Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: 11. First Collaboration (6)
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Sylvia stared blankly at the ice flower blooming before her.
It was enormous enough to envelop a large building.
Beautiful and ornate enough to become a landmark if placed anywhere.
Trapped in the center of the ice flower was the boss monster of this C-rank acute dungeon.
Frozen solid and dead.
Ice Blast, Bloom, Chain.
A spell that combined three structures into a single form.
The technique of 'multi-fusion and transformation of magic constructs' that Ian had discerned and awakened in Sylvia.
There had been no need to use such an extravagant spell.
A C-rank dungeon was something Sylvia could clear barehanded from the start.
The reason she had manifested this lavish magic was simple.
'Ian...'
Every time she cast a spell, Ian came to mind.
The more difficult and complex the magic.
Especially the ones she had devised together with him.
The memories of him surfaced more vividly.
Those surging memories spewed black rust, rotting her heart.
But even that pain felt welcome now.
"Hoo..."
Sylvia grasped the yellow magic stone on the platform.
It wasn't necessary, but it was required to close the portal.
"Huh...?"
As Sylvia emerged from the dungeon, the scouting party from earlier was waiting at the entrance.
"...Didn't I tell you to leave first?"
"Ah... Th-thank you!"
The man bowed deeply at the waist.
Before Sylvia could say a word, he poured out his words.
"I stayed because I knew I wouldn't get another chance to properly thank you, Lady Sylvia! Truly, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, even if our villagers evacuated, the village facilities and fields would have been completely destroyed!"
The 1st Hero Party weren't people one could even greet personally under normal circumstances.
Lately, they seemed even more temperamental, making it worse.
So the man had risked danger and rudeness to appear before Sylvia.
His bowed body trembled, and his resolute voice was laced with emotion.
It was gratitude too overwhelming to bear.
Watching him, Sylvia clenched her molars.
'Someone like me... doesn't deserve thanks like this...'
She recalled the time she had followed Ian to resolve an acute dungeon and been cheered by the villagers.
A scene so beautiful and warm it now made her nauseous.
'From trash like me...'
Sylvia took a deep breath, swept back her bangs, and spat out her words.
"Go now. It's over."
"Yes, thank you...!"
Sylvia walked following the man's guidance.
Even as he led the way, he incessantly expressed his gratitude.
'I'm going to puke...'
She didn't show it, but her stomach twisted.
"...Straight ahead from here is the camp, right?"
"Yes! That's right."
"Then I'll go first. I left something in the dungeon."
"Pardon?"
Sylvia turned and ran off without hearing his reply.
Only after putting a good distance away.
"Urp..."
She vomited up the rising bile.
Yellow, hot gastric acid spilled out messily, soaking the ground.
She hadn't eaten for days, so there was nothing to bring up, yet Sylvia heaved as if choking.
It solved nothing.
Ian clung stickily to her memories.
As did the times spent with him and the world's truths revealed through him.
No matter how much she puked, she couldn't expel them.
But if she didn't, she felt like she'd truly die, so Sylvia forced herself to retch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vivian swiftly cleared the path ahead.
After the previous dungeon, she felt her stamina and mana running low.
It was a bit tough, but not enough to give up.
Her nerves were sharpened instead, making her mana expenditure more precise.
Using only the necessary amount with greater finesse.
Kati, following behind, observed her closely.
She had watched Sylvia grow too.
Back then, Kati had been young and weak, unable to observe objectively as she could now.
Still, she vaguely sensed it.
Vivian's growth was even sharper than Sylvia's.
Mercy, unable to compare the two, simply marveled.
"Our Vivian is doing so well! If she just keeps growing steadily like this!"
It was Kati's hope too.
She wished the events of the 1st Party wouldn't repeat, and that they would simply grow following Ian like now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vivian and Helena entered the dungeon's deepest chamber simultaneously.
Seeing each other from opposite walls, they waved.
But both wore grim expressions.
The vast space was crawling with cave lizards everywhere.
Like bugs swarming from under a rock, the floor, walls, and ceiling were packed with lizards.
"Eugh..."
Vivian recoiled in disgust.
She had seen plenty of cave lizards on the way, but this was different.
Clustered like this, they were bound to be creepy.
The horde of cave lizards, sensing intruders, turned to Vivian and Helena.
Vivian grimaced but analyzed the dungeon's layout.
