Chapter 113: Labyrinth exploration Part 1

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Translator: Soafp

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It’s just a trial, but it’s definitely a labyrinth exploration. I want to convey this excitement to someone.

Entering the “Claw Fang Labyrinth,” it doesn’t feel as special as I thought it would.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I asked Naga.

“I want to test if search magic can be used in the labyrinth…”

“Is there a problem?”

“A little. If there’s a magic user on the other side, they’ll detect our direction. In fact, a Wyvern reacted to my exploration magic and attacked.”

“I see… Then let’s use it on the first floor instead. Only Wind Wolves should appear on the first floor.”

“Understood.”

With that response, I activated my Area Sonar.

“Hmm… That’s odd. This kind of reaction is unusual.”

Seeing my pale face, Naga asked,

“Is something wrong?”

“Well, there seems to be something strange about the reaction…”

“A strange reaction?”

“Yes, I can’t sense anything inside the labyrinth walls at all. Normally, even in the ground, I can get a rough idea of what’s going on.”

“I see. Aldo-kun, you can’t break through the labyrinth walls.”

“Eh?”

“To be precise, you can break through the surface. But once you dig about five send deep, no matter what magic or weapon you use, you can’t break through anymore.”

“Is that so…”

“And naturally, magic won’t pass through.”

“I see. I cast the Area Sonar intending to examine 1000 meters, but I could only detect about 50 meters.”

“Yes, the effectiveness drops significantly.”

“Indeed. Originally, it was a magic that couldn’t be used frequently due to its high mana consumption… but now it’s unusable in the labyrinth.”

“Not necessarily. It’s all about how you use it. Knowing what’s 50 meters ahead can be a matter of life and death depending on the situation.”

“I see. I understand. From now on, I’ll use the Local Sonar for exploration.”

Everyone except Ashera was interested in my words.

“Al. What’s a Local Sonar? I didn’t hear about it.”

“Well, I didn’t mention it.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Eh? Because there was no need to…”

“You’re so cheeky for someone like you! I’m the one who changed your diapers!”

“W-What?! Don’t bring that up now! And besides, the maid changed them! I only had you do it once or twice!”

But I can’t afford to upset her, so I tell the truth.

“U-Um, Mom. The Area Sonar consumes a lot of mana, so I developed a Sonar that focuses on direction and distance. I named it the Local Sonar.”

“Anything else?”

“W-Well, what else…”

Ice Witch gazed at me with a sharp look.

“It’s still in development, but it’s called the ‘Vernier’…”

“Show me.”

“It’s still in development…”

“I don’t care. I want to see it.”

Despite being in the labyrinth, there was no tension at all. What’s with this temperature difference? Naga was the only one rubbing her temples.

The “Vernier” I was developing.

When we went to capture slimes and practiced walking on water…

“It consumes too much mana. If I use it, it’ll be for a moment.”

The technique would involve using Space Kick in conjunction with it, not on the soles of the feet, but on the “back” and “shoulders” by using Space Kick on the back and both shoulders to change posture without changing position.

It was a movement reminiscent of a combat mecha from an anime, pushing off from the back and changing direction without changing posture using jets from the shoulders.

Originally, for me, who specializes in attacking vital points and then retreating, it was the perfect technique.

I immediately tried to use it, but since it was still in development, I couldn’t achieve proper acceleration or instantaneous activation.

However, Rafina accurately understood what Aldo wanted to do.

Rafina thought… Space Kick, magic, magic weapons, magic shields, reactive armor, various sonars, and now, the “Vernier.”

Aldo had a mana amount that was only equivalent to an average mage. Rafina began to feel Aldo’s limitations.

“Got it.”

Rafina accurately understood what the “Vernier” was and spoke the words.

Based on that understanding, Raffina had to ask Aldo…

“Al… Is your mana okay?”

Aldo, who probably didn’t want to be asked that question the most, wore a bitter expression and returned Rafina’s question.

“With my mana capacity, no matter how much I increase the efficiency of mana fluctuations, honestly, it’s tough… It seems impossible to cover all the techniques with my mana…”

Everyone stared at Aldo with wide eyes, their faces expressing astonishment.

Hearing such a confession from Aldo, who always seemed nonchalant, left everyone speechless… Mana capacity. Even a prodigious genius like him seemed to have reached his limit because of that…

Despite the gloomy atmosphere, Aldo, the person in question, spoke as if he “didn’t care at all.”

