Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Floor 4 (2)
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"Long time no see."
"Yes... I almost didn't recognize you."
Humphrey looked over my body this way and that, as if amazed.
Then, beside him.
"Long time no see, Senior."
"Ahem... Yes, long time no see..."
The chatty mage I'd met in the 2nd floor boss room last time stood next to Humphrey.
He hurriedly turned his head away, probably remembering that incident.
I didn't think much of it.
The mage hadn't joined the Dawn Guild yet—there was no insignia on his shoulder.
But since he was wandering the 1st floor with Humphrey, he must be maintaining ongoing ties with the Dawn Guild.
Beside those two, a nameless unaffiliated man stared blankly at the floor.
Two unaffiliated folks and one from the Dawn Guild.
I recalled what Humphrey had offered me on the day we first met.
He'd said he'd slot me into a Dawn Guild team searching for the 2nd floor treasure chest.
He must have made the same pitch to other promising unaffiliated types besides me.
"Are you searching for the treasure chest too, Mr. Rain? We're about to head back...but if you happen to find it, we'd be grateful if you let us know. Oh, and there's a reward, of course."
With that, Humphrey pulled out a return scroll.
The other two silently took out their return scrolls and used them first.
Looks like their search for the day was wrapping up... which was actually for the best.
If I was going to sell him the 1st floor treasure chest location, having just the two of us was ideal.
"Mind if we talk for a sec?"
"...? What is it?"
I blocked Humphrey as he was about to use his return scroll.
"I'd like to sell the treasure chest's location."
"...Which floor?"
"The 1st."
At my words, Humphrey narrowed his eyes in puzzlement.
He closed his eyes for a long moment, deep in thought.
He was probably wondering if my words meant there was a chest nearby.
From here, it was up to his conscience.
Either way, the location would be exposed within a week.
The actual chest was hidden inside a wall, but they wouldn't overlook such a suspicious spot.
"The reward varies by contribution... Is there some tricky gimmick involved?"
"There's a dangerous trap, yes."
"Can you describe the trap?"
"Yes."
"...Understood. In that case, the reward will go up a bit. Could you guide me there first?"
Luckily, he decided to buy.
I'd planned to tell him anyway if he passed, given the severe injury or death risk from the unknown trap.
But if he bought it, all the better.
"This way."
I led Humphrey to where the treasure chest was hidden.
"Pulling this lever opens a floor trap."
Clank!
When I pulled the lever on the wall, a massive hole opened in the floor.
I picked up a stone fragment and tossed it into the hole.
I waited for the sound of it hitting bottom, but nothing came.
"It's an endless void down there. Without a return scroll, escape would be impossible, I imagine."
"...Got it."
As I guided him to the hidden treasure chest spot, I explained every trap we encountered.
How much time passed like that?
"A three-way fork?"
"Yes."
We reached the end of a corridor splitting into three paths.
As before, the two side paths narrowed into straight lines.
And at their ends lay traps that impaled intruders.
Without head protection, charging ahead could mean instant critical damage.
I explained all this to Humphrey.
"...A truly malicious setup. Noted. Two deadly traps—that bumps the reward up nicely."
Humphrey nodded as if he understood.
I'd offered to demonstrate the traps if he wanted.
"No need. I'll trust you, Mr. Rain."
He saw no reason to.
Finally, I led him down the central corridor.
Not long after.
-Kirrik.
At the center of the large room at the corridor's end.
A massive treasure chest-mimic and its imp appeared.
"Not a treasure chest, huh."
"A mimic."
Zap-zap-
I unleashed Chain Lightning to clear them out, then stepped inside.
I slid my hand along the wall to reveal the hidden space.
Rumble-
The wall slowly slid forward, opening a narrow gap just big enough for one person.
Inside gleamed a golden treasure chest.
"Confirmed. Once we verify items drop normally from the chest back in the city, we'll pay you."
"Yes."
I slipped into the gap and stood before the chest.
Chests sold this way required proof of rewards inside.
In exchange, the finder claimed the first reward fully.
I opened it.
『Ring of Breath of Life』
― Grants rapid vitality regeneration (High) to wearer on activation
【Usable once per day】
A ring embedded with a red ruby gem appeared inside.
"Item confirmed."
Humphrey verified it was an artifact, then handed me a token stamped with the Dawn Guild insignia from his pocket.
"We'll report to headquarters in the city first. Expected reward is around 3,000 platinum coins—just give us a little time."
"Yes."
"Then I'll head back first."
With that, Humphrey used his return scroll to exit the dungeon.
"Now then... what to do."
