Otome Game no Heroine de Saikyou Survival (LN)

Book 2: Chapter 17

Dungeons Trap

The Mercenary of Dawn returned to the surface once every several days.

They ran away with a family heirloom that they were requested to obtain and angered a noble who was their client. They took advantage that the heirloom is something that a noble cant show around in public and chose to escape to a dungeon until the heat died down, even so in order to resupply their consumable items and rest their body, they have to return to the surface periodically.

Even so, I only know about their periodical return because they told the guild about it, but there is no guarantee that they will really return on that day. However when I checked at the adventurer guild, I found a party who seem to fit the description exchanging magic stones and materials for money.

Its a group of four that consisted of three men who seem to be around their thirty and a woman. The red haired warrior among them has combat strength that surpassed 700, so that guy must be the leader of Mercenary of Dawn, the rank 4Dagget.

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Dagget Race : Human Warrior Rank 4

Magic Power : 155/155Stamina : 326/380

Overall Combat Strength : 733 (With Body Strengthening : 918)

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While his appearance and equipment fitted my information about Dagget, I tried using Appraisal on him. In case there is a mistake with my prior information, its possible that he has a skill that I cant sense, but currently Im not seeing any major difference.

I was told that his three comrades are rank 3, but it feels like their combat strength is higher than the average rank 3.

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Randy Race : Human Heavy Warrior Rank 3

Magic Power : 121/121Stamina : 378/423

Overall Combat Strength : 442 (With Body Strengthening : 504)

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Dankan Race : Human Scout Hunter Rank 3

Magic Power : 125/125Stamina : 250/286

Overall Combat Strength : 403 (With Body Strengthening : 468)

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Grinda Race : Human Sorcerer Rank 3

Magic Power : 212/248Stamina : 179/217

Overall Combat Strength : 541 (With Body Strengthening : 570)

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The Simple Appraisal that Im using doesnt read the information of the opponents soul, but the information from their outer appearancethe build of their muscle, the way they move, the balance of their height and weight, the amount of life force and magic power that I can sense from them, etc. From there my skill estimated the opponents strength, and coupled with my skill Search where I can also see magic particle in color that has become level 3, I should be able to read someones strength more accurately than anybody in this guild.

The three other than Dagget have higher combat strength than the average rank 3 must be because they have multiple skills just like me. Even within the same rank, there will be a clear difference in magic power value and stamina when someone obtained multiple combat skills. In other words those three arent just completely reliant on the rank 4 Dagget. All of them had trained themselves in order to be worthy to be a member of a rank 4 party.

Conversely Daggets combat strength is lower than Viro and Sera is because his low magic power valuein other words, he is leaving other aspects of combat to his comrades while he only focused on improving his close quarter combat. This is the result of such division of role. Thats my hypothesis.

Certainly, this target will be too much for Keira or Guy. Even Radha will have a hard time to defeat them solo.

Its troublesome but not surprising. I think they are still safe until now even after making their client angry at them because they are really good with making crafty plan or they have the strength that correspond to it.

If such people formed a party, for me these people will become an utterly higher ranked opponent for me almost for the first time.

I had faced higher ranked opponents in battles even before this, but my opponents were alone. I would lure them using my young age to make them let their guard down and took advantage of their weak point to barely grasp victory. But, with an adventurer party, each member is making up for their comrades shortcoming and they can display strength that surpass their true strength by making a good use of their respective forte.

Its likely that this battle will become a divide for me. Will I become an assassin wannabe that only rely on petty tricks, or will I become an adventurer who is in possession of assassin skill. I felt that Im standing on a crossroad.

I blended into the surrounding using Stealth that is adjusted only to make me appear natural so that I wont gather attentions from other to me.

Just in case, in order to cover up my objective for coming to the adventurer guild, I went to exchange the magic stones that I obtained from diving into the dungeon with Carla. There the staff who I talked with before this seems to remember me. The friendly uncle came until the exchange counter.

You there, nice timing. The rank 4 party that I told you before has returned. But, it looks like you already went into the dungeon by yourself huh.

A kind girl helped and guided me for free.

In order to escape the gazes that gathered on me due to the staff talking to me, I hid my face with my shawl while giving that answer. Then the uncle nodded with a gentle smile.

Thats great. Perhaps because this city has a dungeon, there is almost no young adventurer here, so the old timer staffs and adventurers are concerned. Did you form a party with that girl in the end?

Putting aside the young people, the veteran adventurers are looking at me like that? I wont say anything bad about that, as someone who is hiding her true identity, such attention might be more troublesome compared to simply being picked on.

She is a nobles daughter. I think it will be impossible to form a party with her again.

The uncles complexion changed when I casually said that.

That personcould it be a girl with long black hair and a sickly look?

Carla is being considered as a person to be wary of in this guild. The uncle wont tell me the detail but, it seems that she is also being suspected for some other things too, like the disappearances of some adventurers during these several years.

As I thought, Carla seems to be a daughter of a high ranked noble. Apparently she is an existence whose information I cant ask about even in the guild. Im being strongly advised to not get involved with her as much as possible.

Dont spread it around but, a pair of young adventurers also just disappeared several days ago, so be careful okay? I suggest that you form a party with someone as quickly as you can.

Ill consider it.

The pair that Carla and I killed also got blamed on Carla. It cant be helped I guess, after all she didnt seem like someone who will bother with hiding the evidence.

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I saw the Mercenary of Dawn leaving the Guild from the corner of my eyes, so I also left the guild after thanking the uncle.

They already vanished from sight when I got out, but it seems that the heavy warrior Randy and the sorcerer Glinda dont have stealth type skill. They are a bit far but, I managed to follow their presence just barely.

When I followed their track while they are still out of my sight, they visited a general store and drug store for adventurer in order to resupply their consumable, and then they immediately disappeared into a moderately nice inn near the dungeon.

