.

Since an explorer’s life means Time = Money, buying food to save a day or two could be a viable option.

Well, that’s not an option given to us for now.

Anyway, since there wasn’t much to see in the safety zone, we looked around briefly and returned to the plaza with the portal.

Though this is where the most people are gathered, it’s quieter than even the least crowded street in District 11.

I’m curious what it would look like if we went higher up, to even higher floors.

Perhaps the safety zones themselves would be smaller or more desolate than this.

While we were passing the time by chatting with our companions.

Time flowed by, and it was time to go up to the 7th floor.

“They’re late…”

But we weren’t waiting because the client was late from oversleeping.

More precisely, it was because of the two guides who had gone ahead to scout the 7th floor.

They were a bit later than the estimated time, and I started to worry if something had happened on the 7th floor.

“We’re back!!”

Grace and Yuria walked out of the portal slowly.

As you know, except for the unique one-way 4th floor, all floors allow you to go up and down using the portal like this, so if you have the leisure, scouting is a decent option.

In fact, higher-level explorers organized into large clans often form separate scouting parties.

“There are no issues. We can depart right away.”

“Besides, the labyrinth reset time is approaching, so there were bound to be fewer monsters.”

Come to think of it, it had been about two weeks since we entered the labyrinth.

We didn’t particularly mind the labyrinth reset this time, but it just happened to coincide like this.

“Perfect timing.”

Everyone agreed.

It’s already a difficult high floor, the 7th floor.

Just the reduced probability of encountering the monsters Erica talks about with such dread is enough.

Our goal is strictly the path down to the 6th floor that Noah found.

I don’t know if such a thing even exists.

But I have to trust Noah and move forward.

“Shall we go then?”

Led by Erica’s party, we entered the portal heading for the 7th floor.

As we went inside, our vision blurred and then returned to normal.

Then we saw a massive cave.

We had finally arrived at the 7th floor of the labyrinth, the watershed dividing high-level and mid-level explorers, [The Gem Cave].

*

The Gem Cave.

As the name suggests, it’s a cave where self-luminous gems are embedded in the dark cave walls.

True to the name Gem, all sorts of gems displaying beautiful colors are embedded here and there.

Unfortunately, these cannot be extracted.

To be precise, if you tear them off the cave wall, they disappear.

Perhaps implementing actual gems would consume a lot of resources, so they replaced them with something similar.

If I were an evil god, wouldn’t it be more profitable to somehow release the gems and crush the market outside the labyrinth?

However, since some of the gems had quite outstanding magical performance, I can understand why they didn’t choose that option.

Anyway, since it’s a cave with glowing gems, you might not need torches.

Unfortunately, the walls aren’t completely covered in gems. It feels more like a raisin bread with raisins sparsely embedded, so minimal torches are necessary.

Since it’s inside a cave, sunlight doesn’t enter, meaning you have to constantly carry these annoying torches.

“So Noah. Do you have an idea of the location?”

“Only the method to get there is written in the book, but I think I roughly know where it is.”

“Is it like a hidden area?”

“Think of it as a hidden path. Just follow me for now.”

Noah and the two guides went ahead, and the rest followed behind.

Unlike the 6th floor, there’s no reason to use the shield all day, so I calmly followed behind.

Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any monsters.

However, I didn’t let my guard down.

“I didn’t think I’d enter the 7th floor.”

“It’s a place we have to reach someday. We just arrived early.”

Even Adele and Kairek, who usually show almost no fear, were clearly tense.

That’s how much the 7th floor, the high floor, signifies.

I still wonder if we’re rushing things.

But since Erica’s party, who have been active on the 7th floor to some extent, is with us, we walk with confidence.

However, not long after thinking that.

Yuria and Grace seemed to discover something, giving hand signals and saying.

“They’re Gem Soldiers.”

As soon as Yuria finished speaking, something human-shaped walked ahead in the distance.

Even though there was quite a distance, they were clearly visible.

The reason is that their bodies were glowing like the gems in the gem cave.

Humanoid monsters covered entirely in gems.

They held a sword and shield covered in gems in their hands, so their silhouette was undeniably that of a human warrior.

Their name is Gem Soldier.

They were the most common monsters on the 7th floor that I had heard about from Erica before coming up.

Moreover.

“Fortunately, they’re Opal. We got the weakest ones. They’d be perfect for testing our skills.”

