Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Witch's Garden (1)
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Red Portal. A portal leading to a hidden stage within DAT.
‘I’ve already spotted three since entering DAT.’
Once on the 1st Floor.
Once in the 4th Floor Rabbit Hole.
And this made the third Red Portal.
Regin calmly surveyed his companions.
“There’s a total of seven of us.”
“That’s right.”
“I don’t know the exact level of the 7th Floor Red Portal, but…… with our group, we should have plenty of firepower.”
The archer gazed at the Red Portal with confidence.
Regin agreed.
To be honest, running into El Silva’s group at the last minute had been lucky.
‘With just the three of us, it wouldn’t have been easy.’
Put nicely, not easy. Objectively speaking, it might have been outright impossible.
Take the 4th Floor’s hidden boss, Skelji, for example.
Even with Alice, it hadn’t been a walk in the park—and she was a mage on the cusp of Tier 3.
“Regin Petrichio.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know anything about the 7th Floor Red Portal? You knew it could be found through Hog, so it seems like you have some intel.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I know everything. It’s all from books.”
“Hmm.”
“Hog was really just a shot in the dark for me too. I didn’t have any certainty it would work.”
He needed to keep his words minimal.
They were allies, sure. But no need to sow confusion with unverified info.
“Let’s head in. I’ll explain the details inside. I need to see it for myself to give you the full picture anyway.”
Regin led Greg and Seria into the portal.
Swoosh—
A red glow enveloped them, along with the portal’s signature sensation.
When he opened his eyes, they were already inside the Red Portal.
Greg let out a hollow laugh as he took in the scene ahead.
“……Didn’t you say it was a garden?”
“It’s nicknamed the Witch’s Garden.”
“What garden.”
A chill ran through him for a moment, and Greg patted his chest.
“This is a graveyard.”
The space they entered via the Red Portal.
The 7th Floor’s hidden stage resembled a massive cemetery, with tombstones jutting up everywhere.
“And visibility’s crap. What’s with all these colorful fogs—green and yellow?”
Green and yellow mists blanketed the surroundings thickly.
‘Seeing it in person makes it even creepier.’
Among all hidden stages, this one had a reputation for being the most eerie.
‘That’s why people avoid it unless they have to.’
Places that rarely see visitors have their reasons.
* * *
“Everyone’s in. All seven have arrived.”
El Silva scanned the group with sharp eyes.
Regin nodded, relieved.
‘We haven’t exceeded the capacity.’
Every hidden stage had an entry limit.
Like the Rabbit Hole where they took down Skelji—four people.
Fortunately, this one allowed up to fifteen.
He didn’t know if anyone was already inside, but all seven making it in was good news.
‘It means we can maintain our full strength. Our party all getting in is a relief too.’
He’d worried someone might get locked out.
That’s why Regin, Greg, and Seria had gone first.
If the limit bit them, he’d planned to make it El Silva’s side that took the hit.
With all seven in, no need for those headaches. Now it was just about the next move.
Swoosh—
Regin hung Phlaxis’s pendant around his neck and looked at El Silva.
“El Silva.”
“Yes.”
“Now that everyone’s here, I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you know anything about the mist flowing around us right now?”
“……Not at all.”
El Silva glanced at the archer and the rest of the party, but they all shook their heads.
Green and yellow mists layered over the white fog.
It was a pattern Regin recognized.
“We have two choices.”
“Two?”
“One is to follow the green mist.”
“And you know what happens if we do?”
“Yes. Following the green mist leads to fighting monsters as enemies. Mostly orcs, from what I’ve heard.”
“……Orcs. Then what about the yellow?”
“Can you see these tombstones?”
Regin gestured to the surrounding graves and continued.
“Follow the yellow, and you’ll face whoever’s buried in them. Skeletons…… but ones who were powerful in life.”
Fight living monsters.
Or fight the tombstone owners.
A hidden stage where you could choose your path.
“For the record, I recommend the yellow path.”
Both had pros and cons, but this one appealed more to Regin.
“You can farm the relics buried with them.”
If luck held, you’d score even more valuable loot.
* * *
Rustle—
Regin and the group began moving cautiously.
Yellow mist stretched ahead.
El Silva ultimately decided on the yellow path.
The party members silently followed their leaders’ agreement.
“No way you could solo this place. Who knew there’d be something creepier than the 4th Floor.”
The archer nodded gravely at Greg’s words.
“Agreed. Can barely see ahead. You’re Greg, right?”
“That’s me.”
“You might not get it, but as an archer, I’m lost right now.”
“Is that so?”
“Seria, was it? An assassin would sympathize. Eyes and ears—doesn’t matter how sharp your senses, nothing gets through.”
