Live Dungeon! Chapter 5, Party Line-Up

The trio of Garm, Tsutomu, and Amy made their way back to the guild for the renewal of their status cards. Tsutomu's heal had been upgraded to "High Heal" upon reaching level 10. If he further increased its level, it would gain the ability to revive a party member within three minutes of their demise.

After receiving confirmation of his new skill, Tsutomu headed directly to the receptionist, intending to withdraw some funds.

"Well then, here's one high-quality gem. Oh, and please include some cash as well, as this will also cover the appraisal certificate."

"Gotcha."

While speaking with the receptionist, Tsutomu presented his status card on the counter.

The guild also housed financial institutions that utilized enormous, custom-made magic bags for storing money. Tsutomu found the service quite appealing and, as a result, utilized it frequently.

This service was indispensable for adventurers, who constantly faced the risk of death and item loss. Should any disturbances occur near the guild, the staff would promptly handle the situation.

Adventurers had the option to leave their equipment at the guild, minimizing their losses upon death. Some explorers even opted to deposit the majority of their gear, runes, and G at the guild, venturing out with merely a single set of clothing.

"Let's go out and see how much we can devour. I bet I'll beat you!"

Witnessing Tsutomu receive 100,000 G from the receptionist, Amy began to bounce with excitement, much like a cat that had just captured its prey.

"Yipee! Hooray!"

"… Tsutomu, are you certain about this?"

In stark contrast to Amy's carefree singing, Garm regarded Tsutomu with a serious expression, raising his eyebrows. Tsutomu attempted to lower his voice, ensuring Amy couldn't overhear their conversation.

"I wanted to discuss the dungeon search we're planning for tomorrow. However, for you two, it might prove a bit taxing, so perhaps it's best we sit down, have a meal, and discuss it then."

"Well, in that case, I suppose I'll follow your lead."

"How about we dine at 'The Barrel's Hat'?"

"I believe Amy is barred from that establishment. How about 'The Fish Diner'? It's quite popular among the catkin folk, as they serve live fish prepared expertly."

"Sure, let's go there."

Tsutomu gave Garm a thumbs-up before turning back to Amy, who appeared to be in high spirits.

As evening descended, casting a dim light on the road, the illumination from the fire runes began to flicker. Garm navigated the cobblestone path with unwavering confidence.

"We've arrived."

Amy vibrated with excitement upon spotting the large fish mascot adorning the restaurant's facade.

"We're here! It's usually quite expensive and packed."

"There shouldn't be too many patrons at this hour."

Following Amy, who was acting with childlike enthusiasm, Garm entered the eatery. Tsutomu trailed behind, his gaze captivated by the vibrant array of fish on display.

They were greeted by a blue fox and a fish-man who seemed capable of spontaneously generating limbs.

Once everyone was seated, a towering fisherman approached their table, distributing glass cups while humming a tune. Subsequently, water was conjured through magic and poured into the empty vessels. In an effort to impress, the fisherman performed a dance as he handed out the menus.

Amy placed her order, dictating her desires to Garm and Tsutomu. The food arrived at their table with remarkable speed.

Served was black bread, shaped like a baguette, accompanied by a seaweed salad. Alongside this, a small dish of fried fish, completely prepared from an assortment of colorful sashimi. And finally, a fish so immense that Tsutomu doubted he could encircle it with both arms.

As the majority of the food was placed on their table, Amy began to urge Tsutomu to start eating, proclaiming her intention to be the first to finish. Tsutomu, however, did not engage in the conversation, instead losing himself in a daydream of savoring soy sauce atop the sashimi.

"Tomorrow, we will organize our party, and I intend to assign Garm the role of tank."

"Tank?"

Amy tilted her head forward, taking a substantial bite of her meal.

"Essentially, the tank assumes the duty of the party's shield."

"Can you safeguard Tsutomu? That would be a fitting role for a dog!"

"I don't mind."

Amy voiced this with a wide grin. Garm, having been previously briefed by Tsutomu, responded promptly.

"As Garm is a knight, can you employ any skills that siphon the enemy's Qi?"

"Well, I haven't utilized them in quite some time, so I might have forgotten some. There is a skill called 'Combat Cry' that completely counters enemies. I recall several others of a similar nature."

"You should ideally utilize your skills in conjunction with your regular attacks to draw the enemy's attention. However, your stats are not optimized for that particular combat style. Amy will eliminate the monsters one by one alongside me, and I will diligently replenish any injuries you sustain during combat."

"Huh?"

Amy, engrossed in her meal, paused her chewing mid-bite upon hearing her name.

"I do not believe Amy will need to maneuver extensively; rather, she should concentrate on engaging a single foe at a time."

