Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The End of the Rookie Adventurers
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The thief Blett met an unexpected death, leaving the adventurer party utterly dazed. But an even greater ordeal loomed before them—one so dire that Blett’s demise was now trivial by comparison.
“I’m huuuungry…”
“F-Forest troll…”
“We have to run…”
They knew the monster’s identity and how to deal with it. Yet their feet wouldn’t move.
Feeling they had to say something, the warrior Garek blabbered on.
“W-What about Blett?”
“He’s dead. We leave him behind. Maybe it’ll distract them with his corpse.”
Even in this situation, the old archer’s judgment was spot-on.
Rustle rustle…
Archer Troa rummaged through the thief’s pockets and pulled something out.
“On the count of three, run back. I’ve left markers. If you fall behind, we’ll leave you, so if you somehow survive, follow the markers out.”
He was meticulous and cold-blooded.
Had this been an ordinary dungeon, his plan would have worked perfectly.
“One… two… three!”
Fwoooosh—!
Smoke billowed from the smoke bomb, scattering through the forest. In that instant, the adventurers were spotted fleeing through gaps in the smoke.
Kuuuung!
Kuuuuuung!
“Grraaaaaah!”
The forest troll chased after them in a clumsy sprint. Each step shook the ground.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Run! Don’t look back or you’re dead.”
Craaaack…
The forest troll paused briefly upon stepping on Blett’s corpse, then charged again.
Troa hesitated at the faster-than-expected pursuit.
Should he signal to scatter?
But that would be a death sentence for the lagging mage and priest.
They had to find the markers.
First, find the markers…
“…Damn it.”
“Troa?”
“The markers have been gone since earlier.”
“What do you mean…”
“What the hell are you talking about!”
The markers were gone.
The ones carved into trees, into rocks.
Even the stakes he’d personally driven in.
All vanished.
Or rather, were the markers really gone?
“This scenery… I’ve never seen it before.”
“…What?”
“It’s scenery I’ve never seen once.”
Troa’s words were tantamount to a declaration.
No luck escaping quickly via the exit.
They would survive.
They had to survive first and foremost.
Everyone thought the same.
And the way to do that was…
“See you alive!”
“Damn it! Troa!”
“Survive somehow.”
What if they’d braced for battle with the forest troll? Likely three would die, one survive.
Instead, they chose flight—sacrificing one to save three.
The party’s unity shattered in an instant, scattering in all directions.
In a dungeon, once formation breaks, the targets are the slow-moving priest and mage.
The rearguards, that is.
“Huff… huff…”
“T-Together… let’s go together!”
“I don’t wanna die… don’t wanna die…”
Mage Remi and priest Sillon paired off and fell behind.
“Grraaah…”
The forest troll’s face appeared, snapping trees. Overwhelming terror from that grotesque visage sapped their legs’ strength.
“Ugh…”
“Remi! Hand!”
“M-My legs…”
The forest troll was right there.
Mage Remi grabbed priest Sillon’s hand, pulled her up.
Then channeled mana into their clasped hands, paralyzing Sillon.
“…Huh?”
“Sorry… sorry, Sillon.”
“L-Liar… b-bitch…”
Sillon shuddered in paralysis, cursing her.
“You snake bitch!”
“Die in my place. Sorry! I’ll make it up to you by living on.”
“You’ll die! Me…”
The roar faded into the distance.
Remi ran with all her might.
Crunch…
Snap…
The stench of blood and Sillon’s death cries chased close behind.
“Huff… huuuff…”
“Remi! Here!”
A cave.
A cave.
Troa and Garek beckoned.
“Here! Hurry!”
“Move it! That thing’s behind you!”
“Huff… huuuuff…”
Graaaaaah!
Boom…
The forest troll appeared, shaking the earth.
“Grab hands!”
Flash!
Three leaped into the cave.
The party was now just three.
“Sillon?”
“……”
“…Right.”
Troa spat toward the troll’s massive eye glaring into the cave.
“Ptoo! We’re stuck here until that thing leaves.”
“Sob… hic… What did I do wrong…”
“Remi, get it together. We survived for now.”
Garek asked Troa.
“What happened? The markers…”
“They moved.”
“…The markers?”
“The forest.”
“You’re joking?”
“No, it’s entirely plausible.”
“How’s that even possible? Never heard of…”
He stopped.
He recalled the legendary being that could move forests.
“Sob… dark elf?”
“Has to be. Nothing else fits.”
“No… way. Aren’t they extinct?”
“Who knows? I only know what I’ve seen and learned.”
“If it’s a dark elf…”
Remi muttered, hugging her knees.
“The Seven Deadly Sins…”
“…Remi.”
“We stepped into the Seven Deadly Sins’ territory… Nothing else makes sense…”
Troa added.
“Remi might be right.”
“Troa!”
“But no need to panic prematurely. We’re not here to subjugate the Seven Deadly Sins.”
“So there’s a way?”
“Let’s think when day breaks. Rest up for now.”
Time had long passed, and they couldn’t move until the troll left, so rest was necessary.
“The cave interior…”
“Scouting’s impossible right now. We need that thing outside gone for an escape route. Set up the alert stone and keep noise to a minimum.”
“Yeah, stay quiet and we’ll be fine.”
Mage Remi grumbled about sleeping in this situation, but soon fell into deep slumber.
Once tension releases, even gripping the reins tight can’t fend off sleep.
…Come heeeere—!
