The Paradise of Flowers
The day after the Flower Paradise. We rose early that morning, settled our stomachs with the heavenly stew Villon had prepared the night before, and set out for the dungeon with renewed vigor.
Swish. Slice.
"Ugh. Why the hell are there so many weeds..." Hans grumbled as he hacked away at the overgrown grass with his short sword.
The dungeon we sought lay deep within the forest, so we had no choice but to push through vegetation that rose as high as a man's head.
Hmm. Still, according to the map, we should be almost there...
We'd walked without stopping yesterday and continued the same pace today, so we had to be close. Let's see... the map mentioned a large tree with markings...
"Commander."
"Mm. Looks like we're nearly there."
Right on cue, Cerise spotted the massive tree with an X carved into its trunk by a blade.
Rustle—!
".......Commander!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle."
Clack!
Cerise and I noticed the presence at the same moment—small footsteps, like those of a child, accompanied by equally faint breathing.
"................."
The mercenaries read our signal and drew their weapons, lowering their stances.
Whizz—!
"Where do you think you're going!"
Clang—!
Kyaaargh—!
Cerise casually deflected the arrow flying from the thicket. At the same time, a disgusting scream echoed through the forest.
Thudthudthud—!
"....Gnoll?!"
Gnolls. Creatures that shared some rat-like features with kobolds, though each stood at least half the height of an adult male. Their physical abilities were nothing special, but they lived in packs and knew how to use weapons. For those reasons, the Empire classified them as 2-Star monsters.
Kreeee—!
Slash—!
A gnoll warrior swung a sharp blade at Cerise and me, who stood at the front. The edge was certainly threatening, but its stance and power were sloppy. Taking a hit from something like this would be too embarrassing for a commander.
Whoosh—!
I lightly sidestepped the incoming blade and immediately struck the gnoll in the philtrum.
Cough... hack...
It was a blow infused with magic power. Even without armor, the creature died instantly from that single strike.
Grrrr—!
"Hup!"
Slash—! Slice—!
Cerise bisected two charging gnolls with a single swing.
"Gnoll? These are just trash!"
"Kill them all!"
The mercenaries hurled curses at the sudden swarm of gnolls and began their slaughter.
Squeak... Glurk.
It was an overwhelming, one-sided scene of violence.
A short while later—
Slice—!
Squeee...
The battle ended when Cerise decapitated the final gnoll. We had successfully repelled the pack.
After all, we were a mercenary company with an average potential of three stars. A mere pack of 2-Star gnolls wasn't even enough to count as a warm-up.
"No one injured, I trust?"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Then let's move. We're almost at the dungeon."
Despite the abrupt ambush, we pressed forward toward the dungeon without a single casualty.
".....Whoa. So this is a dungeon...!"
"Mm."
It didn't take long. After walking a while longer, a massive structure resembling a temple appeared before us. An altar? A pyramid? I wasn't sure, but it gave off exactly the impression one would expect from the word "dungeon."
Nice, nice. I wonder what kind of treasure is waiting for me inside?
"Everyone, we're moving in! Cerise and I will take point. Follow closely!"
"Yes, Commander!"
With equal parts anticipation and excitement, I slowly walked through the dungeon's gaping entrance.
"Stairs."
"There are stairs."
Cerise and I, having entered cautiously, discovered a staircase so deep and tall that its end was invisible. Just in case, we spread out and searched for other entrances or doors, but found none. There was only one path—down the stairs, relying on the flickering light of torches mounted along the walls.
"Everyone, attention. We need people to remain at the entrance and stand guard. Any volunteers?"
"I'll do it, Commander."
"Me too."
"I'll stay as well!"
Starting with Villon, several mercenaries volunteered to remain at the entrance. Good. They really were reliable and loyal comrades. This was exactly how my mercenary company should be.
"Then we're heading down. Maintain vigilance on all sides as you follow."
And so we began our descent down the endless staircase, placing one careful foot after another. We checked the walls, ceiling, and floor for traps as we went, but fortunately found nothing suspicious.
Just how long is this thing? We've already gone down more than two hundred steps.
I'd been counting roughly, and we'd passed two hundred, yet it seemed we hadn't even covered half the distance. Just what could possibly be waiting at the bottom? My steps grew lighter with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
Finally, the long staircase ended, and we reached a massive doorway. Unidentifiable statues stood on either side, flanked by braziers with roaring flames.
"Moving in."
"Everyone, move in! Do not drop your guard!"
Rustle—!
We exchanged glances before stepping through the entrance.
"....Huh."
"Whoa..."
What appeared before our wary eyes was a vast flower field, as if another world had unfolded. Light poured down through a ceiling pierced with enormous holes. Peaceful birds fluttered about, and an endless sea of flowers bloomed in every color imaginable. If a paradise on earth existed, it would surely look like this—a breathtaking, dreamlike space.
"What the hell is this?"
"Hah. This is the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life."
"If only I could capture this scene..."
The grand and beautiful sight left even the rough, battle-hardened mercenaries speechless.
Whoops. This isn't the time for that.
"Everyone, stay focused. We don't know what might jump out here."
It was beautiful enough to make one lose focus for a moment. Still, we had a job to do. We hadn't come all this way just to admire the view.
"Ah! Ahem! Everyone, stay alert!"
"Yes! Understood!"
At my shout, Cerise shook her head to clear it and called out to the mercenaries. They looked at her with expressions that clearly said, You were spacing out too, but wisely kept their mouths shut.
