Chapter 32: Magic Warrior
Counting, it had been a week since I was reincarnated into this world.
Although it seems that the concept of "week" doesn't exist in this world, I gradually started to lose track of the sense of weekdays and dates.
I still haven't fully grasped the calendar here, but in this world's terms, today is supposedly "the first month, the tenth day of the waning moon."
When we departed at dawn, there were many people at the central square where the morning market was set up since early morning.
When I asked Beth about it, she told me that there is a morning market on the tenth day of the waxing moon and the tenth day of the waning moon.
As we chatted a bit, I felt like the contemptuous glances toward me finally softened. My communication skills must have leveled up from zero to one.
Looking at people with a furrowed brow as always is not because she dislike me, but it's just Beth's habit, probably.
Only six of us, including the doll, entered the labyrinth today.
Bata was still in a state where he couldn't exert himself for a while, and we learned from yesterday's lesson that having more people doesn't necessarily give an advantage.
Just to be safe, Valon would be on standby as a replacement member in the guardhouse today and we parted ways at the entrance of the labyrinth.
After yesterday's fierce battle, all the members, including Valon, had gained one level each.
Greon and I were both level 9, and even the lowest level among us, Beth, was level 6. With this, even with only six people, our initial main party already surpassed the average level.
However, we mustn't let our guard down. The opponents have also become stronger, so life is precious, you know.
After erasing the clay wall at the entrance, it took us about an hour to reach the depths of the second floor.
Along the way, no monsters appeared, but there were quite large swarms of centipedes and snakes, and Beth was burning them while screaming.
It feels like a bit of a waste of MP, though.
And now, in front of us, there is another discarded shell of the labyrinth worm, faintly glowing orange. It seems a bit larger than the nest of the first floor from yesterday.
"Worms grow as they dig. It has grown one year's worth."
It wasn't just my imagination.
Certainly, the cave on the second underground floor, gradually descending in a spiral, was a bit wider in the tunnels compared to the upper floor. So, how gigantic will this monster become?
However, for now, our immediate enemy is the "Master of the Second Floor of the Labyrinth."
Larouque opened her eyes, which she had closed.
"It looks like an orc, but with dense magical power. Are there any magic users among them?"
"I've heard that there are orc mages who can use magic called 'Orc Mages.'"
Beth answered, even though she is the youngest in the party, she is quite knowledgeable.
"Looks like it's our first time engaging in a magic battle. Let's proceed with caution," Karina signaled.
Upon Karina's signal, Lina and I, Gureon and Cecily, clad in ceramic armor, placed our hands on the cracked shell.
It's the second time I've felt the tingling sensation of magical energy coursing through my body.
Taking advantage of the opening created by the four of us, Lalouk slipped in first once again. Through the connection, all six members of the party, and probably Lina as well, could sense the information within the barrier.
Compared to yesterday, it's undoubtedly a larger and elongated space. What lies ahead? No, there's a structure resembling a small mountain in the central area. Bones and unknown substances are piled up, giving it the atmosphere of a nest or rather, something more advanced like a watchtower of a fortress.
Standing there is a figure that seems to be an orc, exuding an air of intelligence as it gazes towards us.
Just as I tried to discern more, the figure disappeared behind the watchtower.
However, from there, a ball of flame flew in an arc. It resembled Beth's magic.
I quickly erected a clay wall in front of the party to block it. The intense heat could turn ordinary clay into ceramic.
However, if we can't create peepholes to prevent the flames from leaking, we won't be able to see what's on the other side.
Beth aimed at the previous position of the watchtower and released her signature stream of flames from behind the wall. However, the opponents retaliated with magic while hiding behind the structure.
Beth's stream of flames seemed ineffective against the structure where the opponents were hiding. She tried to increase the power by focusing on a high-density fireball, but it was difficult to hit. As I've thought before, Beth's control is not very precise.
Nevertheless, we have no other options at the moment.
