Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Bordo Dungeon Assault
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What we have to do from now on is explore the Bordo Dungeon and take down the 「Lich」 said to be in its deepest underground depths.
We took on the Bordo Dungeon exploration mission as a side gig, but that's not important.
This country—whatever it's called—is issuing emergency missions nationwide for the purpose of selecting the next hero candidate trainees.
Dry Village's emergency mission was to deal with the Skin Wolf in the Black Forest.
The one who brought that mission was none other than Esty.
She's a diamond-rank hunter and an elf archer who was so standoffish with humans that she wouldn't even share her name.
The day Esty came to Dry Village, I immediately planted a suggestion on her.
Then, after meeting that total slut Karen, I unexpectedly got pulled into the hero candidate selection.
We handled the Skin Wolf mission brilliantly... no, in a way that was a bit beyond common sense.
But in truth, the examiner Veil Noah, who was already in the village, pointed out several suspicious things and got us to spill everything.
Normally, that would've meant instant disqualification.
But we were attacked by fellow adventurers, and Esty—who had speaking rights—defended us, so we unexpectedly got a chance at an additional trial.
And that trial is capturing the Lich in the lowest level of Bordo Dungeon.
We can't risk our lives. But at this point, there's no avoiding it.
I knew the way to that crucial Bordo Dungeon well.
It's the first dungeon I challenged shortly after transferring to this world. No way I'd forget it.
Back then, it felt like a dungeon that hadn't been explored much yet, but who knew there were even deeper levels.
It took us about an hour to reach the entrance to Bordo Dungeon.
This time, more adventurers had gathered than before.
Maybe because it's an open plain, but you could see all the adventurers at a glance, and it seemed like even more than at the Black Forest entrance.
"These all people here for the Lich?"
"Looks like it. Word's already spreading among the adventurers. Everyone's geared up pretty well, too..."
"No need to feel intimidated."
Karen took a deep breath.
"Don't worry about anyone else. Just focus on whether you can pull your weight."
"If it gets dangerous, we bail with Space Leap. Got it?"
"Yeah. Last resort."
We'd already discussed the Space Leap plan ahead of time, so we headed underground.
Karen lit the lantern and held it in her shield hand as she took point.
Back then, it was Windel lighting the way with a torch. Wonder if he's supporting other adventurers now.
"Oppa. Monster ahead."
"Fireball."
I'd already started chanting, and a fireball formed above my open palm.
That's weird. This area's just goblins, right? They're aggressive, sure, but goblins are goblins. Nothing to worry about, but something felt off.
"It's coming!"
Karen shouted.
Something came charging in like a shot. It was a skeleton. But not the skeletons I knew.
It was armed with a sword in one hand. Its eye sockets glowed red like remnants of evil magic.
The appearance was only slightly different, but its agility was on another level—you could call it a whole different monster.
Karen blocked the skeleton's sword swing with her shield, held firm with her core, then shoved hard to repel it.
Since we'd synced our breathing many times, timing my attack was easy.
I launched the fireball right on target.
The skeleton took the hit and exploded from the impact. Burning bone fragments scattered everywhere, briefly lighting up the dark passage.
Cold sweat trickled down.
"What was that?"
"Skeleton Warrior. Tough opponent, but your magic worked well on it."
Of course...
To hit level 150, you have to deal with things like that?
At this point, fighting armed thugs feels less scary.
"Karen. You okay?"
Karen's complexion wasn't great.
"The flames were too hot..."
"Oh..."
I'd completely forgotten.
I have Veleira's blessing, so I'm immune to heat, but Karen isn't.
The Black Forest was open air, but Bordo Dungeon is cramped indoors. The passages are barely wide enough for three people abreast, so I couldn't just tell her to tough it out.
That'd give Karen serious burns.
"Fireball's out. I'll use Fire Arrow instead. Less power, but..."
"...Thanks."
Not Karen's fault.
In a restrictive combat environment, we need the right approach.
"Oppa. Ahead!"
Karen got into position. A Skeleton Warrior charged straight at us. Karen blocked its wild sword swings, buying time.
"Fire Arrow!"
I hadn't used it since learning Fireball.
As a beginner skill, its power was totally inferior to Fireball... but no choice.
Right now, we needed something compact over raw destructive force. Fire Arrow it was.
Cast time under a second. The fully chanted Fire Arrow nailed the Skeleton Warrior's head.
"Urk!"
But as expected, not enough power.
The Skeleton Warrior tanked it and started overpowering Karen with brute force.
"Karen!"
"Yeah, pulling back now!"
Karen shoved with her shield, disrupting the Skeleton Warrior's balance.
"Fire Arrow!"
Another hit to its torso, but it still wouldn't go down.
It really drove home how strong Fireball was.
"This could go on forever."
"Let's stick with Fireball after all. Oppa...!"
"I'll crank up the output a bit."
I used the Focus Bracelet's function to overcharge the Fire Arrow.
MP drained rapidly as the Fire Arrow's power surged.
"Fire Arrow!"
The Skeleton Warrior's body burst apart.
(Your level has increased)
"Haa... haa..."
"Karen, you good?"
"Yeah. Just tired from the strength contest."
"The heat bearable?"
"Skin's a bit hot, but I can handle it."
She hadn't taken a direct hit, but Karen's arm was red like it'd been scalded.
"Come closer."
I pulled the Starlight Shell from my personal inventory and pressed it to Karen's arm.
"Ah..."
"Better? No pain?"
"How'd you do that? Doesn't even feel like magic..."
