Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Third Layer
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3rd Layer.
The beginning was nothing special.
The moment we arrived on the 3rd layer, we were greeted by spiderwebs draped everywhere.
What stood out was that most of the people from the boss room had stayed back on the 2nd layer.
"Most folks aiming for the 3rd layer and above probably headed out yesterday."
"And Arachne don't drop great materials anyway."
That was why those targeting the 3rd layer were mostly adventurers gunning for even higher floors.
"They're tougher and riskier than hobgoblins, but not by much in terms of rewards. Still, they give more EXP."
"Parties pushing upward are different from those content to coast. Of course, they get it. You need steady income to pay taxes."
"......Taxes?"
"Oh, Yuseong hasn't gotten the notice yet? You'll hear from the guild soon. Starts a month from now."
"Tax collectors will come knocking before you know it, so you'll need some silver on hand."
"......Silver?"
I got paying taxes.
But silver? How much money had I even made so far?
"The Adventurer's Guild adjusts taxes based on your tenure. Promising newbies like you, Yuseong, pay less, while slackers get hit harder the longer they linger."
"......That's the guild's scary side. It's their way of saying 'don't settle—keep descending.'"
"Even so, it takes about five years before 2nd-layer hunts stop paying off. If you've had that much time and you're still stuck there..."
"Ever seen the vagrants in the city? Most followed that path. Earn a day's wage, blow it all the same day, no savings, desperation sets in as time runs out, and their adventurer career ends."
"Well, they have their lives, but the guild goes too far. That's why they periodically exile the vagrants outside."
"So those scavengers..."
"Future vagrants. Or current ones. They'll do anything to dodge high taxes. That's why I could kill them on sight."
"Giving up dreams isn't bad, but most adventurers never hit level 3 even after ten years. Everyone's different, so it's unavoidable... but with all the guild's support, if you can't break level 2 after a decade, you probably lack talent. Might as well pivot elsewhere."
Ermé and Glasses spoke with a mix of pity, melancholy, and cold detachment.
Teresa's expression remained unchanged, while Rozenta gave an awkward smile and nodded along.
Sure enough.
This world was different from the one I'd known.
Of course, I'd cut those guys down without hesitation if they came for us.
'Is this the world I'll have to live in from now on?'
As that thought crossed my mind,
a terrifying presence suddenly loomed ahead.
'Not just one strong foe.'
It felt like a massive swarm writhing ahead.
"Something's swarming inside 200 meters ahead."
"A swarm?"
"Humans getting chased."
"Humans?"
"Arachne squad on their tail."
"Numbers..."
"......100."
"We bail. We could save them, but we're beat from fighting."
She was right.
Our party was exhausted.
Even I, who usually conserved stamina, was down to about 80% combat effectiveness.
We could help them, sure.
'......But it could put us at risk.'
That many Arachne could overwhelm us.
If we could save them without issue, we would.
But if it raised the odds of injury or death for our team, hesitation was natural.
Still,
'Those guys are heading our way.'
I warned the party. Ermé and Glasses' faces turned grave.
"Looks like a toss."
"A toss?"
"Dumping monsters on another party. The worst part? Even if the recipients survive, the tossers hide and pick them off later."
"Starting to show up on this floor. Makes sense—we're nearing the mid-layers."
Ermé flashed a cynical smile.
"Can't be helped if we're pushing up. Monster respawns are getting brutal. Rumors say deep floors swarm with beasts that barely feel blades."
"Probably true. Branching starts at 20."
"20th floor... that skeletal horse area."
"Nice chat, but we should run."
Enough spiders had piled up to catch other parties' eyes.
You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but the sheer crawling mass was,
gross as hell.
"......Pass 'em to those guys!"
"If we dump them..."
"No choice! You're more important than strangers."
"Sorry...!"
They were yelling something. From what I caught, they planned to shove the monsters our way and save their own skins.
"......"
I nocked an arrow. A creaking *twang* echoed.
"Yuseong?"
"Looks like they're tossing monsters at us."
"......If it's a confirmed toss, we fight."
Glasses' face hardened.
He began chanting. Flames erupted.
"Heh, even as a support enchanter, you need some punch. This is my new fire spell."
"......"
Support spells galore, offensive ones too, alarm magic to skip night watches, mana-sharing in a pinch—what a wizard.
