Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: First Step (3)
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Oh no!
The monster burst into roaring flames, the fire spreading all the way toward us.
I hurriedly backed away, but the thrashing beast closed the distance with every agonized twist of its body.
"No way, it wasn't even that powerful of a spell!"
"E-Edn?! What the heck is going on?!"
That's what I'd like to know!
I retreated a little faster, and only then did the monster stop chasing us.
It writhed in place before its legs finally gave out, collapsing to the ground.
The flames lingered for a few more minutes before gradually dying down.
"It's out."
"...It's out."
What the hell caused that?
Hepiriya was hanging back, but curiosity suddenly reared its head.
I had no idea either, but my own curiosity kept nagging at me.
Could it be one of the dungeon's effects?
Maybe, but it seemed somewhat controllable, and I wasn't about to die just to study a monster.
So I cautiously approached to examine it.
I could sense Hepiriya's panic from behind, but I focused on what was in front of me.
"...Flammable substance?"
I didn't know what kind, but if it was coated in something flammable, that would explain it.
The scorch marks and the way it had ignited moments ago made it almost certain.
And flammable substances often came with toxins.
In other words, this monster had deliberately produced and coated itself with a toxic, flammable material to survive.
"It's just a guess, but it makes sense."
"...Mind explaining?"
Oh, right.
I'd forgotten about Hepiriya for a second. I explained my theory to her.
She nodded, agreeing it sounded plausible.
"But couldn't it just be that it had no resistance to your magic?"
"Possible, but... well, anyway. Monster's dead, so let's keep moving."
Any more talk like this, and I'd give away too much.
The Fire Arrow I'd used was tricky for a beginner but simple enough that anyone could cast it with practice—no enlightenment required.
Enlightenment let you develop unique spells tailored to you, but this was something anyone could learn through repetition.
Hepiriya tilted her head at my abrupt subject change.
Thankfully, she didn't press further.
"Monster's dead, so let's get going again."
I nodded to her and pressed on.
We ran into a few more spider-like monsters like the ones we'd fought before, but they all went down easy to fire.
Looks like my guess was right.
We just didn't have the means to capture one alive for closer study.
Putting my regrets aside, we kept walking.
About thirty minutes later, a massive door loomed into view.
"Big as a dump truck."
"Huh? What's that?"
Oh, slipped out.
Sorry, Hepiriya, but that was one of those things I couldn't explain.
"Uh, cough. I mean, it's huge. More importantly, I can't sense any mana projection from inside."
I cleared my throat and averted my gaze.
She still looked puzzled but didn't ask.
Instead, she focused on the door ahead.
She closed her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her chest like she was praying.
It drew the eye in all sorts of ways, so I forced myself to look away.
Right then, she called out to me.
"I sense a strong life force inside. But it's mixed with a murky aura, so it feels like a boss."
"So this is the boss room?"
"Yeah. The exit might be just beyond."
Tsk, bosses were a pain—a big pain.
As I'd said, I was only a half-baked mage, useless against bosses.
In other words, going in could just get us killed for nothing.
I wanted to look for another path, but Hepiriya said something unexpected.
"Um, Edn. Leave this one to me."
"...Hepiriya?"
"It's fine. I'm not a saintess for nothing."
She flashed a bright smile and naturally pushed open the boss room door.
No, wait a sec?!
I reached out to stop her, but the door was already swinging wide.
Too late.
The door opened, revealing the interior.
Torchlight illuminated the dark room, which was bare of any furniture.
Dead center stood a monster nearly three meters tall.
"Centaur?"
"Is that what it's called?"
Hepiriya asked, but honestly, I had no clue either.
Lower body like a horse, upper body humanoid enough.
It looked like the classic centaur from stories, but something was off.
No axe or weapon, and the horns on its horse—or bull?—head looked seriously threatening.
My skin was prickling; this thing was strong.
The mana pouring off it was thick.
Was Hepiriya okay?
She wasn't a mage, but she'd sense this much.
Still, I had to warn her.
"Hepiriya, be careful. That's a strong one."
"...Got it. Just leave it to me."
Could I?
Saintesses specialized in purification, buffs, that sort of thing, as far as I knew.
Sure, some were combat-focused, but enough to take this down?
