Second floor.
From here on, there are giant steel caterpillars [Iron Crawlers] crawling around.
The small spiders on the ground have disappeared, and there's a decrease in the number of spider nests.
The ground floor has become smooth.
The [Iron Crawlers] with a height of about one meter and a width of about two meters, give off a plump impression.
They're close in image to the worms that come out in Nausicaa. [4]
Just as they appear, they're solid and tough.
And, unlike their appearance, they're fast.
Rather than a slow caterpillar, they have speed more like a centipede.
It seems like they're allies with the tarantulas- while the iron crawlers tank, the spiders shoot off sticky threads from behind.
If you get caught in the sticky thread then the crawlers, with a body weight of about one ton, will trample you it seems.
The iron crawlers are tough, even Paul can't defeat them in a single hit.
No need to even mention Elinalise.
That's why, it's my turn there.
I can fire two magic spells at the same time.
While firing [Blizzard Storm] at the spiders in the back, I finish off the Iron Crawlers that Paul and Elinalise attract with one hit, each with a rock bullet.
It seems the iron crawlers are tougher to kill with a normal rock bullet, but I don't have much issues.
Mine easily pierces straight through.
Even though I say that, as expected of a worm, I'd say, if the place it hits is not an instakill, they writhe, struggling about violently.
"With this, there's no place for me to take a turn."
Since I was energetically working, Talhand muttered that uninterested from behind.
He's stationed close behind me for the sake of whether it's needed.
Even though I say that, in order to avoid falling into that sort of worst case pinch, I'm making sure to follow the three points to remain careful about, including the one Gisu said.
Therefore for the time being, Talhand has nothing to do.
However, that's fine.
If we can have some reserve strength remaining as we advance, then that gives me a sense of relief.
The Tarantula Deathlords continued to send their sticky threads flying.
I didn't think that tarantulas make spider webs, but I'm sure these guys are different.
Occasionally, they make it over to where I am, but since I have my Demon Eye opened it will never hit.
Even if it were to hit, they have no attack power. If I just burn it with fire magic, there's no problem.
"Ah, damn it.."
"Ueh... It's sticky isn't it."
Even though I say that, it doesn't seem like the advance guard can avoid it all, so Paul and Elinalise end up all sticky from the threads.
"Here, don't go wasting too much now!"
Although it would be fine for me to burn off the sticky threads, since Gisu has some kind of liquid that can melt the threads, I just weaken them with it.
It seems to be some kind of unique chemical circulated on Begaritt Continent, and it is harmless to the human skin.
It does no harm, but Elinalise was grumbling about how it makes the skin rough when it was spilled.
It's almost like detergent.
Maybe I'll try taking some home and washing dishes with it.
"Alright, let's take a break for a moment here."
After the combat.
With Gisu's words, we sit down on the spot.
Talhand and Elinalise remain standing on lookout, just like that.
After Paul sat down, he immediately started to unfasten his armor and sword, wiping the body fluids of the monsters from the surfaces.
During the short break, he finished inspecting his equipment in an instant.
It was a familiar way of doing it, and Paul ended up asking something a pro would ask.
"What's wrong? Rudi, you should finish up quick as well."
"Ah, yes."
After receiving a somewhat harsh rebuke from Paul I inspected my equipment as well.
Even though I say that, since I'm just firing magic from a long range, there's few places to check.
Nevertheless.
Paul is quiet.
During the time of the first floor every time we had a break like this he would somehow come out asking, "How is it?", but as expected now that we've gotten to the second floor his seriousness is apparent.
Daddy is cool. [5]
"Cheh... It's stuck to it."
While Paul was rubbing the fluids on his armor with some kind of cloth he was cursing.
"How about trying to use the chemicals that Gisu used just now?"
"That's for dissolving the threads, right?"
And while saying that, Paul put some of the chemical on the cloth and started rubbing it.
And then, it was almost a surprising level of white.
No, the armor wasn't white though.
"I... it came off didn't it? Thank you."
"No-no."
As I thought, it's detergent.
If I buy some before I return home, I wonder if Sylphy would be delighted.
If possible, it would be good if we could make it to the other side, though.
After Paul removed the filth, he quickly put the armor back on, put his sword on, and walked over towards Elinalise.
Just as I was thinking about changing places with Talhand and Gisu, they called out to me.
"Senpai, lookout is fine."
"Is it fine?"
"Don't mind it, that old man hasn't worked after all. Rather than that- it's about from here on out- I'd like to hear a bit of senpai's view."
"Is it fine for dad not to join in?"
"It's fine, rather than that guy, senpai is smarter after all."
While Gisu was saying those sorts of abusive things, he took the book and a map out of his bag.
What he spread out was two maps.
One of them was cleanly mapped out, but the other one was produced as we stopped along the way.
"We'll soon be at the third floor. The place we lost track of Roxy is... here. If we're lucky, Roxy should still be in the vicinity of there. If it's just as the book says that is."
"Yes."