Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Did We Get It?
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Ian set up camp at the rest area midway through the dungeon.
Though it was an abandoned dungeon now, it had once been actively explored for quite some time.
Spots like this for camping and resting midway were still intact here and there.
Everyone set down their gear there and lit a fire using the leftover firewood.
"Still not ready?"
"Not yet."
Rin swallowed hard in front of the pot as she asked, and Tanya shook her head.
A small bonfire crackled away, the pot of stew simmering slowly atop it.
Compared to their usual expeditions, this one had run longer than expected, and they'd packed their gear meticulously, so they hadn't brought many cooking tools.
Still, it was more than enough for simple meals during a campout like this.
Everyone huddled around the small bonfire flickering up from the dungeon's oppressive darkness, silently watching the dancing flames.
Tanya, who had been quietly stirring the pot, soon stopped.
Everyone noticed and turned to look at her.
"It's done."
Tanya nodded as she handed out bowls one by one.
"Haa... finally."
"I made it as fast as I could."
"No, that's just how it feels..."
Mika carefully took the bowl Tanya offered.
The hot warmth seeping into her hands slowly melted away the tension and stress built up in the thick darkness.
"Haa..."
Until now, they'd only snacked on portable rations bit by bit in the passages.
This was their first real break since entering the dungeon, so everyone let out heavy sighs and gradually regained their composure.
"How long has it been?"
"A day, right?"
"Isn't it two?"
As they rested and recovered their strength, the team members with a bit of leisure began chatting around the bonfire.
Deep inside a dungeon with no light at all.
In an environment where regular rests or meals were impossible, their sense of time had grown hazy.
A day—or maybe two.
They had no idea how long they'd been wandering or how much further they had to go.
Rin murmured as she gazed past the bonfire into the darkness beyond the passage.
"Now I get why we had to practice beforehand."
The monsters emerging from the dungeon weren't anything special.
Apart from Lia's expression growing darker by the minute, they were just ordinary foes—so unremarkable that she wondered if this really counted as prep for the labyrinth.
But the dungeon's darkness was definitely different.
Limited supplies. Impenetrable blackness ahead.
They had no choice but to press into the unknown, relying solely on that one small flame.
If they hadn't gotten this experience beforehand, things would've been far tougher in the labyrinth.
"Think we can handle the labyrinth okay?"
Rin voiced the sudden doubt that crossed her mind.
"I'm treating this place like the labyrinth right now. If we keep it up like this, we'll be fine."
"Really?"
Hearing Ian's reply, Rin pondered with a hint of worry.
...Well, it always worked out somehow before, so it'll probably be okay this time too.
For all her serious fretting, she arrived at the same old nothing-to-worry-about conclusion as always.
After finishing their meal, while everyone took a brief rest, Ian checked the map he'd been making.
He already had a rough idea of the dungeon's size, so he could estimate about how much was left.
"Let's push just a little more. We're almost there."
He didn't think it'd be easy. The labyrinth would be way worse than this.
Everyone nodded to Ian, thinking the same.
Rin urgently dodged to the side and shouted.
"Lia! Draw its attention!"
Lia's sword slashed through the air, glowing red.
The massive bug monster in front of her turned its gaze toward Lia with a disgusting screech.
It had appeared right after they entered what Ian had called the final room.
They'd dealt with the nearby minions without much trouble, but this one oversized bug remained.
Far larger than the other bugs they'd faced in this dungeon.
And it had an unnaturally tough carapace to boot.
Probably the leader of the bug pack or something like that.
"Lia... still?"
"Hold on!"
While Lia—who'd gone from gloomy to completely stone-faced—held the giant bug's attention, Rin slipped around to its rear.
"Ei!"
Minimizing her footsteps and presence, she lunged at its exposed back.
Aiming for the opening created as it attacked Lia, Rin thrust her sword.
Clang!
But Rin's blade failed to pierce the monster's hard shell and bounced right off.
She'd targeted gaps several times already, but it hadn't taken any real damage—like now.
