Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku - v01 (w01-1 w03-3)

by Ainana Hiro

  ...It then breaks through the wall and fall (to the pit). Amen~.

  ◇

  Now then, why don't we join with the survivors?

  Beyond the crossroads, the floor is plastered with sticky white threads.

  "Stickystick~"

  "My feet is sticky~ no desu."

  "I wonder if it's spider's silks?"

  Tama and Pochi clear it with short swords.

  In the room, there are 7 cocoons. The 3 survivors are among them. We should rescue them while the spider is gone.

  When the person inside the cocoon realize that we are closing they begin to wriggle.

  Just in case, I check the contents inside before we help them.

  Nidoren. Slave trader, 40 years old, level 11, [Negotiation], [Torture], and [Arithmetic] skills.

  Viscount Jin Belton. Noble, 33 years old, level 15, [Fire Magic], [Flame Magic], and [Social] skills.

  Viscount's daughter Tana Belton. Noble, 14 years old, level 3, [Social],[Etiquette] skills.

  The viscount is a good potential force.

  Even so, why was a noble in that square?

  We're splitting the work to save them.

  I handle the viscount, Liza the daughter, Pochi and Tama are responsible for the trader.

  Halfway through the rescuing, a spider coming from below are perceived by the radar. Just like with the undead beast earlier, there seems to be a pit here too.

  "It's the enemy! Pochi, Tama, Liza, stop the rescue for the moment and prepare to intercept!"

  The beastkin girls ready their weapon for interception.

  After series of battles, these cooperations are to be expected.

  Fortunately the victim's mouths are clogged up, a blessing in disguise. No noisy things are good.

  A spider is crawling out from the hole on the floor.

  First I hit its head with stones to deprive its consciousness. Then Liza skewers its head with her spear, while Pochi and Tama slice the joint of its body.

  I thought it'd die with the first attack but... To not die even after its head has been pierced, truly a monster.

  Liza receives the overhead sweep of the spider's leg, Pochi and Tama slice and dice with the short swords during that gap, shaving off the spider's health.

  Since it seems that it would take some time, I throw a pebble in secret to give the finishing blow.

  I leave the magic core recovery to Tama, and get back to rescuing with other members.

  "I'm saved. I come from the the distinguished family of the founder Yamato-sama, the current head of Belton Viscount, Viscount Jin Belton. Expect rewards after we get out of here!"

  "Thank you very much, Viscount-sama. I'm Satou, a merchant."

  Just as we finished introductions, the viscount's saving is finished. The viscount goes to her daughter's place, takes the knife from Liza and continues the rescue by himself.

  Is it because he doesn't want demi-human to touch her daughter, or because he's thinking of saving her himself.

  "Thank you for saving me, I'm Nidoren, a merchant. I'd be disliked by the girls, since I deal with slaves trading."

  "I'm a fledgling merchant, Satou."

  "A merchant... is it? I thought that you're surely an adventurer."

  While listening to Nidoren-shi, I present him cold waters.

  "Do you know about adventurers?"

  "Yes... ah! It's explorers in Shiga kingdom isn't it. Killing demon in the labyrinth, salvaging magic cores and treasures, it's a high risk high return job."

  Tama returns with the magic core and I receive it.

  "Putting aside the size of the magic core here, probably because the labyrinth is young, its purity is low."

  According to Nidoren-shi, refined magic cores are used in the creation of magic tools, and the higher the purity the more efficient its magic operation is resulting in more advanced magic tools creation.

  "Still, it was a brilliant cooperation, the training was certainly long isn't it? Such good slaves can easily fetch 20 gold coin each. I'd love to deal with you even once."

  It seems to be better to not tell him that they're not officially my slaves. Since it looks it'd just come back at me.

  I'm leaving mementos recoveries from the cocoons to the beastkin girls.

  I pass foods to

  viscount Belton and Nidoren. Of course, it's not the frog meats. The viscount heartily eats even while complaining the poor foods. The viscount's daughter only eats the cheese, and sips the water. Surely, she's exhausted.

  ◇

  3 room left before the exit. The viscount has been shouldering the viscount's daughter this whole time. Should I carry her in my back? I suggested that, but it was rejected.

  The problem is the next room. Like a dungeon made by a bad GM, located in unavoidable position is a monster house.

  Leading the pack is a level 35 demon, then level 30 Skeleton Knight, Skeleton Deathschyte and Skeleton Warrior. The others are level 10-15 regular Skeleton Soldier.

  Should I job change to masked hero?

  Checking on the map, the handsome middle-aged priest is 10 rooms apart from here. I intended to join up with him, but the viscount's daughter exhaustion is extreme. Furthermore, each room is inhabited by 3 monsters from undead type. If we are to join up then the breakthrough would probably requires 2-3 hours.

