Chapter 87: VS Dead Adventurer

Original: Chapter 87: VS Dead Adventurer

I observed the Dead Adventurer. Its bones were pitch black, but it looked unmistakably like the skeleton of a human male. Its height was probably around 180 centimeters.

A slight shiver ran down my spine.

However, upon closer inspection, it had fangs, and sharp, horn-like protrusions grew from its shoulders and knees. Humans don’t have those, so that thing is definitely a Monster.

Ugh… I strongly sensed the Dead Adventurer’s intent to Attack. It felt like pressure from a being clearly stronger than me.

“Little Sayuki, here it comes!”

“Huh? Yes!”

I need to focus. This is a Dungeon where the strong prey on the weak. If I let my guard down, I might die. This is a place where lives are exchanged.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!”

It was a strange, resonant sound, like a wail or a roar. It felt like the voice of a vengeful spirit.

The Dead Adventurer, wielding two Swords, charged. Its target seemed to be Miss Himeka.

“Little Sayuki, be careful. According to the Strategy Site, Dead Adventurers are said to mimic an Adventurer’s movements. I don’t think it will move simply like a normal Monster.”

Eh? So, if it mimics me, would the Dead Adventurer swing a Hammer around? That’s kind of embarrassing…

Miss Himeka readied her Sword and waited. The Dead Adventurer ran in and swung its Sword down at her.

Miss Himeka’s and the Dead Adventurer’s Swords clashed. A high-pitched sound rang out.

Whoa, Miss Himeka turned pale, looking like she might scream.

“Eeek~, that’s super gross!”

It’s true. The black skull was grinning in a slimy, viscous way. Just as Miss Himeka said, it was really gross.

Taking advantage of Miss Himeka’s flinch, the Dead Adventurer tried to thrust its other Sword at her. Miss Himeka avoided it by stepping back.

“Little Sayuki, can you get behind it?”

“I can!”

I circled around to the Dead Adventurer’s back, crushing flowers as I went. Its back was wide open. I thought I could land an Attack easily now.

But it wasn’t that simple.

Before I could launch my Attack, the Dead Adventurer warily distanced itself.

“As expected of a Recommended Conquest Level 85. It doesn’t seem like it’ll be that easy.”

…Huh? The Dead Adventurer stabbed both Swords into the ground. Then it pointed both hands towards us.

I felt a mysterious, creeping power—

“Little Sayuki, Magic is coming!”

“Eh, Magic? I’ve never seen it before.”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!”

As it cried out, a wall of fire formed in a circle around the Dead Adventurer. A tall, tall wall of fire. It seemed like it might reach the earthen ceiling of this Area.

That wall of fire began expanding at a ferocious speed, closing in on Miss Himeka and me relentlessly.

Right is no good, left is no good, the front is of course no good—there’s nothing but despair—

“N-no way. There’s nowhere to dodge the Magic—”

Even if I turned my back and tried to run, the wall of fire was expanding too fast; I’d be caught.

Then, I have no choice but to face it.

“WAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

I slammed my Hammer into the ground with all my might, scooping up dirt. It flew towards the wall of fire, along with flowers from the Flower Field. But—

N-no good. The fire didn’t go out. Moreover, the flowers I sent flying were thoroughly charred. It looks like I’ll need to steel my resolve.

I look at Miss Himeka. She also seems to have made up her mind.

“We’re going through, Little Sayuki.”

“Yes! Let’s go at full speed!”

I covered my face with one arm and plunged into the wall of fire. Miss Himeka seemed to have plunged into the wall of fire too. The two of us passed through the wall of fire simultaneously.

I was only in the fire for an instant, but my body was properly burned.

Ugh, my School Uniform has lots of holes. The Black Tights are in a pitiful state, with almost no fabric left. The worst part is my skirt; my right thigh is completely exposed. I’m not very confident about my bare legs…

Looking at Miss Himeka, her Blazer had caught fire. Miss Himeka, without hesitation, threw the Blazer to the ground.

“Uhyo~”

Ah—this Monster absolutely loves girls. It’s making a happy face like that. Seeing that, Miss Himeka seems pretty angry.

“Pervert. How dare you do that! My Blazer wasn’t cheap!”

Miss Himeka readied her Bow and nocked an Arrow. She fired three Arrows in rapid succession.

The Dead Adventurer lifted the Swords it had stabbed into the ground and blocked two Arrows. However, the last one lodged firmly in its skull.

“Ah, you did it! As expected of Miss Himeka!”

I raised a voice of joy, but Miss Himeka wore an expression like she was cornered.

“Ah, crap… This is tough.”

“The Arrow is stuck in firmly, though.”

The Dead Adventurer grabbed the Arrow and pulled it out. Then it tossed the Arrow away. Maybe it didn’t take much Damage?

“That guy seems immune to poison.”

“Ah, right. It’s a 〈Poison Master〉. If that didn’t work, it means we have to defeat it with our Weapons.”

“Yeah. This is a really troublesome opponent. We have to fight with determination.”

Miss Himeka readied her Sword anew.

The Dead Adventurer showed an eerie, ghostly smile, as if pleased to be recognized as a formidable enemy by us, or perhaps delighted, thinking it has the advantage.