Episode 136: People I Can't Stand

"Hey~! Alright, let me explain the rules now!"

Before that, there was something I wanted to ask, so I raised my hand.

"Uh, can I ask a question?"

"Shut up, you rotten cunt. I've been waiting here like an idiot, and I'm getting really annoyed. So just listen quietly, okay~♪"

Rejected with a broad smile.

My skills are minimal, thanks to that fluffy dungeon master—just enough to get by, that’s all~♪ So you two will need to make me admit defeat♪ Got it so far?

Um...

Even if you fail, I’ll keep going~♪

Ugh.

I really can’t handle this person.

And the condition for me to admit defeat?♪ Just hit me with any fire, water, or lightning magic—got it?☆

"What, that's all? Seems pretty simple."

"Of course, I can't lose so easily~♪ I'll block your magical attacks with my《Magic Barrier》~♪"

"《Magic Barrier》，huh? I know that one. It's a defensive skill that blocks all magical attacks, right? I think it lets physical attacks pass through."

"Oh my~ You're quite knowledgeable, aren't you~♪"

"There was once a mage among my allies. He's dead now, though."

"Huh. Oh, really."

Haruna looked blatantly uninterested.

"Then that means..."

The Gambler smirked confidently, drawing out the "Stun Knife."

Clang! A golden light enveloped the blade.

"With this, I'll put him to sleep, then slowly pour in that Fire Magic II. Simple, right?"

"Means don't matter—go ahead and do whatever you like~☆"

Facing Haruna, whose expression hadn't changed at all,

"Then, I'll take you up on that...!"

The Gambler leapt forward.

Her exceptional physical abilities as a Hobbit were something I'd come to know well over the past two weeks.

Her speed was—comparable to that of a cat, if one were to liken it to an animal.

Dancing unpredictably, feinting with erratic movements, she slipped into Haruna's guard,

"Got you—!"

The "Gambler" attempting to thrust her "Stun Knife."

Observing her objectively, I realized,

"……ah"

She had just made a fatal mistake.

Dozens of lightning orbs had appeared, drifting around Haruna's surroundings—without her even noticing.

《Lightning Magic II》. … But to produce that many in an instant?

The "Gambler" nearby hadn't noticed at all.

The cluster of lightning balls struck her back far faster than the knife had.

At the instant the golden light pierced through her—

The "Gambler" vanished from the spot without uttering a single scream.

Huh.

So this is how you use《Lightning Magic II》, huh?

Smiling sweetly, the "Mage" spoke one line.

"Yes, game's over ☆"

"...What about the 'Gambler'?"

"Sleeping at the 'Respawn Point,' you know?♪ It'll be about a full day of zzz's before I'm back on my feet!"

"Ah, I see."

With that, I turn my back on Shunna.

"Ooh, oh? Are you not fighting today? Or is your crotch itching so much you've decided to skip it?"

I won't fall for such an obvious taunt.

"...Well, sneaking away like this isn't really my style."

"Hmm."

Haruna looked at me with a slightly bored expression,

"Well, just so you know, I think you could probably take me down pretty easily... right?...Or am I wrong?"

I briefly glanced at "Muramasu,"

"Ah... maybe you're right."

My swordsmanship might be faster than her lightning magic, and could render her powerless.

"But I won't do it."

"Whaaat? Why not?"

"You seem eager for us to quickly move on to the next floor."

Her expression, which had been uniformly displeased until then, shifted slightly into an intrigued smile.

"...Hmm, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"If, as you claim, the means to pass beyond this point are truly 'anything goes,' then the conditions are far too simple."

"Really?"

"Yes... You shouldn't have even tapped a tenth of your usual power. If you defeat someone like that, what exactly would you gain?"

"Gain... huh?"

She spoke, as if praising a student who had just noticed an intriguing perspective,

"Such an interesting way of thinking, darling ☆"

"You use the 'Magic Barrier.' We'll break through it head-on....You won't be able to defeat the 'Dungeon Master' unless you can do at least that. Isn't that right?"

I had expected some harsh insults in return, but unexpectedly, after a brief silence, Haruna...

"……………………………well then..."

And I nodded in honest agreement.

"Then, I guess we've got a decent grasp of how things work here, huh ☆"

"No, I'm just being cautious."

It's the same as in games.

If you can't fully defeat a boss in one stage, you definitely won't stand a chance against a boss in the next stage.

I'm the type of gamer who makes sure to level up properly before taking on a boss.

"You're weird. If you really want to get out of here quickly, you shouldn't be wasting time dawdling around like this?"

Thinking short-term, that might be true....But it seems the person who built this isn't going to let us leave so easily.

Then, Haruna briefly lowered her gaze to the ground.

As if hiding some awkward secret that's personal to them.

Isn't it "Dungeon Master" who's training us?

A monster that can only be defeated by magical attacks.

The conditions for the appearance of the "boss room."

Considering all of these together, this is the conclusion I've reached.

I half-expected to be catching you off guard,

"Ufufu☆ You understand it well, don't you?♪"

It seems my instincts were correct.

Sighing deeply, I shake my head.

I don't know what your intentions are, but...

If things have come to this, it looks like I'll have to see it through to the end.

"Well then, that's the reason. I'll wash my face and come back out."

As I turned away,

"Wait a minute."

Haruna smiled, her expression eerily like a clown's, and said,

"If that's the case, I'm tired of dealing with you over and over. I'll tell you this much."

Then, she summoned a fireball onto the palm of her hand.

"Once you can manage at least this much, come back. That's the bare minimum."

That fire magic—number two—was...

"Ugh."

Clearly, it was over thirty centimeters in diameter.

Just now, the "Gambling Master" said our fireball's diameter was... about sixteen centimeters... so roughly double that.

"Didn't take the easy way out— I'll give you credit for that ☆."

"Huh."

"I couldn't do that myself. That's why I got stuck on the next floor, you know♪"

"Ah, so... that means"

"That's right~ I was also one of the 'players' trapped in the 'Master Dungeon,' just like you all♪"

Well, that much was vaguely predictable once we got the info saying, "The 'Floor Boss' is served by a 'Player.'"

"So, what do you say? Since we're at it, shall I tell you about the treatment on this side?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Even if you tell me, I won't believe it... And besides, we don't want to become anything like you."

Haruna kept her smile frozen, as if carved into concrete,

"Hmm... You know what? I really, really hate you ☆"

I responded with a broad, unyielding smile.

"Yeah. I'm not really fond of people like you either."