Chapter 313
Chapter: 313
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 313
>Chapter Title: Under the Surface (4)
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Sungjin's party arrived at the boss room in an instant.
Unlike the 'Orc King's Labyrinth' with its branching paths, this time they could tackle the dungeon by the book, racing down a single straight path.
[The rankings are solid, and if things go well, we might even snag first place again.]
Dexter said as he inspected his spear this way and that.
Their time challenge record so far had been impressively solid. Dexter's strategy had played a big part, but Sungjin's time shave at the dungeon entrance had no doubt helped too.
[As I explained earlier, this boss uses a variety of mental magic. Among them, there are three ultimate skills that can drop a user to near-death in one hit. So everyone, make sure not to enter the witch's attack range...]
Dexter trailed off mid-explanation and glanced back at Sungjin. The baby goat looked utterly relaxed, without a speck of tension.
"Why?"
"Uh, nothing..."
Dexter shook his head and picked up the key.
'Do we really need a detailed briefing? That guy probably already knows everything about the boss.'
On top of that, they had the overwhelming instant-kill on their side.
[...Let's go!]
The boss room key slotted in, and the massive stone door ground open.
Drurrrr-
A dull rumble of internal mechanisms accompanied a chilling wind seeping through the crack.
Whoooo...
Then came a gloomy sound, impossible to tell if it was a moan or a wail.
Gray dust billowed up as the massive dungeon boss, crouched until now, slowly rose to its feet.
[...!]
Finally facing the party head-on was a gaunt, enormous woman like a mummy. Her face, powdered ghostly white with dark hollows around her eyes, was grotesquely corpse-like, as if rotting away.
[...B-rank boss, Hexenzabat of Regret.]
Gulp.
Dexter muttered as he swallowed dryly. He was unwittingly trembling and stepping back.
Who could blame him?
The ominous aura radiating from Hexenzabat was different from the fierce presence Orc King Raigas had exuded. This was a creeping terror that slowly infiltrated the body, suffocating like drowning.
-Thunderstorm bon...
Creak.
Swaying like a broken doll, Hexenzabat advanced toward the party. With each step, thick dust rose from her moth-eaten muslin dress covered in tattered lace.
-You who mercilessly slay this world, and cruelly resurrect it from death itself. What is it you seek, to come to this place filled only with regret?
A voice like scraping rusty metal, deeply unsettling.
It was probably some main story dialogue.
But even as she recited her lines, Hexenzabat gave off a strong sense of wrongness.
Sungjin observed the boss's movements carefully and soon pinpointed the source of that unease.
'Eyes...'
Right. Hexenzabat's eyes, brimming with deep intellect, were fixed straight on Sungjin. Just like with Raigas, this was no ordinary boss mob reaction.
Realizing this, Sungjin stepped forward.
[I'll handle it. No need to drag this out.]
The bosses' strange reactions. Until now, he'd chalked it up to Dark Yustitia's doing.
But even with her completely powerless now, if they were still acting this way, there might be some fundamental other reason behind their odd behavior.
[That works.]
[Then we leave it to you, Lee Sungjin.]
The party immediately caught his meaning. They were no doubt recalling Orc King Raigas's pitiful end.
As everyone retreated to the boss room entrance, Sungjin glanced at Owen's face.
Sure enough, the face looking back at him was rigidly tense, unlike his usual self.
'No way he's suddenly scared of fire now...'
This was the guy who had charged at an orc mage hurling massive fireballs without batting an eye.
And that wasn't all. Just before coming here, hadn't they sat around a campfire discussing strategy? Sungjin couldn't even guess the reason for his behavior.
-No more to lose, yet deep grudges linger in my heart. If you truly mean to shoulder this world, you must bear its resentment, regrets, and rage as well.
Meanwhile, Hexenzabat had drawn quite close, reciting her lines with utter insincerity. Sungjin hesitated briefly, then steeled himself.
'Yeah. Just 7 seconds.'
He'd figure out the Owen thing later.
For now, quick and clean: kill the boss.
"...Lava zone."
The moment the short incantation left his lips—
Fwoosh!
The entire boss room, save for the entrance, was engulfed in crimson lava. A cheat AoE with no range limit.
Clunk!
Hexenzabat's HP dropped 30% in an instant. Trapped completely in the flames, the old witch stared blankly at Sungjin, not even attempting her vaunted magic.
-Merciless kindness...
2 seconds.
Seemingly abandoning her scripted lines entirely, Hexenzabat curled her lips and addressed Sungjin directly. The black grin twisting across her pale face was utterly eerie.
-Grieve not so.
4 seconds.
And yet, her form stirred an oddly poignant sadness in Sungjin. The hem of her thin dress, consumed by flames, fluttered like wings.
-What awaits at this end, now I kn—
7 seconds.
HP hit zero.
Fwaaah.
The boss dissolved into light and vanished completely, the boiling lava on the floor evaporating in a flash.
The boss room stood empty, echoing hollowly as if it had always been so.
[.......]
Sungjin and the party stared silently at the empty air where Hexenzabat had been.
They'd cleared the dungeon without a hint of crisis, but none showed any joy.
[...A truly strange feeling.]
Hatasu Titi finally spoke softly.
[They're just components making up the dungeon. And yet, somehow, I sometimes feel like they're truly alive.]
Gulup nodded in agreement.
[I understand. Me too strange! Witnessing boss's death makes depths of my insides rumble darkly!]
At this point, Sungjin grew intensely curious.
