The day after introducing Esetus and Nact to the Silwa family, the Rays had come to the 17th basement of the dungeon.
　What you see around you is the same side of green as yesterday. It's a deep forest that's connected forever.
　What is different from yesterday is that it has moved directly to the 17th basement without going through the undead hierarchy, so it is not collecting monsters due to the odor of zombies.
　The sunshine is bright, but it's still much nicer than the heat outside the dungeon, which is above 35 degrees Celsius.
　In particular, the rays are standing just outside the small room in the forest, so once they enter the forest, it was certain that the dense leaves of the trees would block the sunlight.

"Set, can you see the enemy looking over here?"
"Grull".

　shake one's head at Ray's question
　The Rays themselves withdrew immediately the day before when they came down to this floor, so there was no problem, but in fact, quite a few people were attacked by monsters when they came down from the 16th basement to the 17th basement.
　The main reason for this was the odor that permeated my body through the undead hierarchy.
　Monsters with a keen sense of smell that exist in the 17th basement gather as soon as they smell the rot and aim for a gap between their prey.
　Adventurers who have just come down to this level have their noses paralyzed by the intense odors of the 16th basement, and many don't understand that the odors are seeping enough to attract monsters from their bodies, and those who come down to this level and walk straight into the woods are baptized by monsters.
　In that sense, the Ray's actions on the previous day were probably right.

"There are quite a few first-time monsters in the forest. In that sense, is it quite meaningful for me and Sett?"
"I'm not very happy, though, because I remember nothing but a war of attrition against a group of water monkeys at the altar of succession."

　Elena says with a small smile.
　But there's something belligerent about his mouth, contrary to his words.

"On the map... there is no clear road in this hierarchy, so can we only confirm the rough location?"
"Yes. This class is rich in flavor as an adventurer, so I think it would be nice to create a path that would allow adventurers to step on, but it seems that plants and trees will recover naturally even if they are trampled on."
"Squeak!"

　Yellow, who was fluttering his wings around the Reys, suddenly cries out.
　When I turned my eyes to Seto, I saw him growling in the woods.

"Even if you don't smell rotten, you're welcome here."
"I suppose so, but unlike yesterday, the number of enemies is surprisingly small. This would take us less time to deal with it. Well, let's go. The location of the stairs is southwest on the map. Let's go there."

　Elena walks out with her eyes set to the southwest.
　Ray, Seto and Yero follow suit.
　Then, if you actually take a step into the forest, you'll see countless trees, and if you grow into a tall variety, some grasses will grow up to your waist.
　ivy-wrapped or thin trees often have thorns.
　It obviously grows in a way that prevents adventurers from moving forward rather than growing naturally.

"It's more troublesome than the forest hierarchy in the succession altar dungeon. Is it the only relief that you can't walk for the time being. ...are you all right, Seto?"
"Grull...rullllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

　Some of the trees are growing, and some of them are impossible for Seto to get through. However, such gaps could have been managed if Sett used his resizing skills to change his body size.
　Relieved by the situation, the Rays march through the woods.

"If I had knowledge of fields and mountains, I would have been rich in materials."

　mutter ivy growing in front of one's eyes, cutting it off with a knife.
　the base or shade of a tree You can see many kinds of mushrooms growing behind large stones or near fallen trees.
　Raised in the mountains, Ray has some knowledge of mushrooms. However, it's only mushrooms that grow in the mountains of Japan, and it's impossible to judge whether or not mushrooms that grow in foreign countries are safe even on the same earth, and whether they can be eaten even if they're in a different world or if they're familiar with something.

(That mushroom looks like a flower mushroom.)

　Beyond my eyes, I was very much like a mushroom that looked like a crumpled roll of paper I had picked many times when I was in my life.
　However, I don't know if it's poisonous or not, so I'm going through the forest to suppress my desire to harvest it.

"Grunt!"

　When I'm on such a deserted road, the set suddenly sounds sharp. At the same time, the branches of a tree just in the path of the lays make a burst sound, and the leaves that had blocked their view fall into the air.
　It's the magic eye of shock, which is also Seto's skill.
　What remained after the leaves had fallen was a leopard-like monster about 1.5 meters long, even when the tail was pulled out.
　What's different from the usual leopard is that it's greener and more integrated into the forest. Also, there is a third eye on the forehead, and the tail is quite long, and it is wrapped around the branches used as scaffolding.

"Forest Panther,"

　Ray muttering while remembering what was written in the monster book.

　a forest panther It's a Rank D monster that, as the name suggests, makes the forest a major activity territory.
　Its fur is green and easy to blend into trees, and unlike ordinary leopards, it does not actively hunt prey, but specializes in ambush on trees.
　The way to ambush is to wind a tail around a branch and strike a sharp forefoot blow to the head of the prey as it passes under you.
　The blow has the power to knock down even Rank B monsters with one blow, but in return, no leopard-specific quick movements have been made.
　The third eye on the forehead also has the ability to manipulate magic to blend the color of the fur into the surrounding scenery.
　The right ear is the site of the proof of subjugation. The third eyeball, which is used as a material for alchemy, and the long tail, tusks, and nails which can be used as a material for weapons and protection. There's meat that's very popular for food, and fur that rich people all want.