If they follow the same pattern like before, they will dive into the dungeon again after staying for a night there. From the way they bought consumable, they should still be wary of retaliation from the noble, so I also continue to stand watch with that assumption.

Even while Im doing this, Im regularly sensing the out of place feeling that denoted Radhas existence.

I think Radha is moving inside the shadow or doing other things like eating when I cant sense that out of place feeling.

Radha is also a human. She needs sleep and food too. If I move during that time, its faint but I became able to sense her moving, so Im memorizing that sensation.

Radha didnt attack me even when I was alone. Radha should be thinking that I killed Guy, there should be a reason why she isnt attacking me even then.

Although the connection between assassin guild branches is severed, perhaps it will cause a problem of honor if she caused a big problem in other territory. That might be the reason.

Besides Radha was that enraged by Guys disappearance. She must be thinking of choosing a place to kill me where she can take her time to prolong my pain. Radha is thinking that Im taking action based on the data she handed to me. In that case the location where she is going to attack isinside the dungeon.

Radha was observing the kid who was called ash covered from inside a shadow.

It was likely that ash covered was the one who killed Guy. It was the nature of assassin business that a lot of people were suddenly gone. Apparently the guild leader Dino planned to not question it any further, but Radha was convinced that the ash covered was the culprit as the result of her interaction with her.

There was no proof. But, from her experience as an assassin, she sniffed the scent of blood from the ash covered.

When she first used Appraisal to her at the assassin guild, the girls combat strength hadnt even reached 200, but if she used despicable method as befitting a disciple of a demon race, it would be possible for her to make Guy let his guard down.

But even Radha couldnt kill the ash covered right away.

The leader of the northern frontier district branch Dino called the ash covered as his fellow disciple and acted like her guardian. Most likely he did it as a warning to them because he was planning to keep the girl alive if possible in order to use the ash covereds master as a pawn too.

If the disciple died, it was possible to direct the demons anger to the targets. But that would be like a bomb that could only be used once. If they were careless, that anger might possible got directed toward the guild after the demon dealt with the target.

Similarly Radha too wouldnt hesitate to make Dino and the demon into her enemy if it was for the sake of taking revenge for her little brothers murder, even so she was feeling indebted to the previous guild master who picked Guy and her. She couldnt take the initiative to do anything that could be considered as a betrayal to the guild.

The ash covered was an eerie kid even from the eyes of Radha who had been killing since she was a girl.

At the outside she looked older because of the growth from magic power, but her actual age must be ten years old at best. And yet, she easily accomplished the assassination of the rookie hunters when it was thought that her chance of success was less than fifty percent, displaying an abnormality that was unthinkable for a kid.

But the eeriest thing from her was her atmosphere.

Even though her external appearance was nothing more than a twelve years old child, the people at the city who noticed her appearance would unconsciously follow her with their gaze. In a sense she possessed an alluring atmosphere.

It seemed the ash covered herself didnt notice but, perhaps, it was also possible that even Dino and Guy were bewildered by that atmosphere. Right now her childish appearance still stood out more, but if she kept growing at this rate into adult, the sign of how she would mislead a lot of people in the future could be glimpsed even from her current appearance.

Radha felt more terrified than angry for her little brothers murder. If she couldnt kill her here, in the future that girl might become an existence that brought great trouble to the guild. She was feeling that with a slight cold feeling.

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It seemed that the ash covered would carry out the assassination of the target, the Mercenary of Dawn inside the dungeon just as planned.

The data that Radha handed to the ash covered had been subtly altered by her. There was other guild contact, so Radha avoided murdering the ash covered inside the city. She set things up to carry out the assassination inside the dungeon.

Even so she didnt alter any information about the Mercenary of Dawn. It wasnt because she thought that the ash covered could assassinate them solo, but because she wanted to see the girls hidden trump cards.

Radha wasnt underestimating the ash covered. Putting aside her combat strength, she thought that the girl was using a despicable method that she learned from the demon. But at the same time, Radha was also thinking that even though she might get seriously wounded if she let her guard down, it was impossible for the ash crowned to kill her with such low combat strength.

It was said that using ingenuity, a human could fight an opponent of one rank higher than them at best. When the rank differed by two, even dodging a blade would become difficult, and it also became impossible for the lower rank to resist against the higher ranks sorcery.

Radha was vigilant, even so she hadnt given up killing the ash covered by her own hands. She also didnt wish for the ash covered to get the table turned on her by the assassination target and died. She would crush the girls trap, and when she got cornered by the target and despaired at the end, she would kill her herself.

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Mercenary of Dawn dived into the dungeon again just as expected. The ash covered also followed their track and disappeared into the dungeon. Radha also used shadow to infiltrate the dungeon without getting found out by the guards protecting the entrance. Then while Radha monitored the ash covered who was tailing Mercenary of Dawn, she felt a faint discomfort.

(What?)

She was aware that the ash covered was skilled in Stealth for a kid. But that was for a human. Large differences would show up in scout type skills like Stealth, Search, and Night Vision depending on the race.

For a cat beastman like Radha, there was positive correction with her Stealth and Night Vision skills. Dog type beastman got positive correction to their Search skill. Human was especially bad at Night Vision type skill, so it also affected their Search. Because of that there would be a small difference even when they had Stealth skill of the same level. That should be the case, but for some reason Radha almost lose sight of the ash covered several times since entering the dungeon.

(The distance between the ash covered and the targets feel strange. Just whats going on?)

Radha was confident with her sorcery Shadow Walker, even so it had its flaw.

Due to the peculiarity of dark sorcery of space teleportation variety, the effect wouldnt activate unless she was completely isolated from outside world with darkness magic particles. And while she was completely isolated, information from outside couldnt reach her.

Space that was isolated with dark sorcery like with expanded bag and the like would cease being an environment where living creature could survive. Radha too could only maintain the isolated space for several seconds while she was crossing the shadow. Normally she was only hiding inside the shadow by opening a part of the isolated space, even so she was isolated from outside information during that several times when she was moving.

