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Lanpeach and Dry resumed their exploration of the basement after defeating all the Big Rats.

They were careful about not tripping from the frozen floor while heading to the water purifier deep in the basement.

“I don’t have any more bullets~. Where’s the ammunition box to replenish them? Also, where are the treasure boxes hiding?” (Lanpeach)

“Nothing like that Peach-oniichan. Only thing here is rat corpses.” (Dry)

Dry said straight to Lanpeach who was searching the floor persistently as he walked.

“Guess so. The monsters won’t be much cash. Aah, being an explorer is such a dreamless job.” (Lanpeach)

[I don’t think you would be able to use ammunition boxes even if there were, you know? Even if there were, they might explode on you instead, so I wouldn’t recommend using them.] (Libra)

Libra repeatedly smacked Lanpeach’s head lightly as she directed a colder gaze than Dry.

‘So this is a game perspective’, is what he thought baffled, but he wondered a bit why they were acting like that, but didn’t pursue the topic too deeply.

Lanpeach was disappointed that there’s no ammunition box even though the event battle has ended, but he thought reality really is different and clicked his tongue.

In the game, you would have ammunition boxes resting on top of tables or in the corner of the room that allows you to replenish your normal bullets once in an unnatural manner.

It is either that or new magazines lying around, and valuables in wooden boxes and shelves.

There are easy methods to earn money like the Ice Candies, but it seems like obtaining items will be nightmare level which saddened Lanpeach.

“Do your best, Peach-oniichan. Dry will tell you methods to earn money later.” (Dry)

“I am fine with that. Use them yourself.” (Lanpeach)

Dry showed consideration here, but he had absolutely no intention to hear about a money making method that earned her only 50,000 in a year.

They continued walking as they chatted, but the fear from the exploration in the basement they had before had lessened now that they properly defeated the horde of Big Rats without any injuries.

He wanted to snort at this being an average of level 1 in the game, but he is as strong as a skilled soldier, can detect enemies with Presence Detection, and can easily defeat them with his gun.

Lanpeach was drunk by that overwhelming power he suddenly obtained, getting it over his head like a minor villain.

Also, Lanpeach couldn’t tear himself away from his game perspective even when an exploration is life or death, so he didn’t notice…

◇◇

“We are reaching the storehouse of the basement once we go down these stairs. The water purifier and generator are at the deepest part.” (Lanpeach)

He slowly opened the door that had written ‘Staff Only’ while telling this to Dry who was behind him.

Dry looked a bit dubious at how certain he sounded.

“Peach-oniichan, have the map of this building in your head?” (Dry)

“Kinda. This part is displaying ‘outside of control’ so I don’t know that much about it though.” (Lanpeach)

The question of Dry was understandable.

There were these many Big Rats propagating, so there shouldn’t have been people walking around on this floor that much for a good amount of time. And yet, it was extremely strange how Lanpeach was moving around without getting lost at all.

Lanpeach simply brought out a small map at the corner of his vision as he moved. The floors above ground were displayed in blue, and yet, the basement was shown in red and was showing ‘Out of Control Bounds’.

He can’t send the Gun Soldier and Combat Engineer Artificial Spirits because of how the system works, so he knew that there were monsters at least.

[If you wipe out the monsters here and conquer it, you will be able to send the Artificial Spirits, so do your best, Soldier. I think things will be easier after you do that.] (Libra)

(That’s a lie. Once this is over, there will be another issue, and then another one. Base management doesn’t end for a while.) (Lanpeach)

[Ahaha, that’s true. There’s no end to the greed of humans after all. Then, let’s finish the first quest.] (Libra)

(Got it, Commander.) (Lanpeach)

Libra laughed and Lanpeach went down while joking.

Footsteps echoed and they arrived at the lowest floor.

Only personnel is allowed here, so this is more like an empty parking floor, contrary to the produce floor. There’s no decorations, and the wall and concrete floor looks cold.

It was pitch black, so he illuminated it with the flashlight he brought.

Lanpeach felt like he was in a zombie movie with how bad the vision was here, so he was scared but having fun at the same time.

He has Presence Detection after all.

He won’t get ambushed even in pitch darkness.

The Big Rats were numerous and were a bit of a threat, but he could detect them if they were to enter the 100 meter range.

That’s why he didn’t need to fear even if they were hiding in the shadow of a pillar or under the floor.

Light was reflected from deeper in and waved lightly, so Lanpeach made a grim face and voiced out his bad feeling.

“Dry, it seems water has accumulated deeper in. Looks like a crack happened somewhere and it has flooded. There’s no development like having to enter the water with this temperature, right?” (Lanpeach)

“Dry can’t swim. Peach-oniichan, do your best in repairs.” (Dry)

Dry refused to touch the water.

‘So decisive’ -Lanpeach said lightly.

“It is not on the level that requires diving, and I am not in the role of a kidnapped princess that will be saved by an old plumber.” (Lanpeach)

“You know a plumber—gyan!” (Dry)

“Dry?!” (Lanpeach)

But he hurriedly turned around at the scream of Dry.

