Chapter 60: Level Up

　——The next morning, Karla and Gale left the demon capital, “Zoph,” to join the advancing demon army.

I handed the “Portable Magic Circle” to Karla.

This is what we’ll use when we meet up with Karla and the others.

We only have one more “Portable Magic Circle” from Gonhillrim left.

If we have time, we’ll have to go back to Gonhillrim to restock.

We were riding on the Demon Lord’s dragon, heading towards a village at the foot of Mount Shirakami.

“The place we’re going to is a special facility where demons level up. Young demons are still engaging in battles with monsters there.”

“What kind of facility is it?”

“They bring one monster each to the combat area in the village and surround it with demons to defeat it. They keep repeating this process to level up. The combat area is connected to an underground cave filled with dense miasma.”

“I see, so after defeating them, they immediately return the monster’s magic stone underground to revive the monster, right?”

“That’s right. That’s why we don’t bring back the magic stones of the defeated monsters.”

　Defeating an A-rank monster leaves an A-rank magic stone.

　A magic stone becomes a monster when it absorbs “miasma”.

　In other words, in a place where there is an abundance of ‘Miasma’, even if a monster is defeated, it will immediately revive.

“How long does it take for an A-rank monster to revive?”

“If it’s here, it takes about three days.”

…It takes more time than I thought.

If waiting time is involved, it will delay reaching Level 60.

“Hehe. You don’t need to worry. There’s no shortage of monsters in this underground cave. They’re practically everywhere.”

　…Did it show on my face?

But if that’s the case, I can keep defeating them without any worries.

“Enzo-san, why do the demons defeat one monster at a time in the combat area? If they won’t be attacked by the monsters, wouldn’t it be more efficient to fight inside the underground cave?”

Mia’s question is valid.

Circulating through the underground cave would be more efficient.

“You haven’t heard from Karla and the others, have you? We demons also face counterattacks if we attack the monsters. If we don’t do anything, nothing will be done to us.”

“So you surround them and launch a simultaneous attack to defeat them. And if you can’t defeat them all…”

“Of course, we’ll face counterattacks.”

　Continuously defeating opponents that can be easily defeated with a single blow.

With this method, we can’t accumulate combat experience.

Oh… could it be that the reason why demons are into “power struggles” among themselves is because of this?

　Perhaps it’s because even if they skyrocket their levels, there’s no place to test their growth… or something like that.

Since demons are scarce in number, there might be restrictions on infighting due to the risk of death.

As the Demon King, it’s also possible that he leaves it be because it allows him to gain combat experience, train for interpersonal battles, and has a low risk of death.

…I don’t want to admit it, but I somehow find it convincing.

　◇

　——After descending in a village where the facility is located, we walked to the entrance of the underground cave.

The village facility wasn’t designed for serious battles with monsters.

Unless something extraordinary happens, monsters are defeated with a single blow.

　Since we, who are not demons, would cause the monsters to rampage in the facility, we’ll level up in the underground cave.

“This stone is a hidden door, and it can be opened and closed with this magical tool. I’ll accompany you, but don’t let your guard down. And don’t venture too deep. You’ll be done in by the miasma.”

　Mia and I nodded, and the Demon King took us into the cave.

　

　——Once inside the cave, magical lights from magical tools were scattered all around, providing sufficient brightness for fighting.

But it’s quite spacious. The ceiling seems to be about 20 meters high.

Even the narrowest passageway is 10 meters wide.

However, the paths were quite complicated.

“I’ll give this to Takumi and Mia. We need more than just the ‘Portable Telepathy Device’ because if we get separated, we won’t be able to regroup.”

“Oh, this is the magical tool Gale used in the Shirakami Dungeon, right?”

“You knew about it. It’s a magical tool that automatically records the path you’ve walked. The red dot indicates your current location. As long as a member of the demon race activates this magical tool, it will function regardless of who holds it until the magic stone energy runs out. It should be useful for you. Carry it with you at all times.”

This is an automatic mapping magical tool.

　Seriously, magical tools of the demon race are convenient. They have great conceptual sense.

Among the four races, they have the most advanced civilization.

“Thank you very much. This will be helpful!”

“Alright, let’s go. We don’t have time to waste on idle chatter.”

With a huff, he turned his back and started walking briskly.

　Mia chuckled.

What’s this… could he possibly be a tsundere?

◇

“For now, let’s go to the section where they keep A-rank monsters. How about starting with Minotaurs, since you’ve got some experience with them?”

“That would be a good warm-up. Please, lead the way.”

Guided by the Demon King, we walked for a while until he stopped walking.

“The section beyond this stone door is where the Minotaurs are kept. There should be around 50 of them. You two are not yet at the appropriate level for A-rank monsters. It might be boring, but don’t engage in direct fights. Until you reach level 45, be conscious of conserving your SP in battles. Are you ready? Shall I open it?”

“Mia, you go in ahead of me. I’ll take the left side, and you take the right. Keep your back against the wall. The lightsaber consumes 30 SP, so we can also maintain telepathic communication.”

After confirming our signals, the Demon King opened the stone door.

“Now, let’s go.”

I extended the lightsaber’s blade toward the corridor that the door revealed.

Running through the passage with the blade extended to a length of 7 meters.

The passage led to a spacious area.

I immediately turned left, and Mia turned right, maintaining a distance to avoid interfering with each other’s barriers.

The Demon King stayed just outside the passage, waiting.

　There were about 50 Minotaurs in an area about the size of an elementary school playground.

They are about two sizes smaller than the Minotaur I fought before.

Was that one a special individual?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“Let’s call them over here by shouting.”

Mia and I raised our voices, attracting the Minotaurs.

　The battle that began in this way is simply brandishing light blades with overwhelming reach and firepower.

　It was just work that could hardly be called a battle.

　I actually really want to accumulate combat experience, and fight while running around this space.

But as the Demon King said, it’s not the time for that now.

The “Heart Wall” barrier consumes SP as if it melts away when you let your guard down.

Once the lightsaber’s blade is activated, SP doesn’t decrease until you deactivate it.

First, with this tactic, I aim for my initial goal, reaching level 45.

　After the battle with the Minotaurs, the Demon King seemed to understand my intention and guided me through mainly short-range attack-focused monsters.

　——Two hours later, Mia and I were level 45.

“The opponents you faced so far were simple power-type monsters. Unfortunately, there are no more of them. From now on, you’ll face monsters with distinctive traits.”

It seems the bonus stage against muscle brained opponents is over… we were lucky that we reached level 45.

“With your current abilities, you might die if you’re not careful. So before you fight them, let me train you a bit. Kukukuku.”

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