Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Carriage Escort (1)
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The gate, which had been emitting a blue light, shrank a little more as my golem stepped inside.
At this rate... it wouldn't be long before it disappeared entirely.
"For now, let's go."
The materials for the golem made by the Curse King couldn't even scratch it, so if I went in, I'd be dismantled in an instant.
I gave up on exploring the gate and used a return scroll to exit the dungeon.
It was still bright outside, but I didn't feel like hunting any more today.
I headed back to my lodging and got some rest.
Sometimes, it's good to take a long break.
Lying on the bed, random thoughts flooded my mind.
Three years ago, the game company that had announced the final patch suddenly halted updates.
The update content at that time was definitely...
"The Transcendence update."
Transcendence. A kind of awakening event given to those who reached the 5th Circle and hit level 99.
Aiming for the vacation period, they planned to add character awakening to draw in new and returning players.
In fact, the pre-update had already implemented the items needed for transcendence.
It was just that the main transcendence update itself got canceled.
"...Well, I've got a long way to go."
I cut off the looping thoughts.
No point in speculating further without more info.
---
The next day.
"Come again!"
Before heading to the dungeon, I stopped by the city hall to sell the mana stones I'd collected.
[Imperial Gold Coins x115]
[Labyrinth Platinum Coins x3500]
My current gold amounted to 150 Imperial Gold Coins.
This was based on exchanging one Imperial Gold Coin for 100 Labyrinth Platinum Coins.
"It's not enough."
I checked out the shop that had unlocked previously.
【 Nature Shop 】
『 Catalog 』
— Seed Package Enveloped in Flames
[Purchase Limit: 1]
— Lightning-Struck Sapling Package
[Purchase Limit: 1]
...
Nature Shop.
The items here fell into two categories.
First, one-time purchase packages containing special natural elements.
Second, standard items for creating spirit habitats, like the regular Nature Shop stock.
The windmill flowers and lotus I'd planted in pots at my lodging came from the standard shop.
The package items were way too big for a small place like my lodging.
I planned to buy them after getting a mansion with a yard.
I'd already scouted a nice mansion while checking out properties before.
That mansion cost 500 Imperial Gold Coins.
With my current 150, I still needed 350 more.
"......"
A long road ahead.
The sellable items I had right now...
I opened my inventory.
『 Eye of the Storm 』
— A stone commonly found in storm zones. Used as a rare magic catalyst.
『 Corrupted Bloodstone 』
— The bloodstone that encased the Corpse Lord Golta. Inject mana to enable black magic use.
These two were the most valuable right now.
The Eye of the Storm was something Sylph had produced recently as she grew.
When I checked the price at city hall, the magic tower folks were offering 5,000 Labyrinth Platinum Coins.
That's 50 Imperial Gold Coins, but selling directly to the tower might get me a bit more.
Next, the Corrupted Bloodstone dropped from hunting the 4th floor boss, Corpse Lord Golta.
Since the 4th floor boss had been hidden for so long, a black mage would pay a decent price.
Once more bloodstones hit the market, the price might drop, so I'd sell at the right time.
Uncertain value, but at least 50 Imperial Gold Coins.
"Still short."
Even selling both, I'd fall way short of 350 Imperial Gold Coins.
I glanced at my fingers.
The rings on my hand included several artifacts from early on.
Even selling them all, I doubted it'd hit 100 Imperial Gold Coins.
Selling the 2nd and 3rd floor treasure chest locations to the Dawn Guild wouldn't cover it either.
Or...
[Verka's First Ring]
— Ring of the primordial transcendent, Verka. +50% EXP gain on equip.
[Verka's Third Ring]
— Verka's third ring, of the primordial transcendent. +10 Magic Power on equip.
【 Set 2/3 】
— Verka's First Legacy
— None
— Verka's Third Legacy
I stared blankly at the Verka set, then turned away.
Entrusting it to someone trustworthy and borrowing money crossed my mind, but...
Better to hunt steadily and earn it honestly.
With my thoughts sorted, I pulled out a Designated Return Scroll and used it.
『 Designated Return Scroll 』
— 5th Floor Hidden Labyrinth: Writhing Intestines
In an instant, I arrived at the exit of the 5th floor hidden labyrinth, then headed to the 6th floor.
Wuuung—
Crossing the gate revealed the 6th floor, with red flesh chunks writhing about.
