第６７掘：嫁はガチバトルを好む (Part1)
**Dungeon Excavation 67: My Wife Prefers Serious Battles**
*Note: It might be hard to tell, but I have updated "Side Story: Dungeon Days - Pitfalls." I plan to update in a cycle of Main Story > Side Story > Main Story > Side Story, so thank you for your continued support.*
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**My Wife Prefers Serious Battles**
**Side: Seraria**
"Now then, show those fools our strength!"
" " "Oooooh!!!" " "
A war cry erupts in response to my command.
Approaching us are five thousand fools from the Lithea Holy Nation who oppose trade with the dungeon. They decided that they would conquer us and take everything for themselves.
"Attention, Seraria Squad! Show them the pride of the direct-control unit! We have thirty soldiers and 150 monsters, but we are the main force! Show those Lithea brats our true power!"
Quar further encourages the troops.
Yes, here in this 4km-square transit dungeon, our dungeon defense unit and the opposition from the Lithea Holy Nation are about to clash.
There is no support from Yuki’s traps on this battlefield.
The reason is simple: we decided that if we didn't crush them head-on, they would just whine later.
They’d say, "We would have won if we fought head-on," or "We would have won if it weren't for the dungeon," and so on. We wanted to prevent any idiots from making excuses to avoid facing reality, and also...
"That’s Seraria! Take her down! She’s just a woman; the rumors are nothing but exaggerations!"
The idiot leading the first wave of 500 soldiers barks that out.
He’s got some nerve.
"Now then, Seraria. What shall I do? Should I clear the path around you while you deal with that fool?"
"Deryu, that won't be necessary. Aslin and Firia, please support the other teams. Even with designated protection, it’s over if you get caught."
"Aslin and Firia have Yuki with them, after all. I think I’ll go check on Eris and the others."
Deryu, one of the highest combat powers in the dungeon, strolls leisurely across the front of the enemy line.
While Mauve and his group are technically adventurers, they are participating as hired help in this battle. They, too, have lost family because of these fools.
With the designated protection, those three will be fine even if I leave them be.
But why is Deryu going out of her way to walk in front of the enemy?
"Capture that woman! It has been decreed that everything in this dungeon is free for the taking! I promise three platinum coins to whoever presents her to me!"
Ah, I see.
As soon as the enemy commander says that, the soldiers swarm toward Deryu.
"Hah, you bottom-feeders! If you want me to play with you, you should try being a bit gentler!"
Deryu flips her pure white dress and clenches her fists.
Then, with a graceful leap, she vanishes into the center of the enemy formation.
"What the—!? Follow Deryu! If we don't hurry..."
He tries to rush his troops, but...
" " "Gyaaaaaaaahhh!!!" " "
From the spot where Deryu landed, enemy soldiers are sent flying into the air.
Unless you’re a large monster, the human body doesn't fly like that.
"Wh-what is happening!?"
The foolish commander is stunned. The soldiers he leads are also standing still, seemingly unable to comprehend what is occurring.
"You fools! Stopping on the battlefield? I suppose you want me to take your heads!"
I finally close the distance to the enemy soldiers, slicing off their heads as I run past.
"Follow Lady Seraria! As you can see, the enemy is nothing but a rabble! Do not forget the days of training in that dungeon!"
Quar leads her unit forward, annihilating the disorganized crowd.
"Come now! Where did that bravado from earlier go?"
I accelerate, pushing my beloved blade further.
It really is in a different league from the sword I used to carry. My old sword was a masterpiece, but this one—imbued with the Japanese sword-making techniques Yuki brought and enchanted by the Fairies—possesses unparalleled sharpness and durability.
"Guh!? Bring the shields forward! Just deflect her!"
A man who looks like a squad leader instructs his subordinates, pushing shields reinforced with iron in front of me.
"That judgment isn't bad... but!"
I reach for the other sword still sheathed at my waist, leaving the one in my hand on the ground.
It’s the high-speed sword technique Yuki taught me, paired with a blade enchanted for maximum sharpness to match that style. By channeling magic into it, the magnetic repulsion from the lightning, the draw-speed, and the enchantment make it so there is almost nothing it cannot cut!
"She missed! Shield squad, surround Seraria! Spear her through... wait?"
I return the drawn blade to its scabbard and go to pick up the sword I left on the ground.
"You guys, what are you...!!?"
Behind me, a series of thuds echoes.
When I look back, five or six bodies—cut clean in half, shields and armor included—are lying on the ground.
"Sorry. I don't have time to explain. If I don't hurry, Deryu will take all the fun for herself."
I cut down the enemies who still haven't grasped the situation. The surrounding soldiers, seeing this, all scramble to put distance between themselves and me.
"Normally, I wouldn't kill enemies who have lost their will to fight. But today, I don't need any survivors."
With that, I charge back into the fray.
I won't show mercy to those who flee.
...After all, this is for my people who were hurt and saddened!
It has been confirmed that the Lithea idiots who came to this battle were working with Loire.
There is no reason to let them escape!
"Oh, Seraria, you caught up."
"Honestly. I didn't think they'd come at us with such tactics."
"What are you talking about? I was just trying to move to another area when they attacked me, so I had no choice but to intercept them."
As I cut my way through, I finally reunite with Deryu.
There is no one left standing around her.
"Wh-who are you people!? And you, Seraria, why is this so absurdly..."
The commander who insulted us earlier is barking at us.
If he had time for that, he should have retreated. When I glance around, most of them are already sinking into the ground.
Of the 500 enemy vanguard soldiers, only about 50 remain.
"Absurd, you say? Well, you wouldn't be able to measure us. After all, I am a Demon Lord."
"Don't talk nonsense! Why would a Demon Lord side with the likes of Roschur!? Demon Lords only bring destruction!"
"Well, well, I suppose I have to live up to the request."
Ah, Deryu has a vein popping on her forehead.
I’ve heard about her past, but she’s just a normal girl, nothing like that.
" " "Waaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!" " "
In an instant, Deryu uses her raw stats to annihilate every single remaining soldier with sheer brute force.
Leaving only the commander.
"There, your opponent is Princess Seraria over there. I’ll be on cleanup duty. Taking your head myself doesn't do much for the morale, anyway."
She kicks the stunned commander, sending him flying toward me.
"Guh..."
The enemy commander rolls miserably across the ground, collapsing at my feet.