Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 21

It was smashed to pieces.

 

　My sword.

 

“–teeth?”

 

　At that moment, various thoughts crossed my mind.

 

　I finally bought this steel sword with the money I’d saved up by sacrificing my youth and working part-time jobs for three years in high school. It was a very reasonable price of about 1 million yen. It was like a friend whom I’d fought alongside against the goblins. I took good care of it every day when I got home. If there was a nick in the blade, I sharpened it myself, and I polished and oiled it every day. It’s my trusty partner.

 

　Was it a bad idea to keep hitting the shield with so much force, over and over again?

 

　Come to think of it, I’ve slammed it into the shield many times before when fighting Goblin Warriors…

 

　My comrade fell on the battlefield.

 

“――――”

 

“――――”

 

　At that moment, both the Goblin Knight and I were consumed with a blank mind.

 

　However, because the shock was so great, it took me a while to come back to my senses.

 

　The Goblin Knight swung his sword, sending a slash through my shoulder.

 

“— Nggghhh!?”

 

　He dodged it by jumping backwards.

 

　However, it wasn’t a complete avoidance. The leather breastplate I was wearing, the clothes underneath, and then my flesh were cut, sending fresh bl00d flying.

 

　However, it wasn’t a fatal injury. Only a thin layer of skin―No, a full cut through the skin. The body was still able to move.

 

“–heel!!”

 

　Immediately afterwards, either because a minute had passed since the last heal, or because she had sensed that I was in danger and activated it in a panic, a light came flying from the girl behind me and enveloped my entire body.

 

　The bleeding from my chest stops. I feel a sharp pain, but for now, the wound is closed.

 

　Glancing sideways at his status, he saw that his HP, which had dropped to “3” after the slash attack, had recovered to “35.”

 

　It’s dangerous!!

 

　I seriously nearly died!!

 

　However, it was still not a situation in which I could let my heart out.

 

“Sorry! I’m out of MP!”

 

　The older sister screams.

 

　It seemed that the current heal had reached its limit. This meant that he only had a maximum of one minute and twenty seconds left to activate his 《Fighting Spirit》.

 

　I also lost my weapon.

 

　Hey, what should I do about this?! I didn’t have time to think about it.

 

“Gugh!!”

 

　Seeing this as an opportunity, the Goblin Knight raised his voice for the first time and closed the distance in one go.

 

“Tchhhh!! You idiot!!”

 

　I desperately try to avoid the Goblin Knight’s sword.

 

　What to do, what to do, what to do–!!

 

　He was still holding the broken sword, but it would be difficult to fight any longer with a sword that was broken in half!

 

　–And then, at that moment.

 

 

“Gouda’s sword is still there!!”

 

 

　Viewers’ comments were shouted from her older sister’s drone.

 

　–I see!!

 

　Instantly, I went on the offensive.

 

“Don’t underestimate me!!!”

 

「――――!?」

 

　He launches a powerful front kick at the Goblin Knight’s shield.

 

　He took a step back, then threw his broken sword at the Goblin Knight, who had created a small distance between them. The thrown sword was easily blocked by the Goblin Knight’s shield.

 

　However, I took advantage of that opportunity to turn around and run.

 

　Jump forward, roll on the ground, and stand up.

 

　By that time, the sword that was lying next to my brother was already in my right hand.

 

“Graaagh!!”

 

　The moment I turned around, the Goblin Knight who had been chasing me swung his sword down. I picked up the sword and blocked the blow, and sneered.

 

“Thank goodness you’re an idiot…!!”

 

“—!?”

 

　If the Goblin Knight had aimed at my sister before I could pick up the sword, I would have had no way to defend myself. And if this monster were as vicious as a human, it would have taken my sister hostage, prevented me from resisting, and killed me.

 

　Well, I could have been the only one to survive if I had abandoned my sister, but I doubt I would have been able to make that choice.

 

　Therefore, to win, the Goblin Knight should have targeted his sister first.

 

　–no.

 

　Or perhaps I am a threat to this thing, which is why I’ve been targeting it so relentlessly.

 

　Anyway.

 

“Owwwww!!”

 

　I kick the Goblin Knight’s shield again to create some distance.

 

“From now on it’s my turn!!”

 

“—-!!”

 

　Immediately, he closed the distance and unleashed a slash.

 

　The sword was swung in rapid succession. The Goblin Knight blocked them all with his shield. The thunderous sound of metal clashing at high speed reverberated throughout the dungeon, which resembled an underground ruin. The same offensive and defensive attack continued for 10, 20 seconds.

 

　My HP was being consumed by my 《Fighting Spirit》, decreasing to “31” “27” “23” “19” “15”.

 

　And――「11」

 

“—-!!”

 

“—!?”

 

　This time, that moment had finally come.

 

　A change in the response. A change in the aura surrounding the Goblin Knight. Or perhaps the presence he exuded suddenly became smaller – in any case, it wasn’t a change that could be seen with the naked eye, but both the Goblin Knight and I could tell that “something had disappeared.”

 

“Oooooooooohhhh!!!”

 

　Good opportunity!!

 

　He took a big step forward and swung his sword sideways.

 

　The sword sliced ​​the Goblin Knight’s raised shield halfway through, blowing it off his arm.

 

“Gugh!!”

 

　There was no wavering or stiffening. The moment his shield was blown away, the Goblin Knight attacked with the sword in his right hand.

 

　I respond with my sword to that attack.

 

　He swung his sword upwards. The Goblin Knight’s arm was knocked back with force, and the sword was sent flying from his hand–,

 

“This is the end!!”

 

　He raised his sword over his shoulder, then put all his weight into it and brought it down with all his might on the guy’s shoulder.

 

　*Crash!!* There was an indescribable sound of metal crumbling, and the long sword sliced ​​through the guy’s armor from his shoulder to the center of his chest.

 

“――――”

 

　Silence.

 

　After a beat, the Goblin Knight fell to his knees.

 

　His body shook, and then he fell to the ground–

 

 

『— Uh, Uoooooooooooooo!!!』

 

“Seriously? Seriously? Seriously?!”

 

“Junkie-niki, you did defeat the Goblin Knight!!!”

 

“Amazing!!!”

 

 

　As the comments were read out from the drone camera, the figure began to disappear, turning into specks of light.