Chapter 65
“ –– Now then, guess it’s about time”
We were, fortunately, not attacked by any monsters during the break, so were able to at least get some rest . The color of fatigue hadn’t quite left our faces, and the girls with paralysis weren’t fully recovered either .
“Listen, everyone . Inside there might be a Rook spider . But, just like with the previous pit, we don’t know if we can transfer out from there . If it’s not a boss monster, we should avoid fighting”
“So then, we should first figure out if there’s a transfer circle and kill the spider if there is . If not, then just pass through, do I have that right?”
Towards Souma Sakura’s inquiry, class rep agreed with a nod .
Although I wanted some monster cores, now was not the time . It’d be better to avoid a fight if we can . We aren’t in some RPG where the only way forward is to hack’n’slash every single monsters like an idiot .
“Well, guess I’ll take point”
“Yes, we leave it to you, Minami”
We’d have the thief go ahead and scour for the possible transfer point . Meanwhile, the rest of us will prioritize looking for the exit .
After confirming our strategy one last time, we descended into the spider pit .
The light elemental flying around Natsukawa-san lit up the path inside the dark hole . It didn’t look much different from the earlier nest . Other than expecting that Yokomichi might be laying in wait here too, nothing much had changed .
“It’s quite spacious here”
“Yeah, might just be the size of a forest dome”
It really was around the size of a domed baseball stadium . Souma Sakura’s elemental couldn’t illuminate the entire area .
Anyway, I couldn’t see the spider or any other insect monsters here . . . .
“Ryouko-chan! I don’t see it here”
After searching for about 5 minutes, along with Natsukawa-san’s pleasant voice came disappointing news .
“I understand, come back now, Minami”
“But Ryouko, We don’t see the exit either”
As Kenzaki-san said, the only problem we had now was that we couldn’t find the exit . We’ve circled around the whole dome only to realize that the only connection to the outside was the one we used to enter .
“… What do you think, dead end?”
“Might be above us”
This was a nest created by insects . That being the case, they would have no reason to create an exit near the ground . Whether it’s wall or ceiling, many insects can walk just about anywhere, ergo, they can make the exit anywhere as well .
“But then, we might not be able to get to it”
“Hmm, I think I can create a makeshift rope with my black hair binds”
And, just as I looked up to the dark ceiling in consideration –– our eyes met .
Eight crimson eyes glowing in the dark .
“It’s the Rook Spider, no . . . ”
Eight more eyes pop in, then 18 more, then more . When I’d counted those, there were already more, 30, 40, 50, what the fuck .
Gleaming red eyes, countless as stars in the sky, blanketed the ceiling .
“Retreat! There’s too many!”
Takanashi-san’s scream reverberated throughout the whole pit, and at the time, every goddamned monster dropped down to attack .
The first one to land was, covered in a gray shell with 8 huge legs, it was the Rook Spiders .
“Damn, over there is!?”
We were blocked from our only way out by 2 Rook Spiders that landed in front of the exit, like intimidating castles, just as their names implied .
Not only that . They spewed copious amounts of webbing from their bulging abdomens, so much that it’d put Yokomichi’s display to shame, and that blocked the exit . The sticky, white, voluminous thread quickly closed off the exit, completely isolating us .
“They, actually set a trap… ”
We’d already fucked up from the start . We’d somehow or other made it all the way here . Since we were weakened, we wanted to quickly reach safety and so, rushed . We all probably thought that we could push through in the end .
Shit shit, it was me who’d actually ended up thinking of it like a game .
Just look at those numbers . There was no rule that said we’d only face a convenient amount of monsters that we could safely push through . Not anymore though . Dungeon just went, ‘fuck you guys, enjoy my special monster house bitches!’
All those other times, we’d been merely been lucky .
“Wh, what do we do? At this rate . . . ”
“We break through, no other choice! Mei-chan, get those spiders!”
I didn’t have time to lament on the stupidity that walked us into this monster house trap . It’s better to actually deal with the situation before we fucking die .
Even if it was already too late, I won’t just sit around waiting for my death .
“Mei-chan, Kenzaki-san! Stop the spiders! Souma, Class rep, spell walls, stop the swarm of ants . Natsukawa-san, you deal with the stray ants! Also, lend me your Red Knife! Takanashi-san follow me, we’ll clear up the exit –– spread out Rotten Bog!”
Don’t know how much of that they’ll follow, but I rapid-fired orders anyway, while employing my own obstruction type curse magic .
Mei-chan had already rushed forward with a battle cry, fiercely swinging at the Spiders . An army of ants had began crawling from the ceiling across the walls to the floor right after the Spiders had landed . We had no luxury to strategize .
“Everyone, we need to escape from here, now! Do what you have to until Momokawa-kun clears the exit!”
“Alright, good luck, Momokawa-kun!”
After Class Rep voiced agreement, starting with Souma Sakura, the other girls finally started moving . Natsukawa-san was even nice enough to dash up to me with her ace-tier speed, hand over her knife, and dash back instantly .
“Kotarou-kun, go!”
Mei-chan slashed away like a veritable storm, and pushed the Rook Spiders away from the exit . Kenzaki-san also brandished her twin blades, one, a long sword, and the other, a flaming saber, and helped clear the way . Well, it’s now or never .
“Takanashi-san, after me!”
“B-but I . . . ”
“It isn’t safe here, it isn’t safe anywhere, just run girl!”
