Tamer 44
[MV] Shin Getter Robofeats Wuthering Waves - HEATS
===
Chapter 44: The First Visitor
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
Part 1
I pushed forward relentlessly, step by step, deeper and deeper into the dungeon.
By now, I had reached the 49th floor.
Perhaps I’ve pushed my level too far, because the monsters along this stretch are utterly laughable. The instant they catch sight of us, they bolt without a second thought.
Just moments ago, a creature that looked like some high-tier Fire Dragon even let out a terrified scream and vanished.
Pathetic excuse for a dragon.
「Isn’t it usually... The other way around?」
Well, if it was not easy despite me being level 692, then that was a problem in itself.
The level gap between these monsters and me is enormous. The Bloody Shadow Ogre I caught on the 48th floor was level 370.
It ended up as nothing more than fodder for Monster Fusion, feeding my own experience.
Even if the 50th floor turned out to be the boss room, I could safely anticipate that the level difference between me and the boss would make it hardly an issue.
Yes, the 50th floor shouldn’t require any heightened caution.
「Ah, stairs…」
Just what I needed.
Let’s head straight to the 50th floor.
I led the monsters along, and probably as the first human in history, began ascending the stairs to reach the 50th floor.
◇◇◇
「Oh? A human?」
Surprisingly, there were already humans present on the 50th floor.
The man was petting a black dog-like monster, watching me run up the stairs with a curious expression.
So he was a monster tamer like me.
Most likely, he used the same experience point bug to reach this far.
Being on this floor means, like me, he was hiding his strength. He was like an ally who keeps their power under wraps, so I probably didn’t need to worry too much about him leaking information about me.
「“A monster tamer... No, maybe he’s somehow chained and enslaved monsters. Even tamers don’t use monsters like this,」
Being told there’s “no way” was frustrating. I mean, I’ve been using monsters exactly as its intended function all along.
「Well, technically, I am a monster tamer.」
「You? A monster tamer, you say? But man, that’s… Well, I won’t say anything further.」
His eyes flicked to the dog sled I was riding, and he murmured with a frown, “I can scarcely believe it… Yet he doesn't seems to be lying.”
Ah, since he’s speaking to me, I should greet him first.
「Hello.」
「Hm? Ah… hello.」
「What do you think of this area? Is it alright?」
「Hmph. Not bad, I suppose.」
I see.
It seems this was a pretty good place to farm EXP. If someone who arrived before me says it’s good, then it must be.
Still… He looks roughly my age, yet he carries himself with this air of authority. Far too pompous.
He looks young, but was he by chance older than me?
George Kennedy also looks like he’s in his 30s even though his real age was around fifties, so perhaps this man was similar.
「Is there anywhere in particular you recommend? Like, are the monsters on the 52nd floor better to use than those on the 51st?」
「Whichever is fine.」
Whichever is fine?
Well, if someone who noticed the same EXP bug as me says “Whichever is fine,” then I suppose it means there weren’t many useful monsters near the 50th floor.
Let's try heading up to the 60th floor for now.
After that, I had to make sure this person didn’t see the fully automated monster slaughter system, “Ridiculously Easy and Amazing EXP Ariene.”
It would be a problem if he copied it.
「You little… Are you playing dumb, or mocking me?」
「Playing dumb? I am not playing dumb, nor am I mocking you.」
What was this guy suddenly going on about? Calling a complete stranger “You little” like that—utterly absurd.
And starting a quarrel with no explanation… Was he an idiot?
Playing dumb or not, I didn’t even know what I’m supposed to be pretending about…
This guy was definitely dangerous.
He might be the dumbest person I’ve ever met.
「Ah, it seems I was in your way. Very well, enjoy your exploration.」
Just as I tried to sidestep this clearly dangerous individual, the black dog-like monster emerged in our path, growling threateningly.
Seriously mate? Teach your dog some manners!
「Uh… Excuse me, can I get through here?」
「If you want to pass, go ahead and try.」
Huh?
What the hell was wrong with this guy?
「This one is a Shadow Dark Wolf from the 93rd floor. It’s quite useful, so I’ve formed a contract and specially take care of it.」
「I see.」
「Do you humans think you can beat this one? It’s a monster so notable that I, the 23rd-ranked Demon Lord, Lizzy Naal, would form a contract with it!」
The man who called himself Lizzy Naal grinned, speaking of Demon Lords with such audacity, making it clear he had no intention of moving the black dog.