I took the Curse King golem materials from my inventory.
The materials I'd received last time were enough for two golems, but one had been sent beyond the blue gate and was wrecked.
『 4th Circle: Mana Core Golem 』
【 Grade: Hero 】
— Crafts a golem that lives and moves via mana core. Can use magic implanted in the mana core.
A mana core formed at the tip of my staff, settling into the golem's center.
Thud—
The golem parts assembled, and it rose to its feet.
I ordered the golem to protect me.
Just in case it attacked anyone else.
I could issue periodic commands through the mana core, so I'd give new orders when combat was needed.
"Let's go."
With the golem in the lead, I ventured deeper into the dungeon.
After walking for a while.
Thud! Thud!
A headless chunk of flesh appeared ahead.
Beside it, a massive hand crawled along the floor.
Spotting me, they reacted.
Crunch—
The massive hand gripped the floor hard.
At the same time, the headless flesh chunk charged toward me.
I prepared my magic immediately.
I could cast 4th Circle spells twice in a row right now.
After that, I'd need a short break to recover mana, which the golem would buy me time for.
First, I unleashed Hellfire to burn the path ahead.
Whoosh—
The flames engulfed the charging flesh chunk whole.
It writhed in agony, rolling around.
Taking that as the signal, the massive hand that had been poised to leap hurtled toward me at tremendous speed.
Bang—
But the golem blocking my front caught both massive hands outright.
Even taking the full brunt of the 6th floor monsters' attacks, it only used up about 20% durability.
As expected from materials handmade by a former Labyrinth Lord—extremely tough.
Seizing the opening the golem created, I used Black Hole to suck in the two hands.
The golem got tugged slightly toward the black hole.
But its weight let it resist.
The massive hands were different, though.
One desperately clawed at the air to hold on as it got pulled in.
Wuuung—
I ordered the golem to focus fire on its fingers.
The fingers lost strength and got sucked into the black hole's center, exploding.
Checking ahead, the headless flesh chunk was half-burned.
I ordered the golem to finish it off.
[Crawling Palm defeated.]
— EXP acquired.
[Pieced Flesh defeated.]
— EXP acquired.
As the kill messages appeared, tension naturally eased.
Then.
"......"
A watcher had appeared out of nowhere, locking eyes with me.
It had shed its white skin, focusing all its body eyes on me.
Terror forcibly planted in my mind, freezing my body.
Normally a dire situation.
Wuuung—
But I ordered the golem to attack it.
The watcher's ability only applied to one target it focused all eyes on, so the golem tore it apart mercilessly.
[Watcher defeated.]
— EXP acquired.
"Phew."
Combat over, I collected the mana stones.
I was gradually getting the hang of controlling the golem.
One more day of practice, and I'd handle it proficiently.
I paused to recover mana.
Thanks to the Dragon Heart, mana regenerated super fast—no need for a long rest.
Mana full, I set off for the next monster.
---
Crunch—
"Phew."
[Invisible Step defeated.]
— EXP acquired.
The golem slammed the floor, and toes extended like tentacles as the foot died and stealth broke.
It stayed stealthed constantly, so relying on sound made it tricky.
Still, fighting it honed my golem control a lot.
Fatigue building, I used a return scroll to exit the dungeon.
The cityscape was late night as always.
I headed through the bustling streets to my lodging.
Then, between darkened buildings, I sensed a presence.
"You're late."
"...What is it this time."
Beth.
She emerged from the shadows.
"Has the urgent matter been resolved?"
"...It's complicated. If you want, I'll explain on the way. But right now, that's not the point."
Beth stepped closer.
"Remember that thing I asked last time? To help out."
"Yeah. Escort duty a month from now, right?"
Her guild, the Grimsah Alliance, was backed by the Lockhart Trading Company.
They wanted protection for goods they were transporting.
"Yeah, that. The schedule got moved up a bit. Still interested?"
Beth grinned slyly.
Judging by the vibe... she was about to say let's go now.
"We haven't talked compensation yet."
"...Last time, you said you'd do it in front of that guy."
That guy?
The Grimsah Alliance guild master?
"Don't people usually decide after hearing the pay?"
"......"
Beth pondered, then spoke.
"200 Imperial Gold Coins. That guy might pay more. What do you say?"
"......"
I'll go along.