Chapter 31
"Ouch......"
I hit my head on the ground.
When I looked up, it was a dark and damp corridor.
The entire area was like a wet swamp, and if I let my guard down, my feet might get stuck.
However, it continues like a labyrinthine corridor, so it's probably a dungeon.
It's quite different from the Gunma dungeon.
"Grandpa? Grandpa!"
No response even if I call.
Maybe he was taken deeper.
What the heck is this dungeon.
It suddenly appeared five years ago or something...... it's completely meaningless.
In the first place, how do dungeons even occur?
Huh? Now that I think about it, I don't know anything about dungeons.
"Chi-chi-chi"
"Shimaenaga-san. You've come with me, haven't you?"
"Chi~"
"Do you know where the exit is?"
"Chi-chi-chi"
Shimaenaga-san started circling above my head while chirping.
Seems like he can't find the exit.
It's strange, even though we just came down here.
I can understand impossible phenomena.
Until recently, I didn't know, but in this world, there's a device that creates a 'pocket dimension' called 'Mugen High-Load'.
Therefore, if I think of this dungeon as being in a pocket dimension, I can accept it.
Easy to enter but hard to leave, or something?
Like Davy Jones' Locker.
"Anyway, I can't go back alone. There's also Grandpa, so I have no choice but to proceed. I'm really glad I brought my equipment."
"Chi-chi"
"As expected of Shimaenaga-san. You have keen insight."
"Chi~♪"
Shimaenaga-san is proudly puffing out his fluffy white chest.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 111
HP 8,392/8,392
MP 1,571/1,571
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
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Hmm. Shimaenaga-san isn't being counted as my equipment.
"Chi-chi-chi"
"Hey, Shimaenaga-san, something is stuck around your neck. Eh? On purpose? Ah, I see, you're wearing 'Calamity Beast' as a collar, so it's not treated as my equipment because I haven't put on a ring."
"Chi~"
"Hmm, perhaps you're being cautious of the dungeon camp's alarm devices, so you can move lightly at any time?"
"Chi-chi♪"
"Uhh...... smart! My child is too smart! And cute!"
"Chi~ chi~ chi~"
This kid is just too cute.
"In the current situation, I can't expect support. I can't escape leaving Grandpa behind. So, after all...... I have no choice but to proceed. Shimaenaga-san, this way."
I put Shimaenaga-san in my chest pocket and put on 'Labyrinth Conqueror'──sunglasses.
A 3D map was constructed and displayed on the black surface behind the lenses.
That's strange.
Monster frequent areas and treasure chest locations aren't displayed.
Maybe there are no monsters or treasure chests?
Is there such a dungeon......?
Even so, even if there were monsters, now isn't the time to leisurely grind.
"Grandpa, I'm coming now."
I started running through the first floor, relying on the map.
The target is a suspicious dome space deep inside.
It's like a huge space when I fought the Resource Boss.
It looks really suspicious.
"Chi-chi!"
"A monster. So there is one."
I discovered a Shiba Inu about ankle height. Is that what they call a miniature Shiba?
From the size, it's a monster on the first floor.
One odd point is.
It's very metallic.
It has a glossy and very shiny appearance.
But, I don't care.
Monsters are just turned to ash.
"Calibur"
Consuming 1 HP, I unleashed an explosion with ATK 100.
For a first-floor monster, this should easily kill it.
However──
"What, it's not dying......!"
The Shiba Inu──no, Metal Shiba, doesn't budge at all.
It feels like Super Armor; it doesn't budge in the slightest.
It took the explosion on its cheek and tilted its head as if saying "What is it?"
It's hard. Unbelievably hard.
What the heck is this dungeon.
Isn't it a first-floor monster?
Or maybe, my way of measuring monster strength by size was wrong. Hmm, that's possible. Come to think of it, I still don't know much about dungeons.
"Got it. I'll go back to basics and measure how much stamina it has."
I spread out both finger snaps and unleash 'Finger Snap Lv4' seven times per second.
Previously, six times per second was the limit, but training has evolved me.
