Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Mimic Chase and Demon Siege
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“Uwaaaaaah—!”
A thunderous scream from a middle-aged man echoed throughout the labyrinth.
But Barundel and I couldn’t help him even after hearing it.
We had to move ahead first and disarm the traps in advance.
Cha-clang!
The spear blades protruding from the floor like thorns were swept away by the light sword.
This was the last trap that needed to be cleared.
With this, our role was finished.
What happened next was entirely up to Thompson.
“Uncle, hurry!”
“I’m comingggg—!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Thompson, with earth magic wrapped around his legs, charged forward like a cannonball.
Kieeeek—!
The creature behind him let out a chilling screech as it pursued, but fortunately, it wasn’t closing the distance easily.
“Huff…… Huff……”
Thompson finally arrived, stretching out both arms and pressing his body flat against the wall.
I patted his shoulder reassuringly.
“Uncle, I’m counting on you. You can’t die.”
“You damn kid…… I don’t plan on dying either!”
“This really will be the last time.”
With those words, Barundel and I pulled away from the wall.
Staying in that dead end would only get in Thompson’s way.
We held our breath and waited.
The creature, failing to spot us, shot straight into Thompson’s position.
Soon, its excited screeches rang out.
Kiek! Kiek! Kiek!
“Come on in! You jack-in-the-box bastard!”
Kieeeek!
Whether it worked or not, the mimic charged at full speed.
Its massive head fixed squarely on Thompson.
Kieeeek—!
Its mouth slowly opened, revealing dozens of tightly packed teeth.
That was when Thompson threw himself aside.
Ta-dah!
Crunch!
By a hair’s breadth, the mimic’s bite missed Thompson.
At the same time, its teeth clamped down on the wall blocking its path.
Crackle.
True to its 100% penetration rating, the labyrinth wall—which couldn’t be scratched no matter how hard you hit it—shattered like sliced tofu.
And beyond it appeared the wide-open space we’d been waiting for.
“Th-the exit!”
“Get out first!”
Thompson, having shaken off the mimic, shouted toward us.
Then he taunted it again.
“Did you swallow a slug or something? You glutton bastard! Over here!”
Choosing Thompson as bait had truly been a brilliant decision.
No one was more dedicated to the role than him.
Kieeeek!
Enraged by Thompson’s taunts, the mimic whirled around and charged at him again.
Thanks to that, the now-empty escape route lay open.
“You go first, Barundel. I’ll help Uncle a bit.”
“Got it. Come right out.”
Barundel nodded and crossed through the exit first.
Once I confirmed that, I quickly conjured light attribute orbs.
Whoooong!
“Uncle, this way!”
“Okay!”
At my signal, Thompson made a sharp U-turn, darting between the mimic’s legs.
At the same time, I hurled orbs from afar to keep it from attacking him.
Pew-bang! Pew-pew-bang!
The light orbs struck the creature nonstop, exploding relentlessly.
But once the explosions died down, the mimic looked utterly unscathed.
‘As expected, it’s still a ways off.’
Magic of this power level couldn’t even leave a mark on it.
I’d probably need at least 6th circle to land any meaningful hits.
For now, though, just keeping its mouth shut was enough.
“Let’s go!”
Thompson raced up to me in a flash.
Together, we crossed through the exit I’d created.
The mimic followed right on our heels.
Kieeeek!
But once we were out, it was helpless.
It was a monster confined to the dungeon.
It would probably vanish the moment it stepped outside.
Seeming to know that, it huffed and puffed before turning tail and trudging away after a short while.
Seeing this, Thompson collapsed to the ground in relief.
“Huff…… Huff…… I’m never playing bait again!”
“Better than becoming a lost child in space, right?”
“You did great. A perfect bait job.”
Barundel patted Thompson’s shoulder.
In the midst of it, Thompson asked curiously.
“But is this really okay? Dungeons don’t seem like they’d be designed this sloppily.”
The strategy of deliberately waking the mimic, luring it, then smashing through the wall to carve a straight path.
We’d pulled it off perfectly, but he meant whether such a loophole would actually let you escape.
And as a 10-year Devil Fantasy veteran, my answer was simple.
“No problem.”
It worked.
Dungeons let you out as long as you escaped, no matter the method.
That freedom was why Devil Fantasy was praised for its high degree of liberty.
Besides, it wasn’t purely a loophole.
Not only did you have to dodge the mimic while moving around, but also lure its attacks into the walls.
Not just anyone could pull it off.
Only possible because Thompson could explosively boost his speed.
Swoosh.
As if proving my words, a faint light began to envelop our bodies.
