Get Stronger quickly in the Underground Dungeon! Step 5

“你就当我有烧饼强迫症吧”– taken from some book

EN: Laycast was here 🙂

Yeah!

It’s about time that the effects of my level up are showing.

Now that I think about it…… A thought had been bugging me. I picked up a stone and…

Hmph!

I grabbed it as hard as I could.

(sfx sound of crumbling?), the stone crumbled.

I’ve suddenly remembered Cordelia had cut a big stone like it was tofu with a sword in the past……

Yes.

It seems like I’m almost venturing to the point where I stopped being human.

Actually, this is a dungeon for young dragons to train to become a full-fledged dragon.

–If I don’t stop being human…… there is no chance for me…… to capture this dungeon in the first place.

Looking at it from another point of view, this place is like a starting point.

「So…… after passing through the goblins’ farm(?), there will be an underground waterway.」

Walking through the limestone cave.

It felt comfortable walking in the slightly cool temperature with a small fire ignited.

And so, we had arrived at the underground waterway.

「This is……?」

It’s an underground lake about 50 metres wide.

And a huge mass that takes up half of the lake

I unintentionally held my breath.

「……A giant catfish?」

I nodded at Lilith’s comment.

「……Yes. A species that is very evil…… I think」

――鯨ナマズ (TN: A whale catfish????)

As the words suggest, this gigantic catfish was given this name because of its whale-like size. Currently, it is in its hibernation period, there is not even a ripple on the surface of the water.

By the way, according to literature, it will gobble everything when becomes active.

First of all, the catfish will use its barbels to block every lifeform that passes through.

Then, it will tie/roll its preys with its barbel and pull it into the water to eat/kill them.

Under the lake here is a huge groundwater passage that could connect with the outside world, so this catfish has a habit of making here as a den during hibernation.

……I’m going to ignore this thing. However you rephrase it, this catfish is just too gigantic.

Anyways, this catfish is about 25 metres in length.

For instance, this monster is a just a bit bigger in size……. it’s not within the parameter that I can do something about it.

「Oi Lilith?」

「……What?」

「How much water do we have left?」

Taking out a big leather bag, she opened it and look into the contents.

「We did not use more than 20%」

After thinking for a while, I took the rucksack from Lilith’s hands

「I want to refill it here, the path after this…… there is no place to obtain water.」

「……Eh? But the giant catfish……」

「It’ll be alright」

「And that is also from…… the skill: Wisdom?」

「Yes, once this thing is asleep…… don’t even say resisting, it can’t even move. And, this season is coincidentally its hibernation period」

「…… I oppose. That huge catfish……If anything happens, we will be wiped out in an instant」

「I’d say it’s okay, originally, that literature should be a survey……. from an institution that is reliable」

Fumu…… Lilith reluctantly nodded her head.

「…… But…… I really hope that you remember this phrase」

「What is it?」

「……Be careful」

Such exaggeration, I laughed bitterly and took the water bag.

Placing the mouth of the water bag on the water’s surface, water gushing in causing bubbles to float on top of the lake surface.

I bound the mouth with a string and place it aside.

And, I scoop the water with both hands and drank it.

It feels great drinking water at a cool temperature.

–Delicious.

「Oi, Lilith? Why don’t you come –」

When I turned back to call out for Lilith, there was something stuck in my throat

「Uoo!」

The water is gushing into the middle of the lake at a fast pace.

— The giant catfish? No, that is impossible……! In the literature, to hunt for food during hibernation is…… that kind of example was not stated……

While in panic mode, I turned my vision towards the water to see the situation.

And, aa, I see…… I accepted the harsh reality.

There was 3 metre length small catfish…… it should be the giant catfish’s son or wifey.

He, or she (TN: I love ‘it’ more but original context… so, no), is able to stock energy to endure hibernation, it hasn’t yet gone into hibernation.

It means that it needs to stock energy…… or a better word, gather food……

And I was stuck(?)/caught in its barbel.

I was then pulled into the water, a straight line towards its mouth.

Even an idiot will know to, the moment the catfish opened its mouth to swallow me– I took out the knife on my waist and landed an attack on its gum.

The binding of the barbel came off.

The moment I became free, I somehow move my arms in the manner of breaststroke.(?)

As I ran away, I pierced both of the catfish’s eyes with my knife.

— And, I continued recklessly stabbing.

As long as my breath could hold, I continuously stabbing.

Seconds– turned into minutes.

It seems like it is possible to do this with the status of Physical Strengthening.

No, it might be purely just because of the effects my HP that is about 2000.

Anyways, in the 10 minutes in water, I recklessly pierced the catfish.

The lake coloured in blood(?), and a lone catfish– floated on the water surface.(?)

And finally, my breath has finally reached its limit.

I somehow swam with breaststroke arriving the shore(?) but……

While I faced(?) out of the water to take a deep breath– once again, barbels tied around my neck.

It was a catfish different from the one before.

