Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Hor's Amulet
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"......Beautiful."
After the golden light that left everyone spellbound finally faded.
Kayla, who had poked her head into the box, muttered softly.
"This...... isn't this an artifact?"
"What?"
At her words, I quickly approached the box.
Just as she said, something that looked like an artifact was sitting plainly inside.
'This is.'
A rectangular stone tablet inscribed with what looked like ancient script.
Its design was so unique that I recognized it at a glance.
'Hor's Amulet!'
The Heroic-grade artifact [Hor's Amulet].
An artifact that blocks one mental attack, something the dungeon monster 'Hor' always carried.
'To pull this right away......?'
Honestly, I couldn't help but be shocked.
Unlike most artifacts that were artificially infused with supernatural power, [Hor's Amulet] could only be obtained by defeating the monster itself.
In simple terms, it was a rare item that rarely came up for sale, no matter how much money you had.
On top of that.
'How many mental-type artifacts are even out there?'
In [Devil Fantasy], there weren't many creatures capable of mental attacks.
In other words, low demand meant low supply.
And now, Kayla had drawn one of those rare mental-type artifacts.
I glanced down at my hand.
There, the silver ring, now free of rust, was quietly showing off its sheen.
'Come to think of it, this one too......'
The experience ring that had nearly been tossed away.
If Kayla hadn't appraised it on a whim.
But that was just the start.
What about the reason she became a mage?
Born in District 7, the so-called trash heap, she naturally awakened her traits and mana without anyone teaching her.
And then she met me and learned how to wield it.
At this point, the thought came naturally.
'Is she...... blessed with incredible luck?'
There are always those people in life.
The kind who succeed effortlessly just by touching something, always hitting at least a solid win whenever luck is involved...... born under a lucky star.
Unlike me, who got isekai'd while safely holed up playing games at home.
"Why? Is it something good?"
Kayla asked me with a completely innocent look.
For some reason, it felt deflating.
"......You drew well."
I answered like that, thinking to myself.
You're on gacha duty from now on.
This was how the unfair world got a bit fairer.
***
Two hours had passed since we entered the dungeon.
After the first box, we hadn't found any more treasure chests, and we'd reached the third floor.
Kieee-!
"The monsters suddenly got a lot more numerous."
Unlike the leisurely clear up to the second floor, we had to stay alert starting from the third.
No surprise, since the monster count had doubled compared to the second floor.
Puk!
Kieeeek......!
Of course, since they moved in groups of four, combat itself wasn't a big issue.
It was just that time was running short and stamina consumption was high.
"We probably just need to go a bit further."
If my guess was right, escape wasn't far off.
Most dungeons ended on the third floor anyway.
A little more, and the boss mob should appear. Defeat it, and we could leave.
How much time passed like that?
As we pushed straight ahead, Thompson pointed forward.
"Huh, No.1 sir. Isn't that what No.1 sir mentioned?"
There stood a massive door blocking the path, unlike anything we'd seen before.
The boss room.
"Yeah. It's basically over now."
"So, beat the guy inside, and we can leave the dungeon?"
"Yes. The dungeon won't collapse while we're in the boss room, so we should have plenty of time."
The dungeon was as good as cleared.
Well...... the loot was less than expected, which was a shame.
'......Just the level up and [Hor's Amulet].'
After over two hours of hunting, my level rose by 1 to 8, and the artifact was just the one we'd gotten earlier.
Oh, and I figured out the efficiency of the experience ring I was wearing.
'20%.'
Pretty good for a Heroic-grade artifact.
Growth sped up by 1.2 times.
Without it, I'd have barely hit 8 after the boss ahead.
Anyway.
"Let's go in."
"Let's finish quick. It's so dark in here, my eyes are getting blurry."
I was tired too.
Without further hesitation, I opened the dungeon door.
Drurrruk-.
Despite its enormous stone construction, the door slid open just a crack to the side.
Through the gap, the waiting boss mob came into view.
"Hmm, that's......"
The revealed boss mob was familiar.
"A centipede?"
Just massively enlarged.
Chirrrrp!
It screeched, shaking its hundreds of legs and antennae.
"Doesn't look that strong. No.1 sir, should we...... hit it right away?"
"Sure. Just watch out not to get bitten by the fangs to avoid poison. Kayla, you handle the auntie."
"Got it."
With positions roughly set, as always, Thompson leaped into the air first.
Thud thud thud!
In an instant, Thompson turned into a rock lump.
Matching him, Barundel gripped his axe and charged.
