Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Let's Charge In~
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I've learned something from my experiments.
Jenia's experience gain varies depending on the opponent's strength and condition.
In simple terms, the amount of EXP you get depends on how much HP you've shaved off.
"Hmm, looks like I've got even more reason to get stronger, Jenia?"
I grinned at her, and even with her face splattered in blood, Jenia's undeniable beauty shone through as she replied.
"It's comfy riding the bus and all, but I can't just leech forever!"
Watching her smile like that filled me with a strange sense of pride, so I reached out and patted her head.
Jenia's eyes went wide as she looked up at me, then she smiled and leaned into my touch.
"Ugh, gross."
I ignored Lancelot's nauseated expression and examined the pit.
Veronica was giggling away next to it, playing around.
"Veronica, I'm gonna check out the pit, so play over there."
"Yes, Apostle!"
With a cheerful reply, Veronica kicked a heretic's body aside like it was trash, then skipped off with a bright smile to resume her fun.
This is employee welfare right here.
Having your work and hobby be the same feels like a massive blessing.
Screams kept echoing, but I ignored them and peered into the pit.
Inside, sticky black liquid writhed in clumps. I cleared the surrounding earth to check if it was flowing anywhere.
Doesn't seem to be draining off anywhere.
I pulled a potion bottle from my subspace pouch, emptied it, scooped up some of the black liquid, and stored it back in the pouch.
I'm no expert in dark magic, so I'll take it to the Magic Tower for research.
I doused the pooled liquid with fire magic.
I blew the vaporizing smoke far away and buried the sacrificed corpses in the ground.
I'll leave the scene for the church inquisitors to consult on.
Everything seemed wrapped up, and no mana signatures pinged nearby, so I called everyone over.
"Alright, kids, time to head to the dungeon."
Jenia had been watching Veronica, while Lancelot was poking at heretics alongside her, itching to try it himself.
"Yes, Apostle~!"
Veronica's voice was noticeably brighter as she grabbed a heretic's neck, twisted it for the kill, and we set off for the dungeon.
Near the dungeon entrance stood a single battle mage.
I removed my robe and verified my identity.
"This way, please."
With those curt words, the battle mage drew his finger from bottom to top through the air.
Space parted like a curtain, revealing church inquisitors, Grandfather, and more battle mages waiting inside.
"Ah! You've arrived, First Prince. My grandson, haha!"
Grandfather slapped the back of an elderly man who somehow looked kindly, introducing me.
The man didn't mind at all, chuckling heartily as he greeted me.
"May the light of the Empire shine upon you. Pleased to meet you, Prince. I'm Daniel, the eldest of the inquisitors."
"Pleased to meet you, Priest Daniel."
"They say you found the heretics faster than anyone. The Empire's future is truly bright, ho ho ho."
"Just got lucky."
Grandfather, famous for his warm country-folk charm, spoke to me with grandfatherly affection—but anyone who fell for that smile and spilled everything would end up with a cracked skull. He's no pushover.
The eldest in a unit that handles the dirty work is basically the commander.
In other words, a cardinal-level figure had arrived.
Daniel, smiling benignly, spoke up.
"I've heard the briefing. A 6th Circle heretic is lurking inside the dungeon?"
I nodded and explained.
"Yes. They weren't detected before because they've been executing their plan from within."
"If that's true... forgive me, but this mission is far too dangerous for you, Prince."
"I know. But I can't sit it out."
With an archbishop and the Magic Tower Lord here, no need to worry.
"Ho ho... Very well. But this old man worries."
This was code for: Who takes responsibility if the Imperial Prince gets hurt or killed?
"I'll take responsibility for myself, of course. Everyone here can handle protecting themselves."
Daniel nodded at that.
"Understood. Then, could you brief us on the plan? Embarrassingly, this old man rushed here and knows little."
I gave a concise briefing.
"The enemy is Trias, High Priest of the Reverse Cross Cult, a 6th Circle dark mage. Their goal is to artificially trigger a dungeon break. They're holed up inside with multiple dark mages. We have someone who knows the layout, so we'll be fine. I ask that you station forces outside to handle any remnants and potential dungeon breaks."
"Got it. I'll keep 90% of the troops outside; I'll lead the rest inside."
"That's plenty. Let's move out."
With that, Daniel deployed troops around the dungeon, Grandfather left 70% of the mages outside on standby, and we headed in.
The lineup heading into the dungeon made my chest swell with pride.
No worries here—this crew could pulverize a 6th Circle dark mage with ease.
What could go wrong?
Whistling a tune like street thugs swaggering with bats, I strode into the dungeon.
"Prince, I'll guide from here."
Now it was Jenia's turn.
She took point, leading the group. The occasional monsters that popped up were turned to mincemeat by a few swings from the inquisitors' weapons, leaving only bloodstains on the walls.
Still the lower levels, so nothing too threatening yet.
Jenia explained as we walked.
"Do you know which floor in a dungeon sees the most people?"
"Hmm... Floor 1?"
Jenia nodded, stopping before a section with arrow traps.
"Correct. Strong adventurers or weak ones, everyone starts at Floor 1. Oh, could you brighten the lights a bit?"
At her request, I lit up the dungeon interior like a spotlight.
"Thanks."
Jenia flashed a bright smile, stepped on a brick between the wall and floor, then pushed it up three times and down twice.
A click sounded, and the adjacent wall sprang open.
