CH 224

"We have finally reached the 10th floor!"

"You sure never lose your energy, Lana. Not like I don't understand"

It's like how playing games makes you feel better or how, unarguably, girls after eating sweets are like fully charged battery.

At around 2 p.m., we finally reached the 10th floor, the goal we had decided on.

The reason why we're only on the 10th floor even though it's already 2 p.m. is naturally because of how vast the int-low dungeon actually is. Just exploring one floor takes a lot of time.

But of course, we have also taken it slow for the time being to get ourselves familiarized with the monsters and traps of our first Intermediate dungeon exploration.

That made me recall my time when I played the game <Dungeon Activity> for the first time. Another reason is we also discovered many treasure chests in our exploration.

As mentioned earlier, treasure chests began to spawn in the dead alley from Intermediate dungeon and onwards. Based on my rule of thumb that this one might be a "hit", we have managed to score three treasure chests.

Well, all of them were Wooden chest though. Incidentally, we didn't chance upon any traps. The hidden doors were also safely opened.

There are two hidden doors up to the 10th floor and we also succeed in getting them. Incidentally, the number of silver chests were two. In one of the silver chests was the map of this dungeon. We found it on the second floor.

From one other treasure chest, we got an <Endurance rod>. It can be used as a fishing rod when we are in the mood for fishing some day.

Harvesting is also advancing smoothly. It was true when it was said that this dungeon's popularity is among the lowest, so there are quite a lot of harvest points that are left untouched. Or rather, those locations look like no one has checked them out for ages. So we got lucky.

Normally speaking, this dungeon isn't that tough to clear as long as one raises the level of their character and with plenty of harvest location, it's an excellent dungeon in my opinion but for others it may not be, probably because there aren't that many jobs that high status.

That's why it has been recognised as an unpopular dungeon. It might become a popular one if the first years decide to check it out in future but for now, it's for us to grab. The amount we are getting is explosive using the <Gentle scoop> which has the effect of doubling the harvesting amount.

"Umm, Zephyr-kun, you said there's a boss on the 10th floor, but where is it? I don't see any boss room"

Hannah asked curiously as she surveyed the surroundings.

"Oh. As I said earlier, there is a field boss. You will not find any place that looks like a boss room. The boss is most likely near the entrance that leads to the next floor as the gatekeeper."

The 10th floor we finally arrived on was just like any other floor we have explored. Only the deepest space has the boss room and safety area. And the floor before that is the same as the others.

It's just a bit hard since one has to explore the floor normally to find and battle field boss. As expected of the Intermediate dungeon.

I unfolded the map that I got earlier from the hidden room and showed them the area where the boss is most likely to see.

"I really want to fight the field boss! Hurry up and get going!"

"Hold on, Lana. Didn't I tell you the field boss would be at the end of this floor? We're beginning with exploring this floor first"

"But it's hard for me to wait till then! There shouldn't be any problem by skipping the exploration of a single floor, no?"

Ohh, Lana's selfishness is finally baring its fangs after a long time. No, maybe she's relatively always like that? To be honest, Lana's selfishness doesn't seem much of a selfishness to me recently.

Hmm, maybe I have also become the prey of her charm, just like Ester and Shizu? I intently stared at Lana.

"... Wh, what?"

Lana flinched back seeing my stare, her long silver hair fluttering.

Certainly, Lana is charming, cheerful and her smile is too adorable. Apparently there exist groups like <Princess' royal guards> or <The regiment that protects His Highness's smile>, there's simply no end to the people that have been numbered by Lana's charm.

She has a kind of mysterious charm in her. Rather, I think her charm level has increased by a notch from our meeting?

"Well, fine"

"Really? Yay! Hurry up, Ester, Sierra, Hannah let's go"

I guess I am also one of those people who has been enamored by her smile. Ultimately, I gave in to her request. It seems I can no longer complain to Ester and Shizu that they spoil her.

Not like I want to complain seeing her face full of smiles from joy as she urged everyone to move quickly. Oof, maybe I slackened too much, don't relax, Zephyr!

"H, Hey Lana, not that way. Field boss is in that direction"

But her clumsy side hasn't changed a bit and she mistook the direction.

Her face turned beet red when I pointed that out and hurriedly came back.

"I, I was just a bit confused. But it's safe now since I will not forget it"

"What's with that excuse?"

And I think you still don't know. For now, I pointed out the correct path to Lana who briskly advanced in that direction. Maybe she's trying to hide her embarrassment.

"I think we should also move on"

"Yeah. Lana doesn't know the route probably"

With Sierra's words as a signal, we also quickly chased after Lana. And as I have guessed, she soon returned back to ask about the direction.

Don't take the lead if you don't know the route, Lana. Her klutz tsundere nature never changes huh.

After moving in a straight line for 15 minutes and just when we had finished the Nth battle as our warm-up, we encountered that.

"Z, Zephyr. Is the boss usually so scary?"

I wonder where her earlier enthusiasm disappeared to, as Lana looked slightly terrified staring at the boss.

More like, she's scared seeing its huge size. The boss was much bigger than I assumed.

"So this is the field boss you have talked about. I wonder if it's the boss of Saugus we fought on our way"

"Full marks, Sierra. The boss charge attack's might is much more than Saugus, so be careful. Because only it's offensive ability are scarily powerful"

The field boss we are now facing at the 10th floor is the boss monster version of Saugus, <Jura • Saugus>.

We are currently far away from the boss but it will begin to attack actively if we get close to it. Another thing to note about the boss is it can use skills unlike the other small fries so it's important to be careful about it.

After all, skills are unusually strong unlike the standard attacks.

I inform the details including its skill and behavioral pattern to other members.

"I see. Very well"

"Then we're going to challenge it as soon as everyone is ready. Lana, please heal everyone"

"Leave it to me. <Healing Prayer>!"

After completing the preparation, we moved to challenge the field boss.