Book 4: Chapter 8

Book 4: Chapter 8

Dungeon Exploration Floor 80

GUAAAAAAA!

I slipped past the swinging rusty iron mace. The moment the ogres balance crumbled, I jumped and swung my knife in a large arc.

Double Edge

My Battle Skill launched two consecutive attacks that destroyed the ogres eyes.

GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?

The ogre spontaneously dropped its weapon and pressed its hands on its face. I slid to its back and finished it off by thrusting my black dagger into its brain through its ear.

An ogres skin was so hard it was even used to be an ingredient for high quality leather armor. It was difficult to damage it with my throwing knife or normal knife but, it wasnt an opponent that I couldnt defeat in one on one battle.

The leader Dalton judged that I was able to fight better than expected and decided to use me not only as scout but to also take care of monsters within certain level.

That wasnt the whole reason. Thanks to my very off the rail fighting style, the movement of the knights would become stiff when I was at the rear near them. The knights could honestly acknowledge the strength of warrior like Dalton or Feld, but it seemed an existence like me looked abnormal to them.

I too at first only faced monsters like orc or hobgoblin, but after several days passed the other started to gradually entrust me with facing monster that almost reached rank 4 like ogre.

This too was also because we had to increase the speed of our travel no matter what.

Im finished over here.

Roger.

Now then, lets get back to work again.

Feld and Dalton returned after defeating two trolls. Viro and I switched with them and moved forward.

Troll was rank 4 in combat strength, but because they had special regenerative ability that didnt show in their combat strength from Appraisal, they were considered as low rank 5 in subjugation difficulty by adventurer guild.

That kind of enemy couldnt be defeated by small weapon like what Viro and I used if we fought with a normal way, so we left them to the two vanguards who had large weapon.

Its vexing.

You shouldnt compare yourself to rank 5 yeah? Certainly you cant defeat something like troll right now, but youll be able to if your Short Sword Skill reach level 5.

Viro told me that in respond to me whisper.

Viro, do you know the level 5 Battle Skill of Short Sword Skill?

Serjura could also use short sword but, master couldnt use that Battle Skill because her close quarter level was 3. I thought that perhaps Viro, a rank 4 might know but, he sighed and shook his head.

I never see it at all. Therere a lot of scouts but, combat type scout like you and I are rare. I cant teach you because I never actually see it but, I once read it in the guilds record. Its eight consecutive attacks using both hands but, I cant even imagine how to do something like that.

Hee

Eight consecutive attacks huh. But even if you slashed at the opponent, doing it in succession would lower the attacks power so I really couldnt imagine how to perform it.

Well, first you gotta aim to reach level 4 at Short Sword Skill. Even the level 4 Battle Skill is really awesome yknow? Right now that royal bro is a bother, so Ill show it to you later if we get the chance.

Roger.

But still

Viro frowned when seeing the trolls that Feld and Dalton defeated on our way going forward.

Even though we didnt collect any material from all the monsters until now, we at least took the magic stone of the monsters stronger than ogre, but now we had to abandon even the troll corpses.

Naturally the ogre I defeated also got left behind. Viro too glanced at the ogre he defeated while grumbling in a small voice that only I could hear.

Aa~aa, what a waste.

We will get extra pay to make up for these too right?

The reason we increased our marching speed that we even left behind the materials of rank 4 monster lie in the protection targets behind us.

Lets stop here for today-!!

We kept marching for a while until we found a place that looked relatively safe. Sighs of relieve could be heard from behind when Dalton called out like that.

We were burning incense to repel low rank monster although it could only serve as mere consolation, even so the knights and guards who were preparing the camp couldnt feel a peace of mind just from that. Their face was showing color of fatigue that they couldnt hide fully.

This dungeon exploration that started from floor 70 had reached floor 80 in one week. According to the story that Mira told me, it was common to spend more than three days just to conquer a single floor when exploring the deep part of dungeon, so our progress right now could be said as astounding.

But that too was the result of us marching in a straight line without veering off at all using the old document that the generations of royal family had left behind.

Here we couldnt see the sun for many days. The knights couldnt feel any sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. They had even lost any sense of time inside this closed off environment while doing the same thing repeatedly and constantly getting exposed to danger. It started to weaken them mentally.

Even the knights who sometimes would go out to the battlefield were in such state. It wouldnt be strange for those like the royalties who had been living in the palace until now to be nearing their limit.

We too crossed through that area in order to prepare to camp. It was then for a second my eyes met Elena who looked tired. She sent me a smile that looked just a little strained.

Elena was strong mentally. She was prepared to sacrifice even her own life if it was for the countrys sake. If it was her, I believed that she could overcome even this situation.

But, in regard to Amor who was sitting near her with dark look while sipping water that a servant handed to him, he was the one who was the most in peril among the royalties.

He couldnt possibly even complain because it was him who forcibly joined this exploration. He also said that he reason he was participating was to protect Elena and Ervan. But judging from his behavior, I believed that he also wanted to obtain Gift to change his current situation.

His true feeling and official stance were getting worn down by the terrible reality and fatigue. He himself must be losing sight of what he ought to do here. He had also stopped interfering after seeing my fight, but he would avert his gaze when looking at me while muttering something incoherent.

The other main participants still looked better compared to him but, Clara and Ervan had gotten together a lot more often since the incident at the monster room, and Claras eyes that had been looking fearful when looking at me before this was also getting filled with hostility now.

