Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Hill Where Ice Flowers Bloom (1)
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Main Story Chapter 5: The Hill Where Ice Flowers Bloom has begun.
Eliminate the Dungeon's True Master, High Lich Karseion, and Clear the Dungeon with Minimal Casualties
🎁 Rewards: 10,000 SP, Additional SP based on contribution to High Lich's defeat, 2x D~A Rank Item Draw Tickets, 1x Random Trait Draw Ticket
As expected, the fourth Main Story, The Hill Where Ice Flowers Bloom, had seamlessly transitioned into the fifth.
'At least the content itself hasn't changed.'
I'd been a bit anxious that Wol Ha-yeon's participation in the Main Story might introduce some variables, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
-Kieeeek! Kwek!
About five minutes after leaving the dungeon entrance and entering the largest nearby forest...
We finally encountered our first monster.
A real monster, not a holographic fake or an artificially created one.
Of course, Amelia and I had already faced undead monsters far stronger—and more horrific—than these green goblins back in the Dungeon of the Silent Dead.
Sophia and Amelia, having experienced real dungeons multiple times even before enrollment, wouldn't be fazed either.
True enough, Sophia casually vaporized ten charging goblins with a single 1-Circle spell, without so much as batting an eye.
"Hmm... Doesn't that make you curious all of a sudden?"
Sophia glanced down at the goblins' charred remains, reduced to ash, before turning to me as I followed behind.
"Why are goblins always the most common monster in low-rank dungeons, no matter the type? They're the most numerous even in artificial dungeons."
"... Who knows? No idea."
Her question gave me pause.
Not just in the game I'd played, but in nearly every web novel and webtoon, goblins were depicted as the most common, easiest monsters.
Though every now and then, there'd be an absurdly strong goblin loaded with bizarre tastes...
'Yeah, better not dwell on that.'
Anyway, the developers probably just used goblins as the default because they're everywhere.
"We'll look into that later when we have time. More importantly, do you sense anything?"
I redirected her attention. Sophia was still tilting her head, gripping her staff tightly with both hands.
I wanted to check if she could feel the mana overaccumulation phenomenon too.
"Hmm..."
She tapped her chin with a finger, glancing around, then nodded slightly.
"Nothing in particular? The air just feels really refreshing. Why?"
"Just curious."
So she can't feel it, as expected?
Normally, I wouldn't be able to either. I'd never once sensed mana overaccumulation while playing the game.
But with my Mana Sensitivity Genius trait, Empathic Constitution, and directly experiencing it in reality...
A chilling, ominous mana was pouring out massively from the dungeon's core.
It felt like something was desperately trying to force its way through cracks.
Soon, the High Lich and its undead horde would appear—that much my body could sense.
Of course, if Sophia felt it too, that'd be one thing, but since it was just me, I couldn't exactly warn everyone about an impending multi-gate.
All I could do was pray that fewer students near the dungeon core would die.
'... No, there's one thing I need to pray for even more desperately.'
That the Dullahan doesn't show up.
Based on the aura I was sensing, it didn't seem likely.
The mana was incredibly dense and fierce, but only on the level of a single S-Rank.
Still, nothing was certain.
"Okay, enough random thoughts."
"... Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. Let's scout faster. We can't fall behind the others."
I gave one last glance toward the dungeon core in the west, where mana laced with deception and curses was emanating, then followed Sophia and Amelia deeper into the forest.
About twenty minutes into the field dungeon exploration...
In the core of the Windy Plains Dungeon, rich with magic stones, herbs, and plants...
Three male students—who had previously picked a fight with Kang Hyun-sol and suffered a humiliating defeat—were trampling the vegetation while chatting.
"Haa... This is so fucking annoying. What the hell is that Kang Hyun-sol guy that he's even acquainted with that Yoon Seo-bin chick?"
"Dunno. From what I overheard earlier, they've known each other for a while."
"Whatever. Focus on scouting. If we don't get at least B+ this time because of that disciplinary action last time, we're all getting expelled."
