*

　Sure enough, I should say, the vertical holes weren't at the end of my eyes and nose.
　I said I was going to push myself a little too hard, but this was too much of a stretch.
　Looking behind me over my shoulder, I saw that Yuka looked like she was exhausted.
　I should have cut out the break from me~, I think now.
　Just like it's hard to leave when your boss is working late.
　Because Makoto didn't say anything, Yuka lost the opportunity to declare that she was tired.
　It's easy to dismiss it as a lack of self-discipline, but Yuka is still in high school.
　Mako had to take care of herself.
　It was only an excuse, but maybe she was in a hurry after wandering around the ten levels for days.
　When he looked ahead again, the passage had been cut off.

'Yuka, a vertical hole.'
...finally getting to the ninth level.

　Yuka exhaled heavily and leaned on her cane.

'Want to take a break?'
"Just kidding. We've come this far, and if I want to rest, I'll rest on the ninth level.
....
What?

　When Makoto looked at her, Yuka looked miffed.
　I think we should take a break.
　What would happen if I suggested that we take a break?
　Since it was her, she would probably say that she would climb even if she was alone.

''Well I'm going to see if I can climb it, so you can rest here.
Yeah, I get it.

　Mako stood at the edge of the passage and checked out the vertical hole.
　The vertical hole was a cylindrical vault.
　The ceiling was about twenty meters high and the bottom was closed in darkness.
　I could hear the sound of a go-go-go, so maybe there was a river at the bottom of the hole.
　Of course, I didn't want to find out for sure.

'Tom must have used that to get down there.

　There was a rope hanging on the other side of the river.
　How do I get to it, how do I get there?
　When I leaned forward in doubt, the outer edge of the rope was looming slightly.
　It was no more than thirty centimeters wide.
　I couldn't walk normally, so I would have to lean on my stomach or my back against the wall to get going.

''Do you think you can climb it?''

　Yuka stood next to Makoto and asked with concern.

'I think I'll be able to get up there fine, but are you okay with it, Yuka?'
'Thanks to the leveling up, my muscles are stronger than an average adult. I'll have to have my wand with me, but...
Okay.

　Makoto took the wand from Yuka and shoved it into his backpack.
　It turned out to be an antenna, but it was better than lying down.

'In case you're wondering, can you use magic without your wand?
It'll affect the power and range, but it'll work.
That's not a problem. Now all that remains is the order in which you climb...
I'll come back later.
What do you--

　I was about to ask her why, but Yuka snapped and glared at me.

'Oh, skirt,'
Yes!

　Embarrassed, Yuka said, her face turning red.

'Never mind, I won't look at your dirty pants.
Shut up!　Now get the hell out of here!

　Heh, he says, and proceeds down the edge of the vertical hole with his belly to the wall.
　My heels are completely in the air.
　A cold sweat runs down my spine at the instability of it.
　If I fall down, I'm out.
　Even if the river was flowing, I don't know how high it would be.
　Even if they didn't fall to their deaths, how far would they be swept away?
　Even if they were swept to the bottom of the river, there was nothing they could do.
　Careful, careful, careful, I told myself.
　It's not a race against time.
　Step by step, step by step, you will reach the rope.
　A piercing sound was heard, and Makoto tensed up.

''You ... scared me.''

　Nothing happened, so I let out a breath of relief.
　I look next to him and see Yuka straining as well.

''We'll go carefully.''
Yeah, I know.

　Yuca is advancing on the edge with zuri, zuri and sliding feet.
　Mako followed her lead and proceeded along the edge of the vertical hole with her sliding feet.
　Don't rush, don't rush, he tells himself.
　He desperately suppresses the desire to get out of this precarious situation as soon as possible.
　Mistakes are made when you're in a hurry.
　When you're in a hurry, you can't do the things you normally do without thinking about it.
　It takes you many times longer than you would normally walk, and you reach the place where the rope is.

'Nine levels at last,'

　Mako tightened her grip on the rope and exhaled.

'Come on up a bit faster!'
Okay.

　He raised his gaze along the rope. The walls of the vertical hole sloped slightly.
　It was only at the level of not being vertical, but it made him feel somewhat better.
　Makoto grabbed the rope and climbed up the vertical hole, using his legs as support.
　The passage of the nine levels gets closer and closer.
　We're almost to the ninth level.
　It was then that I heard Yuka's screams.

''What the hell is this!''

　I looked down and saw that Yuka was clothed in a translucent shadow.

'There's no such thing as a ghost!'
I'm losing strength.

　Yuka is falling down the slippery slope.
　Perhaps the ghosts absorb something like sperm from humans - the living.