  If we manage to breakthrough the next room then the next after would be a vacant room with no enemy but...

  Liza and Tama who were sent for scouting come back.

  "Lots of bones~"

  "Something spherical with wings is flying in the room. The others are approximately 20 skeleton monster. I think it's better to search for a detour..."

  It's a sound assessment, but the exit is just ahead~

  Well then, it's time to exhibit my special deception skill! ...orz.

  2-12. Labyrinth of Demon (5)

  * * *

  Satou's here. It's hard to make people believing something that I don't believe myself.

  A little bit more until the exit.

  I want to get back to daily life asap.

  ◇

  "The exit is probably after this. I have two reasons, first, there's a demon who, up until now, was nowhere to be seen. The other, the number of enemies is clearly different than anything before."

  Those reasons sure are weak eh~

  "...Why do those reasons mean that the exit is just up ahead, I can't understand."

  "How about we take a detour as suggested by that demi-human instead?"

  You're absolutely right... however! It's my turn now!

  "Viscount-sama, did you forget? This is a labyrinth made by demon. They would put their kind in the place where they don't want to let people pass."

  Dang, I should've used this reasoning from the start.

  "But we are completely outnumbered. I don't think we can beat such large crowds just by ourselves."

  I know right~

  "Of course we have a chance... That is with the magic of viscount-sama."

  I haven't seen him use it even once, but the fire storm used on the demon on the square back then was flashy. It should be enough as a shield.

  Oops, I shouldn't have known about the magic of the viscount.

  "As you may know, the undead kin are weak to fire. Moreover, I've heard rumor that says viscount-sama is the best fire magician in the earldom."

  "Umu, because even like this, I'm the vice-captain of the magic soldier troops."

  The viscount doesn't seem to wholly against the idea. So he's a superior of Zena-san huh?

  "Viscount-sama, I have a question for the sake of strategy planning, how many time can you use fire storm?"

  "The limit for fire storm is one use. After casting fire storm we can block the entrance with fire pillar and wait."

  Fumu, is it a magic with bad fuel consumption?

  It's convenient that the talk has suddenly progressed to doing the battle.

  When the view is obstructed by the fire storm, I'd just ext
erminate the enemies with coin attacks.

  >[Strategy Skill Acquired]

  ◇

  Viscount Belton's fire storm is raging.

  The winged eyeball uttered something in the distance but the battle started without anyone hearing it.

  Surprise attack is basic.

  "Pochi, Tama, throw stones at enemies who's approaching.　Liza, thrust the enemy who passes over the stone throws."

  I give commands to the beastkin girls.

  Now then, let's smash them before the fire storm disappear.

  I hit the center of eyeball of the winged eyeball with the last piece of holy stone. I don't know what to say to that huge exposed weak point. The holy stone penetrates the demon, smashing the bones on the back, hitting the wall. The roaring sound was masked by the fire storm's sound.

  One set of several copper coins are used to destroy 3 high level skeleton monster. Coin shotgun it is.

  When the fire storm subside, only 7 small fry skeleton monsters with half their health points remain.

  For now, let's push the achievement.

  "Wonderful viscount-sama. Weakened by the fire storm, the skeletons become brittle and were destroyed one by one with the stones throwing."

  "Fumu, the filthy undead monsters were purified by my flame magic."

  "That's exactly right, this is the first time I've seen such enormous magic, what a tremendous fire power!"

  The viscount with triumphant look along with Nidoren-shi and his praise. I leave him to attend for the viscount's mood, and follow after the clean up of the small fry (hereafter, zako) skeletons with the beastkin girls.

  Liza attack the feet of a zako skeleton to destroy its balance, then Pochi and Tama strike together to destroy it. Hiding behind the fire left on the ground, I destroy the skeletons with copper coins. I think it's because of throwing skill, the zako skeleton's health is easily depleted by just flicking a copper coin with my thumb ...Is there no rejection skill (Shidan). Even though it's cool.

  >Title [Undead Slayer] Acquired

  >Title [Demon Slayer] Acquired

  ◇

  Soon the clean-up of the zako skeletons end, we head toward the exit. Since it'd be troublesome if monster reinforcement come, I leave the magic cores behind.

  The passage is different from what we've passed so far, the floor is made by paving stones like the one found inside the room. The passage is 4 meter wide, 3 meter high. Thanks to that, it's bright. The passage continues in a straight line for a while, and break into a curve before the last room.

  "The outside's smell, nano desu~"

  Pochi reports happily while running around me in circle.

  I've become considerably accustomed compared to the first time.

