Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Good Night & Infiltration

"Seems like things went well." - Garami

"That's the understatement of the year." - Aino

Loud noises could be heard from inside the labyrinth. Aino and I could hear them even when we were 10 meters away from the entrance. 

Yesterday, I'd retrieved the order I'd asked the Blackmarket for. It's a certain something that's called "the strongest older brother of the chamomile tea" by the locals. It's a special herb that could be found in the swamp, and a single teaspoon of it can K.O. one of the demonic bulls in the plains between Nyx's home forest and the port town.

After getting the stuff early yesterday, I had Bloom spike the bait Aino had prepared with the stuff before we logged out and returned in the evening when the "sleep bait" was finished. Then we had a girl's night out (in the swamp) and spread the bait across the caterpillars' patrol routes. 

The result: a labyrinth filled with snoring bugs. 

"That tea is awesome. I wish I could bring some back home." - Aino

"In reality? Don't think someone could buy this stuff even if it existed over there. It's even categorized as a harmful herb." - Garami

"Damn, that's one killer sleeping medicine." - Aino

"Killer's the word for it," is what I said as we snuck through some sleeping caterpillars by the entrance. Did Bloom overdo the dosage? Better with too much than too little. 

"Hey, couldn't we take with us the little witch?" - Aino

"I told you before, she's no good in the field. It'd be a catastrophe if she died. Can't resurrect, remember?" - Garami

That's right. It's only me and Aino who are stepping over the sleeping caterpillars as we proceed deeper into the labyrinth. Bloom did her thing by prepping the bait and helping us spread it around the swamp. No need to take unnecessary risks and bring her with us.

Besides, Aino's the one who's the party leader this time around. Her LP lets her take 2 equally ranked beings into her party, but with me taking a slot, there's only enough LP left to recruit one more member. And that's reserved for either Nala or Nyx who I can summon in case things goes crazy. I can summon the other one with the free slot provided by the [Demon Taming] skill. 

Also, Bloom's skill set has gone far from what you would call a "combat build" since I "hired" her.

Skill List:

Crafting Skills: Active Skills: Passive Skills:
Perception Skills:
Elements:

Title List:

Hunting Titles:
Status Titles:

Her stats are something like this now. She's gotten quite the power-up since the first time I met her, but her skill growth rate is lower compared to Nyx or Nala. Well, those two have become training junkies lately.

The two new classes Bloom has are strictly non-combatant type classes. Apothecary is, as one can guess, a potion-making class. It gave the [Create Potion] skill. [Mixing] can be used to make potions too, but the proper Create-skill gives bonus correction to the created cocktails. To say it simply, the drink's become more useful.

It does look at the first glance that the new class sorta overlaps with Witch Apprentice, but Apprentice is a class to create magical mixtures, or in another way, it's all about making magic in liquid form. Apothecary works more in the direction of making medicine based on the natural properties of the materials. 

And the "Crime Caster" class? All RP. The skill [Forbidden Magic Arts] is just a way to unlock new events. You need the [Criminal] title to get it, and that's limited to the inhabitants. I bet there are some quests where you gotta escort such a Caster if you want to advance a quest or something. Guess I don't need to find those guys anymore.

"Ehh, Garami? That guy doesn't seem sleepy. Or friendly either." - Aino

While I was busy going over Bloom's build in my head, we'd reached a point in the labyrinth where we started to find stronger caterpillars. Some of them are even evolved. These guys look like a bigger version of the black caterpillars, except these guys are blood-red. 

And it seems that their evolution gave them more than just a fresh look. Going by that this guy is still awake, even if a little groggy, I'd say the evolution gave them some resistance to the sleeping drug. 

"It's just one. Prepare something hot to serve that guy. Summon, Nala!" - Garami

I ordered Aino while summoning Nala to the frontline. Since the last time we fought together, Nala had equipped herself with six spears, leaving only two tentacles free. 

Nala moved to block a spit-globe of something purple and disgusting that the caterpillar hurled at us. Don't ask from where. Nala moved one of her free tentacles and produced a shield of water that blocked the gunk.

"What was that?" - Aino

"Some Defense Art. Water-type." - Garami

"Oh, from the Protector-line? Cool." - Aino

Aino and I did some small-talk while we went into position. We have a special plan that we came up with yesterday.

