3 bar menu

The Otherworld Conquest Method of a Reincarnated Porter Chapter 189

Upper Stratums of the Labyrinth

「The Stone Tower Labyrinth, huh? It’s been a while.」

The five of us, including Gio, set foot into the Stone Tower Labyrinth.

As usual, the area around the entrance is packed with rookie adventurers. We walk past the rookie adventurers surrounding and ganging up on the goblins that are coming at them with their claws raised into the air, and head for the upper stratums at a quick pace.

「Have you ever been here before, Gio-san?」

「Mm, the Westdale Knight Order come here regularly to raise their level and gain experience. Before I retired, I also used to come here often. The only thing to watch out for here is the owl on the eighth stratum and the poisonous snakes on the upper stratums.」

「How about the Labyrinth Lord?」

「Ah, mm, of course I’ve fought it many times… but…」

「What is it?」

「Ah, mm. For the labyrinth lord, we usually surround it with heavily armed knights and defeat it, so if we want to challenge it with a small group of people, we’ll have to come up with a way to fight it.」

I see, so they surrounded it and beat it up. Well, many against one is the basic strategy of combat, after all. In fact, even the rookie adventurers defeat monsters that way. In any case, it’s reassuring to have someone with experience. As things stand, we might be able to subjugate the Labyrinth Lord with unexpected ease. If we can build a good relationship with this old man, maybe he would help us with Miancrawler’s marriage.

Taking the shortest route, we rush to the eighth floor in one go.

「Hmm, the eighth stratum. Since the owl fires wind magic at you from a long distance, it might be a bit tough for us who have no armor.」

「No need to worry, Segodon has defeated the Black-faced Owl, after all. I think there’s still a few more days before it respawns.」

「Hoh…」

「Hmph, let’s go.」

That’s right, Segodon defeated the troublesome stratum lord in a nearly striking-down-each-other manner.

We head to the ninth stratum, and the plan is to use the area around this stratum as our main battlefield to check our teamwork.

「Hmm, we’ve been defeating monsters on the eighth and ninth stratums for the past four days, so there don’t seem to be many of them left. It’ll be a bit dangerous, but maybe we should try heading to the tenth stratum.」

「We have Gio-san with us, so I think it’ll be fine.」

Michiyopuana and Miancrawler seem quite motivated.

Indeed, if it’s this group, subjugating the labyrinth lord won’t be just a dream either. They probably also have the ulterior motive of wanting to take advantage of this opportunity, where we have more combat personnel, to raise their level.

We step into the tenth stratum.

「…..」

Although the scenery on the ninth stratum is the same as those on the lower stratums, I feel like there is an eerie presence in the air, albeit vaguely. It seems that troublesome poisonous snakes start to show up from this stratum.

While muffling our noise, we cautiously proceed down the passageway. The formation is Segodon and Gio in front, me in the center behind them, and Michiyopuana and Miancrawler to my left and right. Hmm, looks like some enemies are coming from the front.

「Those are…」

「Sharp-clawed goblins. Their attack power is on a completely different level compared to the iron-clawed goblins on the lower stratums.」

Two sharp-clawed monsters that are slightly larger than the iron-clawed goblins.

Segodon and Gio hold their swords at the ready and charge at them with instant step.

「Sei!」

「Yeah.」

Michiyopuana, who has been watching the rear, spots monsters that are charging towards us. My presence detection has also picked up some reactions.

Not good, there are three sharp-clawed goblins. In this labyrinth, the ranks of the monsters are relatively high, but in exchange, they are few in number, so the possibility of getting surrounded should be low. However, since adventurers rarely come from this stratum, there must be a large number of them.

I step forward, and slightly behind me, Michiyopuana and Miancrawler stand on the left and right with their swords at the ready.

「Gigigigigi」

The monsters charge at us with their claws raised.

What to do? It’s three against three, so I wonder if we should crush them one by one.

Appraisal!

 

Sharp-Clawed Goblin, Rank 19

 

Damn it, they’re quite the formidable opponents. I wonder if Michiyopuana and Miancrawler will be able to deal with them well. Here, I guess I’ll attract their hate, move to their rear and surround them with the two.

I pass through their side and get behind them…

「Ugh.」

The goblin running in front, which has been raising its claws into the air, unleashes a surprisingly fast hand slash at my face.

I quickly tilt my head and manage to avoid it somehow. I had planned to attack their legs as I passed through their side, but the two goblins on the back also start to attack me, so I have my hand full with just dodging their attacks. These guys, as I thought, they’re opponents you can’t let your guard down against.

I succeed in getting behind them. Thanks to my moving around, I managed to attract the hate of two of them to me. I’ll leave the remaining one to those two.

「「Gigigigigig」」

Ugh, instant step, huh?