Trampling the grass underfoot, the three had unknowingly reached the dungeon's deepest recesses.
It was eerily quiet all around.
Too quiet.
"Hah... Fuck, why aren't there any monsters here? Did we get stuck in some dead zone or what?"
The chattiest of them grumbled, but another suddenly halted, scanning the surroundings.
"... Hey, fuck, did you just feel that?"
"Feel what?"
"The mana around us... it's getting really weird, right?"
As the other two stared puzzled, he gulped.
"Didn't it get suddenly... chilly after passing that tree? It was warm just a moment ago, but the vibe changed."
"Vibe? You coming down with something?"
"No, seriously. Just stand still and feel it."
They stopped skeptically, and a faint shiver brushed over their skin.
Like goosebumps crawling up their spines.
"......Huh?"
"Dude, this is... kinda creepy."
"It's a feeling I've never sensed before."
That wasn't all.
A foul, nauseating stench wafted from somewhere nearby.
Rot, curses, mana surge, and... an indescribable scent of death.
Something utterly impossible in a D-Rank dungeon.
"Hey, this doesn't feel right. Shouldn't we report it?"
"By the rules, yeah... but—"
The leader gritted his teeth.
"... Forget you we get expelled if our grades drop below B+?"
"......"
"If we play this right, we might even get bonus points. If we check it out first and report before anyone else notices... it could work in our favor."
"Just... check?"
"Yeah. Just check."
He swallowed hard.
"... If it seems really dangerous, we bail immediately. But—this could be our chance."
After a moment's hesitation, the three slowly ventured deeper into the forest.
The darkness in the inner woods was so thick that even sunlight filtering through the leaves cast pitch-black shadows.
The branches swayed lightly without a breeze.
And then, at some point...
"... Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't that... something really weird over there?"
Amid the trees, a distortion sucked in all light like a void.
Crimson-black ripples undulated outward, methodically devouring surrounding mana at regular intervals.
At its center floated a small sigil.
A gray magic circle, encircled by vivid pink waves, twisted curses entwining it.
"Multi... Gate?"
The three stumbled back simultaneously.
Just looking at it squeezed their hearts, chilling their blood.
This was a D-Rank dungeon.
Such a thing shouldn't exist here.
Which meant...
"N-No way... mana overaccumulation...?"
"Fuck— Fuck! We have to report this now. Run—"
As they spun to flee...
─── Plop.
Something dense hit the ground from midair, echoing not in their ears, but in their minds.
"Who... are you?"
A voice laden with overwhelming, suffocating death aura filled the entire forest.
Frozen, the three turned.
Thin mana mist slowly gathered.
It looked like ordinary fog at first, but gradually shaped into a humanoid form before their eyes.
A skeletal skull floating in the air.
Below it, tattered robes of an ancient noble sorcerer.
Faint blue flames flickered within the bones.
Embers of the soul kindled.
The entity raised its head.
Blue-flame eyes fixed on them.
That gaze alone froze the air, shattering their vision like fractured ice.
"Humans...?"
The High Lich tilted its head slowly.
"How fortunate... I was in need of suitable life force. Perfect timing."
As Karseion muttered, he twitched a finger.
His body as the epicenter—
─── Whoosh!
Black mana erupted, snaking around their hands, feet, and waists like serpents.
Soul Bind.
Karseion's S-Rank unique skill.
Chains that bound not just the body, but the soul, mana, and very life force.
"Gaaahhh!!"
"What the—! What is this—!!"
"Can't move... I can't move—!"
The black mana chains tightened viciously, allowing not an inch of struggle.
Karseion approached slowly, intrigued.
The clack-clack of bones was chillingly ominous.
"Fear not... Sleep briefly, and awaken as my loyal knight and warrior."
The blue flames in the skull's sockets blazed fiercer.
"One is trash in talent, vitality, and intellect, but the other two make fine material. They'll yield decent soldiers."
He raised a hand toward the bound trio.
"See you... shortly."
A whisper like claws on their souls, and they screamed in unison.
"Kaaaaahhh!!!"