Seria nodded at the archer’s words.
Archers and assassins had keener senses than most explorers.
In ambush-prone spots, it was their job to warn the party early.
But with vision blocked and noise muffled, their strengths were useless.
“Regin Petrichio. Any chance of ambushes? I can’t warn you in this state.”
“No clue on my end either.”
“Hmm.”
The archer scanned around uneasily.
Up till now, he’d been the party’s danger scout.
But the fog neutered him.
He seemed frustrated with himself.
“I’ll clear the path. Everyone, try to relax.”
El Silva was the only one maintaining calm.
With the archer sidelined, she declared she’d force the way through.
“Yeah. Our leader’s word is gold. That back’s as solid as they come.”
The archer beamed proudly at his leader’s words, eyeing Regin’s group.
The party satisfaction seemed high.
‘A group that covers each other’s weaknesses, centered on leader El Silva and the archer.’
Regin chuckled inwardly.
It was a solid-looking party.
‘But belief and guts don’t cover everything.’
Regin paused his mana scan and spoke up.
“Let’s stop here.”
“See something?”
“Not seeing. Feeling.”
Swoosh—
He reached out, and amid the yellow mist stood a single tombstone.
“Unstable mana flow.”
The archer examined the stone and spoke.
“……Primo?”
“You can read it?”
“Ancient language. Not elf-level, but I can make it out.”
The archer stared, then spoke slowly.
“Name rings a bell. Yeah, from ancient histories.”
“Ancient histories?”
“Some general-level knight, I think…… Right. Filik Primo!”
Crack!!
That instant.
Grrrrowl—!!
Skeletons burst from beneath the stone, shattering the tombstone.
“Battle stations!!”
At Regin’s shout, everyone drew weapons.
They gritted their teeth, facing the foes.
“So that’s what it means. Fighting the tombstone’s owner.”
Amid regular skeletons stood one massive one.
Its bone size, its weapon.
No ordinary soldier.
Filik Primo. The tombstone’s owner, per the archer.
“Not just skeleton grunts, but fighting the bones of that Primo from the histories?”
“Probably. Even just bones…… he’ll have his old power.”
The Witch’s Garden wasn’t for planting flowers.
‘A graveyard collecting bones that should’ve stayed in kingdoms or towers.’
From here, fight the dead.
Whoever, whenever they died.
Grrowl—
“Generals come with soldiers, huh.”
“Stronger than regular grunts.”
“Let’s take them down one by one.”
No retreating once hostility showed.
Even against a named skeleton.
The group swung weapons swiftly. Regin pulled a scroll.
Crunch!
Slash!!
Gladiators’ swords and Greg’s axe pulverized joints.
Archer’s bow and Seria’s daggers dropped them one by one.
Fwoosh—
Regin’s Flame Ball set charging foes ablaze.
* * *
Slash!!
Over five skeleton soldiers. Normally overwhelming, but not this time.
‘Numbers.’
Four frontline fighters made the difference.
Filik Primo swung his massive gladius sword, showing off power, but El Silva held him alone.
Flanking soldiers? Two gladiators and Greg handled them fine.
‘El Silva’s a traditional gladiator line—Lord Warrior type.’
Regin observed El Silva’s party during the fight.
Sudden alliance meant neither knew the other’s strength.
El Silva was indeed gladiator-class, as guessed.
‘Skilled swordplay, but what stands out more…… is that ironclad body.’
Not for nothing a Lord Warrior.
Shield users usually, yet she tanked frontline barehanded.
Later came mana shields for areas.
And skills absorbing damage on top—but she hadn’t reached that yet.
‘Still, qualified leader.’
Kept the front solid, letting others strike freely.
Makes sense—she’d solo-blocked a Skeleton Knight on 6th Floor.
“Your name’s Greg?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll make an opening. Hit it hard.”
“Got it!”
El Silva pinned Primo. Nearby skeletons cleared.
She signaled Greg for a joint strike.
He lunged at Primo.
“Sorry for killing you twice!”
Crunch!
Primo’s skull, exposed from clashing with El Silva, took Greg’s axe.
The body shattered.
“Phew…….”
Greg removed his helmet, wiping sweat.
Everyone thought the fight done.
“It’s not over.”
Grrowl—
From a short distance, through thick yellow mist, another sound.
“Damn. What now?”
“Viking sword…… Was this guy a seafarer in life?”
“Even has a gun?”
All eyes turned to Regin.
“We gotta clear every tombstone around?”
“No. I mentioned it’s called the Witch’s Garden.”
“Yeah.”
“Truth is, catch the witch, and it’s done. Of course…….”
Regin recalled countless DAT skeletons he’d faced.
“Till then, fight every tombstone owner we meet.”