DCFM – Chapter 029: Observation and Explorer Party

TLN: Double Chapter today, make sure you didn’t miss the previous one~.

There was a question I had in the days I was shut in at the dungeon.

I would see explorers every now and then while I was cooped in the dungeon. Well, that’s natural. In a dungeon, there’s a lot of monsters, but also a lot of explorers.

But the problem is time.

The times I would be in the dungeon would be when the sun is done, at night only. Before the sun rises up, I have already left the dungeon and gone back to the inn.

In that case, when do these people sleep?

Are they trying to avoid fighting for the monsters with others by exploring at night? …The possibility is there.

But the dungeon is big, and I can’t imagine there being that many explorers to the point they would have to fight over the monsters. 

Even now, there was a group with decent gear passing close to me who was hiding in the darkness.

(Are they also exploring at this hour…?) (Hikaru)

It is currently 8:00pm. Are they a nocturnal group?

I take distance and decide to tail them.

I am lacking in information about how the other explorers act in a dungeon. 

I have a decent layout of the Hungry Beasts Underground Prison that is the 2nd Floor inside my head. Even if there’s quite a bit of distance from them, I won’t be losing them.

Even on the off-chance that they notice me, I can just run away.

I have seen a number of explorer parties until now, but the one I am following right now is a party of 6 -they give me the impression of being quite solid.

(3 warriors, 1 scout, 1 spirit user, and the last one is…a porter?) 

First, the scout. In this dungeon, almost all parties have a scout, and maybe because of a race advantage, it would always be a cat beastkin.

(Is that Grapefull?) (Hikaru)

Bluish striped fur, with a small sword at her waist that feels as if it would break instantly, and with her only piece of armor being a leather chest armor. 

I am relieved to see that she has safely gone back to her explorer business…more precisely, her scout business.

It seems like this time around she was hired by a decently strong party.

Putting it in another way, even veteran-looking parties hire scouts.

Why are scouts so important?

Even someone like me who hasn’t fought once can tell.

It is because fighting in an advantageous situation against advantageous enemies is the basics of dungeon exploration.

If there’s a strong-looking monster or a group that they can’t deal with, the only choice is to run. The one that makes that judgement is the scout.

The job of a scout can be taken by a human too, but a cat beastkin most likely can do something similar to blending in the darkness like me.

The warrior is holding a torch in one hand, and is equipped with a longsword, shield, and chainmail. Quite the powerful sight.

I can tell how strong an explorer is just by looking. The newbies at the 1st Floor can’t even have leather armor, and would instead run with armor that looks like they tied up wood boards with iron wires, and would wield handmade clubs when doing battle against skeletons.

“There’s an ogre there. One. The type with an axe equipped.” (Grapefull)

Grapefull found a suitable monster and came back.

“An ogre, huh. If it is one, we can do it, right? It should serve to loosen up our shoulders.”

“What should we do about abilities?” 

“If it gets bad, using one individually should be okay.” 

“Got it.” 

After finishing a simple discussion, they began to move ahead.

Ogres are big men that walk around in groups of one or two, and they would be holding weapons, or are barehanded.

I honestly think the difficulty changes quite a lot depending on if it has a weapon or not, but those kinds of parts are detected beforehand by the scout.

This time’s ogre is the weapon holding one. They hold a fearsome axe in one hand.

If you get hit directly by something like that, it could easily split a human in two.

The 3 warriors lunge at it before it notices them.

The woman that seems to be the spirit user and the porter boy were on standby.

The boy is ready with a dagger, but it doesn’t look like he would be able to be a match against that ogre.

Grapefull seems to be in charge of keeping an eye out on the surroundings.

The 3 warriors were fighting with great teamwork. 

They were skillfully avoiding the swung axe of the ogre with hit-and-run tactics, and were piling up damage slowly and steadily. 

But one of the warriors was hit on the arm by the axe of the ogre and had to withdraw from the frontlines. 

