Chapter 208: |
Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Weapons
(Is this… a dream world?)
I was supposed to be resting my mind and body in a half-meditative state, but somehow I found myself enveloped in a floaty sensation. It seems I had dozed off again from exhaustion.
Gradually, I began to perceive my surroundings from a state of nothingness.
(Yeah. I wish the Salt God would appear again and unlock the skill acquisition limit I couldn’t obtain…)
As I pondered such impossible things, I found myself standing in front of the Adventurers' Guild under a blue sky.
"Hmm… where is this?"
In front of me stood a Western-style building. The construction and layout seemed different, but a memory of visiting here with a knight-like man not long ago resurfaced.
Ah, it seems this is a continuation of that dream where I fought wolf-like monsters in an isekai setting.
Yes, in this world, my name is Salt En Ichikilogram, a wandering traveler.
(So, I came to the Adventurers' Guild because I had some spare time and wanted to find a job…)
With a vague sense of my actions, I walked forward. Entering the building, it had a Western bar-like atmosphere. Even though it was still early, several people were drinking at tables, and the smell of alcohol hit my nose.
However, the shelves behind the counter were stocked with weapons, potions, and what looked like magic scrolls, indicating this place wasn’t just a tavern but a gathering spot for adventurers.
"Hey kid, this ain’t a place for brats like you."
A man with a deep scar on his face, who was drinking at a table, said this as soon as I walked in. ‘Wow, what a cliché…!' I thought, surprised by his words. For some reason, my body began to shrink rapidly.
(N-No way…!?)
A moment ago, I was definitely wearing bug-king-like armor. But now, my limbs had shrunk to a child’s, and my clothing had changed to rough, itchy, ragged linen.
This is one of those isekai tropes where you inexplicably turn young again!
Usually, a god would grant rejuvenation as a bonus, but I never imagined it would be caused by a drunk adventurer.
As I was shocked by my transformation, a short, buck-toothed guy who had been drinking with the scar-faced man spoke up.
"Heh… brat. Go drink your mama’s milk!"
"What… ugh!?"
Suddenly, as if in response to his words, I felt an overwhelming thirst for breast milk.
(This is ridiculous, what’s happening!? I mean, I’m interested in that kind of play, but this isn’t the time!)
Hmm… it seems words hold significant power in this world. A world where something like kotodama, the spirit of words, is strongly effective. The ruffian adventurers used this power to attack me verbally.
(Alright… if that’s how it works, I’ll give it a try too.)
Since I’m in the form of a child, I’ll counterattack with a child’s behavior. Children speak their minds without restraint, their harsh words unfiltered.
"Wow! That scar on your face is amazing! ‘But… if it’s that deep, it must hurt even after many years, right?'"
As soon as I said that, the scar-faced man’s face turned pale.
He probably didn’t expect a counterattack. Why wouldn’t he? Retaliation is only natural.
"Ugh… Stop it! Grrr…!"
The old scar on the ruffian adventurer’s face split open with a ‘pop' sound, and blood immediately stained his face as he cried out in agony.
"You bastard! You did it now!"
The short buck-toothed guy stood up, drew a dagger from his waist, and pointed it at me, ready to physically attack, not just verbally.
In response, I transformed back from a child’s form to my original appearance.
It seems that verbal attacks wear off after a certain period or when the user’s concentration breaks. Although I had returned to my adult form, I still had the urge to drink breast milk…
But that too should dissipate if I deal with the short buck-toothed guy.
"Wow, those are some impressive teeth! ‘If they’re that amazing, they’ll probably grow even bigger, right?'"
"What… you…!?"
Insulting someone’s appearance isn’t great, but since they started it, I won’t hold back.
[Skreee!]
"Wh-…!?"
The next moment, before the short buck-toothed guy could say anything, his front teeth grew at an incredible speed.
His front teeth pierced the wooden floor, and he turned frail as his body lost calcium, becoming as brittle as an old man’s. This world would be a nightmare if someone like Katsura who never stops talking came here.
But this also made my desire to drink breast milk vanish.
(Now… what should I do with these two?)
"Hey, enough already!"
As I stepped forward, deciding how to deal with the ruffian adventurers, a loud scolding voice echoed through the building.
"Ugh…"
"…uhh"
The voice not only stopped my kotodama attack but also reverted the ruffian adventurers to their original forms.
The owner of the voice, a bearded, muscular man in leather clothes, emerged. He seemed to be an impressive person and walked straight toward me from the back of the building.
