"We're just too strong!"
"Let's just keep clearing stages like this!"
After easily dispatching the monsters, the students began to get carried away. Their relaxed demeanor made it seem as if they were playing an RPG at home.
"Remember to collect the magic stones," Meld, the captain, frowned and reminded them.
"Got it~"
A few students replied carelessly.
This made Meld's frown deepen, but from his position, it was not appropriate for him to say more.
The main reason was that even if he did, the students might not listen.
.....
No particular problems arose next. Everyone took turns fighting, smoothly advancing to deeper levels.
Then they reached the twentieth level, which determined whether one could become a first-class adventurer.
It is said that the highest level reached in the labyrinth is the sixty-fifth level, but that was a great achievement by an adventurer over a hundred years ago. Now, exceeding forty levels is considered a super-class standard, and exceeding twenty levels is considered a first-class individual.
From this, it is clear that the strength of these summoned high school students indeed exceeds the common sense of this world, as it has only been a few weeks since they arrived here.
"Alright, listen up. Next, not just one type of monster will appear, but multiple types will attack together."
"Even if you've won easily before, never be careless! We'll finish training on the twentieth level today! Work harder!"
Meld's shout was quite loud.
Along the way, Hiyama was busy paying attention to Nagumo Hajime's situation, so he didn't cast many fireballs directly, and his experience and level didn't increase much.
Nagumo Hajime had been in the back row, using Synergist to dig holes for monsters to fall into, then coordinating with others to kill them, which counted as a contribution to the team.
Besides Hiyama, Shirazaki Kaori would also occasionally pay attention to Nagumo Hajime's safety, but beyond that, her gaze seemed to linger longer on another person.
That was Hiyama.
Since last night, Shirazaki Kaori had suddenly become interested in Hiyama for some reason, even though she used to only pay attention to Nagumo Hajime.
As Hiyama said, no one knew about the confession last night.
This, on the contrary, made her curiosity even stronger. *
Chapter 8: A Clash of Fists!
"Why are you always staring at Hiyama?" Her childhood friend, Shizuku, noticed and looked at Kaori with a strange expression.
If she were looking at Nagumo, it would be understandable; Shizuku knew that Kaori liked Nagumo.
But today, Kaori's gaze clearly lingered on Hiyama Daisuke for a longer time.
Did something happen between them?
"No, I'm just… just checking if he's working seriously!"
Shirazaki Kaori herself didn't seem to realize she was staring at Hiyama. After her friend's reminder, she reacted immediately, blushing and speaking in a flustered tone.
Otherwise, why would I stare at that despicable scoundrel?
Then she immediately realized that she seemed to have accidentally let something slip in her haste.
"Working?"
"Kaori, if that guy did anything to you, you must tell me!"
Sure enough, Shizuku said vigilantly.
Shizuku already considered Hiyama a hooligan, and Kaori's unusual behavior this time made her incredibly wary.
Had her precious cabbage been ruined by a pig?
"No… no!" Anyone could see that Kaori was hiding something.
But since she didn't want to say, Shizuku couldn't force her.
Just then, someone chanted a spell, interrupting their conversation.
"Fireball!"
It was Hiyama.
With a brief chant, a hot fireball quickly formed and flew out at high speed, blasting a small monster that was trying to ambush Nagumo Hajime.
Hot air exploded beside him.
Nagumo Hajime was startled by the fireball. Realizing that Hiyama had just saved him, he cast a slightly complex gaze towards Hiyama.
"Thank you, Hiyama-kun."
"You're welcome, we're friends."
Hiyama found Nagumo Hajime's attitude a bit strange, but he didn't think much of it, only feeling that it might have touched his pride.
What is pride compared to life?
Hiyama disdained it inwardly, but his face remained expressionless.
"Is Hiyama's spell-casting speed too fast?"
Shizuku thought, watching the scene from not far away.
Although she wasn't a magic-user, she could clearly feel that Hiyama's spell-casting time was much faster than others.
"Is this guy hiding his strength?" Shizuku thought to herself.
If he had shown such strength from the beginning, the kingdom would not have ignored him.
"Hiyama-kun is so strong!" Kaori couldn't help but blurt out when she saw this scene.
But she quickly covered her mouth with a blush, as if afraid of being discovered.
.....
The group continued to explore the twentieth level.