It seems to be a shallow cut, but they won’t be able to properly use a longsword with that. 

“Damn it, I am using an ability!” 

“Please do!” 

“Take this! [Gravel Mist]!” 

The remaining warriors gather their spirit energy, create sand or gravel around the ogre, and make them float. 

The small particles must have entered suddenly into the ogre’s eyes, he suddenly covered his face in pain.

It is super plain, but eyes are clear weak points. It is a valid option.

(Earth Spirit Abilities, huh. This is the first time I see others using abilities.) (Hikaru)

It is most likely an ability that’s equivalent to Dark Mist, but it is quite practical. You could say Dark Mist is pretty plain compared to this.

Anyways, a decisive opening was created with the ability.

After that, the two warriors raised battle cries from their respective directions, thrusted their longswords, and the battle finished.

(I see, so spirit abilities are strong…) (Hikaru)

It is weird for me to say when I can’t do anything without my Dark Spirit Abilities, but I didn’t think it would be possible to create such a decisive opening with the spirit ability that’s most likely the first one you learn.

The one that the warrior used must have been the Revelation of Earth.

Well, I have been using the Revelation of Darkness, that is Darkness Fog, the whole time, so even though it may be an initial ability, it might also be a special technique…

“Ooh, alright! It is an Earth Spirit Stone.” 

“With this size, we can get 1 silver coin.” 

The warriors pick up the loot that is the Spirit Stone.

When the monster died, the body disappeared, and turned into only the Spirit Stone.

You don’t need to dig out the stone from the body every single instance, so that’s convenient.

“How is it going there?” 

“With this much, I should be able to deal with it. [Healing Water]!” 

The spirit user girl casts a healing ability on the injured arm of the warrior.

So this one is Water Spirit Abilities, huh.

Water apparently has healing abilities. Her not participating in battle must be because she is the healer of the party. 

It wasn’t instant, but…the opened cut slowly closed.

It might have a somewhat similar effect to the potion I gave to Grapefull before.

“Catch. Don’t go dropping it, okay?” 

“O-Okay!” 

Warrior A gives the Spirit Stone to the porter boy.

I see. Only 3 of the 6 are actual combatants. The remaining ones are backup. 

This is pretty educational.

After that, the explorer party advanced while avoiding the monsters, and at times they would fight against easy-looking enemies as they went deeper and deeper. 

“Alright. Let’s camp here for today, and we will finally be exploring the 3rd Floor tomorrow morning. Okay?” 

“Alright! The lookout will be in shifts. Is that fine?” 

“Ah, uhm…! I can’t do anything, so…I will keep watch! All night…!” 

Looks like they are going to be camping right by the side of the stairs going down to the 3rd Floor. 

I see. It is not like they are exploring at night. They are reaching this point at night, and will begin their exploration of the 3rd Floor in a perfect state… That seems to be the plan.

“You idiot. As if we can leave the job of a lookout to a half-baked guy. Just obediently sleep so that you can keep up with us tomorrow.” 

The porter boy really is a newbie explorer.

It might be that they are having a rookie gain experience by having them be a luggage carrier for a veteran party.

Well, if they die, the boy dies as well, so you could say it is a high risk high return job for the boy…

…No, exploration itself is a high risk high return job.

I have been watching them from the darkness even after they began camping.

The crackling sounds of the open fire.

At times monsters would appear far away, but I would secretly use Shadow Runner to lead them away. 

Looks like monsters don’t get that close to the area around the stairs. Even after 5 hours, only around 3 monsters appeared. They were most likely camping close to the stairs because they were relying on this trait. 

I think they are a good party. 

I don’t know if Grapefull has been hired temporarily or has joined their party permanently, but thinking about the 3 others that died a karma death, I would consider this party as a jackpot. 

If possible, I would want everyone to return alive.

Just a little before the sun went up, the explorer party got up and went down to the 3rd Floor.