"Swords aren't working on this thing!"
As the bug whipped around at the rear attack, a panicked Rin backpedaled frantically and yelled.
Watching from behind, Mika asked Ian.
"Barrier...?"
"Let's watch a bit longer. Battle might drag out."
Mika nodded at Ian's response, then stared ahead, ready to cast her barrier at any moment.
"Rin! Just get behind me!"
"Hold on, it feels like it'll work... One more shot!"
"Lia! Catch!"
"......"
While everyone dashed about, shouting, fighting, and covering each other.
Mika quietly observed the battle from the very back alongside Ian.
"Ah, it landed!"
Rin's sword—circling nearby and probing for the back—finally grazed a seam in the carapace, slicing shallowly into the weak spot.
Kieeeek!
The monster rampaged even harder after the hit.
Rin's strike had connected, but it was far too shallow to count as solid damage.
"I think I've got it now! Lia, once more!"
"Wait, Rin! We're low on noise grenades!"
Ian watched from behind and muttered under his breath.
"Heavy armor's a problem... firepower's coming up short."
Mika, standing beside him, glanced at Ian upon hearing the mutter.
Firepower lacking...?
Mika whispered unconsciously.
Meanwhile, Ian turned to her.
"Mika. Wall up front on my signal."
"Ah, got it!"
Mika snapped to attention and cast her prepped barrier spell.
A transparent wall sprang up in front of Lia, briefly partitioning the monster from their side.
Its durability was still low, so it wouldn't hold long—but it bought enough time to halt the fight and regroup.
"Everyone, grab these!"
"These are..."
In the meantime, Tanya handed Rin and Lia the items Ian had ordered her to prep.
Flame bombs and oil vials.
No explanation needed—everyone got it.
──!!
Lia bound the monster's legs first, then Rin's oil vial sailed in.
Movement restraints followed, along with several flame bombs striking home.
With all its minions wiped out and alone, the giant bug offered no resistance and burned in place.
The perfect combo against high-defense foes that shrugged off normal attacks.
"Whew. Should've led with this."
Rin retreated, wiping sweat from her brow as she muttered.
It was a brute that swords could barely scratch, but apparently it couldn't stop itself from burning.
With its movement locked, they dragged it out until the blazing monster finally collapsed.
"Did we get it...?"
"Rin, what're you doing."
"No... they always spring back up right when you drop your guard."
Rin stared at the crackling, burning bug for a while, then chucked some stones at it.
Her words made everyone needlessly uneasy; they all warily eyed the pyre.
Meanwhile, after checking its HP to confirm the kill, Ian headed to the altar at the room's far end.
It would've originally held the dungeon's treasure, but this place had long been stripped bare. Nothing of value remained.
Instead, a metal box sat atop the altar.
Ian opened it to find a dusty guild token inside.
No. 17.
Ian pocketed it and placed the guild-issued No. 8 token inside instead.
The 17 was what he needed to bring back for passing the exam.
The 8 was for whoever came next for their test.
With the item secured, Ian turned back to the team.
"We're done. Time to head out."
"For real?"
"Haa..."
His words brought sighs of relief from everyone.
It felt like they'd spent nearly a week down there.
"How long till we're out?"
"Exit won't take much time—just hang in there."
They had the map for the way out, and monsters rarely respawned in cleared paths, so the return would be much quicker.
After the final fight, everyone sat briefly to catch their breath before nodding at Ian's call and rising.
Even if they rested, it was way better outside the dungeon.
"Outside..."
Everyone dragged their weary steps up and out of the dungeon.
They knew the route, so no getting lost—and luckily, no monster run-ins.
Unlike the trek in, the way out really didn't take long at all.
"Hua..."
Cool outside air brushed across their faces.
Startled by the sudden rush of fresh air, everyone slowly drew deep breaths.
It was morning; the sun was rising in the distance.
They squinted and shielded their faces from the sunlight after days without it.
The end of the grueling dungeon delve.
And with it, their C-rank promotion.