Chapter 1-3: The Importance of an Organized Map

In Conclusion…

The path to the right was a bust. It led to a dead-end shortly after the turn. In RPG games, situations like this might have hidden treasure chests, but there was no such sign of that here. It was a complete dead-end.

Besides, it seems that there are no treasure chests on the first floor as they supposedly only appear from the third floor onwards.

“I guess I used up all my luck back there…”

In addition, the path to the left also turned out to be a dead-end. No encounter with a Blue Slime, just a waste of time. The only achievement was an improvement in the completion of the mental map of the first floor.

I’ve already used 【View Mapping】 for a third time. So, was the path ahead the correct one? It seems that Blue Slimes were coming from there, so maybe I should have chosen that path from the beginning.

I then made my way onto the path ahead. As soon as I turned left at the first corner, I encountered the fourth Blue Slime of the day.

“All right, 【Light Bullet】… no, wait?”

I was about to use【Light Bullet】 to deal with them quickly but stopped just in time.

The Black Bat and Horn Rabbit on the next floor seem to be monsters that are difficult to hit with magic attacks. Even with the high bullet speed of 【Light Bullet】, hitting them reliably was not guaranteed.

【Ruby Laser】 had a similar issue, especially in regards to quick enemies as hitting them would be an issue. For melee characters, the tactic of blocking the enemy’s attack and then countering might work, but the strength of this glowing shield I got is unknown, and if I were to hit it with my staff, it might break the white gem inside of it, rendering it useless. Also, countering by utilizing magic also doesn’t seem like a feasible option as I likely wouldn’t be able to cast the spell in time.

So, what to do?

After pondering for a bit, I came to the conclusion that I should attack them with spells that covered a larger area rather than the previous spells I utilized that were targeted at a specific point on the target. In RPGs, fast enemies are often fragile, so the damage inflicted by the larger area spell should be sufficient enough to finish them off. Even if I’m not able finish them off, so long as I can inflict damage, I can sufficiently limit their mobility.

And speed is essential too. Being able to attack a wide area immediately after the chant and having a high speed to catch fast enemies is a necessary component to dealing with them.

…In that case, there’s only one option.

“【Light Shotgun】”

I pointed my staff at the Blue Slime and released a 【Light Bullet】. Midway through, I detonated the 【Light Bullet】, which sent several hundred small light pellet bullets raining down on the Blue Slime. The impact area was set within a radius of one meter centered on the Blue Slime.

A shotgun of light, that’s my answer to the agile enemies. The Blue Slime that was exposed to the rain of light bullets turned into a hornet’s nest and eventually melted away and dissolved into the ground. WIth that, I created another new magic spell.

“Now, then.”

Up ahead I notice that there is a straight path that gently turns to the right. After creating a rough 【View Mapping】 at the bend, I decide to proceed forward.

◇

“…I found the descending staircase easier than I thought.”

Apart from the first plaza, there were no more branching paths, and after walking for about two minutes, I easily found the staircase to the second floor. I also found two Blue Slimes, so I shot them down with 【Light Shotgun】.

The number of Blue Slimes I’ve defeated on the first floor is now six. Considering the short distance I walked, the encounter rate seems to be quite high. If this continues on the second floor and beyond, I might need to consider exploring more carefully.

“…”

I quietly peek under the stairs. It seems that my magical power has recovered naturally on its own a bit while walking and I feel like I have gained about one extra use of 【View Mapping】on the way.

…In that case, let’s continue forward. A little exploration on the second floor shouldn’t cause any issues as I now have a proper map of the first floor, and the only enemies here are Blue Slimes.

“Alright, let’s go.”

I arrived at the second floor after descending about 30 steps. It seems to be a cave-type floor, and in front of the staircase, there is a regular corridor with no branching paths.

“Giiii!”

In the corridor’s distance, a rabbit with a splendid single horn on its head was intimidating me. It’s larger than I thought, and including the single horn, it’s height reaches to about my knees.

I see, so this is the Horn Rabbit. An active monster that appears from the second floor, with high speed and attack power…

“Gi!”

I observe it closely, and the Horn Rabbit crouches deeply. From there, it springs up, kicking the ground with its hind legs and rushing towards me at full speed, its single horn aimed straight at my abdomen.