'Yuka!　Come on!
I can't do it!

　Yuka let go of the rope.
　She slid down the slope and was thrown into the air.
　Reason, he complained, should be abandoned.
　There's no advantage in taking a risk here.
　The map is in Mako's possession.
　Food, too.
　He has the strength to escape the dungeon alone.
　There's no need for you to help me anymore. Nevertheless, Makoto was working to save Yuka.
　As soon as he let go of the rope, he flipped and kicked the slope as hard as he could.
　He held Yuka, thrown into the void, with his right arm and extended his left arm.
　Beyond that, there is a rope that swings erratically.

''Deliver it!''

　Makoto grabbed the ropes with all his strength.
　As soon as he stopped, his body bounced right upwards.

'I'm a genius!　Yeesh!
Okay. Just get up there.

　I looked around and saw that ghosts were floating around me.

'Cling to me!'
That's why you're not getting any help.
...for real?

　A small murmur.
　At the very least, I should have hugged him with my left arm.
　I can't use the fire with this.

''........hand, hand.
Don't worry. Don't worry.
Let go of my hand and I'll turn myself in.
Sorry. May I go?
You're with me.

　She was a hell of a woman.
　I should have abandoned her and run away.
　But it's too late to regret it.

"Ho-oh!
Hooray!

　The ghosts clung to Mako as she let out a high-pitched voice.
　That's enough to make the strength drain from my body.

''Yuka, where's the magic?''
I don't even have the strength to lift my arm.

　Yuka hung her head in disappointment.
　Her body was lazy.
　At this rate, Makoto would end up in the same state as Yuka.

'I'm going to take a gamble.
Like what?
Maybe it's a river down there.
Do what you want.

　It was a throwaway tone, but I guess you could say I agree.

Okay.

　When I let go of the rope, the ghosts moved away quickly.
　No, I can't say they moved away because Makoto and the others were falling.
　How many seconds did they fall?
　The impact came abruptly.
　They slammed into the surface of the river and were pulled into the deep, deep riverbed.
　Mako struggled to flap her legs as she held Yuka in her arms.
　He had no idea which was up and which was down.
　Suddenly, his eyes brighten in front of him.
　Puh-ha!　and peeked out of the water to devour the air.

'Yuka?'
....

　Yuka was silent when I called out to her.
　Apparently, she fainted.

'I can't get my footing!　It's flowing fast!

　In short, I'm just being swept away.
　After a while, I heard a thud, thud, thud.
　The river was cut off and a lot of water smoke was rising.
　It's a waterfall.
　There is a waterfall.

'Really?'

　Makoto and Yuka were thrown into the air.

*

　Mako struggled to move her limbs in the water.
　It was an underground lake.
　After falling from the waterfall many times and being swept down the river, it was here that he finally arrived.
　His movements gradually slowed down and his body sank.
　I could give up, I thought. Such a thought comes to me.
　He had reached the subterranean lake with Yuka in his arms.
　That alone is a good achievement.
　I suddenly lose strength from my body.
　Just when I was completely swallowed up, my foot touched something.
　The bottom of the water.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Makoto sat up.

Yuka, we're almost there.

　When you talk to her, Yuka doesn't answer.
　It's no wonder she's fainting.
　As soon as he got out of the water, his body felt heavy.
　Makoto pulled Yuka up to the shore and looked around.
　The subterranean lake was in the corner of the dungeon, a step lower.
　He dropped his backpack and got down on all fours like a beast.


You're awake now?

　Yuka sat up and held her temples.

'What is this place?'
Earth--

　I felt nauseated and vomited unbearably.
　What I splattered on the ground was bread, dried meat and a lot of blood.

It's disgusting. I'm not going to throw up over there.........

　Yuka covered her mouth with her hand.

'Don't tell me you're covering for me?'
I didn't mean to cover for you.

　I wasn't going to sacrifice myself to protect him.
　It was just a coincidence that I crashed into a rock and was underneath it when I fell from the waterfall.

"Recovery magic, can you help me?
....

　Yuka was silent.
　After a few moments of silence, she opened her mouth timidly.

''I'm sorry. I can't use my recovery magic.''
Seriously?

　Then what was that pale light?

'My skill isn't an appraisal, it's a soul heal, a power to heal the soul. Being able to see your status is a byproduct of that. I'm really sorry.
Yeah--gg!

　Mako choked violently.
　Each time he did so, blood splattered down to the ground.
　The heat drained from his body.
　Instead, the cold air that came in consumed his body.
　I know this feeling.
　I experienced it in the park that night.
　This is the sensation of death.

