Chapter 28 - Quest Achievement

____________________(Uhm? Could this be my chance?)

From an outsiders perspective (Especially the Roper) the current Aria has transformed into a cold blooded murderer.

Meanwhile tama noticed something.

The one that is being chopped by Aria right now is the first Roper who spurted mucus on her. In other words, the other one is being neglected.

Tiptoe tiptoe…………

Tama is approaching the neglected Roper. And then, after making sure that Aria was not watching――

Chomp!

He took a bite of the Roper.

(Yuck. On top of being bitter, it has the worst texture too. But then, my skill is………..)

____________________

Name : Tama

Race : Behemoth(Infant)

Inherent Skill:《Elemental Howl》, 《Skill Predation》, 《Elemental Sword Tail》

Predation Skill:《Storage》, 《Poison Fang》, 《Flight》, 《Fire Ball》, 《Icicle Lance》, 《Iron Body》, 《Summon Tentacles》, 《Infinite Mucus Bullet》, 《Crossbreed》

____________________

(Ｏｈ……)

Tama is at a loss when looking at his new skills.

《Summon Tentacles》, 《Infinite Mucus Bullet》, 《Crossbreed》………. The heck is with these new skills――

(Well…………. Come to think of it, it’s natural that I got these skills. This was a mistake. Let’s think twice before I eat my prey from now on. But then, 《Crossbreed》 huh……. I did hear the rumor that Ropers can impregnate female humans, but I never thought that it’s because of this ski-……… EH?　《CROSSBREED》!?)

After repeating the name of that skill in his head, a certain line surfaced from Tama’s memories.

『Let’s do a lot of “NyanNyan” when you grow up, okay? 』

Yes, when Tama was mistaken as an elemental cat. Aria said those words to Tama in the guild.

ZOWARI………….!!

Aria’s wish might come true someday.

A cold piercing chill is running down Tama’s spine while imagining those moments.

「N-Nya~~~ Aria-chan. Let’s forget about this matter and go forward to our destination nyan」

「Fufufufufufu, die-…………… Eh, I’m sorry Vulcan-san. You’re right let’s move on」

Vulcan spoke to the killer mode Aria. A part of the tentacles can be seen from inside her backpack. It seems that she’s secured the evidence of subjugation.

「Eh, Tama?　Are you okay……….」

「N-Nyaaaa? 」

To Aria who’s looking curiously at him Tama is tilting his head as if to say 「What’s the matter?」 with a stiff smile on his face.

◆

Labyrinth, 5th Floor――

「Uuh………. This mucus is all over my body…….」

「Nyaa……… It can’t be helped, we’re fighting against so many of them after all」

While Aria’s cheeks flushed, Vulcan is frowning. Head and face aside, they’re basically smeared by mucus from neck down.

Contrary to their expectation after leaving the 3rd floor. The 4th floor was filled with nothing but Ropers.

Knife user Aria aside. Vulcan’s battle hammer caused many grand spurting events. So it was natural for them to be covered by mucus from head to toe when they fought them in close combat. The only one who spared from such a tragic state was Tama who was supporting them from behind.

But then, overall they’re not suffering any injuries save for the mucus smeared on their bodies.

Because none of the tentacles managed to catch the two of them.

Since if they were caught by the Roper, they might end up as breeding material for those Ropers right now.

「Aria-chan. Let’s get going nyan」

「Certainly. This is the 5th floor, it won’t be strange for minotaurs to appear anytime soon. Tama, can you use that skill from before when things seems too tough for us? 」

「Nyan(Of course Master)! 」

Despite receiving authorization from Arnold.

Minotaur are powerful monsters of C+ rank. When it comes to rank, it’s a monster that ranked higher than Vulcan. Though Tama has been holding back up till now for the sake of Aria’s training, this is a case where he shouldn’t do that.

『Mooooooo……』

And then, after searching the 5th floor for a while――

A minotaur has appeared. The one who appeared right now is different from the one that Tama faced before, this one is wearing a buckler and club made of metal.

「Aria-chan. This guy has yet to notice our presence. Please ambush him nyan」

「Understood. I’m going to use 《Gale Slash》 from the very beginning」

Aria and Vulcan have such exchange behind the shadow of a rock.