I grabbed onto the hesitant Takanashi-san’s arm, and made a break for the exit . The distance was no more than 30 meters, but honestly, it’s a shit ass crazy plan to run through the place where vanguard fighters and giant monsters were duking it out .
But still, I avoiding tripping over like an idiot, and somehow made it . Also, Takanashi-san, she managed to follow after me, half crying .
“Haaa… . Haaa… . Shit dammit, there’s way too much… . ”
When we’d finally arrived, what greeted us was absurd amount of webbing . If I were to charge in, I’d be a statue within thirty centimeters of penetration . Trying a knife on it would end up dulling said knife .
So to overcome this ordeal, we needed the Red Knife with its blade imbued with fire . Elemental weaponry FTW .
“With this –– Uaah, hot! HOT!?”
As I imagined, the webbing burned away easily under the Red Knife’s flames . However, some of these threads, still on fire, were dropping all around me . Quite dangerous . If I’m not careful, I’ll be burned .
“Momokawa-kun! Not done yet!? We’re can’t hold on much longer –– Eis Blast!”
Damnit, I know! With a quick look back, I could see the fight on their end was pretty intense as well . Rapid shooting spells everywhere to prevent the ants from getting past the barriers of ice and light . Their output was outstanding… . But the ants didn't know fear, they were like death soldiers, madly rushing forward to fulfill their duty . Our mages were already on the brink, even with Natsukawa-san's help .
Mei-chan and Kenzaki-san were also fighting the good fight . Of course, it wasn’t like there was a rule that they would fight one Rook Spider each . There wasn't anything stopping the ants from butting in . Although they seem to be managing for now .
Naturally, those two wouldn’t be able to aggro all the ants, so it was inevitable that some made their way towards me and Takanashi-sa––
“No, NOOOOOOO!? DON'TCOMEANYCLOSER!!”
The ants coming straight towards us caused Takanashi-san to scream . Though, it wasn't your ordinary scream . The sage’s very words contained power .
Sacred Tongue・Words of Rejection . With the Sage's skill activating, the monsters stopped moving just as Takanashi-san decreed .
The ants that were about to jump us suddenly froze in their tracks, their sharp fore-limbs still in the air, poised to attack . Since I could see a bit of twitching from the tips, perhaps they were resisting the words of power .
“Alright, Takanashi-san, keep it up!”
“Aieeee! Kotori caann’t!”
Despite her denying it, the ants were still stationary .
It was totally worth it bringing Takanashi-san with me . It’s such an awesome power . Using it like Souma Sakura does, as in, only for self-protection, was such a waste . In these situations, the least they could do is become human shields .
“Okay, half way there…”
While everyone kept giving their all in battle, I continued burning away the spider thread seal . At this rate, we should manage to escape .
But, the dungeon just had to bitchslap us at the last moment .
––– VMMMMMM
It was a familiar sound of buzzing insects . An annoying noise they’d make as they rapidly flapped their wings . There was only one kind of insect that would make this despair inducing noise .
And we knew it all too well .
“Well fuck… Now the mantises show up . . . ”
Up above from the ceiling of the pit, came down the green knights with dual sickles . The Knight Mantes .
“Kuh . . . ”
“Damn, reinforcements”
“UAAAA, h-how, are we, supposed to even!?”
There were 4 Knight Mantises in all . They went to each of the vanguards . Mei-chan and Kenzaki-san who were in their respective death matches with the Rook Spiders, and Natsukawa-san who was holding off the ants .
We had 3 vanguards . Since each of them picked 1, that last one––
“A, ah, Aa . . . ”
Rushed over to me and Takanashi-san, the weakest members of the party .
“NOOO!? Get away, getawaygetawaygetaway!!”
Words of Rejection activated . The mantis froze just like the Ants . . . . . . W-wait, it wasn’t working . It’s sickles still moved, slowly, but still moved .
“No, NOO, No, please no… ”
Takanashi-san was actually whining while she squeezed her hands together as if praying . Maybe this helped her activate her Words of Rejection to the limit?
Still, the mantis moved, even if slightly . Maybe, if it took just one more step, if it stepped within Takanashi-san’s barrier of rejection… Its effects would crumble .
“Shit, shitshit… Here of, all places… ”
Like hell I’ll die .
“Like hell I’ll die!”
I swung the red knife in a frenzy, I didn't give a damn about the burns . But the webbing wouldn’t burn along with the speed of my swings . It’s slow . No, it did get a bit faster, but it’d be too late before I finished .
Fuck, it was all for nothing, too many monsters for us to handle . Any moment now, the sheer amount of ants may as well us .
Maybe, someone’s already died?
“Damn, damn it all… ”
This sucks . I’m so scared . So scared that I can’t even look behind .
“Can’t die here… Can’t die here… ”
I’m worried about them . Especially Mei-chan . But my head was filled to the brim with fear of my own death, and I kept slashing away in awkward movements .
The fear and pressure was driving me insane . My vision had gone white, I could pass out any moment . Even though I should be hearing the desperate cries of Takanashi-san using her Words of Rejection right behind me, I wasn’t . I couldn’t see anything . I couldn’t, hear, anything .
But, for some reason, I did hear this:
“Save me, nii-san”
Souma Sakura . That bitch . Even until the last moment, she still kept being stupid .
I felt a deep resentment towards her, but right then,
“CROSS CALIBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
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