Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 11 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: 14

※ It's Zena's Point of View

11-14 . Power-leveling

I greet the daughter of Baron Muno in front of the explorer guild .

She splashed her luxurious golden-colored hair to the back, slanting her body while looking displeased .

Even if I'm referred by Satou-san, it must be unpleasant when an outsider suddenly takes part after all .

"Karina-sama?"

"It's nothing . Just don't become a drag . "

"Karina~?"

"Tsuntsun is no good nanodesu . "

"Zena-sama is a master of wind magic . She will not be a hindrance . "

Karina-sama criticized me with some harsh words, but she begrudgingly accepted my participation with Liza and the others' mediation .

My chest feels slightly fuzzy when I see Karina-sama who's reddened as Satou-san whispers something on her ear .

◇

"Mot~"

"It's a Maze Moth nanodesu!"

The two featherkin infants shoot their light crossbow toward the direction Pochi and Tama, who are acting as the vanguard, point at .

The Maze Moth got hit with the two arrows and fell to the ground .

Their aim is as good as Lilio even though they're so small .

They must have undergone strict training ever since they're aware of oneself, no doubt .

We have only fought weak ones like maze moths and goblins during the journey so far since other explorers worked hard (to cull monsters) .

Gina-sama of [Moonlight] has said to me that there are only a few monsters in the main corridors that connect between areas .

"Be careful, we're going to arrive at our objective Area 19 soon . "

Everyone including me nods at Satou-san's warning .

We go through the crevice of a row of rocks that block the main corridor .

Tama who's going first says, "Trap", and then she goes to a corner of the corridor with careful steps .

"Procedure~ Canceled~"

"As expected of Tama nanodesu!"

--Fast .

To cancel it just by rustling a bit in the shadow like that .

"Monsters are coming from the front nodesu . "

"It's a needle caterpillar (Needle Crawler) . They can shoot needles that can paralyze you, so don't let it hit you okay . "

"It's awright~"

"It's alright if they don't hit you nanodesu!"

Despite the Needle Crawler's dull-looking appearance, it's coming to us faster than a running man .

"Zena-san, please put up defensive magic . "

"Yes!"

Oh no . I should've chanted it before Satou-san urged me .

I began to chant [<<Wind Protection>>] wind magic in panic .

However, the Needle Crawler that's approaching faster than the magic taking shape, stops, then it spreads its body and readies itself to shoot .

--I won't make it .

But, I can't stop the chant .

I'll stop a few of them at least!

"Caterpillar! Shooting needles, acting like you're an archer, how ridiculous so I mock!"

Nana-san who held a great shield came to the front and provoked it .

Countless needles shot by the Needle Crawler rush toward her . I feel chill down my spine as the rapier-sized needles fly one by one .

The dying figure of Nana-san who has been pierced with countless needless along with her great shield .

--such hallucination did not happen fortunately .

Her great shield which is made from material I've never seen before bounces the hitting needles while leaving heavy sounds .

Pochi and Tama skillfully intercept some needles which have missed her great shield .

The [<<Wind Protection>>] magic that has finally been invoked block the second volley of the needles .

"This monster is a bit dangerous huh . Sorry but let's not use this monster for the [Power-leveling] . Take care of it with Nana's magic before it approaches if you find one . "

"Yes, master . "

One term that I don't understand is mixed among Satou-san's talk .

However, I think this isn't the time to have a chat .

"Pochi, Tama, let's destroy it . Follow me . "

"Don't worry be happy sir~?"

"Roger nanodesu!"

Liza and the others rush toward the space where the third round of needles are flying .

They're too reckless no matter how you see it .

"Wait!"

Karina-sama told them to halt, but Liza and the others aren't stopping .

But, I've misunderstood .

Karina-sama joins the battlefield where the needles are flying around .

With her golden-colored hair fluttering from her helmet, her beautiful limbs dance in the air as if she's the incarnation of beauty itself .

Satou-san stopped me who was lured and had made a step forward .

"It's dangerous . Those four should be able to handle it . "

Just as he's said, Liza and the two others handily beat the monster .

Not only Liza's spear, Pochi's and Tama's weapons also shined red light, so they must be magic swords .