"First and foremost, let's focus on defeating the monsters!"

"Indeed. Even if Garm proves incapable of vanquishing those monsters, we shall enlist Amy's assistance, as that strategy will prove effective."

"Don't trouble yourselves. If it were me, it would prove far too effortless!"

Amy eagerly consumed piece after piece of sashimi, spearing it with her fork and bringing it to her mouth. Tsutomu, meanwhile, calmly ordered a glass of water and took slow sips.

“Garm, I don’t think you’ll be able to effectively counter enemy attacks in your current state. It’s a demanding role, and I recognize the challenge, so I truly appreciate it.”

“Well, I don’t mind if you believe it’s for the best.”

“Thank you. I might also make mistakes initially and accidentally target enemies with healing skills, so we should first practice our respective roles in the grasslands. Our ultimate goal is to reach the swamp.”

“Understood.”

Garm, having scooped a generous portion of the large fish onto his baguette, popped it into his mouth.

“Let’s continue our discussion within the dungeon. Bon appétit!”

With those words, Tsutomu and Garm joined Amy in their feast.

_______________________________________________________________

“Combat Cry!”

Almost simultaneously with his exclamation, a crimson wave emanated from Garm’s form. The five goblins struck by the spell began to falter. Emitting defiant shouts, they commenced their charge towards Garm. Unlike the previous day, Garm was outfitted with proper equipment, wielding his staff in his right hand and a silver shield in his left. Tsutomu swiftly dealt with the charging goblins.

Meanwhile, Amy, who had been toying with her armor set, expertly pierced a goblin’s neck with her sword.

Before Tsutomu’s eyes, the five goblins abruptly transformed into sparkling gems. Tsutomu quickly moved to collect them, remaining vigilant of his surroundings.

Observing no further enemies, he proceeded to deposit the gems into his magic bag. At this point, their party had successfully advanced to the 9th floor, where the expansive grasslands offered a refreshing sense of nature. Glancing upward, Tsutomu spotted a colossal black gate bisecting the space before them.

“Tsutomu? That’s the gateway to the 10th layer.”

“Indeed. Let’s investigate.”

“Alright.”

Garm eagerly advanced toward the imposing black gate. While grass encroached upon the perimeter of the black gate, the central area remained barren, with crudely constructed wooden huts scattered irregularly across the cleared earth. The moment Tsutomu, the last member, entered, the black gate sealed shut.

Subsequently, a horde of goblins emerged from the huts, brandishing clubs and swords. Approximately fifty more were armed with bows and arrows. As a few bluish goblins appeared and let out their war cries, the entire group surged towards Tsutomu.

“Protect!”

As Tsutomu struck his white cane against the ground, a protective barrier of cherry-like hues enveloped the trio. Several goblins focused their attention on Tsutomu, while others rained arrows down upon him.

“Combat Cry!”

The familiar crimson wave erupted once more from Garm, causing most of the goblins to reel. In a desperate effort, they continued to loose their arrows.

Tsutomu aimed his staff at the advancing goblins. An unseen blade severed the legs of the goblins at the front, causing them to collapse to the ground.

Then, a two-pronged assault targeted the archers from the flanks. Amy, who had been quiet until this moment, effortlessly hurled the charging goblins backward. She sliced through the goblin ranks with the ease of cutting through tall grass.

Goblins unaffected by the spells leaped toward Garm, who promptly dispatched them, crushing their skulls with his silver shield. They then fell victim to his blade, transforming into gems.

However, they were still being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Ten goblins alone were insufficient to bring down Garm. His silver armor withstood multiple blows as the goblins relentlessly pursued him.

A goblin, cackling maniacally while lifting its club, had its head obliterated by Garm’s shield. The creature shuddered violently before dissolving into green particles. The sight momentarily stunned some of the other goblins.

Garm’s stats were rated B+. This meant that even the fiery breath of the valley biome’s boss, a fire dragon, would not instantly overcome him. Furthermore, Tsutomu’s “Protect” spell augmented his defense, making the goblins’ strikes feel like mere nudges. At one point, he single-handedly engaged over thirty goblins simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Amy, having dispatched the archers, immediately charged towards their leader, the blue goblin.

Though slightly more intelligent and powerful than the standard goblins, it met a swift end, transforming into a gem after Amy struck it forcefully on the head. Amy then quickly went to assist Garm.

As Garm plunged his weapon through the final goblin, it too transformed into gems, identical to the others. With a distant squeaking sound, two black gates materialized before the trio.

“Shall we proceed?”

“Yes, let’s.”

On that momentous day, Tsutomu surpassed his previous floor record, successfully reaching the 21st floor.