The well-Balanced Yamamoto-san Gets Caught up in a Death Game

Chapter 31

We huddle together in urgent whispers, eyeing the Rock Lizards sprawled on the ground, apparently sleeping.

One would be manageable, but two is troublesome…

“Tatsu, is there a detour route?”

I check if there’s an alternative path, but Tatsu shakes his head wearily.

“The shortest path is beyond those Rock Lizards. If we don’t go that way, it’ll take longer and the risks will increase significantly to reach Forsine.”

Indeed, the area dense with earth pillars is only behind the Rock Lizards.

If we can’t pass through there, the chances of being discovered by monsters will skyrocket, and the sound of battle might attract an endless stream of monsters…

Our goal is to challenge the area boss, so we don’t want to waste resources here unnecessarily.

Considering that, instantly killing the Rock Lizards and passing through seems like the best option, but…

“The problem is that there are two Rock Lizards. I can take one down with all my might, but the other… Bre, can you handle it?”

“I’m not sure, but if you say so, Misaki and I will give it our all.”

“That’s quite the resolve.”

“…”

Bre shows a determined, if slightly strained, expression, but Misaki, who he designated as his partner, is staring intently at me.

Huh, what?

“Is something wrong, Misaki?”

“Couldn’t you one-shot them with []?”

“Ah, that…”

Indeed, if I use [Magic Penetration Pressure Palm (Just for Show LOL)], I might be able to take one down in a single hit if I aim well. Moreover, I conveniently have the [Invisibility] skill.

So, I think it’s possible to quietly approach while they’re sleeping, place my hand on them, and activate it.

But I’m a bit concerned about the flavor text of [Copycat Animal].

[Copycat Animal] only produces half the effect of the original technique, but if the original technique is an instant kill attack, then [Magic Penetration Pressure Palm (Just for Show LOL)] would only reduce the target’s HP by 50%.

Considering that, I think [Muddy Ground] followed by [Fire Pillar] might be better for a guaranteed kill, but if I do that, people might start asking questions later about why a healer has disruptive [Earth Magic] and offensive [Fire Magic].

Hmm.

But I don’t want to put Gobzou and Ico in danger just because I’m afraid of things getting complicated…

Alright, I’ve got it!

“Okay. Tatsu and I will do it. But Bre has to close his eyes, that’s the condition.”

“Why just me!?”

Tatsu seems like the type who values loyalty and human relationships, and Misaki seems like the type who can keep a secret, so I can trust them.

But Bre occasionally shows signs of being the type who might accidentally let something slip, so I want him to close his eyes while I decide to quickly dispatch them with magic, but…

“It’s because of your usual behavior,” Misaki chimes in.

“Even Misaki! How cruel!”

Well, it really is because of his usual behavior, so I can’t say much…

■□■

And so, with Bre keeping his eyes closed, Tatsu and I approach the Rock Lizards.

We’re getting quite boldly close, but there’s no sign of them waking up. Once we’re within magic range, I exchange glances with Tatsu.

Yeah, it seems Tatsu is ready to attack too.

I hold up three fingers in front of Tatsu and start folding them down one by one. An impromptu countdown.

…2, 1, Fire!

“Take this! [Fire Missile]!” Tatsu shouts.

“[Muddy Ground]! [Fire Pillar]!” I cast in succession.

What Tatsu unleashed was [Fire Missile], a Level 5 [Fire Magic]. It’s a flashy spell where missiles made of flame have slight homing capabilities and explode on impact.

In terms of power, it’s about the same as a full hit from [Fire Pillar], so I think his choice of magic is not wrong.

However, it’s a bit MP-heavy to use before tackling the area boss, but I guess he doesn’t want to skimp on consumption and risk getting bogged down here.

On my end, it’s the instant-kill combo I’ve used before.

However, since my stats have nearly doubled since last time, the power has increased dramatically.

[Fire Pillar] has become like the eruption of a small active volcano, and its power is absurdly high in various ways.

“Yama-chan, isn’t your magic a bit too powerful!?”

Even Tatsu, a professional attack mage, is wide-eyed at the power.

I thought everything would be over in an instant, but at that moment—

▶ [Balance] has been activated.

Adjusting the monster appearance balance.

This is…

Suddenly, the ground starts shaking violently, and I lose concentration, involuntarily canceling my magic.

The Rock Lizards, half-burned but still alive, let out high-pitched threatening cries towards me, but the tremors of the earth keep getting worse, as if those cries don’t matter at all.

“What’s this!? What’s happening!?”

“Tatsu! Jump onto the carriage! Quickly! Everyone, get on the carriage, on the roof, anywhere! Please!”

I’ve seen that Balance notification once before!

I didn’t understand why it activated then, but now that I’m more familiar with [Balance], I can understand.

Probably, because I’m too strong, [Balance] is drawing in more powerful monsters to balance the strength between me and the dungeon monsters…!

The Crystal Dragon came from the underground lake last time, but where will it come from this time…?

As I tense up, the shaking gets worse and worse, making it hard to even stand.

But because I have [Balance], it seems I can move without problem even in shaking that would normally make movement impossible. I look around, heightening my vigilance.