Indeed, the opponents have the advantage since they can hide behind a proper structure. They say it takes three times the troops to attack a castle.
However, the force ratio is 7 to 1.
If we can approach while defending against their attacks, then the advantage of numbers will come into play.
"Beth, deploy a magic shield."
"Let's move forward with that."
Everyone's thoughts aligned, and we had Beth take over the role of shielding.
If we can temporarily forgo attacking, a magic shield that ensures visibility is better than a heavy ceramic wall.
Beth deployed a magic barrier, and we entered its shadow, then we all started running simultaneously.
Closing the distance.
The leader on the level releases fireballs, but once blocked by Beth's magic shield, they switch to using flames carried by the airflow from outside the shield.
In response, Karina chants a spell she learned after leveling up.
"Protect!"
As she recites the spell, a faint shimmer momentarily envelops all of us.
It seems to enhance some form of defense, as we didn't suffer any significant burns from the flames that grazed us.
I arrived at the small mountain.
I tried to climb up from all sides at once, but the footing was poor, and I had to use both hands to climb. Flames were suddenly shot at me from a close range. I quickly created a small clay wall to defend myself.
It's really hot!
Still, Greon was the first to reach the lookout post and drew the sword he had sheathed. He jumped at the orc hiding in the shadow of the lookout post. If the opponent is a magician, bringing the fight into close combat would be in our favor.
The sound of swords clashing fiercely echoed, but unexpectedly, Greon's large body was knocked off the top of the small mountain.
The orc who unsheathed his sword then attacked Cecily, who had climbed up next.
As she descended from the top of the slope due to the weight of the sword strike, Cecily managed to avoid falling off, but she was pushed down onto the top of the small mountain.
When I finally caught sight of the fast-moving figure, what appeared was an unexpected display. The surprise was conveyed to everyone through our party's shared senses.
"An orc magic warrior!?"
"A job that humans rarely come across..."
Lina and I attacked from the side at the same time, but our two swords were easily deflected by the skilled swordplay. This is bad! Just when I thought that, I heard the sound of a bow, and the orc cut down the arrow released from behind by Larouque with his sword. He's strong! It's because he's LV12.
Beth cast a spell, but the orc defended himself with a magic shield. Meanwhile, he skillfully parried our vanguard with his right-hand sword and counterattacked.
With the disadvantage of swinging his sword from below, even though it was three against one, we were only on the defensive.
"Retreat for now!"
Greon, who had gotten up, shouted from below.
Cecily, Lina, and I dodged the pursuing sword and slid down from the small mountain.
In exchange, Beth's magic and Larouque and Karenna's arrows aimed at the orc, but he immediately erected a magic shield and switched to a defensive stance.
Larouque tried to go around to the orc's back by running to the other side of the small mountain, but the orc hid inside the lookout post.
We were at a stalemate.
I quickly conveyed the planned arrangements to Lina through telepathy and created as many clay clumps as possible in the air, a simple technique, and slammed them down from above the orc.
The orc put up a magic shield above his head to intercept it.
However, the gravity acceleration acted on the clay clumps weighing more than one ton, causing the watchtower that supported the shield and him to give way.
With a squelching sound, the small mountain built of monster bones and skin dented, and in the next moment, it collapsed.
We once again poised our swords and rushed forward. There was no longer any height difference.
The orc magic warrior, rising from the pile of rubble, continued to defend himself with superior swordsmanship.
To prevent Beth from hitting us, she sent a gust of flame from above. However, the orc promptly intercepted it with his magic shield.
The arrow fired by Larouk, hitting the orc's flank, was deflected by his sword, as if he had anticipated it.
However, at that moment, another fireball launched from behind caught him.
Although not very powerful, the fireball struck him from close range on his vulnerable back, enveloping his entire body.
As the orc turned around while engulfed in flames, Greon's and my swords finally caught him.
The orc magic warrior's final thought may have been, "Why?"
In the sight of the fallen orc, stood Lina, who had taken on an appearance reminiscent of Beth.