Two attacks unfolding simultaneously.
Boom! Kwagak!
Chirrrrp......!
The giant centipede writhed, spilling green blood.
Seeing this, I realized our party had gotten a lot stronger.
'Feels like just yesterday we were struggling against that old man and the basilisk.'
Now we could fight a boss several times bigger without much tension.
Shaking off the thought, I joined the battle.
Whoooosh.
[Light Sword] formed in my outstretched right hand.
Thump......!
-Entering awakening state.
My heartbeat quickened.
-All bladed weapon proficiency +300%
Perfect motion while maintaining acceleration.
Slash-!
One strike severed the giant centipede's tail clean off.
Chirrp......!
After repeating a dozen times or so?
Boom!
The giant centipede, head spinning wildly, finally flopped over dead.
A far more abundant sense of fulfillment filled me than before.
Zzzzt!
After a short wait, a portal like a rift appeared before us.
We could finally escape the dungeon.
"Finally, out."
A refreshing dungeon run after a while.
***
"Legion Commander."
Asmodeus, Legion Commander of Desire.
She looked down at her subordinate who had come to see her.
"Antilian. Something happen?"
"Well......"
The subordinate held out the crystal orb he carried.
"We found what you mentioned back then."
"Oh, really?"
At the awaited news, Asmodeus smiled faintly and took the crystal orb.
A crystal orb powered only by demonic energy, connecting the human world and the demon world.
Inside it, footage played like a video of the place she'd sent her legion to ravage days ago.
"Hmm......"
After a moment, the footage zoomed in on one spot.
A damp cave where demon turtles made their home.
One of the many places Asmodeus had planted traps.
"These guys?"
Asmodeus focused on the three figures in the footage.
Oblivious to the trap, they hunted the demon turtles diligently.
One dwarf and two humans, fighting in sync—they weren't total weaklings.
Of course, still lowly races.
"Poor turtles dying one after another...... such pitiful things......"
Asmodeus wiped away nonexistent tears and refocused on the footage.
"Hmm, not these ones."
Interest waning quickly, Asmodeus shifted the viewpoint.
They were already exposed to the Flower of Infestation anyway.
It was just a matter of time before they became her subordinates—no need to watch more.
Above all, they weren't the one Asmodeus sought.
Shifting outside the cave.
Asmodeus suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Her gaze locked on one spot.
A man outside the cave, diligently casting spells.
"......Found you."
That human was definitely it.
'That One's' mark floated above his head.
Asmodeus shivered with surging envy.
"After...... 100 years?"
The mark of glory, given only to those chosen by 'That One.'
For a mere human to receive it after a full century.
'Just who could he be......'
To earn 'That One's' attention?
One way to resolve the curiosity.
Check in person.
"Antilian."
Asmodeus made her decision and called her subordinate.
"Yes, Legion Commander."
"Looks like I need to go myself."
"Yourself...... you mean?"
Antilian asked with worried eyes.
Not worry for her, of course.
Asmodeus knew what troubled him.
He feared she'd overuse power in the human world, disrupting the balance between demon and human realms.
But.
"No issue, right?"
At this point, such concerns didn't matter much.
The 'Red Moon' would rise soon anyway.
Then, balance meant nothing.
"Still, wouldn't caution be wiser......?"
As Antilian pressed, Asmodeus glared.
Her bewitching crimson eyes pressed down on him.
"Hehe, think I'm asking nicely?"
Her sultry voice carried killing intent.
Only then did Antilian grasp her meaning and bow his head.
"Understood. Then, who shall accompany you?"
"No need. I'll go alone."
With that, Asmodeus rose from her throne.
Soon.
Tsssss!
Exuding bewitching demonic energy, she transformed.
Into a butterfly with crimson wings fluttering.
"Go safely."
Flutter- flutter-.
As Antilian bowed 90 degrees, the butterfly flapped in the air a few times before flying off.
Once the sound faded, Antilian raised his head and looked at the crystal orb.
There, a man mid-spear throw was frozen.
The man Asmodeus had watched with interest.
The man chosen by 'That One.'
Antilian clicked his tongue pityingly at him.
"Tsk...... poor guy."
He'd reported out of obligation, but he'd liked that human.
Having rewatched the footage countless times, he'd admired his incredible magic skill.
The kind of man he'd have loved to recruit.
But.
"To catch that bitch's eye......"
Now, impossible.
No human who'd caught Asmodeus's eye had ever survived.
"What a shame, what a shame......"
In the end, Antilian smacked his lips and dismissed the orb.