Hello everyone,
I'm sorry for the delay. As the last few days I'm sick and don't have energy to open my laptop and smartphone.
Well, it much better now, but the doctor said I still need to take a rest for another 2 days.
So, I need to apologize that the next chapter would be delayed for few days.
That's all for me, enjoy the chapter.
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Translator: LN&WN Warrior
Editor: Starfinder
'Its movement is keener and nimbler than that of House Centipedes and Killer Rabbits.'
Although it was Haruki taking the initiative to strike, the Centipede didn't respond to him.
"Tchi! Karen, step back!"
The centipede reacted to the smell of Karen's sweat!
"Damn, are you an old man!"
He was joking to relieve the tension.
Haruki advanced with all his might to cut its antennas.
However, it was shallow.
Besides, it was too hard.
Even though the blade didn't pass, Haruki didn't get upset at all.
He experienced it occasionally when he fought against House Centipedes.
So, it was within his calculation.
Originally, a Centipede is a monster that frequently appears in the middle-tier floors.
An adventurer hunting on the 3rd or 4th floor is not an opponent who can inflict decent damage to it.
'Then, why does it appear in a place like this?'
Haruki quickly came up with the answer without thinking.
'It is a rare monster!'
"Karen, fall back as far as possible and watch the attacks from behind!"
"But......"
"It is a rare monster and it aims at you. So, fall back!"
Karen gasped when she heard the words of a rare monster.
Her face turned blue as she slowly fell back.
A Rare monster is a monster that rarely appears as its name suggests.
It is usually a different species but resembles the monster of that floor, a fox or a wolf if it is a dog, a leopard if it is a cat.
It might be the result of mutations such as cancer or albino in the monster's birth process.
Even if monsters yearn for it, it is a nuisance in an adventurers' point of view.
Because the monster would be stronger than the boss depending on its type.
He had cut it three times using a dagger, but he still couldn't inflict significant damage.
'Damn it! If I'd have skill points, I could increase my Strength and Technique.'
That was what he thought, but what could he do if there was none.
'Then, how can I cut it?'
"Ugh!?"
The centipede's attack slightly grazed his body when he was deep in thought.
'No, I should stay focused.'
'Observe, analyze, and clarify it!'
He pulled his thoughts back into the battle and increased his concentration.
He observed, analyzed, clarified and predicted every movement of the Centipede.
Then, he analyzed, compared, tried, and improved his attacks.
Due to his continuous attacks, the agro of the Centipede, which was trying to pass through Haruki's side, turned to him.
At that moment, the difficulty of evading its attack increased.
He evaded its jaw attack and cut its legs with his dagger.
The blade that didn't leave a scratch before smoothly cut off its legs.
After repeatedly self-analyzing and trying, his technique to stab the blade improved.
"Yeah."
'Now, I can defeat the Centipede!'
'Until now, my attacks heavily depend on my strength.......'
'Of course, my previous dagger was broken easily.'
It was dangerous to be deep in thought while fighting.
Haruki's body was attacked by its tail from his blind spot.
"Evad--!"
Haruki rolled on the ground like a ball.
'My body is fine, and there is no broken bone.'
He stood up instantly.
However,
"......?!"
The Centipede had opened its big jaw above Haruki.
'It’s fast and unavoidable.'
'I can't escape.'
He pushed out his slightly bent dagger.
It was just resisting slightly.
In one go, it bit off and swallowed his arm.
It was the future that he foresaw.
"......Hmm!"
At the same time as a shrieking cry was heard, the wind blew on Haruki's cheeks.
At the next moment, he got a slight shock and heard a crushing sound.
The Centipede's head violently shocked to sideways.
"Kieee!!"
While it was screaming, Haruki stabbed his dagger into the Centipede's back which had thinner armour.
He used his kick to spin after he cut its throat.
The Centipede's legs were struggling and its body was twisting.
It kicked Haruki many times, trying to restrict him.
But, regardless of its attacks, Haruki stabbed the Centipede with his dagger over and over.
'If I don't kill it quickly, the situation will be reversed.'
'If that happens, I’ll definitely die this time!'
*Stab, pierce, cut, slash, rip, split.*
*Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab.*
No matter how many times he stroked his dagger, its head didn't break.
He stomped it by using his sole.
*Kick, kick, kick, kick.*
*Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp!!*
Haruki suddenly came to his senses when he felt pain in his throat.
His rough breath made his throat dry.
He realized the Centipede...... didn't move even a twitch.
Of course, the centipede's head was completely flat under Haruki's feet.
"Ha......ha ha......."
His leaked breath was like a laugh.
"......Well," Haruki was laughing.
It was not because he enjoyed it, but because he barely survived.
‘To laugh in such situation.......’
‘Did I lose some screws in my head?'
'As expected, this time it was dangerous.'
I was able to survive by only a hair's breadth.
*Phew* he breathed out deeply to calm himself down.
At that time, the inside of his body became violently hot.
It was level-up sickness.
It was hard for Haruki to stand, he headed to the passage's corner with his unsteady footstep to sit down.
It seemed that in another place, Karen also experienced level-up sickness.
He squatted while holding his head.
When his level-up sickness subsided, Haruki went to dismantle the Centipede.
'Its carapace is smaller but harder and heavier than the House Centipede's.'
'I'm experienced with House Centipedes, but it's still not easy.'
‘The meat is too tough and the blade of my knife can't cut it the way I expected.'
Even though like that, he forcibly tore off the carapace.
The colour of the meat was pink. It looked like a chicken's breast.
But, a Centipede has poison. So, he didn't have the courage to taste it.
When he checked whether there were no more parts that could be torn off, he felt there was something hard in the Centipede's stomach.
Haruki nimbly cut the stomach and looked inside.
Then......,
"Oh?!"
In the Centipede's stomach, there was something like a small pouch jammed in it.
'This is a magic bag, isn't it!?'
'There is an article about magic tools obtained after defeating monsters on the "Let's be" blog.'
'However, for this kind of item being dropped......'
He pinched and pulled its string, it was a bag in an eclipse shape.
"It looks like a magic bag, what should I do?" (Haruki)
"......Burp."
Karen felt sick and hold her mouth.
"It seems it can be used if I wash it."
"Hu......up"
"The smell is...... yup, it seems there is none......"
".........!"
Karen, whose face turned blue while crying, gazed at Haruki intensely.
'……um.'
Let's talk about the pouch later.