Amazed by the classic moving wall trick, Lancelot and Veronica clapped beside me.
The mages and inquisitors watched Jenia with newfound respect.
Jenia struck a proud pose, hands on hips.
"Well, shall we go in?"
Inside the secret room, arrow-loading mechanisms on the left wall clicked as they reset.
The mystery of the arrow traps was revealed.
Admiring the ingenious design, I scanned the room and spotted a rough, hand-dug tunnel at the far right wall.
Jenia pointed it out.
"See that tunnel? Heretics are inside. The space is expanded, so everyone can fit."
"Understood, my lady. We'll take point from here."
The inquisitors and mages advanced into the tunnel; we followed.
No traps inside—just a straight path ending in an iron door.
No magic seals. One inquisitor pulled it open with a rusty creak.
Daniel and Grandfather whispered combat readiness orders. Everyone tensed as we entered...
"Those robes... from the temple? We're saved! Everyone, come here!"
-What? For real?
-Finally... finally!
-Outta the way!
A man with a black necklace shouted, and emaciated adventurers poured out.
"Huh?"
Grandfather thrust his hand toward the ground, sending a razor-sharp wind slicing past them, carving a line in the floor.
"Don't cross that line. Explain who you are and why you're here."
The man, knocked back by the wind, began explaining.
"W-We... we're adventurers! We entered for a quest, but one party member betrayed us..."
His eyes suddenly lost focus, body slumping like a marionette with cut strings. Black mana seeped from him.
"Damn it!"
Grandfather deployed magic circles, trapping the man in a glass dome.
But looking around, everyone with a black necklace had slumped in place. By the time we realized, black mana erupted from them all.
Heads snapped up in unison, empty eyes fixed on us.
"Shit! Daniel! Hold the people back!"
Grandfather flew past them toward the mana burst.
Light flared as mana surged backward.
The adventurers charged silently.
"Block them! Subdue first!"
Daniel shouted, and inquisitors bound limbs with holy spells or snapped joints to neutralize them.
Feeling the gravity sink in, a bead of cold sweat trickled down as I yelled to my group.
"We're following the Tower Lord!"
"""Yes!"""
I used telekinesis to carry us flying after him.
Grandfather hovered with seven magic circles active, battling heretics.
"Jenia, just guard my back! Everyone else, on the heretics!"
Veronica and Lancelot charged the heretics.
"That magic circle! We have to destroy it!"
Jenia pointed at a vibrating black circle emitting dark light.
"Liam! Hold on a bit!"
Grandfather urgently called my name, flying over the circle and channeling mana to chant.
"Showing your back?!"
A gaunt-faced man cackled maniacally, firing tentacles with human mouths and teeth at Grandfather.
I blasted max-output light magic from my hand, shooting them down.
"Jenia! Join the inquisitors! No time for extras!"
Jenia pouted but nodded and ran back.
"Arrogant... wait, a damn kid..."
The man impassively fired a barrage of tentacles at me. I heightened my senses, deflecting them with telekinesis; they grazed past with shockwaves.
-Boom!
"Hoh?"
The man grunted, emanating black mana.
This must be High Priest Trias.
I cleared my mind, maxing out senses and mana circles.
"You Trias? Heard the rumors—you rimming your god's ass with those tentacles?"
Provoked, he rolled his eyes back, exploding with more black mana.
"Insolent brat! I'll tear you apart and offer you to the Great One!"
Damn... shoulda brought Lumy.
I sorely missed Lumy, left behind to keep her safe from heretics.
Who'd have thought it'd turn out like this?
"Ooh, drop trou and show off that technique? Hold on!"
A melted-humanoid form linked to Trias's hand operated mana, deploying a magic circle and chanting.
This psycho!
I fired light magic at both sides, but the hit spots bubbled and regenerated instantly.
Chant complete—tentacles, black thorns, blood spears rained down.
Heightened senses plotted the perfect evasion path; I flew it, but he machine-gunned spells after me like an endless minigun.
"Fly like a pest! Seeing you squirm feels good!"
I dodged wall-shattering spells while flying, firing harassing magic that regenerated fast.
"That's how you rimmed the Great One's ass? Bet it was wrecked!"
I maxed concentration, landed, and halted flight.
"Yes! Give up, you worm!"
I ignored his taunts—one hit and a limb would explode.
Spinning circles shocked my brain like electricity.
Barely keeping eyes open, I layered barriers before me and glared at Trias.
Barriers cracked under the assault but wouldn't hold long.
Focusing, I slammed mana and will into his torso.
Visualizing crushing space itself, I thrust my hand out.
Trias sensed the ominous flow and tensed to retreat.
"Sharp instincts."
I clenched my fist—his arms yanked crossed, chest ripped open.
Too shallow; just tore skin, cracked bones.
Black bullets crossed in an X toward me, but a gap formed around me like a broken X.
Barriers shattered; I dropped them, firing light orbs from both hands.
"Please no phase 2, you mangy dog!"
-Kwaaaang!
The massive light beam engulfed his upper body and face, turning it to sand.
"Hah... I'll grind control practice so no more damn sand."
Sensing doom, I caught my breath—then Trias emerged from the dust, face and chest melted, shambling forward.
"Nya badni eo ga ma-seo-be-ri-da."
[I'll grind you up and drink you for sure.]
Staring at the grotesque Trias, I thought:
We're screwed...