　For some reason, Forest Panther doesn't seem to move while Ray gives Elena the information.
　Even Rank B monsters have the power to kill with a single blow, but once the cover-up is detected, there is no way to do it. That's why, contrary to their high offensive power, the monster rank was D.

"…I see. Wouldn't it be so difficult to knock them down if they could find them?"

　Elena pulls the connecting sword out of the sheath, nodding to Ray's explanation.
　Elena was overwhelmingly more aggressive than Ray, who excelled in the magic of death and fire, a giant scythe in the woods with countless trees.
　However, Ray also has a means of attack, such as throwing a spear.

"Huh!"

　With Elena's sharp cry, the whip-shaped connecting sword extends straight toward the forest panther staring at itself on the branches of the tree.
　The moment the point of the sword, flying at a cutting speed through the air, was about to pierce the green fur of the Forest Panther.

"Gol-lol-lol-lol-lol!"

　With a high-pitched groan, the forest panther falls straight over the branches... dangling from the tail around the branches to avoid the point of the connected sword.

"What!"

　Elena, who was surprised at the action, returned the connected sword to her.
　Upon seeing it, Forest Panther returns to the top of the branch with a light reaction.

"...he's a very dexterous dodger,"

　Elena muttered somewhat dumbfounded at the unexpected behavior.
　But there is little sign of menace in the tone.
　For some reason. The reason was quite simple.
　If the only way to avoid it is to rotate around a branch with its tail wrapped around it, all you have to do is to attack it at the right time on top and bottom of the branch.
　Of course, Forest Panther himself understands it. However, despite being a leopard monster, Forest Panther, who is very slow to move, is a monster specializing in ambush and surprise attacks, and once found, all of its advantages are its disadvantages.
　The front legs, which gained strength enough to sink the enemy with a single blow, therefore become slow and cannot avoid the enemy's attack. Even a tail supporting its own weight is not easily untied as long as it is wrapped around branches in layers.

(In other words, the advantages turn into disadvantages.)

"Ray,"
"I know,"

　Mumbling inwardly, Ray understands what Elena is asking for and pulls a spear out of the mistling.The tip of the spear is half missing, and it is useless for normal use.
　But such spears, in Ray's hand, are also a disposable but powerful weapon.

"I'll go first."
"Oh, then I'll go down."

　Speak briefly, run a few steps, twist the spear in the right hand, and throw it.
　A blow that combines Ray's own strength with the timing of throwing. Released as if through the air, the spear flies straight to the Forest Panther on the branch.

"Rolling!"

　Again, with a similar cry, I tried to make a turn on the spot as if I were doing a horizontal bar... the moment the head was positioned directly under the branch, the point of the whip-shaped sword, released from Elena's hand, turned sharply and pierced the side of the head with the turn of Elena's wrist just before it pierced his forehead.

"Hurrah!"

　The death knells and kills Forest Panther.
　However, perhaps due to the effects of his death with the branches at the center, the resilient tail that had originally been wrapped around the branches came off, and the body of the forest panther fell to the ground with a violent noise.
　At the same time, the sound of a neck breaking with one's own weight reverberates around one'
　Ray and Elena are stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

"Oh, it's no use doing this here, and we're going to collect the monsters for now. As for stripping the material, it's a forest, and it smells like blood, so should we stop it? I can expect the Forrest Panther to be a magical stone."

　Ray's gaze is on the third eye on his forehead.
　Melt the fur into the surrounding scene...that is, it has the ability to produce camouflage effects, so it has been determined that the skill level of optical camouflage will increase if used in Set.
　Among Seto's many skills, the optical camouflage that disappears itself is unique, and that is why it is very useful.
　Therefore, Ray wanted to collect as many monstrous magical stones as possible with that kind of ability.
　Store the body of Forest Panther in a mistling and start exploring the forest again.

"There seem to be many monsters around me that can be easily confused like Forest Panther..."Fortunately, I have Seto here. You don't have to worry about being taken by the enemy unawares."
"Grull!"

　A set of voices that scream, "Leave it to me!"

"Squeak, squeak!"

　On Seto's back, he also bleats as if he were useful.

"Oh, let me leave it to you..."

　While remembering something soft about the two, Ray cuts out the growing ivy by wielding a knife and blocking his way.
　When I see the cut ivy hanging from the branches of a tree, I suddenly notice it.

"Now that you mention it, you didn't use new skills."

　Reminds me of a death-size pane burst of skills I've acquired on the 16th basement floor, which I haven't yet confirmed to be effective.
　In addition, he turns his gaze to Seto, judging that the increased smell of Seto's skills will be highly effective in the woods.

"Set, will you try to use your olfactory sense?"
"Glu".

　A set that nods to Ray's words and invokes his skill.
　A sharp sense of smell allows you to smell different things.

"Gururu, gururu, gururu.

　It was a set of people who could sense the surroundings with their sense of smell and smell the monsters.