Modern ninjas, being versatile, can delve deep into otherworldly labyrinths alone - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

After seeing Bodwin and his group off, I waited about ten minutes before stepping into the dungeon entrance myself.

This interval was out of consideration for the unspoken understanding among explorers.

If monsters appear when there are seven or more people present, it results in dangerous combat without the benefits of class abilities.

With each step down the stairs, the familiar dungeon air fills my lungs, lifting my spirits.

When I returned to the first floor from the deeper levels before, I felt the dungeon air was thin, almost indistinguishable from the surface.

This is why the dungeon is dangerous.

Each floor shakes your soul as you enter, yet feels bland when you turn back towards the surface.

If I were to lose my self-control, I would surely be absorbed and ground down by the dungeon’s depths.

To prevent that, I keep Erika in a corner of my mind.

If I were to break my promise and dissolve into the dungeon, she would surely feel deep disappointment.

Or perhaps… would she grieve for me?

So, I’ll make sure to return this time too.

That will surely make her happy.

There they are.

The monsters lurking around the corner are kobolds, my first targets for this expedition.

Why kobolds now, you ask? Of course, I want to test the results of my throwing practice on shield-bearing monsters.

“Haaaah!”

Deliberately exposing myself in the dungeon corridor, I let out a battle cry to draw the kobolds’ attention.

They won’t raise their shields for a surprise attack, after all.

That shout also largely completed the magical energy infusion into my throwing sticks.

Thanks to my training, the speed of magical infusion has greatly increased. If I can disregard stealth and shout like this, it now only takes a few seconds.

Furthermore, as I ostentatiously brandish my throwing sticks, the kobolds simultaneously cover their upper bodies with round shields.

Here we go.

“Gah!?”

A throwing stick traces a glowing arc as it flies, piercing the shield a kobold raised and striking its chest, shattering its upper body.

The kobold’s head, frozen in an expression of shock, pops up like a jack-in-the-box toy before turning to dust mid-air.

Good, excellent power.

Next, I release two throwing sticks simultaneously with my left hand, crushing an equal number of shields and kobolds.

The rhythm of flying throwing sticks and exploding kobolds repeats, and the six kobolds, matching the number of throwing sticks in both my hands, are annihilated.

Great, let’s keep this up and do more…

Oh?

As I go to retrieve the thrown sticks, I see they’re deeply embedded in the dungeon’s stone walls.

When I forcefully pull one out, I find its tip significantly blunted from just one throw.

It seems the dungeon walls are far more resistant to deformation than metal shields.

Probably after being embedded in the stone walls two or three more times, the tips would be completely ruined.

Should I throw with less magical energy…? No, considering those dungeon people as the ultimate goal, I want to practice with this level of power.

Hmm, in that case, I have no choice but to target tougher monsters.

For now, let’s try going down one more floor.

Well, I’ve found enemies in good numbers, but…

On the second floor, my sight captures seven stereotypical ninja-like dungeon people in black attire.

It’s the perfect number for throwing practice with three sticks in each hand, and being humanoid like my ultimate goal is convenient.

But what about their durability?

Without shields, they might be even easier to pierce than kobolds.

Well, let’s give it a try.

“Hooooah!”

I infuse magical energy into all the throwing sticks in both hands while letting out a battle cry.

The ninja dungeon people notice me and rush over in unison, but they’re too slow.

I release the throwing sticks from both hands in one breath.

With a wet bursting sound, the seven ninja dungeon people explode.

The count is off by one, but two overlapping ones were pierced together.

Seven in an instant… this is truly a secret technique.

While I was moved by the definite response, my excitement quickly plummeted upon discovering all the throwing sticks embedded in the stone walls.

Let’s go down one more floor.