Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 22: Let's explore the area ahead later? Adventurer

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Raul Nord, nicknamed the "Super Ordinary Man," lived up to his moniker in every sense.

His ability values were, to put it bluntly, unimpressive—painfully average for an adventurer.

No skills. No magic.

He had reached LV4 purely through grinding his basic abilities, but even at that level, he struggled to compete with other LV4 adventurers. Against any of his peers, his only potential advantage lay in his combat experience—and even that wasn't guaranteed to help.

To borrow the gaming terminology Izzy often liked, Raul was nothing more than a standard-issue soldier with no unique skills or flashy finishers.

The girls at The Hostess of fertility would probably mock him mercilessly. They might even gang up and beat him, considering that every single one of them—except Syr—was a powerful and highly capable LV4.

So, from this perspective, it wasn't surprising that Raul envied Izzy's magic.

But his envious sigh left Izzy momentarily unsure of how to respond.

No matter what he said, it felt like it wouldn't come out right.

Luckily, Izzy didn't have to think for long, as Raul's attention shifted to something else.

"By the way, what's with that yellow barrier around you, Izzy? Why does it look like you're wrapped in a glowing protection?"

After collecting the fallen magic stones, Raul walked over to Izzy and curiously poked at the bright yellow energy barrier enveloping him.

"This? Oh, it's a shield—an additional effect from my magic," Izzy explained, trying to keep his explanation simple. "It lasts for a while and helps block incoming attacks."

This was The Pillar and Shield of Zongli, the spell Izzy had spent the entire previous night working on.

After countless hours of experimentation and referencing similar abilities, he had finally managed to complete the magic, albeit barely.

The initial rock pillar was created by manipulating the earth element.

Once conjured, the pillar emitted a shockwave capable of severely injuring enemies and sending them flying.

Meanwhile, allies within the radius received a protective shield imbued with the earth element's energy.

The criteria for distinguishing between friend and foe? It was entirely based on Izzy's feelings.

"Attacking and defending at the same time? That's amazing! I'm so jealous…" Raul sighed once more, fully embracing his role as the group's designated tool man.

---

What followed was a rather monotonous sequence of events.

Encounter monsters. Kill monsters. Repeat.

Life in the dungeon could be summarized in these two steps.

While some adventurers might find excitement in the rewards and treasures the monsters left behind, for many, the dungeon brought only fear—the ever-looming terror of death lurking just beyond the edge of survival.

By the time they descended to the fifth floor, the monsters had started dropping complete magic stones.

Though still small, these were a clear step up from the fingernail-sized fragments found on the upper floors.

In addition to the magic stones, Izzy and Raul also started finding rare "dropped items."

These materials—often parts of the monsters themselves—didn't vanish when the creatures were defeated. Though relatively rare, they were highly prized, especially by the craftsmen of Orario.

Dropped items could be used to forge weapons, craft armor, or even create potions and magical artifacts. Because of their versatility and value, they fetched a high price on the market.

"Is it just me, or does it feel like the drop rate for items has gotten unusually high today?" Raul asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

After collecting yet another dropped item, Raul found himself doubting his life.

In the past, whenever he ventured into the dungeon, the number of dropped items he could gather during a single round trip was usually in the single digits.

Yet here he was, accompanying Izzy, and they hadn't even returned to the surface. The items Raul had already collected filled an entire compartment in his backpack.

The supporter's backpack was meticulously divided into compartments, each designated for a specific type of item. Medicines, magic stones, dropped items, spare weapons, daggers, and more were organized separately.

This division was critical. In the chaos of battle, a disorganized backpack could prove fatal. Imagine fumbling for a healing potion while bleeding out, or struggling to find a replacement weapon during an emergency. That would be a one-way ticket to disaster.

"Really? I don't think it's that unusual," Izzy replied, puzzled, after dispatching the last monster of their latest encounter.

By now, the two had reached the sixth floor. The strength and frequency of the monsters had noticeably increased, yet Izzy handled them with surprising ease.

In fact, he seemed to grow stronger with each fight, thanks to his skill Heart of the Earth.

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Heart of the Earth:

While touching the ground, physical and mental stamina are automatically restored.

During combat, strength and durability receive significant boosts.

---

Each battle made the improvement in Izzy's abilities abundantly clear.

As for the passive stamina restoration?

"It's hard to describe," Izzy said, trying to explain. "It's like... standing under a fountain, maybe? But the fountain's pretty gentle, and the healing is slow."

Raul blinked at him, his expression filled with disbelief.

"Izzy, isn't this your first time in the dungeon? How on earth do you already have a sense for these things?" Raul's voice carried the weight of existential confusion.

"...Well, you're not wrong," Izzy admitted after a brief pause, his tone sheepish.

As the conversation continued, they arrived at the entrance to the seventh floor.

"If I'm not mistaken, this should lead to the seventh floor," Raul said, eyeing the stairs ahead. "What do you think? Should we check it out?"

"Wait, what?" Izzy raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "I thought you'd say something like, 'That's enough for today. Let's leave the rest for next time.'"

Raul glanced at him, mildly annoyed. "I don't know where you got that idea, but I can definitely hear the sarcasm in your voice. You're not saying anything nice, are you?"

"No, no! Pure misunderstanding!" Izzy said with mock innocence. "How could I ever insult a senior member of the Familia? You're imagining things."

Raul sighed, choosing to let the teasing slide. "...Fine. Let's just keep going."

With that, the two passed through the stairway at the end of the sixth floor.

---

As soon as they set foot on the seventh floor, the walls began to crack ominously.

"CRACK!!!"

From the dark red energy spreading through the fractures, monsters started emerging.

It almost felt like the dungeon was sending a welcoming party.

This time, however, the cracks covered nearly the entire wall, releasing a swarm of creatures that were larger and more terrifying than before.

The monsters had four legs, two spindly arms, enormous eyes, and deep red bodies. They bore a striking resemblance to ants, though there was nothing ordinary about them.

Unlike typical ants, these monsters were as large as humans. Their thin waists supported upright upper bodies, giving the unsettling impression that they were constantly poised to attack.