Volume 12 - CH 14

A single pathway leading straight north brought us to another hall.

In the center of the hall was a gorgeously decorated white treasure chest, but apparently it had already been opened by Gallard and his team.

Well, ......, this happens sometimes.

「Ya, ya, Alec-san, you're a step too late.」

He can't stop grinning, and contrary to my initial impression, Gallard is becoming less and less gracious.

「We made a way for you. You'll at least tell us what's in the treasure chest, right?」

「Yes, of course. The treasure was the Sword of Light. Here it is.」

「Hou~.」

When Gallard pulled out the sword from its white scabbard, the blade took on a white shining aura. It's probably a sacred attribute. From the looks of it, it's a work of art.

「Hmmm...」

「Kkeh!」

「Ahh―Ahh!」

「......」

「He got me.」

All the others were frustrated, but I don't know what would have happened if the boss had been there first.

Gallard was lucky.

「It was all thanks to Alec and the others, you know. It may be too small to say thank you, but look, I found some writing carved on the side of the door over there. Thank you, gentlemen. This way, please.」

Gallard leads us to the side of the huge double doors on the other side.

「This is ......」

「It's magically carved letters. “My name is Satoshi the Hero, and I speak to the next person who arrives here. Even level 49 is no match for this place. Know that survival is the true treasure”.」

Our average level now is level 38, which is little lower than the carving said. But still, Satoshi is a Hero......

「It looks like he was Japanese.」

Serina whispered.

「Yeah.」

「Satoshi＝Sato＝Grand Sword. It's an unusual name, so I'm pretty sure he's the first king. Besides, it's deep in the ninth layer, of all places.」

Gallard smiles as he says this.

「So this is the proof of the first king. ......」

Hannah stares at the letters with deep emotion.

「Oh, I see, before he become a King, he was a Hero, huh. Hee~」

Luka also looked at it with admiration.

「It's irreverent, but to tell you the truth, I too was skeptical that he had come this far until I saw this. How did they get out of that soulless hall, I wonder? Truly amazing.」

Gallard says, but Satoshi certainly does quite well. Perhaps he uncovered the secret of that "Room of Where Death's Reign" and dealt with it. Or maybe he had a highly capable magicians or priest.

But the name "King Satoshi" doesn't really fit.

「And me and Alec-san party, too! So, after five hundred years, we have arrived here. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we're on par with the heroes of the past. Let's give them and us a round of applause for our accomplishment!」

Gallard says, holding out his hands.

「We did it! Gallard-san!」

「It was worth the effort to follow you. ......」

「I'm sure this will make our dead friends feel better.」

「We've really come this far. ......」

Gallard's friends applauded and patted each other on the shoulder, but you know, an adventure is an adventure until you get back alive.

「It's not over yet. Don't let your guard down.」

I turned around and told my party, but they all seemed to know what I was talking about and nodded with a grin.

「Haha, I guess so. That's the kind of advice that is typical of the calm Alec-san. Now, Alec-san, I have one thing to discuss with you.」

「What is it?」

「We are still planning to go ahead. Will you please allow us to go through this door first?」

「The sooner you allow it, the better. You don't have to ask. But okay. If you want to go at the boss first, be my guest.」

「Oooh, thanks. Well, in a way, it's in order for us, the top clan, to find the ninth layer first and clear it first. It's really amazing, though, that Alec has caught up with that in just half a year or so. If you had come to Grandsword before me, I think you would be the one standing here, not me.」

「Enough with the flattery. Now get ready.」

「All right. Prayers of blessing, Arnett. I want everyone to cast all available spells. Let's go in there like we're the boss.」

「「Yes」」

The priests and magician cast spells to increase (buff) their abilities, and Gallard and the others get ready.

Thalia approached there.

「Um, Gallard-san, Can I also ......」

「Oh, Thalia. I'm sorry, but you can't. You joined Alec and the others' party, didn't you?」

「Huh.」

「And even if you stayed with me, you'd still be second team, at your level.」

「Fuu, I understand.」

「Then, Alec-san, we're going first.」

「Yeah. By the way, Gallard, what's your level?」

「The average is about 45 for the first team.」

「I see. Come back right away if you're in danger.」

「Yeah, I know.」

Gallard nodded with a refreshing smile, but with us behind him, he's going to have to push himself a bit. Well, that's the way Gallard has chosen to do it. Even if he gets a bad eye, he won't make things difficult for us.

It took four warriors to push open the huge double doors. But it was too dark to see much. On the other side of the doors, there seemed to be a rather large hall.

Gallard and the others kept the doors open and continued on their way, but the doors began to move by themselves.

「Ah, the door is..!」

「It's closing, brother, what do we do now?」

「No, leave it. Let it close.」

The king, Satoshi, said he couldn't stand it, but he came back here to look at the other side. Gallard won't be dying any time soon.

「As expected, Alec! If we can just PK Gallard and the others when they're weakened by the boss, we can get the Sword of Light and the honor of defeating the boss!」

Letty gives a thumbs up, but I think I'm going to expel this guy.

Everyone is looking at me a little drawn.

「When did I ever do anything so dirty? When Gallard takes down the boss, I'm gonna give him a big ol' hero's welcome.」

「Ehh? But there's nothing good about Alec's group so far, is there?」

「That's right. So far, yeah.」

I was sure of it.

Now that they have the Sword of Light, Gallard and the others might be able to defeat the boss here. But I'm sure they'll give us special treatment, this wicked dungeon. There's bound to be a back boss waiting for us.

Besides, the ninth layer was quite a challenge even for small fry enemies. With the level of difficulty here, I don't think Gallard and the others will be able to clear it easily for the first time.

The wall trembled slightly as it *bam* .......

「It's starting.」

「Yeah.」

It was followed by some kind of roar. I heard a muffled roar. Again, the floor shook and dust fell in flakes.

I heard a quick tap on the door.

「Open it! Quickly!」

It was a voice from the other side.

「I'll open it!」

I reacted quickly and rushed to both doors and pushed them open.

「It's open. Hurry up!」

「Eeekkk!」

「H-Hurry up and get out of there!」

「What kind of monster is that?」

Gallard's party members rushed in one after another with strained faces.

Some of their robes were burned off, some were torn, and all of them were covered in wounds and crawling.

I thought I could stop the monsters here if they came after me, but all I could see was Gallard's back.

「Hurry up and go! I'll hold them off here! 【Iron Wall!】」

Garrard crossed his shield and sword and readied himself.

Then, from the darkness, three glowing claws swung down.

「Gguhh!」

「Gallard!」

「Gallard-san, that's enough, run!」

What should I do now? If I don't help him now, Gallard will probably die.

But we're not as prepared as we should be.