Dungeon Sherpa

“…Ah, this is the worst.”

　Probably from particles of luminescent moss floating around, her field of vision was wrapped in something like a pale purple mist. 

　Berii, lying down as though she had collapsed, mustered energy into her still unrecovered mental strength, struggled to raise her body and stood up. 

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　Even though this had earlier been a room, it looked like it was now a passageway,

　The tremors in the labyrinth already subsided.

　On the ceilings, walls, and floors, half of the luminescent moss had peeled off, and her vision was dark. 

“Did you suffer any injuries, Berii?”

　And in the same space was only a man with braided hair carrying a large rucksack.

　In this kind of worst-case scenario, he still doesn’t lose his cool, it’s looks like he’s wearing a mask with a fake smile, even as he’s reaching his hand out to me.

　Seriously, what an annoying man. 

“What about everyone else?”

　Ignoring that hand, Berry asked Rowe.

“The only ones here are, only us 2 and 1 other.”

“1 other?”

“There’s someone behind you.”

　Turning back, she faced a Skeleton Knight standing with a single arm missing, and ended up being startled. 

　A useless “Knight Skelly”.

　The monsters controlled by [Phastasmorogic Needle] could only be given one command at a time by Yuika.
Therefore, when the second command was given, the previous command would be cancelled. 

　For example, this time, take the Salamander that Berii utilized, it had been ordered to “obey Berii’s commands”.
However, the last order that this Skeleton Knight received should have been to attack the Lich. 

　In other words, “Knight Skelly” was currently just a useless wooden puppet boy. 

　Berii wondered if the Salamander was also there, but immediately shook her head, The Salamander had overused [Artillery] and exhausted its magic power.
It wouldn’t be wrong to think that it would be anyway unable to contribute to their battle strength. 

　While thinking for the time being, Berii sighed after looking at Rowe’s lanky physique. 

　This idiot stamina Sherpa is useless.

　Only I can fight.

　If Yuika and their other comrades were nearby, they might be saved.
However, if they were to end up encountering monsters even just once, it would likely be over for them. 

　This was the 50th Floor of Tyros Labyrinth.

　Recommended level, 16.

　There pretty much doesn’t exist any monster that can be defeated by Berii one-on-one, and what’s more, monsters don’t usually just wander alone. 

　Clenching her teeth, Berry groaned.

“Why, why did something bad like this happen — we even took so much trouble to beat the Lich!”

“It’s because the occurrence of Labyrinth Collapses can’t be predicted in advance, yeah.
We can’t say anything other than the fact that our luck was bad.”

“I know!”

　This was something you learnt from the basic labyrinth studies you had to enrol in as part of the basic training course for registering as an Adventurer.

　An anomalous phenomenon said to be caused by the labyrinth to protect the labyrinth core — Labyrinth Collapse. 

　It seems that the structure of most Floors typically change at a rate of once per year. 

　Adventurers have a low probability of experiencing a Labyrinth Collapse.
This is because you need to be there on the right day, at the right time, and on the right floor. 

　Of Adventurers that have experienced a Labyrinth Collapse, there are almost no reports of anyone returning alive.
Even if there are such reports, it’s mostly restricted to those surviving in the shallow or middle layers. 

“…Princess, I’m going to look for her.”

“Let’s wait for Yuika here.”

　Their opinions were divided. 

　Berii was the type who had to progress by breaking through the obstacles in front of her. 

　If stuck — act first.

“You can do whatever you want.
I’ll go.”

　Maybe, Yuika might be waiting just at the end of this passageway. 

　Besides, sorry if I don’t want to die with such a coward. 

　As Berii was about to head towards the back of the passageway, from her back, an out of place, carefree voice called out to her. 

“Without water or food, how exactly are you planning to return to the surface?”

“…”

“That’s something Yuika should also be aware of.
If, for example, she were to discover the spiral path leading up, she wouldn’t return to the top.
She would definitely search for me — for this luggage, I’m sure.
That’s because other than that, there’s no way to return to the surface.”

　The general rule during a search, is for the missing party to not move.
There wouldn’t be any meaning in both parties moving around, especially in the case where they didn’t know each other’s position. 

“Right before the outbreak of the Labyrinth COllapse, Yuika, Nuuk and Magikan, the 3 of them were at a close distance.
Just like you and I, the 3 of them might have also ended up in the same place, in addition–”

　Rowe turned his eyes to the massive Skeleton monster. 

“This Skeleton Knight is currently well-behaved.
It’s evidence that Yuika is not only alive, but also conscious.”

　Hearing his reasoning, Berii calmed down slightly. 

　It was bitter for her to admit, but it was exactly as Rowe had said. 

