Chapter 34
Chapter 34
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Warrior, Meeting a New Asset
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To entertain the countless lesser spirits.
Balrak, who had swept away the fools who tried planting eggs in the mini-dungeon.
*'Playing with the little ones is tough, but man, it's so rewarding!'*
─he thought, while sealing the mini-dungeon entrance to repair the shattered sky island.
Meanwhile, in the first-floor boss room, Karian and Ferguson were chatting idly.
"Wow, you're really going all out in style."
"Yeah. But Karian, do spirits normally follow orders like that? The book I read as a kid said even major requests get ignored most of the time..."
"I'm pretty shocked by that too. Well... if you think about it, isn't Lord Balrak just overflowing with charisma?"
"Come to think of it, he's the type who even shows consideration to enemies. Oh, by the way, I whipped up some snacks and food. Want to try?"
"Ooh! Thanks."
Ferguson and Karian offered condolences to the idiots who tried planting eggs in the mini-dungeon and got swept away.
And while waiting for Balrak, they munched on simple treats.
But suddenly, a strange aura filled the boss room.
"This is...?"
"Huh?!"
Right now, outside, the hero parties had answered the church's summons.
The adventurers who heard that the egg-planters had been resurrected by the church had all flocked there.
So no one was attempting to conquer the dungeon's madhouse anymore.
Then who the hell was entering this boss room!
Ferguson and Karian jumped to their feet.
And the intruder's form appeared in the boss room.
"Wh-where is this?!"
"Hmm?"
"O... og?"
Soon, the werewolf and skeleton mage encountered a green-skinned being.
An orc.
************
Karian was utterly flustered by the entity that appeared in Balrak's boss room.
*'Th-that guy's the boss from the third floor!'*
Right now, following advice from his master and teacher, the lich, he was ignoring all floors except the first in the dungeon's early stages!
But for the third-floor boss to come here of all places—and as Karian checked the orc that suddenly appeared before them, he noticed something off.
"Karian. That orc..."
"He's pretty badly injured."
Did it flee here after fighting on another floor?
Wanting to talk to the orc to figure out what was going on, but...
Instead of answering, the orc drew the weapon it carried.
And right away—
*Twang!*
*Thwip!*
"Thanks, Karian."
"No problem. But what do we do? Looks like he has no intention of talking if he's nocking another arrow."
"Urgh... yeah. And this happens while Brother Balrak's away..."
"Want me to handle it?"
"No. I've already imposed on you enough with all sorts of things. I can't burden you with this too—"
*Thwip!*
"I'll subdue him for now. Brother Balrak can decide his fate."
"Got it. Then go easy, Ferguson. One slip and that orc might die before Balrak gets back."
"Thanks for the advice."
Ferguson casually dodged the arrow the orc fired and closed in.
The orc quickly slung the bow on its back and drew two hand axes from its belt.
"Damn it! What the hell are you guys?!"
"Uh... calm down first—"
"I'm not falling for it anymore! Take this!"
Ferguson stepped back with his left leg to evade the swinging axes. He took a light breath.
His waist spun, delivering a roundhouse kick square into the orc's body.
*Boom!!*
"Gah!!"
"...?"
Ferguson felt something odd in the sensation from his leg, even though the kick clearly landed.
He couldn't figure out what it was.
He'd gone easy, but there should have been that signature impact feel. Instead, it was like striking something massive...
"Graaah!!"
"What the?!"
But the orc showed no sign of pain, suddenly transforming into a huge bear and swiping a paw at Ferguson.
Of course, thanks to constant sparring with Balrak, it looked slow and weak to Ferguson.
But it smashed the dungeon floor where he dodged.
*Crash!!*
The bear-orc then attacked Ferguson like it was dancing wildly.
But would such reckless swings work on Ferguson?
In the end, without taking a single hit.
Ferguson pushed off the ground with one foot, aiming an axe kick at the bear's jaw.
But at that moment.
The bear suddenly turned into a massive bird, barely dodging the kick.
Watching the orc wield the powers of various beasts, Karian realized what it was.
"Druid?"
"Karian! You know what those spells are?"
"It's a druid—an ancient wild mage you only see in old tales. But that kind of body transformation shouldn't be possible."
"Damn you!! Mocking me right in front of my face!"
"It can even talk in animal form... Then go harder, Ferguson. If it can transform its body like that, its internals are probably beast bones too."
Taking Karian's advice from behind, Ferguson released the restraint on his power.
The orc, back in bear form, lost sight of the gale-force Ferguson.