“Lately, I’ve been learning how to make magical tools. There’s no need to cover everything with my own mana, so I plan to use magical tools for what they can do. I recently made a magical tool for Space Kick…”

Everyone thought… Ah, there’s no way this guy would easily give up. They worried for nothing. And so, they gazed into the void with eyes like rotten fish from a sewer, pondering their concerns.

Even though we had taken a break before entering the dungeon, for some reason, everyone except me unanimously decided to take another break… Why?

During the first 5 minutes of the break, nobody spoke or even moved, which made me worried. However, gradually, everyone started acting like their usual selves.

Naga provided another explanation.

“This time, it’s more of a trial to assess everyone’s abilities. First, please demonstrate your individual combat prowess.”

I nodded earnestly.

“Then, one by one, you’ll face a solo battle against the next encountered monsters. If you judge it to be too much, call for backup. We’ll also be assessing your judgment in such situations.”

“Understood.”

Advancing about 5 meters ahead of the party into the dungeon, I encountered a group of seven Wind wolves.

I immediately dashed towards the Wind wolves, summoning my shield from my left arm and activating Reactive Armor.

At full speed, I yelled at the group of Wind wolves.

The Reactive Armor was not the non-lethal mode used against El and Shirea’s squads, but a mode with full-power explosiveness.

As soon as my bash exploded on the Wind wolves, a blast occurred, sending three of them flying.

The three Wind wolves flying through the air were likely dead, as their bodies and necks were twisted unnaturally. Among the supposed four remaining Wind wolves, only two were standing… Presumably, the other two were torn apart by the initial explosion.

The two standing Wind wolves were barely standing upright.

Meanwhile, after the explosion of Reactive Armor, I was blown backward. However, instead of just being blown away, I slid across the ground as if skating.

Sliding across the ground as if it were a rink, I made a big arc. Then, just when I thought I had circled behind the two Wind wolves, I severed their heads.

My movement on the ground, similar to skating, was an arrangement of the movement shown by Ashera at the lake before.

Despite instantly killing all seven Wind wolves, I felt dissatisfied.

“Hmm… This movement technique still consumes too much mana. And even with Reactive Armor in full-power mode, I still get blown away… Since it’s magic, can’t I specify the direction of the explosion or something?”

Forgetting that we were in a dungeon, I began analyzing Reactive Armor and my movement technique.

Nobody dared to interject anymore… Naga pretended not to see anything and continued speaking.

“Now, Ashera, it’s your turn.”

After the irrationality of the previous choice, Naga’s intention in choosing Ashera next was unclear.

“Yes.”

This time, Ashera took the lead. It seemed that Ashera was supposed to be the strongest after me.

As we discussed the battle, Naga tapped my back. Even though we were on the first floor of the dungeon, we should maintain a sense of tension.

As we walked for about five minutes, three Wind wolves were overlooking us from a slightly elevated area.

Ashera was ready and waiting, but there was no sign of them coming down.

“Ashera, that might be a mutant. Be careful.”

“Got it.”

Upon Naga’s voice, we carefully observed the Wind wolves, and the one in the middle appeared larger and darker in color.

Ashera floated ten wind magic orbs and yelled with a space kick.

The Windwolves seemed taken aback by a human jumping, falling completely into a defensive position. Well, even if they had the initiative, I didn’t think they stood a chance against Ashera…

Thanks to the space kick, Ashera moved to a higher position than the Wind wolves. She fired two magic orbs each at the Wind wolves on either side.

She’s grown faster and more accurate than before…

The two Wind wolves directly hit by the wind magic lost their original form and died instantly.

But why did she leave the mutant in the middle?

Ashera charged straight towards the mutant. The mutant tried to flee, but Ashera was overwhelmingly faster.

The mutant must have been desperate. Realizing it couldn’t escape, it attempted a suicide attack on Ashera.

Intentionally, perhaps. Ashera wrapped her right hand in mana, visible as activated mana, and activated wind magic. With that mana, she punched the mutant.

A sound resembling an explosion, but more organic, echoed.

The mutant hit by Ashera exploded, turning into a stain on the wall of the dungeon.

Fist of the North Star… I desperately swallowed the words that were about to come out without thinking.

I’ve always wondered about the ridiculous power of Ashera’s fist, but maybe it’s a fusion of magic and fist…a magic fist.

I had been planning to develop a magic sword someday, but she beat me to it.

Following me was Ashera. Next was Joe, who muttered just one thing.

“It’s tough to follow these two…”

Joe, I felt bad for him, but I hoped he’d take it easy.

As Joe furrowed his brow, I silently cheered him on in my mind.