Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Poko Joins the Party
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“Ooooo……”
“Wowaaa……”
They were watching.
Watching intently.
With eyes sparkling brightly.
Staring fixedly at the spirit hiding behind his legs.
And that spirit was none other than a tanuki.
Poko himself.
“So cute.”
“Looks just like a doll.”
Dia and Rabbit's gazes were locked on him.
Perhaps feeling burdened by their stares,
Poko shrank back further with wary eyes.
Luke could only scratch his head awkwardly at the sight.
'This guy's been here.'
He'd forgotten.
Well, more accurately, with everything piling up, his attention had been elsewhere.
Of course, it was all just excuses anyway.
“Poko poko!”
Maybe feeling really miffed at being left behind, Poko started thumping his leg with both paws.
“Sorry, sorry. Wasn't planning to leave you.”
“Poko poko.”
“No idea what you're saying, but anyway, sorry. Poko.”
“Poko!”
He whipped his head away.
Just like a sulky little kid.
At least it was a relief that he'd come looking for him again.
And that he still hadn't let go of the hem of his pants.
'Even if he's mad, no intention of leaving.'
That must be why he'd followed from Parten all the way here.
Luke chuckled at the realization and patted Poko's head.
Chomp!
“Ow, you little—?!”
“Prkooo!”
He got bit right away anyway.
“That's mean. You had such a cute little guy and never even mentioned him to us?”
“Ah, haven't formally contracted or tamed him yet. Was gonna introduce him after the event ended.”
“So he's really been following you around ever since you saved him from that trap?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
Meanwhile,
he'd brushed it off to Dia and Rabbit with a vague story about rescuing Poko from a trap.
“Kinda suspicious.”
“Huh?”
“The oppa I know isn't that nice a guy.”
“N-no, really?”
“Hmm. Well, if you say so.”
Dia eyed him suspiciously midway through, but somehow it blew over.
“……As expected of Seokwoo oppa.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe Poko saw your kind side and that's why he's sticking around?”
“Y-yeah?”
“Yes, definitely!”
On the other hand, Rabbit was jumping to her own conclusions again.
A creature moved by the human who saved it.
Following faithfully to repay the favor ever since.
She was already spinning a heartwarming true story in her head.
With no clue about the kind of past the Luke in front of her had.
After the carriage escort, she'd only seen him as a kind, mannerly person.
'Comparing him to that scum just because of a similar name? That's too much!'
'That guy—no, that jerk—is a societal evil. Societal evil!'
Memories from the carriage escort popped up unbidden.
Back then, Rabbit had shown extreme disgust toward her past self.
Probably meant she really hated scummy players that much.
'Wonder what her reaction'll be when she finds out I'm really that Luke.'
No need to wonder. He could guess.
The problem was that guess was full of shock and horror.
“Anyway, he's adorable. Understands people talk too. Seems like a super smart tanuki!”
“Yeah, I thought he was a doll at first.”
Aware or not, the two dove right back into fawning over Poko.
“Fur looks so soft. Just one touch would make my dreams……”
Twitch!
Poko jerked back from the unfamiliar hand.
Dia pouted, wiggling her fingers sadly.
“Hiiing.”
“He's still wary of people.”
“Only lets oppa touch him, huh.”
“Seems like it.”
“Ugh, first time getting jealous of oppa.”
“Ahaha……”
And so the Poko commotion wrapped up.
The group returned to their original goal.
“So there's a dungeon entrance up ahead?”
“Not just any entrance. Better to show you. Come on, follow me.”
“Okay.”
“Yessir.”
Passing by people, they stopped at one spot.
A hole.
A massive hole.
Like a modern sinkhole, right in the middle of the plain.
Impossibly deep.
Dia peered curiously inside.
Rabbit, fearing a fall, glanced around warily while backing up slowly.
“This is why it's called Zermi Dungeon City.”
“No way, this is the entrance?”
“Yep. Underground caves where every floor is a dungeon.”
A unique underground dungeon only in Zermi.
“The Demon Cave.”
Demon Cave.
The name given by explorers who said demons lurked inside.
A colossal abyss of an entrance.
So deep inside you couldn't descend without ladders.
Six underground floors total.
Descending layer by layer via makeshift stairs.