23rd-ranked Demon Lord, was it?
This guy… Looks about my age, yet carries the full-blown delusions of a middle schooler…
「Why are you looking at me like that?」
「Nope」
Worst. Like a total edgy middle schoold student.
Getting involved with him would be a nightmare.
Since he was a senior Explorer, and, moreover, he arrived on this floor before me, so I had tried to avoid a fight—but trying to dodge a battle with someone suffering from middle-school fantasy syndrome was just impossible.
In fact, he had already said some incomprehensible nonsense and attacked me.
「We have introduced myself. Will you not do the same?」
「I am Sacrifice Jugemlin.」
When it comes to troublesome people like this, the best option was to not using my real name.
「Then, Sacrifice Jugemlin, let us see how far a mere human can go.」
What a pain in the neck… Seriously. But 93rd-floor monsters? Can I even take them on like this?
I’ll give it a shot, but I’d better have a plan to leg it if things go awry.
I've got plenty meat shield after all.
「Oi, Bargain Girl. Smash that dog!」
「Piii!」
I took Bargain Girl out of the Pixla Saw 49 I had been using as a cushion and gave her the attack order.
Bargain Girl obeyed my command, made a beeling toward the black dog, clenched her small, cute hands, and struck the black dog’s head from above.
The instant it was hit, the black dog ricocheted across the floor and ceiling with a series of deafening “dogagagaga!!” noises. When it finally came to a halt, it lay there utterly drained, barely able to lift itself.
Even monsters on the 93rd floor weren’t always as fearsome as they look.
※Note: The Shadow Dark Wolf’s level is 744.
「... Eh?」
The self-proclaimed Demon Lord looks stunned.
If there was ever a perfect moment for a surprise attack, it was now.
「Bargain Girl. Take that man down as well.」
「PIIIIIIIIIIIII!」
It was a huge mistake to assume that the self-proclaimed Demon Lord, being a monster tamer, would have roughly the same or slightly lower strength than the black dog and to order Bargain Girl to attack.
This man was ridiculously strong.
Even Bargain Girl, stacked with physical resistance skills, had her strike countered, and now blood was streaming from her nose.
Well, other than that, there wasn’t any noticeable injuries, so it might be a minor wound.
「Kukukuku. I may have been caught off guard for a moment, but did you really think a single monster of that level could take me down?」
Seriously… What the hell?
Bargain Girl may be cheap in every sense, but when it comes to raw strength, she was the real deal. At this stage, she might be even stronger than the Demon Boss.
I had thought the man in front of me was just a self-proclaimed Demon Lord(LMAO) with a middle-school fantasy complex, but could it be that he really was a real Demon Lord?
I should deal with him as though he really was a Demon Lord.
Should I coax some information from him through conversation?
「You’re pretty strong, eh.」
「I did say I am the Demon Lord. Still, your monster put up quite a fight. I rarely unleash my full power, even for a moment. You may take pride in your feat.」
Meaning that he could defeat Bargain Girl in no time if he really went all out.
Does that mean the difference between Bargain Girl and the Demon Lord wasn’t as colossal as I imagined?
No… That was far too optimistic.
Bargain Girl only had minor injuries because her physical resistance skills are keeping her in one piece.
「Now that you have seen me, I cannot let you live. It is about time you die.」
The Demon Lord’s hand shot in my direction, as if he were about to unleash some powerful magic.
And the target of that spell… is me.
Even if I took evasive action, if his hand moves toward me before releasing the magic, it will hit anyway.
If I am to fight this guy, I need a wall.
「Monster Summoning, Skelittle Dragon.」
「「「「「Clatter clatter clatter clatter」」」」」
「What!? A monster nearly half my own strength…!?」
The Skelittle Dragon that appeared in front of me has roughly double my stats. It would act as a meat whield for the time being.
The Demon Lord was yelling something, but I didn’t have time to listen.
The man standing before me was undoubtly a superior foe.
Whether I choose to fight or escape, I couldn’t squander a single thought on trivial matters—I must pour every ounce of my focus into my strategy and unleash my power to the fullest.
「Pixies! Attack that man!」