Helena did the same.
It was what Ian called a 'divided chamber.'
The overall structure was a plain dome-shaped cavern, but a translucent barrier bisected the center vertically.
A wall made of mana.
Not only could one not cross it, but touching it repelled them.
Thus, this acute dungeon's design hindered cooperation between the split groups.
But that was no issue for Vivian and Helena.
Ian's teaching was to handle one's share sufficiently alone.
Both had absurdly high output anyway, and since their teamwork wasn't synced yet, solo was actually easier now.
Kati and Mercy hid behind the door, and Vivian stepped forward.
From the opposite side, Ian appeared behind Helena. Confirming Vivian safe, he let out a small sigh of relief. He knew there was no need to worry, yet he did anyway. Vivian grinned at that, then hardened her expression again. Too many cave lizards everywhere.
"Eugh..."
The resolve to clear them quickly and the result happened almost simultaneously. Lightning bolts from the cloud-shaped magic construct rampaged as if to collapse the cave. The bolts vanished upon hitting the magic wall, so no worry for Helena.
'So many of them. Destructive power is sufficient, so prioritize wide-area damage spells...'
Along with lightning bolts from the magic construct, Vivian's Fireball swept half the chamber.
-Boom! Burst!
The air boiled hot. Only then did Vivian truly appreciate how remarkable her outfit was. She adjusted the range, but aftershocks were inevitable, yet she felt no pain or heat. Just slightly warm.
'4th-grade enchantment... Such a precious item...'
What if she had known this outfit's function from the temporary hero promotion exam? She probably would have felt less sense of crisis. No matter what, she wouldn't get hurt.
'That's why Ian didn't tell me.'
Train harshly for solid growth, but provide safety nets to prevent injury. Vivian grinned and glanced across. Her side was already cleared.
As the magic aftershocks faded and noise died down, sounds from the other side emerged.
"Uwaaaaaah-!"
Helena screamed as she ran through the dungeon. A massive shield deployed concave before her. Cave lizards hitting the shield bounced back elastically, only to hit the charging Helena and bounce again, repeating.
Thus, Helena ran a D-shaped path around her half of the chamber. Like sweeping lizards with a dustpan. She had looked over proudly at her work, but Helena's method was...
'Looks so fun...!'
Helena indeed wore an ecstatic expression. Ian chuckled wryly at the sight. He had never seen anyone tackle a dungeon so joyfully, laughing all the way.
"Uhehehehe! Ian! Are you watching-?!"
"...How could I not."
It was application in its own way, bizarre or amusing... Ian simply concluded it was impressive.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The acute dungeon was conquered easily and swiftly.
Vivian and Helena, now accustomed, ascended the platform, grasped the magic stone, and descended.
"We cleared two dungeons in one day!"
"Hnyu... A bit tired now."
Only now that tension eased did fatigue show.
Yet neither looked exhausted.
Pride and relief shone through.
"Good work. I'll adjust training for a few days to focus on rest."
"Ooh...! Thank you!"
"Hehe, thanks."
The platform they descended rumbled loudly as it sank.
Something stood awkwardly in its place.
Iris, returning after confirming the portal closed, spotted it next after me.
"What's that?"
Only then did Vivian and Helena look back.
"...Huh?"
"......"
Unlike puzzled Vivian, Helena's knees trembled, and she slowly knelt.
"H-Helena?"
Flustered Vivian glanced around, crouching tentatively as if wondering if she should too.
Her reaction was so funny, a chuckle escaped me.
"Wh-why are you laughing...?"
"Does it look laughable? Helena's a priestess, so it's fine, but Vivian, no need."
Helena was now prostrating fully, bowing to the object.
"What is it?"
"One of the holy relics sought by the Holy Flame Church."
Praying Girl Statue.
Honestly, compared to other relics or artifacts, its effects weren't dramatic.
It merely slightly enhanced the three miracles used by priests.
But its merit was huge: it bestowed blessings upon first contact, and couldn't be lost, stolen, or broken in battle.
It also aided growth in the corresponding miracle type with each use, perfect for current Helena.
Though that growth had limits.
"Holy relic...?"
"An artifact and now a holy relic in one day... I see why the Captain recommended Ian."
I almost brushed it off as coincidence.
But coincidences varied; this was far from ordinary.
"Helena."
"Y-yes...?"
