Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 24: RMB Adventurer, so terrifying!

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To adventurers, magic represents the power to create supernatural phenomena.

In general, it is considered a formidable force. Typically, casting magic requires chanting and expending a corresponding amount of mental energy. The longer the chant, the greater the power of the spell.

An adventurer who can wield magic often becomes the centerpiece of their team.

Mages are highly sought after in any situation, as many seemingly insurmountable challenges can often be resolved with a single spell.

When Izzy first demonstrated his magic—one that could be activated merely by uttering its name—it had already left Raul both stunned and envious.

But compared to what he had just witnessed, that initial display paled in comparison.

---

The attack Izzy unleashed earlier had clearly exceeded the capabilities of a Level 1 adventurer.

The cave passage within sight was nearly obliterated. Smoke and dust swirled in the air, mingling with traces of scattered starlight. The area looked as though a typhoon had ripped through it, leaving nothing untouched.

The Killer Ants had been incinerated completely by the blast, and even the magic stones they dropped had been shattered into fragments.

It was a rare sight—magic stones from monsters within the dungeon could indeed be broken.

A sufficiently strong attack would cause a magic stone to crack and ultimately shatter, dispersing the power contained within it.

In fact, smashing a magic stone is one of the most effective ways to kill a monster.

However, adventurers seldom resorted to this method.

Breaking a magic stone was akin to tearing up the very money they had worked hard to earn.

Not only would the effort spent hunting go to waste, but they'd also find themselves empty-handed at the end of the day.

---

This was Izzy's first time using his magic, and perhaps he had underestimated its power.

He hadn't expected that his attack would destroy even the magic stones left behind.

Initially, he had planned to use Silver Star Advent and leverage the boosts from its additional magic to dominate the Killer Ant swarm.

But the reality was far simpler—the opposition didn't even have a chance to fight back. They were annihilated in a single strike.

Wisps of green smoke lingered on the ruined cave floor. Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, Raul reached down to pick up a Killer Ant magic stone lying nearby.

However, the stone, still hot from the aftermath of the attack, bore visible cracks. The moment he held it in his hand, it crumbled into ash, like burnt charcoal.

---

Raul sighed, his lips twitching as he turned to Izzy, who was approaching with his spear.

"The magic stones were completely destroyed... Looks like there's no hope of profiting from this fight. Not a single Killer Ant's stone was spared."

He glanced at the devastation around them and added, "Are you sure your magic is at the level of a typical Level 1 adventurer? Even calling it overpowered feels like an understatement!"

Izzy coughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Well... it is my first time using it. I didn't really know what to expect."

Raul fell silent for a moment.

First-time user?

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He, too, had dreamed of wielding magic—of experiencing the thrill of releasing a spell.

As a Level 4 adventurer, Raul's savings should have been enough to purchase a magic tome and awaken his own magical abilities.

But reality had dealt him a harsh blow.

Circumstances beyond his control had drained his finances, temporarily crushing his hopes of becoming a mage.

Now, all he could do was watch Izzy with a mix of envy and amazement.

---

After eliminating the swarm of newly spawned Killer Ants on the seventh floor, the dungeon seemed to return to normal.

The frequency of Killer Ant spawns decreased significantly, and they no longer encountered another wave comparable to a small-scale Monster Feast.

The good news was that the silver-gray spear in Izzy's hand was no ordinary weapon.

It was a backup weapon privately crafted by Finn, the captain of the Loki Familia, and its quality was exceptional.

Even without magic, the spear's sharpness allowed Izzy to effortlessly pierce through the hard shells of the Killer Ants, which were notorious for their near-impenetrable defenses.

Because of this, Izzy avoided many of the usual struggles that new adventurers faced when exploring a dungeon for the first time.

This experience reaffirmed an important truth: having good equipment is invaluable for adventurers.

It was much like one of the protagonists from a famous tale.

Before acquiring the 200-million-valis, krypton-forged black blade, even the simplest monsters were a struggle to defeat.

But after obtaining that legendary weapon, he was unstoppable, slicing through foes as easily as chopping vegetables.

Perhaps this is the terrifying power of the so-called "cash adventurer."

---

"Puff—"

The sound of flesh being pierced echoed in the dungeon as Izzy's spear struck true. A Metal Rabbit that had leapt at him lost its life in an instant, dropping its magic stone onto the ground.

Izzy exhaled deeply, his heart still racing with excitement. He had been exploring the dungeon almost non-stop, pushing forward relentlessly.

Even so, the long string of battles was beginning to take its toll, leaving him slightly fatigued.

Though they had only reached the end of the seventh floor, the pace wasn't the real issue.

Izzy and Raul had taken several detours along the way, with the sole purpose of memorizing the upper-level layout.

After all, navigating a dungeon without learning the map was a surefire way to get hopelessly lost in the future.

---

"Tsk tsk, Metal Rabbit fur, Killer Ant claws... So many rare materials dropped, not to mention the ones stuffed into your backpack. Sss... I have to admit, I'm jealous."

Raul, following behind Izzy, clicked his tongue in admiration as he shook his head.

From his experience, Izzy haul from today's dive far surpassed what most Level 1 adventurers could hope to achieve, even after years of grinding in the early levels.

"Why be jealous? You contributed to this haul too," Izzy said, putting away his spear and walking over to Raul.

"Ah, it's different." Raul shook his head. "With your absurd luck, the rare drops alone make up the majority of today's profits. I wouldn't be surprised if the magic stones are worth less than the materials you've collected."

Raul sighed heavily, glancing at the growing pile of valuable loot.

"Oh? Feeling regretful, Raul?" Izzy teased with a grin.

Their deal had been clear from the start: they would split today's magic stone earnings evenly.

Although Izzy had been doing most of the fighting, he had no objections to this arrangement.

For one, Raul was his Familia member—a fellow comrade in their shared guild. There was no need to quibble over such matters.

Secondly, Raul's role as a supporter was far from insignificant.

---

Supporters held a special position in Orario, serving as indispensable partners to adventurers.

Though non-combatants, supporters entered the labyrinth alongside adventurers, handling critical duties such as carrying luggage, managing spare weapons, preparing potions, and retrieving magic stones.

Their importance in a team couldn't be overstated.

During moments of danger, they could also provide long-range support using tools like bows, traps, and other gadgets, offering vital assistance from the rear lines.

If not for Raul diligently clearing the battlefield and collecting items along the way, Izzy wouldn't have been able to fight and explore so recklessly.

After every battle, the thought of having to circle back, pick up magic stones, and gather dropped items himself was enough to make Izzy shudder.

"Just imagining it... Ugh, what a hassle,"

However, the distribution of the loot Raul would receive did not include the dropped items.

Initially, Raul had assumed Izzy was a complete novice. He figured it would already be impressive if the newcomer managed to secure a dropped item once in a while. As such, he hadn't planned on competing with him for any of them.

But now…

"Yeah, I regret it a little. There are so many dropped items. To be honest, I'm feeling pretty greedy~"

Raul nodded candidly, making no effort to conceal his feelings.

At this, Izzy patted Raul on the shoulder, offering what sounded like words of consolation—but with a mischievous twist.

"Don't worry about it. After I sell off all these dropped items, you'll regret it even more and feel even greedier!"

Raul stared at Izzy, momentarily speechless.