(Wait, you are leaving the trash?!) (Hikaru)

The explorer party left behind lots of stuff like scraps of food, the embers of firewood, the things used to maintain their equipment, and a lot of other things. 

(Haah, so that’s why there’s so much trash. Let’s clean up.) (Hikaru)

I collected the trash that was left by them, and hurriedly left the dungeon.

If it isn’t before morning, it gets harder to get out by hiding in the darkness.

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80 thoughts on “DCFM – Chapter 029: Observation and Explorer Party”

  5. I thought I finally found a jap novel in which mc would be antihero and don’t care much about others death but they must make him think like “I hope all of them can leave this place safe” well still I continue on this one

    1. There wasn’t really any anti-hero vibes from the MC from beginning till now. He’s lost hope in humanity, yes, but never once was he thinking that everyone should just die. He just wants to hide from everything.. the only guy he probably wants dead is only the murderer of Nanami and her parents.
      Even to the haters he never had the thought that they should all die. So makes sense he doesn’t like seeing good people die.

  6. MC needs to grow up and get a goal in life. At least try to clear the damn dungeon. Go down a few floors until your find it challenging. There’s no sense of adventure in this guy’s life. Cut the emo shiz and get your shit together.

    1. He literally need someone who will lift him up from the muds, the dude is pretty much mentally wasted after everything happen to him so far. Depression is pretty serious imho.

          1. I agree with the MC’s mental health issues but my comment still stands. I still think he needs to have a goal in life. That doesn’t mean I disregard his fragile emotional state.

          3. I guess I already clarified I wasn’t. My second comment is a testament to that. Are you trying to put me on trial now? I personally despise this MC and ended up dropping the novel as a result. However, I like Shinji’s character from NGE, so that shows I have nothing against those who suffer from mental health issues.

          4. I’m not trying to put you on trial. I was just pointing out how your comment could be misunderstood.

      1. It’s easy. Just get a solid goal in life and work towards it with focus and dedication.
        A purposeless soul is bound to invite depression.

    1. I actually find this quite enjoyable? What don’t you like about this novel? Im just curious. Maybe I’m a smooth brain who too easily entertains myself.

      1. hahaha im the name. Im actually loving this even tho no major development has taken place since like 5-6 chapters

      2. I’m also really enjoying it, but the translation is pretty rough. I mean, I’ve certainly read worse, but it’s in a weird space in between. I often find my flow hard stopped by an awkward phrase or something that just seems super obvious stated clearly, again. Like the axe ogre has a weapon.

  10. All he needs to do is cover his dagger in a bit of poison and he can probably take any monster on the 2nd floor. The more potent the poison the better. Just Shadow Bind and Darkness Mist then get a cut in and you’re done

  12. Thanks for the chapter, so he went to another world an his job is pretty much the janitor of the dungeoan HAHAHA, what perks will he get?

  15. Thanks again!
    Yes, he really is Japanese…
    But it is common for people who are not well/doesn’t feel well inside to start cleaning around them. It’s something like: you can’t really arrange what’s wrong inside of you and instead you focus on making everything right in the outside. because that, you can do it

  16. So this seems like a decent party. Grapefull caught a break. Meanwhile Hikaru is learning things by observing them. Also it seems like he’s getting a little better since he was helping the party from afar by using his skills to keep monsters away while they rested. He can’t deal with people yet but he isn’t so broken that he will remain indifferent and won’t give them some help even if it’s secretly.

    It is a bit amusing how he’s cleaning up after them like some sort of dungeon janitor. I wonder if this will create some sort of rumors about a dungeon fairy that cleans up after people?

  17. I thought the skill was “grave mist” and now I’m slightly disappointed that it was just pocket sand 2.0.
    I’d have the supports carry crossbows or something at least.
    If the dungeon isn’t removing objects then you’d be able to carry in things like emergency aid lockers or set traps or markers.