Sounds like a big underground dungeon so far, but no.
'Each floor of this Demon Cave is a different dungeon.'
Yes.
If Floor 1 was Type A dungeon, Floor 2 was Type B.
And so on through all six floors, each a unique dungeon.
Monsters.
Features.
Layouts.
Clear conditions.
All different.
“So to reach the bottom dungeon, we gotta clear all the ones above?”
“Correct.”
“Whoa, sounds brutal just hearing it.”
“That's why low-level players stick to Floors 1 or 2. Deeper floors ramp up the level requirements.”
Floor 1 recommended level: 30.
Then 40, 50, 60, and up.
“Let's start with Floor 1. If it's good, clear and head straight to 2.”
“Aye aye.”
“M-me too!”
“Then let's go.”
After climbing down the long ladder,
a message soon popped up.
Dungeon entry.
“Hey, people disappeared?”
“Party instance. Others are probably clearing their own Floor 1s.”
Parallel worlds.
Multiverse.
The same space existing across dimensions.
'All instanced dungeons are like this.'
Instance Dungeon.
Basically, channels per player or party.
Three-person party.
Or precisely, four(?).
'Never thought Poko'd party up.'
Before entering the Demon Cave,
Poko had been the biggest issue.
Party instances meant only party members shared the space.
Untamed Poko would end up in a separate instance.
So he'd been agonizing over it...
'Poko, not trying to leave you again, but parties only...'
'Poko!'
Making his worries seem silly, Poko solved it effortlessly.
By sending the party request himself.
'Monsters or animals can't usually party without summons or contracts.'
Even NPC parties need specific conditions.
'Can't believe it even seeing it.'
A second-year gamer's eyes went wide at the bizarre sight.
'Means he could've joined the event too?'
If they'd partied before entering the city and linking with Dia and Rabbit, Poko could've entered Agas Land too.
'Though he wouldn't have followed into crowds anyway.'
Even at the Demon Cave entrance, he'd waited till people thinned.
Spirits must be special.
Luke glanced curiously at the tagging-along Poko, then turned away.
“Oppa said he's a thief, right?”
Dia asked about his class right on cue.
“Yeah.”
“What's your level? Doesn't show in the party window.”
“Always keep it private. A bit higher than you two.”
About triple, actually.
“So back's safe with me. I'll switch forward if things get dicey.”
“No need for that? Right, Haneul?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah!”
“Don't be shocked by our skills this time, oppa.”
Dia clanged her steel gauntlets confidently.
'Curious, yeah.'
How his sister fought in Agas.
'Hm?'
Then he noticed Rabbit's belated anxious expression.
Side-eyeing Dia nonstop.
'What's with her?'
He'd gauged Rabbit's skills during the carriage escort.
She'd probably teamed with Dia since then.
Yet still so uneasy...
Thud thud thud!
Yellow slimes hopping straight ahead.
“Alright, charge!”
“Mi-Mira, wait...!”
Dia dashed in eagerly.
First target: central slime.
She swung a massive fist at it.
Like she'd punch right through.
'Oho?'
Good start.
Luke watched expectantly.
But.
“Yap!”
“Iyap!”
“Haaap!”
“Urgh, one more... Mama-yap!”
Only the start was good.
'Wow, she really sucks at fighting.'
Bad enough to think it about his own sister.
Whoosh!
Missing entirely was standard.
Graze!
Even hits barely scratched.
“Kyaa!”
She even outdid her clumsiness by falling flat on her butt.
Serious.
Beyond serious—this was questionable as combat.
Like fighting herself,
with enemies right there.
Thud thud thud thud!
Dia soon took counterattacks from pissed slimes.
Slash!
Only after Rabbit joined did she escape the one-sided beating.
“Kyuwut!”
“Kyuwuuu!”
Slimes sliced by Rabbit's blade one after another.
Confirming he hadn't misjudged during the escort.
Unlike her timid personality, swiftly subduing foes.
Not genius level, but solid combat talent.
'Rabbit did almost all of it solo?'
Battle over.
Dia stood there pouting.
“Mira?”
“Sorry for lying. Wanted to show off in front of oppa. Guess it doesn't work. No talent for fighting after all.”
“Nah, it's fine. Was kinda fun.”
“Oppa!”
“Kidding.”