The distance between the ash covered and Mercenary of Down was shrinking. How could she stay hidden from rank 4 adventurer when she was that close?

When they went down to the dungeons fifth floor and no other adventurer was around, Radha didnt understand the situation and started to feel impatient. She approached them until nearby using Shadow Walker in order to obtain information.

(Whats, this)

At that spot where she dispelled the space of isolated shadow, a small black shadow was floating in front of Radha. The usual Radha should immediately realize what it was. But, she was in the darkness because she was lurking in the shadow, and her mind that was starting to get impatient was delayed by a moment before she realized the true identity of it.

In that instant, something flew out from that small shadow. She couldnt even dodge immediately and the hidden throwing weapon pierced Radhas throat.

tsu!?

She couldnt make any sound. Blood flooded her trachea and she couldnt breathe. Her mind was in chaos because she didnt understand what happened. Radha prioritized jumping out from the shadow first in order to escape from the attack, then iron arrow and Ice Javelin suddenly came flying and pierced through her defenseless torso.

Radha involuntarily fell on the ground. Then as though to finish her off, a small shadow appeared on the floor once more. The blade that flew out from there pierced Radhas right eye.

(This is the ash covereds knife? Then this small shadow is her sorcery-!?)

That sorcery was really similar with Radhas specialty, Shadow Walker.

She was feeling the flame of her life was dying while her remaining left eye used Appraisal at the ash covered who was standing among the Mercenary of Dawn. With that she realized that they had been deceived from the beginning.

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Ash Covered Race : Human Estimated Rank 3

Magic Power : 135/210Stamina : 141/148

Overall Combat Strength : 374 (With Body Strengthening : 432)

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What did Aria do to Radha? Why was she together with Mercenary of Dawn? To understand that one needed to go back to this morning.

The members of Mercenary of Dawn left the inn around noon and immediately headed to the dungeon.

The heavy warrior Randy and the scout Dankan apparently stayed in the same room, so they ate together at the morning in the first floor of the inn that doubled as a bar, but Dagget and Glinda who were sleeping in the same room woke up late, so as the result they came out at this time.

They arrived at the dungeon after walking for a bit, then they bought food that could be immediately eaten from a nearby stall, then they entered the dungeon right away. They wont come out for several days once they entered, but their luggage looked too few for that. From how Dankan put the food that they purchased into a bag, I learned that they possessed a bag with expanded space.

In that case, my tactic will change depending on what the bag contained. Because even if I gradually wound them bit by bit or poison them, if they have high class recovery medicine inside their bag, all my efforts will come to naught.

It wont be pointless to exhaust them using all those methods but, they also arent an opponent who I can afford to treat that leisurely. In my tactic, I thought that perhaps I should neutralize Glinda the sorcerer first, but it seems that Ill need to change the order of priority.

But thats something to consider only after I deal with Radha who is following behind me.

I want one with cheese between them.

Thanks for the business-, it will be three bronze coins.

In order to avoid suspicion, I bought black bread with cheese and pickled vegetable as its filling from a different stall and spent some time. I watched the Mercenary of Dawn entering the dungeon with a side glance while confirming that Radha is also following me. Then I too paid the stall owner with bronze coin and headed toward the dungeons entrance.

Previously I was stopped because Im a kid. I could pass because of Carlas face, but this time I can enter inside because the guard is a young soldier.

Naturally Mercenary of Dawn has gone out of view already when I got inside, but I erased my presence and started running straight forward without hesitation.

It was written in the information that Mercenary of Dawn used a safe area around the tenth floor as their base. With their actual strength, they should be able to dive into deeper floor but, their objective isnt for earning money in the dungeon, but to kill time until the heat die down and it became safe for them.

In that case I believe that they will head directly below without stopping by anywhere. I had investigated the shortest route to there when I came here with Carla.

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I ran through the dungeons passage for several minutes without even really encountering any monster before I caught sight of Mercenary of Dawn cutting down several kobolts at some distance in front of me.

Kobolt is a rank 1 monster that looked like a stray dog standing on two feet. Their height is also only a bit taller than goblin, and sometimes they also carried weapon but their danger level really isnt that different from an actual stray dog. There is no way such low level monsters can have any hope against a level 4 party, so the three men dealt with the kobolts easily in front of Glinda who is only watching while yawning.

They headed deeper inside without even collecting the rank 1 magic stones. I tailed them while maintaining a certain distance from them while carefully heading deeper.

Normally, its said that even through the shortest route, it will take around one hour to pass the first floor of this dungeon, but they are a bit faster than that. They are already going down to the second floor in less than forty minutes.

The second floor is also not that different. There are only rank 1 monsters appearing, and very rarely there will be rank 2 hobgoblin showing up alone.

At the third floor, the appearance rate of rank 2 monster increased just slightly. At fourth floor, rank 3 high kobolt will also appear rarely.

At fifth floor, rank 1 monster almost cannot be seen. Mostly there are only hobgoblins or high kobolt walking around on their own.

This place is the limit for low ranked adventurer. Conversely speaking, even low ranked adventurer can come as far as here, but they wont be able to earn anything from here, so it became inevitably considered that only rank 3 party or higher will challenge this floor.

After coming this far, there is no more other adventurer around us. Because if they are going to leave the dungeon at the same day, they wont come until this deep, and if they plan to explore for several days, they will go hunting at floor below floor 10 where orcs will appear in multiple amount.

I havent fought until this point. Because rank 2 or 3 monster that came out alone isnt a match against them but, lets seeI guess this area is just right.

I took off the cloak that I was wearing in order to hide my gender, bundled it behind my waist, removed the illusion of ash on my hair, then I walked forward and closed the distance with them bit by bit.

(1, 2, 3)

I closed the distance and gauged the timing. Then in that moment, the scout Dankan noticed my presence and warily turned around.

Wait, there is something-!

Please wait-, Im not a monster.