  18. Thank you for the double chapters Reigokai!
    1. We found out that in the dungeon noone leaves behind a corpse, so he will become a cleaner of some sorts or tag-hunter in order to find out what happened with people who didn’t come back from inside.
    2. Is it me or he is healing from his desperation? Hope he does so, even if little by little.
    3. Can’t have a good feeling about this tho’ but I think something bad is going to happen with the group and he find out after he comes back to the dungeon later in the day.
    4. It seems like other `magic-users` are not so proficient with their abilities or they don’t have enough mana/aren’t loved by the spirits as much as out ML.
    I find this LN more interesting by the chapter!

    1. The girl doesnt give a wifu vibe but more like a imouto chara or senpai? I am pretty sure she will join him for some reason i doubt the author make her appear this often just for a mob character that get killed in a random way.

  19. Thanks for the chapter.

    Double dose of goodness.
    I really hope this party that he saw is actually decent in character as well.

  25. Thanks for the Chapter (≧▽≦)
    Lmao he’s cleaning the dungeon everyday, at this rate dungeon’s gonna give him a reward for the cleaning, maybe some treasures..

  26. Yeah, it’s probably best for him to just live out a low key life cleaning things up and making life just a bit better for others. Now I want to see what the chat says.

    Thanks for the chapter!

  27. How peaceful. I like how peaceful hikaru is. I’m hopeful for that incoming party though. Waiting waiting~

  30. But, if dungeon monsters don’t leave corpses, what about the flame monkeys and the bear wolves in the forest?

    1. those were monstrosities and out on the open, it was mentioned 2-3 chapters ago that those outside dungeons are different compared to those inside of it, as they are natural born

    2. They don’t leave corpse only in dungeon, even people that normally have corpse still become magic stone if they died in dungeon.
      Dungeon is suit for people who don’t like gore or easy to puke(like me)​ because you won’t see scene like that.

    3. They said that monsters that leave dungeons gain a physical body and become monstrosities while the reverse happens with adventurers where their bodies become like monsters when entering a dungeon and that’s why they become spirit stones when they die in there.

    6. They told before that monster outside dungeon do leave corpses and dont give a lot of escence. Thus why is better the dungeon in order to make profits for monster hunting.

  33. Thank you for the chapter!
    I see, so he wants to be the dungeon janitor, not bad boy… not bad at all. (╭☞• ⍛• )╭☞

  38. So he’s gonna become known as a sort of “Cleaner” soon? Maybe he’ll get paid if he comes into contact with the guild?

    But I be the haters are gonna say that “he now has a way to hide his crimes”.

    1. Someone chosen one when hear about this someone who mysteriously cleans the dungeon, they will say, was that a Japanese one? They even clean up football stadium after all

    1. If the basic tactic is hit n run, then Hikaru is fully capable to take down that ogre too [if he already on normal-battle ready condition], using darkness fog+shadow bind[if the effect is like what I think]+backstab+back off, he can easily deal big damage safely, rinse and repeat…
      @.@…

      2. In a dungeon the strategy of hit and run can backfire really badly not the best choice, but he should be able to kill a ogre if can time his skill the right way, for example when the ogre try to charge if he “shadow bind” just one foot he will trip and he can aim to the eyes or neck. The same when the ogre swing he can bind the arm and aim at the opening created.

        1. The tactic I mean is really like what I said there, darkness fog [as an opening to take the mobs vision, make them panic or not its not a problem] + shadow bind [either to make it immobilize [need to be a high tier one] or to take mobs attention [trip it or grab the limb/s or just make it think that something grab/touch it’s body] ] + backstab [other mean of attack is good too but the lethal one or the most damaging is preferable ] + back off [either the attack is success or not]…

          1. That is not hit and run is just use of disbales (Status ailmnts in most of games) In Wow the rouge do all that shit Blind stun and back stab without moving even XD.

          2. Ah, maybe cz I mention it u got the wrong message, I mean if the basic is hit n run then Hikaru can take it down too but not with hit n run but full thief/rogue style…

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