Aria invokes her 《Acceleration》 and leaps immediately.

『MO!? 』

In response to Aria who is approaching with the speed of lightning. The Minotaur can do nothing but be bewildered by such a sight. His attempt to block her attack with his club is way too late. Since Aria is already circling around him.

SUPAN!!

A gash appearing on Minotaur’s right arm.

Naturally it’s the effect of 《Gale Slash》.

But…….

「It’s………… Too shallow, isn’t it」

Aria is saying so with a vexed tone. As she said, the wound she inflicted on the minotaur was too shallow.

The amount of bleeding doesn’t amount to much either.

(Uhm, this 《Gale Slash》 does have speed…………. but the wound inflicted by it is too shallow. It’s not a problem for monster with weak body like Ropers, but it might be less powerful against something like a minotaur)

Tama who kept following Aria to protect her is giving a nod to that.

Minotaurs are the kind of monster whose bodies are covered with natural muscle armor.

The wound caused by Aria’s《Gale Slash》 isn’t deep enough to finish the fight.

「Then, how about this!! 」

Vulcan leaps toward the minotaur while preparing to swing her large battle hammer.

The battle hammer is then swung down.

The minotaur intercepted her attack with the shield on his left hand.

「ARIA-CHAN! 」

「Yes!. 　If once is not enough, let’s do this till we beat him! 」

Seeing their opponent is defending himself from battle hammer with his shield.

Vulcan is calling to Aria when she backed off.

Thanks to their effort to raise their familiarity with each other’s style in the 3rd and 4th floor.

Aria can understand what Vulcan wants to say.

She invokes 《Acceleration》 and 《Gale Slash》 for the second time.

After cladding herself with vacuum blades, she rushes toward the minotaur from behind.

「FIRST STRIKE!! 」

A gash appears on the minotaur’s back. Even if it’s shallow, a wound is a wound. Thus the minotaur turns around. He swings his club towards Aria’s body.

「Too slow! SECOND STRIKE!! 」

Aria who invoked her 《Acceleration》 won’t be hit by such a slow attack.

When the minotaur swings his club, she had already slipped through the minotaur’s side from below and slashing at the minotaur again.

Third, fourth, fifth――!!

Everytime Aria approaches the minotaur, another wound appears on it’s body. And his movement becomes slower as time passes. He’s lost too much blood. Even if the power of one attack is shallow, piling up one wound after another will eventually lead to this result.

『MUOOOOOOOOOOOO――――!! 』

The Minotaur is raising a warcry. While wondering what he’s going to do, he spread his hands, abandoning his shield and then rushed toward Aria. It seems he wants to strangle Aria to death.

This is……… A suicide attack.

Maybe he thought that he’ll at least take one of his opponents along with him to his grave after sensing his impending doom.

「TAMA, IT’S YOUR TURN! 」

「NYAN(LEAVE IT TO ME, MASTER)!! 」

But, Aria isn’t flustered by such a turn of events. She’s calling to Tama to move accordingly. Tama raises a cute warcry and jumps in front of Aria.

And then――

「NYAN《Aether Howling》!! 」

He invokes one of his 《Elemental Howl》, 《Aether Howling》.

The minotaur’s body is then blasted backwards.

Just like the time when he fought Kassman.

The minotaur’s body is sprawling on the ground. No sound is coming from him due to the pain and shock from the sudden turn of events.

「NYAA!　THIS IS THE END NYAN!! 」

NOW!　Vulcan is leaping high.

Though not as fast as Aria, she’s quite fast herself due to her being a tiger ears race. After closing her distance with the minotaur, she swung her battle hammer toward the head of the minotaur who was trying to standing up.

DOPAN!!

A loud sound resounded inside the room as the minotaur’s head was crushed under the battle hammer. And then, his large figure falls to the ground again.

「WE DID IT!　QUEST COMPLETE! 」

「NYAA!? 」

After celebrating her achievement, Aria’s raising Tama and then, munyuun!!　He’s being stowed in between her twin melons. Though startled, Tama immediately begins rubbing his face on Aria.

「Nya~……….. You guys really are close nya~」

The two of them are flirting around right in front of Vulcan. Vulcan was smiling wryly in amazement.