Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: 124. Trash Party in the Dungeon
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Three days had passed since the dungeon was sealed.
Karian had come to the first floor to check that everything was running normally inside the dungeon.
Outside, many people were waiting in an orderly line at the entrance, eager to enter the Abyssal Pit.
Soon after, the dungeon opened.
"Hmm... There are more challengers than before."
"Since a sealed dungeon has opened today, the foot traffic will be at its peak for entering the mini dungeon."
Karian was right.
Ninety percent of those entering right now headed straight for the portal to the mini dungeon.
Some were even dressed in quite luxurious clothes.
People who were clearly not combatants were entering with escort guards.
"Tch, my dungeon isn't a tourist spot."
"Hahaha... Even Lord Balrak would admit the scenery in the mini dungeon is spectacular."
True, it was because the mini dungeon interior was so well-made that I had to allow it.
But among all that foot traffic, there wasn't a single strong challenger.
The Empire had opened the path to the dungeon, yet there were no real talents?
On top of that, the Kanf Queen from last time wasn't visible.
Did I really have to wait until challengers grew strong enough to face me?
At least once the enhancement system settled in later, spec inflation would happen, so it might be fine down the line.
"Huh? Lord Balrak, care to take a look over there?"
"Hm?"
I checked the video magic tool Karian was pointing to.
A new race was confirmed entering my dungeon.
"Come to think of it, didn't Ferguson mention encountering beastkin last time?"
"Oh ho, I'd completely forgotten about that."
There had been so many incidents at the last meeting that I'd overlooked the beastkin.
Karian had mentioned it before.
And my second son had shaken his head when they first encountered the beastkin.
Just how messed up were they—
'Kraaaah!'
"No!! If you're gonna die, die alone!'
"Damn it! Our party member died because of you lot!'
"Why is it our fault!'
"You're just weak!'
Just now, a group of beastkin had blindly charged through like madmen, triggering every trap in sight.
On top of that, they threw a falling golem toward another party, and one of that party's members plummeted after getting hit by it.
Good lord... Even on their first try, that level of trolling?!
"Beastkin really exceed all imagination."
"Ah, no, how does a place called Beastria, where those beastkin live, even function?"
"It's run on strict elitism. In short, the powerholders hog everything."
So excluding the 1%, they're all idiots!
They even had rotten personalities.
They picked a fight with a frequent challenger in the main dungeon and got subdued immediately.
If they'd at least cooperated, I wouldn't complain, but getting one-shot like that was just pathetic.
While our eyes were rotting from the beastkin's circus show.
A very familiar face appeared.
"Hm...? That guy?!"
"Do you know that hero?"
"There's this hero who challenged me solo back in the early days of the dungeon!"
"Ah~ So that's Cheonmu Hero Herim."
Wow~ Seeing him after so long made me incredibly happy!
Lately, original members who'd appeared in the early dungeon stages and then vanished were showing up again, and now this guy too!
Even the young hero who'd first used a short cut and the one who'd claimed the hidden reward in the Iron Labyrinth!
Seeing them all more mature and grown was deeply moving.
*Sniff*! So this is a master's pride!!
Yes, now they're striving even harder to surpass their master, me!!
"But who's that girl?"
"Right? There's another girl around the same age, and she looks so young...."
Amid the oldbies returning as veterans, there was a girl with golden eyes like an old man's.
Wasn't she too young to challenge this place?
I listened in on their conversation for now.
"Th-this is the Abyssal Pit!!"
"Ruel, calm down."
"But Senior Herim said that being exists here!"
Her name was Ruel?
I'd heard it somewhere before.
"Ah! That's the girl?!"
"What's so special about her that everyone's making a fuss?"
"The girl who pulled the holy sword left by the Hero of Light, right?"
That NPC hero?!
But why was she so weak?
From my son's info, I'd thought a once-in-a-generation genius had inherited that sword.
Even the guys seemingly partying with that fledgling looked meh....
Still, a multiracial party of human, Kanf, and beastkin!
It matched the party format I'd envisioned, so I felt an instant affinity.
Plus, though the start was humble, the end could be glorious!
If they grew strong, they might show unimaginable power.
After that, they checked the ascension system in the main dungeon, but it was a bit disappointing that they headed straight to the mini dungeon.
Well, you could see the oldbies had worked hard to get stronger, so I trusted they'd earn some money there, shake off stress, and then seriously challenge this place.
Soon, as I watched their adventure....
Oh dear.
