Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Escape (2)
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After defeating the boss, I arrived once more at the end of the corridor.
Just to be safe, I checked if anyone had regained their senses.
"Are you alive?"
"..."
There was no response.
I approached the knight at the front first.
The knight stared blankly ahead with vacant eyes, ignoring me completely.
...How am I supposed to get him out of here.
There were four people, and not a single one in their right mind.
Even the priest who'd asked for help had reached his mental limit and fallen silent.
If not for his faint breathing, I would've thought he was dead.
I passed by the knight first and gave him a slight push from behind.
Then.
Step-
The knight walked forward without any resistance.
...Good.
At least the knight could move on his own. If I just carried the other three, escaping this place didn't seem too hard.
I headed first to the shaman, who was wrapped in countless vines around his body.
"..."
The man lay there foaming at the mouth, his hands, feet, and even his mouth—needed for chanting spells—bound tight by the vines.
I grabbed the vines one by one and yanked them off with all my strength.
Then.
Rip-
The vines tore away more easily than expected.
I remembered them being tough enough to restrain even the boss's movements.
Of course. My mana had surged lately, and with the boost from my mana-infused body magic, my other stats had risen sharply too.
I quickly freed the shaman from the vines and tucked him under one arm.
Then I slung the priest, who was face-down on the floor, under the other arm, and finally hoisted the mage onto my back.
"Whew."
Two under my arms, one on my back. Add a light push for the knight behind me.
-Step.
Preparations to get everyone out were complete.
...Though it looked a bit ridiculous.
Humm-
Following the pattern engraved on the boss room floor, I walked down the corridor, and the hidden labyrinth's exit gate came into view.
Before leaving, I saved the location to a Designated Return Scroll.
I'd taken out the Eater guarding the 4th floor graveyard, so if I didn't save this spot, there'd be no way back in.
Their lives seemed critical, so I'd escort them all out of the dungeon first.
Then I'd return for the treasure chest hidden in the boss room.
-Step-
I sent the knight through first, then followed him through the gate.
My vision flickered red for a moment—
"Whew."
When I came to, I was in front of the 4th floor graveyard.
Ghosts from the surroundings gathered to possess the unconscious group.
-Kyahhh...
But they were purified one by one by the holy spikes embedded in their heads.
The priest, who seemed to be the caster, was out cold, but that didn't deactivate the spikes.
I'd just take them out of the dungeon and drop them at the city church.
Mental purification required a donation of gold coins, though...
They'd probably pay for themselves once they woke up.
As people who farmed the 4th floor, they wouldn't be short on cash.
"Let's go."
-Step-
Now familiar with controlling the knight, I headed back to the 4th floor entrance.
I stepped through the gate—
Humm-
And the 3rd floor boss room appeared before me.
From here on, instant travel was possible via return scrolls... but...
Come to think of it, I hadn't bought any regular return scrolls.
No choice—I rummaged through their subspatial pouches, pulled out return scrolls, and handed one to each.
They could settle accounts among themselves.
Tear-
I tore the scrolls one by one, and we exited the dungeon.
"Rain...?"
As we emerged, a guard at the entrance called out.
Looking up, I saw Guard Captain Den eyeing the others curiously.
Their awful condition—plus the knight's half-zombie state—drew everyone's attention.
"...This way first."
For safety, several guards surrounded the half-zombified knight.
He submitted to being restrained without resistance.
Good thing his consciousness wasn't completely gone.
Probably thanks to the holy spike in his head.
"Do you know them?"
As Guard Captain Den took custody of the unconscious ones, he asked me.
I shook my head lightly.
"Met them on the 4th floor."
"Do you need help?"
"...Yeah. Looks like it."
Even without details, Den nodded as if he got the gist.
Dungeoneers on the brink of death weren't uncommon.
Knights and guards rescued plenty on patrol.
"Then I'll head out first."
After handing everyone over to the city guards, I re-entered the dungeon.
Then.
I used the Designated Return Scroll to head back to the hidden labyrinth on the 4th floor.
Humm-
I came to right in front of the exit gate.
Designated Return Scrolls could only save locations right in front of gates like this.
Each one needed a designated spot, so it was smart to save them whenever I thought of it.
Saved scrolls went into my inventory for storage.
I had to manage how many I used wisely.
Just in case, I saved two for this spot, then returned to the boss room.
"Should be around here."
The center of the boss room was empty now, all the corpses gone.
The only sign of battle was the blood pooled on the floor.
On that floor, I found an out-of-place pattern.
I placed my hand on it and channeled mana.
Rumble-
The mechanism activated, and the circular floor panel began descending with me on it.
After a short wait.
Thud-
It stopped with a loud bang.
As the circular floor rose back up, empty.
And then.
Inside was a treasure chest far larger than those from lower floors.
The 4th floor had only this one.
It only respawned after a boss appeared in the hidden dungeon.
In exchange, it always dropped something useful.
Creak-
[Berka's First Ring]
—Ring of the Primordial Transcendent - Berka. +50% EXP gained on equip.
【Set 1/3】
—Berka's First Legacy
—『None』
—『None』
"Oh."
I let out an involuntary exclamation at the item.
Some artifacts came in sets with bonus effects.
Berka's Legacy set was a mid-game accelerator for growth.
Rings came in pairs, plus a necklace—three pieces total.
Effects didn't stack per ring, so the first one boosting EXP was the most urgent.
Luckily, it dropped right away.
I equipped the ring immediately and activated the hidden mechanism on the wall.
Then.
Grind-
The circular floor descended from above again, carrying me back up.
With the mechanism confirmed working.
"Time to head back."
I pulled a pre-designated Designated Return Scroll from my inventory.
[Designated Return Scroll]
—Use it?
【Location: Underground Labyrinth Dungeon 1st Floor Entrance】
I tore the Designated Return Scroll clean through. It dissolved like polygons, my vision blurred.
Humm-
When I came to, I was at the dungeon entrance.
I used a regular return scroll to get back to my lodging.
"Whew."
Maybe from using my body after so long.
Fatigue washed over me.
I went to a nearby stream, rinsed off lightly, then returned to my room and collapsed into bed.
That's when.
Knock knock-
Someone knocked on the door.
I sat up to check who it was.
"Humphrey. You're really in here, right?"
"...Yes."
I heard a familiar name from beyond the door.
Humphrey.
A high-ranking member of Dawn Guild.
His visit this late at night... probably for the payment on that 1st floor treasure chest location I sold him last time.
Tired or not, I had to collect what's mine.
I opened the door with light steps.
Then.
"Ah, Rain. Long time no see."
"Yeah. But who's...?"
Behind Humphrey stood a woman I'd never seen before.
Actually, her face was familiar.
She wasn't an extra like Humphrey—in the game or this other world, she was a key character.
Lea.
Dawn Guild's vice-master.
"Shh. I'll take it from here."
Lea flashed a smile and pressed a finger to Humphrey's lips.
To an outsider, it might look seductive.
"..."
But from the moment her finger touched his lips, Humphrey's mouth stayed shut tight.
I silently activated Appraisal on Lea.
Her right arm was bandaged from some battle wound.
Beyond the wound, purple mana flickered.
...That familiar witch mana.
She must've clashed with the forest witch, Ilana.
Though if it'd been the real witch, she wouldn't have gotten off this lightly.
I brushed aside the stray thoughts.
"Nice to meet you, Rain Astria. I came to talk about the 1st floor treasure chest... Mind if I come in?"
Lea slithered her gaze toward me like a snake.
"..."
I wordlessly stepped aside.
At least she wasn't here to fight.