At the same time when Dankan raised his voice, I used the sign used between scouts that master and Viro taught me.

When I signaled AlertAttackForward with my hand, Dankan made a surprised face and whispered to his comrades Keep walking forward.

A girl? A child at that?

Dagget looked back only for an instant and muttered with a small voice.

I took off my cloak in order to lower down their wariness and make them let their guard down. Recently it became more often that people didnt let their guard down against me because I had gotten taller but, a woman can also make other people lower their guard in her own way.

I gauged the timing at first also because I aimed for the instant Radha vanished into her shadow so that she wont notice but, the scout of Mercenary of Dawn read my intention accurately because he is a skilled one.

Randy, make loud footsteps. You girl, is there something coming from behind?

Just like how I followed them while keeping distance of dozens of meters between us, there is also around the same amount of distance between Radha and me, so there wont be any problem if we talk with a small voice. Dankan understood the situation and made his comrade walked loudly. He kept looking forward while asking me with a small voice. I also nodded a little in respond.

I used that womans knowledge and talked them with a moderate acting.

Yes, something lurking in the shadow is following me. At first I thought that its targeting me, so I used Stealth and hid but, it kept following even then, so I thought that it might be targeting your group. That was why I called out.

Youyou were following us?

I-Im sorry. It was from the middle but, I wanted to come to the fifth floor. I only have a bit of money, but Ill pay-

Dont be loud. Forget about moneywhat now?

This girls combat strength is just 200. There is nothing she can do even if she trick us.

Glinda apparently used Appraisal on me. She whispered that to Dagget.

How is it, Dankan? Is there really something following us?

Dagget asked dubiously. Dankan showed a focused expression.

There is nothingno wait, there is really something.

You will notice the out of place feeling if you know something is there, even so its not easy to find Radhas presence when she is hiding in the darkness. He is really skillednot just him. All of them immediately raised their guard, read my intention accurately, and swiftly took action.

I shuddered from witnessing the true strength of a rank 4 party. At the same time, Im also impressed by Dinos discernment that saw how the guild would also be harmed from taking them on as opponent and decided to ask master to deal with them.

Perhaps this is the pursuer from you-know-who? In that case its our enemy.

Randy whispered while making loud footsteps. Dagget nodded lightly and I sensed that he is lowering down his wariness against me.

Seems so. How can we doubt a cute little miss like this.

I dont really understand about my own appearance but, as expected people cant really be wary against a woman and a child at that. Dankan and Randy smiled slightly at Daggets joking tone while the lone woman in their party Glinda lightly glared at me with a sulk.

Even my shoddy acting was interpreted really nicely because Im a childIm a woman to them.

Then what now?

Lets seeDankan, can you detect where this pursuer is hiding?

No, I still cant sense them clearly. What about you?

Dankan recognized me as a scout and asked my opinion.

This enemy is lurking in the darkness and sometimes their presence vanish completely, but I can somehow sense when they came out. Should I try attacking with sorcery?

You are a sorcerer huh

Then lets try leaving it to her. Glinda, Dankan, prepare yourself.

Dagget immediately decided their course of action. After he instructed the rest with a small voice, Glinda gripped her staff and Dankan readied his bow.

They are really skilled. Thats why I can prepare a trap for Radha like this without her realizing it.

Then, Ill count until tenhere I go.

I chanted the spell of dark sorcery while focusing my mind with more than half of my mental capacity assigned to construct dark magic.

Its my first time using it but, I have checked its structure many times and I also had tried activating it until midway. Even so I didnt activate the sorcery until the end because I was restraining my skill level from going up.

Shadow Snatch

Blade crossed the shadow, the shadow took away life.

The magic that I chanted while walking created a small darkness from the shadow of the palm that I clenched. I threw it to make it float behind me, measured the timing, and after I counted to ten while walking, I threw a hidden weapon to the shadow on my feet.

This is a magic that used the application of Shadow Walker, the dark sorcery that Radha is using. Radhas Shadow Walker is a powerful sorcery, but it has lethal flaws from my perspective. One of the flaws is its great consumption of magic power. Radha is keeping it within limit by using the sorcery in standby state, but because of that she became unable to use any other sorcery at all.

And then the biggest problem is that while traversing shadow, the caster is cut off from outside information.

There wont be any problem when you use it for assassination by surprise attack, but in a direct fight like now, that state of being isolated from information for several seconds is lethal. If her timing of coming out and her location got pinpointed, it will become a big opening.

Thats why I limited my use of the magic by sending only my weapon through the shadow in order to avoid consuming a lot of magic power and being isolated from information. Thanks to that the level 4 dark sorcery became Shadow Snatch that is the equivalent of level 3 sorcery. The magic power consumption can also be suppressed until only a tenth from before.

!?

I did my best to aim, and the hidden weapon successfully hit around Radhas throat. Radha fell into confusion from receiving a surprise attack while she is in her absolute safe zone that she leaped out from her safe area(shadow) in order to avoid further attack.

At her current state even I can land my attack on her, but I yielded the chance to the people behind me for the sake of laying more trap. Then Glindas sorcery and Dankans arrow pierced Radhas torso.

Its still difficult for me to control Shadow Snatch, even so I can maintain it if its just for several seconds. I made the shadow that is still remaining to slide on the floor and threw another hidden weapon to below my foot. It pierced Radhas face from right below.

Radha who is lying on the ground opened her eyes wide in shock as she looked at me.

She is still alive. But, Radha. You die here.

Dankan fired another arrow. It stabbed Radhas head and finished her off. I erased the shadow after confirming that and I felt something growing inside me with my magic power and strength increasing.