**************
Herim, Lowell, and Ruel entered the mini dungeon with their party members.
They enjoyed the refreshing wind and skydiving view, arriving at Sky Island.
"Wow~ So this is Sky Island?"
"Woooow...."
"No wonder it's famous."
Herim and Ruel's parties, entering Sky Island for the first time, were awestruck by the sight.
"Is this why no one wanders much like I do?"
"Um... Senior Herim?"
"Lowell, what's up?"
"I have something to say privately, if that's okay?"
"Of course."
They let Ruel's party and their own members roam freely for a bit, then talked quietly.
"R-Ruel's party is that bad?"
"Yes...."
Lowell was deeply worried about his junior.
But the experienced Herim dismissed the concern.
"Lowell, I get why you're worried. But Ruel has to walk her own path, right?"
"That's true, but...."
"Or better yet, get hit first to learn."
Herim suggested they all split up for now.
"Yes?!"
"My party members seem eager to explore more closely too. Sticking together like this will hold Ruel back. Plus, this is inside a dungeon—if they die, they'll revive, so it'll be fine."
Ruel had just completed her four-man party anyway.
At the brutal logic that revival made it okay, Lowell blanked out for a moment.
But in the end, he had no choice but to agree.
"...Seeing Ruel recruit party members yesterday, I thought she needs a negative experience once."
"Yeah, heroes like us have to learn to pick party members carefully."
Heroes bore the mission to resolve dimensional rifts—symbols of alien invasions—whenever they appeared.
The rifts had opened once last winter, so they'd keep coming regularly now.
Of course, with Ruel still so young, she'd stick with them even for dangerous, twisted rifts.
But if she picked bad party members even after growing up, that could be the end of her life right there.
Lowell figured it was best for Ruel to experience everything here upfront.
"St-still, I'm worried, so I'll hide with my party and watch."
"Pfft, you really worry a lot. Good luck."
Lowell practically treated Ruel like a little sister.
***************
Ruel was overjoyed at Herim and Lowell's suggestion, practically jumping.
"R-really?!"
"You've got your four-man party now, so try acting independently."
"Ooooh!!!"
She'd felt stomach pains being with two senior heroes anyway.
But now she could explore without that pressure!
And with the party members she'd recruited herself!
Adventure! Friendship! Dreams! Rewards!
Seeing Ruel's head turn into a flower field, the men smiled awkwardly.
But for now, they could only encourage the girl.
Afterward, the three parties split as planned.
Herim headed straight to the outskirts with his excited members to fight mid-tier spirits.
Ruel's relatively weak party toured the Sky Islands step by step.
Finally, Lowell's party....
"Sigh... Everyone, were we just worrying needlessly?"
"As the hero says, maybe."
"Should we just relax too?"
They were tailing Ruel's party stealthily to watch.
But their worries were spot on.
Ruel's party encountered low-tier spirits playing on Sky Island and entered combat stance.
Just as Ruel's party was about to have their monumental first battle!
"H-how can I attack spirits?!"
"Aresa?!"
The menhera elf mage Aresa's mental breakdown hit immediately.
"Those are spirits?!"
"If you break formation—!"
Skala forgot they were fighting together and dashed into the cute spirits' embrace.
Finally, Liberia and Ruel, used only to solo fighting, had zero synergy!
Kyaaah!
Hyaah!
Hweeeeng!
"Oof...."
"That's a bit...."
"Um, Hero Lowell? Shouldn't we save them?"
"N-no. We have to hold back!"
Skala and Liberia had high combat power on their own.
Ruel had the holy sword, managing to fend off the low-tier spirits somehow.
Of course, Aresa's breakdown worsened seeing the cute, adorable spirits vanish leaving spirit stones behind.
But realizing it was a necessary evil, she kept supporting them with buffs.
Limits existed, though.
"Skala! Please don't charge in alone!"
"What? Who are you to order me around."
In the end, the oil-and-water personalities of Skala and Liberia clashed.
"Hnngh.... Hnng...."
"A-Aresa, you okay?"
"Spirits... I'm so sorry...."
Aresa looked on the verge of retirement.
The rookie hero Ruel, forced to calm the utter mess of a party, wanted to cry inside.
But they were her party members!!
"Ev-everyone!!! Calm—!"
"You're not even party leader...."
"You have no brain...."
"Spirits... spirits...."
And so, Lowell's group turned away from watching Ruel's historic suffering.
Balrak and Karian, watching them, covered their mouths at the holy sword hero's trash-tier party.