In contrast Ervan looked like he was able to maintain the stability of his mind by paying attention and taking care of such Clara even while he was feeling bewildered by her behavior.

Among them it was only Carla who looked no different at all than before. She was still horrible in various senses as usual. Even though she had the lowest stamina among everyone here, she was looking the most cheerful for some reason.

In a sense she was used to this kind of situation, the same like us. Dalton and Mira who had been active as adventurer for a hundred years looked completely the same like usual, while Viro had the composure to complain that there was no alcohol here.

Feld had big body so this cramped environment should be hard for him, but he only looked annoyed. As for me, while my experience in dungeon wasnt much, but I hadnt lived in a way that would make me feel agonized just from this kind of environment.

Getting back to the topic, for the sake of them who werent used to the dungeons environment, Dalton discussed it with Elena and Sera and they decided to increase our marching speed.

You did great, Aria-

Feld

He ran after me. I smiled a little at Elena to show that there was no need to worry. When Viro who also came running here grinned at me, I too finally relaxed and narrowed my eyes at the sight from my current position.

So the scenery that Feld was looking at was actually this wide.

***

The appearance of the Minotauros is the proof that we have arrived at the deepest area. Only a short distance remain. Put forth all your efforts!!

Dalton who had confirmed the safety of the path said that in front of everyone.

The deep part of this dungeon was the area where Minotauros appeared. The enemy got stronger but, the finish line had finally come into sight. It increased the fervor of the knights despite Daltons rough tone.

Even so that didnt mean we are going to depart immediately. The journey from here would be even harsher than before. Everyone checked their equipment and prepared for around half a day. They used that time to rest their mind and body.

I too couldnt move immediately after using that technique. I used Cure on myself while Sera was also giving me treatment. Then healing magic was casted at me from the side.

High Heal

The healing magic that was casted with tremendous amount of mana healed my my injured body. There was still the fatigue so I wouldnt be able to move right away but, with this I should be able to recover quickly.

Carla

Carla healed my body. I didnt know what kind of whim pushed her to do so. She narrowed her eyes smilingly and quietly whispered into my ear while I was lying down.

You said that you wont die until you kill me right?

When I first met CarlaI said that Id kill her if she wished for it. Carla still remembered that promise.

Would Carla still want to die even if she managed to regain her health?

And then the half day break was over and we departed to explore the dungeon once more. I too had become able to stand up, but I still couldnt put strength into my legs. It would be difficult for me to fight. Even so I should be able to walk and I massaged my legs to help with that, but then someone suddenly called out to me.

Excuse me. If possible can you allow us to carry you?

The men in front of me were the young knights who talked to me at the ship and put some distance from me after I exterminated the monsters at the monster room.

Why?

We too were able to understand something important after seeing your fight.

Youre someone necessary. Your recovery will also quicken if you dont move. Thats why please let us carry you.

I dont understand their reason but it looked like they didnt fear me anymore.

I felt reluctant to let myself be carried by people I didnt know but, certainly I would recover quicker if I didnt move too much, so I nodded. The young knights showed gladdened expression at my respond.

Then allow me.

No, Ill be the one to carry her.

No no, it should be me.

The knights volunteered themselves as though they were in a competition for some reason. While I was thinking of what to do, a woman in maid uniform appeared from the side and lightly lifted me up.

Aria-san is a girl so Ill do it. Its an order from her highness the princess. Is there anyone who disagree?

No.

Elenas bodyguard maid Chloe smiled brightly at the young knights. In respond they unconsciously took several steps back.

.

According to Chloe, it seemed that I was lighter than the shield she usually used. Chloe said that but, she was holding that shield in her hand while carrying me on her back, so I couldnt even imagine just how much muscle strength her slender body possessed. But thanks to that I managed to return to fighting condition in one day.

We only progressed by one floor in one day but, compared to the marching before this where we couldnt see the finish line, there was a world of difference feeling-wise even for the nobles and knights. We were progressing faster than before.

The number of Minotauros became a lot the deeper we went. They were ferocious, even so we combined our strength and broke through before suddenly at a certain floor the enemy stopped coming.

Is it a trap?

Nowere close to the deepest part.

Dalton answered Felds question. We found a stair after walking through a straight passage where no enemy appeared. Then a huge iron door entered our eyes after we went down that stair.

The deepest door

Everyone held their breath and fell silent. Elenas voice flowed like the sound of bell in the middle of such mood.

Floor 90the lowest and deepest floor of the dungeon. There wasnt any wall that divided the room there. There was only a huge iron door with fine reliefs that was three meter wide and five meter tall.

Even though it was said that dungeon was reading the thought of dead human, for there to be this kind of door here told us that there was some kind of existence that possessed will in here.

I didnt know whether that existence was the dungeons spirit. But, I had been feeling the gaze of someone since getting deeper into this dungeon.

Then lets go!!

OOOOOOOOOOOO!

Viro and I checked thoroughly for trap, the Dalton called out to everyone and pushed the door open together with Feld and the knights. The heavy door began to slowly open and when it was full opened, behind it was.

Thats

There, three huge humanoid figures were waiting for us.

The two at the left and right were colored blue and red. They must be superior type of Minotauros. And then the remarkably huge black Minotauros that was almost three meter tall standing between them was

Be careful. Its a rank 6Minotauros Murder.

.

BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!