Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 43 Ryuu: Mr. Izzy, you are really special...

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What kind of experience is it to walk alone in a Labyrinth with a beautiful elf girl late at night or even into the early morning?

Izzy could answer this question quite responsibly:

— Very tiring!

In every sense of the word~

Gray rocks were scattered everywhere, and the walls, floors, and ceilings around them were made entirely of bedrock. A faint dampness lingered in the air.

If someone unfamiliar with dungeons were to describe this, they might call it a natural cave carved into the mountainside. And honestly, that wouldn't be far from the truth.

The terrain of the dungeon shifted dramatically with each fixed floor.

From the first floor, which directly connected to the surface with its standard maze-like structure, to the otherworldly environments that followed—forests, lakes, and wilderness—the floors resembled self-contained worlds, far removed from what one might imagine existing underground.

The deeper one delved, the more striking these natural transformations became.

Izzy and Ryuu were now advancing through a cave.

Ahead of them stretched a single rocky path leading deeper into the unknown.

Perhaps it was a passage to a "cave chamber," but such an extended straight road was exceedingly rare. Despite the road appearing to stretch endlessly, the end was completely shrouded in darkness.

Along the way, vertical shafts dotted the corners of the walls, resembling wells.

These trap holes connected to the lower floors and were designed to ensnare unwary adventurers, often leading to their demise.

Combined with the faint phosphorescence and the distant roars of monsters echoing through the cavern, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Unlike the upper floors, monsters found in the middle layers were capable of launching long-range attacks.

They could breathe magical flames, hurl stone axes, or fling sharp blades—all of which dealt devastating damage that could not be underestimated by even seasoned adventurers.

Knowing that Izzy intended to explore the middle levels, Loki and Eina both urged him to purchase a "Fire Fairy Spirit Protector Cloth" for self-defense.

Hellhounds, one of the most dangerous mid-level monsters, were known as "Fire Demons" for a reason. These canine-like beasts could unleash searing flames powerful enough to melt through ordinary armor with ease.

The "Fire Fairy Spirit Protector Cloth," renowned for its superior fire and heat resistance, was considered essential for anyone venturing into the middle levels.

However, Izzy, confident in his ability to summon a protective shield, decided against buying it.

To put it bluntly, his reasoning was simple: Why ride a bicycle when you have a bulldozer?

When the Hellhounds breathed fire, Izzy didn't even attempt to dodge.

To him, his shield was impenetrable—like a towering, indestructible wall.

"Roaroooooooooooooooooooooooooooo—!"

A deafening roar echoed from the depths of the tunnel as the sound of something spinning violently filled the air. What emerged was an armored rat—a monster resembling an armadillo with a hard shell, charging at full speed.

The massive creature shot forward like a projectile, tearing through the air with ferocious momentum.

But even as this monstrous bullet barreled toward him, Izzy stood firm, showing no signs of fear or hesitation.

He didn't even think to evade.

To Izzy, this wasn't a threat—it was a target.

"Starfall!"

He calmly raised his left hand, the one not holding the silver-gray spear. As he spoke, a radiant magic circle appeared before him.

Its design was intricate, comprised of concentric silver rings. At the center was a glowing, complex eight-pointed star, shining brilliantly like a celestial sigil.

The glowing magic circle had a diameter of about half a meter, and faint blue light gathered steadily at its center. Tiny particles, smaller than snow crystals, flickered in the air before condensing into a dense, spherical shape.

At Izzy's command, a dark blue sphere of light erupted from the concentric rings. It trailed a brilliant tail of flames as it shot forward, colliding head-on with the massive charging projectile.

"————!!!"

The next moment, pure white flashes filled the cavern, blinding everything in sight as the explosion reverberated like the deafening roar of a colossal beast.

—Boom!

The dark blue flames unleashed an immense shockwave that tore through the cave. The impact rattled the walls and sent chunks of rubble crashing down from the ceiling, creating an ominous cacophony of wails and groans.