「Shit……! Oi, Lilith– Run! There are…… a few…… catfuglubbglub」

The last part doesn’t sounds like words at all.

–Haa, this is a bit…… not good

Following the lack of oxygen, my vision gradually became black.

Black out…… it’s not funny(?) in the water…… I thought though I couldn’t say anything.

I guess it’s over for me now.

— Aa, now that I think about it…… just like in my second life came to an ending, I was tricked by the sage childhood friend…… I died in water.

That is not good.

I flashback on what had happened till now.

No…… but…… as a villager…… I think…… I had…… did good…….

And, I closed my eyes and resolved myself.

And, at that moment–

—My body ran through electricity(?).

At the same time, the bind of the barbel from the catfish came off.

My body became mobile, I took in the last of the oxygen and headed straight towards the

water surface.

I let my face out of the water and breathe deeply.

And– I was out of words.

Currently, there are two catfishes floating on the surface.

One of them was the one which I had damaged– and the other was one without any cuts

on it.

No, it’s is more accurate to say that the catfish on the water is making some static noice

and smokes.

And I looked towards the shore(?), I finally understood what had happened.

— That is a scenery(?) of Lilith carrying a rucksack, holding a staff.

I started swimming towards Lilith.

「Lilith, what…… did you do?」

「…… Electric shock. Your mana is inhuman…… after I thought that your resistance

towards magic is high, and I maxed the output(?)」

She responded with a tint of frustration in her words.

「…….It’s not something to be shocked about– it’s not like I lived here a few years for no

reason. And…… I have a…… 3 lined bracelet…… I am at least able of support

Well, that would be the case…… the dragon culture does not accept the weak to live.」

If so….. Lilith is taught by her parent well.

「Then, may I say something?」

「What is it?」

「……Don’t decide everything by yourself」

「About what?」

「I cannot help you in this dungeon…… that is a fact」

「……?」

「……I’m sure that I’m not of help. This time, I coincidentally could support you but……

that is fine…… Don’t order to run. Don’t…… decide everything by yourself」

……I think I was told by Cordelia something similar that day.

「I, in my own way…… can also support Lute. If luck and topography is with our side……

just like this time」

「That may be true. But…… I cannot…… put you in danger」

And I received a slap on my cheek

The slap reverberated in the dungeon.

「……Then, What would be my position be if I put you in danger?」(EN: I’m not sure what

it means here. I’m going to assume it’s similar to “Then what would I do if you were to

die?”)

Tears began to form and Lilith continues to speak.

「Don’t…… selfishly decide everything by yourself. Don’t take all of the burdens upon

yourself……. What am I to Lute? Is my will reflected in Lute’s actions?」

I flashback on Cordelia’s words.

–Don’t selfishly decide everything on your own!

I didn’t wish for that. There isn’t my will in there.

–I’m not allowing you to go the Dragon Village! About not being able to see Lute for a few

years…… I never heard of that, I absolutely hate it!

I thought of that while laughing bitterly.

「…… What am I? Don’t selfishly put your life at stake. Don’t selfishly help me…… I’m just

another human」

「……」

「…… Sure I hate being a sex slave. I also hate that I’m being chased out of the Dragon

Residence. However…… just because of that, others have to risk their life…… if Lute

dies…… What should I do?」

I nodded my head and clenched my hands into a fist.

And I hit Lilith’s head softly.

「Then…… we will survive together?」

Lilith nodded her head.

Name : Lute Macklen

Race :Human

Occupation :Villager

Age :12 years old

Condition :Normal

Level :38 → 45

HP :1820/1820 → 2150/2150

MP :14512/14512 → 15730/15730

Attack Power :390 → 470

Defense Power :385 → 465

Magic :2625 → 2705

Evasion :480 → 580

Strengthening Skill

【Physical Strengthening: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ) 】

【Body Strengthening Technique: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Kimonhou: Level 6】

Defensive Skill

【Indestructible Stomach: Level 2】

【Mental Resistance: Level 2】

【Indomitable: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

Daily Skill:

【Crop Cultivation: Level 15 (Limit Break: The Goddess’s Gift)】

【Sword Technique: Level 4】

【Taijutsu: Level 8】

Magic Skill

【Mana Manipulation: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Life Magic: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Elementary Attack Magic: Level 7 (Growth Limit)】

【Elementary Recovery Magic: Level 7 (Growth Limit)】

Title

【Strongest Infant on Land: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Youngest Sage: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Commoner’s Healing Hand: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Saint: Level 3 (Growth Limit)】

【Devil Child: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Goblin Slayer: Level 10 (ＭＡＸ)】

【Heretic Mage: Level 3】

【Cow/Bovini(?) Killer: Level 2】

・When using Body Strengthening Technique

Atk pow・Def pow・Evasion ＋ 150 Correction

・When using Kimonhou

Atk pow・Def pow・Evasion ＋ 300 Correction

・When using Physical Strengthening

Atk pow・Def pow・Evasion × 2 Correction