I'd sold the chest location, so I pondered whether to hunt today.
My mental strength had risen anyway, and I'd gotten new return scrolls from the 3rd Circle Shop.
『Designated Return Scroll x99』
【Grade: Hero】
― Teleports to a pre-designated location.
『Special: Usable in Underground Labyrinth Dungeon, Eternal Frostlands, Temple of Chaos.』
Certain areas like the Underground Labyrinth Dungeon block teleportation.
Only these paid-currency designated scrolls work there.
With these, escaping from the 4th floor would be easy.
However.
"Guard Captain Den's words stick with me."
Guard Captain Den.
According to that man I'd met soon after arriving...
Knights were doing something below the 4th floor.
From the 4th floor on, where traffic dropped sharply, anything could happen.
I doubted the knights from both nations would cause outright trouble...
But I didn't know the full story behind this body.
At least, I should watch out for kingdom knights.
Designated scrolls require pre-setting a location, with fixed options.
Usually, you save at your entry point on a new floor...
But saving somewhere else than the start point might be smart.
"Grab the rest first."
I headed to the 2nd floor.
Treasure chests first.
『Ring of Mana Regeneration』
― Grants rapid mana recovery (Medium) to wearer on activation
【Usable once per day】
『Bell of Silence』
― Steals hearing from all who hear the bell. Stolen hearing does not return until rung again.
【Usable once per day】
After hitting the 2nd and 3rd floor chests, I wrapped up.
Artifacts were starting to duplicate now.
Rings were always welcome.
You could wear them on all ten fingers.
Same-effect rings couldn't stack activations, but different effects could be used freely.
"Now what."
I sat in a hidden spot on the 3rd floor, pondering.
Even in the game, the underground 4th floor was PVP territory.
Full-on field wars kicked off there, so I remembered danger spots and ambush points.
But... the difference now was that one mistake could be fatal.
I'd learned that the hard way last time.
"That was close."
Self-cursing for mental strength gains had heavy side effects.
In the game, most players were 5th Circle or Transcendent, so no real risk.
Not here.
If I'd attacked nearby people, it could've gone really bad.
If someone could suppress me, fine—but if not, I might've died.
Still... I couldn't avoid it forever.
【Auction】
― 20 hours until next auction
Auction had 20 hours left.
I could wait at home, but why?
From the 4th floor, start points were safe.
PVP zones had high hunt fatigue, so safety measures abounded.
Stay alert, and I could escape first.
Check status roughly first.
Prep for ambushes, though.
Solo changes meant unknowns.
"Let's go."
I headed to the 3rd floor boss room.
Found the gate to the 4th and jumped in.
Whumm-
My vision blurred wildly.
My body felt like it shattered into particles, reassembling elsewhere—a bizarre sensation.
I consciously crouched inside.
In the game, you could crouch on gate entry, so I did.
A moment later.
"Hm."
Landed safely on the 4th floor.
Body seated on the floor.
And the familiar scene unfolded.
The 4th floor had four start points.
All hexagonal rooms where you awoke, protected by massive magic stones.
Ultra-strong barriers auto-applied to everyone inside.
Ways to break them existed... but required 5th Circle power.
Even then, gate or designated scroll escape worked.
Stay inside, and you're safe.
No notable figures around.
I walked to the room exit.
Checked outside too.
"...Nobody here."
I'd worried about tails, but nothing.
I headed into the 4th floor depths, tension high.
Soon.
-Thud.
A 4th floor monster: bone golem.
Made of hundreds of bones, it spotted me, red glow from empty skull, and charged.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Its massive body shook the dungeon with each leap.
I raised my staff, channeling mana.
Mana condensed at the tip into a black dot.
3rd Circle magic: Black Point Massive Explosion.
Hard to land alone, usually paired with aids.
But bone golem's huge—rough aim hit over half.
I launched the black point at it.
Slow but steady toward the golem... it touched.
"Huh?"
Shwooo-
A massive darkness bloomed at impact, sucking the golem in like a vortex.
Then.
KABOOM-!!
A huge explosion erupted from the floating darkness.
The bone golem's body blasted apart, leaving only a magic core—no trace.
The odd part...
"Why so soon...?"
My Black Point Massive Explosion had changed.
『Magic Fusion Rune activated.』
― Your magic fuses.
【3rd Circle: Black Point Massive Explosion】
【3rd Circle: Void】
->
【Fusion: Black Hole】
[!] Insufficient realm—power limited.
『Your cognition steps into new territory.』
【Level up!】
【Level up!】
【Level up!】
―Level: 46 → 49