Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 74

Having consumed food from the magic bag, replenished water, and taken a break for a while, Rosca and I begin to ascend to the upper floor.

Compared to the mining tunnels, this floor is bright, and the width of the path is wide, making visibility good and movement easy.

However, this applies to the enemies, the monsters, as well. They can easily spot us, so we can’t afford to be careless.

Advancing through the vast cave, I use magic stone detection to sense monsters and understand the structure.

Then, surprisingly close ahead, two silhouettes resembling snails, probably the monsters called Maimai that Rabis mentioned, are displayed.

“Two Maimai-type monsters ahead.”

“Should we take a detour?”

“It seems they’re in a route we structurally have to pass through.”

After checking the surrounding paths through investigation, it turns out that, apart from here, the other paths are dead ends, ultimately leading to the route ahead.

In mining tunnels, the intricate layout allowed for plenty of detours, but it seems that’s not the case here, with its wide paths and many straight routes.

“Well then, let’s prepare for battle.”

“First, let’s approach without being noticed and assess the situation.”

Rosca wields her hammer and I ready my magic for activation, and we cautiously approach along the wall.

【Silver Maimai】

A subspecies of Maimai. It incorporates silver into its body and carries the excreted material as a shell on its back. Since impurities other than silver are removed during excretion, the purity is quite high.

With a low population, encountering them is rare.

【Golden Maimai】

A subspecies of Maimai. It incorporates gold into its body and carries the excreted material as a shell on its back. Since impurities other than gold are removed during excretion, the purity is quite high.

With a significantly low population, encountering them is quite rare. It is said that seeing them enhances one’s business luck.

When appraised from the rock’s shadow, as expected, it was a Maimai, but it was a bit different.

They carry shells that shine in silver and sparkle in gold. Reflecting the light from the luminous stones, they are very beautiful.

“Wow! It’s amazing! Golden Maimai and Silver Maimai! I heard rumors about legendary Maimai carrying gold and silver nuggets, but to think they really exist!”

“They are indeed rare Maimai…”

The silver and gold shells they carry on their backs are displayed in orange, indicating that their value is quite high.

Both of them are considered quite rare, and encounters with them are not so common. In the case of the Golden Maimai, it is said that just seeing them can improve one’s business luck.

“Shuu-san, I want to use those materials for decoration!”

“Indeed, those colors would suit Drogan-san’s sword.”

Since Drogan’s sword is made of a dark-colored hard magic stone, the gold and silver carried by the Maimai would likely enhance it as decorations.

“Then, shall we proceed to collect the materials?”

“Let’s do it!”

Avoiding the battle seems unavoidable, and if we can use them for decoration, we might as well take them.

However, I feel a bit hesitant about hunting Maimai and taking their shells. While those accustomed to hunting might find it familiar, it might be a bit challenging for an ordinary person.

【If there is an emergency situation where the shell cannot be carried, only the shell will be left behind. For example, if Maimai is injured, or forced to flee in a hurry.】

Hoping to somehow get only the shells, I appraise them, and the appraiser gives me some advice.

It seems that, similar to lizards dropping their tails, the Maimai have a habit of leaving their shells behind when in a pinch.

In that case, let’s go along with that and have them leave the shells.

“Alright, I’ll use ice magic to freeze just the shells, so Rosca, approach with your hammer. You don’t need to defeat them; just approaching should make them leave their shells.”

“Really? Well, I’ll do my best not to attack the shells for now!”

Since it would be unbearable if the crucial materials were destroyed, it’s preferable if the Maimai could easily escape.

“Okay, here we go.”

“Understood!”

Rosca and I jump out from behind the rocks.

The Golden Maimai and Silver Maimai, with their backs turned, seem to have noticed us, but their movements are sluggish, perhaps because the shells are heavy.

“Freeze!”

Facing the Maimai, I activate my ice magic.

The ice crawling on the ground adheres to the Maimai’s shells and the ground.

“Take thiiiis!”

There, Rosca, wielding the hammer, raises a spirited voice and approaches.

She swings the hammer in a manner as if she is about to smash the shells.

Sensing the intensity in Rosca’s approach, the Maimai immediately drop their shells and flee.

Alright, just as the appraiser mentioned.

The Maimai, having dropped their shells, have a appearance resembling a large slug, moving by crawling at a slightly faster pace. While it would be easy to catch up if pursued, there’s no need to unnecessarily engage with low-threat and low-danger monsters.

“As Shuu-san said, they really did leave just the shells!”

“It’s thanks to Rosca-san’s intensity.”

Even if you can freeze their movements with ice magic, creating a sense of crisis is difficult.

There was also the possibility of them retreating into their shells, making it difficult to handle.

It was all made easy thanks to Rosca’s strength.

“Wow, they’re big and heavy! Proof of high purity!”

Immediately, Rosca excitedly touches and tries to lift the Golden Maimai.

I attempted to lift it as well, but it was quite heavy – lifting something made of gold would naturally be heavier, especially when it’s much larger than one’s own height.

“But, when you think about it, this is basically Maimai dung.”

As beautiful as it is, thinking about it that way feels a bit complicated.

Just to be sure, I sniffed it, and it was odorless.

Good. If it had a strong smell just by approaching or touching it, it would have been disappointing.

However, that doesn’t mean I want to cuddle it like Rosca.

“For now, I’ll store them in the Magic Bag.”

I instruct Rosca to step back, and I store the gold and silver shells of the Maimai.

“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen something go into the Magic Bag. It’s so convenient to be able to store such large and heavy items in an instant!”

“Without the Magic Bag, bringing this back to the surface would have been nearly impossible.”

“Thank you, Shuu-san!”

If there hadn’t been a Magic Bag, I wonder if Rosca would have given up. Just imagining that scenario gives me a shiver.

♦ ♦ ♦

Having collected the shells of the Golden Maimai and the Silver Maimai, we proceed to explore the exposed ores and crystals while searching for stairs leading to the upper floors.

The twelfth floor not only has wide pathways but also a vast overall area, making it challenging to find the staircase. Nevertheless, we are steadily grasping the structure. With my magic stone detection and Rosca’s auditory and olfactory senses, we manage to avoid conflicts with monsters, and if we continue at this pace, it seems we’ll find the stairs.

With such positive thoughts, we reach a vast space resembling a hall. In its center, rocks adorned with transparent crystals and aquamarine crystals catch our eyes.

Even from a distance, it’s apparent that they are transparent, with the scenery behind them being visible. It’s like looking at polished and processed glasswork from a past life.

“Look, Shuu-san! Those crystals over there are ridiculously beautiful! I want to use those for decoration too!”

Excited, Rosca starts running towards the crystals.

This is her most enthusiastic reaction since coming to the mine. It might be fortunate that we ended up falling to the twelfth floor in pursuit of decorative materials.

However, those crystals are genuinely beautiful. I wonder what kind of crystals they are?

【Dvorak‘s Crystals】

Crystals growing on Dvorak‘s back. Extremely high-purity crystals.

When I attempt to appraise the crystals, a peculiar display appears.

Crystals growing on Dvorak‘s back? Does that mean the rocks and crystals exposed now are part of some creature’s back…?

“Rosca-san, please get back!”

“Huh? Uwaa!?”

With a sense of foreboding, I raise my warning, and the rock with crystals begins to shake as a monster emerges from the ground.