Chapter 40: There are no stairs after all. What doesn’t exist is what exists.
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ㅤWith the ability to set up camp at the end of the first floor, adventurers started going back and forth between the dungeon front plaza and the camp, and even began venturing into the second floor.
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ㅤThe first floor’s maze and gimmicks had been fully deciphered, and the camp had no shortage of supplies.
ㅤThe exploration was going extremely well—at least on the surface.
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ㅤAs for me,
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ㅤ”Block, Iron Shield!”
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ㅤI deflect a Stone Golem’s heavy attack with a makeshift shield created in my left hand using magic.
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ㅤ”Pierce and Penetrate, Iron Stake!”
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ㅤI launch a massive iron stake from my right hand.
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ㅤThe iron stake pulverizes the Stone Golem’s thick chest.
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ㅤI put some distance between myself and the crumbling Stone Golem, letting out a small breath.
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ㅤ”Phew. Very Hard Stone Golem, okay too.”
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ㅤThe drop item is… oh, a Golem’s Power Core. A rare drop.
ㅤIt’s a rather heavy and bulky item, but it’s alright.
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ㅤ”Let’s see, spreading out the Goblin Thief’s Furoshiki…”
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ㅤWhen you defeat the Goblin Thief that rarely appears on the first floor on Inferno difficulty or higher, it rarely drops the “Goblin Thief’s Furoshiki,” which dramatically reduces the size and weight of the item wrapped in it.
ㅤSince I’ve become able to manage even on H*ll and No Future difficulties on the first floor, I’ve hunted countless Goblin Thieves for this convenient item.
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ㅤWhen I wrap the Power Core in the Furoshiki, the Furoshiki shrinks rapidly, becoming about the size of a rice ball.
ㅤI put it in my backpack. Inside the backpack, a large number of similarly sized Furoshiki bundles were packed.
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ㅤ”The number of items I don’t know how to use has increased… But, I can’t help but collect them.”
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ㅤItems that are far from rare drops have also increased.
ㅤIf I were to show them to Shizu-san, she would probably faint.
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ㅤ”I’ve also obtained equipment.”
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ㅤIncluding a Thief’s knife and cloak, I also have a Magician’s mantle, sash, and robe.
ㅤSince I’m officially a Thief, my equipment is Thief-based, with some Magician’s equipment here and there.
ㅤThe Wand of Regret, which I’m still using as my main weapon, is wrapped in a Goblin Thief’s Furoshiki and tucked in my pocket.
ㅤAgainst opponents like the Stone Golem just now, I can manage without the wand. In that case, it’s safer to have my hands free.
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ㅤMy favorite equipment right now is probably the boots that silence my footsteps and the Thief’s cloak that has the same effect as the Goblin Smoke Ball.
ㅤI have a sword that shoots fire and a knife that creates wind, but since magic is more powerful, they’re just taking up space in my backpack.
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ㅤ”But, if I equip too many good items, it stands out.”
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ㅤI have to hide good items under my clothes and cloak, and come up with various ways to avoid being conspicuous.
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ㅤ”The hack and slash is going well… I guess.”
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ㅤI’ve collected items, learned more magic, and become remarkably stronger by defeating enemies.
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ㅤEven on the second floor, I can fight stably up to Inferno difficulty.
ㅤItems drop so easily that I can’t help but over-hunt.
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ㅤ”The map is almost filled out… but.
ㅤAhaha. This is a problem.”
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ㅤDespite having explored a considerable portion of the second floor, I still haven’t found the downward stairs.
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ㅤ”The others have only just started tackling the second floor, so I still have time…”
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ㅤThe Flame Lizards seem to be quite a formidable foe for ordinary adventurers, and I hear there have been a considerable number of casualties.
ㅤMoreover, the Salamander is said to be at a level where you have no choice but to run away the moment you see it.
ㅤ…I’m able to hunt them quite consistently though.
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ㅤ”To counter the Flame Lizards, you need a strong Magician,
ㅤand to deal with the Stone Golems, you need a Warrior with high attack power. Devil Tentaclers have strong magic resistance, and their slimy tentacles make them resistant to physical attacks, so a Thief’s traps are also important.
ㅤHmm… Now that you mention it, the arrangement is pretty terrible.”
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ㅤIt seems that there aren’t many parties with strong members from all three classes.
ㅤHumans tend to flock together with similar people, so it’s a miracle for different personalities to come together in one party.
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ㅤIn such circumstances, the ones achieving results are,
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ㅤ”The Complaint Knight and Latifa-san’s team.”
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ㅤIt’s surprising that those two strong personalities are teaming up, but strategically it makes sense.
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ㅤHowever, it seems they’re somewhat dissatisfied with their Thief’s skills, and Latifa-san still tries to recruit me.
ㅤI felt something desperate in her persistence.
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ㅤ”She’s impatient… or rather, anxious, I think. I sense a determination that goes beyond just aiming for a quick fortune.”
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ㅤRecently, even the Special Envoy Knight has joined her in trying to recruit me, so I’m constantly concealing my presence even at the camp.
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ㅤ”But, Latifa-san and the others shouldn’t know that I’ve progressed this far.”
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ㅤApparently, Latifa-san and the others only discovered the collapsed staircase yesterday.
ㅤLast night, it caused quite a commotion, even involving the Guild.
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ㅤOf course, the Guild was already aware of the situation thanks to my report, but they apparently didn’t tell them until they figured it out themselves because the Special Envoy Knight was being noisy.
ㅤThey even went so far as to insist that they had lost the copy of the second floor map they gave me and refused to hand it over.
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ㅤ”I wanted to find the stairs to the third floor during that time…”
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ㅤI walk along the path, map in hand that I made myself.
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ㅤThe passage I had pinned my last hopes on turned out to be a dead end.
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ㅤ”Ahaha. No good, huh?”
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ㅤHaving completely filled out the second floor map, I slumped my shoulders in disappointment.
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ㅤ—The path to the third floor is far away.