Published at 26th of December 2025 7:38 am

Chapter 430: While Theres a Direction That Enjoys Hardships, if Its Possible to Have an Easy Time, Id Prefer to Take it Easy.

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Wow, such an accurate map!? Ed-san, when did you draw this!?

Anemo peered at the map I had unfolded, asking excitedly. If asked when, it was drawn at this very moment, but I had no intention of giving an honest reply..

Hm? Well, you know. I was secretly drawing it, thinking it might surprise you.

Wow, I didnt notice at all Amazing, the scale is perfect, and even the passages beyond the walls? Eh, how is this possible?

Thats well, you know. Look, the dungeon walls have a consistent thickness, right? So when theres a hollow space in other words, a passage, theres a slight difference in how sound echoes. I listen for that and fill in the gaps with imagination when drawing.

Wouldnt it be better to draw after actually seeing and confirming?

Not necessarily. Even if its a prediction, knowing this is probably whats ahead allows us to choose our path accordingly. Of course, Im not saying its absolutely correct, just use it as a reference.

Hmm. I understand what youre saying, but if thats the case, shouldnt you differentiate between areas youve actually traversed and those youve imagined? It might get confusing otherwise

Ah well, you see. I know the difference, so its fine. Besides, this map isnt meant to be shown to others.

Well, if thats the case Can I take a closer look at this?

Sure, go ahead.

Great!

Anemo snatched the map from my hand with incredible force and began to scrutinize it intently. In contrast to Anemos excitement, Tia calmly moved closer to me and whispered:

Is this okay? I thought we werent going to use such tricks this time.

Haha, that was the plan, but you see

I had visited these ruins in my first run. But back then, I was using a Coated sword bought in town, and I didnt have the [Auto-mapping] skill or rather, I acquired it when I was expelled from this world so I wasnt even aiming to fully explore it, just made a brief visit.

But I clearly remembered Anemos disappointed face at that time. So this time, I wanted to help her achieve her goal properly, but

Remember what Anemo said earlier? Or did you want to do another map-filling exercise like with Gou-san?

Ugh!? Thats

Tia made a visibly unpleasant face at my slightly mischievous smile, thinking of the trial labyrinth we had faced with Hero Gou. There, we had engaged in the rather futile task of filling in dead-ends on the map despite seeing the goal.

That time it was a closed space, but this time it was part of a maze connected to the outside, so doing it properly would be incomparably more difficult than back then.

Besides, my [Auto-mapping] doesnt show everything at once. Even using this, well still need to walk around quite a bit, you know?

Really? I thought it would be quick for an area the size of a town?

No, this only shows areas I can perceive, so in open spaces with good visibility, the map displays more broadly, but in completely enclosed mazes like this, it only shows about two or three passages ahead at most.

The excuse about imagining based on sound echoes wasnt entirely a lie. Things like air currents are also included in my perception, and even if I wasnt not consciously aware of it, as long as I could sense it, it became part of the display range.

So in open areas where wind flows, the recordable range expanded, and even traps I might not notice are automatically recorded if they were in a state where I could notice them if I paid attention.

Conversely, in environments like this where thick stone walls obstructed everything, the displayable range narrowed considerably, but being able to see passages beyond the walls was still an outrageous cheat. It wasnt relevant here, but it meant secret passages were completely obvious to me.

Ahh, Ive had my fill! Anemo sighed contentedly as she looked up from the map and turned back to me.

So, Ed-san. Is it safe to assume you can normally draw maps of this caliber?

Yeah, sure. So, well, I was thinking we could aim for the quickest well, maybe not the quickest, but rather than filling in the map, we could push forward aggressively towards the town center What do you think?

Hmm

Anemo pondered my suggestion.

Well Personally, Id like to complete a perfect map of this town, the Nikuo ruins but I think the policy of securing important items first is correct. Besides, if we can confirm that there are actually valuable items here, rather than just might be, we could gather more people for a full-scale investigation.

Is that okay with you, Anemo? It seems like that way, various discoveries and achievements would be shared among everyone.

Haha. Its more than okay, this scale of investigation isnt something to be done by one person I mean, three people! I asked for your help because I was curious, but if we can get more peoples cooperation, that would be even better Ah!? S-sorry! I didnt consider your opinions at all. Um, should we perhaps stick to investigating just the three of us after all?

Anemo squirmed, looking up at us with puppy eyes. Tia and I exchanged glances and smiled wryly.

No way. We cant pocket that much anyway. Right, Tia?

Thats right. Were not after status or fame, so Im all for everyone working together.

I see! Ah, Im so relieved Then Ill change our plan to head straight for the center, referring to Ed-sans map as much as possible. Oh, but well still retreat after 20 battles. Is that okay?

Yeah!

Sounds good!

Then, lets set off again!

With our new plan decided, we steeled ourselves and stepped into the dungeon where the color had changed ever so slightly and immediately realized the difference from the outside.

Wow, what a welcome party.

So many Eight no, nine round ones? And five humanoid types too.

Carefully peeking around the corner, we saw Encounters crowded together. Until now, wed usually encountered two or three, five at most. This was nearly triple that number.

Thats a bit impossible to handle. Lets turn back and

No, well defeat them all.

I gently grabbed Anemos shoulder as she started to back away.

Ed-san!? Thats surely

Tia and I can handle it. Besides, if we start detouring right from the entrance, well never get to investigate the interior, right?

Well, yes but are you really sure?

Yeah! We have plenty of Nukimizu in stock now, and even if we have to make round trips, its better to clear them out when were this close to the entrance. So, Tia?

Leave it to me!

Tia began her incantation with a broad smile and in the next moment

Manifest, [Storm Bringer]!

Whoa!?

A violent storm swept through the narrow dungeon corridor. All the numerous Encounters were caught up in it, shattering into debris around us. Tia turned back with a satisfied, smug expression after unleashing such a powerful spell after so long, but

Hehe! Hows that? When I get serious, this much is

Ah, with so many fragments scattered we have to collect them all and apply Nukimizu

Um, Im sorry.

Hearing Anemos subsequent urmur, Tias ears drooped dejectedly.

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