Chapter 23: The Choice

After parting ways with Kyle and the others, we proceeded smoothly through the dungeon and finally reached the problematic nineteenth floor.

Coming to a fork in the road, we formed a small circle. Opinions began to fly from all sides as we compared the map and our compass directions.

“This way is a detour, but it looks safe. The records say there are fewer enemies, too.”

Carnelia pointed to the left route. The passage was a bit narrow, but there was less risk of combat.

“But this route is the fastest way through the nineteenth floor.”

Ichinose, in contrast, pointed to the passage on the right. It was the shortest path, but past survey records indicated a high monster appearance rate, marking it as a danger zone.

“Hmm, well, we still have stamina left, but I think that route might be a bit too tough for us right now.”

“You scared?”

The voice was tinged with provocation.

“…Not at all. I’m just making a rational judgment.”

Carnelia’s eyebrow twitched. The opinions of Carnelia, who wanted to take the safe option, and Ichinose, who wanted to press forward quickly, were perfectly divided. They had already been arguing for nearly five minutes.

Carnelia let out a slightly exasperated sigh and looked at me.

“…At this rate, let’s have Michelle, the leader of this party, decide.”

“She’s right, we’re getting nowhere like this. Starium, which will you choose?”

Both of their gazes stabbed straight into me.

“It’s a bit of a detour, but it’s the safe route, right?”

Carnelia flashed a smile and leaned in slightly.

“If it’s dangerous, I’ll cut down everything in our way. So choose the faster one.”

Ichinose folded her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on me. Her voice was calm, yet it held a pressure that offered no escape.

The awkwardness of being caught between them, as if I were being interrogated, tightened around my throat.

No matter which I choose, it’s bound to cause friction…

An idea suddenly struck me, and I clapped my hands together.

“How about we decide this with… rock-paper-scissors?”

“Fine by me, I’m in!”

“I never lose at rock-paper-scissors!”

The moment I suggested it, they were surprisingly enthusiastic.

…These two might actually get along surprisingly well.

“Ready, set—”

It happened at that moment.

“—Hey, what’s that sound?”

Prefa said, her ears twitching.

It was like a low growl, yet deep and guttural. At the sound, we all looked up at once, our gazes turning toward the dangerous path—the route on the right.

“…This is bad. Monsters!”

Then, as if in response to my voice, the sound of rattling bones came from behind us. I turned around and gasped, my breath catching in my throat.

“We’re surrounded…!”

I immediately gathered my magic and prepared for battle.

“One Orc in front, and from the rear… three Skeleton Soldiers and one Skeleton Mage! It’s a pincer attack…!”

I nearly clicked my tongue in frustration.

The Orc blocking our path had a paunchy belly that jiggled, but you could still see the thickness of the muscle hidden beneath. In its hands, it gripped a crude but heavy-looking wooden club.

From the rear, three Skeleton Soldiers clanked with a high-pitched metallic sound, warily holding their decaying swords at the ready.

Behind them stood one more: a Skeleton Mage, draped in a tattered, worn-out robe, its thin, cracked staff planted on the ground.

The Orc glanced at us and pulled the corners of its mouth into a grin. A sickening sneer vibrated through the air.

“GRRAAAAGH…”

With a thick roar, the Orc charged.

stomp, stomp, stomp

With each heavy footfall, the ground trembled slightly.

“Carnelia, Ichinose-san, and I will handle the Orc in front! Elena and Prefa, hold off the skeletons in the back!”

As the Orc drew near, it swung its club high. The blow wielded by that massive body was a single, lethal strike.

“Crest of protection, manifest now—’Protect’!”

As I finished my chant, a transparent shield materialized before us.

KRAKOOM!

The Orc’s club slammed into it, sending a shockwave through the area.

Realizing it had been blocked, the Orc looked puzzled for a moment before raising its club once more.

“Not gonna happen! ‘First Tier, Rapid Axel’!”

Carnelia’s voice rang out as she leveled her gun at the Orc’s face. The next moment, two magic bullets fired at the speed of sound pierced straight through both of the Orc’s eyes.

“GUGAaaaAAAGH!!”

The instant the Orc recoiled with a roar, Carnelia shouted, not missing the opening.

“Now, Ichinose!”

Responding to Carnelia’s voice, Ichinose leaped forward without a sound.

‘First Tier—Play of the Shadow Ogre’

A black aura eerily rose from Ichinose’s katana.

It spread as if to envelop her body, releasing a pressure so intense it made the air tremble.

The katana, cloaked in the black aura, cut through the air.

The Orc instinctively tried to block with its club.

Ichinose’s katana sliced through the Orc’s arm and the club, then continued in a single vertical slash from its chest down to its stomach.

The massive body arched back dramatically and collapsed to the ground.

“Alright…! The rear guard…!”

I immediately turned to check on the situation behind us.

Kyuu! Kyuu!

An unfamiliar cry echoed. Three small raccoons—one red, one blue, and one yellow—were scurrying around the skeletons’ feet.

The Skeleton Soldiers were baffled by the illusions, their swords swinging down and cutting through empty air.

“Second Tier, Dominus Purge, Dominus Impulse!”

A band of light enveloped Elena’s body, drastically increasing her speed and power.

“Hiyah! Hyaah!”

Elena let out a war cry and swung her morningstar wildly.

CLANG! CLANG! CRAAASH!!

The cheerful sounds of destruction echoed through the dungeon.

The skeletons were annihilated in an instant. Panting, I turned to check on my companions.

“That was a little too close…”

“But I think our teamwork is starting to click, don’t you?” Carnelia said with a laugh, slinging her gun over her shoulder.

“…Better than the first floor, anyway,” Ichinose muttered, the corners of her mouth twitching into a slight smile.

I knew it. They get along great.

“Let’s take a short break.”

As soon as I suggested it, Elena plopped down, panting heavily.

“You must be tired. Here, drink this.”

I offered her a mana potion and, stroking her head, let her rest her head on my lap.

“Thank you, onee-sama…”

I smiled back at her small, whispering voice.

Once we had a moment to breathe, I suddenly remembered.

“—By the way, we never finished our rock-paper-scissors game, did we?”

“That’s right! Let’s settle this!”

“I’m ready when you are.”

The two of them faced off again.

“Okay, rock, paper, scissors—shoot!”

In the end, Carnelia won, and we took the safe route.