Chapter 140: Basement Level Three

After bidding a temporary farewell to Haruna, we passed through the door at the back and descended to Basement Level Three.

"Hey, I just thought of something."

"What is it?"

"The next floor... we heard something about enhancing 'defense,' didn't we?"

"Yeah."

"So, maybe we should prepare ourselves for getting hurt pretty badly?"

"...Maybe you're right."

Already feeling uneasy as we stepped forward.

Climbing the stairs and moving forward along the simple, unadorned corridor as usual,

"Ugh."

"Gugege."

"Wh-what is this?"

The two of us spoke in perfect sync, uttering the same line at once.

There, it looked—on the surface—just like the space we’d just left.

But there was one crucial difference.

"Looks like an entire wall made of a music room, doesn't it?"

Exactly as the "Gambling Master" had predicted.

The floor, walls, and ceiling before us were completely covered in evenly spaced circular holes, packed tightly together.

"It doesn't seem to be made of material that absorbs sound..."

We cautiously survey our surroundings just before the door leading into the passage.

"Hey, 'Gambling Master.' May I borrow something from you for a moment?"

"Hmm? Sure, whatever."

Taking the hiking backpack from her, I casually tossed it toward the far end of the passage.

The moment it hit the floor—

"Ah! Aaaah!"

Needles shot out from the hole with tremendous force, tearing the "Gambling Master"'s backpack to shreds.

"I see. It's a mechanism that triggers the needles in response to pressure."

"Aah... ahh..."

The "Gambling Master" was overwhelmed with shock, trembling.

"Y-You should throw your own stuff, not mine..."

I only had "Murasama" with me, so I figured the other luggage might be cheaper in price... Wait, did I just throw it away by accident?

"...For the past three weeks, the bear stuffed animal I've always slept with has been inside..."

Ah... So that's why it was nicely puffed up, even though it wasn't actually filled with food?

Honestly, sleeping with a stuffed animal is kind of cute, isn't it? This person.

The "Gambler" seemed to slump for a while, but soon seemed to perk up,

"...But what now? With this kind of setup, we can't move forward. Did they sell something like steel-toed boots at that 'Shop'?"

"There's no turning back now. According to the 'information' we've obtained, once we reach the next floor, there's no way to return."

"What should we do then...?"

Even the so-called "Gambler" looks pale.

"It seems impossible to move forward without destroying the traps along the way..."

"There's no need for that. We'll just keep moving forward as is."

"What?!"

After taking a small, deep breath, I stepped forward without hesitation.

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

I could feel countless needles shooting out from under my feet in response to my weight.

My running shoes turned into tatters in an instant.

"O-... hey! Are you okay?"

I calmly replied to the concerned "Gambler" guy.

"Feels like a light foot reflexology massage?"

"Are you kidding me...?"

"I have《Defense V》, after all."

It was, even to me, an abnormal sight.

The countless needles that turned my sturdy sports bag into a sieve barely managed to stimulate my soles pleasantly.

"I've heard stories about sumo wrestlers stepping on thumbtacks and still being fine..."

Well, in my case, it's not because my feet are tough—it's just that my skin's thick enough to handle it.

Honestly, after seeing this picture, there's no way any man in this world would want to marry her...

I'd like to be left alone.

Well then, I'm off!

"Wait, wait, wait! Please don't leave me behind! I'm sorry! 'Warrior'-san is seriously a beautiful girl—forever popular!"

"……So, what do we do?"

The gambler, after pondering for a while,

"Sorry, can you carry me to the Adventurer's Inn?"

There's nothing I can do about it...

When I lightly crouched down, the gambler jumped up with a bounce, just as expected of a child, and climbed onto my back.

At the same time, I felt the foot massage becoming stronger.

"I see. The intensity of the needles shooting out depends on the pressure applied."

"...You sure you're okay?"

"Actually, I feel healthier than ever."

"Whoa, that's some serious《Defense V》 power."

"Yeah... I just can't stay here too long."

"Why's that?"

"While we're doing this, my 'magic power' is gradually depleting. If I run out completely, something absolutely terrible is bound to happen."

"Ah... right. Got it. Let's hurry ahead, but be careful. And please don't fall. I'm counting on you."

"Sure, sure."

Replying, I continue forward along the path of needles.

▼

It was about thirty minutes later that we reached the Adventurer's Inn.

