Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Troll (2)
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The cave interior was filled with damp, chilly air.
The sound of water droplets trickling down the walls echoed rhythmically through the space.
I gripped my staff tighter and stepped inside.
The cave floor was slick with moisture-soaked moss underfoot.
How long had I been walking?
"......"
A small, butterfly-like creature fluttered in front of my eyes.
A fairy.
Each time the tiny lifeform flapped its wings, glowing crystals scattered around it.
The fairy, which had briefly disoriented me, vanished deeper into the cave.
I followed the shining crystals on the ground inward.
Before long, the cave widened into a vast cavern.
And at its center stood a massive creature clutching a club as big as my body.
-Grrr.
Underground Floor 3 Elite Monster: Troll.
The troll extended its left hand into the air.
Plop.
The fairy that had been fluttering about landed on the troll's palm.
"Hu...man."
That's when the troll spoke to me.
"Come... here. Inside......"
It beckoned me closer with a wave, as if inviting me in.
Just like before.
I walked in obediently.
Frozen Spear had no homing capability.
To land a hit, I had to get close.
Splash.
As I entered the wide cavern, my foot splashed through a puddle on the floor.
"A bit... more... closer...."
The troll's face, which had been gesturing enticingly for me to approach, twisted in an instant.
"Got... you!"
Thud!
The troll slammed down on a hidden switch in the cavern floor, and the cave began to shake.
At the same time.
Rumble—
The entrance slowly sealed shut.
I simply waited for the entrance to close, showing no particular reaction.
"Keh, heh heh..."
Did it think I'd lost the will to fight?
The troll let out a sinister chuckle.
And it wasn't just the troll—perhaps sharing the same thought.
Plop—
The fairy on its hand took flight again.
At the same moment, a child's mocking laughter faintly echoed through the cave.
Underground Dungeon Floor 3 Elite Monsters.
Troll and Fairy.
"Hu-man. Stu-pid."
The troll's creepy laughter reverberated off the sealed cave walls.
The fairy circling the troll overhead giggled mockingly like a child.
While the two laughed, I focused my mana at the tip of my staff.
Crackle—
The mana gathered at the staff tip froze rapidly.
While Frozen Spear prepared, I sent my satellite ahead.
"Puh-heh, heh heh."
As if finding my actions ridiculous, the pair only laughed harder.
Even yielding the first strike because of laughter—just like that.
Watching them, I almost wanted to laugh myself.
Trolls possessed far superior stamina and regeneration compared to orcs.
With a troll plus a magic-savvy fairy, it was understandable they'd grow arrogant.
A knight-mage classic party composition made them a tough matchup, no doubt.
But... that only held if your damage fell short.
"First one."
Whoosh—!
The Frozen Spear left my hand, slicing through the air toward the troll's massive torso.
"Gruk!"
The troll confidently raised its club.
It seemed intent on batting the spear aside.
Crunch!
But upon contact with the club, an explosive chill spread, freezing the troll's entire arm in an instant.
"Graaaah!"
Only then did it grasp the situation, its face losing all mirth.
"Second one."
At my command, the satellite hovering above the troll's head glowed.
Another Frozen Spear stored within fired straight down mercilessly at the exact frozen spot.
-Squeak!
The fairy noticed and hastily erected a barrier.
Crunch—!
The spear pierced the barrier, freezing it solid.
Yet it couldn't block everything.
Thud—
The troll snatched the fairy mid-air and fled from the cavern center.
Simultaneously, the fully frozen barrier shattered, ice shards crashing to the floor.
I moved to the cavern's center, where they'd stood moments before.
No special reason.
To guard the central switch and prevent their escape by reopening the door.
Realizing the tide had turned in a flash, the troll's eyes darted frantically.
"Hu-man... you...!"
It raised its frozen right arm high.
Then smashed it hard against the ground.
Clang—!
"Groooaaar!!"
The frozen arm shattered into pieces, the troll's scream shaking the cave.
...It really did that.
With its arm fully frozen, movement was restricted, after all.
Considering troll regeneration, it was somewhat understandable.
However... while its arm was regenerating, the speed was far too slow for a troll.