Meanwhile, Nala kept the caterpillar at bay with her water shields and spears. Sometimes, the shield changed shape to adapt to the attacks of the caterpillar. It's not an automatic function. It's all Nala's handiwork, and she does it so skillfully that she takes close to no damage. I think she could have blocked all the damage, but since I know about that specific skill that Nala has..., I think she's failing on purpose. 

But the damage-sponge won't be able to keep it up for any longer. After I circled the caterpillar, I started throwing some [Web Bombs] on the beast and covered most of its back with webbing. That was Aino's cue to release the Fire-based pyromaniac-spell of hers, which hit the big and slow caterpillar head-on. The webbing caught fire and turned the big bug into a nasty bonfire. 

"Hey, I leveled up~." - Aino

"Me too," I said while giving Nala the sign to extinguish the fire. We're in a hurry, so I decided not to dismantle the corpse. Even if the other caterpillars didn't wake up from the noise of the fight, it's better not to drag our feet here. 

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While we fled the scene, I decided to take a look at Nala's stats:

Skill List:

Attack Skills:
Active Skills:
Passive Skills:
Elements: Monster Skills:

Title List:

Hunting Titles:
Status Titles:

Sweet. She's also gone up a level. That's one full recovery for the strange octo-squid creature. 

Regarding Nala's new tricks, she unlocked the [Spear Proficiency] skill after I gave her that skill book. Then she went straight on to getting the Spear Soldier class, which gave her the [Spear Arts] skill. 

"...hey, you think Warrior-line classes are separated like Magician-line classes?" - Garami

"I don't know. What gives?" - Aino

"I mean, two of Nala's classes are focused on defense and tanking attacks, while her Spear Soldier class is all about attacking." - Garami

"Hmm, maybe? But why're you asking me, the girl who's 100% not-a-warrior?" - Aino

"Because I'm in the same category." - Garami

"I hope not. My Karma Value's gone down too much for my taste with this strategy. I may end up being locked out from future events!" - Aino

"Kukuku. Come over to the dark side. We got cookies." - Garami

"If there are cute maid-witches and a registration form for a guild, then I'm in." - Aino

"...I'll come back to you." - Garami

Damn, that fox's slippery. How's she not become the lady of some crime ring already? ...that would be kinda cool. I gotta write that down.

But, to be honest, Aino's not such a bad girl to hang out with. As in, she's capable of getting even an anti-social wreck like me to do small-talk. That's goddamn impressive of her. But I'm not making a guild with her.

And here's our problem numero dos. A duo of caterpillars is guarding a suspiciously huge and fancy door inside this otherwise hive-looking labyrinth. And they don't seem drowsy at all. The first guy was wobbly from the sleep drug, but fighting two at the same time when they're in prime shape is a different story. If we make too much noise, we may wake up the sleeping bugs. 

"So...web-barbeque again?" - Aino

"No, I got a better idea. Summoning Nyx." - Garami

Nyx the living shadow (visually) emerged from the magic circle and saluted. Aww, who's the cute little diabolic critter of darkness? You are, yes, you are~! 

"Go and "convince" those guys to take the day off," I told her while pointing at the guard caterpillars. 

Nyx climbed up the wall, to the ceiling, went behind the bugs, and did her magic.

"Hey, you think that little girl could just magically whisper...why're the bugs being whispered away?" - Aino

"Nyx's class: Eldritch Chanter." - Garami

"...you know the Eldritch-type classes are infamous for giving bad evolutions..., rumored among the inhabitants, yes, but still." - Aino

"We kinda crossed that bridge when Nyx got the Demon Predator class." - Garami

"...oooh. She's got a bad-enough future that you don't care anymore...yeah, I get it now. Wow, that girl's going to be scary in the future..." - Aino

"Whatever you do, don't ask what Nyx whispered to those guys, or what happened to them." - Garami

"Got it. Roger that, ma'am. Oki-doki." - Aino

Sweet. And since there are no other bugs in our path to the (potential) boss-room, it's time to get down and dirty. 

...actually, cross that. I don't wanna be dirty in this place. Not in the poisoned swamp-Haunt. No, sir. Let's do that to the boss instead. CHARGE!!

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Skill List:

Attack Skills:
Magic Skills:
Passive Skills:
Perception Skills:
Elements: Monster Skills:

Title List:

Hunting Titles:
Status Titles:

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