Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Roniye (2)
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"Hey, Abby."
At the words of Bell, the UK's National Tree, Abby approached and they high-fived each other.
"I pretty much get it. They give you food for clearing dungeons."
Being able to encounter it on the first day was practically a blessing.
In this vast dungeon where mana detection didn't work properly, gathering teammates was a nightmare odds-wise.
"There's artifacts too."
That was why it only became possible to gather teammates after clearing some dungeons and releasing artifacts into the market.
Bell pulled out various foodstuffs like biscuits and cheese from her backpack to show off.
"Not bad."
Abby nodded as she looked over the items.
If they kept this up, a week would fly by.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Event line 1] "Hey C, check this out? These are the things we got from this dungeon."
"C? What's that?"
"That's the name of this artifact."
A camera floating beside Bell, tilting its head like a puppy.
Bell hugged the camera in a headlock and stroked the top of the lens while chuckling.
Bell’s refreshing face was clearly reflected in the lens of the camera broadcasting live.
"Now we just need to find Maronie."
Abby muttered as she adjusted her backpack.
"Where the hell is that shorty off to?"
"If she's too far, it might be hard to meet up. Worst case, we might have to hold out just the two of us."
"So she'd survive alone in this muddy forest area?"
Bell snickered at Abby's words. In his mind, he could already picture Maronie's teary face.
"...Well, if we're targeted instead, we'd be in trouble too."
Abby cut off Bell's delusions as if telling him to calm down.
No matter what anyone said, the Forest Keeper selection was a competition among National Trees.
If they didn't link up with Maronie soon, the fallout would hit them full force.
"Kuhuhu. I can already see her whining about mud on her clothes and sore legs."
Bell chuckled as he clasped his hands together behind his head.
Right on cue, monsters from the forest swarmed in.
-Whirririririk.
A faint whistle escaped his lips and echoed through.
"It's an addictive tune."
Anything else might be crude, and her magic skills mediocre.
But Maronie's flute playing was top-notch.
Bell thought to himself.
Quickly, I want to hear that song.
-Thud.
Red mana gathered in his fists.
*****
"My legs hurt."
"...How far did we even walk?"
Maronie followed behind me, poking at the pebbles on the dirt path with her staff, thump thump.
The girl panted heavily as she trudged through the forest path.
I'm the one clearing the tall grass and branches to make way, so why are you more exhausted?
I wanted to argue, but she was damn good at magic.
From the start, things I can't counter... She's S-rank Hunter level.
Was her skill at S-rank? It was still ambiguous, no clear verdict yet.
But her finesse in casting spells and those intricate formulas made it clear why she was treated as a National Tree.
And every National Tree's unique ability. That was dangerous.
"...Hah. Hah."
Of course. Right now, she looked like this.
Maronie was on the verge of collapsing. She wasn't even using basic body enhancement magic to conserve mana.
A mage without magic is just a civilian.
For a petite girl like Maronie, visible even over her clothes, stamina was hopeless.
"Why not just use magic?"
"...Ugh."
Maronie's eyes wavered at my advice.
Saving mana was fine, but if her stamina tanked this hard, what was the point? She seemed caught in a contradiction.
"I'm speeding up."
"Oh... my god."
"What if we lose the dungeon?"
"Hoo. Fine. Guess I have to."
With a resigned look, Maronie gathered mana into her staff and pointed it at the ground.
"Golem. Bisou."
A massive stone golem emerged from beneath her feet.
About 2.5 meters tall. Like a hunched King Kong statue carved from stone.
Her face atop its shoulder looked even brighter.
A cat on the shoulder? That vibe.
"The golem's name is Kiss?"
"...W-what's that supposed to mean?"
Maronie shot back like a thorn at my question.
Bisou translated to kiss in my translator. That's how it sounded.
She must like cute things.
Thinking that, I busily swung my arms.
As we advanced a bit, Maronie, who had been eyeing me cautiously, spoke up.
"Should I make the path now? I summoned Bisou."
"No need. It's not hard."
"......Are you really a mage?"
Mage.
Maronie asked me in a trembling voice.
Recalling how I fought her back then.
"Mages who specialize in close combat don't have that level of physical prowess."
I stopped and stared at her blankly.
At my blatant gaze, Maronie averted her eyes.
"N-not trying to belittle you. Not doubting or anything..."
"Yeah."
"...By any chance, are you a National Tree?"
"El Academy cadet."
Maronie gulped at my words.
"You?"
"Y-you don't know me?"
"Nope."
"Uh, um, really? Hmm...... I-I'm from Manhattan Academy."
Too proud to say National Tree? She whistled, mentioning the second-ranked academy.
No reason to lie anyway.
Stubborn one.
"What's your name?"
"Normally... don't you say yours first?"
"Lee Si-heon."
"Ma...ronie. Maronie."
-Whii whii.
Another whistle. Surprisingly pleasant. Probably her beautiful voice timbre.
Upload to the internet, it'd rack up views.
I kept pushing through the forest at a brisk pace.
-Whoosh!
Pushing aside the last tall grass, the stuffy view opened up.
Finally, a cool breeze. A massive waterfall and expansive lake filled my sight.
A slightly fishy, cold water scent. Misty spray falling like snow.
-Shwaaaa.
And the faint mana trace inside that waterfall, naturally.
"Found it."
The dungeon.
The reason I dragged Maronie here specifically.
My mana capacity wasn't much different from the National Trees', so I needed to conserve too.
Clearing a dungeon would yield rewards anyway. El Academy had long taught that dungeon rewards here were generous.
Enough for two to split.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Event line 1] [Event line 2]