Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Because I Was Like That Too
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Ever since meeting Nagi, my double life had begun.
While I continued to hunt in the eastern wilderness of the Alpharion Empire, I also kept an eye on Nagi's progress, joining her whenever it was time to tackle an Elite Dungeon.
By the time the next expansion pack and the Eastern Corps Commander raid were released, new players would probably have reached the previous raid dungeon.
Nagi's growth rate was also considerable.
Is she a middle schooler? Does she not go to school?
Even if it wasn't outright level-boosting, there were plenty of low-level experience-boosting items on the market by now. Past dungeon weapons could be bought cheaply, and unlike early players, she didn't have to wait for Elite Dungeons or new regions to open. The players in the Red and White attack squad had also raised their alternate characters quickly this way.
While there was a significant gap in core stats, like the Echo Stones that had to be purchased at a fixed price after diligently collecting daily quest currency, one could catch up on dungeon progression without too much time. Of course, it was also possible to shorten that time by spending money at the auction house. Tradable Echo Stones were expensive, though.
I felt like I had been charging forward without looking back for too long.
I felt the need to look back on the path I had walked.
In front of Chris, I acted as if it was nothing, but the reunion with Igraine had made me wonder if this was what a mother was like. A farewell that came too soon. And then, another reunion. In a slightly different form.
The series of events I experienced in the northern part of the continent had taken a heavy toll on me in many ways.
The Northern Corps Commander.
And Igraine.
As long as I still loved this world, as long as traces of my comrades kept appearing before my eyes, I couldn't separate myself from my past as the Hero.
In my encounter with the Eastern Corps Commander, would my past come back to haunt me again? In what way would I be reminded of my duty as the Hero this time?
Just as I was beginning to merge 'Rain' and 'Iseulbi', I now had to worry about the Hero's duty as well.
Perhaps that's why I briefly looked away.
It wasn't urgent, anyway. I could think about it after the Northern Corps Commander's silhouette became clearer.
The child who was now giving me, someone who had only been looking forward, a fresh sense of joy was...
Tip-toeing.
"It's been a while since I was here, too."
Following the girl who was cautiously advancing through the dark corridor, I leisurely took in the sights of the dungeon's interior.
Her cute brown bob seemed to perk up. The sight of her, like a small animal that would jump in surprise at the slightest sound and glance around, brought a smile to my lips.
The newbie Swordsman I was raising, 'Nagi'.
Today, I had come to an Elite Dungeon with Nagi.
'Tomb of the Lesser Demon'.
This was Astria Online's second Elite Dungeon, consisting of the first boss, 'Black Wyvern'; the second, 'Patriarch's Statue'; and the third, 'Sealed Demon'.
It was a subterranean structure that descended endlessly, and upon reaching the sealed demon's abode at the very bottom, a terrifying lake of lava and a colossal demon would greet the player.
"This dungeon, even I had a really hard time clearing it at first, you know? Hah, the first time I got hit by the Black Wyvern's breath, my vision just went dark."
"Hee, a Black Wyvern?"
"Yep. It's like a huge pterosaur."
"This big?"
Nagi spread her hands to her sides, drawing a large circle. Faced with that adorable gesture, I barely managed to suppress the urge to pull her into a hug.
I spread my arms and drew an even bigger circle.
"Thiiiis big."
"Wow."
Nagi's eyes widened in surprise.
We faced each other and beamed.
Having eased Nagi's tension, I left the intermittently appearing adds to her and followed slowly from behind.
"You got a skill called Moonlight Slash, right? And Counterattack, too."
"Yes. When I use Counterattack, I go behind the monster. Moonlight Slash is a skill that slashes all around, like *swoosh*."
Nagi's sword spun once, scattering moonlight around with a soft ring.
"Those two skills will be your main ones from now on. Moonlight Slash later evolves into a more powerful single-target damage skill... Hmm, for now, let's try to use those two well and take down the Black Wyvern."
The vast cavern Nagi and I entered.
In the center of the first boss's arena, a massive Black Wyvern was coiled up.
"Eek."
Nagi let out a shrill scream.
*Grrrk—*
[First Boss]
[Level 27 Black Wyvern]
[HP 210,000/210,000]
The first boss of the Tomb of the Lesser Demon, the Black Wyvern.
The black scales covering the massive pterosaur's body glinted in the dim torchlight of the cave.
This guy's normal patterns aren't too difficult. The problem is the special flight pattern that appears when its HP drops below a certain point.
With a normal 4-person party, it's no problem. There's a special mechanic where you shoot it down with a crossbow loaded with Wyvern Killer bolts. The strategy is for a class with a ranged protection skill to handle the scale attacks that fly in after the wyvern takes flight, while another person goes for the crossbow.
However, the baby wyverns that appear along with the wyvern's flight interfere with executing the mechanic.
This is the biggest hurdle for a solo player.