As for the Hard-Armored Rat, which had charged directly into the attack—nothing of it remained.

At the epicenter of the explosion, only a faint trail of green smoke and a scattering of blue sparks lingered in the air, dancing briefly before fading.

"Instant magic with no chant and such devastating power is completely unfair, no matter how you look at it, Mr. Izzy," Ryuu remarked.

Lowering the arm she'd used to shield her face from the intense light, Ryuu adjusted the brim of her hat, which had been blown askew by the shockwave. Her tone carried a mix of astonishment and resignation.

"Yeah, I think so too," Izzy admitted with a shrug. "But if you think about it, isn't magic inherently foul? That's part of its charm."

His casual demeanor didn't mask the confidence behind his words.

To call his magic "Starfall" might be an understatement—it felt more like a "starburst."

The sheer violence of the explosion, combined with the searing heat it generated on impact, created a scene that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It wasn't just powerful; it was overwhelming, a force of nature concentrated into a single spell.

And that, perhaps, was what Izzy appreciated most.

For him, magic was a pursuit of power, and to wield it without seeking its greatest potential would make the effort meaningless. Now he understood why some mages would forsake versatility in favor of chasing the ultimate explosion. The rush of unleashing such force was invigorating.

"Just thinking about it is thrilling, isn't it?" he mused with a sly grin.

"That's true," Ryuu agreed. Her acknowledgment was brief but sincere as she followed Izzy around the site of the blast.

After countless waves of slain monsters, the pair finally reached the boundary between the fourteenth and fifteenth floors.

The chamber at the end of the floor served as a temporary safe haven once all the monsters inside were cleared. Though the safety it offered was fleeting, it was enough to allow adventurers to rest and regroup.

After hours of relentless travel and combat, both Izzy and Ryuu were noticeably fatigued.

After a short discussion, they decided to take a break there.

In sheer scale, the underground Labyrinth, was far larger than most could imagine. Even a "first-Class adventurer" would need several days to travel between its depths and the surface.

Starting from the middle levels, pacing and stamina management became critical for survival.

Failing to rest and allowing fatigue to accumulate, even gradually, would eventually result in catastrophic consequences for any adventurer, no matter how skilled.

For Izzy, reaching the fifteenth floor meant preparing to face an "Strengthen species" on his own. Proper recovery and readiness were crucial before stepping into such a dangerous confrontation.

He wasn't reckless enough to charge in with low stamina, pretending he could still perform at his best.

That kind of reckless bravado was better left to certain sword-wielding masters who thrived on adrenaline.

As for Izzy, he'd much rather avoid the need for such dramatics.

In the cleared-out cave, with nothing but silence surrounding them, Izzy casually pulled a picnic blanket from the outer compartment of his backpack. Under Ryuu's perplexed gaze, he spread it neatly on the ground and sat down with ease.

"If you don't mind, why not sit next to me?"

Oblivious to the bewilderment on the elf girl's face, Izzy patted the spot beside him, motioning for Ryuu to join. Then, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, he began rummaging through his backpack.

Out came a packaged baguette, followed by neatly wrapped rice balls, a boxed lunch, and even a few bottled drinks.

By the time he finished unpacking, Ryuu was thoroughly stunned, her expression a blend of disbelief and resignation.

Are we here to explore the dungeon or to enjoy a picnic?

What kind of person brings this sort of setup to the middle levels of the labyrinth? Was it her who had fallen behind the times?

"Ahem..."

As if sensing her growing confusion, Izzy awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Well, you see... I had an early lunch this afternoon and even took a nap. I thought I might get hungry during the exploration, so I, uh, made some special preparations before coming. I'm not usually like this."

He glanced at Ryuu, a sheepish smile forming as he tried to justify his actions.

Ryuu, however, simply stared at him, her expression caught between exasperation and amusement.

"That's not the issue here, Mr. Izzy," she finally said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Your behavior is just... very special."

So special, in fact, that she didn't even know where to begin criticizing it.

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