Lonely Attack on the Different World
Chapter 391 - 362

Day 85 – Daytime, Dungeon, 80F

Dodging the flames with minimal movements, I aim at the legs. All I need to do is divert the attention.

In one fluid motion I dodge the incoming attack and release a 『Clone』but it looks like the attack was completely read. I simply focus on hindering the onslaught of flame projectiles, using『Teleport』, to vanish through relentless barrage of fireballs. I'm a decoy.

Bitch C was blown back, slamming into the wall, momentarily stunned by the pain. The monster wasn't about to let that opening go. I leapt in front of its massive form, slashing with the 『Seven-Branched Sword』It looked like it had been waiting for the moment our formation stretched just enough for a gap, while we were focused on protecting Bitch C, it lunged in the opposite direction, toward Bitch Leader who had become isolated, aiming to run her through with its enormous burning blade. All we could see was the cruel sight of a crimson flaming greatsword, bearing down on Bitch Leader.

Yes, the conclusion was brutal. Raising her 『Spear of Eternal Ice』 and clad in icy armor from 『Ice Shroud』 Bitch Leader cast 『Freezing Array』[1] erecting a barrier of ice. Inside that storm of whirling 『Ice Spears』 and 『Frost Blades』 the blazing inferno was slashed to shreds and extinguished, leaving nothing but a giant with its arms severed. I mean, as you'd expect, charging at the Ice Queen Bitch as a fire-type monster is not a good idea? She bites, you know?

Of the Flame Giant's four flame-wreathed arms: one was blown away by Pres-sama's 『Chain Whip of Savage Lightning』 another ripped up by Dancing Girl-san's 『Chains of Prometheus』 a third sliced up by Vice Pres A-san's four-blade combo and then chopped off by the raccoon girl's spinning axe strikes. It charged in with only one arm remaining, but chose a very wrong target.

The wall of flame was wrapped in ice, while the last remaining arm was frozen along with the burning greatsword itself and shattered. Then, with a thunderous roar, the massive boobs descended, ahem, a massive blow I meat! With a staff! Or rather, a huge hammer-like blunt weapon, smashed down, crushing the frozen 『Flame Giant – Lv80』 into glittering shards of ice. In the meantime I shove a mushroom into Bitch C's mouth. Not that there's any real threat of it recovering at this point, its frozen body was smashed up under concentrated slashes, breaking into brilliant ice crystals that dissolved into nothing.

Victory.

「「「Haaaah, I'm exhausted—!!」」」

They must've been thrown off by the overwhelming presence of the floor boss, 『Flame Gigant Lv80』Wreathed in fire and wielding four massive swords, its colossal form made them assume it was all about brute-force frontal attacks. Because its movements were fast but linear, they probably thought it was just a reckless charger. And that's why Bitch C got mislead by tricks like『Flame Mirage』 and 『Flame Clone』 taking a direct hit as a result, and when someone goes down, others jump in to assist, making them easy to herd and pin down. Assuming that all that muscle and mass meant it was just a brainless tank, led to them lowering their guards and getting fooled by tricks like 『Flame Body』 and 『Phantom Flame』as a result. In other words, it's the Idiots' fault! They're definitely getting bullied when we get back.

「Haruka-kun, you really saved us there. Thank you.」

「I just helped a little? You could handle it on your own? Kinda?」

Yeah, I only played decoy and bought a bit of time. The actual fighting and killing was done by the girls themselves. At last, we defeated a floor boss on 80th floor with just two parties. If they were content with some injuries, they could've won without any help. Still, the safety margin is still way too narrow. There's still room for the unexpected, and in real combat that unexpected can cost too much.

And yet, I can't quite get it. There is quite a serious issue, and kind of a frequent one too. Like, why Flame Gigant? Why not Flame Giant? Why the sudden switch from English to German? If we're doing that, just go with Flamme Gigant! Mixing languages weirdly like that makes it strangely difficult to remember. Maybe this is one of those interworld translation problems? No wonder my polite and logical remarks never get across properly. And once again, one more truth is revealed: it wasn't my fault!

「Alright, shall we head to the rendezvous point? Everyone's probably waiting for lunch by now? Or actually, even though I packed sandwiches and fried chicken salad for everyone in case it took a while, I know they'll end up eating early and still show up for lunch anyway. Because Pres and the others have already proven it's a possibility?」

「「「Thanks for the meal! That was delicious! So, what's for lunch~?」」」

No… that was lunch, actually? Yeah, they're definitely not listening. That was a premeditated crime, after all?

(Jiggle-Jiggle!)

The Geeks and Idiots had already arrived at the rendezvous point. According to the Geeks, they apparently ate their lunches before entering the Dungeon, got hungry again, and then rampaged straight through to the 80th floor. That level of impulsiveness is almost impressive. I can only imagine what was going through the idiots' and the floor boss' minds, as it got steamrolled simply because the idiots were hungry. Then again, the Idiots probably weren't thinking about anything at all.