There's no time to go for the crossbow. You have to evade the scales and also pay attention to the baby wyverns' attacks.
"To dodge the scale attack coming from the air, you need to use 'Backstep'. And before the next scale flies in, you need to clear out the baby wyverns with Moonlight Slash."
"Okay."
"But the problem is..."
I trailed off, glancing at Nagi's expression, which was a mixture of anticipation and fear.
After three scale attacks, a breath attack shoots out from the maw of the airborne wyvern.
This is the pattern I'm worried about. The breath attack comes flying in before Backstep's cooldown is up after evading the third scale.
If it comes down to it, you have to tank one of the last scale attacks with your body. It won't kill you, but it will hurt a lot.
And, most importantly, dodging the fire breath.
"You can mess up other things, but you must not get hit by the breath. Can you promise me that?"
"Yes. I'll try."
Nagi clenched her fists and nodded with a determined look in her eyes.
Watching Nagi's back as she walked steadily toward the Black Wyvern's massive body, I cast a worried gaze.
The other patterns are fine. I can save her before she dies.
But with the breath attack, there would be no time to save her. She had to use Backstep at the perfect moment, just before the flames touched her body.
And.
"Ugh."
I frowned at the sudden memory of being burned alive.
The agony of your body being consumed by fire.
A pain so horrific it was dreadful even to imagine.
Even I, who was accustomed to pain, had ended up sobbing like a child back then.
Of course, no matter how high Nagi's synchronization rate was, it was only half of mine, but I didn't want to make her experience such a terrible pain.
Nagi wanted to do it herself.
I couldn't stop her resolve.
Because I was like that too.
"The breath, you absolutely must not get hit."
In a low voice, I prayed for Nagi's success.
There were a few attempts before Nagi faced the special pattern.
That was fine. It was part of the adaptation process.
But she couldn't make a mistake during the special pattern. A mistake there would lead to an unavoidable death.
Screeeech—!!
*Flap, flap, flap.*
"Kuh!"
*Shhh—*
The Black Wyvern's special pattern, the first flight, began. The great lizard's wings unfolded, and Nagi's small body was pushed back by the gust of wind they created.
"Focus! This is where it really begins! Spot the baby wyverns appearing from the walls on either side! Secure their aggro immediately and chip away their HP with the AoE skill, Moonlight Slash! Taking these guys down quickly is what's important!"
*Tat-tat-tat!*
*Clang!*
Nagi quickly blocked the charge of a baby wyvern that appeared near her and began to whittle down its HP with an instantly cast Moonlight Slash.
Soon, other baby wyverns swarmed in from all sides, surrounding Nagi. Before she was completely encircled, she shifted her position slightly, maneuvering so that all the baby wyverns were in front of her.
Good, just like that.
*Flap.*
*Whoooosh!*
Finally, the first scale pattern appeared. With a sharp sound of cutting through the air, scales were shot from the wings of the airborne wyvern.
Nagi's small body reacted without delay.
*Tap!*
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!*
With the cast of 'Backstep', the scales flew past Nagi's body, which was now on the other side of the space. Not a single point of damage reached her. Nagi's expression brightened a little, but she didn't let her guard down completely.
*Clang!*
Nagi calmly blocked the charge of a baby wyvern that rushed at her.
"Good, two more times!"
*Tap!*
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!*
The second scale.
*Swhish-swhish-swhish!*
Even in the midst of it all, Nagi's Moonlight Slash continued to inflict wounds on the bodies of the baby wyverns. It looked like she could finish them off if she just dodged the breath one time.
Her situation was better than mine had been. I had all the strategies in my head. All Nagi had to do was follow my instructions.
And this Swordsman girl named Nagi had the skill to fully replicate my experience.
*Whoooosh!*
The third scale pattern. Here, she couldn't use Backstep.
*Shhh.*
Nagi's form, which had been confronting a baby wyvern in front of her, blurred.
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!*
Her body reappeared behind the baby wyvern. Having used Counterattack, Nagi's body was unharmed even by the surprisingly wide-ranged scale attack.
*Clap!*
"Al-alright!"
I clapped without even realizing it.
'Counterattack.'
Following Backstep, it was the Swordsman's second invincibility skill.
It could only be used when there was an opponent in front, but there were plenty of baby wyverns to serve as targets for Counterattack.
When I played this dungeon back in the day, my Counterattack rank was low, so it didn't have an invincibility frame. Telling Nagi to rank up her Counterattack skill in advance had paid off.
As expected, a forerunner's experience is crucial.
*Flash.*
My joy at Nagi's performance was short-lived. A red light glinted from the Black Wyvern's maw.
*Fwoosh.*
The flame, which instantly burned the air as it ignited, gathered in front of the wyvern's mouth.
*Screeeech!*
With a harsh roar, it spewed forth, engulfing the entire cavern.