15. Death Sorcerer's Dungeon
-Kuaaaaaaaac!! With the Evil Spirit Sorcerer's scream, a deep violet light flashed from the staff he hoisted high. At the same moment, the chunks of flesh scattered around him writhed and surged forward like crashing waves.
Standing before it, Cheong-ah lightly spun her sword in a circle and took a shallow breath. The moment her arm moved, a gleaming trajectory sliced through the air. The blue mana blade aura blooming from her sword effortlessly disrupted the magic the sorcerer had unleashed.
A thin blue line etched across the Evil Spirit Sorcerer's throat.
-Kue…
With his body crumbling away, the battle came to an end.
“……Huuu.”
Breathing heavily, Cheong-ah shook the black blood from her blade onto the floor and sheathed it. Beside her, Dina grimaced at the black blood staining the bandages wrapped around her hands.
“Uuu…. These bandages are all soaked—feels gross.”
“Dina, want me to change them for fresh ones?”
“Eh? Yeonja, you have new bandages?”
“Just a sec. I'll swap 'em out right now.”
“Thank you….”
I quickly pulled a fresh bandage from the bag stuffed full of them and replaced the one on Dina's hand while scanning our surroundings. Corpses littered the area—heads blown off, bodies shriveled and vanished.
“Hey, Cheong-ah, kiddo. Wanna take a break soon? I'll handle the next one.”
Bella approached, speaking up as I worked. Cheong-ah and Dina, who had slumped to the floor for a moment's rest, shook their heads in unison without missing a beat.
“I'm fine. Not tired yet.”
“No need. Beast. Yeonja just wrapped fresh bandages for me, so this body can handle the next one too. Besides, your weapon's a greatsword, isn't it? Hard to wield in a place like this.”
Firm refusal. But Bella still seemed unsatisfied, muttering again.
“No, I know that. Still… feels bad just lounging by Ian's side while you two fight.”
“No need. Protecting Yeonja is our top priority. You're handling that role.”
“Dina's right. Bella, you're already blocking attacks aimed at my husband without even realizing it. You're helping plenty.”
This was already their twentieth fight. As we pushed deeper into the dungeon, the passages gradually widened, and with them came more Evil Spirit Sorcerers—one at first, then two, three. Each encounter added one more. Cheong-ah and Dina handled them without much trouble. The summons they called forth were no match, and the sorcerers themselves fell quickly.
No wounds marred their bodies, and they didn't seem physically exhausted. But… humans are fickle creatures. Even with healthy bodies and stamina to spare, the endless fighting in these dim, damp tunnels wears on the mind. The air was thick and humid—not just dark, but oppressive enough to unsettle even me, who wasn't lifting a finger.
No real hardship, but the discomfort must be piling up. Knowing their struggle, I gave a wry smile.
“……Sorry about this.”
“Huh? Why are you sorry, husband? You're already buffing us with your ability and covering us perfectly with that crossbow.”
“Exactly. Didn't Yeonja just slow that sorcerer's chant with a crossbow bolt? Don't mope.”
Cheong-ah and Dina rushed to reassure me despite my apologetic tone. Listening to their comfort, I glanced around.
“Let's call it here for today.”
I rummaged in my backpack and pulled out the warp magic coordinate plate—the same one we'd used in Dungeon Agales. With this plate and two warp scrolls, you could zip between the dungeon's entrance and depths. Incredibly handy magic tool.
“Oh, that thing….”
“Nice. I'm all for it.”
Cheong-ah and Bella's eyes lit up in recognition. Cheong-ah's smile was especially bright—brighter than usual—proving she'd been more worn out than her words let on.
“……Yeonja, what's that?”
Dina, unfamiliar with it, tilted her head. A quick explanation, and she grinned in wonder.
“Oho…. The modern world has all sorts of wonders. Back in my day, no such thing—we had to camp inside the dungeon. This is great!”
We hid the coordinate plate in an inconspicuous corner and prepared to scroll out… but for some reason, the scroll wouldn't activate.
“Huh?”
I tilted my head dumbly, and Cheong-ah called from behind.
“Husband, what's wrong?”
“No, uh…. The scroll won't work.”
“What?”
“See, you rub here to activate it, but no matter how much I rub… nothing.”
Using a magic scroll is simple: unroll it, rub the center of the magic circle with your finger, and it glows to life. Too lazy? Just rip it. Either way, it activates the mana stored inside, triggering the spell formula.
But no matter how I rubbed, not even a flicker.
“What? The hell? Why not? Did you buy some street vendor knockoff?”
“As if. Bought it from a legit magic tool shop.”
“Then why?”
“Beats me…. Yeah, why?”
“Gimme.”
Bella snatched the scroll, inspected it every which way, then sheepishly scratched her nose.
“It's really not working.”
“Told ya.”
“Doesn't look counterfeit either….”
We tried a few more times—even ripped it clean in half—but no dice. Realizing it was hopeless, we gave up on warping out. Whatever the issue, we'd check with the shop once we exited the old-fashioned way. No point dwelling on a dud.
“Nothing for it. We'll try another way.”
“Eh? Another way?”
“Obviously. First, Bella—help me clear these bodies.”
“Sure thing.”
After Bella and I disposed of the Evil Spirit Sorcerers' corpses and their fleshy summons, I dug out a set of camping magic tools from my bag. Hoisting them high like that famous blue cat robot bawling its eyes out, I yelled.
“Camping Guide!”
“What're you doing, husband?”
“Just felt like it.”
“Hmm, better not do that in a dungeon, husband.”
“……Sorry.”
Chastised by Cheong-ah, I apologized quick, set up camp with the tools—which did work fine—and we settled in for rest.
While Ian and his party finished setting up camp, five adventurers lurked far off in the shadows, holding their breath as they watched.
“……Duroph, looks like they're finally bedding down.”
“Yeah, I see.”
“Why rest in the dungeon, though? Silver-rankers can snag warp magic easy….”
They were Duroph, who'd had his limbs sliced off by Cheong-ah earlier, and his colleagues. Foolish moths who'd tailed Ian's party into the dungeon without a care.
They'd followed at a safe distance, fretting over detection by those sharp women. Good luck or bad? Ian and his group hadn't noticed a thing so far.
Even now, they whispered among themselves, breaths shallow. A delicious aroma wafted by, rumbling their empty stomachs, but they just clutched their guts and drooled.
“Fuck, starving.”
“Me too….”
“What is that smell? Smells amazing.”
Thinking it'd be a cakewalk, they hadn't packed food. At least they'd brought water—small mercy—as they choked it down amid the tantalizing scents.
After a long wait of gritting teeth, Ian's group finished eating, lounged by the fire, posted a single watch, and turned in. Sure, Ian had used all those magic tools, but no matter. They had ways to nullify them.
“……Time.”
At Duroph's signal, they snickered and crept toward the camp. The lone watch: that kid-looking one.
“Just a squirt on guard? What're they thinking?”
“Let 'em. Platinum-rank confidence, I guess. Works for us.”
Oblivious to the doom awaiting them, they giggled and slunk closer.