"... That's amazing,"

　Ray laughs bitterly at Ver's voice from behind.
　Right in front of us is the wreckage of the two skeletons that first attacked us upon our arrival at the fifth basement.
　The bones that were originally white are burnt black, and some of them have already been carbonized and collapsed.Two skeletons of bones in that condition were lying on the floor of the dungeon.It's not the result of a normal battle, it's not surprising that Seto just threw out a firebreath.
　In the first place, Skeleton is a Rank E monster, and its rank is lower than that of a Rank D monster, such as a Water Monkey encountered on the fourth basement level or a Lizardman encountered on the third basement level.
　But Skeleton was hated by other adventurers in that he was undead.It's basically a monster that doesn't have the ego, and it doesn't frighten you, no matter how much damage you do, you just attack the adventurers.There is also a problem that it is difficult to obtain a certificate of subjugation because the body shape of a human being is a magical stone and the only way to defeat Skeleton in a physical attack is to destroy the problem is that it is difficult to obtain a certificate of subjugation.And for the same reason, you can't expect the same materials that ordinary monsters can get.
　If this is a monster like Skeleton Road, a higher undead monster, then the bones reinforced by the magic might be used as materials for weapons, armor, or magic items created using alchemy, but that's not possible with the lowest skeleton.

"It's certainly reassuring to deal with the undead,"

　Elena nods at Ver's words and pats Sett lightly on the back.

"That's a good boy. This class will depend more on your firebraces, so please take good care of me."
"Glu".

　He began his search with his charred bones, melted swords, and spears close to the side of the passage, which he called the remains of the skeleton.
　In addition, the magical stone, which was a proof of Skeleton's subjugation, was burnt down by firebreaths and disappeared.
　After completing the process, the search will resume, and within a few minutes of walking down the aisle, you will reach a forked point where the road divides left and right.

"...well, what should I do?"

　Elena is worried.
　As long as there is no map, it is up to luck to decide which way to go.and it is clear from what they have done since they got down to the dungeon that they are not lucky.

"Ray, which do you think is better?"

　There was a person who frowned unconsciously when he asked Ray.Custe is in charge of the rear guard with Arra.

(Now Mr. Elena asked him without hesitation what to do.Of course, as long as he is an adventurer, he will never be wrong.However, I am sure that he would have consulted us first and then brought the matter to him.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　As he was biting his back teeth, he noticed it, like Custe did -- but with amusing eyes, unlike Custe -- Verle, who was watching Elena and Ray, took a water bottle out of the pouch he had worn on his waist and offered it to Custe.

"Here, drink this first and calm down.I understand that you don't like Ray, but as long as this is a dungeon, it's only natural to rely on him as an adventurer."
"... well, I really hope that's all."

　He moistened his throat with a snatched water bottle, and then turned his gaze to Ray and threw it away.

"If things go on like this, it may have a strange effect on the ceremonies at the altar of succession."
"Custe's concern is justified, but that's what the human mind can do, can't it?"
"Why did the Count Larx send such an adventurer?"You say strange things in the first place..."

　Custe tried to complain to Ver, but before he could say anything more, Elena approached him.

"For the time being, I will proceed to the right.If it's a dead end, I'll come back, but I'll keep my wits about me."
"All right,"
"Well, there's no map, so it's a hunch.With this smell, it is difficult to detect the presence of an enemy with your sense of smell.""That's right. But when it comes to hearing, the sound we're moving gets in the way, and there are too many invisible parts in the dungeon."

　Elena nodded and turned to Ray... to be exact, he went on to the end of the dungeon.
　Couste, who had seen him off with a slight frown, returned his water bottle to Ver and followed him.
　As for Arla, she may not be able to use the power access she borrowed from Ray sufficiently, and she continues to train herself to fit into her body by making light gestures while taking a break.
　Ver looks at her with a wry smile.
　For Ver, after all the fighting upstairs, he must have had a lot of thoughts about Arra, who was already recovering.

"Arra, you're not strong enough to make a comeback, considering you've been down on top."

　Ver, with Power Ax in his hand, turns to Arla, who, as instructed by Elena, is on the lookout for a surprise attack from behind.
　At Ver's question, he responds with a wry smile with Power Axe in his hand.

"Well, I think so, but... it seems that this weapon, Power Ax, has the effect of reducing exhaustion.It's easier to handle than the dagger I've been using... just the kind of weapon I have for you, Ver. Be very vigilant.I wouldn't accept it if Mr. Elena were caught in a trap."
"Hehehehehehe said he.

　He looked at Arla's Power Ax for a moment and immediately turned his gaze forward.
　Instead of the usual lightness, she looks sharply toward the dungeon's passageway so that she can react as soon as she finds signs of a trap.
　Satisfied with Ver's attitude, Arra was watching out for others, stroking the pattern of Power Ax.The skeletons and zombies that appeared earlier, as they had substance, could be seen in close proximity, but the ghosts could suddenly slip through the wall, so that we could be on our guard.