''Well that's it?''
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

　Haha, he laughs dryly.
　As far as I'm concerned, I've had a bad life.
　I was swept up in my parent's debt, and when I thought I had moved to another world, I was dying in the depths of the earth.
　You hear a clatter and look up.
　Then, there was a skeleton wearing white and silver armor standing there.
　No, it was probably a higher species of skeleton.
　After all, the pressure is an order of magnitude greater.
　A crimson light lit up the abyss-like eye sockets.
　If I dare to give it a name, it's Skeleton General.
　The crimson light increases in brilliance as if it has recognized us.
　He draws his finely crafted sword and slowly approaches.

''........Ignition.

　Makoto stood up on trembling legs and muttered softly.
　Jet black flames erupted from his arms.
　Despite being mortally wounded, it was fiercer than ever before.

''I'm going to die!''
It's just like with the ghouls. You run away, you die. If you're gonna die, you're gonna have to bet on it.

　As far as I'm concerned, it's been a shitty life, but I've learned something.
　If you do nothing, you lose it.

Please ... hold me back.
Okay.

　Mako sets up her fists and stands on her toes.
　It's like a crouching start in track and field.
　His sticky feet can't take advantage of the spring and kill his speed.

'Luno cesta agata!　O Periolis, who is not infinite, like a noose to be bound--

　A spell echoed through the dungeon and a magic circle unfolded underneath Yuka's feet.
　Mako kicked the ground hard.

'Be the rope that binds my enemy!　Reveal, captive formation (binding)!

　A band of light extended from underneath the Skeleton General's feet, instantly restraining him.
　However, it dissipated with only a slight jerk.

''--!

　The Skeleton General swings his sword horizontally.
　His aim is his neck.
　He's going to slash off his head with a single blow.
　That's when my vision dropped.
　He was caught in a hollow as if it had been sometime ago.
　The sword passed over his head and his hair fluttered down.

''Ooohhhh!''

　Mako stopped and raised her fist in the air.
　Gun!　The sound of a "I don't know,
　It's the sound of a fist hitting the white and silver armor.
　The part that touched the fist falls to pieces, exposing the red sphere that was hidden underneath it.
　Probably, this red sphere is the weak point.

''Watch out!''

　The next moment I heard Yuka's voice, a shock pierced my temples.
　The Skeleton General struck him with the handle head.
　My body shook from the impact. A fatal gap.
　The Skeleton General did not miss the opportunity and raised his sword.

"Magic Bullet!

　Yuka's voice echoes and a magic bullet pierces the Skeleton General's face.
　However, no damage seems to be done.
　It only slowed down his movements for a moment.
　Skeleton General swings down his sword.
　However, Makoto is not there.
　It was only a moment before Makoto pulled his body down faster than the Skeleton General swung his sword down.
　If Yuka hadn't used her magic, she would have been cut in both directions.

''Ooh-oh!''

　Mako let out a yell and hit the body.
　He intertwined his own arm with the Skeleton General's arm - the one with the sword - and plunged his hand into the hole in the armor.
　When his fingertips touched the red sphere, the Skeleton General fiercely resisted.
　That convinced him that the red sphere was a weakness.
　The Skeleton General raises his free arm.
　There--.

''Capture formation!''

　Yuka's magic is activated and a band of light twists around her left arm.
　The Skeleton General tries to tear off the band of light, but this time it's not easy.

'Quickly, f*ck you!
"-Oh!

　The Skeleton General let out a voiceless cry as Makoto clenched the red sphere with all his strength.
　The red sphere shatters in his hand and the Skeleton General's armor and sword turn to dust.
　More bones fall to the ground in pieces.

[The level has increased. Level 20, strength 18, strength 17, agility 17, agility 17, magic 27, 9 bonus points granted]

　The angel's voice echoed in his head and Mako sat there.
　The heat returned to his body and the cold air that had been consuming his entire body disappeared.
　But the weariness was the only thing that couldn't be helped.

''Are you okay?''
Yeah, I'll figure it out.

　Mako replied lightly to Yuka's threatening question.

'Are you mad at me?'
I'm not mad at you.

　I'm not sure if I should lie to even the people I'm cooperating with, but I can put up with it when I consider that I had to lie to protect myself.
　Mako stands up and climbs the incline.

'Wait a minute!'
Get down.

　Yuka obeyed obediently.

'What's wrong with you?'
He said to look ahead.
Before...

　Yuka gasped.
　In front of her was a vast space, with the black Parthenon Temple standing in the middle of it.
　This must be the lowest level of the dungeon.
　However, that was not the reason why Yuka gasped.

''........Really?''
Seriously.

　In the vast space, countless undead - Skeleton Generals were roaming around.