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The Otherworld Conquest Method of a Reincarnated Porter Chapter 175 Part 2

「You’re as strong as ever, Sei.」

「I guess, and it looks like we got two ninth-grade magic stones. If we don’t have too many people with us, we should be able to make a considerable amount of money in this labyrinth, no?」

「That’s true, but there are poisonous monsters on the higher stratums, you see. Mian and I can more of less detoxify them, but it consumes a lot of magical energy and it’s dangerous.」

「Besides, if you take too long to defeat them, you might get surrounded.」

I see, the rank of each and every monster in this labyrinth is pretty high. If you get surrounded and poisoned by them, you might die. It looks like we won’t be able to conquer it so easily.

In this labyrinth, low-level adventurers who are just filling out the numbers will probably be nothing but a burden. As expected, it looks like the only way to conquer it is to fork out a considerable amount of money and hire high-level adventurers.

「Alright, let’s try going up to the seventh stratum.」

While checking our coordination, we defeat monsters and head for higher stratums.

The higher the stratum, the lower the number of adventurers there, but even so, there are other adventurer parties up to the seventh stratum, so we don’t get into any consecutive battles and are able to make our way up smoothly.

The maximum rank of the monsters on the seventh stratum is 19, which makes them a fairly strong enemy, but if our goal is to subjugate the labyrinth lord, we’ll have to raise our level on higher stratums. However, there is a strong enemy, the stratum lord, on the eighth stratum, so what should we do?

「Is the stratum lord staying in a room somewhere?」

「No, it’s not. It appears randomly and wanders around like other monsters.」

「In that case, why do say about skipping through the eighth stratum and going straight to the ninth stratum?」

If there is a strong enemy that wanders around, we can just avoid fighting it and go to a higher stratum. From what I’ve heard, it seems that the stratum lord, the Black-faced Owl, mainly fires magic attacks from a distance while fleeing, so we might be able to get past it easily.

「Hmm, you’re right, it seems that the high-level adventurers around here do that, too. But…」

As expected, she probably doesn’t want to take any risks. However, if we take too much of a safety margin, we’ll never be able to subjugate the labyrinth lord.

「Big sis, I think I can do it. My level has also increased quite a bit, so let’s aim for the ninth stratum.」

「Mian… Alright, it’s a little dangerous, but I know the way, so let’s give it a try.」

「I see, alright, let’s have you two equip this first.」

I take out two mithril shields from my storage and hand them to the two. If you infuse them with magic, they should be able to block most attacks.

「These are, mithril shields…」

「Two of them…」

「Yeah, try infusing them with magical energy.」

Swallowing their doubts as to why I have such valuable items, the two start to channel magical energy into the shields.

The two of them usually wield their red iron swords while channeling their magical energy into them, so it seems they have no problem using the shields. Alright, I also have potions with me, so with this, I don’t think we’ll die.

「Sei, it’s a bit difficult to fight while channeling magical energy into the shield and the sword at the same time.」

「Yeah, but we won’t fight the enemies on the eighth stratum. We’ll focus on defense and aim for the ninth stratum.」

We carefully climb the stairs to the eighth stratum.

I’m a bit nervous. Since the size of each stratum of this labyrinth isn’t that big, the chances of encountering the wandering stratum lord are by no means low. We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Once we reach the top of the stairs, we erase our presence and look around the eighth stratum.

Not a single sound could be heard. Alright, it seems there are no monsters nearby. We check the map to the stairs to the ninth stratum and memorize it.

In any case, we’ll run away without fighting the stratum lord. We step into the eighth stratum.

Strange, we’ve been walking for quite some time, but we haven’t encountered any enemies at all. There shouldn’t be many other adventurers on this stratum, so the encounter rate should be high. It’s kind of eerie and unsettling.

As we turn the corner while muffling our sounds, we are met with an astonishing sight.

Numerous magic stones and iron materials scattered across the path. And then, blood splatter. Moreover, further ahead, we can hear the sounds of battle.