Karina-sama swings the Heavy Hammer she's shouldering, knocking the entire body of the monster to the ground .

A whip-like tentacle sprouting from the Needle Crawler's head is going toward Karina-sama .

However, a small shield that appears before her blocks the tentacle even though it's cracked because of it .

Is that magic?

Or a magic tool?

Satou-san who has noticed my line of sight calls out to me .

"Karina-sama is fine since he has the protection of the Magic Creature Raka . "

It seems the decorations on her neck and limbs are Intelligent Item .

To have a family heirloom that only appears in fairy-tale like that, as expected of a territory-holder lord .

--She's rich on top of being that beautiful, it's really enviable .

◇

" . . . . ■■ Air Blast"

My magic intercepts the Armor Moth who was rushing here .

Slightly later, the featherkin infants shoot their light crossbows .

Liza's spear and Nana-san's great sword cut its armor, Pochi and Tama's stone-throwing create holes on its wing .

Karina-sama and her two female soldiers take turn to hit it once, and lastly the three beastkin girls finish the battle .

Even though my magic and the girls' attack were repelled by its armor, Liza, Nana-san and the others easily cut through it .

I think this is the difference between us and Mithril Explorers .

One needs that much strength in order to stand by Satou-san's side . . . .

I feel uneasy about my remaining magic power after doing so many battles, but it should have run out faster if not for the wand I've received from Kuro-san .

Although I feel dizzy after overusing my magic, I won't be able to catch up to Satou-san and the others if I rest .

I will fight with the Magic Short Sword I've received together with this long wand if I run out of magic power .

"Are you tired?"

"I-I'm fine!"

I muster up a bravado as to not worry Satou-san .

"You would collapse if you overexert yourself you know . Go ahead and refresh yourself with this . "

I receive the small bottle that he's presented to me worryingly, and drink down the citrus flavored liquid .

I feel that magic power wells up from within my body, subsiding the dizziness .

--Don't tell me it was a magic power recovery potion?

My question was quickly affirmed, but the magic potions that I know are hard to drink with strong grass flavor .

Moreover, even though it should be several silver coins worth even for one, he said, "I have a lot", and gave me more bottles .

"Recovering magic power with meditation will use up the time, so please drink it freely . "

Although he said that, I don't think I can drink these expensive magic potions so readily .

Even in territorial army, it's a valuable item that's supplied to me only one bottle for emergency . . .

--I feel like it'll make my sense of value go haywire .

◇

I wonder how many monsters we've defeated .

I understand why the eyes of the two Karina-sama's guards looked like a dead fish's when they were entering the labyrinth .

They've been repeating this absurd ways of fight day after day .

The two guards expressed their poor physical condition right after the featherkin infants, so we're taking a break in a small room called Safety Zone, guided by Satou-san .

Come to think of it, Satou-san has been guiding our journey so far, but I've never seen him use luminance stones to check the course, nor did he check map even once .

I wonder if he has memorized all of the routes?

Satou-san has never pulled the mithril sword on his waist so far .

He must be in charge of direction and mapping .

"Zena, a~n . "

"Thank you . "

I receive the honey cake that Pochi presents and put it into my mouth .

It's sweet enough to be too sweet, but right now, this sweet spreads out deliciously .

. . . . Looks like I had gone to sleep before I knew it .

I was laid on a carpet with tender felt that had been put on the ground .

When I look up, I see Pochi and Tama silently playing signal-like game with their hands .

"Have you woken up?"

I receive the tureen and a spoon that Satou-san, who says "You're hungry right?", presents me .

The tureen is warm with appetizing steam rising .

--Steam?

I see a hot pot that's being heated on fire behind Satou-san .

It looks like he's cooking inside the labyrinth . The people of [Moonlight] have taught me that it's an act that must not be conducted since it'll gather monsters .

"It's alright since this is a safety zone . "

As if reading my worry, Satou-san informs me with his usual calm tone like he's whispering .

When I'm with him, I feel like I'm hallucinating we are in the middle of the city .

The thick vegetable stew that I have is more delicious than any other dish I've ever had .