It’s faster than I expected. My spell chant won’t… be completed in time. My dodge timing is a bit off too.

In that case, I bring the shield, which I never used in a Blue Slime battle, forth. The shield is still emitting light and reliably covering a relatively wide area.

With the shield aimed at it, the Horn Rabbit flashes its single horn and jumps towards me.

—Gagin!

“Ku…!”

I intercepted the horn with the light covered portion of the shield, but quite an impact is transmitted throughout my body. Even so, the shield itself doesn’t dent at all, leaving me quite impressed with its durability.

The Horn Rabbit, who’s attack was blocked, landed a bit away from me due to the recoil.

“Li, 【Light Shotgun】!”

In retaliation, I shoot my light pellet bullets into the Horn Rabbit. Naturally, the Horn Rabbit tries to dodge by jumping but…

“Gyiii!?”

Unable to avoid the onslaught of high-speed bullets, several shots pierce through the Horn Rabbit. One of them seems to have pierced its hind leg, and the Horn Rabbit is now completely immobilized.

Even so, its durability exceeds that of a Blue Slime’s, as it is still alive.

“Giiii…”

“【Light Bullet】”

To the Horn Rabbit, which has stopped moving, I deliver the finishing blow with【Light Bullet】. Shot in its core, the Horn Rabbit collapses, turning into countless white particles and disappearing into thin air. It’s mentally relieving that no corpse remains.

What’s left behind is a slightly larger magic stone than the Blue Slime’s along with a small yellow sphere.

“Phew~… Oh, a decorative sphere.”

Slightly shaken by the encounter, I calm down slowly and then pick up the magic stone and put it in my pocket. I also pick up the decorative sphere and peek inside. Inside, the number “2” was flickering. It seems to be a better item than the first decorative sphere I received.

(To protect me from monsters… is this what you’re saying?)

As I think of the decorative sphere, it changes into light, enveloping my right wrist. After the light clears, a white bracelet with geometric patterns drawn on it is worn around my right wrist.

“…I wonder what this is?”

It came out of the decorative sphere, so it shouldn’t be bad, but I don’t know what effect it has though. If only I had the Appraisal skill, but since I don’t have it, I can’t confirm the name and effect of the item (I can confirm the name if I put it in the item box, but I can’t confirm its effect).

Hmm, I guess I’ll have to try various things to determine the effect. I feel like I’m playing a mysterious dungeon game, although I’ll truly die if I die.

“…”

Now that the verification of the effectiveness of 【Light Shotgun】 and the confirmation of the strength of the Horn Rabbit are done, what to do from here. First, I’ll look to prepare a new map for the second floor.

“【View Mapping】”

With the seventh View Mapping of the day, I transfer the stairs and the straight path into the map. The road seems to be gently turning to the right, but I couldn’t see it through to the end and couldn’t transcribe it into the map. Perhaps because it’s a cave-type dungeon, most of the paths are winding and have many turns.

“Huh?”

As I look at the road ahead,  I notice something black approaching me quickly…!?

“Black bat… A Black Bat! And there are two!”

“Kiiii!”

“Kiiii!”

Right after defeating the Horn Rabbit, I immediately entered into a consecutive battle with two Black Bats.

---

Author’s Note:

At this point, let me summarize the protagonist’s current equipment. The protagonist, who doesn’t have the Appraisal skill, doesn’t know anything, but I’ll also include the effects (although I can’t confirm them).

By the way, the decorative sphere with the floating “1” only seems to produce rank 1 equipment.

Weapon: White Jade Staff (Rank 1)

Special Effect: 10% increase in light magic power when used

Armor: Novice Magician’s Robe (Rank 1)

Special Effect: 30% reduction in received magic damage

Accessory 1: Prototype Magic Shield (Rank 10)

Special Effects: When filled with magic power, the defense range expands, and magic power recovers automatically (Recovery speed: Slow)

Accessory 2: Holy Bangle (Rank 2)

Special Effects: Health and fatigue recover automatically (Recovery speed: Slow)

Accessory 3: None

Accessory 4: None

By the way, the Holy Bangle is a high-priced item that sells for about 100,000 yen. It’s by far the highest value among rank 2 equipment.

…By the way, I won’t say where, but it’s not a typo or misspelling.

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