Today's another day of putting everything into my Geji hunts.
Man oh man.
It's a Geji paradise out here!
They look gross, but if you close your eyes, they're the best prey you could ask for.
Well, I'm not exactly the sensitive type who'd let appearances bother me, and honestly, I'm starting to feel a certain attachment to that wiggly mass of legs.
Geji are the best!
My Paralysis Resistance hit Level 3, and I think my own level is about to reach 8 too?
Truly, Geji are a blessing.
Just a little while ago, I worked up the courage to ambush two of them at the same time, and I actually won pretty convincingly.
I restrained the first one with a surprise attack, then went toe-to-toe with the second.
Fighting them head-on like that, I realized Geji are surprisingly fast.
Well, not as fast as me, of course.
Also, it seems like biting is pretty much their only attack method.
I'm pretty sure that bite comes with paralysis, but as long as it doesn't land, it's no big deal.
As long as I watch out for the bite, the rest is easy.
This is the first time I've seen a Monster that's weaker than me on a species level.
So, whether I ambush them or fight them head-on, I've confirmed that Geji can't beat me.
Fufyahaha!
I am in a TUEEEEE state.
I just can't stop laughing.
Oh, and Geji are also great because they're easy to eat.
They look all wiggly and bulky, but when you actually dig in, there's surprisingly little meat.
One Geji barely fills you up — you certainly wouldn't call it a full meal.
That means even if I hunt a bunch, I can eat every last bit without leaving any behind.
For someone like me who lives by the "waste nothing" philosophy, leaving scraps is an unforgivable sin.
So Geji, which I can finish completely, are perfect.
Having everything you need and nothing you don't — that's exactly what this is.
It's like Geji were born just for me to hunt!
Heheheh.
Since leaving My Home, I've been walking across plenty of dangerous bridges, so surely I'm allowed to enjoy some easy pickings now and then, right?
Humming to myself as I explore and explore.
Well, it's more like I'm playing music in my head — I'm not literally humming or anything.
Actually, do I even have a nose?
Well, never mind that.
Oh?
The path is cut off?
But it doesn't seem to be a dead end.
This maze is absurdly huge, and there are no dead ends.
Every path I've taken so far has continued on forever — not a single cul-de-sac.
That's nice when you're running away, since you can't get cornered, but when you think about every single path just stretching on and on, you can't help but sigh and wonder just how massive this place is.
It almost makes you wonder if this Dungeon is the entire underground world.
I want to believe that's not the case, but the truth is, I've never left this Dungeon, and I've never even seen what the outside looks like.
Honestly, that theory might actually hold water.
Even if there is an outside world, there's a good chance I might spend my entire life in this Dungeon.
Ideally, I'd like to live out my natural lifespan when that time comes, but I have a feeling I'm more likely to die before then.
Speaking of which, I've wondered before — just how long is my lifespan anyway?
Judging by my size, maybe about as long as a dog?
I'd love to live just as long as I did in my previous life, or even longer.
Well, no point dwelling on fruitless thoughts.
The break in the path ahead seems to open up to a cliff edge.
Beyond the end of the path, I can see a wide-open space.
Could it be? Have I finally made it out of this narrow maze zone?
If so, what's next?
I'd really prefer somewhere that isn't some high-difficulty death trap like the Giant Passage Zone where I was born.
Cannibalism, giant spiders, hordes of Monsters...
You could have a hundred lives and it wouldn't be enough to survive there.
Anyway, let's see what's ahead.
I peek over the cliff edge and glance down.
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』
『Elurofelect LV2 — Status Appraisal failed』 × a whole lot.
《Proficiency has reached a certain threshold. Skill 'Appraisal LV4' has become 'Appraisal LV5'》 Ughk!
My head!
A torrent of Appraisal information came flooding in, and the impact hit me like someone bashed my skull.
Whoa — I nearly blacked out for a second.
That was close.
So that's how it works — if you use Appraisal too much at once, the sheer volume of information causes pain?
Nearly passing out is on another level, though.
...Wait. Nearly passing out... from information volume?
Slowly, I peer over the edge again.
"Cliff edge" is generous — it's only about a meter down.
Right below, a vast open space stretches out.
But despite being wide, it didn't feel spacious.
That's because it was packed to the brim — with Geji.
Wh—what!?
What is this what is this what is this!?
As far as the eye can see — Geji Geji Geji Geji Geji!
Ugh, this is seriously unsettling.
Not "gross" — genuinely, deeply unsettling.
Huh?
Hey, Geji guys — what are you all looking at?
Me?
There's nothing good to see here, trust me!
....
I'm running.
I'm becoming the wind right now!
I spin around and sprint back the way I came.
Skritch-skritch-skritch-skritch-skritch-skritch-skritch-skritch!!
HIIIIEEEE!?!
They're chasing me!?!
I'm sorry I got cocky!
So please forgive me, I'm really really sorry!
My yellow stamina gauge drains to zero.
Ngh, this is agonizing.
But if I stop now, I'm dead!
Run like your life depends on it — because it literally does!
In place of the yellow gauge, the red gauge starts slowly ticking down.
In the end, I kept running until the red gauge dropped below half before I finally managed to shake the Geji army.
Aaah... I really thought I was gonna die.