Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World Chapter 077

The Wand’s Limit

At the moment, I am fighting Rub Shrubs on the 13th floor of Tare’s labyrinth.

“Are there only Rub Shrubs on this floor?”

I asked Roxanne.
I don’t think that would be the case though.

“Well, that seems to be the case for the small groups.”

“I can smell a monster we haven’t fought yet. I think it’s the monster from the 12th floor.”
“Information about the 12th floor of this labyrinth wasn’t available in the guild back then.”

Sherry doesn’t know about it.

Maybe I should have?
It would have been better.

“I smell a Collagen Coral.”
“It’s the monster from the 10th or 11th floor.”

Did the explorers guild have information up to the first nine floors?
The monsters from up to the ninth floor probably won’t appear here.

“Are they few?”

“Take us there.”
“Certainly.”

I should try fighting some monsters from the lower floors.
Rub Shrub requires three [Rush] attacks, is it because it’s Lv13, or because it’s a Rub Shrub?

After moving for a while, we get to the Collagen Coral Lv13.
The level seems to go up like normal, even for monsters from the lower floors.

I prepare, and then use a [Rush].

The collagen coral is defeated after two [Rush] attacks.

Two [Rush]’s.

It’s possible that I could defeat it with one [Rush], and a Durandal swing.
It’s not unreasonably stronger.

Two [Rush]’s were not enough for the Rub Shrub.

I’ll need to check it.

“Can you find the monster from the 12th floor? It can be in a group because I’ll use magic.”
“Ok.”

I asked Roxanne, and she took us to the monster whose smell she had not previously smelt.

Pig hog Lv13

Two Rub Shrubs and a Pig Hog appeared.

It’s a pig the size of a piglet.
It has grown tusks, but no whiskers.

I use [Meteor Crash].

The Pig Hog is not.
Is [Meteor Crash] classified as fire attribute magic?

I switch weapon from wand to Durandal.

It might have a long distance attack, but probably not.
It did not shoot as I approached.

[Rush] is blasted into it.

It calmly shrugs it off. I use [Rush] again.

It finally fell down.
Two [Rush]’s?

The monsters from the 12th floor onwards are definitely stronger than the monsters from the lower floors. I’m not sure by how much, since I was cautious and used [Rush].

The Collagen Coral Lv13 took two [Rush]’s, so do monsters from the 12th floor and higher have twice as much strength?

Is [Meteor Crash] only barely able to kill a Rub Shrub?
Does [Meteor Crash] only have the same power as two [Rush]’s?

“The monster from the 12th floor is Pig Hog.”

“Just that. I don’t know any details.”
“The Pig Hog is an earth attribute monster. It has a resistance to earth magic, and can use earth magic. Water magic is its weak point.”

Sherry gives us explanation.

Also, its dropped item is pork ribs.
The ingredients for tonight’s dinner have been decided.

I need to recover a bit with Durandal, so we went to the 11th floor of Haruba’s labyrinth.

Why doesn’t Mino leave beef ribs?
They might be sold at a butcher’s shop.

I calm down after recovering some MP.

Where would they come from?

I can fight on the 13th floor with [Meteor Crash] and Durandal.

But in my case, I need to consider experience value skills.
I’m forced to sacrifice some to use Durandal, alchemist’s [Plating], and warrior’s [Rush].

Over using [Meteor Crash] is also undesirable.

Wizards can use [Fireball] and [Water Storm], so people who saw it would just think I was a wizard.
[Meteor Crash] doesn’t exist here and is like a cheat.

Is it better to stay on the 11th floor?

The 11th floor is a better hunting ground.
Since I’ve already collected some planks, I continue hunting on 11th floor of Haruba’s labyrinth.

We finish exploring, then sell of our items and return home.

Sherry needs them to make new equipment.

Next equipment is club.

Maybe that’s bad?

The strength of monsters from the 12th floor and up is double.

It would be 14 if it’s double.

14 spells is too much.

Fire magic is the Rub Shrub’s weakness, so I’d only need half the spells if I used fire on it.
If other monsters are mixed in, it won’t be good.

Defeating monsters on the 12th floor and up seems to be quite difficult.

I think it’s time to increase our power, especially upgrade the wand.

What do parties do without a wizard?

If they have someone on recovery job, like a priest or monk, then they can probably do it even if it takes a while.

I’m filling the recovery position in our party.

The problem is recovering during a fight.

Defeating monsters also depends on my magic.

Taking longer in a fight against something like a Green Caterpillar would be bad.

Should I switch Roxanne or Sherry to recovery?

Things would be a bit easier with a priest.

Is it bad to make a recovery position if I don’t have enough vanguards?
The number of people isn’t enough.

“…Master. …Master.”

Roxanne’s voice fades in as I think about it.
I hadn’t noticed it.

“Sorry. What’s the matter?”
“There was a message on the door. It’s from Luke. He seems to have made a successful bid on a Rabbit Monster Card.”

While we were in the labyrinth, a messanger seems to have come from the broker, Luke.

“Oh. Rabbit? Rabbit Monster Card gives [Incantation Delay], right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”

Sherry confirms it.
It can become [Incantation Interruption] if fused together with the Kobold Monster Card.

If I put [Incantation Interruption] on Sherry’s weapon, it’ll help my strategy.

