Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 2nd Floor Boss
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The next day.
I arrived at the boss room on the dungeon's second floor right on time.
Dawn Guild members were still blocking the entrance to the boss room.
"You're cleared."
They stepped aside after checking the pass I handed over.
Inside the boss room, not just Dawn Guild but Azure Dragon Guild and various mercenary groups had staked out their positions and were waiting.
Normally, guilds took turns blocking the boss room entrance.
There used to be competition between them, but that led to chaos, so they reached an agreement.
As an unaffiliated adventurer, I grabbed a spot in the corner.
The boss was due to spawn soon, but standing alone felt awkwardly embarrassing.
I scanned around for anyone I knew... but no one.
Humphrey from Dawn Guild was the closest thing, but he was busy directing his group.
Well... even if he weren't, we weren't close enough for chit-chat.
The wait was awkward, but I couldn't miss the boss.
No opportunity gave as much experience as a boss monster raid.
That said.
[I won't get any items.]
It was just the second-floor boss, yet familiar faces were few and far between.
From Azure Dragon Guild, there was a warrior-class guy who hunted the underground fifth floor.
Mercenary groups had plenty who operated on the fifth and sixth floors.
Their firepower wouldn't fall short... but there were a lot of named adventurers gathered.
The reason was probably... the bosses on the fourth and fifth floors.
The underground fourth and fifth floors had something called the Reverse Labyrinth.
The Reverse Labyrinth could only be accessed through hidden red gates on each floor.
The problem was... the boss respawn locations included the Reverse Labyrinth.
If a boss spawned in the fourth floor's Reverse Labyrinth, the main fourth floor stayed boss-less.
And since bosses didn't respawn until killed, they kept going deeper.
They probably had no idea about the hidden treasure chests still intact, so they didn't know about the Reverse Labyrinth either.
Fewer huntable bosses naturally pushed them deeper.
Otherwise, they wouldn't gather like this just for a second-floor boss.
Well... experience alone was enough for today.
Once I broke through the third circle quickly, I could farm hidden bosses.
I endured the awkwardness of standing alone, waiting for the boss to appear.
Maybe I should've arrived exactly on time.
"Hmm? Haven't seen your face before."
Then, a man approached and spoke to me.
He wore a robe and hat screaming "mage," and greeted me amiably.
...Stranger.
He seemed unaffiliated too—no marks on his robe.
"I saw Dawn Guild make way for you. Did Humphrey take a liking to you too? Same here."
As expected.
He was unaffiliated but participating as Dawn Guild's mercenary.
"Perfect timing. I was bored alone—let's chat."
"Sure."
I was feeling awkward too, so this worked out.
He plopped down right next to me.
"By the way... you hunting on the second floor?"
"Third floor."
"Whoa... same here, but I don't remember seeing you. Newcomer?"
"About two days."
"That explains it. Me? I've been hunting the third floor for nearly five years."
He emphasized the five years proudly.
"If you've just started on the third floor, as your senior, let me tell you what you need to know."
"No need..."
"Oh, don't tell anyone else!"
"I don't need..."
He barreled on, reciting third-floor trivia nonstop.
...I said I don't need it.
I tuned him out, waiting for him to finish.
At least having someone nearby killed the awkwardness.
"...there. That should cover it."
He finished with a smug grin.
"Oh, right—you're a mage?"
"Yes."
"Then you must've holed up studying magic!"
"No."
"Come on! Let me share something important."
"......"
No point protesting—he'd ignore me—so I stayed quiet.
"Listen well. There's a huge difference between firing magic at a wall and using it on a monster!"
"Is that so."
"Exactly! Against a wall, you raise skill proficiency. But!"
He jumped to his feet.
"Use the same spell to take down a monster, and you gain massive experience!"
"Is that so."
"And there's a huge gap between using it on a goblin versus a lizardman."
Obviously.
The experience difference was massive.
"The longer you fight, the more you'll feel it. Facing stronger foes makes you grow faster!"
"Yes."
"And bosses count as strong foes! You'll feel it after today's fight—how much you grow just clashing with one!"
"I know."
"You know? Do you know how many second-floor boss raids I've done? This is your first, right? You can tell who's gonna rise just by who's here!"
I said I know.
I'm here to level up too.
"Oh, how long have you been here?"
I casually held up two fingers.
"Two...?"
"Two years? Only two years!"
"No, two..."
"What a talented junior!"
Pat pat.
He laughed heartily, slapping my shoulder.
...I meant two weeks.
He kept cutting me off, so I ignored it.
Won't see him again anyway.
"I'll hit twelve years soon. Man, you young folks these days are overflowing with talent! Eh?"
...Boss, hurry up.
Tiring having to humor him.
