Story 2-12 『I Don't Understand』

After taking out the enemy on the 40th Floor, floors 41-49 were uneventful.

When I died my status values increased by 1000 each, with Leadred and Shuri's rising by 500 in the same way. Tamaki's magic rose to over 2500, though her other stat increases were poor. It was different from Shuri's who expanded everything as an average, so maybe she is a specialist type.

No one obtained a new special ability. However, we've become the highest leveled adventurers in the region.

Thinking the sailing was smooth, we stumbled into the stairs room on the 60th Floor. Now for the critically acclaimed battle.

"d.a.m.n him! He's annoying!" (Leadred)

Next to me, Leadred cursed him.

I understand what she means. I've also become exhausted.

"He won't stop moving……! Magic isn't effective either, you're f.u.c.king kidding me!" (Leadred)

Leadred thrusted at the hostile tiny demon. However, he avoided it by stepping to the right and retaliated with a head-b.u.t.t to her side.

However, it didn't damage Leadred because its body was soft like jelly. Even so, it wasn't limited to physical damage.

"Tch! Poison!" (Leadred)

Leadred jumped far back to where Shuri was on standby so she could treat her with Light restoration magic.

In other words, the only current combatants were Tamaki and I.

"Hey, what is this guy…" (Daichi)

I looked at the tiny demon's body jiggling in front of me—Leadred also didn't know its name so I named it—it was a Poison Slime.

Opening the door, when we saw this fellow by himself we were sure we'd win.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say we were looking at an instant kill. Though after examining it, we were amazed.

Its Wit stat and reaction speed were crazy. We couldn't hit its body with magic. Even touching it were afflict us with a special condition from its 『Deadly Poison』.

This guy is definitely not an ordinary slime. I've never known a slime to be this powerful.

Though Shuri can fortunately use recovery magic, the truth is that we can't be careless with the 『Poison』when we attack.

Listening to Leadred's story a little while ago, this slime might be one of Fantra's strategis.

His aim might be to consume our Stamina and Magic statuses.

It has been an hour.

I mean this fits that guy's strategy brilliantly.

"One moment Katsuragi! Do you not have a plan!?" (Tamaki)

The complaint was from the drooping Tamaki. So noisy. I'm thinking to myself here.

And that guy is…… look, after such a loud voice he's locked-on to you.

"Ah, wait time out!" (Tamaki)

Tamaki was tackled by the slime fruitlessly.

Naturally, she was afflicted with the 『Deadly Poison』.

However, I was struck with an idea. A way to overcome this.

For that reason, Tamaki was indispensable. I rushed to her while she was collapsing and drove the slime off of her shoulder.

"Uuu…… Katsuragi….." (Tamaki)

"Are you alright, Tamaki?" (Daichi)

"The attack wasn't that strong. However, the poison….." (Tamaki)

"One moment, now, let me check. Open." (Daichi)

Tamaki Yuina Occupation: High-Grade Slave Level: 40

Stamina: 920→908

Magic: 2540

Physical: 1300

Endurance: 1040

Agility: 620

Special Abilities:

『Witch of Freezing』: The effect of the ice magic is increased by one cla.s.s. However, G.o.d-cla.s.s magic is not increased.

『Chant Omission』: When magic is invoked, the chant may be removed. However, Consumption Magic is one. However, the mana consumption increases by 50%.

Special Status: 『High-Grade Slave』 Owner → Katsuragi Daichi. All attacks against him are sealed. Compulsory submission until release.

『Deadly Poison』: Decreases stamina value by 100 per minute. If the value reaches 0 from this effect, the object dies.

Tamaki only has nine minutes left. It is essential that I do this quickly.

Raising her upper body, I grip her neck and raise her up.

"Hey! You, what are you doing to a sick person!?" (Tamaki)

"I'm going to stop that guy's movement stopped using you! I expect you to start your suicide tackle. Catch him at that moment! Sound good!?" (Daichi)

"That decision is not good!  I'd be no different than a s.h.i.+eld!" (Tamaki)

"Give it up! Repent for your actions so far!" (Daichi)

"No! Let go of me!" (Tamaki)

Tamaki struggled desperately to escape my grip. Ah, another troublesome woman!

