Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 6th Floor (3)
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Vess and I pressed on toward the direction marked by the red flesh clinging to the dungeon walls.
As we walked, the frequency of the wriggling flesh began to dwindle.
A vast space emerged, more akin to a cavern than a dungeon.
Crystals like gemstones sprouted from the cavern walls.
At its center lay a small lake formed by droplets falling from the ceiling.
The safe zone of the 6th floor: Crystal Cavern.
Safe zones deep in the labyrinth don't respawn monsters.
Unless you drag one in forcibly, fights are rare.
Clashes with other parties happen sometimes, but even that's uncommon.
"Let's go in."
A quick scan showed no one else resting inside.
We claimed a spot against the cavern wall and took a break.
Mental strength depletes from accumulated fatigue or heavy stress.
"Want some?"
Vess pulled a ration from her extradimensional pouch and handed it to me.
It was hard-baked bread, preserved and portable.
After tossing me one, Vess took a bite of her own.
Being an assassin, maybe she doesn't care about taste?
"Care for a lunchbox?"
"...You brought one of these too?"
I offered her a lunchbox, and she let out a wry chuckle.
She didn't seem opposed, though.
"Thanks, I'll dig in."
Vess accepted it.
Her expression suggested she did care about flavor.
Her pouch was probably too small to stock much food.
Around here, most people carry just one extradimensional pouch each.
They reduce weight but aren't weightless, and they lack inventory-level convenience.
Jobs requiring agility like Vess's prioritize lightweight pouches.
With space needed for emergency artifacts and magistones, food often takes a backseat.
Vess eyed the lunchbox for a moment before setting it down and standing.
"You eat first."
She heightened her senses, scanning the surroundings like a sentry.
For a second, I wondered if she distrusted the lunchbox, but no.
Snacks you can eat one-handed are fine, but for something like this, taking turns is safer.
"All done."
I polished off the lunchbox quickly.
Then I kept watch so she could eat.
"...This is good."
Vess finished hers just as fast, savoring it.
We let our weary bodies rest a bit longer.
Then.
"Time to go."
We rose for the next hunt.
---
We exited the safe zone and tangled with two more hands and feet apiece, finishing the hunt.
A good chunk of time had passed since entering the dungeon, so we agreed to bag one last one before heading down.
The final foe that appeared was.
"...An elite."
A massive brain floated into view.
As it fixed its gaze on us, a sharp headache hit.
At the same time, a spell activated.
Ziiing—
A beam of light locked onto us and fired.
I countered instantly with Diverging Ray, shoving back its magic.
The two spells collided and mutually annihilated, like a test of strength.
Vess seized the opening, slashing at the brain mass with her dagger.
Wooong—
The brain reeled for a moment, dodging the dagger but.
Its focus shattered, unable to sustain the beam.
Ziiing—
The left half of its brain, unable to evade, was seared and burned away by my Diverging Ray.
It tried to muster magic to repel the approaching Vess, but.
Her dagger cleaved it in half first.
[Defeated Brain of Enlightenment.]
[Experience gained.]
Even after downing an elite, no level up.
From 4th circle on, the EXP needed skyrockets—no helping it.
Still, gathering artifacts should speed things up.
We scooped up the magistone and checked for mental anomalies.
Seemed fine.
"We put up a good fight against this thing, huh?"
Vess prodded the sprawled brain with her foot and addressed me.
"Our guys could only dodge it... Wanna just join our guild?"
"I'll think about it."
I deflected politely.
Reading my mind, Vess grinned and nodded.
"Let's head down. I'm beat."
Including travel time, we'd been in nearly a full day.
I was worn out too, so we sought the 6th floor exit together.
Scattered signs of battle dotted the path.
The blood and flesh weren't all monster.
"......"
Amid tentacles protruding from a foot, something like a human arm peeked out.
No other parts—just one severed arm amid the monster corpses.
Rough count: five monster bodies.
Whoever encountered this got unlucky.
"...Take it with you?"
"Nah."
