Can Even a Mob Highschooler Like Me be a Normie if I Become an Adventurer?

Episode 16 It's outrageous to sell that! (1)

　Shortly after that, we found the stairs to the final floor.

　The map app showed that it was not far from our starting point. While I was relieved that the staircase we had spent so much time looking for was closer than I had expected, I also reminded myself that without the Imp, we would still be wandering around the labyrinth.

　The first thing that hit my nose when I went downstairs was the smell of water. The scent of a stagnant river.......

　It’s not another irregular encounter, is it?!

　When I looked behind me, the staircase still exists. The scenery itself has not changed from the previous stone corridors.

Was my worry unfounded...?

　I patted my chest and went on, thinking that my fears were groundless.

　The path was an extremely gentle downhill, and water gradually reached the soles of my shoes, ankles, and calves.

　The water was getting deeper and deeper, and once it got past my knees, it became difficult to move.

　Yuki, unable to bear the sight, suggested,

"Master, please ride on my back."

“Oh ...... but it will be trouble if we get into a fight.”

"It will be fine if you get off right away."

“I'll take your word for it then.”

　Saying so, I straddle Yuki's back.

　I was a little scared because Yuki, whose physique is as big as a bull, was higher than I had expected.

　But as soon as the fluffy and soft tail wrapped around me like a seatbelt, my worries quickly disappeared.

　……What a blissful feeling. Shall I explore while riding Yuki like this from now on?

　Once I don’t have to struggle to move around, I had time to think about the dungeon boss here.

　First of all, regarding the type of enemy, it's definitely an aquatic monster. The field is remade with the backup of the dungeon.

　If it’s the boss of an E-rank dungeon, the enemy will naturally be a D-rank monster. What aquatic monsters were in the D-ranks?

　When hearing the word ‘aquatic’, what immediately comes to mind are frogs, fish, and snakes. What frog and fish monsters were there.......? And, slime is also an aquatic type, isn't it? That type can appear everywhere, though. Aquatic serpents like the mizuchi1 are also possible. Also, aren’t lizardmen amphibious?

　The water was getting deeper and deeper even as I'm listing potential enemies in my head. The water level had already reached around Eliza's crotch.

　If we continue, we won't be completely submerged, will we?　If that happens, we'll never make it through.

　As I was thinking this, Yuki, whose ears twitched, sharply warned,

"Master, an enemy is closing in on us!”

“!"

　At Yuki's words, all the others simultaneously took up fighting positions. I also go down to the ground and free Yuki.

　It's...... not good. It's harder to move than expected. This means Yuki and Eliza can't fight well, can they?　 We should consider withdrawing. Or rather, we should retreat already......

　In the few seconds that I hesitated slightly like that, the enemy was already closing in on us.

“I see the enemy," Eliza's voice said.

　I stared ahead at Eliza's voice.

　I saw the shell of a turtle approaching us at a tremendous speed.

　......The enemy is a turtle?

　The next moment, the shadow of the enemy jumped up from the surface of the water and attacked Eliza with great force!

　The enemy was about to push Eliza down with its own momentum, but the calm and collected ghouler quickly grabbed it with her arms and threw it against the wall with her strength.

　On the other hand, the enemy showed unexpected agility, spinning its body and landing on the wall with its feet. It then dived back into the water.

　As I watched the tortoise's shell slithering away, I replayed the glimpse I had caught of the enemy in my mind.

　It was about the size of an adult male. Its skin was dark green, and its hands had sharp claws and webbed hands. Its head was covered with hair, but the top of its head had a ceramic-like texture that made it look bald at first glance.

　...... No doubt. A Japanese would not misjudge this enemy. The enemy is a kappa.

　It's a fairly strong monster, even among D-rank monsters. It is a good swimmer, powerful, has a hard defensive shell on its back, and is a skilled wrestler.

　Although it has the disadvantage of not being able to bear being on land for long periods of time, it is a monster that shows more power than its rank in such an aquatic field.

　That was the strength and weakness of environment-dependent types such as aquatic types.

　What to do. As long as the boss's true identity is an aquatic type, this place is a good reason to pull back. This is not the only test site. If I wait a month, I will be introduced to the next dungeon.

　I could sell the jewelry we got this time and buy a D-rank aquatic monster, too.

　Just when my mind was leaning toward retreat, Renge said,

"......Why are you just standing there?　Let's go after it quickly. Because right now, it’s probably weakened.”

“What did you say?"

“Oi oi, have you forgotten already? What was the skill I acquired earlier?”

“! What’s the skill you just got?　You don't mean the ...... status ailment went through?”

“Yeah, that's why it ran away in a hurry.”

“Don't say it like it’s your own credit!　Master, I helped too!”

“Hey, hey.”

“What kind of status ailment?”

　The two grinned at my question.

"Weakened"x2

"Wow, well done! Now let's go after this guy!"

　I put Eliza back on the card and straddled Yuki's back. In this water field, it is faster to return Eliza to the card first.

　Yuki moved quickly through this halfway shallow water by swimming and kicking the floor.

　It took about a minute. We found the kappa breathing heavily and leaning against the wall. Quickly, I called Eliza back.

　Weakness is a status ailment that rapidly depletes one's strength. It is not deadly like poison, but during a battle that already drains a lot of physical strength, being further deprived of strength is as effective as poison.

　Especially in this case, the [Friendship linkage] had strengthened Renge's [Elementary status ailment magic] with the help of the Imp's [Devil fairy 2]. It must have been very painful.

　The kappa noticed us and attacked us from the water as before, but its movements were lackluster.

　Eliza firmly grabbed both of its arms and restrained it. The kappa tried to counter with a bite, but Yuki's claws attacked it.

　The plate on the kappa's head was not so fragile that it could be easily broken, but it was not enough to withstand a blow from a monster of the same rank.

　The kappa's head was cracked open along with the plate on its head, and the kappa's brain splattered fluid, then it disappeared.

“We did it!　We won!”

　The Imp shouted with joy.

　We won! With this, I’m now a two-star adventurer! .....Huh? Wait, that's weird…

　I looked around. As if to confirm my prediction, the other three tightened their expression.

　Renge, catching my gaze, nodded her head.

"The disappointing box doesn't show up. Looks like we're not done yet."

"Huh? What?"

　I gave a simple explanation to the Imp, who seemed to have no idea what I was talking about.

"It means that guy was not the boss, but an underling."

　But what kind of twist is this?

　Normally, the monsters that can be summoned as vassals are lower ranked. E-rank monsters should be the limit here. Why can it summon a fellow D-rank?

　I tried desperately to wrap my head around this question, but it seemed that the enemy was not giving us that kind of leeway.

“Master, enemy presence is approaching!　Their number is ...... six!

"Seriously! Damn it!"

　I gave a small nod and immediately gave out instructions,

"Eliza and Yuki, please stop them in their tracks first. Renge and Imp will weaken them. Once all of them are covered, Imp will use slips on them, and Renge will join in with magic attacks.”

"Roger!”x4

　At the same time as they all replied, the sound of splashing water could be heard from the front.

　　There they were, six kappas.

......Hey, ain't this cheating enough?

　I had a feeling that a fierce battle was about to break out.

***

 Notes:

1  The Mizuchi is a type of Japanese dragon or legendary serpent-like creature, either found in an aquatic habitat or otherwise connected to water.↩

2  It has a positive effect on magic skills ↩