"Don’t flaunt your power…"
The bearded man fixed his gaze on me and scolded me.
His intense stare made me feel intimidated, but I couldn’t help but feel, ‘They started it, so why am I the only one being scolded?'
I wanted to protest, but he seemed like a scary opponent to anger, so I refrained.
However, as he seemed to be giving advice, I said, ‘Thank you for the advice', and my chest actually started to hurt.
Seeing this, the bearded man sighed deeply and looked exasperated. What’s with him? It’s not like I know how to control this yet.
I got slightly annoyed by his attitude and said, ‘I was just swatting away some annoying flies.', and then the ruffian adventurers turned into fly-men with a cracking sound, screaming, ‘Seriously, stop it!'
This world is such a hassle…
…..
The next morning, we leave the courthouse and head towards the apartment building where the supply house is located to ensure Mama Ruu's safety. Our contact with the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) has provided us with some crucial information.
Since the first wave of the Dungeon Stampede, the SDF has stationed units in several locations across Tokyo. The largest of these are the main headquarters in Ichigaya and the units deployed from Ariake to Yumenoshima. Rua-san and her team, based at the courthouse, had advanced eastward from Ichigaya.
Currently, SDF units from Ichigaya and Ariake are clearing out the monsters that have overrun the city and conducting rescue operations. The issue lies with the units deployed in various parts of the city; during the Stampede, these units were engaged in dungeon-clearing missions, meaning that top-level SDF personnel were mostly absent from the surface when the Stampede occurred.
Ordinary SDF personnel have also been enhanced in the dungeons, but there is a noticeable difference in skill level between them and the top-tier troops. The mixed nature of the urban combat, with civilians to rescue and monsters to eliminate, has only added to the confusion.
Thanks to the efforts of the SDF, troublesome monsters like goblins, orcs, and undead are nowhere to be seen. It seems that the dungeons spawning these creatures were prioritized for eradication.
(So, I guess we won't be able to venture into the Goblin Dungeon at the Dungeon Shop Parade where Serai-san used to work anymore…)
I don't particularly miss the goblins, but it was the first dungeon I explored with Serai-san and the others, so I feel nostalgic about its disappearance.
"We'll part ways here. Thank you very much."
Nina-san says to the SDF officer walking beside us as we reach a major intersection.
Currently, evacuees from the courthouse are making their way to the nearest community center. The courthouse is being repurposed as an SDF base, so the temporarily housed evacuees need to move to schools and community centers with food supplies.
The SDF officer exchanges farewell words with Nina-san while glancing at her Excalibar. It's now bent and twisted, with handprints visible on the handle—a testament to the intense battles it's seen.
‘…They really fought hard.', I think, seeing even the SDF officers amazed by the state of our weapons.
Despite its condition, if it weren't for the sturdiness of the crowbar and pry bar, we wouldn't have been able to fight as effectively. Modern, well-forged tools like these have proven invaluable, far more so than traditional weapons like katanas, which likely would have broken before the first wave of battles ended.
Not that I'm dismissing the katana. In the hands of a skilled swordsman, it would be incredibly effective. However, none of us are such skilled users. Katanas require precise handling to be effective, which isn't practical in the chaotic melee of our battles. Tools like crowbars and pry bars, despite bending under extreme force, never break or lose their impact.
"Everyone, if your weapon feels like it's getting metal fatigue, let me know immediately. I'll make you a new one out of salt."
Salt weapons, crafted with reinforced magic, are as strong as rocks and can last for two to three hours. They're heavier, but at this point, the extra weight shouldn't be an issue for my companions.
"Okay! But I think we're still good. Plus, we're used to these."
Serai-san says, smiling as she lightly swings her twisted Excalibur bar.
"Yeah, despite the bends, they're still pretty usable."
Nina-san agrees, giving her own Excalibar a light swing.
Thanks to the power-enhancing scrolls attached to their Excalibars+1, their magic-boosted attacks are still effective despite the weapon's deformed appearance.
"I'm fine too. I like Coach's weapons, but I feel more secure with my familiar one in emergencies."
Ruu says, smiling as she holds her bat.
Ruu, being smaller in stature, has always used the light and easy-to-handle Katsuo-kun bat. It's a simple child's bat I found in the trash, yet she's kept it in perfect condition through countless battles. The bat has turned slightly red from monster blood, but it's still intact. Is it really okay…?
