Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Noble Duty (3)
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Upon receiving Kurt's message, Adel headed straight to the Adalbert estate as soon as noon passed.
Even as she made her way to meet Martin, she reassured herself.
*This is the right path.*
Though limited to viscount rank due to being a branch family, the Bittenfeld territory rivaled that of any count's domain.
It was true that she needed to demonstrate her prowess to uphold her dignity as family head.
But the limit of the 5th Circle was clear.
Rather than being compared to the heads of other branch families, joining Martin was far better.
*No regrets.*
She had resolved herself that way.
Yet.
"Hello?"
Sien greeted her with a bright smile.
Seeing that, Adel wondered for the first time if she had made the wrong judgment.
"6th... 6th Circle?"
"As expected, good eyes. Now I just need to build the skills to match that insight, right?"
"When... when did you reach it? You were only 5th Circle during the rebellion suppression."
"It hasn't been long. About a month, roughly?"
"A month is more than enough time for word to reach me..."
"I kept it hidden. Wanted to surprise you the next time we met. How about it? Got you good?"
The smile on Sien's lips deepened.
In contrast, Adel's gaze trembled faintly.
She could see the other was openly toying with her.
Until now, she had been the one teasing Sien, never on the receiving end like this.
But she couldn't respond properly.
The gap with someone who had been her equal had widened dramatically.
No matter how hard she tried, maintaining her composure was difficult.
"...What on earth happened?"
"Well, just got lucky. Took a good spirit medicine, had an epiphany in the process, and leaped up a stage."
"Congratulations."
"Your expression and words don't match, but thanks anyway."
Watching Sien shrug, Adel reignited her fighting spirit.
Beyond not wanting to be compared to other branch family heads, there was another reason she wanted to join Martin.
This was Martin's first time taking on his noble duties as heir.
That alone would draw all the public's attention, and with the title of youngest 8th Circle powerhouse attached.
Martin would surely shine in this dungeon expedition, and teaming up with him would raise her own name recognition to some degree.
That was Adel's judgment.
But Sien had reached the 6th Circle?
If this got out, she would likely end up as mere window dressing in this expedition.
*I need to get stronger.*
She had to reach the 6th Circle in this dungeon run no matter what.
That was the only way to preserve her dignity as family head.
Adel steeled her resolve.
* * *
During the last Monster Wave, the monsters' strength and ferocity had developed abnormally.
Not only that, but their spawn rate was fast too.
That had made it hard to go below the 20th floor.
In fact, even with multiple 7th Circle powerhouses gathered and knight orders mobilized, reaching the 35th floor had taken considerable time.
This time was different.
They broke through the 35th floor in just over two weeks.
"The 36th floor's terrain is a forest. The main monsters are centaurs and barbarians. Each one can craft weapons using the dungeon terrain or corpses of other monsters, and they engage in proper melee combat with them. Their skill rivals regular knights, and factoring in their powerful physiques, the danger level is even higher."
Adel explained while looking at Martin and Sien.
It was information all three already knew.
But since it was their first time stepping onto the 36th floor, they needed to stay alert.
"But their most threatening aspect is that they can coordinate with their kin. It's crude compared to real knights' formations, but considering the dungeon terrain and their numbers, we can't ignore it."
"Not just focusing on the enemy in front, but watching others' sides too."
"Exactly, Young Master. The adventurer guild's strategy guide for the 36th floor emphasizes that trust and teamwork are especially crucial here."
"No need to worry about that at all."
Martin smiled as he looked at Sien and Adel.
They had fought together during the Monster Wave and suppressing the Adalbert branch, building trust in the process.
And having come down this far together, they now knew each other well.
So there was no reason to worry.
"Let's go then."
"Got it."
"Right."
The two women nodded at Martin's words.
The party passed the entrance and arrived at the 36th floor.
It was then.
Shweeeek!
A volley of arrows filled the dungeon ceiling and rained down.
Their speed was incredibly fast, and their number immense.
"Monsters ambushing right from the start... This is ridiculous."
"Agreed, Sien."
Martin focused ahead.
Among the tall trees, monsters with horse lower bodies and human upper bodies—centaurs—were arrayed in formation.
Especially the ones at the front, all drawing bowstrings.
Watching them, he lightly flicked his left hand.
Wiiiing!
A massive amount of mana gathered, unleashing a powerful gust.
Though the arrows were laden with mana from the centaurs, they were swept by the gale and slammed into the ground or surrounding trees.
"Hiiing!"
"Kiiing!"