When I ordered her with an Absolute Command to become a s.h.i.+eld, her resistance finally ended.

Now she was concentrating all of her energy on capturing the slime. The change had such a large gap that it was surreal.

"Do you wish to be my s.h.i.+eld!?" (Daichi)

"I want to be my master's s.h.i.+eld!" (Tamaki)

"Alright! Then, go! s.h.i.+eld!" (Daichi)

"Yes!" (Tamaki)

Although Tamaki《The s.h.i.+eld》was crying, she answered with a smile and dexterously approached the slime.

As expected, this guy only knows how to counter with a head-b.u.t.t.

"s.h.i.+eld! Capture it!" (Daichi)

As it hit her stomach, the s.h.i.+eld succeeded in capturing the slime with a well-timed embrace.

Raising it above her head, it was made unable to move by using Ice magic on it at point blank range.

"I did it! I did it, master!" (Tamaki)

"That's right. Then, your reward. Pa.s.s it to me and receive your treatment from Shuri." (Daichi)

"Thank you very much. I won't forget your kindness. I will surely return it." (Tamaki)

"Oh. I understand, so go quickly." (Daichi)

With a rhythm of hopping-like series of light steps, she went towards Shuri.

Incidentally, when she arrived there I released the『Absolute Command』.

Needless to say, she was screaming from embarra.s.sment.

Because our magic was drained thanks to the Poison Slime we took a small rest before resuming.

"Now for….. The final floor….." (Tamaki)

Pulverizing the Wight Knights before her into pebbles, Tamaki grumbled.

"Work without the complaining, s.h.i.+eld." (Daichi)

So, I put in a bit of pep talk.

"Don't call me a s.h.i.+eld! How could you treat me like that…. My stamina was at 300 you know!?" (Tamaki)

"Didn't it turn out fine? Lots of things could happen in three minutes. Like defeating that giant light monster." (Daichi)

"It’s safe to say you could’ve just waited three minutes." (Shuri)

"Shuri-chan!? If that happened, I would have died!?" (Tamaki)

"Yui-chan. I've told you before to use honorifics for Daichi-sama." (Shuri)

Shuri splendidly pa.s.sed the topic of the conversation like a dodgeball.

"U-……. But, I've been thinking Shuri-chan. That Katsuragi? That fat, ugly otaku? Shuri-chan is surely better than this guy." (Tamaki)

"Yui-chan." (Shuri)

Shuri interrupted Tamaki's words. The tone of her voice was lower than usual, anyone could tell that she was angry.

"Wh-what?" (Tamaki)

"You don't know Katsuragi-kun's kindness.  You don't know Katsuragi-kun's strength. You don't know Katsuragi-kun's suffering. Because you, including me, did not try to get to know Katsuragi-kun." (Shuri)

"…… That's…." (Tamaki)

"I have confidence that I love Katsuragi-kun even if his appearance returns to how it was before. Not in compensation, but that these are my honest feelings. I love Katsuragi-kun." (Shuri)

Shuri twined her arms around me and drew close. Her expression was really happy. Because of that, Tamaki was unable to answer back.

"Therefore, from now on, I don't permit any insults towards him." (Shuri)

Shuri's sharp gaze pierced through Tamaki.

"Absolutely, I do not permit it." (Shuri)

Shuri declared strongly.

"………………" (Tamaki)

Tamaki stopped talking. She remained silent. She seems to have understood just how strong Shuri's feelings were.

That it exceeded her friends.h.i.+p with Tamaki.

…………. I felt ashamed a.n.a.lyzing it like that.

『………………』(Everyone)

Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere became awkward. Though I'm not worried, I wonder if this will affect our teamwork in the upcoming fight against Fontra……

…… At that time, should I use Absolute Command?

"……. Sorry, Shuri-chan. I still don't understand." (Tamaki)

Like that, Tamaki turned back and resumed hunting demons to continue clearing the dungeon.

For the first time, dark clouds hung over our dungeon capture.