Chapter "382" |
Stone Lantern
With an eerie sound and vibration, the stone stage descends downward. At the center of this stage, we’ve formed a circular defensive formation, vigilantly observing our surroundings from within.
On top of the sturdy, crackling rock-salt barricade, I’ve added a thick, sticky, gooey mucus topping. How’s that? This defense formation of mine, blending hardness and softness, won’t be breached so easily.
But since nothing’s happening yet, I decide to have the pixies return to their cards for now. If we were suddenly hit by a trap’s raging current or a massive fireball, it’d be hard to protect all of them given their numbers.
“If anything happens, I’ll call you, so count on me then.”
“Pipi!”
Normally, they’d fuss, but the pixies—having rampaged, drunk their fill of sweet nectar, and satisfied themselves—obediently return to their cards. So, aside from the Pixie Queen, who’s staying behind just in case, the formation inside has returned to our original dungeon-entry lineup.
“Masaru, you can’t keep rushing ahead like before, okay?”
“Heh heh…”
Alright, now’s a good time for me to check my status too.
| Current | Previous
Level | 19 | 18
Race: Human??
Class: Teacher
Abilities
STR: 740 | 668
VIT: 753 | 686
INT: 671 | 612
SPI: 702 | 645
AGI: 638 | 578
LUK: 712 | 656
Melancholy: 234 | 256
Blessings:
[Salt Spirit] Strange Guardian, [Pixie Queen] Lucky Guardian, [Red Slime] Quasi-Strange Guardian, [Space Monkey] Vassal, [Fighting Frog] Follower, [Giant Slug] Vassal
Skills:
[Strong Acid 2], [Agility 2], [Disease Resistance 7], [Usurpation], [Mucus 7], [Space 6], [High Luck 1.4], [Footwork], [Meditation], [Salt 5], [Crafts], [Maggots 2], [Female], [Martial Arts 6], [Paralysis 4], [Jump 9], [Sturdiness 8], [Charm]
Titles:
[Bug King], [Saltmate], [Salty Guy], [Insect Queen], [Woman Killer], [Bug Friends]
Oh, my level went up. Wait, huh? Why’s there another question mark next to “Human”…?
Hmm… Maybe this means that since my stats have reached the 700s, I’ve strayed even further from the human framework…
Anyway, thanks to the mountain training, my STR, VIT, and SPI have improved nicely. And my LUK isn’t bad either. Plus, I’m low-key happy that “Melancholy,” which has been stubbornly stuck in my stats, has slightly decreased.
“Did either of you level up?”
Since they’re both keeping watch through gaps in the rock salt, I ask without turning my head.
“Yeah, I went up 2 levels.”
“Me too.”
“What, that much!?”
Serai Machi
Level: 26
Race: Human
Class: Nakihito Honors Student
Abilities: ~470 ALL
Skills:
[Acid], [Agility], [Strong Arm], [Mucus 3], [Sugar],
[Flight]? (Suit effect)
Nina Shizue
Level: 25
Race: Human
Class: Nakihito Honors Student
Abilities: ~470 ALL
Skills:
[Acid], [Agility], [Strong Legs], [Compound Interest], [Mucus 3], [Lightning], [Sweet Dew]
So, this must be how it turned out.
“Probably, but those tough ants were stronger than regular monsters, right?”
“Yeah! When we beat them, life energy came out.”
“I see. They were troublesome enemies, but each one was basically elite-tier, huh?”
No wonder they were so tough—they were the Seven Mountain Dungeon Ants.
But to gain 2 levels with the pixies’ help… That’s insane. Oh… Right, since I was separated inside the giant aphid, I must’ve absorbed more life energy too.
Unlike in games, where EXP is evenly distributed in a party, life energy absorption depends on proximity. So, if you’re out of range, this kind of thing happens. Well, if it means those two and the pixies got stronger, I’ve got no complaints.
“Still, we’ve been descending for a while… and it doesn’t seem like we’re stopping anytime soon.”
“Hmm… It’s been about two minutes since we started, right?”
“Yeah, I wonder how long this’ll go on. Huh? Eek!!”
As Serai-san tries to continue speaking, she suddenly leaps back in panic as something sprouts from the spot she was standing on.
“Huh, what’s that…!?”
“Is that… a stone lantern?”
[THOOM!!]
Just as the stone lantern-like pillar fully emerges from the floor, the moving stone stage finally comes to a stop.