Chapter 78: Playing with fish

I want to become stronger. Because without strength one might be unable to protect people important to him.

I became conscious of that but the essence does not change suddenly. I am a coward by nature so training methods that require to tread between life and death are simply scary for me.

So I guess that makes a steady LP raising the best shortcut.

When I get up in the morning, I first knock on Alice’s room door. Since she already woke up, I seek a hug.

「Good morning.」

「G-Good morning. You are assertive today.」

「I thought that a proactive approach might be necessary.」

「That’s great. It would be even better if you were to take a defensive stance to everyone except me.」

Alice, that is impossible. Anyway, it’s important to steadily increase LP. I also hugged mother in the living room, fluffed Toramaru’s fur and ignored father.

While I was thinking if I should go to the hidden dungeon today, father abruptly said.

「By the way, this morning a blonde haired girl came looking for Noir.」

「Who was it?」

「I missed my chance to ask. When I said that you are still sleeping she left right away. Will come again, was what she said.」

Going from her features I feel like that was Layla-san.

「Good morning.」

Talk about the devil, her voice was already coming from the front door, so I fixed my bed hair and headed there.

「So it really was Layla-san.」

And her younger brother Nell-kun also came along.

「Sorry for coming so suddenly. Since I heard from my younger brother where your house is I came for a visit.」

「Not a problem, it’s a small house, but come in.」

「No, I have a job after this. I just wanted to thank you first.」

For the incident with the mysterious thief Phantom, I am the one who wants to say thanks. When I tilt my head wondering what might it be about she speaks excitedly.

「My younger brother, after that he strangely stopped encountering bad situations. Noir-san, didn’t you tell us about【Misfortune】. It’s not that I was doubting you, but it was true after all.」

Since I destroyed skill【Misfortune】 Nell has returned to his proper state. Nell-kun also bows with a smile.

「Thank you, very much.」

「That’s good. That guy who was bullying you was the reason for it, but since I destroyed his skill as well you don’t have to worry.」

「Oh boy, this is the first time we were treated with such kindness after coming here.」

Perhaps, Layla-san, who was so thoughtful of her brother, got overcome with emotion, but she became teary-eyed.

「I want to thank you somehow.」

「Can you teach me how to fight from time to time?」

「Of course! You being from a rival guild is a bit that… But let’s get along.」

「Please take care of my sister.」

I really would like to get along, even Nell-kun asked me to.

After the two of them left, I went to the town, found a shop selling harpoons and made a purchase. It was hard to find and expensive, but it was necessary.

After preparations were all in order, I traveled to the hidden dungeon.

First, I skillfully hunt golden slimes on the 1st floor and

「Is this all of them?」

「Kappuuyaaaa.」

「Whooa?!」

I retreat with a back-step. Because liquid containing strong acid was falling from the ceiling. I was surprised that a slime was stuck there.

I calmly attack with【Purple lightning】and electrify it to death. There also were smart types? In a dungeon, as time goes by, monsters will appear, it seems that occasionally unique specimen will appear as well.

Previously a boss-like one appeared.

Being mostly done with hunting I head to master Olivia.

『Cuuuuuuuuuuurse upon yooooou.』

「…」

Oops. it seems that the master is going berserk. I turn around and prepare to leave.

『Don’t leeeeeave!　 Don’t gooooooooo.』

「Master, today you are in an even stranger mood than ever.」

『Because Noir-kun doesn’t come to see me, Olivia went crazy, ooooooh.』

Master went crazy even before we met… No, this, I must not say no matter what.

「I want your advice. The 9th floor is filled with water, so I’m unable to explore it for a prolonged period of time.」

『Take branchial respiration.』

So with【Create】I can make even that sort of thing. After I checked it in hurry I realized that it was teacher’s joke. Because it required thirty million LP.

「That is too expensive!」

『Nahaha~, because that’s basically like quitting being human.』

「So you are teasing me? I am seriously troubled. I want to catch something there. Because I am opening a shop selling rare materials.」

『The plan is progressing smoothly, I see. Well, then I recommend taking【Diving】and【Null Breathing】』

I had about 7000 LP at the moment so I can easily afford both.

Diving……500

Null Breathing……1000

If I take them I will get better at diving and will be able to stay underwater without breathing for longer.

『By the way, for how long you can dive right now?』

「Two minutes… No, about three minutes is the limit.」

『Supported by skills you will be able to go for 20 minutes, I think. But you shouldn’t overdo it.』

Support from skills was stronger than I expected which filled me with excitement.

『By the way, I could easily dive for more than two hours.』

「A monster.」

『How rude to say that to a beauty. But since it’s Noir-kun I guess I’ll forgive you. You can’t wait to test it out, right?』

「As expected from master. You can easily read my sentiments. I’ll be going!」

『Break a leg.』

Using the portal skill I arrive at the 9th floor. Arriving inside water right away is still something I cannot get used to.

First I make sure I have no problem with breathing. Yeah, I can feel a lot of leeway. But as master advised, let’s not overextend.

First, check the stairs leading to the 8th floor. I won’t be able to use movement-type skills for a while, so when I won’t have enough air I’ll use the stairs.

However, the water is as clean as always and has a lot of fish.

「Cobocobobobo（What is that?!）」

A mysterious fish with a red head, blue in the middle, and a yellow tail was smoothly swimming around. I took out a harpoon that I prepared and tried to stab it.

Oh, I got it rather easily. In front of my eyes, other unusual fishes were swimming as well, so I try to catch them. As could be expected, they escape.

The depth was considerable and there was bad visibility down below. I was a little scared so I will swim on top. Nonetheless,【Diving】is nice as well. I’m glad that I can dive better.

「Oh?」

There is a fish that was only bones! About thirty centimeters, swimming alone. Or rather, it was heading right here. Looking closely there are fangs in its mouth… It is open…

It intends to eat me, huh. It doesn’t seem strong, but I appraise it just in case. It’s called Bone Fish, level 12. No skills.

I try to stab it with the harpoon head on. Avoided. As expected, in the water it was faster than me. …Where did it go?

CHOMP. When I thought that I have lost sight of it, it bit my ass. It hurts, but it’s not unendurable. I grab it by hand and snap.

I won too easily. Though it was broken it’s still valuable so I store it. I still have enough breath, but let’s go back to the stairs.

「Zeーhaー, suーhaー.」

I take a breath and a breather on the surface. Clothes were heavy with water.

At the moment there are no strong enemies so I will dive deeper next time. I’ll be happy if there are treasure or stairs… But as experience tells it won’t go all that smooth.