Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: You're Dead When We Get Back
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"Dwarves."
I ignored the instructor's words and pulled my scythe out from the [Inventory]. I'd figured nothing would go wrong, but our resident flag king had gone and stirred up trouble.
I've gotta get to the final floor quick and snag that weapon, so what the hell is this?
Dwarves.
E+ rank monsters. They move in packs and have a habit of burrowing into the ground.
The proper way to deal with them is to take them out before they dig in, but since that failed...
Only one option left.
"Shin Ga-yeon. Go handle those."
Three dwarves stood where I pointed, each holding a different position like they were guarding key spots.
That's their nature. Most of the pack goes underground into the tunnels, leaving a few on the surface to act as commanders.
They brief the ground situation and attack positions. Meaning, take out those guys and we're good.
"Yes!"
I planned to let the blue-haired girl charge in solo at my order, no hesitation.
She's not the type to lose to three dwarves anyway.
Now the real issue: the ones underground. No clue how many, but probably a bunch.
That many? Wipe 'em all with Isia's magic? I gestured for her to prepare a spell.
Of course, she didn't get it.
"What?"
"Get your magic ready. You not gonna?"
"「Chant Discard」 doesn't work."
Ah. My fault again? Stings no matter how many times I hear it.
"Then standby on the chant."
"Yes."
I was about to get a position briefing from Lachesis when the blonde sidled up beside me.
She yanked at my arm like crazy.
"Seong-hoon! What about me? What do I do?!"
"The fact you're asking that means you're already doing it wrong."
"That's why I'm asking!!"
No time for this annoying blonde. I opened my [Inventory] and shoved something into her hands.
Ah, two of 'em. She stared at me blankly, holding one in each hand like she had no idea what to do.
No time. I shoved Raphael toward the instructor.
"Go eat some popcorn over there!!"
Magic on the five-side, then. The remaining three are on me.
Really don't wanna. I gripped my scythe, holding back tears.
"Isia. Magic on that side!"
I relayed the direction Lachesis gave me and bolted the opposite way.
I gripped the scythe tight, ready to cleave the instant it popped up. Would I get the ambush bonus on a direct attack?
Only one way to find out.
The ground split with that shout. A dwarf burst out.
「Kieeeek!!」
Sharp eyes and teeth right in my face. Saliva flying from its maw, claws poised to rake me.
But I was faster. Of course I was. I've got Raphael's blessing right now.
Plus, I knew exactly where it'd pop up and was waiting. Only way I'd be slower is if I spaced out.
My body moved with the blue windows. Hand and scythe tracing an arc. The scythe's long reach naturally caught the nearby dwarf too.
Two heads sailed through the air. Limbless bodies lost balance, spraying blood every which way.
This is what I hate. Instant dungeon monsters are holograms that vanish on death, but these are real and they bleed.
I blocked the blood with one hand and grimaced. Hard-earned life hack from repeated decapitations.
"Got it."
I quickly regained my vision and scanned around, but nothing. Their small size made 'em hard to spot anyway.
"Ah."
The thing was charging straight at Isia.
Right after she'd fired off her spell and wiped five dwarves, heading for her defenseless back.
Switched targets after seeing its comrades die nearby?
I gripped my scythe amid the nagging doubt. Too late to run up and slash.
One option left.
I've got that new [Correction] branch from recently. Should be fine.
Probably.
If it's risky, Lachesis has my back.
Don't sell yourself short.
I gripped the scythe and pulled my arm back. I'd make up for the power with inertia.
The blue windows filled my vision as the scythe left my hand. It tore through the air with a deafening whoosh.
Destination: dwarf neck, naturally.
Isia whipped around at the propeller-like whine, locking eyes with the dwarf. She looked pretty panicked, but before it could do anything, my scythe was on it.
「Kiya─?!」
A final yelp, and the head went flying. The scythe shot right up to Isia's face before arcing back my way. She reached out for it.
"Scary no matter how many times. Lachesis."
Scary.
It settled perfectly into my outstretched hand, like it knew right where to go.
Ah. That was cool even to me. Lost in self-admiration, multiple voices rang out.
"All done~"
"Th-thank you."
Yeah. Pretty much wrapped up. I rubbed my nose, proud of my performance. Wasn't that kinda badass?
"Seong-hoon."
"Yeah?"
Raphael had snuck up and was looking up at me. Then she beamed.
"I didn't do a thing!!"
Good job.
Damn brat.
"Hm."
The man rubbed his chin. They were walking the path without issue now, but a fierce skirmish had just wrapped up.
An abandoned dungeon where monsters rarely spawned, but he'd gotten quite the show.
'Knows dwarf habits inside out.'
Dwarves are tough for anyone unfamiliar. Group monsters split into surface commanders keeping watch and tunnel soldiers ambushing.
A normal cadet would've missed the digging and charged the commanders.
'And gotten surrounded, forcing me to step in.'
But that guy? Spotted the dwarves, instantly assigned his vanguard to the commanders, had the mage prep a spell, and positioned for the ambush.
No encirclement, and it threw the attackers into chaos.