The power is fixed──HP1 ATK100
"Crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp crisp Calibur Delch!"
45 shots without a break.
Total ATK 4,600 hammered in.
Even the Metal Shiba can't stand there with a cool face.
"Chi-chi!"
"Wha"
It was standing.
It was standing normally.
What's more, it even started scratching the back of its neck with its hind legs.
Ah, let me tell you exactly what happened just now.
I thought I unleashed 46 attacks on a puppy that's only as tall as my ankle, turning it into smithereens without holding back, but before I knew it, only my HP had decreased. Of course, the opponent is unharmed.
This is definitely not something cheap like high HP or super armor.
"What the heck, what's happening...... unharmed, no damage...... nullified? My attacks are being nullified? That means...... there's a secret with that Metal?"
Metal, metallic......
Hmm. Maybe this guy has an insanely high defense?
Thinking about it, my attacks are calculated based on ATK, that is, attack power.
Just because I unleashed an ATK100 attack doesn't mean it deals 100 damage, right?
If there's defense──DEF100, wouldn't it cancel out and deal 0 damage?
To give it enough attack power, I blew up the Shiba Inu with HP200 ATK20,000.
In an instant, the Metal Shiba Inu shattered and turned into a massive amount of particles of light.
Pikon!
"Ah. I leveled up."
Even though I just leveled up yesterday.
After surpassing level 100, it's gotten harder to level up, yet it went up so easily from just one enemy.
Could it be, Metal Shiba Inu, you have an insane amount of experience points?
I see.
So, monsters' properties change depending on the dungeon.
And this dungeon is one where the bonus monster Metal Shiba Inu appears.
"Oh crap, I'm starting to want to level up more than saving Grandpa......"
"Chi-chi-chi!"
"T-that's right, that's not humane at all. I know, Shimaenaga-san."
I ran through the dungeon to save my grandfather. To save him, right.
"Hmm, that's weird, no Metal Shiba Inu around......"
"Chi-chi-chi!"
"N-no, no! I'm really looking for Grandpa! Ah!!"
"Chi?"
"Metal Shiba Inu discovered! Extermination Excalibur!"
"......Chi"
I blew up the Metal Shiba Inu.
A massive amount of experience points came rushing toward me at once.
Heheheh, come on, hurry up, experience points.
Make me feel the best, uhihihihi.
Ah, no good, I started feeling good even before leveling up!
"Chi-chi-chi!"
"Sh-Shimaenaga-san?!"
Suddenly, Shimaenaga-san jumped out of my chest pocket and dove into the experience points.
Piko piko piko piko, piko piko!
"Level up sound? Wait, but I'm not feeling good...... what was that sound just now......? Anyway, status."
────────────────────
Akagi Hideo
Level 112
HP 8,392/8,650
MP 1,571/1,652
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
────────────────────
That's strange.
I heard such a flashy level up sound, but the status hasn't changed at all.
What happened...............huh?
"Chi-chi♪"
"Shimaenaga-san...... have you gotten a bit plumper?"
Shimaenaga-san seems to have grown bigger......
It's gotten even fluffier.
Is this a new genre called "Fat Shimaenaga-san"...... so cute......
It comes back to my chest pocket while still plump.
It's packed tight. Completely full.
"Maybe...... let me see your status for a bit."
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Shimaenaga-san
Level 10
HP 10/1,420
MP 10/1,852
Skills
'Blasphemous Morning Star'
'Blasphemous Pact'
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It's growing?!
Moreover, it's even gained skills?!
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'Blasphemous Pact'
Warning to the world.
The blasphemous monsters have found an ally.
Enhances all stats of the ally by 400%.
Can be used once every 720 hours.
Resolves cooldown with MP10,000.
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This is bad...... really bad......
What's bad is the scale...... 400% and 720 hours, MP10,000, there are all sorts of weird things peeking through......
The inside is gradually turning into 'Calamity Beast'......
"Chi-chi-chi♪"
"Hmm, I wonder if I can take care of it until the end......"
I'm starting to lose confidence.