The Andras Dungeon

Andras (7). The dungeon of Andras. I entered the dungeon with only Ryun by my side. While the actual location wasn't within the Virgo Barony, I was able to access the dungeon through a 'Gate' that had opened at the mouth of a cave within the barony's territory.

'This is my second time raiding one.'

The first had been Baal's old, abandoned dungeon, where I’d taken down the Slime Dragon that had been sitting there like the owner of the place. And sure enough, the moment I set foot into the entrance of the Andras dungeon, I chuckled inwardly at the window that popped up before my eyes.

"Oh, ho."

It was an interesting quest, but one that brought a fair amount of annoyance. 'When am I supposed to catch 666 of them?' It was a pain in the ass to catch them one by one, let alone 666. I’d much rather just grind the Slime dungeon.

"Master, what's wrong?"

"Ryun. How many do you think are in here? Maybe a hundred?"

"Hmm... that looks about right."

"We're screwed."

Forget 666, it didn't look like we'd even hit 189. Considering we hadn't even caught 10 Andras outside, the only realistic goal was the 3-star Andras egg. 'Still, at least it's a guaranteed hatch.' If I conquered the dungeon and hatched the egg in my own, it would likely register the entire Andras species. It was also an optimal place to farm experience.

"Ryun."

"Yes?"

"There are only enemies in here. So, what should you do?"

"Hmm... should I just shoot everything I see?"

"Exactly. Don't bother aiming, just fire. If you think something's there, shoot it. Got it?"

"Yes!"

One thing I’d clearly learned while bringing Ryun along was that sniping didn't suit her. If there were hostages, she’d probably shoot the hostages, so I’d resorted to a drastic measure: Spray and pray. If she couldn't hit anything while aiming anyway, it was better to fire as many shots as possible in the same amount of time.

"But Ryun, shooting arrows doesn't drain your mana or anything, right?"

"Huh? No, nothing like that. My arms just get a little tired from pulling the bowstring? That's about it. As long as I have the stamina, I can shoot as much as I want."

"I see. Got it."

I tossed the corpse of the Andras that had served as our guide ahead of us. I was worried they might have rigged the entrance, and sure enough, the ground gave way and the Andras vanished into the depths.

"Damn it, I should have just left the ones outside alive and caught them here."

"Master..." Ryun shook her head with a disgusted look. But if we’d caught them all here, we’d have already pulled an adult Andras. That was assuming we’d cleared the dungeon, of course.

Flap, flap.

I heard the sound of wings fluttering from the other side of the cave. I moved very slowly, brushing my hand against the back of my hand, ready to react to whatever might jump out.

Flap.

The moment two round lights appeared in the darkness, a piercing sound rang out beside me.

Thwip—!

"Kieek!"

The Andras fell backward with a death cry. Ryun, having just fired her bow, took a short breath and kept her eyes fixed ahead. There were still plenty of eyes left.

"Ryun."

"Yes."

"They're all melee."

"I'll make sure they can't get close."

Thwip! Ryun's second arrow flew into the darkness. After the sound of something being pierced, the echo of another Andras collapsing rang out.

Sss-!

Red glints erupted from the darkness. The bird-brained monsters walking toward us were all naked, clenching their fists as they charged. I glanced down to check the count.

Thank goodness, the ones Ryun caught counted toward the total. I didn't have to bother with Ryun disarming them for me to finish them off. This fight wasn't a battle between individuals; it was a looting siege between dungeons. Siege, me. Defense, Andras.

"Someday, will our dungeon have a gate that connects to other places like this?"

"I can just keep shooting like this then, right?"

Rat-a-tat-tat! Ryun didn't stop pulling the string. Even though her fingers were turning red, she shot arrows diligently, and thanks to her, the red eyes shining in the dark were flickering out one by one. At the same time, the kill count climbed.

I grabbed Ryun's wrist, the one holding the bow, and lowered it slightly. "Rest. Catch your breath, then finish them off."

"Master, just a little more..."

"Forget it."

Ryun was full of enthusiasm, but her fingers were swollen. If I let her shoot any more, she might end up with blood blisters.

"And it's too late now. They're already too close."

"Take the grudge of your kin, Las!"

One Andras lunged at me, fists clenched. Since it was a female-type Andras, it was quite uncomfortable to watch her body sway as she ran, but as long as she was an 'enemy,' there was no reason to leave her be.

"Ryun. Give me that."

"Yes!"

Ryun handed me the 'special item' I’d had her hold onto. It didn't have the weight of the spiked mace I used to use, but it had a decent enough heft to it.

"Ryun. Do you think Andras would taste good grilled?"

"...Doesn't the bottom half look too much like a person?"

"True. Then should we just grill the top half?"

"That would be even weirder."

I gave up on eating the Andras. But my grand dining plan didn't falter. I spun the item in my hand and gripped the handle tight.

"Then what if we crack the eggs and grill them?"

"What would happen then?"

"Don't say weird things, Las!"

The Andras had reached us in the blink of an eye, claws bared. She looked ready to scratch Ryun and me at any moment, and I pulled my arm back slightly.

"It becomes Andras Fry!"

Whoosh!!

I swung the cast-iron frying pan. It was barely a pan—you could just as well call it a wide iron spatula. Along with the shovel I’d found in the kitchen of the village where I’d built the grave, it was destined to be my favorite item for the time being.

Thwack!

"Kieek!"

The Andras, struck on the side of the head, collapsed to the floor with her red eyes trembling. Kill count plus one. I wiped the blood and feathers off the pan and rolled the Andras over with my foot.

"Ugh, damn it."

"What's wrong? Did it break already?"

