Chapter 278

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Labyrinth of Heresy 8

Regarding the result of our search from the 9th Floor, our attempt at everyone cooperating was the right choice.
This was because the density of monsters was high, and our encounter rate was really out of the ordinary.
It was a big advantage that everyone was able to take turns resting.

The overall size 9th Floor was a lot smaller than the 8th floor, but the size of passageways and rooms were bigger in relation to the monsters that appeared.
And the issue was with the individuals who were the knight and soldiers of the former Sydnia.
The meaning of why I said “were” was because it really was in past tense.
I think it’s possible to deduce if Yamato’s alteration into a grotesque being was taken into considerion.
Yes, they stopped being human.

「How sickening.
I don’t want those things to be called Majin.」

King Gandalf swung his halberd from overhead, cutting a remnant from the former Sydnia vertically.

The bodies of the knights and soldiers whom were remnants of the former Sydnia had been altered into grotesque beings, appearances of which were now monstrous.

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Those that had four arms, those that grew tentacles, those that sprouted horns, and those that grew thick tails.
Those figures that they call “Mazoku” could not even be compared to the Devil Clan, Succubus Clan, or Oni Tribe.

「What is a religious country with a human supremacist teachings doing by quitting to be human?」

Everyone nodded immediately at my unintentional grumblings.

However, perhaps because the knights and soldiers-turned monsters were their last line of defense, they were highly intelligent as former humans and they were able to fire the magic they once used as weapons.
On top of that, they could even cooperate, so they make for exceedingly troublesome enemies.

「Ha!」

I deflected the incoming sword that came at me from the side using the Ice Bringer as I was pulling back.
The sword flew off the hand of the knight-turned-monster.

Zashu!

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Not missing the chance, I plunged the spear through its neck, and the area around it began freezing.
I swiped the spear sideways and its head shattered when it fell.

Monsters with intelligence were definitely troublesome, but that much wasn’t enough to stop us.

「……even if they did become monsters, I guess it doesn’t mean they automatically become extremely strong?」

Maria, who similarly wielding her Flame Spear at enemies while beside me, was puzzled.

「That might be so.
Right, they may have gained strength, speed, toughness, and durability, but…… that’s all.」
「Indeed.
Despite having high intelligence, they are clearly inferior to their selves from the time when they were human.」

Yes, as monsters who were once human, it could be said that they had higher intelligence compared to other monsters, but only when compared to other monsters.
They chose a path that could not be undone, losing their humanity in exchange for half-baked power.

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「……stripping them of materials is hard too.」
「…………I think they have magic stones though.」

Akane said so reluctantly, and I totally felt the same.
Even if they looked so far from human, dismantling something that was once human was very challenging for us.

「Ah, we’re only taking the magic stones, right?」
「Laeva will lend a hand too.」

However, it looked like the only people who still thought of them as former humans were Akane and I.
The other people present weren’t repulsed.

「I feel like I understand how Takumi-sama feels about it, but……」

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Beyond Sophia’s gaze were the figures of the Demon Continent groups securing the magic stones from the corpses of the remnants of Sydnia even more naturally than Maria and the girls.

Pulling myself together, we resumed the exploration.
The rulers of the six nations were leading their teams and practicing teamwork when we found the floor going down.

「It’s a little early, but the next floor is the 10th.
I believe that it is most likely the lowest floor.
That’s why, even though it’s early time-wise, let’s take a break and take it slow today.」

We’re inside the dungeon so the flow of time is harder to grasp, but time-wise, I think we’d be fine whether or not we proceed further.
Still, if this was a game, it’d be about time for the midboss and last boss to make their appearances.
We have a lot of people too, so I suggested that we rest to be absolutely sure we are at our best.

「You’re right, we might not feel it, but our subordinates might be tired.」

Since the musclebrained King Ryvar said so and his partner King Deega agreed, my suggestion was easily accepted.

After that, having eaten and rested plenty, we descended the stairs to the 10th floor.