Each level of the labyrinth is several kilometers long on each side. To thoroughly explore an unknown level and map it, it usually takes dozens of people half a month to a month to accomplish.
However, maps up to the forty-seventh level have already been completed, so there is no risk of getting lost or falling into traps.
The deepest room on the twentieth level presented a complex terrain like a stalactite cave, with many molten-like icicle-shaped objects protruding from the walls. It was said that further inside was a staircase leading to the twenty-first level.
Once they reached there, today's practical training would be over.
Currently, spatial magic like transfer magic has been lost for a long time, so they would have to walk back step by step when returning.
In a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, the group was limited by the protruding walls and could not form a horizontal line, so they had to advance in a single file.
At this moment, Kouki and others leading the way, along with Meld, stopped.
They ignored the astonished looks of the others and immediately entered combat stance.
It seemed monsters had appeared.
Hiyama, seeing this from not far away, quietly thought that these two probably had skills like insight and enemy detection on their status boards.
The next moment, the protruding wall in front suddenly changed color and began to writhe.
The monster's body, which had been assimilated with the wall, now completely turned brown and stood on two legs, while violently pounding its chest.
After revealing its true form, everyone realized it was a gorilla-type monster with mimicry abilities, like a chameleon.
"It's a Rock Mountain Beast!"
"Everyone, be careful of its two incredibly strong arms!"
Meld's voice came.
The Rock Mountain Beast stepped back a few paces, arched its body, and took a deep breath.
Immediately after—
"Roar——!!"
The Rock Mountain Beast let out a fierce roar that shook the entire room.
"What is this?"
"Can't move?"
A tingling shock ran through everyone's bodies. Although they weren't injured, their entire bodies were stiff.
This was the Rock Mountain Beast's unique magic, 'Intimidation Roar.' The roar, imbued with magic, could temporarily paralyze opponents.
The vanguard group directly bore the magic attack, their bodies stiffening instantly.
It was expected that the Rock Mountain Beast would take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, but instead, it took a side step, lifted a nearby rock, and threw it towards Kaori and the others in the back row.
The rock flew over the heads of the vanguard group, who were momentarily unable to move, and hurtled towards Kaori and her companions.
A shocking sight caused Kaori and her companions to freeze.
The thrown rock was also a Rock Mountain Beast!
After a graceful flip in the air, the Rock Mountain Beast spread its arms and closed in on Kaori and her companions!
If it caught them, the outcome would likely be quite tragic.
"Eek!"
Shirazaki Kaori and several other girls couldn't help but scream, their faces deathly pale.
"Protect them quickly!" Meld roared.
For an adventurer party, a situation where a group of mage-class characters is engaged in close combat is absolutely terrible. In better cases, there would be casualties; in worse cases, a complete party wipe!
But at this moment, most people were paralyzed by the Intimidation Roar and couldn't move.
And the back row consisted of a group of fragile mages; who could stop an incredibly strong Rock Mountain Beast?
"It's over!"
The few members of the vanguard group watched with tear-filled eyes, wishing they could teleport in front of the Rock Mountain Beast, but they were powerless at this moment!
Just at this critical juncture!
Someone stood in front of them without hesitation, shielding Shirazaki Kaori and the other girls behind her with his body.
It was Hiyama!
Facing this monster, over three meters tall, rapidly approaching, Hiyama's eyes were terrifyingly calm, without any sign of panic.
"Hiyama-kun?" Shirazaki Kaori said with a trembling voice.
"Waaahhh!!!"
The Rock Mountain Beast roared furiously. Did this little dwarf really think he could block its path?
It furiously swung its thousand-pound fist; just one punch could turn Hiyama into dust!
"Damn, that kid's dead!" Meld felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
Every one of these students was a valuable resource and could not be lost.
Now, casualties had occurred on their first time in the labyrinth. Needless to say, the kingdom would definitely hold him fully accountable.
But even Meld had to admit that only one casualty was the best-case scenario at the moment.
The effect of the intimidation magic was about to wear off, and he would soon be able to kill that Rock Mountain Beast at the fastest speed.
However, by then, Hiyama would certainly have died at the hands of the Rock Mountain Beast.
No one expected it.
Facing the Rock Mountain Beast's powerful fist,
Hiyama actually chose to swing his own fist! *
Chapter 9: Granz Ore!