As the arrows ricocheted everywhere, the centaurs let out unified cries.
A human face neighing like a horse was hilariously comical, but no one in the party could laugh.
Kukukung!
The centaurs tossed their bows and gripped swords or spears made from monster corpses.
Then they charged all at once, like heavy cavalry from a tale.
"I heard they act like an army... but a mounted charge? Isn't that too much?"
"Count yourself lucky we didn't face them during the Monster Wave."
"True that."
Sien nodded at Adel's words.
Even so, the two women only gripped their sword hilts tightly, not charging in.
It wasn't time yet.
Fwoosh.
The holy sword Kaizen was already wreathed in crimson flames.
Martin swung it down with all his might, and at his will, the flames were unleashed.
Kwaaakwa!
The flames poured out like a wave, igniting the underbrush and trees.
The intense heat merged with the gust into a scorching blast.
"Hiiiing!"
"Kiiiing!"
The charging centaurs were blown away or scattered by the hot wind.
Right then, the two women kicked off the ground.
Sien moved first among them.
With her body enhanced by mana, she pierced through the flames unfazed.
Shweeeek!
A centaur noticed her approach and thrust its spear.
In response, Sien extended her left fist.
Bang!
The spearhead made of barbarian bone shattered outright.
The centaur panicked at the unexpected turn.
But Sien closed the distance nonchalantly and swung her zweihander vigorously.
The silver aura-wreathed blade bisected the centaur's waist in one stroke.
Seeing that, Martin was impressed.
*She's really improved.*
Until now, she had relied mainly on brute strength with her swings, but now there was precision.
Watching her fight, he could expect growth in her swordsmanship too.
Martin thought that as he turned his head.
Adel had also successfully approached the centaur group.
One centaur spotted her and swung down its bone sword.
Kwaaang!
But the blade passed through Adel's body, only ruining the innocent ground.
Her unique ability, Phantomization, made it possible.
At the same time, Adel shifted left and thrust her rapier with full force.
The blue aura-wreathed blade shot forward like lightning, piercing the opponent's chest.
Drip.
Even as it bled, the centaur tried to grab the aura-laden blade.
*Not happening.*
Adel activated Phantomization again.
Passing through the opponent to its rear, she stabbed its nape.
Thud!
The centaur finally collapsed with its sword.
*Definitely clean.*
And sharply so, to the point of chills.
Martin watched the two women's battles with an amused expression.
Sien endured all incoming attacks with her monstrous physical prowess.
Then she unleashed blows packed with immense power.
Adel, meanwhile, evaded every attack with Phantomization before claiming lives with swift, precise strikes.
*Hard to have such different styles, yet...*
Not only did they fight in completely opposite ways, but they maintained a competitive yet harmonious relationship.
If there was such a thing as fate, this might be it.
But then.
His spatial detection net caught multiple groups.
*Adventurers... but fleeing? Something must've happened.*
Not particularly surprising.
Adventurers fleeing from monsters happened often.
To save them, Martin kicked off into the air.
Soon, about a dozen adventurers came into view.
At the same time, he felt puzzled.
*What?*
They were clearly fleeing, yet no monsters were chasing them.
But their faces were pale with terror?
Hard to understand.
Thud.
Martin landed at a chokepoint on the adventurers' escape route.
At the unexpected event, the adventurers freaked out for real.
"Huh!"
"W-what!"
"Everyone, calm down. I'm here to help."
"Y-Young Master!"
"We're saved! We're gonna live!"
No adventurer in Bareahein City didn't know Martin.
Those who recognized his face immediately cheered.
Among them was someone Martin knew: Winfried, who had spread rumors about the elf and dwarf merchants before.
"Winfried, right?"
"Yes, Young Master!"
"What happened? Where's your friend? With your skills, you shouldn't be chased by centaurs or barbarians..."
"Lothar didn't come down to the dungeon this time. Anyway, big trouble, Young Master! It's like last year's... last year's Monster Wave happening again!"
"Tell me in detail."
Martin grew serious at Winfried's words.
A Monster Wave like last year's was a first—and last—in the thousand-year history of the Alteria Empire.
At least until his death.
*And it's happening again?*
Impossible to comprehend.
"W-we were on the 43rd floor two days ago. And there, we saw it clearly. A manticore that should be on the 50th floor massacring 43rd floor monsters and adventurers indiscriminately! Here's proof!"
Winfried immediately pulled an artifact imbued with recording magic from his bosom.
Martin took it with a grim face and checked the footage.