That's why, I involuntarily asked for a second helping .

--To be that much delicious is unfair .

◇

My body feels light thanks to the light sleep .

I have a feeling that my magic power has increased somewhat .

We continue the same kind of series of battles after the break, but we are now able to reliably defeat the enemies since everyone has grasped their role .

That appeared from the Gushing Hole as if to prick such carelessness .

--Scissor Centipede

Its very long body looks like a tower when it stands up, sharp claws on the tip of its countless legs are shaped like swords .

And, its crab-like pincers on the sides of its head are emitting fiendish red light .

That pincer swings down toward me who's frozen over the centipede's gigantic body .

We are currently fighting nearly 10 powerful monsters .

There's no one that can prevent that fiendish blade--

Even though I know it's futile, I holds my long wand up to block the swinging-down pincer . Another enemy would skewer me if I were to avoid to the side .

--Just before the pincer bisects the wand in two, a black tornado cuts in .

After kicking away the swinging right-pincer, Satou-san who had appeared out of nowhere brought me to a safe location .

"It's alright now . "

Satou-san smiles refreshingly as if to make me feel relieved .

He still looks relaxed even though he's just saved me from danger . Nimbly so, like he always is .

"Insolent fool who tried to put their hands on Zena-sama . "

The left pincer which pursued us is warded by a red spear, making it pierce the ground instead .

Liza holds the red spear in one hand, and uses her other hand to push the left pincer into the ground .

That hand seemingly glow red .

"A mere centipede trying to fight Master and Zena-sama, you're a hundred years too early . "

The moment after Liza's words, the left pincer is destroyed with a boom sound .

Was that magic just now?

"Liza, I leave the rest to you . "

"Understood . "

Liza's spear which is clad in red light emits even stronger red light--is that Magic Edge?

I wonder if her secret skill is [Magic Edge]?

She pulls back the spear to the limit, and then thrusts it toward the centipede in one go .

It's not a distance that a spear can reach no matter how long it is .

--Eh?

A lump of red light flies from the tip of the spear like a cannonball, hitting the centipede's head .

When the light disappear, the figure of the centipede with a large hole on its head remains .

Is that perhaps, the shooting [Magic Edge] technique that appears in the hero story I've read in my childhood .

I thought that was just a creation, I've never thought it actually exists .

However, there was no leeway for me to be perturbed from that miscellaneous matter .

The centipede that had lost its head split on its joints, and came attacking like different creatures .

"Magic Edge Cannon nanodesu!"

"Majin Cannon~, How many~?"

"More! Nanodesu!"

"Falcon Phalanx~"

Blasting with carefree voices, Pochi and Tama wreck the BlockPedes with countless red light bullets they shoot from their locations .

--Am I watching a dream I wonder .

I forget to support them with wind magic, as I can only watch the spectacle, dumbfounded .

◇

I was shocked when I checked my growth in the explorer guild .

My level has increased from 17 to 24 in just one day .

It's said that growths are fast in the labyrinth, but this is just too fast no matter how you look at it .

It shouldn't be strange for Liza and the two others who were powerless to turn into superior explorers in just several months .

Probably, Satou-san's guidances and commands are amazing .

Except in that one Gushing Hole case, I never felt that my life was in danger even after we did such continuous battles .

When I was in the labyrinth with everyone from the Selected Corps, I felt that every battle had my life on the line even though we only fought minor enemies .

We need knowledge and experience to cover this difference .

I will ask if I can enter the Training School that Satou-san manages next time .

◇

During the labyrinth exploration, I tried to converse with Karina-sama many times, but she only ever replied with, "Yes", or "You're right" short .

Once, we had a conversation that continued on for a bit with Satou-san as the topic, but her guards poked fun at her, getting it interrupted .

Even though she looks like a gaudy beauty, she seems to be surprisingly pure .

I think that I want to become friend with her for sure .

During that labyrinth exploration, I remember sympathizing with her who earnestly wished nothing but getting stronger, without complaining even once .

She might be my rival in love, but someday I want to have an all-night talk about Satou-san, accompanied with drink, with her .

And then, someday, together the two of us will arrive at the height where Satou-san and the others are!