What entered the vision of Lanpeach was Dry having her head bitten by a rat the size of a person and about to fall.

Dirty gray fur that looked skin-tight, glaring red eyes, fangs long like stakes, and standing on two legs for a staggering 2 meters in size.

“A Rat Man!” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach clicked his tongue at the weak monster he is used to seeing.

Dry’s head has been bitten by the long stake-like fangs in a surprise attack, so her Spirit Fusion is on the verge of being undone.

[Looks like she got hit by the [Black Tusk], Soldier. It is imbued with magic, so I doubt you can block it even if possessed by a Spirit.] (Libra)

(Right. Even if it is a small fry monster, it is imbued with magic, so the Spirit Fusion is pointless. Monsters mainly attack physically, so they are made so that they can still deal damage to Spirit Fusions.) (Lanpeach)

This is a countermeasure against the protagonists that can only deal damage with magic.

The Rat Man gnawed at the head of Dry as if trying to eat a nut while on top of her.

Dry couldn’t endure that attack as a mage, so she turned into light particles and disappeared.

“Damn it! Take distance after attacking like in the game, you damn rat!” (Lanpeach)

He was insulting it while thinking ‘I am glad it wasn’t me. I would have died’.

Dry will only have her Element Fusion undone, so she should be okay, but Lanpeach would have had his skull pierced through, and his brain would be made lunch.

Just imagining this made a chill run down his spine and his face warped.

(I couldn’t notice it with Presence Detection. If I remember correctly, Rat Man has Stealth Level 1. So Stealth is above when it is the same level, huh. Damn it.) (Lanpeach)

He then remembered how he didn’t notice Dry the last time either, and clicked his tongue at his mistake.

The Rat Man stopped moving for a moment at the fact that its food disappeared, but the light particles began to gather again.

Dry would begin to appear in her original form and the Rat Man wouldn’t let that opportunity escape and bite her to death.

Lanpeach had his heart squeezed by fear, but the logic at the corner of his mind was moving his body.

[Instant].

Time stopped.

The Rat Man and the light particles that were gathering stopped in place like statues.

[Instant] is an OP skill that stops time. There’s no match.

(You won’t be having lunch today, you damn rat!) (Lanpeach)

He was enraged at getting scared like a minor villain as he aimed for the head of the Rat Man, and then…

[Rat Man A: Level 1].

[Rat Man B: Level 1].

The choice to choose between 2 enemies showed inside his head, which made him shiver.

(T-Two? Why two? C-Could it be?!) (Lanpeach)

He grasped the situation even within his panic.

He could feel the information he didn’t want to know about in his skin, and fear assailed him again within this frozen world.

There was one more.

It jumped out to try and bite the head of Lanpeach. Its fangs were just a moment before it bit into his head. The moment Instant is gone, it would bite into his head and it would break like a walnut.

(I have to defeat the Rat Man behind me first! B-But if I do that…) (Lanpeach)

He won’t miss an attack onto an enemy that’s so close you can touch it. He can shoot its head and defeat it easily.

—But Dry would be attacked and killed if he did that.

Gunmanship Level 2 was telling him he definitely won’t make it in time.

There’s no mistake in the understanding of a veteran soldier, and Lanpeach has the same opinion.

(W-W-What should I do? What is the best course of action? Who should I target?!) (Lanpeach)

[Soldier, you don’t have the time to hesitate here. [Instant] can only stop time for 10 seconds!] (Libra)

It seems like Libra is conscious even within stopped time, so she sends her thoughts with impatience.

(So that works the same!) (Lanpeach)

[Instant] is used as a stance in the game and the developers put a restriction on it in order for the players to not be able to think of the best choice in the middle of combat. Its duration is 10 seconds.

A newbie would choose a command in panic, would end up choosing a random command, and complain about how short the time is.

A veteran would take action without hesitation, so 10 seconds would feel long.

5 seconds… 6 seconds…

Time went on.

Abandon Dry?

Save himself?

(I-It is the fault of the protagonist for messing up. I am not at fault! It is the fault of Dry! I will choose self-preservation here like the minor villain I am!) (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach is a minor villain in the end.

He treasures his own life and would let his comrades be killed. Even if Dry were to die, he can act like he is in pain, and then be possessed by fear and run away.

That’s just like Lanpeach.

You can easily imagine that…

[Rat Man A’s Head: Accuracy 100%.]

Time resumed, skipping the process, and only showing the result.

The bullet landed on the head of the Rat Man and its body was sent flying.

—The Rat Man that was attacking Dry.

Lanpeach saw Dry’s surprised face once she returned to normal, and he directed a bitter and warped smile at her.

“As if I can abandon her. I am a cowardly civilian here! That trauma would haunt me to the end of my days!” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach switched his stance into that of readying his gun, and shouted as if complaining.

The fangs of the Rat Man sunk mercilessly into Lanpeach who had thrown away self-preservation.

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