"Oh, let me guide a talented junior like you specially. Reached the second circle?"
"I'm fine."
"No need to be shy! Talents like you die in the blink of an eye in this labyrinth dungeon."
"I'm strong enough."
"Haha! You just don't know how scary dungeons are yet..."
Ugh. My ears are bleeding.
He didn't seem bad, so I couldn't brush him off cleanly.
I just endured.
Boss would spawn soon anyway.
"I won't push, but if you change your mind, say the word! Cheaper than buying spellbooks, and I'll share all my tips."
"......"
Not free, huh.
That was when.
"Prepare!"
Humphrey from Dawn Guild shouted loudly.
Time was up.
His call started it—guild members taking positions one by one.
"Then I'll head over there!"
I ignored him and moved to the back.
He followed.
"Better spot?"
...Just go away.
"Talk more after the fight! I have some really powerful spells..."
I ignored him, facing forward.
Guilds and mercenaries prepared around the center, keeping distance.
Then.
Crack-!
A rift tore open in the air, revealing a spirit bound in massive restraints.
Second-floor boss monster. Molvid.
Molvid, the spirit brimming with murky swamp water, spawned an acidic bog around itself immediately.
"Fireball!"
"Energy Bolt!"
Dozens of spells arced through the air, slamming into the boss's body.
-Splash!
But Molvid was a liquid-form spirit.
Physical hits and most low-tier spells just passed through, raising faint steam—no real damage.
"Ice magic focus! Freeze the ground first!"
Azure Dragon Guild's commander shouted.
At once, their mages waiting with spells unleashed ice magic.
Crack-
The boss's feet froze, and melee classes charged in unison.
Screech-
Swords pierced the boss's body.
Each time, slime-like chunks broke off bit by bit.
The boss didn't sit idle, whipping around to swallow people.
"Hey, junior! Why just standing? Fire off even one more shot now to rack up contribution!"
The chatty mage beside me poked me.
I ignored him, observing the battlefield.
With people too close, my wide-range attacks were limited.
"Aw, fine—I'm going first!"
With that, he dashed forward.
He squeezed out an Energy Bolt and hurled it at the boss.
Zap-
No significant damage, as expected.
Still, contribution alone yielded big experience.
I loaded a Frozen Spear into my satellite beforehand and drew a new one.
An icy spear slowly formed in midair.
I waited quietly like this.
-Kugrugrugruum!
Then, the boss's body swelled, spewing a massive acidic wave omnidirectionally—far bigger than before.
"Barrier!"
"Fall back!"
Warriors raised shields, mages cast defenses, but it wasn't enough.
-Sizzle!
"Argh!"
"My armor's melting!"
Armor and shields melted on contact with the potent acid, screams erupting.
The front line crumbled instantly.
But.
"Now."
Molvid entered a brief stun after the acidic wave.
I fired the prepared Frozen Spear.
Crack-
It pierced the boss's body, freezing it solid in seconds.
Simultaneously, a second icy spear from the satellite stabbed the frozen spot again.
Clang-!
"Huh, huff!"
"What the hell...?"
Two spells shattered the boss's body.
Then.
"Everyone, scatter!"
"It's exploding!"
Splurt-!
The boss burst like an explosion, splitting into hundreds of pieces.
Phase two at 50% HP—turning into small slimes.
With so many boss-fight experts, the phase shift came quick.
"That way—it's fleeing!"
"Kill as many as possible before they merge!"
I passed the frantic crowd, pulling Chain Lightning and unleashing it on a slime cluster.
Zzzap-
Over ten slimes vanished instantly.
Pffft-
A slime in my blind spot spat acidic spray.
Absorb Barrier blocked it—no damage.
I fired five Mana Bolts, riddling its body.
Splurt-
The reformed boss reappeared at the boss room's edge.
Its surface hardened into crystalline shell.
Berserk pattern.
Absolute defense—bouncing all magic.
"Break the shell!"
Melee could shatter that shell.
I could time a Frozen Spear for the shatter... but it'd risk hurting others with ice.
This much was enough.
Clang-
The shell soon shattered.
Crack crack-!
Molvid's form began to crumble.
【Heart of the Polluted Spring: Molvid defeated.】
【Level increased!】
【Level increased!】
【Level increased!】
【Level increased!】
【Level increased!】
— Current Level: 30 → 35
Nice.
Five levels up in about five minutes of boss fight.
No last hit was a shame... but treasure chests got most of the boss's drop table anyway.
Alright... time to head back.
As I pulled the return scroll from my inventory, I locked eyes with that mage from earlier.
"......"
He flushed red, startled, and scurried off.
Probably embarrassed about acting big.
Fwoosh-
I activated the return scroll right away.
Well... I didn't lie about anything.