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Aria (Alicia) Race : Human Rank 3 1UP

Magic Power : 135/200 20 UPStamina : 138/148 3 UP

Strength : 7 (9)1UPEndurance : 7 (9)Agility : 10 (12)Dexterity : 8

Short Sword Skill Level 2Martial Art Level 31UPThrowing Level 2String Control Level 2

Light Magic Level 2Darkness Magic Level 31UPNon-Elemental Magic Level 31UP

Daily Life MagicMagic Power Control Level 31UPPressure Level 31UP

Stealth Level 3Night Vision Level 2Search Level 3Poison Resistance Level 2

Simple Appraisal

Overall Combat Strength : 374 (With Body Strengthening : 432) 161 UP

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My skill level went up just as I expected. The level of Magic Power Control also went up along with Dark Magic, and with that the level of Martial Art that controlled the flesh also went up. I can do it with this.

When Radha stopped breathing, the men sighed in relief, while the sorcerer Glinda approached me in excitement.

What was that sorcery-!? That was the first time I saw something like that-! How did you do it? Teach it to me a little-!

Ah, yes. Err

On her bouncing large boobs, I saw a necklace with greenish gem attached on it. I understood that its the Spirit Tear that I was looking for. Its size is different but, the water spirit that I defeated also dropped the same thing, so there is no doubt about it.

Glinda realized that my eyes are staring at the swaying necklace on her chest and grinned proudly.

Youre also a girl arent you? The men at my place just dont get it but, this is really nice right? Its really pretty, and it looks like this also has the effect of strengthening your sorcery you know? But forget about it, teach me the sorcery just now please, if its the necklace then Ill show it to you later-!

Yes, I dont mind.

I smiled sweetly at the stolen item swaying in front of me and pointed my right palm toward Glinda.

Originally its a taboo to ask other adventurer about their trump card. But these people who are relieved after repelling an assassin ignored Glindas action and only smiled wryly at her.

Shadow Snatch

I activated the dark magic and created a small darkness on my palm. Glinda peered into it with interest.

How can you attack with something like

*Shupa-!*

Ah?

The small crossbow gimmick installed in my left hand protector fired a short arrow at that moment. The arrow was sucked into the shadow and pierced the eye of Glinda who was peering into the darkness and reached her brain. Her remaining eye reflected my expressionless face while she quietly crumbled.

Three people left.

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Eh, whats wrong?

Glinda died instantly without making any sound. I swiftly caught the crumbling Glinda and spoke to her body. The three men of Mercenary of Dawn directed their attention at me.

What, whats wrong?

Oi oi, Glinda, youre too exci

The scout Dankan was still unwary, relaxed. He carelessly approached with an exasperated look.

tsu!?

In that instant, he seemed to see something when he met my gaze. Dankans tension instantly rocketed up. I pushed Glindas corpse at him.

Wha-!?

Nobody is thinking that Glinda has died at this point. Dankan immediately caught Glindas body that I threw at him, then without delay I pulled out my black knife and brandished it far behind me.

Double Edge

Guoh!

Dankan twisted his body while still holding Glindas still warm body to dodge the short sword Battle Technique that I unleashed. But, although he dodged the first attack of the two consecutive attacks, because he unconsciously tried to cover for Glinda, Dankan got hit by the second attack and it left a large gash on his right arm.

I failed to finish him off. They are really capable.

He must have noticed when he looked at my eyes. Battle had broken out after I only managed to finish off one of the targets. Im still far away from masters level.

What-, whats going on-!?

Dankan-! How is Glinda-!?

Glinda isnt moving-! That little girl is enemy-!

The members of Mercenary of Dawn are in confusion. Even so they readied themselves to fight from Dankans words. I threw a knife at Dankan at that moment, but the leader Dagget immediately cut in and used his large sword to deflect the knife.

Dankan, heal yourself and Glinda with potion-!

Dagget raised his voice while readying his sword to protect the two.

But I know. The sorcerer Glinda held the healing role in this party. The tank Randy can also use light sorcery to some degree but, he should only be able to use Heal just like other adventurers in general.

Furthermore the majority of the healing potions that are generally sold has weak healing effect and intended for recovery more, so even though the potion can close the wound, the arm that has been deeply wounded wont be able to regain its full function.

In my plan I would defeat Dankan and snatched the expanded bag where their potions are stored, but thing doesnt go as planned.

I let out a small sigh while lightly swinging my knife to remove the blood on it. I pointed my palm up and made an inviting gesture with my fingers as provocation.

You bitch-!

Randy is enraged by my obvious provocation.

Stop Randy-! Something is strange with her-!

Dankan stopped Randy while holding his seriously wounded right arm.

Dankan is wary against me after getting hit by my attack. As the party leader, Dagget chose to protect the wounded in order to calmly ready themselves. But Randy lost his senses seeing his comrades wounded. He ignored his comrades caution and headed toward me with sword unsheathed.

This is the adverse effect of adventurer party that I thought.

The adventurer guild recommended to adventurers to form a party instead of going solo in order for comrades to combine their strength so they can make up for each others shortcomings while making use of their own strong point, heightening their survival rate.

However, adventurers got largely divided into two kinds from there. The commander type who kept the benefit for the whole party in mind while depending on the situation they could abandon their individuality for the sake of the whole, and the worker type who have come to a decision to only focus on their own role.

Im not saying that its bad to be a worker type. They can display a performance that surpassed their actual strength under the leadership of the commander type. But, Randy who have been engaged only in his role as tank in this party from the beginning found it difficult to display his actual strength when he abandoned that role.

You wont get away-!!

I broke into a run deeper into the dungeon. Randy followed behind me.

Randy-!

Even Daggets voice that called to him to stop doesnt reach him. In this situation the best plan would be to wait until everyone is healed before the whole party gives chase by following the track, or choosing to withdraw. But Randy doesnt choose that. The first trap that I laid out is in effect against that.

Dont think you can run away with only 200 combat strength-!

My combat strength when entering this dungeon at first was only slightly above 200. The combat strength that is visible with Appraisal skill differ somewhat from each person based on the individuals sensing ability. Thats why after Glinda told her comrades that my combat strength was around 200, Randy is under the impression that Im only half as strong as him.

