Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Beyond the Gate (3)
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"Why isn't it working?"
Chloe's evident panic was plain to see. She'd confidently enveloped her fan with mana, but it was all for naught.
She swung the fan a few more times. But the ground didn't budge an inch.
"Even if this dungeon is unfamiliar, this is weird. The feel under my feet is definitely solid, so this pavement must be earth-attribute material..."
Chloe was muttering to herself, puzzling over the reason for her failure. I spotted the cause right away.
'Roads in Iceland are typically made from dirt or stone. Not asphalt.'
So she'd instinctively tried converting her mana to earth attribute to alter the pavement.
But this place resembled a faded Harlem in New York. And we were standing right in the middle of an asphalt road.
'Asphalt. It's the residue left after fractional distillation of petroleum.'
I knew it well from my pre-possession studies in the real world. Actually, I'd learned that much even before college.
Asphalt's base is petroleum. So it seemed earth-attribute mana couldn't induce alteration.
An idea occurred to me. For an ordinary alchemist, petroleum's alchemical attribute is a compound of fire and water.
I lightly placed my hand on the ground. I channeled mana into my palm and attempted a simple attribute conversion.
Implementing a complex alchemy circuit like Chloe's on the spot was beyond me. But altering the area at my fingertips was well within my capabilities.
I shifted the mana at my fingertips to a midpoint between fire and water attributes. The asphalt beneath my hand began to soften slightly at the edge. Just as I'd thought.
"Chloe. Don't panic!"
Chloe was still staring intently at the unyielding pavement, her face grave.
I spoke calmly.
"This pavement seems made of something akin to pitch or coal tar. Factor that in when using alchemy, and what you had in mind will work. Treat the pavement as fire-and-water-attribute material."
Pitch. Or coal tar. A black, viscous resin obtained from natural petroleum or coal.
It was a material used on Earth in ancient and medieval times as an adhesive or for waterproofing ships.
So it likely existed in Iceland too.
'The alchemist trait bringing pitch to mind confirms it.'
Sure enough, Chloe understood.
"Count? Pitch? And fire-and-water-attribute material...? Wait! So that's it."
True to her intelligence, she didn't press further and immediately took action, as befitted her rational nature.
The tip of her fan glowed. I could see mana blending fire and water attributes flowing from it. The mana detached from the fan and swiftly touched the ground.
Grroooaaar—
A sound like an earthquake rumbled out.
In an instant, a path formed from the asphalt pavement straight toward the second floor of the building ahead. It was like a small overpass had appeared.
The bridge connected to a two-story building about the size of a small mart. Its outer walls and roof were destroyed, making the second floor essentially a rooftop, where a group of monsters had gathered.
And through Rosario, the demon beast's senses clearly transmitted to me.
'Two Tier 4 demon beasts on the first floor. And two on the second.'
Heading into the first floor carelessly would get us sandwiched from above and below by the second-floor ones. So we had to clear the second floor first, naturally.
"Charge the second floor!"
With those words, the two of us ascended the asphalt bridge.
As we approached, goblin archers loosed suppressive fire. Projectile attacks from the other ranged monsters poured down on us simultaneously.
"Ignore them and push forward!"
My senses were heightened from the string of battles. Arrows from mere goblins felt like slow motion.
My imperial sword swung and effortlessly deflected them all.
We quickly reached the bridge's apex. That high point was even above the second-floor demon beast cluster.
From there, the bridge sloped down like a slide toward the second floor. It was Chloe's clever design, nullifying the enemies' positional advantage.
At the bridge's peak, Chloe swung her fan downward with full force.
A barrage of needles erupted from the fan's tip, flying toward the monster group on the second floor.
'She hides hidden weapons all over her body. What a scary woman.'
Chloe's combat dress had a slit skirt. I'd seen her draw hidden weapons from between the slits moments ago. But I hadn't expected the fan to conceal them too.
The needles struck the monsters swiftly. Explosions followed.
Kaboom-kaboom-kaboom—
The twenty-plus subordinate monsters with the two Tier 4 demon beasts had their formation shattered in an instant by the blasts. It was the same alchemical dust explosion as before.
I plunged straight into the rising acrid smoke.
Even with my vision obscured temporarily, my senses were sharp. I pinpointed the demonic power unique to demon beasts. But as Tier 4s, they only felt like slightly stronger monsters.
Probably powerful orc chieftains. Orc lords, maybe. Demon beasts mimic ordinary monster forms, so likely the real deal.
But an orc was just an orc.
Reinhardt reflexes faster than thought moved my sword. The imperial sword flashed in a straight line.
Slash—
By the time the smoke settled, the heads of the two Tier 4 demon beasts lay on the ground.
"Next, the first floor! Tier 4s are nothing special! Hurry and clear them, then head for the dungeon boss. Chloe!"
"Yes, Count!"
We didn't need the bridge to descend. The two of us leaped straight from the second floor to the ground.
Another dust explosion followed. The first-floor demon beasts were cleared in a flash.
Now only the Tier 3 boss demon beast remained.
Chloe and I used alchemy to scale the outer wall of a suitably tall building. Beyond our view, a distinctly separate area stood out from the rest of the dungeon.
"The boss must be there."