Squeeeee—!
Craaaack—!
It was a bizarre dream.
The alert stone’s alarm and something splitting rang in her dream. Remi awoke to the unpleasant noise.
She realized the sound was Garek’s head splitting open.
“Ga…rek?”
—Grrr rumble…
—Grr rumble…
Eyes glinting in the cave’s darkness, an axe dripping blood.
“O-Orc… orcs…”
Alone, she couldn’t handle two full-grown orcs. At least Troa needed to be there…
Rustle…
Remi’s gaze turned to the cave entrance.
Troa.
True to his experience as the party’s veteran, Troa instantly assessed the situation.
While he’d briefly stepped out to check the troll’s watch, disaster struck.
Left were Remi and himself.
Even combined, two against orcs in a narrow cave was tough.
In that moment, Remi and Troa’s eyes met.
“……”
Flash—!
Troa fled the instant their eyes met.
“N-No! Take me too!”
With the party shattered, the slow mage was dead weight.
Troa judged thus and ditched Remi.
“D-Don’t come! Stay back…”
Craaaack—!
“Huff… huuuuff…”
Troa was exhausted too.
A lone archer was powerless.
But flight was worth a shot.
“You think I’ll die…? Here…? Like those idiots in this dump!”
He ran and ran.
The scenery kept changing.
As much as he ran—no, from some point, changes outpaced him.
Yet something felt off.
The scenery shifted incredibly fast.
‘…Am I running this fast?’
No way.
If he had such speed, he wouldn’t be suffering now.
Then…
Halt.
“…My god.”
Rumble rumble…
Even after stopping, the scenery changed.
The forest reshaped itself nonstop.
Trees moved, old paths severed, new ones formed.
“Haha…”
The forest moves.
He knew, but seeing it was different.
A hollow laugh couldn’t express his feelings fully.
On a path formed by trees parting, a copper-skinned woman stood.
Pointed ears, emerald-glowing eyes.
The legendary dark elf.
Death sentence.
“May I ask one thing?”
Nod…
“Is this the Seven Deadly Sins’ land by chance?”
The dark elf queen stared silently at Troa, then shook her head.
“Leave now.”
“Wai…”
Shiiiink—!
A sharp branch shot out, piercing Troa’s temple.
Slice—!
His head floated up.
[1-1 Chapter: Rookie Adventurers will end soon.]
[Dungeon Guardian Mission complete.]
[Mission result: Troa and party of 5 deceased.]
[Acquiring intruders’ possessions as Dungeon Guardian Mission reward.]
[Acquired 2,000 magic stones from intruders’ possessions.]
[Acquired Kalhail Great Forest Pass from intruders’ possessions.]
[Espionage activity unlocked.]
……
* * *
Clack…
Clack…
The dark elf queen came to me, holding Troa’s severed head.
“As you commanded, it is done.”
Nod.
Ariel stepped aside.
One thing I sought from Episode 1-1 was confirmation.
‘This squad level… not bad.’
4-star and 5-star.
Crucial was their power level, and the adventurer party shattered without a proper fight.
‘Though I wanted to test Ariel’s power more.’
Ariel’s combat prowess was on the weaker side among 5-stars. Instead, her bizarre trait enveloping the entire battlefield made her highly employable.
‘The forest terrain shifting every moment… definitely terrifying.’
I hoped the next adventurers would be stronger.
“Mori.”
Doppelganger Mori approached at my call.
“Yes.”
“Impersonate.”
“Whom? That old corpse?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Understood.”
Craaaackle…
Mori transformed into dead Troa’s form.
“Sip… These blood-soaked gears will draw eyes, though.”
“No matter.”
“Then.”
“We leave this place tomorrow morning.”
“Who… me…”
“Three. Me, Bill, and you, Mori.”
“…Hehe, this’ll be fun. Where to?”
Tomorrow would likely be the most stimulating day since arriving here.
“Liudira.”
“Where’s that?”
“A human village.”
“Oho……”
Lucifer cut in immediately.
“Faust-nim, let me join…”
“Enough. It’s decided.”
“But…”
“Lucifer, you stay here and guard the dungeon.”
She bit her lip ever so slightly.
The expression shift was fleeting.
“Understood.”
After ending the meeting and dispersing, I pondered tomorrow.
‘Espionage activity provides the perfect excuse to step out.’
Espionage was a feature updated at Lemegaton’s open beta, auto-unlocking after the first episode.
This function made the Lemegaton world feel vaster and more immersive for users.
‘And various side activities along the way.’
Tomorrow, for the first time since entering the dungeon, I’d venture outside.
* * *
“Yawwwn…”
“What’s with that yawn…”
“Hangover won’t quit. Ugh… drank too much?”
“So carefree.”
Two village guards bickered.
Where the guards looked, three adventurers emerged.
From the great forest direction.
“Hm? You…”
“Ahaha…”
“About ten days? Since you left here.”
“Something like that? Anyway, came back empty-handed, so stopping by the village. Need to restock a bunch.”
Swoosh…
The guard eyed the two beside Troa. Only humans could pass through the village.
Fortunately, no black hair or black eyes visible. By eye, they didn’t seem very threatening to the village.
“These two? New faces?”
“Herbalists who took a wrong turn en route. Took a personal request to escort them to the village.”
“Hmm… Got passes?”
They exchanged passes side by side.
Loot from dead Remi and Blett.
“…Good. Clear!”
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