Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Black Market (2)
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Leaving the black market merchant Beth's house, I headed straight for the city's bustling streets.
Thanks to the merchants who'd been prepping food since dawn, I picked up some meals for the day.
Then, making my way to the dungeon, I used a Designated Return Scroll on the first floor to arrive at the fourth floor's hidden labyrinth.
It saved the location I'd used it from, and as I stepped out of the gate...
"Hoo."
The graveyard came into view.
A quick scan of the surroundings showed no signs of life.
Each floor's elite monsters had their own respawn timers.
The fourth floor elite, Eater, respawned alongside the boss whenever one appeared in the hidden labyrinth.
So, to keep this hidden labyrinth entrance under wraps, I'd have to hunt it down every time it showed up.
That was the only way to minimize the chances of the fourth floor hidden labyrinth's location getting exposed.
After that, I reached the fourth floor boss room.
Inside, more people than before had set up shoddy wooden stalls and were hawking their wares like mad.
"Got any gear you need repaired? We've got simple snacks and items that'll help with your explorations for sale too."
"I'm good."
"Come on, don't be like that... I'll give you a deal. Not much different from town prices."
"No thanks."
"Haha... Sir Knight. That robe you're wearing—your armor all torn up or something?"
I said I'm good.
A glance at their prices showed they were at least three times what you'd pay in town.
Well, once you're deep in the dungeon, going back down is a pain, so I got it... but I didn't need anything.
Brushing off all the clingy hawkers, I searched for the gate to the fifth floor.
As I passed, mid-tier guilds and mercenary groups—not to mention Azure Dragon Guild members—tried their aggressive pitches.
But ignoring them to the end, they peeled off one by one.
"Hey, you. What knight order are you from? You gotta stop and listen when someone's talking to you."
"Thinks he's hot shit. Can't spare a couple coins?"
"Kids these days are all like that. Get emotional and you'll just lose out."
Muttering came from behind, but I ignored it.
Once the boss spawned soon, they'd all scatter anyway.
Passing through the gate like that.
Woooong—
I arrived back on the dungeon's fifth underground floor.
Looking at the wriggling red flesh masses, my appetite vanished on the spot.
Still, hunger wins out in the end.
I stepped into the fifth floor proper.
Today's main hunt: Whispering Shellbugs.
With their grotesque looks and the fact that you had to wipe out millions of the bugs, they ate up a ton of time.
Plus, the more they clustered, the stronger they got—low-circle magic could get resisted or bounced right back.
Few people hunted Whispering Shellbugs as their mainstay, so finding them should be easy.
[Level has increased!]
― Current Level: 55 → 56
My level rose another one, hitting 56.
I collected the hundreds of magic stones that burst from the nest, then sat to eat and recover mana.
At first, I really had no appetite, but herding the Whispering Shellbugs had me moving nonstop, so now I was starving.
Right there, I devoured two packed lunches loaded with meat.
Afterward, I got up and headed deeper into the dungeon.
"About here."
The deeper in you went, the more the dungeon's atmosphere shifted.
Unlike the entrance where the red flesh on the walls writhed, the flesh around here had a purple tint.
It hung limp and lifeless, like it was poisoned.
At the same time, a sweet scent wafted through the air.
Sticky fruit aroma that made me smack my lips without thinking.
The Venom Zone.
A place that lured fifth-floor explorers with its sweet fragrance.
As I stared at it, whispers started tickling my ears.
Hear that...? Hear... hear... hear...?
The faint murmurs that came after too long in the dungeon depths.
They'd only grow louder over time, so you needed artifact help or a massive boost in mental fortitude.
Annoying as hell, but... fortunately, with enough mental strength, it wouldn't inflict any status effects.
It chipped away steadily, but I could still handle it.
"Gotta hunt quick and get out."
I stepped into the Venom Zone.
The deeper I went, the more the spreading sweet scent dulled my mind.
Just as status effects were about to hit, they got cured—no risk of things getting serious.
How long had I walked like that?
"...People?"
I spotted traces of battle inside.
...Didn't see that coming.
If fights were breaking out in the Venom Zone, that meant at least sixth-floor caliber here.
The marks suggested a swordsman.
I readied a Designated Return Scroll and pressed on inside.
Never run into hostiles in the dungeon before... but better safe than sorry.