The long distance attack from the Rub Shrubs can’t be prevented though.

There’s nothing we can do about long distance attacks.

Even that much would be good.

Next morning, we went to Quratar’s labyrinth first.

It’s time to try it out.

I’m not sure how well we can fight while covered in thread.

We can’t make it to the next floor unless our safety has been ensured.

Green Caterpillar Lv11 doesn’t use thread too often, so Sherry doesn’t have to worry much, but there’s always a chance.

I’m still worried about it a bit, but that’s normal.

“We’ll go to Quratar’s 11th floor first. I want to see how we do with the chainmail.”
“Um, then should I recieve an attack?”

Sherry asks.

Should she take an attack?
If we wait for a random thread attack, there might be unforseen danger.

It’s an unpleasant thing to recieve an attack from an enemy.

I’d hesitate if it was me.
Sherry’s rational behaviour helps me.

“Sorry. I’ll leave it to you then.”

“Preferably without Escape Goats, since I will have to use six attacks and they will run away.”
“Understood.”

Under Roxanne’s guidance, we encounter two Green Caterpillars and an NT Ant.

I use two more.

After the sixth spell, Sherry takes a step to the front.

Even though she knows what to do, she has to resist the urge to dodge at the waist because the impact will be different.
It’s painful, and I can understand wanting to run away.

Green Caterpillar rams into her body.

I immediately shoot seventh magic attack.
The Green caterpillar collapses.

“How was the attack?”

While casting [Heal], I ask her.

“As you would expect, their attacks are strong. Thank you, I’m fine now. I can probably hold for up to four magic attacks, I think.”

Two [Heal]’s were enough this time.

We can’t be certain until it happens. It doesn’t mean, however, that I want it to happen.
In any case, this seems to be the only strategy available against Green Caterpillars Lv11 for the time being.

After fighting only once in Quratar’s labyrinth, we move back to 11th floor of Haruba’s labyrinth.

It’s a relief that we can take on 11th floor without much trouble.
After leaving the labyrinth, I deliver the mirror and then have breakfast.

“Now that we have upgraded our armors, we should work on weapons.”

“Rabbit Monster Card is availabe. We have no pressing problem on current floor either. However, Rub Shrubs on 13th floor are quite strong.”

I start the conversation while munching on rabbit meat which Roxanne grilled.

“But master’s magic can take them out in one hit.”

“I see. It must be trump card.”

In my present condition, I can’t cast two [Meteor Crash]’s conscutively.

It should be reserved as trump card against bosses or when we are surrounded.

“That’s true. Monsters from 12th floor onward are quite strong. From 23rd floor onward, monsters will be even stronger.”

Sherry says in support.

And the difficulty level will increase again from 23rd floor.
Well, the point is, the higher we move, the stronger the monsters become.

“I need to upgrade my wand. Incidentally, is there a monster card that increases power of magic attacks?”

“Goat huh? I’ll ask Luke to arrange that one. Next is Sherry’s club.”

Until now, I haven’t asked Luke to arrange for a card that increases power of magic attacks.

But now it’s broken.
So, I have to fix it.

“My club?”

“But we need Kobold Monster Card for [Incantation Interruption].”
“[Incantation Delay] will be of no use if only Sherry’s weapon has it.”

I have my Durandal.

Only Sherry is left. Therefore, I’ll have her attach [Incantation Interruption] to her weapon.
Roxanne can take on the monster from front as vanguard while Sherry can hit it from the side with [Incantation Interruption].

“Thank you. Still, it’s a waste to attach [Incantation Interruption] to a club. If it were attached to a war hammer or a flail, it would sell for good price.”

War hammer? Flail?
both these weapons and club are all classified as hammer, it seems.

“Hammer is good but how about spear?”
“Spear?”

Sherry can use both hammer and spear.

“There’ll be merit in attaching [Incantation Interruption] to a spear, for it has long reach.”

“Currently, there are not many situations where we are surrounded by monsters, so there’s not much need of swinging a club.”
“That’s right. However, we have been fighting mostly against NT Ants and Escape Goats. I have no idea if it’ll be same against other monsters.”

There is another reason why I’m insisting on spear.

I’ll have to spit it out, I guess.

“We will eventually have more party members. the more the party members, the less the opportunities you’ll have to swing your club.”

I have to stress on the need for more party members.

“Okay.”

“But I’m not a shrine maiden.”

Ah, that’s right.
I have yet to tell her that she has shrine maiden job.

“It’s alright. You’re a master smith already, so don’t worry.”

“As for healer, vanguard can take on that role.”

When Sherry nods in affirmation, albeit forced, Roxanne interjects.

“Really?”

“Because they can use [Heal] if they receive attack?”

If party is small, it’s not a good idea to have distinct vanguard and rearguard roles.
Monks and shrine maidens can act as vanguard too.

“To be able to hold monsters from front and heal party members in the back — this is what people, who enter labyrinth, aspire to be.”

Like the Goddess of Liberty who led masses during French Revolution?
Roxanne is perfect for this role.

“Well, the role of healer will be for later. My healing is enough for now. As for Sherry’s weapon, spear will be best in my opinion. it’ll allow us be more flexible in our approach.”
“I understand.”

In any case, spear will be best for Sherry.
And now that she has consented to it, Sherry’s weapon will be spear from now on.

Chapter end