"Zee... zee..."

I tumbled through the door, gasping for breath with my shoulders heaving.

"...Sorry, I'm sorry for the trouble."

The "Gambler" lowered his head, looking abashed.

The reason I was utterly exhausted was because, on top of the already difficult journey, I'd encountered a swarm of monsters—call them "thorn slimes"—with jagged, pointed spikes.

Of course, I couldn't possibly fight them while carrying a person.

"Maybe it was reckless to come to the next floor still wearing the 'Ring of Shura'..."

"...Perhaps."

After a brief look around, the Adventurer's Inn on the third basement level gave off an overall impression of being somewhat older than the rest of the building.

The available shops remained the same—there was still a tavern, a general store, and an inn—but the shopkeepers seemed to be slightly different individuals.

"Haruna mentioned she’d run into another 'player' around this floor..."

But no such person was in sight.

Maybe they’re away?

Well, it's not surprising they're not here. I'm usually only around this place when I'm eating dinner.

First, we approach the shopkeeper of the "pub."

"Um..."

The man with the mustache replies,

"Hey there, I'm Gilgamesh the Second. Is this your first time visiting, miss?"

Second, huh?

After a quick look, it seems the other two also have children as their designated roles.

It seemed there were slight changes in the dishes served and the items available at the shops.

Could this just be the dungeon master's little whimsy?

...Well, anyway.

Staring off into space here won't get us anywhere.

"First, I need to get in touch with that perverted fashion girl. We'll plan our strategy from there."

As Haruna-san said, "The method to conquer this floor will only become clear once we arrive at the Adventurer's Inn."

As promised to her, we decide to book a room.

"Um..."

When I call out to the young innkeeper,

"Oh, such lovely young ladies. May I ask, are you two...?"

"We're fine sharing one room together."

"Then you must be a couple..."

"That's fine. Hurry up."

Following Haruna's instructions, we book the "inn."

Led by the innkeeper, we enter the cheapest room—the "Plum" option, a shabby room (complete with a futon for couples)—

Then, let's get started straight away...

And using the handed-over radio, I contact Haruna.

"Yeah! Faster than I expected, huh? How’s it feel? Scared? This is Needle Mountain Hell, right here?"

I don't need excuses—just tell me the strategy to conquer this place quickly.

Probably something like a "gambler" on the verge of tears being carried by a "warrior" with a "Defense" skill, barely escaping to the "inn"... that sort of thing?

Reining in the "Gambler" who nearly kicked the radio away in a moment of rage.

『If you really want it, I'll give you the info you'll only learn by walking on needles while squealing like a scared rabbit—free of charge☆ You should respect me even more, worship me like a god☆』

"Uh, the 'Gambler' seems ready to snap, so could you please get to the point quickly, please?"

『Hmph. Always in a rush, aren't you?』

Over the radio, Haruna giggles uncontrollably.

『Well, that floor isn’t as dangerous as it looks, so no need to panic too much』

「……huh?」

I can't really believe that, though.

『Both of you have that “Skin Reinforcement” skill, right? Then you’ll be fine. …“Skin Reinforcement” also converts part of your “magic power” into “defense,” after all』

「……huh? Really?」

"If I explain it in the simplest way possible—frankly, all skills are basically blueprints that shape this intangible energy called 'magic power' into some form in the world."

"Huh..."

"That's why the two who trained their 'magic power' on the previous floor should now be as tough as steel, compared to when they first entered the 'Master Dungeon'—that's right, like a rock!"

I see.

That's why I just said, "I've finished the basic training."

Perhaps it's because, through repeatedly using magic, their other skills also became sharper.

"And from here on, it's the advanced section. We'll be discussing how to efficiently apply 'mana' in practical combat situations."

I see....So, specifically, what should we do?

"There's no need to go through the kind of training you'd see in a jump manga. But to actually take down that 'floor boss'... you'll need a little secret trick."

"A secret trick?"

That word really hits a nostalgic nerve, like something from the Super Famicom era.

...Well, I'm not actually from the Super Famicom generation, but still.

"To be honest, this move was developed by me. That's why the other 'floor bosses' don't know about it—my little secret ☆"

"Huh..."

"Hey, you know what? This is totally real, no joke?"

"...Just cut the suspense and tell me already."

"Well, it's—"