What came next was even more impressive.
Like he knew their emergence spots, he directed the mage and one-shot their necks on ambush.
Even the fleeing one: hurled his scythe and severed its neck without a millimeter of error.
'That proficiency with a scythe at his age.'
And a scythe, no less. He'd never seen anyone in that hero's career wield one.
It piqued his interest. Not just this fight.
Guy seemed like the guide, a non-combat pathfinder. Yet the combat he showed was jaw-dropping.
"Hm?"
The data in his hand had some unexpected info.
No mana. Bottom-tier physical stats. Rank 1028 until recently.
Didn't match what he'd just witnessed at all.
'I see.'
Got it. The man understood just how hard he'd worked. encyclopedic monster knowledge, weapon skill beyond his years, and a recent rank explosion.
'Bone-crushing effort, huh.'
He got it. All the signs pointed to the truth. Nothing else made sense. That annoying expression earlier made him want to deck the kid, but maybe a decent sort after all.
"Isia!! Where's my thanks?"
"I said it already!!"
"Hey. With feeling. Money wouldn't hurt."
"I like home!!"
"Can't do that much for your lifesaver?"
"Ah~ can't hear you~ dunno~ not your maid today~ la la la~~"
Maybe not.
The dungeon's deepest floor.
We reached the core and were granted a rest break.
Exhausted anyway, so time to savor it. Who came up with 10 minutes rest then back up?
Harsh. At least 30.
"10 minutes is better than nothing. Anyway, weren't you gonna do that thing?"
"How now?"
I glanced around as I said it. Isia sat a bit away, sneaking peeks at me.
Shin Ga-yeon right beside me, staring holes through me.
And the instructor, eyes sparkling like a kid for some reason.
What the.
Why am I suddenly so popular? Everyone, eyes off me.
Everyone~ Seong-hoon says he has nothing to say~
No choice. Time for a bold push.
Two of 'em are my maids, after all.
"Maid Unit 1!"
"Yes? No, I'm not your maid today?"
"No helping it then. Unit 4."
"Yes!!"
Unit 4's sneakily capable. Wiped all the dwarf blood off me from the fight. Conjures water for a wash, dries with mana. Real pro move.
Handy girl. Just ignore stuff like 'feels nice washing my husband.'
Anyway.
"Go get some water from the instructor. Negotiate more rest time if you can."
"Yes!!"
Does 'no' even exist in her vocab? Doubt it.
Shin Ga-yeon shot up, and Isia—who'd overheard—popped up too.
What's she doing?
"I-I'll do it."
"What're you doing? You're not a maid."
"I-I just wanna rest more too?"
That so? Perfect. Sat Shin back down. Averted Isia and instructor's gazes.
Shin's gaze remains, though.
I eyed Raphael rolling on the dirt-and-rock floor nearby.
"Hey."
"Yes!"
"She stinks. Take her and wash up."
"Wait. I don't stink?"
Raphael sniffed herself and declared it. Even if she says it's all flower scent!!
If you can beat Shin Ga-yeon in strength, go for it.
"Wait!! Wait!! I'm super clean!!"
I know. Sorry. Think of it as an honorable death.
I waved goodbye to the dragged-off Raphael and checked my surroundings.
Isia's chatting with the instructor. Shin's wrestling Raphael.
No eyes on me. Perfect.
I focused my will, and blue windows popped up as my vision inverted.
No exact location. Kim Tae-hyun came here, rested, fought a monster that appeared, and found it.
By sheer coincidence. Total fluke stage.
But I've got 「Mana Eye」. Hidden means...
Sealed. And seals mean magic.
My eyes see mana.
Something pulsed unnaturally nearby. Not far in the ground.
Mana wriggled and churned there. Double-checked everywhere else: all clear.
Only this spot had a massive mana surge.
"Bingo."
I pulled the scythe from my [Inventory] and jabbed lightly. Mana backlashed and vanished.
A hole appeared. Bottomless pit. Huh? Kim Tae-hyun got teleported right in, right?
Forced it open and made it like this?
"Lachesis."
"Survival odds if I fall in here?"
...Give up?
That thought crossed my mind as I turned. Something was charging at me.
"Lee Seeeong-hooooon!!"
Blonde fury. Freshly escaped and fluffy, Raphael barreled toward me.
"Wait!! Stop!!"
"Who stinks?! Only flowers from me!!"
"Got it. You're flowers. Was just cloud scent!! To draw eyes!"
Ah, that? Raphael skidded to a halt. I sighed in relief and tried to redirect Shin's attention.
"Ah."
Raphael tripped on a rock. Fine so far. But the fall direction's off.
Why forward? Why toward me? Why am I getting shoved right now?
Eyes met Raphael's as she collapsed into my arms.
The spot I'd been standing? Right at the hole's edge.
Floating sensation wrapped my body.
Looked around: no footing anywhere. Felt this before.
Scene looks familiar.
Three seconds of silence passed. Raphael spoke up.
"Yeah, my bad."
"See you when we get back."
And then the screams.
Guess which one's mine.
—Aaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're dead when we get back, Raphael.