Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 5th Floor Boss (2)
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As soon as day broke, I headed to the dungeon.
Boss fights could turn into disasters if mishandled, so it was better to arrive early than late.
After passing through the first-floor gate, I hid in an unused corner and used my Designated Return Scroll to head to the labyrinth's backside on the fifth floor.
From there, I made my way to the fifth-floor boss room.
Elite members from various guilds were gathered in small groups in the boss room, taking a break from combat.
They mingled with others around them, swapping party members here and there.
From the fifth floor onward, it was considered the deep layers, and only a tiny fraction made it this far.
They avoided friction as much as possible—and even engaged in active exchanges.
I stood quietly in a corner of the boss room, waiting for the boss to respawn.
That's when it happened.
"Um, excuse me... are you a knight by any chance?"
Since I was alone, a few people from another party approached me.
"I'm Kedan from the Rondos School. If you're without a party, would you care to join us, sir knight?"
The man gestured toward his party members behind him as he spoke.
Naturally, I looked where he pointed and made eye contact with an awkwardly standing female knight and two male priests.
They were clearly rookies on the fifth floor, glancing nervously at everyone around.
I wanted to help, but I planned to take down just the boss and move on.
I shook my head lightly and replied to the man.
"I'm a mage. And I prefer hunting solo."
"Ah... Sorry about that."
The man's lips twitched.
He looked a bit offended.
...Why?
The man went back and relayed the story to his party.
Then, the knight who'd been listening strode right up to me.
The man tried to stop her, but as a mage, he wasn't up to the task.
"I'm Adella of the Black Lion Knight Order."
"......"
The woman who introduced herself as Adella continued, her face flushing red.
"You might find me lacking, senior, but I'm fighting with my house and order's honor on the line."
"...Yes."
"If you're refusing because I'm a female knight..."
She poured out her anger like she was about to challenge me to a duel right then.
Caught off guard, I raised my hand to calm her first.
"I don't know why you're angry."
"...Senior. We're seriously exploring the dungeon too. But didn't you just say you're a mage?"
She narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Do you find us laughable, senior? In a dungeon, it's proper etiquette and manners to reveal your real class."
She spoke softly, but packed her words with seething fury.
As a female knight, she'd probably faced plenty of dismissal from others.
And it seemed she'd been ignored multiple times while trying to form parties.
Of course, from my perspective, it was all a misunderstanding.
I pulled out my staff and showed it to her.
"I'm a mage, for real."
"...That flimsy stick your staff? You're mocking me to the end."
"......"
It is real.
Resigned, I was about to cast any spell to prove it when—
Rumble—
Something massive began descending from the ceiling of the fifth-floor boss room.
The fifth-floor boss, Garda.
It had appeared.
---
"Fuck."
Adella Cariont, senior knight of the Black Lion Knight Order.
She spat curses in her mind as she stared at the stick the knight before her held out.
"...That flimsy stick your staff? You're mocking me to the end."
"......"
No response came to her fury-laden words.
She slowly looked the man up and down.
His body was so perfectly built it could be called blessed.
Every muscle seemed perfectly proportioned and balanced.
The aura he exuded spoke to his unyielding spirit.
In contrast, his face looked untouched by hardship—boyishly youthful.
Even younger-looking than her, it was the textbook definition of handsome, like something out of a painting.
Truth be told, she took a liking to him.
When leader Kedan invited him to the party, she'd secretly hoped for it too.
She wanted to forge some connection, maybe even discuss swordsmanship if the chance arose.
That's why it stung so much.
"You're a mage, huh..."
When Kedan relayed his words, Adella felt like a fool for expecting anything.
Big hopes led straight to crushing disappointment—and then rage.
In a dungeon, lying about your class was a blatant show of contempt.
For Adella, who'd endured countless slights as a female knight, it was all too familiar.
Her response was simple.
Crush him so thoroughly he'd never dare mock her again.
That's when.
"...?"
Her senses picked something up.
Tension crawled up her spine.
Something was descending.
"I-It’s the giant!"
A massive body descended from above.
