Chapter 38
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: 5th Floor - Lv. 96 Blanche (3)
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Boss floors sometimes generate terrain that deviates from the theme.
This time, it didn't.
The terrain was still a jungle fitting the forest theme—specifically, an environment like the Amazon in South America.
The pyramid at the map's center was a structure reminiscent of Mayan or Aztec styles.
Five towers stood around it.
At least five people needed to climb each one.
Only then would the pyramid open. The stairs were inside.
I had no idea exactly what would come out, but with those towers around, the odds of a tame indoor fight were slim.
Time to divide the manpower.
The axe warrior voiced his discontent.
"Why split up the party?"
"Can you really trust all the other exiles here?"
"What are you talking about?"
The only ones I could somewhat trust were my own party members.
They'd come this far to the 5th floor together—too far for betrayal now.
It was a matter of efficiency.
If they wanted to backstab and grab the loot, they'd have done it ages ago.
Back in the ultra-early game, where death meant no real loss.
Or right before the kingdom.
So, they were trustworthy to a degree.
But other parties? Completely different story.
"It's like mutual hostages. No funny business, and we move to the next floor. It also balances the combat power per tower."
The axe warrior's forehead creased between his brows, then smoothed upward.
Suspicious, yet plausible enough to make him doubt his doubts.
I just stared at his face impassively.
I've got acting down pat.
To outsiders, it'd look like my face said, take it or leave it.
Six parties total here.
No one wanted to tackle an even floor's 5-man difficulty, so everyone was in 4-man parties.
Twenty-five including Blanche. Perfect number.
Usually, arriving at an odd boss floor on time gathers more than the minimum.
The axe warrior probably hadn't seen a boss fight with exactly this headcount before.
Truth be told, most hadn't.
Twenty-five was the minimum, not the cap.
Major troubles rarely hit lower floors. That's why people end up waiting days for enough bodies.
Even with multiple channels per odd floor, most push through.
Anyway, his whole party was warriors. Figures. All-warrior parties overflow with romance and dominate early game.
Unable to counter, the axe warrior's gaze wandered with resentment before finally yielding.
"Fine. We'll follow your lead for now."
Crowd psychology is a scary thing. With the other party leaders silent, he couldn't hold out.
And honestly, the axe warrior was smart.
I split them up to isolate anyone likely to cause trouble and complicate the clear.
Hey, if you're pissed, get a veteran with real authority.
Anyone who's been burned by a vet once knows better.
After that, quiet prep time for each party.
Polling the leaders, we agreed to start at dawn.
"How long you been waiting?"
"A day for us."
The female archer? Yeah, about right.
An old man from the longest-waiting party approached, bowed, and said it'd been half a month.
His initial stats looked lower than mine—rough visual.
"Aigoo. Sir, you've suffered."
"Hoho, no need for that from a senior like you. I'm only 7th year."
"Even adding my whole life, I couldn't match you."
"In the Labyrinth, tenure is age."
That did it.
Old folks from Confucian cultures sometimes get hung up on hierarchy.
You don't show it, but you feel it.
Better to set the tone upfront—makes commanding easier.
After, I grabbed the mage to pinpoint Blanche's position. No dice.
After 17 years at that spec, she knew how to counter basic magic detection.
The little mage's mana couldn't cut it anymore.
But she was watching from somewhere.
Can't overdo the courtesy.
The Codename Orgel that Blanche knew was crueler, colder, more calculating.
Had to show a hint of that to erase any doubts.
And if the chance came, stab her with Akasha's Eye.
Shove her into the abyss—makes thinking easier.
I never expected eternal loyalty anyway.
That's why she peeked at Karkrish's seal so obsessively on floor 2.
Only three shots, but ambush hits process without question.
Toss her in the abyss, and even if she returns, she'll skip only as many floors as her sudden death setback.
I'd be way ahead by then.
Hero units come with gear to match, after all.
Night deepened.
Even after Healing Potion treatment, the Girl stayed unconscious for ages.
Mana hits the mind too—Healing Spring water couldn't fix it instantly.
She woke stretching like after a long nap, right as dawn neared.
"Awake?"
"Huh? Uncle, what happened?"
"You cast magic with crap stats and passed out."
I'd never properly explained magic to her.
Expected strength/agility talents only—confirmed it, never taught her.
Now that unexpected talent showed, time to teach.
Magic basics are dull, but she grinned ear-to-ear, listening intently.
"So I can be a mage?"
"You're nuts."
"Aw, magic's so cool."
"Later, higher level—subclass it."
"Okay. I'll work hard."
"Yeah. Good."
Assassins have plenty of magic utility.
Like [Invisibility] on floor 4, or mana-infusing weapons to counter spells.
Sir Nana Desburn's preemptive block? Tough without that trick.
But physical interference with magic opens countless options.
As she focused on sensing mana flow—not manifesting—dawn light filtered in.