The freezing from Frozen Spear had halved its regen rate.
Still, a new arm would sprout within three minutes.
"Grrr...."
Finally sensing something was off, the troll eyed me warily.
The fairy, too, clung motionless to the troll's shoulder, its playfulness gone.
Whatever.
While they hesitated, I cast Frozen Spear again and stored it in the satellite.
But.
'I need to take out the fairy first.'
The troll, having eaten big damage from my magic, was now extremely cautious of me.
It probably wouldn't take hits so easily anymore.
Even if an opening appeared, the fairy would just barrier it up.
To target the fairy, I focused mana at my staff tip.
Hum—
Ten Mana Bolts deployed in an instant.
Fast cast time, with homing to boot.
That's when.
"Groooar!"
Sensing my spell deployment, the troll moved first.
It charged me, swinging the club gripped in its left arm.
At the same time.
Screeeee—!
The fairy on its shoulder unleashed a piercing shriek.
A mind-rattling sonic mental attack of unpleasant waves.
But.
The noise burrowing into my head melted away like snow before the warm pulse from my heart.
Low-level ailments like this healed in seconds.
Thud—
I took the troll's club strike head-on.
Fortunately, Absorption Barrier blocked the troll's attack.
Though twice seemed unlikely.
Whoosh—
Fearing the encroaching troll might flee, I rapidly scattered Mana Bolts around.
The bolts homed in on the fairy from all directions.
The troll tried blocking with its body, but couldn't stop them all.
-Beep!
A Mana Bolt struck the fairy, which vanished in a puff of light dust with a short cry.
[Elite: Fairy defeated.]
[Level Up!]
— 27 → 28
Confirming the fairy's defeat, I immediately cast Frozen Spear.
"Groooar!"
Desperate, the troll swung its club wildly to disrupt my spell.
Its right arm was already half-regenerated.
Hum—
I first Blinked backward to create distance.
Simultaneously, I fired the stored Frozen Spear from the satellite, piercing the troll's body.
"Grrrk...."
Distracted by my casting, it hadn't watched the skies—its body froze solid.
To put it out of its misery, I shot another Frozen Spear into its torso.
Clang—
Ice shattered with the critical hit.
Thus, the troll breathed its last.
[Elite: Troll defeated.]
[Item: Forest Giant's Bag acquired.]
『Forest Giant's Bag』
— 12 Slots
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
— 28 → 30
"Oh."
Elite monsters rarely dropped items.
Luckily, I got a high-end bag unavailable in town.
I applied it to my inventory immediately.
9/21
『Portable Magic Stone Pouch 4 Slots』
『Forest Giant's Bag 12 Slots』
『None』
『None』
『None』
With 12 extra slots, my inventory felt much roomier.
I scooped up the dropped magic cores with my staff and touched the floor switch.
Rumble—
The sealed entrance slowly reopened.
But it wasn't just the entrance.
"Here it is."
Not releasing the switch even after the entrance fully opened revealed a new path on the opposite wall.
A small side room appeared along the wall, containing a treasure chest glowing with golden light.
I opened it immediately.
Creak—
Inside lay a large book.
A grimoire?
Grimoires transmitted magic to their reader.
Once learned, the spells' text vanished from the book.
Thus, resale after learning was impossible.
The town hall library gave out free 1st Circle grimoires, refilling them as power faded.
But only after fully mastering the magic.
I lifted the book.
[3rd Circle: Void Grimoire]
— Circle too low to read.
"Oh!"
The grimoire inside was a 3rd Circle Void spell.
Underground Floor 3's 3rd Circle grimoire drop rate: 0.01%.
And that was for bosses and treasure chests.
Usually, even drops were 1st Circle, 2nd at best with luck.
I stowed the Void Grimoire safely in my inventory.
My magic was still 2nd Circle, so I couldn't read it yet.
But Void magic was highly versatile once learned.
A hero-grade spell rarely seen even on black markets—I had no intention of selling.
"Alright then."
I cleared the area as usual and used a Return Scroll.
I could hunt more... but tomorrow's boss raid prep came first.