“Yama-chan, below!”

Perhaps because he could see the whole area from the safety of the carriage, Tatsu shouts.

At the same time as Tatsu’s shout, I retreat from my spot with all my might.

And in that instant—

I saw the two growling Rock Lizards being torn apart and turned into polygons by something huge that emerged from the earth.

What is that!? It’s huge!?

It’s like a massive cylinder—

It slams into the dungeon ceiling, destroying it, and a lot of sand and dust rains down.

But that’s not all. On the ceiling, there’s a line of fluffy earth masses rising up.

Something is crawling inside the ceiling of the underground labyrinth…?

Eventually, breaking through the ceiling, a huge, long body reveals itself in the dark space.

An insect…?

No, rather than an insect…?

The head part has no face, just multiple sharp fangs and a huge mouth, like a monster. It’s writhing its long body in a way that would make even a dragon jealous.

“[]! It’s the monster said to have lurked in the Forsine Underground Labyrinth since ancient times!” Gobzou informs us.

While Gobzou tells us its true identity, this is clearly an EOD, isn’t it!?

After the incident with the Crystal Dragon, we nearly died with one wrong move!

We can’t afford to deal with an unexpected opponent like this!

“Everyone, let’s run!”

“I know! We can’t deal with a monster like this!”

“I’m bringing out the carriage! Hold on tight!”

“Alright (Okay)!” everyone responds in unison.

Responding to my voice, the carriage suddenly starts moving.

Thanks to the Rock Lizards being eaten by the Great Boulder Worm, the path has opened up.

The carriage starts running, passing by the writhing body of the Great Boulder Worm, heading towards the forest of earth pillars.

At the same time, I run alongside the carriage, focusing solely on escape!

With my agility stat, I can easily keep up with the speeding carriage.

“Yama-chan, it’s chasing us!”

“I wish it would leave us alone!”

The head that was swaying in the air of the underground labyrinth seems to have spotted us fleeing. It lets out a roar and descends to the ground with incredible speed.

The Great Boulder Worm falls head-first, slamming into the ground, but as if nothing happened, it starts moving its body like an eel, scraping and eating the ground as

it chases us!

“Tatsu! What should we do? It’s so gross I’m about to cry!”

“That’s not the issue here! Damn it, take this! [Fire Missile]!”

Tatsu launches an all-out attack, but it seems to have as much effect on the Great Boulder Worm’s massive body as a pinprick, not slowing its pursuit at all.

The Great Boulder Worm approaches the path surrounded by earth pillars where we’re fleeing—

And then it plows straight through, destroying the earth pillar objects as it advances!?

What!? Aren’t those earth pillars supposed to be indestructible objects!?

“Yama-san! They’re moving faster than us! At this rate, they’ll catch up!”

Bre shouts with a face that looks like he’s about to cry, and maybe he really is crying.

I get it! I really do!

I feel like I’m being chased by a giant, super-fast drilling machine!

We all want to cry, don’t we? Waaah!

“Alright, how about this! [Earth Wall]!”

A huge, thick wall imbued with a lot of my magical power forms behind us.

The magic seems more powerful than usual. Is this related to not just my stats, but also [Magic Control]?

I’ll deliver it with double the power!

“What an incredibly thick wall!”

“Yama-san, you can use [Earth Magic] too!?”

“As expected of God.”

They’re saying all sorts of things, but I don’t have the luxury to care about that right now!

Soon, there’s a dull thud.

It seems the Great Boulder Worm has collided with the [Earth Wall] I created.

But its momentum stops for only a moment.

The Great Boulder Worm immediately chews through the [Earth Wall] I made and quickly resumes its pursuit with increased vigor.

It didn’t even slow it down!?

“Yama-chan, don’t give up! Even dust can become a mountain if piled up! If we can slow it down even a little, we can widen the gap! I don’t plan on dying in a place like this either! I won’t give up! [Dark Mist]! [Fire Missile]!”

A combo of [Dark Mist], which lowers the target’s magic defense, followed by [Fire Missile].

This is probably one of Tatsu’s ultimate combinations.

But even such a powerful technique seems to have no effect, as the Great Boulder Worm continues its pursuit without paying any attention!

“Ah, geez! I don’t want to die in a place like this either! I won’t give up! [Earth Wall]!”

Another [Earth Wall] as soon as the cooldown is over!

Once again, there’s a thud, but the earth wall I created is destroyed by the Great Boulder Worm without much delay.

Fragments of the destroyed [Earth Wall] are flying towards us too! That’s dangerous!?

“Three-way fork!” Misaki’s sharp voice calls out.

The path through the forest of earth pillars ahead of us splits into two.

I instinctively turn to Tatsu for instructions.

I can’t remember all the details of our plan! This is more reliable!

“Tatsu! Which way?”

“Right!”

In response to Tatsu’s shout, I steer the carriage sharply to the right—

As we do, the carriage hits what might have been a small rock and bounces high.

“Ah.”

The carriage somehow manages to land, but unable to withstand the impact of the landing, Bre’s body is thrown from the carriage.

“Bre!?”

As Misaki’s cry rings out, the form of the Great Boulder Worm looms ever closer—