I'd kept her behind me earlier because I didn't know her strength.
She insisted, so I'd trust her, but...
I couldn't shake the unease.
If things got dicey, I'd have to step in somehow.
With that in mind, I stayed on high alert.
"Grraaah!!"
"In the name of the Goddess, I return you to the earth." ⟨ Divine Judgment ⟩
Whoa, kinda chilling.
With those words, a halo appeared above Hepiriya's head.
A spear of light materialized in her hand as she glared at the charging centaur.
She looked like an angel—no, a Valkyrie. I lost myself watching.
The centaur closed in right up to her face before she finally moved.
Her reaction seemed terribly late, but the result was anything but.
In one instant, with a single swing of her spear.
"Grk..."
The centaur split in half and crumpled.
What? Was I seeing things?
The bisected corpse lay sprawled on either side of Hepiriya.
Not a drop of blood on her.
"...You're strong."
"Ah, um."
She panicked visibly, waving her hands.
She hadn't meant to ignore me earlier—she babbled excuses, and it was kinda funny.
"Heh, it's fine. My bad for not noticing."
"N-No, it's not your fault, Edn."
Her flailing arms stilled, her face flushing a bit.
Maybe tease her a little, but escaping came first.
Too bad, but oh well.
"Haha, ahem. Boss is down anyway."
"Yeah. But nothing's happening?"
Come to think of it, the boss was dead, but no changes.
Just silence hanging in the air.
Hepiriya, back to normal, scanned the room.
Nothing new appeared.
The only visible thing was a door straight ahead from the entrance—usually led to rewards.
Usually.
"Edn, we should check that door."
"Yeah, I think so too. If the boss isn't the key, that's our only option."
But it felt off.
No—my skin was prickling again.
Massive mana radiating from somewhere. What was inside?
I'd thought it was the centaur, but it was coming from that room.
"Be careful. The mana here's intense; no telling what's in there."
"Got it. You too, Edn."
We approached the door slowly.
I took the lead, gripping the handle and turning.
A bit stiff, but it clicked open easily.
A light push, and it swung fully, revealing the interior.
"...What the heck is that?"
At the room's center, a single book lay on an altar.
Magic tools restrained it from all sides.
A translucent barrier enveloped it, etched with chains and ancient script.
The language was unfamiliar, but I'd seen it once before.
I couldn't fully decipher it, but one word stood out.
"Seal? Don't tell me that's a grimoire?"
"Huh? A grimoire?"
Hepiriya gasped in surprise.
Grimoires weren't exactly common.
Sealed ones? Even rarer.
"Anyway, that's not the way."
"Huh? But maybe—"
"No, I'm sure of it. Let's look for another path."
She had no retort to my firm tone.
Did she sense something I didn't? Or just wary because it was a grimoire?
Grimoires had a cursed reputation, after all.
Not all were bad, of course—plenty were helpful.
But a sealed one? Definitely dangerous.
Still, my curiosity perked up again.
No—my intuition was screaming that the grimoire was the path forward.
No other way but this one.
I had no reason why.
So for now, I agreed to search elsewhere, as she suggested.
I'd have to prove there was no alternative if I wanted to convince her.
"...Tsk, something feels off."
A weird vibe nagged at me, but I let it slide for now.
Hepiriya and I scoured the room.
My eyes kept drifting to the grimoire, but I ignored it.
After a good thirty minutes or so, nothing but the central grimoire.
Absolutely nothing.
Time to decide.
I glanced at Hepiriya; her face had hardened, like she'd sensed it too.
"No, Edn. You know what that grimoire is."
"I do. But the boss did nothing, and there's no other mechanism here. The grimoire's the only answer."
She bit her lip hard, staring at me.
I couldn't read her thoughts.
But I knew she was torn between my opinion and the grimoire's risks.
I flashed a confident smile to reassure her.
"Don't worry. I'm a mage, after all."
She studied my face for a moment, then sighed in resignation.
"...Fine. I'll trust you. You're an imperial magitech engineer; you know better than me."
Wait, that got out to the Holy Kingdom too?
I could guess how, but now wasn't the time.
Instead, I moved to honor her trust.
I slowly approached the grimoire's seal.
Alright, let's break this seal once.
I carefully reached out toward it.