Chapter 52: Tendencies and Countermeasures
When I arrived in town yesterday, it was already dusk.
Due to the intense battles in the Waterfront and the Worm battle, and the uncertainty of the conquest, we decided not to depart at dawn as usual but to take a slow rest and hold a military conference in the morning.
In other words, we'll be devising strategies.
Even though we wouldn't notice the daylight down in the underground slave quarters, I still slept soundly, which eased the pain from yesterday's two MP depletions and the burn on my back (though Karina healed the wounds).
Upon waking up, my adventurer level had increased to 14. With this, my HP and MP should have increased slightly, and when I level up once more, I'll learn "Identification (Intermediate)."
After nibbling on the supplied food, I headed to the training ground for sword practice with Lina in her warrior mode, which has become a daily routine. I was once a shut-in gamer and ronin, and if I were told a month ago that I'd be living like this again, I would never have believed it.
Before I knew it, a soldier from the mansion was calling us. It seemed like they were summoning us for the military conference.
Not only party members but also high-ranking officers like Sebastian and Zag were present at the conference. There were drinks and light snacks in front of Karina and the officers, so they might have been considering strategies beforehand.
Among the members, only Beth had leveled up besides me.
Since Beth had a lower level, she needed less experience to level up. Now she's level 11. Since we haven't formed a party, I don't know her skills, but when I asked her directly, she said she could now use a new magic called "Thunder."
With everyone gathered, Sebastian praised the party members, and Cecily reported on yesterday's battle again. Larouque supplemented detailed information about the monsters.
The fact that new monsters had appeared in the area we had cleared the day before made Zag and the others visibly vigilant.
And of course, the main topic was the strategy against the labyrinth Worm.
"Anyway, our swords were completely ineffective. It's not about having slightly sharper swords, but rather, we had no sense of actually making a cut..."
Listening to Greon's report, the high-ranking officers were puzzled because they acknowledged his skill.
(That's because your level is too low.)
"Huh?"
I was surprised when I suddenly heard telepathy. Lina popped her head out from the bag at my waist.
"What is it, Shiro?"
Butter was looking this way. No, everyone was looking.
Should I try having her speak? It might be more convincing coming directly from her than me, who lacks social skills, and I'm also curious.
"Lina, please tell us what you mean."
I said as I put her on the table.
Although everyone here should know about Lina, most of them haven't actually had a conversation with her.
Some old man was making a stunned face, but I ignored him for now.
"I'm Lina. I'm like a fairy-like being summoned by Shiro's special skill."
Fairy? Don't exaggerate. Don't strike a pose.
"Listen, the labyrinth Worm is a monster with a physical barrier. Only those with a level equal to or higher than the Worm can inflict wounds with weapons."
Level? It seemed like most of them didn't understand what that meant, but Sebastian seemed to recall something.
"By the way... In the past, his Majesty succeeded in subduing the labyrinth once when he was young... At that time, my sword couldn't hurt the Worm at all, but the then-knight commander managed to wound it. I thought it was because I was still immature..."
"Sebastian, do you remember the Worm's level at that time?"
Karina asked eagerly.
"I believe it was level 15? I heard that Sir Besnik, the knight commander at that time, was level 16."
"I see!"
Cecily's expression momentarily showed hope, but she deflated at Larouque's words.
"That Worm was level 20. So, it means unless we are level 20 or higher, physical attacks won't work..."
"However, if we can break the physical barrier, any weapon should work."
"Break the barrier? How can we do that?"
Attention returned to Lina's knowledge, and Karina hesitated as she asked.
"Maybe purification will work?"
"That depends on the magical power. It could be purification or canceling the barrier, but we won't know until we try. Also, as we did yesterday, magic can work. However, they also have magic resistance, and their fire resistance is particularly high, so keep that in mind."
In other words, we won't know if our weapons will work until we try. Even if they do work, the damage we can inflict on that massive creature might be like a mosquito bite.
As expected, magic battles will be the main focus. It's only Beth, Lina, and me if we use her correctly.
"As for the acid spray, how will we deal with it?"
Cecily raised another issue. It was indeed dangerous. But...
"Um, I have an idea for that..."
"Shiro, do you have something in mind?"
Zag directed the question at me.
"Yesterday, the timing was late and I couldn't finish my explanation properly. I think that place is like the worm's butthole, so..."
"Oh, my, oh, my."
Beth's reaction is expected. All the girls were taken aback...
In short, as soon as the battle begins, we'll generate plenty of clay deep inside the hole and harden it completely.
"Well, I hope it works."
Greon tried to be supportive, but his eyes didn't believe it.
Of course, I'm also considering what to do if it fails.
"Um, maybe I can make ceramic panties that cover the whole hole, so when the clay bursts out, it won't come this way and will be like wetting the panties..."
Sebastian seems exasperated. Someone, please help ease the tension.
"You always think of perverted or weird things."
Cecily, please stop looking at me with disdain. I'm seriously thinking about this...
Anyway, for now, Shiro will handle the corrosive liquid, Beth's magic will be the main attack, and if we can break the barrier, I'll support with weapon attacks, that's the plan."
Igry summarized the strategy. Is it okay like this?
**********
In the labyrinth, monsters were appearing from the fourth level.
Could it be because the barrier between the fourth and fifth levels disappeared, causing magic to rise to the upper levels?
Fortunately, the vampire vines and poison rats were not of a significant level, so Greon, Cecily, and Larouque, who didn't have much action yesterday, took care of them with weapon attacks.
We collected quite a few small magic stones, which might help improve the Earl's kitchen situation.
On the fifth level, monsters were also coming out in large numbers from the water.
However, we had a plan.
I created a clay platform for everyone to take refuge on, and Beth used her newly learned lightning magic.
In an instant, the slimes were electrocuted and stopped moving.
"Eh? Why?"
Beth was surprised by the more effective result. As expected.
Electricity is a form of energy that travels well in water, and lightning is a phenomenon of releasing a strong electric charge at once. I managed to explain it roughly.
"I thought lightning was a power brought from the heavens."
Karina's perception seemed to be the common sense in this world.
"Then, can I use it in that lake too?"
Beth asked, coming up with an idea.
"Yeah, probably, depending on the composition of the water."
After all, it's a magic lake, so the water might be different from ordinary water.
The effect exceeded my expectations.
We took the boat back to the center of the lake, made sure not to get wet, and Beth enhanced her magic to release lightning underwater. Electrocuted fish and jellyfish floated up countless times.
Beth's magic seems to have been strengthened beyond my expectations.
With this, the monster's appearance might be suppressed for a while.
It seems that big creatures like the Naga are not lurking anymore, according to Larouque.
We crossed the lake and headed back to the barrier of the labyrinth, where the Worm resides.