But, my dark magics level has gone up and the magic powers path that is flowing through my whole body has expanded. With that my body strengthening and martial art have also improved. My current combat strength has increased to a point that its even close to Dankan or Randy.

Even so this isnt opponent that I can be careless against. My Short Sword Skill is still level 2, perhaps because of my body stature. And in the first place, short sword specialized in cutting skin and flesh. Its difficult for such weapon to wound a fully armored opponent who carried a shield like Randy.

I sensed the presence of the pursuing Randy while reloading my hand protectors gimmick with arrow.

This gimmick is something that I requested Gelf to install my hand protector with the part of small crossbow that I received from master. A sorcerer like master used this crossbow for holding back enemy in close quarter combat. It was made from a Treants wood, with mythril as its core, and flying dragons tendon as its bowstring. Even when its left in a state of arrow loaded inside, the string will regenerate from the users magic power and wont turn loose.

This gimmick can also be reloaded with one hand. Its easier to use than throwing knife in close quarter combat.

I caught you-!

Dagget will catch up if I take too long. I judged that this distance is the best and lowered my speed after moving for thirty meters. Randy came charging like an iron cannonball.

Pain

GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?

The illusion of intense pain that I fired stopped Randys movement as he groaned like a flattened frog.

The effect of pain should be weak against Randy who is a tank specialist. But, Randys guard was down because he never expected to feel pain this intense from a weaker opponent like me.

Goh!?

I didnt let go of that chance and made use of my martial art and body strengthening that have become level 3 to leap at Randys chest, struck up his jaw from below with my lunging palm, and then I planted a knife deeply into his exposed defenseless throat.

A tank can only display their real worth when they have comrades as support. Your cause of defeat is because although that heavy armor is suitable for blocking heavy attack, you didnt notice the demerit of you fighting alone.

tsu

Randys eyeballs rolled back. I pulled out my knife before his muscles stiffened. I jumped over Randy who is falling backward and without pause I dashed toward the former location of Dagget and Dankan.

Two people left.

.

The little girl came back!

Randy!?

I saw him falling but I dont know anymore than that-!

When I returned to the previous location, they have laid down Glindas corpse. Dankan who sensed my approach is holding a short sword with his left hand while his wounded right hand is dangling down limply.

Dagget is taking a stance with his large sword to protect Dankan who is in that state, but then he pointed his palm to me as I approached.

Wait-, you are sent by that noble right! Do you know what those guys had in their possession!?

Dagget raised his voice at me who returned.

There is no point slowing down here. As time passed, they will regain their composure from their confused state and they will make a plan to fight. But, I noticed that they have readied themselves to some degree and so I stopped. The corner of Daggets lips slightly rose up seeing that.

Looks like youre going to listen. Those guys had Spirit Tear which is a forbidden item. That is a magic stone from a spirit, something that is forbidden by the holy church of Fandora Theocracy to possess.

What does it matter?

Its unclear what is the requirement for it to drop, but a spirit that is a spiritual life form can leave behind a magic stone that look like jewel in a very rare case.

Because the magic stone that water spirit dropped has water element, it wasnt really beneficial for me, but not only it contained powerful magic power as a magic stone, it seems that it also strengthened the element of sorcery although only a little. And then, because of its beauty that is like a jewel, it seemed there was an era where humans intentionally summoned spirit to kill them for their magic stone.

Spirits are important existences that governed the nature and magic particles of this world. The holy church cant tolerate the item that drive human with greed to hunt those spirits.

Dont you get it? I dont know what you have been told that you attacked us, but its that noble who is in the wrong! If you consider yourself to be in the side of justice then take my hand-!

Dagget-!?

Dagget suddenly tried to win me, his enemy over. It caused Dankan to look at him with objection.

She is the one who killed Glinda! Even Randy

Look at the reality Dankan-. In the first place it was because of Glindas selfishness to own the Spirit Tear that we ended up getting into a quarrel with a noble-. We need a strong comrade.

Tsk, I get it.

Their theft of the Spirit Tear was only because of Glindas selfishness. Dankan nodded reluctantly after Dagget admonished him like that. He turned his gaze toward me and approached while covering his right hand that cant move.

I think I know how strong you are even without using appraisal crystal. If youre just being tricked by that noble, then please listen to what we have to say.

Got it.

When I nodded a little, Dankan smiled slightly. He put away his weapon and offered his left hand to me for a handshake.

Then, first

*Clang-!*

In that moment, the knife that Dankan was secretly holding with his right hand collided against my black knife. Sparks illuminated the dungeons darkness.

Tsk!

Dagget charged at that timing and attacked. I changed my position to use Dankan as a shield.

This girl-

Dankan who is used as a cover tried to get away, but I pressed his right hand that isnt at its best condition and closed the distance until our body touched. I fired my crossbows arrow into Dankans mouth.

Gah!

One more person.

.

Dankan-!

I rolled to dodge the large sword swinging down and took some distance. Dagget caught Dankan who crumbled while convulsing. He then looked at me with a face that is distorted with anger.

Youhow, did you notice?

Why do you think I wouldnt?

In the first place I have heard that the noble requested the assassin guild instead of soldier because the item in question is something that cant be showed around openly.

Besides the request is to collect the heirloom and dealing with the thieves, so no matter what kind of reason they have, from the start I had no intention to lend my ear and go along with the nonsense of people who stole family heirloom due to greed.

In the first place, commoners and adventurers who rarely had the chance to watch a play might get tricked but, for me who have that womans knowledge, it would be strange if I got tricked by such third rate farce.

Dankan too, I knew that he wouldnt be able to use his right arm to that degree unless he used a high class healing potion.

It would be hard for me to deal with Dankan with you protecting him. It was a big help that you allowed him to approach me while his fighting strength was lowered.

Y-YOU BASTARDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!

Perhaps Dagget felt that I was ridiculing him when I spoke my honest feeling. He angrily tossed away Dankans corpse.

