Dai Katana Manga Chapter 23

This is the twenty-third chapter of the Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana manga.

Full Summary
On the third floor Captain is attacked by a vicious rabbit. Shaking it off his gauntlet it bounds towards Female Warrior next. Fortunately she's had a chance to prepare and succeeds in killing it. The party spends a minute marveling over the monster that looks like a rabbit yet has the teeth of a meat-eater, and recalling legends of such dangerous rabbits before returning their attention to beginning their exploration of the third floor. Taking the advice of Myrmidon Monk from earlier, Female Bishop suggests using the spell Point to certain of their position before she starts mapping. As he considers if it's worth spending a spell, Captain asks Half-Elf Scout what their earnings are so far this trip. Half-Elf Scout reports that it's been pretty good so far. Captain decides they've made enough money on this trip that they can take it easy, check one chamber on the third floor and head back, so it should be okay to spend a spell to firmly establish their starting position. Female Bishop casts the spell and verifies that there was a bit of an offset between floors that would have thrown the mapping off a bit. Half-Elf Scout compliments here on the spell's potential to keep them from getting lost, and Female Warrior takes the opportunity to tease him saying that if Female Bishop can use the spell regularly they'll no longer need their scout.

With the mapping question resolved, the party prepares to press on. Captain just wants to do the same thing they did the first time on the first floor, go to the first room, clear it, and get back safely to start getting a feel for the floor. The dangers become apparent immediately as no sooner do they go to move out than a pit trap opens beneath Captain. Quick action by Female Warrior, Half-Elf Scout, and Myrmidon Monk keep him from falling to his death and joining the many skeletons pierced by the many spikes at the bottom of the pit. As they shuffle their formation to put Half-Elf Scout on point to detect traps, Female Warrior remarks that Captain truly is having an unlucky day.

Eventually they arrive at a door, but opening it reveals just more hallways not a chamber. Disappointed they press on until they find another door which turns out to be locked when Captain tries to kick it open. As Half-Elf Scout sets about picking the lock, Female Warrior asks Female Wizard who is locking these doors. Female Wizard explain that's it's done by the lock spell, with the doors locking automatically being a mark of the capability of the spell caster. Female Warrior asks if there's a spell to unlock doors, and Female Wizard confirms there is thought it again depends on the skill of the caster. Female Warrior takes the opportunity to tease Half-Elf Scout saying that when their magic users improve, the party will no longer need him to open doors.

With the door unlocked it's time to enter the room, where they find six human - or at least humanoid - enemies waiting for them. Two warriors dressed like ninja in the front and four spell caster looking enemies in the back. Leaving handling the magic to the three in their back row, Captain squares off with one enemy, while the other squares off with Female Warrior and Myrmidon Monk. With his opponent moving so quickly Captain hardly saw him get into position, Captain is sweating a little. However his wariness is to no avail, as his opponent moves faster than he can fully react to, and while Captain avoids being decapitated, blood sprays out as the front of his neck is sliced open.

Major Events
The party's first real battle on the third floor starts off poorly.