  "Let's eat something delicious when we get out."

  "Meat~"

  "Meat meat~"

  Since Liza is in the very back she didn't enter into the conversation, but Pochi and Tama look so happy.

  Reflected in the radar, numerous lights appear in succession in the last room.

  However, it's not red light which indicates enemy but white light which indicates neutral position instead.

  It's probably the territory's army.

  The handsome middle-aged priest has reached the skeleton room earlier too before I know it. What kind of trick did he use?

  Well it's good either way.

  I feel like drinking cold beer and taking a shower right now. Though it's probably unrealizable.

  "There are people's voices~"

  Pochi said that while pointing the front.

  The passage turn is coming into view. After 3 turn from here, it's the exit.

  "The wall on the front~ is strange?"

  Tama reports. I confirmed from the map that there's a pit behind the wall. Maybe it's like the labyrinth shortcut gimmick in a game.

  "There's a hidden door here too. Do not touch it."

  "Ay!"

  "Yes! nano desu~"

  When we're passing through the hidden door...

  Beast arms break through the hidden door!

  I kick the door's fragmented pieces while an enormous body comes into view!

  I push both Pochi and Tama to the edge of the passage.

  I also want to jump out but if I carelessly avoid, it's certain the three on the back will meet harm's way. I catch the beast, killing its momentum, then it kicks the floor. The beast's jumping power is heavy and powerful, it quickly pass overhead the three to land behind them.

  They finally catch up with the unfolding event.

  Screams raise. Groan voices. All are overwritten by the roar of the beast.

  It's the reappearance of the Undead Beast thought to have been dealt with.

  No, it has two horns, different beast huh.

  Leaving that aside, what to do?

  It climbed all the way up the pit, it's impossible to deal with it like before.

  Since there's level difference, if I ask the cooperation of the beastkin girls, they could die.

  I'd like to ask for the viscount's magic help like on the bone hall, but his magic power is insufficient...

  My thought is racing while avoiding the biting attack of the Undead Beast.

  "■■■■　■■　■■■　■■■■ Air Hammer"

  A mass of invisible compressed air come from the exit's direction forcing the Undead Beast to retreat.

  I was rolled up with it.

  Undead Beast, seemingly in effort to reduce the magic's force, jump back to near the room's entrance in the back.

  The door there opens, and the handsome middle-aged priest comes out of it.

  What a bad timing.

  "Get back to the room, it's the Undead Beast!"

  Thanks to the Loudspeaker skill and the echo in the passage, voice louder than I thought comes out.

  The handsome middle-aged priest begin casting spell without panicking.

  Ridiculous!

  You'll die in a blink of an eye before you even finish the casting.

  The Undead Beast turns around after hearing the chanting.

  Can't be helped, let's change its target to me and play the avoid war. Then let's defeat it with a strong attack slipped in the middle of the priest's magic.

  "■■ Purification (Turn Undead)!"

  Short. What's that.

  The undead beast stopped moving, and turn back into a stuffed animal.

  It can't even stand up on its own, the menace is gone.

  GJ, handsome middle-aged priest-san.

  "Satou-zannn~~~~"

  Before I turn toward the voice, I'm quickly pushed. By Zena-san equipped with leather armor.

  "It's good that you're awightt~~~ It's good~~~~"

  Rubbing her head on my chest, she's delighted for the reunion.

  The magic earlier was Zena-san's huh. From the other side, soldiers begin to appear, helping to rescue the viscount.

  The beastkin girls are coming to my side, but they're standing by in a place a bit far. Liza put Pochi and Tama who tried to come here in check.

  "I'm home, Zena-san."

  Zena-san scrubs hear tears and lift her face.

  "Welcome back, Satou-san."

  The smile of tearful Zena-san looks awfully attractive.

 

  Web Novel Volume 3

  3-1. To Daily Life

  * * *

  Satou's here. Not wanting to experience the real dungeon attack again, Satou's.

  The arm demon who's missing with the appearance of the labyrinth is on my mind but...

  For now I'd like to enjoy a peaceful life for once.

  ◇

  We've come into a vacant lot about as wide as a school yard when we come out of the labyrinth.

  Surrounding the edge of the lot, are two-meter high fences. It look to be hastily made.

  Since the outer wall can be seen from there, it see
ms that this is the square where the commotion was.

  Looking back at the labyrinth's entrance, it's a 3 meter high of sharp jet black rock with a hole. I wonder if it's made of obsidian?

  There are 3 turrets 50 meters away surrounding the entrance. Wooden barricades with sharp pointed tips lined up on the places where they don't obstruct the turrets' line of fire.

  "Satou-san, come here please."