“There are 20 of them. And…”

Just then, a blue light began to appear among the numerous Opal Gem Soldiers.

It was clearly a giant physique that couldn’t be compared to ordinary Gem Soldiers. And it was even holding a shield and lance made of gems.

Seeing that, Erica said.

“A Gem Knight, Sapphire type. What you need to watch out for is…”

Erica quickly relayed information about the Gem Soldiers.

After firmly imprinting that information in my head.

Just as we were about to launch a preemptive strike at the Gem Soldiers who were forming a formation and standing still.

“Wait.”

Applying buffs before combat is essential.

Immediately, I threw out a card.

[Eternal Light]

A sphere of light shot out and provided blessings and shields to all nearby party members.

Since it was activated outside of combat, it doesn’t last long. But it’s better than nothing.

“I’ll shoot.”

“Kairek, aim for the Gem Knight’s head. Should we start by killing it in one go?”

“…I’ll try.”

Kairek’s and Yuria’s arrows flew simultaneously.

Kairek’s javelin arrow flew, cutting through the wind.

Yuria’s arrow, containing starlight, followed behind it.

Kairek’s arrow, now as precise as any decent archer’s, accurately struck the Gem Knight’s head.

Ka-ang-

With a grotesque sound produced by hard objects colliding, the Gem Knight’s body bent back significantly.

However, its head was still intact.

As if saying this level of attack couldn’t possibly break it.

But when the arrow containing starlight, which followed behind, attacked the area Kairek had struck again.

CRASH!!!

With a sound like that, the Sapphire Gem Knight’s head shattered into pieces.

Then, as if losing its soul and crumbling, the Gem Knight’s body collapsed.

We succeeded in eliminating one enemy in an instant.

Guo-ooo-

A strange cry shook the inside of the cave, tickling our ears.

At the same time, the heads of the Opal Gem Soldiers swiveled around. Then they discovered us.

Simultaneously, cards rustled.

『Combat start. Draw 4 cards.』

『Energy 5/5』

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

[Wave of Light (3)] [Baptism (1)] [Divine Agent (8)] [Heal (1)] + [Eternal Light (4)]

My hand wasn’t bad.

I had already applied minimal buffs as well.

I decided to observe the situation for now and decide which card to use.

The Gem Soldiers who discovered us began to be cautious first.

This alone is different from the reaction of typical monsters.

Usually, when monsters discover humans, they just charge in indiscriminately as a default.

“…What is it?”

While we were panicking and flustered, the Gem Soldiers had already changed their weapons to bows.

Moreover, two particularly large Gem Soldiers rushed forward, changing their swords to shields, and the Gem Soldiers holding bows behind them began to shoot arrows.

“Block!!!”

The Defense Golem that popped out of the sub-space created a shield and blocked the incoming gem arrows.

“They said they make and use weapons appropriate for the situation, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

“They’re not gem-headed, they’re actually smart.”

We made various assessments, but the current battle situation wasn’t good.

A narrow cave stretching in a straight line. Gem Soldiers holding formation and only shooting arrows from the end of it.

They were showing tactics perfectly suited to the terrain. We also quickly found cover and hid ourselves.

Just then, Erica deflected an arrow with her sword and retreated towards me.

She smiled with a slightly tense expression and said.

“How is it? It’s not easy, is it? I told you the monsters’ behavior is different.”

To compare roughly, it feels like their AI has improved.

Furthermore, if it’s to the extent Erica informed me beforehand, these guys also have one more useful skill each.

The dignity of the high floor is already palpable.

“But there’s a good point. Since the Gem Soldiers are unnecessarily overthinking and cautious, we also have enough time to think.”

Certainly, now that we were hiding behind crevices, rocks, and gems in the cave, they were also just watching us, standing still.

They weren’t crossing over to this side.

“Of course, you shouldn’t drag it out too long. They might call for reinforcements.”

“It feels like fighting actual soldiers.”

“From the high floors upwards, you can think of each floor as a single, organically connected force.”

“You guys fight these things every day?”

“Yes, but it won’t be easy. Can you do it?”

Erica looked at me with a serious expression.

Even though we were tagging along on the 7th floor under the guise of providing help.

We weren’t really getting a free ride; we were in the position of having received the request equally.

At least, we have to show that we can perform minimal activity on the 7th floor.

“…Of course.”