(And yet, since I really got to use this Powerax borrowed from Ray, I've got a lot of energy to spare.I wonder if this is an effect as a magic item.)

　Although Arra didn't understand it well, PowerAx has the ability to provide users with a constant recovery effect.Of course, the effect is much lower than that of the charitable dropstone on Seto's neck, and the amount of recovery is really small.but it was still more than enough for Custe and Ver, or for Arah, whose original strength was lower than that of Elena.





　About 20 minutes after turning right at the fork of the aisle.Suddenly, Ray saw a walled door.

"As expected, Dungeon has a room."
"Grull".

　He leaned his head slightly and stroked Seto's head when he asked, "Are you going in.

"There is a door ahead, Mr. Elena,"
"...the door, I don't think there are any stairs to the sixth basement right away, just in case.Ver, see if there is a trap."
"Ryokkat,"It's a bit of a bummer."

　Ver begins to examine the handle by sticking his head out of the gap between Ray and Sett, and Ray and Sett take a step back to watch the undead approach.

"Well, I see. Oh, here we are... oh, is this a dummy, too? So this way?"

　Ver was looking at the handle, muttering merrily, but a few minutes later... a click was heard all around him.

`Well, I managed to get rid of the trap.There was a pretty mean trap in place.If you pull this handle, the needle will pop out.and you see, the poison is plainly infested."

　The needle, which seemed proud of itself, was about five centimeters long, but, as Ver said, it was wet with a liquid that was considered poisonous.

(Poison needles... or, if you want to use them for something, can you use them?）

　Thinking inside, Ray calls out to Ver, who is about to throw away the poison needle."Ver, if you throw away the poison needle, will you give it to me?"
"...no, I don't mind that.What are you going to do with all this noise?"
"I don't know yet, but fortunately I have an item box.Don't worry, you won't stab yourself or anyone else by mistake with this kind of thing."

　Ver looked at Ray's words for a few seconds before turning his eyes to Elena, but Elena nods softly, saying that there would be no particular problem.

"All right, look, but I don't know what poison it is, so be careful with it."
"I told you there was no problem,"

　As he spoke, Ray finished storing the poison needle in the mistling.

"Well, then I'll open the door,"

　The matter of the poison needle was settled, and Ver finally touched the door.With a jingling sound, the door opens and you can see what's inside.
　"The inside of the room was not that big, but it could be said that it was about 6 tatami mats in size."The reason why I get the impression that it's spacious is because there's something that looks like a treasure chest in the center of the room.Everyone goes into the small room and moves close to the treasure chest.

"...that's suspiciously.

　It was Ver who muttered in spite of himself.and his eyes blatantly saw the treasure chest in the room as a trap.

"What? Really? It's a dungeon. Isn't there a treasure chest?"
"Well, who is going to use the treasure chest on the fifth basement where the undead wanders?"
`...the undead with the ego?'
"Well, that's not necessarily the case, but do you think you'd bother to put it right in the middle of the room, and what about Arra? You wouldn't leave your treasure chest in the middle of the room without hiding your precious things, would you?"

　I thought about Ver's point for a few seconds... and nodded right away.

"That's true. I'm not going to do anything so carelessly."
"Isn't it? I mean, that treasure chest is very unnatural."
"Do you mean a trap?"
"Perhaps... What shall I do, Mr. Elena? I want to leave it as it is."
"Well, there's no stairway, of course, and you don't have to force yourself to take risks... get rid of it!"

　The moment they heard the voice, they all leaped backwards, and it was a knight under the direct control of Elena.Ray and Sett are also jumping backward.
　Then he realized that something was approaching him, and he threw his death-size reflexively, but since something was approaching on the left side, it was not the blade, but the handle.
　Something that blows away with a dull thud.I looked at him at a distance just in case, and found him like a dog made of bones.「……」

　Although he was blown away without a scream, in the peculiar silence of Skeleton, he could not possibly have been killed with a single blow, as it was from almost contact.Dogs made of bones use the blown-off power to distance themselves, step on the wall, kill the impact, and land on the floor.

"You know, it was a trap!"
"That's the time to say! Take up your arms, Ver, too! He's quite good for his little age!"

　Ver also pulls a knife out of his waist at Ray's words.
　As might have been expected, he judged that a knife was more advantageous than a bow and arrow in the current quick movement and close proximity.
　But there were some who moved faster than others.

"Ringling!"

　It was Seto who screamed high and kicked the floor and stopped the dog without even giving him time to move.
　He swung his forefeet wide and knocked it from the head of the dog to the ground.
　The combination of the peculiar force of the Gryphon, with the effect of its magic bracelet, literally shattered almost all of its bones without even resisting the bone dog.