3 bar menu

Volume 8 Chapter 1 Part 10

Thankfully that wasn’t necessary, because before I could launch the sixth 「Sand Ball」, the Clam Shell has fallen onto the floor where it died.

「Phew… finally, it’s dead.」

「Yes. That was a splendid fight, master.」

The Clam Shell fell onto the floor of the cave, where its shell rolled around it for a little bit. Instead of my magic, this time an attack from Sherry and her spear seemed to be the thing that finally managed to strike the last nail into this monster’s coffin. In the very next second, it went through the usual routine of turning into a puff of green smoke and disappearing while leaving behind its Drop Items.

「You did it. Sherry. That was a great finishing strike.」

「It was amazing, desu.」

「Thank you all for your kind words, but I think that the biggest factor in bringing that Clam Shell down was the moment when Miss Roxanne pierced that Clam Shell’s insides when its mouth was still open. Also, since Clam Shell is an aquatic monster, then it is entirely possible that the effect of Miria’s Diver Job might have played a part in bringing it down as well.」

Even though she was trying to downplay her own role in our success just now, Sherry was obviously pleased with the result. On top of that, this is actually the first time when Sherry managed to defeat an enemy that I previously tried using magic on. Couple that with Roxanne switching her weapon from a Rapier to an Estoc, which was a huge upgrade to her personal damage, and you’re going to have a ready to go recipe for the increase in our offensive capabilities.

「You said that Roxanne attacking the inside of the Clam Shell’s mouth might’ve been a factor in our victory just now. Does that mean that attacking the inside of the monster’s body results in dealing extra damage to it?」

I asked Sherry a question that was on my mind. If it turns out to be the truth, then we might be in for another alteration to our fighting strategy.

「Since regular attacks that were aimed at the Clam Shell’s outer shells didn’t seem to be doing much damage to it and an attack to the inside of its body has done so much damage in a single hit, then I am inclined to think that the ones targeting the inside of the Clam Shell’s body do in fact deal more damage to it than the other ones.」

「Ah yes, I see. Makes sense.」

Sherry’s line of reasoning seems to be a good one, although I myself can’t say that I really understand the monsters of this world and how they seem to work as well as I probably should, but what I do understand is that Sherry defeating monsters is not a scenario that I would want to repeat itself over and over again, because the results of Sherry and myself defeating monsters are going to be quite different.

First and foremost, if I’m not going to be the one to defeat the monsters, then the 「Crystalization x64」Bonus Skill is not going to trigger and we won’t get as much magic power out of the monsters as we otherwise could. The same reasoning applies to my 「Increase EXP Gained」Bonus Skill: if I don’t deal the final blow, then we can kiss the increased amount of EXP goodbye. So as you can see, even though it’s a welcomed thing to see that my Party Members are growing strong enough to be killing monsters in my place, them doing that is not always going to be a desired outcome. But sometimes there’s just no helping it, however.

Besides, even if I won’t be the one to defeat the monster, there is always a possibility that we still might get the sweet bonus EXP if my magic is going to be the thing doing most of the work.

From what I have seen, Sherry stabbed the Clam Shell about four or five times, so if all three of them wanted to kill a single monster with their current equipment, then it would probably take them around twelve to maybe thirteen strikes, so such a thing might definitely happen from time to time, but I don’t think that its going to be a regular occurrence that I should be seriously worrying myself about, and demanding them to not attack enemies while we’re on the higher floors of the Labyrinths would be the absolute height of stupidity.

Next, we are taking on a group of enemies that consists of three Clam Shells and a single Bitch Butterfly.

「They’re coming, master!」

Roxanne calls out to me, indicating that the enemies are approaching.

Roxanne moves her body lightly, as if she was nothing but a mirage, and in the next moment, water passes the place where she was just a second ago.

It doesn’t seem to be a magic attack, but it cannot be blocked by the shield. Getting wet is also unpleasant, so evading it is better than trying to deal with it. It’s good that I’m not right behind Roxanne, because otherwise I would have definitely got hit by some of the splash damage.

I’ve been seeing battles for a while now, so I learned to foresee the danger of being right behind Roxanne to some extent. See, even someone like me can learn something new every day if only I get the chance.

The Clam Shells and Bitch Butterfly approach us. The Clam Shells come forward after shooting water at us without delay.

It is neither magic or a skill that they use to shoot water. There is no delay because they don’t need to use a magic formation? There is a three-person vanguard against the four of them.

I defeated the Clam Shell’s with six 「Sand storms」. This isn’t one of the times where I can defeat them all in the same number of shots, however. I need to use another three 「Breeze Balls」 to defeat the Bitch Butterfly. Magic is the decisive blow this time.

After the battle, we pick up the Drop Items. Miria passes me Shell Powder at the end.

「Here, desu.」

「A clam is a bivalve, so is this where the clam ingredient come from?」

「Yes, it’s an item from the Clam Shell. It’s a rare item, but doesn’t seem to be as rare as whole fish.」

Sherry tells me. It’s like that after all? Miria also seems to want to say something.

「The clam is dinner tonight, and tomorrow’s dinner will be deep fried whole fish.」

「Tomorrow’s dinner, desu.」

I’m not sure if she’s happy or upset, although she’s not frowning, so she’s probably pleased. But she also might be upset that it’s not util tomorrow. The fish needs time to marinate in the fish sauce, after all.

「Next, please lead us to a place with three kinds of monsters, Roxanne.」

「I understand. I know the smell of a group with four Clam Shells and one Bitch Butterfly, I’ll do my best to find a group like that with a third demon type as well.」

「Please do.」

As expected, Roxanne is as reliable as ever.

There can be a maximum group of five monsters on the sixteenth floor. There are three kinds of monsters, and the maximum group size is five. With all three monsters, there would only be one of the other demon type. That’s how things would turn out with this combination. Some estimations can’t be made in a two to one combination though.

Like if there were two Sarracenias and one other kind of monster.

「Um, I think I’ve found a group with three Clam Shells, a Bitch Butterfly, and a Pig Hog. How is that?」

「Clam shells and Pig Hog together? We should try that out.」

「I understand, this way.  」

A group with three kinds of monsters on the sixteenth floor of Haruba’s Labyrinth Three. Clam Shells, a Bitch Butterfly, and Pig Hog.

I use six Earth Magic Spells on the Clam Shells, after that the Bitch Butterfly falls from another three Wind Magic Spells, and then the Pig Hog falls last from an additional three 「Water balls」.

It’s a considerably long fight. It’s quite serious.

「Three 「Water Balls」… We should avoid this combination as much as possible.」

「Is that so?」

No matter if I use it or not, the amount of Spells needed doesn’t seem to change while using Monk. I won’t stop using Cook though, because I want clams.

Next is a group of different kinds of monsters made up by three Clam Shells, a Bitch Butterfly, and a Sarracenia.