Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Gremlins
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Though it was Cloi's request, this job was a turning point for Jun as well.
For stable funding going forward, a business venture was essential.
And the place they'd arrived for that purpose was here—one of the second-floor fields, the Ashen Wasteland.
'According to the game lore, this was the land where a witch once lived in ancient times.'
However, the witch had been captured by the church and burned at the stake. In her rage, she cursed the land.
A scorched earth where not a single blade of grass could grow—a parched wasteland.
The only sights were gray canyons.
The sky should have been blue, but here it was a gloomy gray.
"Hmm..."
"It's eerie, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It makes me feel like I don't want to do anything."
"It's a field effect."
It was a field effect called the Curse of Apathy.
True to its name, it was a curse that filled you with apathy just by standing still, making you lose the will to do anything.
'In the game, it was implemented as faster stamina and fatigue drain.'
Like this, there were many places in Blackout with field effects.
Because of that, this area wasn't popular, much like the barren rocky zones.
"Yeah, it's definitely not a place you'd want to visit twice. Maintenance costs are pretty high too."
A familiar, somewhat welcome voice came from behind Jun.
"Colton. You've arrived."
"Long time no see, friends!"
"......"
True to his cautious nature, Jun had abandoned the idea of tackling the dungeon solo with just Aiden like on the first floor.
In a place where unknowns could pop up anytime, overconfidence meant death.
So, he'd asked Cloi to send a named request to Colton's mercenary corps, with whom they'd synced up once before.
While at it, Colton had met Braden on the first floor and brought Maya, the White Whale Mercenary Corps' temporary member.
"Good work coming all this way."
"Work? When the client's calling, we come running."
There had been the hassle of picking up Maya on the way, but Colton's face was all smiles.
Thanks to the hefty request fee from Cloi.
"Maya. You getting used to our language yet?"
"I've learned much, sir."
"......?"
The pronunciation was a bit slurred, but it was way better than before.
Her expression still lacked any spark of life, though.
Meanwhile, Colton gazed up at the ashen sky.
"Man, this godforsaken land—been a while. Two years?"
Colton's corps had solid experience on the second floor.
As proof, he carried a [Lantern of Sanctification], something you needed hefty donations to the temple to obtain.
An artifact that nullified field effects in a certain radius, depending on its grade.
But it had no effect on Jun or Aiden.
Aiden had [Beast Body] with status resistance, and Jun had [Steadfast Heart].
"Anyway, that's our destination?"
"Yep."
"Like before, you mages sure know a lot."
Their destination was a certain canyon in the Ashen Wasteland.
Under towering cliffs on both sides.
Naturally, it was a hidden dungeon no one had discovered yet.
Recalling from memory, they'd arrived before a massive boulder blocking part of the path.
"Aiden. Mind smashing that rock?"
"Got it!"
[Charge]
[Bash]
Using the two skills in succession, the massive boulder split apart in an instant.
Colton gaped at the sudden spectacle.
"W-What was that just now?"
"Skills. He learned them."
"Whoa... From the raid rewards?"
"Payment for landing the killing blow on the Forest Guardian."
"Heh, impressive..."
Colton and his men had gotten rewards too, but the best was iron armor.
Nothing compared to skills.
Colton looked a bit deflated but quickly perked up.
He'd known Aiden's talent for a while, and it was too late to envy it now.
"Anyway, this the dungeon entrance?"
"Yeah. Hidden one."
"Heh, nice."
An undiscovered dungeon meant untouched treasures inside.
Greed fitting a mercenary lit up Colton's face.
The contract let them claim a share of any treasures found.
"Alright! We'll take point—follow close!"
"Got it."
Colton, brimming with enthusiasm again, led the way into the entrance.
Jun, Aiden, and Maya followed into the dungeon.
The dungeon's name was Eternal Repose.
Its origin was clear from the scenery.
"Whoa, this is something..."
Even Colton, jaded from years of mercenary work, couldn't hold back a genuine gasp.
The view before them was breathtaking, too grand for "spectacle" alone.
"Looks like a fossil... What is that thing?"
"Probably a dragon from ancient records."
"D-Dragon?!"
"A dragon, sir?!"
Colton yelped in shock at Jun's explanation.
Aiden's eyes sparkled beside him—probably from some childhood novel.
Jun chuckled at their opposite reactions.
"Nothing that impressive. Similar ones have been found on upper floors."
"T-True, but... Dragon bones are super valuable materials, right?!"
"A-And maybe dragon treasure's hidden there?!"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're both wrong."
The bones were fully fossilized and weathered. Fossils were just rocks—useless.
No dragon-related treasures either.
"Oh..."
"Tch."
Aiden and Colton smacked their lips in disappointment but soon lit up again.
They'd never seen a living dragon, but this showed how massive they were.
The ground they stood on was a weathered dragon tailbone.
Vast canyons flanked them, ashen sky filtering through above.
The dragon's huge ribs arched like a perforated roof, blocking the sky. Its spine stretched ahead like a guiding path.
"......"
Even amid the grandeur, Maya—guarding Jun's side—showed no emotion.
Her face changed only once.
"Gremlins!"
When facing monsters.
"Damn machine freaks!"
Gremlins: lizard-like bipeds with huge ears, clad in metal gear.
'Physically like goblins, but way smarter.'
Proof: all wore metal equipment.
Kyahahaha!
They charged with eerie laughs, swinging serrated swords humming with faint vibrations.
"Don't block head-on—deflect! You'll chip your blades!"
At Colton's order, his men targeted flanks.
Unlike goblins, armor meant aiming for vitals.
And like goblins, they bred fast—numbers were high.
"One minute!"
At Jun's shout, the mercenaries held formation, blocking the assault.
They focused on severing joints to disable rather than quick kills.
"Hya!"
Aiden shone brightest.
A month of training paid off—no hesitation in his moves.
He intervened precisely where needed, creating space by slipping away.
His support was effective enough for Colton and crew to notice instantly.
But gremlins weren't pushovers.
Seeing the sturdy formation, they switched tactics.
"Th-Those guys!"
Rear gremlins scaled the walls.
Thanks to spiked boots like crampons anchoring into rock.
Kyahak!
As the rear was about to get pinched, Maya—who'd kept her battle lust in check—moved.
Twin shortswords from her waist sliced the air.
Kya?
Like Aiden once had, the gremlins couldn't block her visible strikes.
Wall-climbing gremlins toppled like dominoes.
'...Her skill's the real deal.'
She still struggled with bloodlust, but no one felled foes more efficiently or fluidly.
"I'll help too!"
Aiden synced with her, covering the opposite side.
Channeling mana to his feet for grip, he wall-ran like the gremlins.
[Charge]
If Maya was shadow, Aiden was wind.
Gremlins scattered like leaves in a gale from the wall, crashing down.
Their heavy gear made head-first falls fatal—most snapped necks or went [Groggy].
And signaling battle's end...
[Earth Burst]
Jun's spell erupted under the gremlins' feet.