The dungeon deemed cleared, initiating our escape.
As I accepted the light, I recalled what we’d gained here.
We’d stumbled into this dungeon unintentionally, but the rewards exceeded expectations.
‘Three pricey pieces of gear, one stat point, a rare artifact, and 200 gold……’
A satisfying haul for a first clear.
No injuries, and we’d gained dungeon experience to boot.
Of course, that didn’t change my sour mood.
‘……Once we’re out, I’ll track that bastard down first.’
I’d already confirmed it through Thompson and Barundel.
All of this was planned by that suspicious passerby.
But his intentions were still unclear.
What was he trying to accomplish by shoving us into the dungeon?
Flash!
“Ooh…… Finally.”
“We’re back.”
Now it was time to hear the answer straight from him.
***
About three hours after escaping the dungeon unscathed.
We arrived at our temporary shelter from the first day.
But even with it right in front of us, we couldn’t enter.
The reason?
“……What the hell is this?”
Dozens of demons swarmed around the shelter.
The passerby must have returned here……
That confirmed my lingering suspicions.
“As expected, he’s tied to the demons.”
Otherwise, there’d be no reason for them to gather like this.
Unless Kayla had deliberately drawn them……
Wait, Kayla?
“Ah, so that’s it.”
Now I understood why he’d thrown us into the dungeon.
He’d been targeting Kayla from the start.
Or more precisely, any mage would do.
All four of us were mages.
He’d just been waiting for us to split up.
‘Damn it, I should’ve realized when that Valefor guy said he’d come here.’
“Wh-what? What did you figure out?”
“That passerby—he’s a demon kin. Kayla’s in danger right now.”
“What? Kin?”
I nodded instead of answering.
We didn’t have time for explanations.
Any hesitation could put our comrade’s heart at risk.
The silver lining?
Boom—!
Explosions rang out periodically from inside the building, and I could sense mana clashing with demonic energy.
We weren’t too late.
Shing!
“Stick close! We’re breaking through head-on!”
I summoned my light sword and charged.
At once, dozens of demons spotted me and surged forward in a pack.
Kieeeek!
Grrr, grrr!
Grooooar!
They closed in like a noose in seconds.
But I wasn’t worried.
I’d already sized them up.
‘Not catching them—just punching through…… Yeah, we can do it.’
Demon goblins, demon scorpions, demon ants, and so on.
The dozens of demons here were all low-tier demon grunts.
Meaning the three of us could handle them.
“Barundel! Cover the left!”
“Uncle, get behind me! Breaking through comes first!”
I calmly directed the team while reading the situation.
Maybe thanks to our dungeon teamwork.
“Hup!”
Slash-crunch!
“Raaah—!”
Boom-crash!
Barundel and Thompson moved proactively even on simple orders.
The result?
Kieeeek!
A path began to open through the onrushing demons.
We kept the momentum, pressing harder.
Shwick! Shwick……!
Pop! Pop! Splat!
Crackle-zap!
The front-liners’ heads were severed, exploded, and electrocuted one by one.
We broke their encirclement faster than they could close in.
‘Got it!’
We successfully breached the building.
Rumble!
I immediately raised a stone wall to seal the entrance. The demons pounded it belatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Even low-tier demons proved their worth with terrifying force.
With dozens piling on, the wall wouldn’t hold long.
Time to decide.
“I’ll hold it.”
Fortunately—or perhaps predictably—Barundel stepped up before I could speak.
“You sure?”
“These are jobs for veterans. Don’t worry about me—go save Miss Kayla.”
Barundel said as he unpacked his specialized demon-hunting gear.
As expected of a former demon hunter.
“……I’ll be quick. Just hold on.”
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
Trusting him, Thompson and I raced up the stairs.
We reached the second floor.
Amid the thick haze of smoke, the explosive noises continued.
Kawhoom!
“Ugh, can’t see shit…… First-place guy, you got eyes on her?”
No issue for me.
Thanks to constant Enlightenment, Kayla’s mana was crystal clear.
“This way.”
I led Thompson through the smoke.
At the same time, I conjured light orbs and heightened all my senses.
‘……Feel any demonic energy, and I hurl these.’
But contrary to expectations, no demonic energy threatened us.
It was hard to believe a battle was even happening.
Soon enough.
We reached Kayla’s position without incident.
Thud.
“Kayla.”
I grabbed her as she crouched low in the smoke.
Then.
“Oh, you’re here?”
She turned around casually.
With a faint smile.
“You’re late.”
Only then did I notice.
The passerby crushed beneath her.
No—utterly pulped demon kin.