In an instant, Ferguson's overhead strike crashed onto the orc's head.
*Boom!!*
"Groar!!"
"Something's still off with the feel..."
"Druids use magic to channel received impacts into the earth."
"Such a spell exists?!"
"It's called 'Earth's Roots' or something. But it only diverts some shock, so it still takes internal and external damage—a half-baked spell, no big deal."
"H-how dare you...!"
"Just read more books. Anyway, orc, wouldn't it be better to surrender now? The owner'll be back soon. Mess up and—"
"I refuse!"
Ignoring Karian's genuine concern, the orc desperately tried landing a hit on Ferguson.
"Damn!! Damn it!!"
"No, calm down—"
"Why aren't you using your hands against me! You looking down on me?!"
"My hands are for cooking. And... this is for your sake. Just pass out."
Fed up with the orc refusing to yield, Ferguson twisted one ankle.
His opposite leg whipped out with rotational and inertial force, gaining even more power.
Like a bullet from a gun, the kick slammed into the bear-orc's side.
*BOOM!!*
"Gruk?!"
No matter how much it channeled shock to the earth, an overwhelming instant impact couldn't be diverted.
The transformation broke, and the orc frothed at the mouth, collapsing. Karian and Ferguson sighed at the foolish orc.
**************
With the rampaging orc knocked out in the boss room, Karian bound it with magic.
Then he chatted with Ferguson about the fight(?).
"Definitely, guys like druids must be a pain for martial artists like me."
"A pain? You didn't even use half your strength earlier. No mana body enhancement—just pure physical prowess to subdue it..."
"W-well, true."
Karian sensed Ferguson's standards had gotten weird.
But living with Balrak lately had numbed his senses too—
Anyway! After treating the disruptive orc just enough to keep it alive and chatting.
The man they'd been waiting for finally returned.
"Skeleton merchant!! This thing worked great!"
"Lord Balrak's back?"
"Brother! Good work!"
"Man~ Why didn't I install teleport devices in every room like an idiot? Gotta do it in my dungeon right away! But..."
Balrak trailed off, scanning the wrecked boss room, then pointed at the bound figure behind the two men.
"What's with the green-tea bastard over there?"
"W-well, Brother Balrak..."
"A lot happened."
"????"
They explained everything to Balrak, whose head now sported a floating hook.
Balrak nodded, clearly delighted, clapping cheerfully.
*Clap~! Clap~! Clap~!*
"Hahaha! Didn't expect another asset volunteering for my dungeon!"
"V-volunteering?!"
"No way... Brother?"
"Daring to rampage in my dungeon while I'm gone? Oh ho~ Brainwashing is a must!! Absolutely!!!"
The eerie vibe made Ferguson flash back to his past!
Back then, he'd attacked his shouting brother.
And after that!
Ugh~ It was an indescribably horrific ordeal.
Karian had once peeked at Ferguson's brainwashing session.
The two men's moods soured instantly.
They silently stared at the unconscious orc, quietly praying for his soul.
"Skeleton merchant!!"
"Y-yes?!"
"Don't come here for a week! No—stay out! And little bro Fer! Congrats on getting a successor starting today! You too—stay out of this boss room for a week and hole up in the shelter!!"
"I'll engrave Brother Balrak's words deep in my heart!! I'll preemptively seal the shortcuts, control the mid-bosses myself so you won't worry, Brother!"
"Hahaha! As expected of my little bro Fer—one hint and you get three! Such spirit! Now this asset just needs some of that 'spirit' too!"
Deeply satisfied with the clapping, Balrak booted Karian and Ferguson from the boss room.
He stomped toward the self-enlisting asset for his dungeon.
Using Karian's boss room seal scroll.
Then doused the unconscious asset with top-grade recovery potions like mad.
Was the potion too effective?
Or desperate thrashing from sensing its grim fate?
Sadly, the orc began slowly waking.
To greet this fine specimen, Balrak unleashed all his power, weapons floating into the air.
And then—
*Whoooosh!!*
"Huh...? Y-you?!"
"Hahaha!! Nice to meet you, asset! Heard you rampaged in my dungeon while I was away?"
"Th-that's...!"
"No way!! No way!! To think such fine talent would throw a fit begging to meet me!!! Warrior Balrak is deeply moved by this! So!!!!"
Balrak grabbed the orc's shoulders, hoisting it overhead as he bellowed.
"Welcome to my dungeon—volunteer enlistment!!! Asset!!!"
Thus, the orc man who faced the boss room's owner amid the ferocious aura.
Seeing the absurd being before him, snot streamed from his nose.