Crunch. Crunch.
We began advancing slowly, trampling flowers beneath our boots. The underground cavern was incredibly wide, but solid walls rose on both sides, leaving only one direction to go.
Swish. Crunch.
The only sound was the soft noise of feet passing through flowers and grass—a peaceful moment.
"Wha— whoa?!"
Suddenly, a mercenary's scream came from behind us.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!!"
I whipped around and shouted immediately.
Slither—!
I'd seen a massive tentacle burst from the sprawling flowers and wrap around one of the mercenaries, lifting him into the air.
"Ugh.... Aaaagh—! S-save me..!"
As the struggling mercenary screamed, more tentacles rose from among the beautiful flowers. No—upon closer inspection, they weren't tentacles at all. They were enormous flower stems.
"Vice-Commander Cerise, go ahead! I'll follow right behind!"
"Yes, Commander!"
Tap-tap-tap—!
I gripped my greatsword tightly and charged toward the stem holding the mercenary.
Gururu...
Slash—!
"Kgh!"
Realizing it was under attack, the stem produced another from the flowerbed and hurled it like a spear. I barely dodged the sudden strike.
2-Star. No, a 3-Star monster.
Name: Venice
Age: 29 / Gender: Male
Unique Ability (Magic Eye): Eyes that can see magic power. Can perceive the trajectories of magic and utilize it more smoothly.
Unique Ability (Talent Analysis): Can analyze the opponent's talent. Can grasp unique abilities and potential at a glance.
Unique Ability (Superior Body): Your body is superior, as if forged by the gods! Stamina, strength, situational judgment... All physical abilities are greatly enhanced!
The attack was fast enough to feel threatening even to me, who possessed the unique abilities of Superior Body and Magic Eye. It was faster than the Ironclaw Monkey, which had been on the weaker side of 3-Star. This was probably a mid-to-upper 3-Star monster.
Slice—!
Guruk...
"Aaaah—!"
Thud.
When I severed the stem holding the mercenary, he collapsed to the ground. Fortunately the floor was covered in soft flowers, so he wasn't injured. The moment I confirmed his safety, I infused my voice with magic power and shouted.
"Everyone be careful! This is an upper 3-Star monster!"
"Kgh! No wonder it felt so damn strong...!"
"....Ugh!"
When I looked around, I saw the mercenaries struggling.
Slice—!
Gururu...
"Out of the way!"
In the chaotic battlefield, Cerise shone brightly. Like a flame burning in absolute darkness.
Slice— Slice—!
With quick, concise movements, she cut through the tough flower stems in single strikes.
I couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Hup—!"
Whoosh— Slice—!
I ducked under a stem shooting toward me and severed it with a vertical cut.
"Watch out!"
"Thanks!"
The mercenaries, who had been struggling against an unfamiliar enemy, gradually began to counterattack once they grew accustomed to the patterns.
Slice— Slice— Slash—!
The flower stems could not withstand our coordinated assault.
"This is the last one!"
Slice—!
Gururuk..
With Cerise cutting down the thickest stem that had risen among them, we safely eliminated the monsters that had ambushed us.
"Everyone, gather up!"
"Yes, Commander!"
At my call, the mercenaries began assembling around me one by one. A few had bruises and some were bleeding, but no one had sustained serious injuries.
Whew... Considering it was an ambush, we'd handled it well.
"Can everyone still move? I'm going to press forward from here. Anyone who needs rest may head back."
"We're fine, Commander!"
"....Then let's move immediately."
They could have withdrawn if it was too difficult. Well, it was better if they could all continue. With a satisfied heart, I began advancing once more.
We crossed the plain of flowers we had mistaken for paradise.
Even after walking for some time, no further attacks came. The Flower Paradise had returned to perfect peace, as if nothing had happened.
"Commander. Do you see that?"
"Yes. I see it too."
In the distance, Cerise and I spotted an ancient pavilion radiating a noble aura. Beneath its shade lay some kind of object.
.....A sword?
Looking closely, it appeared to be a sword embedded in the ground. Could this be the artifact I'd been hoping for?!
"Everyone, let's head there. That should be the end of this dungeon."
Beyond the pavilion, there seemed to be no ground—only a sheer cliff. Our dungeon exploration would likely end there.
"I wonder what's there? I'm getting excited."
"Gold and treasure would be nice. Heh heh..."
With the end of the request in sight, the mercenaries seemed to have relaxed somewhat. They chatted and joked lightly. Of course, as veterans, they never fully dropped their guard.
The moment we reached the pavilion, the anomaly occurred.
Rumble—!
A tremendous vibration shook us, forcing us to stagger. With the massive noise, birds took flight and grass rained down from above.
Shaaaa—!
"What is this..."
Centered on the pavilion, the blooming flowers began moving as if gathering toward a single point. They converged, forming one colossal shape.
"C-Commander..."
"Shit..."
Bubbling—!
A 3-Star monster possessed enough power to devastate a small village. So just how strong was a 4-Star monster?
According to the books I'd read, there were records of a single 4-Star monster destroying an entire city. And before us now stood a 4-Star monster—Nepenthes.
A creature whose mere rumored appearance could drive all residents of nearby villages to evacuate. A monster that even the Empire would recruit its finest hunters to subdue.
The paradise of flowers. And the guardian that protected it.
At the appearance of Nepenthes, we broke into cold sweats like prey staring death in the face. We could only grip our weapons so tightly it felt as though they might shatter.