You little girl-, Ill never forgive you-!

Mercenary of Dawn, its last memberthe rank 4 warrior howled inside the dungeon.

Now, its the main event from here.

UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

Dagget readied his large sword and slashed at me while screaming.

The attack even made me felt wind pressure from it. I sensed its presence with my skin and dodged it just barely that several strands of my hair almost got tore apart while throwing the hidden weapon from my waist.

As expected from a rank 4even I might not be able to dodge that attack just now if my Martial Art that affected my evasion didnt level up to level 3.

Kuh!

Dagget tilted his head to dodge the hidden weapon that was thrown to his face from point blank range.

In that instant I threw a pendulum from the shadow on my palm. The pendulum flew in an arc. Dagget bent backward to dodge the blade and immediately stepped back to take some distance from me vigilantly.

With my Dark Magic reaching level 3, Storage that took me all my effort just to activate has expanded until a stage where its usable for me. Even so, its only to the degree of a small bag where previously it was already full just from several knives, but I intentionally dont keep my main weapon there and stored hidden weapons and pendulum instead.

What are you planning?

Dagget looked at me with suspicion when I dont continue attacking.

I understood from the exchange just now. No matter how fast the sword of a rank 4, I can still fight even at my level if the opponent is Dagget whose attack is simple due to his anger.

ButIm troubled if he is in such state.

Come at me seriously.

What?

Daggets eyes widened from my mutter.

But this is the only thing that I cant give up on. I played so much tricks to kill Radha and the other members of Mercenary of Dawn were for having a one-on-one fight with a rank 4 adventurer.

After this Im going to fight an organization, the assassin guild as my enemy, although its just a single branch. But among them there are rank 4 like Dino and the Sageand then there is also someone like the Condemned Goudo whose combat strength is nearly rank 5.

In order to gradually whittle down the assassin guilds combat strength while I myself is growing stronger, I even misrepresented my combat strength to buy time, but if even Radha fail to come back then as expected Ill get suspected.

If I finished off Mercenary of Dawn, I think Ill be able to buy time until I return to the guild. But, if my combat strength got reexamined again when I return to the guild, the suspicion on me will surely turn into conviction.

Ill entrap them before their suspicion change into conviction. Thats the only way I can win.

Thats why, before that I want to experience fighting a rank 4 warrior head on no matter what. At first I decided on Radha for that, but even though she was a rank 4, her main fighting style is with stealth and surprise attack. As long as I understand Shadow Walkers mystery, her direct fighting ability is no different than an upper rank 3.

That was exactly why in order to fight against the rank 4 Dagget who has direct combat skill, I used Mercenary of Dawn as bait to defeat Radha, then used Radhas death as bait to kill the members of Mercenary of Dawn.

Thats why, Ill be troubled if I have him fighting me in this state where his anger made him forget himself.

Daggetyou arent that kind of compassionate person right?

Even after his lover Glinda died, he tried to trick me by going as far as insulting the dead.

He tossed away Dankans corpse from anger after his trap failed.

Calm down and look at me. The one who killed your comrades is an assassin who can kill even rank 3 adventurers even though she is just a little girl. Display your full strength. Fight with everything you have, die, and become my nourishment.

In exchange, Ill give you my life if you win.

You damn brat, what the hell with those eyes.

Daggets lips warped with undisguised emotion from my fixed gaze on him.

Daggets head cooled down after a beat passed. He fired up himself with fighting spirit instead of anger and gripped his sword.

A brat like you wont really get it but, in this world, there are people who you mustnt get involved with no matter what.

Dagget suddenly started talking. I also listened to his words while calming down my breathing that had gotten slightly hard from the consecutive fights.

That kind of people are broken somewhere inside. Even monster will be scared when facing an enemy stronger than them, and yet those guys will easily bet their own life without blinking if its for winning.

I wont think of you as a little girl anymore. Youre a monster. Im going to kill you as my greatest enemy from here on!

In order to match my speed, Dagget held his large swords handle shortly while sidling up toward me with his toes. I also readied my knife and hidden weapon and moved to the side with sliding feet to get out of that range.

*Dan-!*

UOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!

HAH!

Dagget kicked on the ground, at the same time I also threw my hidden weapon. Dagget titled his head again to dodge it, while keeping his momentum and swung down his large sword diagonally at me.

Most likely Ill be crushed by the attack even if I blocked it. I made that judgment instantly and stepped forward in order to dodge that attack and leaped into Daggets chest.

Tsk!

Dagget whose target has left his range immediately swung his large swords handle downward. I blocked it with the protector of my left hand, but I got sent flying due to the difference in strength. Dagget saw that as his chance of victory and instantly decided to drop his large sword on the ground and pulled out two short swords behind his waist. He slashed at me with them.

Although I had gotten hit with an attack and received damage, in order to kill me with surety when Im faster than him, the speedy short swords are perfect. But, that correct decision is also a bad move.

Even if Daggets Sword Skill, Martial Art, and Defense skills are level 4, is his Short Sword Skill that is his spare weapon has also reached level 4?

*Clang-!*

I understood the moment I blocked it. His ability with short sword isnt that much different from me. Even so due to the difference in physique and the damage from just now, my knife that blocked the attack got slightly parried to the side.

Die-!

When fighting in close combat or facing a formidable opponent, Battle Technique wont be used in order to keep the opening at minimum. Dagget doesnt miss the chance to kill me with certainty and performed a quick thrust.

Fuh!

I let out the breath I was holding and stepped forward without fear.

Daggets short sword that I just barely avoided left a shallow cut on my side.

Its a foolish thing to do to fight a stronger opponent head on, even so I dont quit.

A rank 4 warrior is fighting me on my ring. Im fighting him in order to surpass him. How can I quit here-!

*Clang! Clang! CLANG!!*

I held the black knife on my right and the steel knife on my left. I clashed against Daggets two sword style head on.