“Nuuk also has the [Enemy Search] Gift.
They should be able to move much more safely than us.
Wait here, and believe in everyone.” 

“…”

　She would have been willing to leave it to her emotions and leap ahead, but in light of the fact that her body and mind had not yet recovered, and that she could also use a bit of a break, Berii decided to compromise. 

　With her back leaning against the wall of the passageway, Berii sat down. 

　After Rowe lowered his luggage to the ground, he took out some recovery potions and presented them to Berii.
Following that, he started walking towards the Skeleton Knight. 

　From the Labyrinth Collapse, it seemed to have lost both its left arm and its Heater Shield.
However, its right arm was still going strong, gripping its iron plate-like Broadsword. 

　Rowe forcibly robbed the Skeleton Knight of its sword, and slammed it against the joint of its remaining arm, destroying the arm. 

“Wh, what are you doing!”

“In the event Yuika were to faint somewhere along the way, this guy will become an enemy.
Well, if it hasn’t got both arms, even if it attacks, we can handle it.”

　And then the Skeleton Knight’s Broadsword became Rowe’s weapon. 

“The required Strength value is… with both hands, 35.
Fortunately, it doesn’t look like it has a cursed Gift sealed within.”

　A weapon handled by monsters.
Not made for human use.

　In “Twilight’s Sword”, even Nuuk, who boasted the highest strength should have a strength value of 32.
If the required strength value declared by Rowe was indeed correct, it was a weight that even advanced Adventurers could not wield. 

　As she was thinking about what he was going to do with such a meaningless weapon, Rowe stabbed into a wall near Berii. 

“Wait, you, what are you up to?”

　Has he gone mad?

“This was something I heard from rumours but, immediately after a Labyrinth Collapse, the walls and ground appear to become soft.” 

　As though it was simply muddy soil, the Broadsword stabbed deeply. 

　Like that, Rowe used the Broadsword as a shovel and started digging the wall.

　He dug it out into a shape of a horizontal semi-circle, and a size that was just about large enough for an adult to enter.
The depth was shallow, it only took about 10 steps to reach the end. 

　With that heavy sword, he managed to dig that hole out in one go. 

　I don’t understand.

　I don’t understand the meaning of this.

“This should be alright.”

　Rowe put his luggage in the back of the cave and sat down in front of Berii.

“If monsters pass through this passageway– “

　Rowe casually proclaimed.

“We will have to fight together, you know.”

　The requirement previously issued by “Twilight’s Sword” for their Sherpa was someone with an Adventurer level above 5. 

“Therefore, I think we should share with each other our Statuses and Gifts.”

　Even if it was only temporary, this was something only natural for those who had formed a party. 

　Berry felt a sense of psychological resistance, but reconsidered since there was no other choice to increase their survival chances.

　But still, there’s something I don’t like about this. 

　While she was in inner conflict, Rowe took the initiative to speak first. 

“My Adventurer level is 7.
My job is Heavy Warrior.”

　The level was also higher than she expected.

　And it was a surprising job.

　For Gifts, only the passive Gift [Stamina Recovery].
However, its Effect was 5. 

“All my other level-up bonuses have been used to improve Strength.”

“–Eh?”

　When Adventurer’s level up, their Status — the 5 aspects of Strength, Health, Explosive Power, Stamina, and Magic Power, are evenly raised.
Furthermore, they could choose to participate in either the Gift lottery, or select to improve one of the 5 aspects of their Status. 

　Most Adventurers choose the Gift lottery.

　Some get meaningless active Gifts and passive Gifts that reduce their abilities, but if you can get a powerful gift — for example, a magical Gift, you can gain an instant boost in your Adventurer’s abilities.

　In the case where you choose to improve your Status, you can choose to raise only 1 of Strength, Health, Explosive Power, Stamina or Magic Power by a value of 1.
The effect of this increase is insignificant.
Furthermore, you can obtain such improvements even if you choose not to use this level up bonus, but instead, by simply undergoing rigorous training.
Because of these above reasons, typically no one chooses it. 

　Rowe received from his first level up, the passive Gift [Stamina Recovery], and all his subsequent level up bonuses had been invested into Strength. 

　And currently, the Strength of the level 7 Adventurer Rowe, was 31. 

　Almost the same value as the level 12 Adventurer, Nuuk. 

　It was a complete strength build. 

“Well then, Berii, please let me know about your information.”

“…”

“If you want to stay alive, we need to devise even just that little bit of a better party strategy, right?”

　Like reasoning with a naughty child, Rowe persuaded with a smile. 

“Don’t you want to meet Yuika again?”

“Ah, enough already.
I got it!”

　Berii decided to fold.