Daybreak.
Exiles who'd camped separately gathered one by one.
No words. Just watching the sun rise together.
Rare sight.
Possible because our 10+ year vet party and the female archer's—next strongest—openly allied.
Exiles lured by kingdom paradise eye each other for any edge.
Odd floors breed that.
Labyrinth doesn't force competition, but they kill anyway.
The Hunter, knowing it, murmured softly.
"Peaceful."
I replied.
"For now."
Right on cue, Blanche emerged from the shadows.
Optical camouflage suit disengaging looked more magical than magic.
The little mage shivered faintly.
Assignments spread parties evenly.
Two per party, then one, one. That sort of split.
Balanced combat per tower, and headcount equilibrium.
Some wariness toward our blatant alliance with the female archer, but pissing us off? Their loss. No issues.
Our party split one per four towers.
Girl and Hunter fine; youngest worries me a bit.
Put him with the female archer—should watch out.
Party leaders eager to impress me? Grows into a huge odd-floor advantage.
Once channels overlap, they tend to meet again.
If timings align.
Last spot: where to put Blanche. Axe warrior boldly volunteered.
Shocked/horrified stares? His lips curled smugly.
I just praised him.
Reassigned.
Bundled all four warriors with Blanche in one tower.
Birds of a feather? High-fives, fist pumps—ecstatic. Cute.
Overconfident noobs.
Yeah, die together then.
They're holding back murder now 'cause of me—but poke their tempers?
Men's short lifespans...
Hm. Fine. Darwin Award winners of the year: you lot.
Others awed by fixed-name Blanche.
Her gear—clearly not low-floor obtainable.
Her heartbreaking beauty.
Even more shocked she'd follow my word into the axe warrior's tower.
Little mage hiccuping, glancing between us? Hilarious.
Wonder what she went through before?
Parties climb assigned towers.
Still dim, but no total noobs fazed here.
Towers loomed tall.
From top, whole jungle visible.
Pyramid too.
Several times bigger than Earth imaginings.
Such towers meant something massive slumbered inside.
Standard exile attacks mostly ineffective.
Gimmick appears—exploit for real damage. Main goal.
Still need raw power.
Minor mobs—adds—block gimmick access to boss.
Terrain/architecture hint monster types.
High chance: Quetzalcoatl.
Floor 5 rarely spawns higher tiers.
Original had sun gods etc., but Labyrinth gods? Just humans.
Here, mere powerful beast.
Tower peak via internal spiral stairs.
Little mage panting, barely summits—everyone gathered.
Did she invest zero in strength?
Tower glows faintly, registers us.
Pyramid rumbles.
As briefed, all flatten prone.
Boom! Pyramid bursts.
Disassembles, precisely.
Debris floats as orbiting platforms.
Like satellite orbits. Amid pyramid wreckage, colossal beast rears.
Scales dotted with feathers.
Quetzalcoatl.
Blast wave from disassembly nearly flings some from towers.
Told 'em stick like glue.
I clicked my tongue.
Labyrinth bosses smack you first for 'don't know, die'.
Even warned, it's close.
Late crawlers tying ankles? Shaky moves.
Blanche here a blessing?
The axe warrior, a southern continent farmer, trusted his strength.
Knew his body's superiority since childhood.
Effortlessly turned bandit post-adulthood, thrived.
Could've been a knight sans status.
Mid-thoughts, dragged into Labyrinth.
Exile life? Decent.
No death worries. Strength is justice.
Some baffling bits.
Fools bowing to long-timers just for tenure.
Just kill early—no issue?
Burned once, but he was stronger pre-move.
Confident.
Died ~50 times. Bad luck.
This run? Lucky. Met three like-minded.
True men never flinch.
United, climbed to record 5th floor.
Fixed-name NPC?
Heard tales. Tough bitch.
Still a woman?
Weird outfit? Check.
Strange otherworldly gear? Check.
Slightly spooked by magic-like fade-in.
Never saw mages bandit days.
Vaguely recalled old-timer warning: don't touch mages.
Whatever. Even fancy mages die decapitated.
Prove it. Kill the pretty bitch everyone fears—show our power.
Reset hierarchy, all admire us.
Plan perfect.
Waited for central building activation.
Post headcount, deaths okay, heard.
Now.
Most tenured party member—2-year dual-wield warrior—steps up.
Best talker.
"Hey! Fixed NPC bitch! Kneel for us humans quick. Do it, maybe spare you!"
Women good. Rare pretty useful ones in Labyrinth.
All drooling.
Realized wrongness next instant.
"Sigh. This run's got NPCs spewing nonsense everywhere. Orgel says kill you all fine."
Her blank lips curved smiling.
Seductive smile.
Beautiful.
Couldn't join in.
Euphoria crashed. Only dread left: shit's fucked.
Languid voice.
"Die."
Lightning flashed.