Chapter 111: Cave Exploration 1

Chapter 111: Cave Exploration 1

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Posted in discord.

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Kaiden, Irene, and I hadn't changed much.

For Kaiden, her swordsmanship was less an issue of equipment and more about adaptation.

Irene's divine energy wasn't affected by her gear.

So, most of the equipment we bought with the rewards from the Magic Tower and gold coins went to Grace and Han Se-ah.

Han Se-ah got a red mage's cloak that reached her thighs.

It was the kind of cloak that made an adventurer look flashy, making them easy to spot.

The cloak seems to have numerous stats attached... She probably wouldn't trip over something of that length.

Grace got a magical arm-guard and a new quiver.

They were said to prevent arrows from slipping during battle and allow for applying potions to arrow tips.

Han Se-ah and Grace rushed to the market and bought various potions from an alchemist to apply to the arrow tips.

"Did everyone rest well? I'm not sure if you heard from Hanna, but we got a gathering request from a mage at the Magic Tower. So, today we'll be roaming the 21st floor, both hunting and gathering. We need to test Hanna's new spell and Grace's arrows."

"Is the gate already built?"

"From what I heard, they built it in advance during the negotiations. They only need to embed the mana stone to activate it."

As usual, for the player's convenience, the 20th-floor gate was constructed just a day after receiving the quest reward.

While it was built next to the 10th-floor gate for easier management, I was somewhat concerned.

If they continue this trend up to the 100th floor, we're looking at around 9-10 gates.

How will they construct and manage all of them?

I briefly worried about space for new gates, but thats for the Magic Tower, which profits from these gates, to figure out.

After accepting a few more gathering requests from the guild, we headed out.

It seemed word about the 20th-floor gate had already spread, as we saw adventurers heading in the same direction.

"Look over there, those girls"

"This is their second time, right? It must not be luck, but skill."

"I wish their party had an open spot."

Most of the adventurers heading toward the 20th-floor gate were intermediate adventurers, so they seemed to recognize Han Se-ah.

A beauty with black hair was already a rarity, and it was even more evident when she walked alongside a gray-haired beauty and a nun.

With today being the opening day of the gate, there's a noticeable influx of people roaming the city.

Regular citizens open their shops, while adventurers flow towards the tower and gate, a typical morning scene.

After showing Han Se-ah's badge to the mage guarding the gate, we entered as if we were familiar with the process.

We breathed in the city's air and exhaled.

And as we inhaled again, we were met with the refreshing air of a forest.

While it's not comparable to the Blessed Forest, compared to the cave, this place is paradise.

Ah, the air feels so fresh. I better take deep breaths now while I can.

Youll need to get used to the cave's air as well. The next area is marshland, and the damp air there isnt exactly refreshing.

Ugh, thats quite the mood-killer...

Grace seemed disheartened, likely thinking about what's next.

Unlike the Magic Missile, a pure mass of magic, a gust of wind, difficult to see in the darkness, whirled forward, grazing the cave's ceiling.

Whoosh!

The power of an intermediate spell was clearly different from basic ones.

The gust didn't hit the spiders directly, but the swirling wind scratched their exoskeletons, making them fall from the walls and ceiling.

As expected, when it comes to firepower, mages are unparalleled.

Among characters of the same level, no one would choose to be a mage if they got outdone in damage by an archer.

"They're all tangled up!"

"Finish them off with arrows now, right?"

"Of course."

From the ceiling, spiders fall, the others slide and tumble down the walls.

Seven of them, each about a meter in size with elongated legs, cluster in the tight space of the cave.

They trampled over each other, legs entangled.

It's, undeniably, a gruesome sight.

Seeing this, Grace quickly readied her bow.

Arrows whizzed past our shoulders, cleanly breaking through the spiders' pincers and embedding in their heads.

"We probably don't need to coat the arrow tips for these."

"The magical energy consumption is much higher. Maybe more than double that of a Magic Missile?"

"The damage seems to be about five times more, so it's not an issue."

"We shouldn't use it against goblins or kobolds, though."

The cave spiders, though massive and equipped with strong, piercing pincers and venomous fangs, don't put up much resistance and transform into seven mana stones.

The power of a well-coordinated adventurer party was truly remarkable.

With a 6 tank and a 5 priest, a single mage and archer could effortlessly hunt down a group of monsters.

"Let's gather the mana stones and move on. Are you good on mana?"

"I only used it once, so no worries. If I use it continuously... I think I can cast it about five times. My cloak replenishes mana."

Though exhausting all her mana could knock her out, being able to cast an intermediate spell consecutively five times was incredibly efficient.

It's no wonder mages use a mix instead of just offensive magic.

Han Se-ah's ability also surpasses that of an average mage.

Entrusting everything to one's starred companions might not sit well with everyone's temperament.

In a fantasy world, the real meaning of adventure comes from claiming victories with your own strength.

For the cave spiders, we knocked them to the ground, and for the vampire bats, we disrupted their flight so Grace could aim at their bodies with paralyzing arrows.

Using Han Se-ah's newly acquired magic, we circled around the passage of the 21st floor.

"This gathering quest, are they talking about this kind of moss? No specific details about its color or features?"

They just said to collect any moss. Not sure if they have a particular type in mind.

We were filling our inventory with mana stones and moss,

[TheresAMarkOnTheCaveWall donated 10,000 won!]

There was a strange pattern on the wall you just passed, can you please check it?

"A pattern, on the wall?"

Until someone made that intriguing donation.

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