"No. I was trying to control my strength."

How much would a level 75 gain from catching 2-star mobs? I’d intended to power-level by using the Andras, but unfortunately, they died in a single full-swing.

"Ryun. I'll practice a bit more, then I'll pass them to you. When I do, shoot your arrow right in front of them. Got it?"

"Yes! Oh, should I do it like I did with the Slime Dragon?! You mean the last hit, right?"

Ryun mimicked pulling the bowstring toward the floor. I kicked the belly of another charging Andras, then smashed its head with the pan and nodded.

"Yeah. For now..."

Kill count added again. Having a high level was great in many ways, but it was quite inconvenient in situations like this. 'I'll have to find a way to buff Ryun later.' What was the point of a shaman who only buffed themselves?

I spun the still-intact frying pan. The unpolished cast iron was slick with blood.

"It's really hard to tell the 1-stars from the 2-stars..."

Thwack, thwack! Since the only difference was the presence of wings, it was difficult to distinguish them from the front. I swung the pan toward the crotch of an Andras that had leaped high toward the ceiling and slammed it straight into the floor.

"Master! I figured it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out!"

Ryun fired an arrow from right beside my waist, killing an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Andras. The wind hole she’d created pierced its beak perfectly.

"The ones with wings have sharper beaks!"

"Are their beaks just baby fat? Good grief."

Ryun could distinguish them skillfully, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but to me, they all looked the same. I wasn't a bird expert, and there wasn't a clear difference like between a Harpy and a Harpy Angel. I swung the pan diagonally to threaten two Andras charging at once.

"Kieek?!"

The Andras recoiled in surprise, but Ryun fired an arrow in that gap. A wind hole appeared in the knee of the nearest Andras, and it dropped to its knees immediately.

"Ugh!"

Clang. I swung the pan and hit the Andras's beak. Its beak bent sideways along with its head, and it collapsed at my feet with a crunching sound.

"You, you monsters, Las!"

The last remaining Andras trembled in fear and turned to flee. I instinctively tried to throw the pan, but I jammed it into the wings on the fleeing Andras's back instead.

"Ryun!"

"Yes!"

Ryun, having hunted many Andras already, pulled her bowstring with a confident face. Thwip!! The arrow flew straight down the corridor and pierced the Andras's wing.

"Aughhh!"

The Andras screamed and fell. But at the same time, it rolled along the floor and vanished.

"Oh..."

Ryun, who had been about to fire a second shot, opened her mouth blankly. I patted Ryun's shoulder to stop her from firing.

"This is enough. You hit it this time, didn't you?"

"I was aiming for the middle of its back..."

"...It'll change when it evolves. So let's hunt a bit more."

I brushed Ryun's ear with my finger to check her condition. Ryun. Lv. 25. Her level had gone up quite a bit during that short battle. "Ryun, you keep—"

"Ma, Master..." Ryun's face turned beet red as she grabbed my clothes. "Su, suddenly touching my ear... Hicc!"

"Ah."

I’d let my guard down while touching the most sensitive spot to check her level. Ryun's ear was the most sensitive erogenous zone on her body, and she’d lost her composure in the aftermath of the victory. Squish. Honey began to flow from Ryun's thighs. Ryun covered her face with both hands.

"...Sorry. My mistake."

I never expected this to happen in the middle of enemy territory. I lifted Ryun up and turned around. "Let's go to the entrance for now."

"Al, already?"

"Yeah. It's not like there's an entry limit; we can just step outside for a bit."

Even the best scenery is better after a meal. I started to feel a thirst of my own, wondering why she was reacting like this after killing only a few.

"Ma, Master. In that case..." Ryun tried to block me, leaning against the wall. "Ca, can we do it here—ouch!"

Smack! I hit Ryun's butt. Honey burst out violently, but I didn't regret it.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? What if something happens to you?"

"Hing..." Ryun groaned, but a no was a no. I stepped out of the dungeon to quench my thirst for a moment.

***

Andras was in a panic. The hatchlings gathered in her chamber ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were all staring at her like meerkats. "Ugh..."

They were her own flesh and blood, but since they weren't born out of love, Andras felt a surge of anger at the sight of them staring at her with such stupid eyes. She was furious that she had to give them individual instructions instead of them intercepting the intruders efficiently.

"Go and stop them right now!"

"Wh, where should we go, Las..."

"Ugh, you bird-brains, seriously!"

None of the hatchlings Andras had birthed had human-shaped heads like her. It was a verbal abuse directed at her children, but the hatchlings just stared at each other and nodded.

"You called us all bird-brains, Las."

"Since only our heads are birds, isn't it correct to call us bird-heads, Las?"

"'Head' is a term used for beasts. Even if we look human, we are biologically monsters, so the linguistic expression 'bird-brain' is correct. Monsters are beasts, and we are monsters, so we are all bird-brains, Las."

"Stop saying things I can't understand, you idiots!"

"What does 'idiot' mean, Las?"

"Master said not to say things you can't understand with your heads, so I won't say it, Las."

"Oh, seriously! So annoying! All of you, shut your beaks!"

Andras pointed at the hatchlings, fuming. "Kill the intruders! Do not let this room be breached! Got it?!"

Andras gave the order to her subordinates and stood up. The hatchlings scattered according to their own thoughts, following the fragmented commands they’d been given.

"Sss..."

Andras sat down in the deepest part of the dungeon, at the summoning facility. There were only 3 times left. If she gave birth 3 more times, she could be reborn as a new being. Andras picked up the last 3 magic crystals, hoping for a safe birth—

Squish. Squish. ...Squish.

"Haa..."

Andras's labor pains had begun.