"-Pretty capable wizard." Rishiel praised Glasses curtly.
I nodded inwardly and loosed my arrow.
*Fwhoosh!*
The arrow sliced through the air. The lead guy's eyes bulged; he swung his sword to deflect.
*Claaang!*
'Oh.'
I eyed the first to parry my shot. But my bow's power was immense—he skidded back like butter.
"N-No!"
*Crunch crunch crunch.*
An Arachne trampled him flat.
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "Things'll get tough from here. Adventurer quality's higher." 'They say decent ones don't come to the 3rd.'
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "Human limits. We elves hit 5th easy." 'Yeah?'
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "Can't underestimate humans. Your peaks are insane." 'Peaks?'
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "Those monsters guarding the human empire. Max-level freaks." '......?'
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "You don't know? Figures—you act like a hermit clueless about the world." Rishiel piqued my curiosity, but I shoved it aside.
Something more pressing demanded focus.
'Combat.'
The enemy was nearly upon us. Eyes burning with murderous intent.
'Funny bastards.'
These were the same ones who'd tried to kill us first.
Now glaring like we were the threat.
"Funny bastards."
Glasses sneered, swelling his fireball to house-size.
And then,
*Whoosh!*
He incinerated the tossers—Arachne and all.
Meanwhile, I'd affixed a dagger to Shadow Reaper's tip and strung it across a wall section.
'It'll snag some, but it'll hold.'
Self-repair would handle the rest.
By then, Arachne were in our faces.
Grotesque spiders everywhere.
*Snap crack!*
The wire sheared the lead Arachne's legs. Those behind toppled like dominoes.
"Teresa!"
"Got it."
Teresa raised her shield at Ermé's call. Rozenta chanted; golden light bathed the shield, an aura rippling across it.
*Boom!*
The massive impact shoved Teresa back. Ermé drew her flame-wreathed sword.
"No injuries, no casualties. Let's head back."
"Yeah."
Rozenta wrapped her fists in bandages, murmuring softly,
"We will get back for drinks."
"......Yeah."
"If we make it, let's all raise a glass together."
"......"
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "Why the sour face?" My bitter look drew Rishiel's remark.
'Obviously.'
Who wouldn't feel ominous with death flags flying everywhere?
'Gotta hustle.'
I drew my bow, nocking and charging.
'Charging Shot.'
*Kreeeeen!*
The string trembled violently. Mana drained rapidly.
Purple lightning crackled at the arrowhead.
*Crackle! Zzzap!*
Violet power condensed.
*Pew!*
The arrow streaked like lightning, piercing the horde to strike an Arachne.
*KABOOM!!*
A monstrous explosion erupted.
'Caught about 35 in the blast.'
My marksman-enhanced vision spotted the staggering survivors.
"Let's go."
We charged forward.
*
*Kieeeek!*
An Arachne screeched. I drew my bloodied sword and cleaved it in half.
'Definitely.'
Now I saw it up close.
These were way weaker than Poison Arachne. Its body split, dissolving to ash-like wisps.
One magic stone remained.
After roughly ten kills, the path ahead was littered with Arachne corpses.
'......Whew.'
I didn't want to show fatigue mid-fight, but
'I'm gonna drop dead.'
I slashed an incoming Arachne in the gut.
Rozenta fell back, blessing us with Vitality.
"Hnnngh...♡"
Face flushed, eyes half-rolled back.
A weird sight, but she was key to our strength.
Without her, I'd be flat out already.
No one complained; we pooled our efforts and cleared the Arachne.
"I-I can't anymore."
Glasses bashed the last one with his staff and collapsed.
"Not saying 'kill me,' but damn if it didn't cross my mind."
"......Whew."
Even Ermé, who usually backed Glasses, just sighed and slumped against the wall.
Teresa,
'......What? Did she pass out?'
Eyes open, utterly still. But soft snores confirmed she was asleep?
Rozenta twitched, hands between her thighs.
"......"
"......"
Our eyes met then, of all times.
I quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
"N-No, th-this is—!"
"Don't worry. I get it."
People can't help their instincts.
Hers were just... intense.
⚙ TELEPATHY ⚙ "What a weird party." Agreed.
The only normal one here was me.