"Go touch it."
"Eek?! N-no! How could I dare... Th-this, th-this...!"
Helena writhed, emitting strange noises.
"...Then we're leaving it? We should take it to the Holy Flame Church."
"Y-you're right, but..."
"Among us, doesn't it suit you best?"
Helena looked around the group.
Everyone awaited her action.
Swallowing hard, she cautiously touched the relic.
-Shine... A warm light emanated from the statue, enveloping Helena's body.
"Ah, th-this, eek, ack? The flames burn away the vermin's name and dwell in the heart..."
She jerked like a malfunctioning doll, then suddenly began reciting prayers.
"Helena, snap out of it."
"Y-yes...?"
I got that the blessing had settled, but explaining to Helena would be tricky.
She'd sense it herself anyway.
"Let's go now."
Helena clutched the Praying Girl Statue as she moved, but trembled too much.
"You'll drop it."
"Hngk-!"
"Whoa...!"
Startled by the word, she fumbled the relic.
Not expecting it to actually happen, I reacted quickly too.
Fortunately, I caught both Helena and the relic in my arms.
"That was close."
"S-sorry...!"
"Helena. You need to be careful."
Vivian gently scolded her.
"Y-you seemed too tense..."
Kati sneaked up, supporting Helena and the relic from the other side, placing her hand over mine.
"...Why you?"
"...Ah! Could Kati carry it? I-I'm, too, right now, that..."
A demonkin carrying a holy relic.
What a picture.
"But is it okay? Kati, any reaction... or anything?"
"None."
Kati was a demonkin, but I knew little about the race.
Fought a few in the second loop, that was it.
Like elves, not extremely rare, but not much known.
Helena realized her words bordered on tactless and looked awkward.
Iris, unaware of the reason, was just confused, but I couldn't explain.
As Helena said, Kati carried the relic.
The dungeon exit was in sight, but quite a crowd outside.
Malcolm, was it?
More people than the scout leader had left behind...
No hostility, so I didn't alert the group.
Outside, ordinary-looking civilians lined up near the entrance.
"They're out!"
"Ooh, heroes...! It's the heroes!"
"The heroes have returned safely!"
...What was this?
A shared bewilderment washed over the group.
My gaze swept the crowd, landing on Malcolm, the scout leader.
He approached with a cough and explained.
"They're residents from nearby farms. They insisted on thanking the heroes... I tried sending them back for safety, but they're famously stubborn."
Seemed he knew them well.
Unlike his embarrassment, the villagers beamed with gratitude.
An elder, likely the village head, spoke.
"Stubborn? It's only right!"
"That's how they are."
"Tch, you overgrown bachelor."
"Th-that...!"
Vivian startled, then realized they came to thank her, grinning bashfully yet proudly.
Iris murmured, ‘Is this the hero’s role…?’ nodding as if deeply moved.
Mercy and Kati stepped back following my lead.
Letting only Vivian and Helena receive the attention.
"They saved us. Say thank you."
"Heroes! You're awesome-! Thank you for saving us-!"
A parent prompted their child.
Helena, looking at the crowd, burst into tears at the thanks.
"Sob, kugh... Sniff...!"
She clutched her ever-present green necklace, sobbing.
"Wh-whoa, hero?!"
"Are you hurt?!"
Villagers, scouts, even Vivian rushed over alarmed.
"Helena?! What's wrong?"
"N-no, it's n-nothing...!"
I was startled too, but soon guessed the reason.
This acute dungeon could have injured or killed some here.
Helena and Vivian prevented that.
This scene probably overlapped with her past when her parents died.
She couldn't save them then.
But this was comfort enough.
"Th-thank you... Truly..."
Helena thanked those she saved.
Sunset glowed over distant fields.
Under the warm orange sky, Vivian and Helena received gratitude and respect from many.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Injured?"
It was Sylvia's first words upon arriving at the 1st Party's new camp.
She looked down at blankly seated Aria.
Her eyes lacked focus.
'In just an A-rank dungeon? Even if her skills rusted...'
Astounded, she shot accusatory glares at Kaily and Beatrice.
Receiving them, the two scowled immediately.
They had plenty to say too.
Their gazes clashed in midair.
Built-up anxiety, suspicion, and now confirmed rift widened dramatically.
A situation on the verge of explosion.
Aria, gazing at her wound alone, spoke first.