With swift movements, the two goblins charge at me at high speed.

As I retreat backwards, I launch a thrust attack at the first one. These guys seem to be monsters specialized in speed and attack, and their defense doesn’t seem to be that great. After getting hit by my trust attack, which is aimed at its neck, its movements become sluggish.

Should I finish it off? No, the second goblin comes at me with its claws raised.

This time, instead of moving back, I step forward, dodge the claw attack, and at the same time, thrust my sword into its leg. Alright, as I thought, it looks like their defense power isn’t that great. This time too, my sword sinks deep into it, dealing a fatal blow. The movements of both goblins have become sluggish, so I take advantage of my reach and repeatedly unleash thrust attacks at them with my sword from a range where their attacks can’t reach, putting them in a near-death state.

「Sei, are you okay?!」

Michiyopuana and Miancrawler seem to have successfully defeated the first goblin. Not only do the sisters have good teamwork, but they also have small shields. It looks like if it’s two against one, they can handle the battle in an advantageous manner.

I let the two finish off the dying monsters, and the battle is over.

「Hmm, Sei, that’s a bit of a dangerous way to fight.」

「In the end, we were able to defeat them without suffering any injuries, but you’ll get hurt sooner or later.」

「Well, this time we had the bad luck of getting sandwiched by the enemies after all, from the next time we should be able to fight a little better.」

When I look ahead, I see that Segodon and Gio have also finished their battles. Damn it, it looks like everyone but me fights in a safe manner. No, that’s not it, I just deliberately made a risky move because I was worried about Michiyopuana and Miancrawler.

Damn it, the same was true even in the demonic dragon mountain range, but… I’m seized by the feeling that I alone am holding everyone back. Next time, I’ll be sure to show my true strength and make Michiyopuana fall in love with me again.

After a while, the monsters’ corpses get sucked into the labyrinth, leaving behind the magic stones and iron claws. Then, with a bang, a treasure chest appears.

Without delay, Michiyopuana starts to open the treasure chest.

「Ah, yay, it’s a low-grade green potion.」

「It’ll help with the poisonous snakes.」

Seeing the innocently happy young girl makes me feel at ease even in this dangerous labyrinth. As I thought, I would love to have Michiyopuana as a member of my harem party, by all means. Hmm, but that would mean she would have to part ways with her little sister, Miancrawler.

In any case, my immediate goal is to subjugate the labyrinth lord. Let’s think about harem and such later.

We continue to walk through the passageway looking for monsters. As expected, the rate of appearance of enemies is high on this stratum. I sense the presence of enemies right away.

Appraisal!

 

Iron-skinned Pill Bug, Rank 21

 

That’s one huge pill bug.

Alright, I’ll play an active role in the battle and redeem myself, and then have some lovey-dovey sex with Michiyopuana when we get back.

I hold my sword at the ready and get ready to attack, but both Segodon and Gio are just putting themselves on guard. If they aren’t going to fight, then I’ll just finish it off.

「What?」

The pill bug curls up into a ball.

I see. When it curls up and wraps itself in its hard-looking shell, you can’t attack its abdomen, which most likely is its weak spot. But don’t underestimate my attack power.

I channel my magical energy into the mithril sword. With this sword, I should be able to penetrate the pill bug’s defense.

「Let’s go!」

「You idiot, Sei, dodge!」

「Huh… ugh」

Listening to Segodon’s warning from behind me, I charge at it with instant step.

In its curled up state, the pill bug suddenly starts spinning and comes in our direction.

Not good, I don’t think, I can evade it in time.

「Guha!」

I somehow managed to avoid a direct hit, but getting bumped by the pill bug, I end up getting blown away.

Damn it, the impact is like an iron ball flying at me.

Not good, Michiyopuana and the others are…

Segodon, Gio, Michiyopuana and Miancrawler let the pill bug pass by without panicking and successfully avoid it.

This isn’t their first-time diving into this labyrinth, so they must have grasped the way to deal with the monsters here.

「Huh…」

After letting the pill bug’s attack pass by, Segodon and the others go chase after it.

Wondering what’s going on, I follow them. Then, *thud, thud* a dull sound echoes through the labyrinth. It seems the pill bug has spun and crashed into the wall.

「I see.」

When I catch up with Segodon and the others, I find them attacking the pill bug that has fallen after crashing into the wall.

I see, so that’s how you defeat it.

After a while, the pill bug dies, leaving a magic stone behind as it gets sucked into the labyrinth.