It was too huge to be human—a true giant's form.
Squish—
Something writhed inside the giant's glaring eyes and gaping maw.
Then.
Crunch—crunch—
The giant's head began to slowly rotate.
With each turn, chunks of flesh tore from its neck until—
Thud.
The giant's head dropped to the floor.
From the space where its head had been, massive maggots and corpse flies poured out in a frenzy.
The grotesque sight brought bile rising to Adella's throat.
But it didn't end there.
Boom—
As the body hunched down, its insides were revealed: hollowed out, devoured by maggots.
Yet even headless, the giant's body moved fine.
Planting its feet on the ground, it reached down, picked up the fallen head, and placed it back.
The head slowly settled into place.
The giant then turned its gaze on everyone in the boss room and let out a eerie laugh.
As its mouth split wide in a grin, Adella snapped to attention and tried to shout for evacuation.
"R-Run...!"
Thud.
Something landed on the nape of her neck.
A thread, paper-thin.
But...
Why... can't I move? Her body wouldn't obey. Worse. Air... I can't breathe...! Breathing was impossible too. Sudden death with no warning filled her with maddening terror. That's when. Crackle— The man before her swung his stick, and five crackling orbs of lightning bloomed. The orbs cycled mana between them like a circuit, then shot forward at his command. Then. Zzzzap—! The orbs rocketed ahead at blinding speed, unleashing massive bolts that threatened to engulf the giant. A deafening roar followed, blue flashes filling her vision. The thunder orbs turned the giant to ash, then leaped to the surrounding maggots like predators seeking new prey. Each blue flash amplified the spell's power, palpable on her skin. In the blink of an eye, the lightning chained through every maggot, charring them black before returning to the orbs in the air. The gathered bolts fired behind the charred giant corpse. Zzzzzap—! - Kiiiiieeeek! A piercing shriek rang out as whatever hid in the shadows turned to cinders. At the same time. Snap. Adella felt the thread choking her neck snap. Her halted breath exploded out, and she collapsed coughing violently.
"Gack, heuk... haa...!"
Back from death's door, her eyes locked on the man's back: the same impassive expression, stick still in hand. ---
[Puppet Master Myul defeated.]
— Experience gained.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
— Current Level: 65 → 67
[Final strike reward claimed.]
— Altar Ritual Dagger
『Altar Ritual Dagger』
— Dagger used in rituals at black mages' altars. Possessed by only a select few.
With Puppet Master Myul down, my level shot up by two at once.
Past level 65, I could definitely feel the increased EXP requirement for level-ups.
After the next auction, time to head to the seventh floor.
"All clear?"
I scanned for any surviving maggots or flies, but luckily, the circulating current had wiped them out.
『4th Circle: Circulating Current』
[Rank: Legendary]
— Creates five circulating current orbs. Orbs chain lightning to nearby targets. Each chain extends orb duration.
Circulating Current incorporates the 1st Circle spell Chain Lightning to spawn five chaining orbs.
The chained lightning returns to the orbs each time.
And with every return, the power ramps up.
For crowds of enemies, nothing beats it.
No one around seemed injured.
That's when.
"Um, excuse me..."
I turned to see Adella—the one who'd just yelled at me—grabbing my arm.
Her face was a mess of regret and shame, swollen like it might burst.
"I'm, I'm sorry!"
She shouted her apology loud, then rushed on.
"I mistook you for a knight based on looks—I'm truly sorry!"
"It's fine."
"No, really, I'm sorry! I've always raged at others for judging by appearances and ignoring people, and here I did the exact same—I'm so sorry!"
Her booming voice drew all eyes to us.
I motioned for her to stop, then accepted the apology.
"Senior... could you tell me your name?"
"Rain."
"Yes... I'll remember. I'm Adella, senior knight of the Black Lion Knight Order and second daughter of the Cariont Family. If you ever visit the Empire's Cariont Family, please seek me out!"
I'd have to swing by the Empire someday anyway.
There was the Temple of Chaos in the desert nearby.
I acknowledged Adella and headed to the sixth floor.