Rounding the third corner...
"Hm?"
I saw a familiar face.
"You're the explorer from yesterday, right?"
A young-faced guy approached with a smile.
He'd just finished a fight, it seemed—shaking monster fluids off his blade, he swung his sword through the air.
Then.
Shff. Shff. Shing— Same exaggerated flourish as before, sheathing it with a dramatic flair. The moves screamed that backroom geezer... Girtas. But his face looked not even twenty yet, all baby-faced.
"Mind if I ask your name? You can call me... ah, Gira's fine."
Gira, huh. Shortened name, with that subtle creep vibe hoping I'd recognize him. Even more Girtas-like.
"Rain."
"Yes, Sir Rain. You look young... how do you handle the poison here?"
"...Yeah. You look pretty young yourself—impressive skills."
"Haha... I got special family training, but... glad you think so."
Gira grinned, looking smug. Swallowing even my half-assed praise—Girtas confirmed at this point.
"Ah, solo hunting? That's surprising."
Gira kept chatting excitedly.
That... sounds like he wants praise since he's solo too. Sensing the conversation dragging, I cut straight to it.
"Seen any huge spiders around here?"
"...? Spiders... ah!"
Gira lit up like he'd remembered, gesturing dramatically.
"No way—you're here for Arachne? Too bad."
He shook his head.
"I just took it down. You missed it by a hair."
Hm. Looked like I'd missed the elite. Not like elites had owners, so par for the course.
"I see."
"Yeah. Dangerous thing—couldn't just leave it."
Gira nodded. I could tell what reaction he wanted, and as much as I hated feeding it... Had to satisfy him to get him gone.
"Impressive. Soloing a hazardous one like that."
"Haha! Not really!"
Sigh. Still, needed to check the fifth floor hidden labyrinth entrance, so I held it in.
"Guess I'll head out then."
Gira, gorged on compliments, passed me with a satisfied look. I watched him go all the way, then headed deeper into the Venom Zone.
Squelch— The floor was slathered in spider fluids, sticky as hell. The spiders that filled the Venom Zone? All bisected clean by a single sword stroke. Gira's handiwork, no doubt. Climbing over the corpses, I reached the Venom Zone's deepest point. Before a massive altar, purple spider fluids pooled everywhere.
"...Not a single intact spot."
Parts of the altar were smashed, fresh from a brutal fight. Beside it, a half-human, half-spider creature—upper and lower body severed—was dissolving into smoke, absorbed by the dungeon. Fifth floor elite monster: Arachne. Slicing an elite in half? Girtas wasn't bluffing after all.
"Alright then."
Elite confirmed dead—I left without hesitation. That altar wasn't the hidden labyrinth entrance. Exiting the altar room, I grabbed a nearby spider corpse. Then headed to the farthest small room from here. No spiders or lifeforms inside.
Swipe— I smeared spider fluids from the corpse on the inner wall. Opening my eyes with Eye of Discernment... "There it is." Where the fluids touched, a small mechanism appeared. I darted in and activated it.
Shloooorp— Flesh protruded from the wall, sucking up the spider fluids. A brief floating sensation hit me, like passing through a gate. When I opened my eyes... "Hoo." The fifth floor felt like a fragment now—walls covered in massive red organ-like masses. Fifth floor hidden labyrinth. "Back another time." Confirmed its existence—that was enough for now. My current specs made soloing the boss tough, so I used a Designated Return Scroll to bail.
Woooong— Exiting the dungeon via Designated Return and Return Scroll, it was predictably midnight outside. Dodging drunks, I made it back to my lodging. As I was about to sleep...
Knock knock— Someone rapped on the door. ...Who? Peering through the crack...
"Hey. Gonna open up?"
A voice I knew well. Black market merchant Beth. I flung the door open. There she stood outside, lantern in hand.
"...What is it?"
"Told you I'd come back."
Beth continued, looking a bit awkward.
"Get ready quick and come out."
"......"
What the hell in the middle of the night. As I froze, she added: "Black market. Not going?"
Ah. Thought we'd leave last night, but she'd waited a day for me. Could've just said so clearly yesterday. What a pain she was. Still, her sulky expression was kinda cute.
"...Forget it if you don't wanna."
"No, no."
I threw on clothes fast and stepped out.