Published at 20th of November 2020 09:13:27 PM
Chapter 144: 144
Evan D . Sherden’s People (6)
Rewinding back to when Leo’s party had just arrived on the 45th floor of the dungeon…
“Keh, as soon as you head down there’s a monster . Everyone get ready for battle . ” Bernard, who had been complaining until they entered the dungeon, changed expressions as soon as he began handing out instructions to the party . He had switched back to when he had led the group as its de facto leader decades ago .
[Kehaaaarl!]
“The monsters in it don’t seem to have changed much?”
“The traits could be different . Mikhail, have you fought that wolf before?” A group of variant wolf-type monsters appeared from the 41st floor onwards . On the 45th floor, an especially vicious type appeared to aim for the lives of explorers . Of course, no one in this party feared monsters that much .
“I have . I can defeat all the monsters here except for the boss . ”
“Then, Mikhail will deal with the monsters on the 45th floor first . If there are too many, then Leo can help . ”
“Good . Thank you for the trap detection, Bernard…I’m curious as to how he’s doing . ” Bron was the name of the bandit who had been with them in the past . As a skilled rogue, he was in charge of guiding the party and dismantling traps, but he lacked combat power . Since he had been there before, Bernard had never served as a guide . He had experience in dismantling traps; however, he hadn’t specialized in it .
“Bernard, are you okay? Evan had said that not all the traps were marked on the map . ”
“Although I’m old, I’m not dead yet . I can do it, so leave it to me…if I fail, don’t resent me . ”
“It’s okay to fail a little, Bernard . We can’t die from something like a dungeon trap!” Bernard smacked Leo’s head as they began to explore in earnest . If he felt like he would fail to dismantle a trap, he would be the first to push Leo in .
“It’s a trap . ”
“Yep, a trap . ”
“Come out, boy . ”
“Oh, don’t step there . Mikhail, there is a discolored part on the right wall . Hit it with your skill and step back . ” Luckily, Bernard’s worries ended quickly . As Evan entered the dungeon and proved himself, Bernard, who had reached the peak of alchemy, was able to detect and dismantle all traps with his excellent observation skills . Like Evan, he had read the map and guided the party on the fastest and surest route . He was a bit slower than Evan, but compared to others, it was undoubtedly fast . Despite all of that, the 45th floor wasn’t an easy place .
“No, damn . There are so many pitfalls!”
“No, that’s not all . The number of monsters has also increased . Has the level of the dungeon as a whole increased?” Leo, who had been thinking about the previous dungeon, spoke with dissatisfaction as Iloin carefully jabbed him . Bernard wore a bitter smile .
“I think this is a whole new place we need to challenge . ”
“…Even now, it seems like you’re breaking slowly through it . ” The heroes were in a serious mood, saying that their skills had declined or that the dungeon had become harder, but Mikhail D . Airok felt it was absurd . He had been slowed down to a crawl exploring on his own, yet now they were positively sprinting through it .
“Our level is 57, so we shouldn’t be bragging here . ”
“It was good to come with Mikhail . It might’ve been really dangerous otherwise . ”
“We’ll proceed step by step . It’s good to glow slowly and surely . ” They were, indeed, heroes . They may have been proud of their past position, but they immediately recognized the changing situation and knew how to adapt to it . Mikhail had to pursue his seniors eagerly . Less than three days passed before they stood before the master battle room of the 45th floor .
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“Oh, the first one I’ve seen in a long time . ”
“To be here in just three days…” A feeling of depression overcame the knight commander as the group reached the place he struggled to find for an entire month alone . But Leo ignored his complicated feelings as he muttered beside him .
“When Evan hears, he’ll laugh at how long it took . Let’s say we’re late because of Mikhail . ”
“That excuse won’t be enough . Let’s catch the floor master before it’s too late . ” Bernard stepped forward and pushed a mana stone into the hole in the door . The door flashed, ready to greet its guests . Each of them prepared for battle as Bernard turned to Mikhail .
“…It’s not us who have to grow here . We will only help you not die, but you have to finish him off . ”
“I’ll try my best . I also wanted to overcome it with my own strength . ” The master of the 45th floor was the Thunder Lycanthrope, a variant elite that possessed endless stamina, power, and a terrible lightning attribute magic . It was one that had tormented explorers for several years .
[These monsters…!]
“Whoo, it’s not as difficult as I’ve heard . ” Yet the reason Mikhail couldn’t go past the 45th floor was only because of its enormous size and its hidden traps, not because he couldn’t handle the floor master .
“Oh, I wasn’t really hurt . ”
“Clearly, the floor master level has also been raised . Well fought, Mikhail . ” The battle ended with Mikhail’s overwhelming victory before Leo, or the others even tried to help .
“I knew it, but he’s more useful than I thought!”
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“Thank you, Leo . ” Mikhail responded humbly to Leo’s praise . He was just happy to explore the dungeon together with Leo .
“Then, let’s start exploring in earnest! Bernard, let’s go!”
“Okay, boy . Don’t rush in like that . ” Bernard tapped Mikhail on the shoulder and smiled at Leo . Iloin looked a bit uneasy, remembering what Bernard had left with Evan . Her heart pounded, anxiety welling up of the fear that she desperately wished wouldn’t become a reality . She swallowed her fear, pressing it far down .
***
However, from start to finish, their dungeon expedition ended successfully without anyone getting hurt . It was natural, as they were some of the strongest in the world, challenging the dungeon with a precise map . Bernard’s guiding ability grew as he went further down, and the combat power of the heroes quickly became stronger as they regained the feelings of their heyday . The young hero Mikhail also grew incredibly well so that no monster could dare block their path .
“Huh, I thought I could go further . ”
“Sorry, Leo . Because of my lack of ability…” When they cleared the 60th floor and grew to level 61, their expedition was over . Although he had also grown to level 61, Mikhail felt that his contribution had been lacking .
“That’s right, boy . Didn’t you promise to go up to only the 60th floor in the first place?”
“I think it will be smooth sailing until the 65th floor…well, it can’t be helped . ” Leo inspected his stronger body and nodded regrettably .
“See, Bernard . There were no problems . ”
“You were too off guard . ”
“It was hard . Without you, we never would have been able to explore the dungeon like this . ”
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“Without Bernard, Leo would’ve died at least once…no, five times . ” Iloin and Aria approached Bernard to thank him . At Ilion’s expression, Aria and Leo groaned .
“But Bernard, you are very young . ”
“I think I can understand your view a bit better now . ”
“To think four levels has such a change . Now let’s leave . I want to soak in hot water . ”
“I’ve really gotten a lot younger…” Before taking their leave, the party reported to the Marquis using their magic communication tool . If they just left, the world would be rocked by the news that the heroes had cleared the 60th floor .
“They’re saying we can leave now . ”
“I want to soak in the bath . ”
“You’re going to the Brothers’ Bathhouse like this, Leo? First, put up a request with the Marquis . ” Leo was acting like a child, excited to leave, and Aria tapped the back of her husband . Iloin watched them with a clear smile before turning to Bernard, her cheeks red .
“What, Iloin?”
“Nothing, Bernard…well, when we go out, let’s drink elven tea together . ”
“I like that . ” Bernard nodded and smiled faintly . Iloin felt a brief spike of anxiety again at the smile, but the dungeon exploration was over, meaning Bernard wouldn’t be in any danger .
It was a useless worry, after all .