Whether its physique, or strength, or skill, or experience, everything is in Daggets favor. My attacks dont even graze him. And even if some land by fluke, his hard leather armor deflected them. My stamina got shaved off just from a single attack from Dagget. My shoulders and arms are getting wounded bit by bit.

As expected it seems youre at your limit!

Generally its said that you cant reach level 3 with close quarter combat skill before growing into adult. Thats because a childs body cant endure that skill.

The same apply even to me who has grown from magic power. Although I have grown taller, my muscles are still weak compared to those who have grown normally to early teen.

But is that really true? Normallydoesnt that mean that there is exception?

For an instant, the black haired girl who I encountered in this dungeon crossed my mind. Her complexion was pale like a sick person. She felt like someone who was born just for the sake of killing other people. I felt a strong will from her who wont hesitate to even thrown away her life if its in order to obtain that strength.

What is different between me and her? I had fought until now by compensating my lack of stamina and strength with technique and knowledge, and by putting my life on the line.

Strain your eyes. Comprehend your opponents movement.

I cant match him with strength. My stamina cant possibly hope to compare against him.

Use your intellect if you dont have strength. Parry his attack with technique if you dont have stamina. If something is lacking then put your life on the line to compensate.

Look forward. There is technique to learn from right in front of your eyes. There is a warrior who have continued to fight for more than ten years there. Steal his technique. Block his blade and study it.

Im just going to die if I cant do that right now!

Muh!

The moment I blocked his attack, I twisted my wrist, redirected the strength with my upper arm and upper torso, and softened the impact with my legs and waist.

I parried the second and third attack, gathered strength like drawing a bow from the attack I blocked, and unleashed an attack back with that. That attack finally cut up Daggets leather armor.

What-!?

In that moment, something changed inside me.

*Clang-! Clang-! CLANGGG!*

The sounds of knife blocking the attacks changed from the sound of iron clashing to a clear sound.

Even so it was only to the degree of my attacks finally reaching the same level of Dagget. But, Dagget who had been enjoying the advantage until now showed a faint anxiety in his expression. He held aloft his short sword by the push of that emotion.

Cyclone!

Dagget unleashed the level 3 battle technique of Short Sword Skill, Cyclone.

It created pseudo wind blades using magic power so the user can attack even from distance. Its advantage lies in the fact that its an area attack of magical type.

He didnt use low level single shot type Battle Technique but relied on area attack skill instead. That must be because he feared his attack got dodged in this close fight. But, although its difficult to dodge, its not something to fear in close range combat as long as you have the resolve.

I radiated magic power from my whole body and resisted the magic. Even though the wind blades tore my skin, I rushed toward Dagget who stiffened for a moment from using Battle Technique and threw my steel knife.

Tsu!!

Dagget too understood that his neck or face will be targeted if its throwing attack. Dagget who had just barely recovered from his stiffening tried to tilt his head again to dodge the knife flying at his face. But

Gah!?

I had seen that evasion several times. The pendulums blade that I threw from my palms shadow at the same time with the steel knife cut Daggets neck using the steel knife as bait.

Gugah!

But its still shallow. Its still not lethal. I brandished the black knife far at my back toward Dagget whose balance crumbled after his neck got cut.

Tsu!

Dagget too must be thinking that Ill use Battle Technique. He discarded his short swords without even hesitating, and even while losing balance, he pitched forward while scooping up his large sword with one hand, and then without stopping he leaped and mowed his sword horizontally.

But from the start I didnt have the intention to use Battle Technique here. I used the momentum of swinging my knife behind me to fall backward and dodged the attack that rushed into the opening that I intentionally created.

I quickly tapped my heel. Daggets neck is defenseless because his body flowed forward from the momentum of his attack that cut through empty air. I jammed the blade that came out from the boots front tip with a kick into there.

Gugaah!!

Blood spurted out from his carotid artery. Dagget vomited blood from his mouth, even so his eyes still arent dead.

So this is a rank 4 warrioryou yourself is quite a monster.

Daggets hands reached toward my neck as he collapsed forward. Most likely I wont be able to stop him with a knife. With those thick arms, he should be able to muster his last strength to at least snap my neck to drag me to hell together with him.

But thats no good.

Go die alone.

Shield!

I threw away my knife and created light shields on both hands with all of my magic power.

Its a shield for resisting sorcery but, perhaps because the shield is materialized particles of light, it has the hardness of a thin glass. Because of that it has the adverse affect of sorcery with property of physical attack being able to destroy it, but I bet everything into that slight physical defense.

If I use them just as they are, the falling Dagget will break them without me being able to defend. But, Im not making the Shield into something with surface, but as a horizontal line.

-!?

The Shields that are anchored in the air tore Daggets thick neck until halfway due to his falling momentum and weight. I heard the auditory hallucination of glass breaking as the Shields dispersed.

In that moment I grabbed Daggets face with my left hand. Dagget is still conscious. He is looking at me with an expression of someone who is looking at a real monster. I thrust my straightened fingers into his neck with all my strength.

!!

Dagget let out a voiceless death throe. He fell on top of me and vomited a lot of blood that dyed me red.

Dagget lied down with his breathing having stopped completely. I laid his head on my lap and looked down on him while softly whispering to see off the warrior.

.

My gratitudeI became stronger again thanks to you.

.

Aria (Alicia) Race : Human Rank 3

Magic Power : 92/210 10 UPStamina : 84/170 22 UP

Strength : 7 (9)Endurance : 8 (10)1UPAgility : 12 (15)2UPDexterity : 8

Short Sword Skill Level 31UPMartial Art Level 31UPThrowing Level 2String Control Level 2

Light Magic Level 2Darkness Magic Level 3Non-Elemental Magic Level 3

Daily Life MagicMagic Power Control Level 3Pressure Level 3

Stealth Level 3Night Vision Level 2Search Level 3Poison Resistance Level 2

Simple Appraisal

Overall Combat Strength : 443 (With Body Strengthening : 514) 69 UP