What the hell were Gulup's insides? Were they not just digestive organs? Or maybe a translation issue?
[Alright, enough pointless talk, everyone.]
Clack!
Sungjin clacked his hooves together, snapping the strangely somber party back to attention.
[Check your inventories properly. The rewards should be pretty good this time.]
They'd grilled Yustitia personally, and their ranking was bound to be high.
Now was the time to see the results.
* * *
[First place! We got first again!]
Dexter shouted excitedly, peering into his status window.
[And a solid lead over second? Our record's safe for a while!]
An expected outcome. They'd taken down the boss in a mere 7 seconds.
Their rewards were lavish as a result.
[Golden Lion Shield! It outclasses the Red Lion series—the best defensive gear out there!]
Shield warrior Hatasu Titi yelped in surprise.
[Golden Lion Bow! The ultimate bow! No issues using it. Now Dexter can enhance it!]
Ranger Gulup danced, wriggling his limbs.
[Oh, Golden Lion Axe! A rare weapon after so long?]
Axe warrior Owen brightened a bit upon receiving a good weapon.
[Hm? But...]
Dexter, who had been grinning along with his teammates' hauls, suddenly frowned.
He peered seriously into his inventory, then pulled out a gleaming golden staff.
[Golden Lion Staff...]
That's when the party sensed something off.
[What's this? Does this drop this often normally?]
[I heard it's hard to get even one a day. They sell out the second they hit the auction house.]
[And it always dodges the class of the user who got it, annoyingly...]
[What? How's it matching perfectly every time? Bug?]
The party huddled, murmuring, then turned to the baby goat in unison.
Just then, Sungjin was pulling a golden sword from his inventory.
[Oh, Golden Lion Sword! Top-tier weapons really are different! Unenhanced, and it's still way better than a full-enhanced beginner sword?]
Sungjin, beaming happily, suddenly noticed the stares and turned.
[What? Why? Huh?]
[.......]
[Don't worry about stupid stuff. We got first in time challenge, right? This much is only fair.]
R-Really?
The party tilted their heads at Sungjin's shameless attitude.
But they soon got absorbed in their own inventories. The rest of the rewards were just as satisfying.
[All rare potions. So many potions instead of junk! This'll keep the clan lands safe for a while!]
[Weird? Mine's all bound weapons? Fine by me! Taking them back to share with comrades!]
[Really? I got tons of cash items.]
Only Dexter, versed in game common sense, eyed Sungjin suspiciously.
But Sungjin had no time for him. He was in the middle of handing something to Owen after a moment's thought.
[Here. Take this. Got something weird; I don't need it.]
[...Huh?]
Owen, engrossed in his rewards, extended his hand without suspicion. Feeling a cold ice lump, he gripped it and blinked dumbly.
[What's th—urk?!]
Casually checking the item info, Owen jolted and let out a weird screech.
What? That lame reaction?
[Th-this is...!]
[What's wrong, Owen?]
[What? Lemme see.]
The silent villains crowded in curiously. Dexter, glancing at Owen's hand, gasped.
"Wait, Lee Sungjin! Why give that to him—gah!"
Dexter, blurting in panic, soon rolled on the floor after Sungjin stomped his foot hard.
"Arghhh...!"
Meanwhile, the silent villains shouted excitedly.
[Look! It's a real Ice Heart!]
[No way—that legendary class change item?!]
[How the hell?]
Everyone looked to the baby goat for explanation. But Sungjin just shrugged nonchalantly.
[Yeah, it actually dropped. I don't need it, but don't you, Owen? You're meeting a goddess, right?]
Owen gazed at Sungjin with trembling eyes.
[Y-you're really... giving something this precious to me...?]
What? I said it's useless to me.
Sungjin waved it off, frowning. The silent villains patted Owen's shoulder, offering congratulations.
[Good for you, Owen. Now you can finally meet the goddess!]
[Congratulations! I thought you'd never achieve your goal! I repent!]
Even so, Owen looked around at Hatasu Titi and Gulup, still in disbelief.
[We all cleared the dungeon together... Is it really okay for me to take this?]
[Lee Sungjin obtained it. He naturally has the right to dispose of it.]
[Correct! I no class change. No goddess meet.]
At those selfless replies, Owen bowed his head, deeply moved.
[Everyone... thank you!]
With that, Owen hurriedly manipulated his quest window to meet the goddess. He vanished from the spot without a trace.
Completing the pre-accepted class change quest had auto-teleported him to the reward zone.
He'd probably return to his original spot after meeting her. So Sungjin and the silent villains sat in the boss room, waiting.
[Truly a good thing.]
[Honest confession: I thought Owen would never leave this place.]
[Urgh... ow, my foot!]
But moments later, Owen reappeared in the boss room—and his expression was off.
[Owen! Met the goddess?]
[What happened? Why the face?]
"Sniff..."
Owen clamped his mouth shut, refusing to answer. Even tearing up, his appearance left stunned Sungjin grinding his teeth.
'What? That Yustitia bastard! I told her to fulfill the conditions properly! What did she do to him?'
But it was Sungjin's misunderstanding.
"Finally..."
Owen's voice trembled as he spoke. Forgetting mental speech entirely, his voice brimmed with agitation.
"Finally I can go! Quest complete, and I got a new one!"
...What?
As everyone blinked in confusion, Owen lifted his head and shouted joyfully.
"It's a quest to the imperial capital! You know what that means? I can finally go home!"