"Item from Veleira. Like an artifact."
"...Amazing. Just pressing it heals wounds."
"But..."
Burns hurt.
Healing the wounds doesn't mean I can spam spells without caring if Karen gets hit.
Gotta find a better way.
"Oppa, don't worry about me. If you can't go all out because of me, that's..."
Karen noticed my concern and looked sad.
"It's not that, Karen.
Even if you're ready to face the pain, we can't keep going while you get burned. If you get taken out by a monster, I'm dead too."
"...Yeah. You're right."
"The problem's on my end. Fire magic has too wide an area."
Gotta find a better way.
"Why are the Skeleton Warriors spotting us first in the first place?"
Karen glanced at the lantern she was holding.
"The light? It stands out in the dark."
"Then we proceed in the dark."
"In the dark?"
"Until we exit this straight passage, I'll take point."
"No way. What if they spot us without light? I might not be able to protect you."
"That's why we use skills."
I glanced at the ring on my finger.
"I'll use Veil of Concealment. Stick close."
"Got it."
Karen extinguished the lantern and pressed against my side.
Veil of Concealment activated instantly without chanting. A curtain unfurled, just like the name.
No idea how it looks to others. Since Karen and I are both inside it, we can't tell the difference.
Trial and error would tell.
We moved forward slowly.
My heart pounded like it might burst from tension.
Karen walked glued to me, holding her breath. Without light, even half a beat late spotting a Skeleton Warrior ambush could be fatal.
Just as I started doubting if this was too reckless.
A Skeleton Warrior appeared ahead.
"..."
We held our breath and observed it.
It stood there, head bowed. Now that we'd marked its position, we backed up a few steps to reposition.
Then, I stomped in place to make noise.
The Skeleton Warrior didn't react.
No eyes, no ears—who knows what it senses—but right then, the light theory gained weight.
In that case.
I had Karen fall back, then chanted.
"Fireball!"
Whoosh!
Flames bloomed as the spell completed. The light hit, and the Skeleton Warrior registered us, charging in.
But knowing it'd come head-on removed the fear.
Narrow passage meant nowhere for it to dodge either. Even rough aim would hit a big target like a Skeleton Warrior.
A massive impact, and its body shattered.
"Nice. Now we know it's light-reactive. I'll lead until we clear the passage."
"Yeah. I'll prep to rush in if your spell misses."
"I trust you."
Veil of Concealment lasted about 600 seconds before fading.
We could recast, but to avoid awkward timing, we'd drop it, wait out cooldown, recast, and proceed cautiously.
"Fireball!"
We advanced, reliably dropping Skeleton Warriors one by one.
Had I ever taken down monsters with this much tension? My mouth felt parched.
"Let's take a short break."
"You sit and rest, oppa. I'll stand watch."
"Sounds good."
I pulled out the Goddess's Flask and shared it with Karen.
Plenty of stamina left, but the dungeon's unique environment made it way more draining than the forest.
We could keep going. For now.
It wasn't this brutal on the first floor before. The Lich's influence?
Probably. Pray we don't run into adventurer corpses.
"Let's go."
We pushed forward, felling Skeleton Warriors.
Skill proficiency rose, which was nice, but as Fireball's power grew, the indoor temperature felt like it was climbing.
Even behind me, Karen was sweating like midsummer.
This passage must be way hotter for her than it feels for me.
Sorry, Karen, but better than nerfing power clumsily.
Better to spot Skeleton Warriors first and strike preemptively than risk burns by putting her up front.
Best method, but not ideal.
Need a fundamental solution.
What if Fireball levels up next? That spell's unusable indoors.
"Oppa."
Karen whispered softly.
The narrow passage ended, opening into a room. Same as last time. Multiple passages led to similar stone chambers no matter which you took.
Prior visit helped unexpectedly. Rough idea of the way.
"...Three ahead."
Three Skeleton Warriors guarded the next path.
Even with strong Fireballs, fighting three at once was to be avoided.
Hell, even two sucked.
Wanted to overcharge a Fireball, but enough time?
"Should I take point?"
Karen asked quietly.
"..."
Time to decide.
I figured: Fireball one, fall back, lure into passage one by one.
Now, how to signal it...
"Back off on my signal. Lure 'em into the passage."
"One at a time? Got it."
Karen caught on quick and readied her sword.
"Fireball!"
Aimed to snag two or more, but no dice.
One down, but the other two evaded the radius and charged.
"Karen!"
Faster than expected. Can she pull back in time?
Then, from behind the Skeleton Warriors, someone provided covering fire, drawing their attention.
Thought it was Esty at first, but no way.
"Fireball!"
Another Fireball dropped one. The last took multiple arrows and crumpled.
"Did I interrupt? Decal-nim."
I dropped Veil of Concealment and faced the newcomer.
Seen him a few times at the guild. Gold-rank adventurer. Wabid.
Looked like Wabid had helped with his crossbow.
"Nah, perfect timing. Thanks."
I thanked him first.
"Thanks for the assist."
Karen followed suit.
"No silver-haired elf lady today? You two hunting the Lich?"
"How'd you know?"
"Everyone's bloodshot over it. Lich has amazing treasures. Prime target for adventurers. I'm here for that too... but maybe you two aren't after the money."
Wabid smiled brightly, probing us.
Doesn't seem like a bad guy. But can't judge hastily. Didn't we learn that in the Black Forest?
No guarantee fellow adventurers won't turn hostile.
"That's why we're here."
Snap.
I snapped my fingers.