「「「We're starving~! Dying~! This is it, we're done for~! F-food! Is the meal ready yet~?」」」

「You guys already ate twice, and it's still only lunchtime! What's with your fuel consumption!? You know, normally 70% of a person's energy goes to their brain, right? But you lot don't use yours at all, so technically you should survive on just 30% of a normal diet, you're supposed to be eco-friendly idiots! So why do you burn through calories like that!?」

The athletic girls and the culture club squad haven't made it back yet. Their party's built around frontline defense and midline debuffs, so when it clicks, they're insanely strong, but if it doesn't, things take time. Well, whether it's the 75th to 80th floor bosses or even if a Dungeon Master shows up, as long as Armored Pres-san is with them, I'm not worried. Actually, the more I imagine a Dungeon Master making a grand debut only to run into the former Dungeon Emperor and get utterly wrecked on the spot, I can't help but feel a little pity. If there's ever a Victims of Blunt Violence Support Group, I'd like to be a member too.

「「「BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! BBQ! ……」」」

(Jiggle-Jiggle Bounce-Bounce! Jiggle-Jiggle Bounce-Bounce!……)

The sound of feet stomping and spoons and forks banging on the tables, was that a BBQ chant starting up!? No, wait, that's Rock You, not barbecue! A-and it's in an infinite loop of the intro section!? The deep, thundering rhythm echoed like a quake, radiating a kind of indescribable intensity and force. I feel like I'm about to develop some kind of 『Taunt Resistance』 just from being here!

Since they were so noisy I started prepping the barbecue, and just then, Armored Pres-san and company finally returned. They seemed fine, but it looked like their fight had turned into a war of attrition. And if they're worn out, then they'll need food. I load up the grill with skewers of meat and vegetables, and as they begin to sizzle the sound of searing meat and rising smoke finally brought the BBQ chant to a halt, slowly giving way to the rumble of growling stomachs and the collective gulp of everyone swallowing their drool. Seriously, just how early did you empty the lunch boxes that I prepared!?

Rice balls were being rolled and shaped into little barrel knots and stacked high. A soup made from bird bones, mushrooms, and tender bird pieces was done too.

「Food's ready~! Even though there is a lingering question how come everyone was waiting for lunch despite me distinctly remembering handing out lunch boxes, but the BBQ's grilled and ready, so go ahead, fight for it~! Scramble for it~! I guess」

「「「Kyaaaa! Thanks for the meal!」」」

Even the melee-combat monsters that are Idiots couldn't break into the tightly packed crowd of girls in tight spats, now free of their armor. All they could do was bite into rice balls while crying blood tears. The Geeks had faded into the background so much, being outdoors made it feel like they'd get blown away in the wind. But yeah, that squishy, bouncy meat-shield zone is an unpassable hell for Highschool Boys. No one has ever emerged unscathed from those jiggly seas! Yeah, the consequences are pretty dire.

They looked so pitiful that I took some BBQ skewers and launched them full-force using『 Teleportation』-enhanced throws. The Idiots cheered and went chasing them, rice balls still in hand. The Geeks are still stunned by the sight of spats-girls in a full-contact meat scramble, and showed no signs of recovery, so no need to throw them anything, they'd probably just get stabbed?

All three raids successfully defeated the 80th-floor floor boss. Apparently, no Dungeon Master appeared. So maybe the dungeons really are evolving? Is this a growth phase? I mean, if they were growing upward and expanding, it would be one thing, but deepening and going downward? Sounds like negative growth? But then again, more floors mean they are growing?

Seems like Pres and the others will be splitting into three raids groups to dive into the three dungeons where exploration stopped at the 50th floor. There won't be any supervisors going with them, but if they're capable of handling fights on the 80th floor, then the 60th floor should be no problem at all. Even when Bitch C took the floor boss's ultimate attack on the 80th floor, the damage was under 20%. Her stance got thrown off, which could've been dangerous, but that new model Z armor worked just fine. With that kind of defense, there's no worry about instant death. Even in the worst case, they should be able to retreat.

As for The Geeks and Idiots, I gave them the new, bulkier-type armor too, at a totally inflated price, so they should be fine. It wasn't made to fit, so it should be fine as well. That way, I'm spared the horror of seeing something as gross as Highschool Boys in tight-fitting armor. I mean, I don't want to develop 『Gross Resistance』 skill just for that!

Still, if the entire Frontier is undergoing dungeon deepening, then even the shallow ones we thought were fine and left unchecked need to be reassessed. Every Dungeon beyond the 50th floor now poses a potential flooding threat, so we can't afford to let our guard down. Starting tomorrow, the Frontier Army will be teaming up with the Royal Guard to begin full-scale dungeon exploration and surveying. I should probably mention that on the way back.

Ah, here come the Idiots, happily charging back with BBQ skewers still in their mouths. Wait… do I have to throw more? Those eyes! They're sparkling! They're expecting it!