Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 25

　March 29th.

　Today, as always, I came to Shinjuku Dungeon.

　However, unlike usual, he hadn’t come in the morning. It was now just after 1 pm.

　The reason why it’s this late is because this morning I stopped by the weapon shop to buy a replacement for the weapon I lost in yesterday’s battle.

　Yes, the weapon shop.

　More than three years after the dungeon appeared, a new type of business called the weapon shop had appeared in Japan. It was a store-style retailer where you could register the ownership of weapons and other items purchased at the store.

　Before the dungeon appeared, it would have been regulated by the Firearms and Swords Act, but now the laws in that area have changed in many ways.

　If you have an explorer’s license, you can buy weapons at the weapon shop, and if you register the owner and store them in a locked container, you can take them outside. Well, you’ll usually get caught if you carry a weapon in the open, though.

　anyway.

　I headed to Akihabara in the morning and purchased a new long sword at a familiar weapon shop (which I’d only been to once before).

　Its name is “Steel Long Sword”.

　Yes, it’s the same sword as the one he used before.

　By the way, the price is almost 1 million yen.

　I thought I’d been making a ton of money in the dungeons lately, but most of the money I’d earned has been blown away by this.

　I couldn’t help but say, “I see.”

　This is probably why new explorers can’t make much money. If their weapons and armor get ruined at this rate, their income will be negligible.

　………….

　No? But it broke because he pushed himself too hard against the Goblin Knight, and it wouldn’t have broken if he had just fought normally.

　Even though weapons and armor are consumables, there’s no way they’re going to wear out at this rate.

　Oh, and a replacement for the broken breastplate… but I didn’t buy it.

　I don’t have any defensive skills, so the strength of the breastplate wasn’t enhanced by any stats. It was just a leather breastplate. When I faced a Goblin Knight, it got torn apart in one hit.

　In that case, it’s the same without it until you get some armor with special effects.

　Maybe the HP barrier will do something about it! Gahaha!

　Having acquired a new weapon in this way, I ate some brothy meat noodles for lunch and then headed to the Shinjuku dungeon.

　I then jogged the shortest distance from the first floor to the third floor. After about two and a half hours, I arrived in front of the stairs to the fourth floor, where I had fought the Goblin Knight yesterday.

　I’ve had a few battles along the way, but my new sword feels good to use. With it, I’m sure I’ll be able to fight well even against monsters on the fourth floor.

“Well then, let’s go!”

　So that’s why I went down to the fourth floor.

　The monsters that appear on the fourth floor are the same as those on the third floor: thief, warrior, and swordsman, but also new monsters such as goblin archers and goblin mages.

　Levels range from 6 to 8. They appear in groups of up to 5.

　If I use my 《Fighting Spirit》, I should be able to avoid their attacks and defeat them one by one, just like on floor 3. According to the Modern Dungeon Strategy Wiki, the agility value of the goblins here is around 35 at most, so if I have an agility value of over 70, I’ll have no problem.

　However, unlike before, some monsters can attack from a distance, so you’ll need to be careful. You especially can’t take the magic attacks of mages. Since you haven’t raised your 《Spirit》 at all, your magic defense is low.

　If you get hit, your HP will be reduced in an instant.

“Well, as long as it doesn’t hit me, there’s no problem.”

　It’s easier to give birth than to worry about it.

　Anyway, I decided to try fighting it once.

“Hmm, here it comes…!!”

　Not long after walking through the fourth floor, I spotted a group of goblins at the end of a dimly lit corridor, so I drew my sword.

　There were four of them: one thief, one warrior, one archer, and one mage. Their physiques were somehow more impressive than the goblins on the third floor.

　The goblins also noticed my presence and started running in formation.

　In the lead was still the Warrior, followed closely by the Thief, and then at the very back were the Archer and Mage.

　I also started running towards the goblins, but before I could reach them with my sword, there was a preemptive attack from the other side.

　The Archer’s bow and arrow and the Mage’s fireball.

　Bow and arrow attacks are surprisingly fast. However, they are not invisible like bullets, and with my current agility, I can easily avoid them.

　The same goes for the flying fireball. After dodging the arrow, he jumps to the side and dodges it with ease. The fireball passes behind him and crashes into the ground, scattering flames spectacularly.

　…If there was a reasonable distance between them, it would be easy to avoid either attack, but if you were in a melee, it would be difficult to avoid the attack, no matter how high your agility value was.

　It seems best to try hit-and-run tactics to avoid being surrounded.

　–And then the leading warrior stepped into range.

“Owwwww!!”

　Before he could attack, I smashed a powerful blow into the warrior’s shield.

　Just like on the first three floors, the warrior was blown backwards.

　But immediately, the thief behind the warrior came forward.

　Faster than a 3rd tier thief!

　Even so, the difference in agility value of more than double was large.

　At this speed, I still have plenty of time to counterattack. I turn towards the approaching thief and swing my sword down. With one blow, I cut his torso in half.

　Even on this floor, an attack with four times the power would be overkill. However,

“That was close!?”

　The Archer and Mage’s attacks came at a time again. By the time they managed to avoid them at the last moment and regain their balance, the Warrior they had blown away with a flourish had returned to the battlefield.

　It seems like I can win if I just keep fighting normally, but…the Archers and Mages are still the most troublesome. I’d like to eliminate them first if possible.

　However, right now I have no means of long-distance attacks.

　In that case, the only option left would be to get behind the goblins.

“Shhh!”

　He exhales sharply and suddenly starts running, accelerating.

　Ignoring the warrior who was preparing himself for another attack, I leapt towards the wall of the passage.

　Just before colliding with the wall approaching at high speed, it kicks the wall and jumps again.

　It’s an acrobatic move reminiscent of a Hollywood action movie, but it’s not difficult for an explorer with high status.

“「――――!?」”

　He slips behind the warrior and lands in front of the archer and mage.

　Using the momentum of his jump, he closed the distance and slammed his sword into the surprised mage, cutting him down. With one blow, all of his HP was lost, and the mage was killed.

　However, the Archer reacted quickly and shot his bow.

　It was fired from close range, so there was no time to jump and avoid it.

　But I could see the timing of the attack and the trajectory of the arrow. I twisted my torso and raised the sword I had just swung down, then held it in front of me as if to use the blade as a shield.

　Clang! There was a light sound as the Archer’s arrow was deflected.

　He approached the panicked Archer and swung his sword sideways, beautifully snapping off Archer’s neck.

“–Phew, I won.”

　Without dropping his guard, he turns to face the warrior behind him.

　The warrior didn’t attack carelessly, but instead carefully prepared his shield.

　The words I muttered did not become a flag, and there was no way I would lose to a single warrior.

　After this, I easily defeated the warrior and won the battle.

　The battle lasted between 10 and 20 seconds. HP consumed was 8. Experience gained was a whopping 1030. It was almost the same as the Goblin Knight from yesterday.

　Yeah, that’s good!