Hazure Skill ‘Mapping’ wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Saikyou Party to Tomo ni Dungeon ni Idomu Chapter 43

Live Continues on the 20th Floor

Translator: Masakibluei

Ten days may have passed since I swore to bring Erin back home. Actually, I don’t know how much time has exactly passed because we are currently in the dungeon. Perhaps, we have been stuck here in the 20^th level floor for about a month.  Even if we are in such a desolate situation right now, we are still lucky to be alive. Without any serious injuries, we are stumbling to find a way to escape from this level on our feet.

I hold tight my hands a couple of times.

It’s going to be fine. I still have some energy. I can still do it.

I send a hand signal to Erin who can be seen at the front right before the 3 intersections. A monster is walking from the other road and coming to this way. The moment it walks into the trap which we had set up beforehand, I give her the signal. The girl who is standing on a dark road seems to notice my signal. Despite the low visibility, she quickly replies with a big nod. 

PACK. Large cutting sounds which are ten times louder than the sound of tree branch breaking can be heard. Apparently, the monster falls into the trap.

“------------sh”

I step out to maintain the space. I dash to the street corner and turn around immediately. It’s the Frog Beast. His feet are trapped inside the ice and he is struggling to break out.

------<<Shrinking Space>>

I shorten my distance with the Frog Beast. This is an art which Jin usually uses. The instant it sees me drawing closer, the Frog Beast jumps slightly and its body starts to tremble. This is a basic technique for the moment when you encounter a monster. The object that the monster sees for the first time will naturally be its target. By using this technique, it is determined that the monster will completely focus its attention on me.

A light pink arrow is released at a high speed.

---------<<Evasion Streamline>>

Next, I activate the evasion art which I have seen a couple of times before being thrown into this 20^th floor. I use this art to avoid being pierced by the Frog Beast’s sharp tongue. As I avoid the tongue on the brink of time, saliva is dropping from the mouth. I move my body as I float and pass through the Frog Beast’s right side. When I passed through it, my sight was in line with its yellow eyes. Soon after, a ball of light is lighting the front profile of the Frog Beast in the trajectory where I was moving along before.

That is Erin’s spell, <<Light Blade>>. Anyone who is soaked by the light, will be pierced numerous times by light blades from the inside of its body. In the blink of eyes, the amphibian’s body is pierced by multiple light blades. However, the Frog Beast is still standing from the attack.

From the previous experience, I have learned that this degree of injuries won’t kill it yet. This 20th-floor monster is truly appropriate to live in an environment where humankind are unable to reach. The monster’s stamina is particularly high. It is quite difficult for Erin to put a good amount of magical power into one single attack to subdue the monster while considering the surrounding area and maintaining the far distance from the monster.

This is the turning point.

---------Absolutely. Kill it.

I pull out all of my bloodlust and charge toward the Frog Beast.

<<Bloodlust>>. This is one of the main arts of an assassin. I haven’t seen Jin using this art that much. Maybe only once or twice. I rely only on my own intuition to do this art, but I still have some confidence that I will succeed. Other than learning art by mimicking others on how to do it, art can also be learned naturally as you apply it with your whole body. In addition, with my frequent <<Stealth>> art training, I’m also quite confident in manipulating my own presence. <<Bloodlust>> is the opposite of <<Stealth>> which is also easier to learn. 

The Frog Beast’s attention which has changed to Erin who is at its front, turns back towards me because of my <<Bloodlust>>.

Yosh. It works out. I succeed in changing its target. While holding my fist inside, the Frog Beast’s launches the tongue attack.

I don’t feel any concern about it. At the moment, the Frog Beast’s movement is restricted by the trap. Henceforth, it is unable to turn its body properly.  Consequently, the tongue goes behind me and misses the target. This kind of assault can be avoided easily with <<Avoidance Streamline>> art. I evade the tongue attack one after another. I avoid all the attacks carefully and handle the whole situation in a calm manner. As I dodge the next assault, I raise my right hand to signal Erin. Soon after that, Erin discharges the second spell to finish the Frog Beast for good. The ice spear which comes from the spell goes through the Frog Beast’s head and kills it.

Note: “Yosh. Well done. Thanks.”

I give Erin who has done well some words of appreciation.

“You welcome,” Erin replies with a small voice.

First, once the monster is caught on the trap, Erin will cast one spell to give it some injuries. Next, I will use some arts to draw its attention from Erin. Then Erin will cast the second spell as the finishing blow. It was exactly as our plan. I move my shoulder to express my satisfaction of the result.

I become used to fight with the Frog Beast.  My art skills also have improved from each fight and now I can use it easily in the same way as I move my own body.

I hand over a knife to Erin so she can cut the Frog Beast’s meat. Her stripping meat technique has also improved considerably. This is probably proof that she has got accustomed to the life on the 20^th floor.

I talk to Erin who is still working with a sense of security for our present situation.

Note: “Then, let’s take a break after this?”

Erin: “Ok. If that is the case, I have to finish it quickly. “

Although her condition is not the same as before we landed on this 20^th floor, Erin replied with a slight energetic tone. Comparatively, her mental condition may have been stabilized a lot.

There is a big difference from our first fight with the Frog Beast. It feels like the heavy mood had disappeared between us. The change brings up a sense of security and confidence. After Erin finishes tidying up, we move around to find a place to rest. Since the monsters are unlikely to approach this place, we might be able to get some sleep here. I lay my tired body down, and Erin also does the same thing.

Note: “Are you okay, Erin?”

I ask her while observing her facial expression. She responds to my question as she stretches out her hands in front of her chest.

Erin: “What do you mean by ‘Are you okay’?”

Note: “That’s……well about everything.”

Erin: “Aa……well… I can’t say that I have completely recovered…But I feel a little bit relax. It thanks to you, Note.”

Erin turns with a wry smile. She looks a little bit shy. She seems to start to remember her emotional outbreak from that time and becomes a little bit uncomfortable. Thus, she continues to speak in a rush.

Erin: “Aa…But my feet start to hurt. Because of walking all the time. “

She laments as she takes off her shoes. The shoes which are laying on the ground are considerably ragged due to the scratches from walking every single day.

Note: “The shoes are already at the limit, huh.”

Erin: “Yeah. It’s such a pain that there is no spare.”

Inside of my item bag, there are only some spare items for me, Rosalia and Jin. Erin’s spare items are inside Neme’s item bag. Therefore, there is no replacement for Erin’s shoes. In regards to shoes, size really matters a lot compared to other clothing items. Thus Erin can probably use Rosalia's spare clothing in my bag. However, Rosalia’s outerwear and even stockings too are really not a good fit for Erin. Erin continues to lament as she takes off the thin and dirty socks from her feet.

Erin: “Uwaaa. It’s really getting worse.”

Erin’s barefoot has turned red and worn out in some places. It’s because she has been using the ragged shoes.

Note: “For the time being, should I help you to clean it first? If we leave it as it is, the germs will come into the wounds.”

Erin: “Yeah. Please.”

With that being said, Erin lays her feet on top of my knee.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Translator note:

Note and Erin have come to terms with each other, but they are still stuck on the 20th floor. They make a good combat pair. 

To everyone who read my translation, take care of yourself and your family. We are living in a strange world right now, but please don't be discouraged! Stay safe, stay healthy! My condolence for everyone who experiences loss from COVID-19. My heart and prayer will go with you. 

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