Chapter 371: Appearances Can Be Deceiving
During the walk to the Guild, the group discussed the coming battle.
"Think we’ll manage a first-try victory on the hundredth layer too?" Garm asked.
"Well, guess even you can’t help but be curious, eh?" Amy said with a casual shrug.
"…I’ve been thinking about that as well," Daryl added. "If the streak ends with us, I feel like people might blame us for it."
[I don’t have the luxury to worry about records right now, though.] Tsutomu thought, keeping himself distracted by flying various skill wisps across the rooftops of nearby homes.
Tsutomu’s steps were heavy. The hundredth layer had proven unlike anything before, with its Boss monster behaving in unprecedented ways. Korinna’s unexpected success in finding some of its weaknesses and Stephanie’s looming threat from the rear had thrown everything into disarray. If they retreated now, his chance of ever returning to reality might be lost. If they pressed forward, the risk of death loomed large. Cornered from both ends, they were one step away from catastrophe.
No matter how hard he tried to avert his eyes from reality, he couldn’t. And even if he’d already come to terms with the idea of dying, that didn’t make walking toward the hundredth layer any easier. He felt like a miner being sent into a collapse-prone shaft.
Then, a strong arm suddenly slung around his shoulder.
"What’s with the long face?" Amira said, grinning. "The man of the hour’s not interested in first-try wins anymore?"