If it were intact, maybe, but just an arm? No need.
Yet... the arm felt off somehow.
I shook off the thought and followed Vess.
How far did we go?
"......"
Ahead, a man emerged.
A knight gripping a sword.
"...Missing an arm."
His other arm was gone too, chest torn open.
But strangely... his face was serene.
As if losing limbs meant nothing.
As we approached, he noticed us.
"Ah, you folks okay?"
He flashed a friendly smile.
Up close, his state looked even graver.
Blood clearly flowed from the wounds... yet he remained utterly calm.
"We're fine. More importantly."
"Ah, don't worry about me. Glad to see you're safe, explorer. You know the way out?"
"...Yeah."
"Then no need to guide you."
He smiled warmly and headed deeper into the dungeon.
"...That guy's."
"Yeah."
In the labyrinth, NPCs have set lines.
One fixed phrase from city guards: explorer's safety.
So, he was a guard.
But regular guards and knights don't venture past 3rd floor.
Thus.
"A doll. Probably soul-infused."
Like Girtas on 5th floor.
That backroom geezer—same deal, a puppet proxy for the real body.
Likely infused with an elder guard's soul, like Girtas.
"Creepy shit."
Vess muttered.
Rogues tend to have sharp senses.
Vess especially so.
She must've sensed the tattered soul fragment inside.
And guessed whose it was.
City guard elders—barring a few—were all slimy bastards.
Her disgust made sense.
We exited the dungeon after that.
Just reach 3rd floor, then Return Scroll—no long trek.
Out of the dungeon, we walked the dim bustling streets.
Then, from the shadows, someone appeared.
"Big sis. A word."
Vess's brother and coachman, Beryl.
He whispered something to Vess.
"...Sorry, can't do 7th floor."
"Apologies, appraiser. Taking sis now."
"It's fine."
With my okay, he led Vess off somewhere.
Some urgent matter... oh well.
Parting from them, I headed to my lodgings.
Opening the door, Undine spotted me and leaped joyfully.
"You okay?"
Catching Undine, I glanced at Sylph's spot.
The potted cloud now sported a sprout with a stem shooting up.
At this rate, flowers soon.
"Nice work."
I gently stroked Sylph.
Then.
[Spirit: Sylph has grown.]
[Eye of the Storm generated immediately.]
[Spirit Companion]
[Affinity +30.]
[Eye of the Storm]
[Stone mainly found in storm zones. Used as a rare magic catalyst.]
Sylph grew a tad larger, and an Eye of the Storm dropped from under the thundercloud.
I snatched it midair.
Inside the transparent gem, energy swirled like a typhoon.
A potent wind catalyst—worth 8000 platinum or 80 imperial gold.
"Good job!"
No spirit hates praise, stoic or not.
I lavished strokes on the adorable little thing.
Then swapped Undine's pot for a bigger one.
Infused some mana into the planter.
And flopped my fatigued body onto the bed.
A full day in the dungeon left my mental strength drained.
Worth buying now... Mandrake Elixir from the Magic Tower.
List price around 5000 platinum—sell the Eye, and it's mine.
But fresh from the Tower, the grimoire list likely unchanged.
If hitting 7th floor, grab it anyway, but.
With Vess tied up... no rush.
"Tomorrow, start from 5th floor."
5th floor's hidden labyrinth.
Snag the boss and treasure chest there first.
I gathered my thoughts and slept.
---
"...Big sis."
"What."
"The kingdom's pressuring Rockhart Trading Company."
"Heard."
"...Your plan?"
"Dunno."
Vess stared blankly out the carriage.
"That guy's got it."
"...Dumping everything on the guild master."
"Or move it all here."
"...Labyrinth City?"
"Yeah."
"......"
Beryl drove in silence awhile.
"I think this place looks riskier."
"Why?"
"...Bad rumors, sis. Kingdom's about to draw swords."
"Heard that too. But."
Vess spun the dagger on her hand.
"Feels good."
"......"
Beryl fell quiet at that.
Her instincts hadn't failed yet.