「Sei…」

「Yeah.」

Some party is probably engaged in a battle to the death against the stratum lord and monsters.

This is an opportunity for us. While they’re distracting the monsters, we should be able to make it to the ninth stratum.

We make our way to the end of the T-junction while muffling our sounds. The sounds of battle come from the right, while the stairs to the ninth stratum are on the left.

We can just head for the stairs straight away, but the sounds of battle have ceased. I wonder if the adventurers have defeated the stratum lord. I’m curious about it, so I decided to check the situation there.

With my back against the wall, I stick only my head out and check the passageway to the right.

「That’s…」

Several magic stones and iron materials are scattered on the path, and further ahead a man with a large build is lying on the ground, covered in blood. And then, next to him lay an owl monster, which is slowly getting sucked into the labyrinth, leaving behind a magic stone and a black mask.

I wonder if they have struck each other down. There seems to only be a single adventurer, so all his comrades must have died. It’s also unclear whether the man lying there, covered in blood, is still alive or not.

I feel bad because it feels like I’m taking advantage of someone in distress, but here, I guess I’ll help myself with the magic stones and materials at least.

「Hey, you there, are you okay?」

Michiyopuana rushes towards the collapsed man.

She has a very kind personality, so she probably can’t bring herself to ignore him.

Miancrawler and I head towards the man while watching out for the surrounding area.

「Hey, thank goodness, looks like you’re still breathing.」

「… Ugh, leave me alone. For me, there’s no longer any meaning in living, so just let me die like this.」

What does that mean? All his comrades have died, so it’s painful for him to continue living by himself, something along those lines?

「You idiot, there’s no such thing as a life that’s okay to just throw away. Hold on a sec, I’ll heal you right away.」

Michiyopuana starts to cast healing magic on the man.

But he’s suffered so many injuries. It’d probably take a lot of magical energy just to heal him enough to walk. It seems Miancrawler also helps her elder sister and starts casting healing magic on him. It looks like this is as far as we go for today’s labyrinth exploration.

Thanks to the sisters’ healing magic, the collapsed man’s complexion is gradually improving.

Something is off about this man. The sword he’s equipped with is a mithril sword of considerable purity and must be of great value. And yet he wears no armor at all. He’s dressed in fine clothes, so it doesn’t seem like he has any trouble with money. What on earth is going on?

Appraisal!

 

Segodon Westdale, Age 25, Level 34

Job: Magic Knight

 

Huh?! He’s someone of the Count Westdale’s bloodline?

It seems he has some special circumstances. Was he banished from the count’s family and ran away with nothing but the clothes on his back and his sword?

By any chance, did he go into this labyrinth solo? I thought his comrades had been killed by monsters and absorbed into the labyrinth, but if he’s a high-level magic knight, it makes sense that he was able to take down the stratum lord solo.

Perhaps it was either a suicide attack on the stratum lord solo without wearing any armor, or he has some kind of circumstance that makes him want to commit suicide.

If he was an ordinary adventurer, I would leave him alone, but this guy is without a doubt strong. It’d probably be a good idea to save his life, making him indebted to us, and then ask him to help us conquer the labyrinth.

Still, Segodon huh, I feel like I’ve heard of that name somewhere before, but hmm, I can’t remember it. Well, I don’t think I have any acquaintances on this land, so it’s probably just my imagination.

「There, can you walk?」

「Yeah…」

Thanks to the sisters’ devoted care, his wounds seem to have healed, but I don’t think he’ll be able to fight. It seems he’s lost a considerable amount of blood, so he’ll probably need to rest for a while. At any rate, this marks the end of our labyrinth exploration.

「Alright, let’s go back to the inn. We can talk then.」

I put the magic stones, materials, and black mask scattered in the surrounding area into my storage. This black mask, is it made of black iron? If so, it might sell for a high price.

Encountering barely any enemies on our way back, we’re able to make it back safely. Putting off trading the materials for another day, we decided to return to the inn.