Bosses usually spawned near the gate core. Meaning that area was the boss zone. I knew the way well enough; no trouble heading there.
"Let's hurry. Once we take down the Tier 3, we're done with this damn place."
I spoke calmly. I felt Chloe's gaze on me.
She'd been rattled at the dungeon entrance nearly falling for a trap. But her performance since had been beyond reproach.
Not just the dust explosions, but the asphalt bridge too.
As expected of the top student of the alchemy division. Of course, I was the one guiding her firepower to peak efficiency.
Suddenly, Chloe's red lips parted.
"You did say this was your first combat mission, Count Julian."
She was right.
Typical Pantheon students joined monster subjugation missions even in their first year. But wastrel Julian hadn't awakened mana, let alone learned Lion Heart Sword or imperial swordsmanship.
So pre-possession, I'd had zero combat experience, naturally.
'Not even the animal hunts nobles love.'
That Julian Count fighting on par with—no, surpassing—her must have been baffling.
I replied.
"You know it well. First time."
"It's true, then. Honestly, when I saw you in the Golden Wings reserve squad lineup, I couldn't believe it. Divisions and classes have their rivalries, but Golden Wings only takes skilled cadets you can trust at your back."
"Is that so? Why bring it up now?"
"Nothing. Just... remembered how you scolded me back then."
She continued in a slightly softer tone.
"And... it doesn't seem like I made a wrong call at the division meeting. Guess the high priests have some eye for talent."
Her way of acknowledging me. With that, she hid her face behind her fan.
I responded.
"Save the small talk for after we take down the Tier 3. After the mission's done."
We descended to the ground.
This time, Chloe took point. As expected of her brilliance, she'd grown accustomed to the dungeon's trap patterns. We dodged them with ease.
We traversed the ruined city's center, recovering stamina and mana spent on the Tier 4s, proceeding as cautiously as possible.
In the silence between us, I pondered the Tier 3 demon beast.
'Tier 3 demon beast. Per Demon King's Son Surviving in the Holy Empire, no pushover.'
The line between higher and lower demon beasts was Tier 3. This dungeon, bolstered by the Chaotic Gate from the Nine Wastes, meant even Tier 3s were close to higher-tier strength.
Unlike Tier 4s, which were just enhanced ordinary monsters, Tier 3s had distinct individual traits.
'And they spread curses via demonic power even stronger.'
But tension or worry? None. Maybe from sparring Captain Michael, who could fell Tier 1s.
No, Reinhardt blood held potential beyond Master level, to Grand Master.
Through successive battles, even my personality was assimilating to that Reinhardt blood.
I wanted to fight more.
'Now I get why Border Count Wilhelm stands at the forefront even at his age.'
We hurried onward. Finally, we reached the boss area.
A grandiose building like a ruined city hall. Against it loomed a massive demon beast.
Tension etched Chloe's face.
"That's... a Tier 3?"
Over five meters tall. A colossal cyclops with a single eye exuded ominous purple flames across its body.
"Anton said it was around three meters. Looks like it grew devouring nearby lifeforms. Three times my height."
I wasn't short. Over 180 cm. But nothing compared to that giant.
"And size isn't the only danger. It looks far more ferocious than a standard Tier 3 or giant-type demon beast."
Grrrooooaaar—
The giant was furious. It had realized all its minions were dead.
That curse-laced roar earlier was aimed at us.
"How much mana left, Chloe?"
She'd used alchemy repeatedly in the dungeon. Some mana went to holy magic against curses.
Even recovering en route to the boss, it wouldn't be ample.
"Probably... about a quarter of normal."
I'd love to cast mana recovery holy magic, but my earlier talk of heels was bravado.
Precisely wielding Jedin's holy power required more growth.
"Then I'll have to handle it."
But I still had my pristine sword. An ordinary imperial sword. More than enough.
'In Demon King's Son Surviving in the Holy Empire, it was a boss you could control your way through.'
Plus, with Lillia or Rosetta as partner, it'd be easier. Not that Chloe was inferior.
Against that one-eyed giant cyclops, sustain mattered most.
'Well, my mana overflows. Let's take it slow.'
Lacking sustain? Burst it down. I knew Chloe's hidden ace.
I charged the cyclops.
"Count!"
Chloe cried out in surprise.
I dashed forward. The cyclops's siege-engine hammer smashed down over my head. Belying its bulk, incredibly swift.
And destructive.
Kabooooom—
The ground cratered with earthquake force. But its patterns were simple relative to speed.
I dodged relentlessly. With remaining bonus mana, I prepped alchemy. I shouted to Chloe.
"Chloe! Prepare poison!"
Attacking now would just graze its pillar-like legs. For her big hit, I needed a sword wound near the heart.
I manifested alchemy on the ground. The city hall plaza was dry grass. Ordinary soil, not asphalt.
Whoooosh—
Ample mana birthed numerous earthen pillars. Leaping between the varied heights simulated aerial combat. The giant, unable to land hits easily, roared in rage.
Crraaaawr—
The relentless aerial barrage to carve its back continued. Dodging the siege hammer, I circled behind and unleashed Lion Heart Sword swiftly.
Gradually, gashes from my blade multiplied on its back. When they finally gaped enough to bleed profusely.
Chloe unleashed a massive volley of hidden weapons into the wounds.