「Sei, are you okay?」

「Yeah, I was just a bit surprised, no problem.」

「Pill bugs are super-attack-specialized monsters. If you were to get a direct hit from it, even high-level adventurers won’t get out of it scot free.」

As I listen to Miancrawler’s explanation, I hide the fact that my body was actually hit by a considerable impact, and cast healing magic all over my body. Phew, that was close, that was close. Damn it, as things stand, I’m really just holding them back, aren’t I? No, seriously, that’s not the case, alright? As you all know, I’m pretty strong. Damn it, damn it, next time I’ll definitely…

「Sei, this is your first time in the upper stratum of the labyrinth, right? Stand behind me and Gio until you get used to it.」

「Well, you seem to be able to use healing magic, so there shouldn’t be any problem.」

「Guh…」

D, damn it. Even Segodon tells me so. As for old man Gio, he seems to have seen through the fact that I’m using healing magic. This is bad, as things stand, it looks like I’m really holding them back, isn’t it?

Ugh, Michiyopuana’s worried gaze stings. No, that’s not it, alright? My true strength isn’t just on this level, alright? A few days ago, I fought a high-ranked monster in the demonic dragon mountain range… Well, it’s not like I defeated it, though.

「Alright, let’s go.」

As I’m taking a breather after collecting the magic stone, Segodon calls out, and everyone follows after him.

T, this is bad, until just a week ago, I was leading the big-breasted sisters to fight monsters, but now that position has completely been taken away by Segodon. Ah, no, it’s true that my and Michiyopuana’s ultimate goal is to have Miancrawler marry into a noble family, so the shortest way to achieve that is to get Segodon to take a liking to her. But what’s with this feeling of having my precious woman stolen from me?

「Sei, what’s wrong?」

「Ah, no, alright, let’s go.」

We continue to make our way through the labyrinth.

After defeating a number of goblins, rats, and pill bugs without incident, we finally encounter a powerful enemy.

「Hmm, a poisonous snake, huh?」

「Segodon-sama, shall we retreat?」

「No, I still have some magical energy left. Even if I get hit by its poison, I don’t think there will be any problems recovering. Let’s do it.」

「As you wish.」

In front of Segodon and Gio, who are stepping forward, is a large snake with a spotty pattern. So that guy is the troublesome poisonous snake.

Appraisal!

 

Spotted Keelback, Rank 28

 

「Shaaaaaaa!」

The poisonous snake coils up and sticks out its tongue, threatening us.

What should I do? Now is exactly my chance to redeem myself… No, hold on a sec. What if I lose against the monster here? Michiyopuana might become disillusioned with me. If that happens, I don’t think my spirit will be able to bear it.

It’s an opponent I’m seeing for the first time, so as Segodon said, I guess I should just stay put.

To put it bluntly, luck is on my side today. I’ve had a string of bad luck. It would be an amateur’s way of thinking to harbor cheap ideas like: next time fortune will surely smile upon me. Misfortunes never come alone. Here, I’ll just stay put and watch.

As the poisonous snake bares its sharp fangs, I can see liquid dripping from it. That must be the poison. It seems Segodon and Gio are also at a loss how to deal with it.

「Segodon, Gio-san, do you need a shield?」

I take out two iron shields from my storage.

They are just ordinary shields, but it will probably make a big difference whether you have one or not.

「Yeah, that’d be a huge help.」

「Hou, I suppose I’ll borrow one.」

After equipping the iron shields, the two split up and stand by the wall on either side of the passageway.

I see, no matter how strong the enemy is, it is still a monster with only a single mouth. If the two of them keep their distance, it won’t be able to attack them at the same time.

The poisonous snake seems to have focused its attack on Segodon on the right. It closes in on Segodon, baring its fangs.

「Hmph!」

Bam!

Segodon retreats backwards and slams the side of the snake against the wall with his iron shield.

「Haa!」

Using that opportunity, Gio leaps out from the left with instant step and swings his mithril sword at the snake’s abdomen.

Slash!

The sword sinks deep into the snake’s abdomen, causing it to bleed. I guess the battle is over now. Next, I’ll finish it off…

「Mmm.」

Thud.

Taking advantage of the opportunity when the poisonous snake’s head turns towards Gio, Segodon thrusts his sword into the snake’s throat. Just like that, he pins the snake’s head against the wall with his sword.

「Be careful. This guy won’t die even if you cut it in half. It’s so tenacious that it’d still be alive even if you cut off its head.」

Phew, that was close, that was close. Thank goodness I didn’t let my guard down and approach it carelessly.

Gio slashes at the snake, and Michiyopuana and Miancrawler finish it off. It seems their levels have gone up quite a bit. If it’s like this, I don’t think they’ll fall into mortal danger so easily. Maybe we would really be able to subjugate the labyrinth lord.

After that, having memorized the characteristics of the enemies on the upper stratums of the labyrinth, I also actively participate in the battle, and after collecting the magic stones, we end the hunt and head back to the inn.