Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Monster Wave (3)
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Martin and his group's combat strength was terrifying.
Proving as much, the monsters were completely wiped out in less than thirty minutes after they joined the fray.
But no one relaxed.
They all knew that once a monster wave occurred, the dungeon would endlessly spit out more monsters.
In fact, roars echoed from all over the 34th floor.
The moment their numbers gathered to a certain point, they would attack the group again.
To prepare, everyone drank potions to maximize their condition.
There had always been subtle rivalries between the main and branch families, but today, no one showed it.
Except for one person: Oliver von Bittenfeld.
He glared not only at Martin but even at Adel von Bittenfeld, whom Martin had personally saved.
*To suffer such humiliation.*
They hadn't clashed head-on, but his conflict with Martin grew sharper by the day.
And in the midst of it, he'd ended up indebted to Martin outright, which wounded his pride deeply.
The fact that he'd ignored Martin for so long only amplified the shock.
"There's no need to thank me so profusely. Branch or not, you're still part of the main family. It's only natural for the main family's young master to help the branch."
A smile played on Martin's lips.
His overt display of magnanimity twisted Oliver's face even further.
Lucas Hoffman's follow-up only grated more.
"You don't look well. Are you hurt somewhere, Lord Oliver? Shall I give you a potion?"
"...No need to worry about me. Anyway, I'll repay this debt later, so get going, young master."
"Come on, I can't just leave. Everyone looks exhausted—how could I abandon you? Since we're together anyway, it's better if we search for the core as a group."
"...Why should I?"
"Anything beyond the 30th floor is dangerous for you and us alike. Of course, we've brought our strongest forces to prepare for that, but we're still limited in numbers."
"Wouldn't it be foolish not to prepare countermeasures when you know the risks?"
Lucas backed Martin's opinion.
Oliver ground his teeth at the blatant mockery.
But he couldn't vent his frustration.
Martin, Lucas, Philip, and Elder Oriana were all 7th Circle powerhouses.
On par with him or Bastian Friedrich, captain of the Azure Dragon Knights.
Sien was 5th Circle like his daughter, but that was no reason to underestimate her.
She was considered the strongest at her level.
Naturally, fighting together was the sensible choice.
He knew that, yet pride kept him from answering easily.
Martin spoke again.
"Just to be clear, I trust you're not letting personal feelings get in the way. Surely someone like you wouldn't ignore the lives of family members dying or getting hurt."
"...Impressive talent, young master. You can make someone uncomfortable with just a few words."
"I'm just voicing my concerns."
"Don't worry. I'll stick with the young master."
"Thank you for the wise decision. Traveling together won't mean I'll bother you, Lord Oliver."
"What do you mean by that?"
"No matter what decision you make, I won't interfere. In return."
"You won't interfere with my decisions either?"
"Yes. Wouldn't that be more comfortable for both of us?"
"Understood. We'll do it that way."
And so Oliver accepted Martin's proposal.
But that was the extent of it.
He immediately turned away, ignoring Martin and his group.
Of course, Martin paid no mind to the attitude.
*I need to focus on completing my objective.*
The top priority was destroying the core.
But he couldn't neglect protecting Adel.
Hadn't he sworn to himself?
To repay the favor.
At the very least, he had to see her safely out of the dungeon.
It was then.
"That girl? She seems totally smitten with you."
"Huh?"
Sien approached and whispered softly.
Martin looked puzzled at the unexpected comment.
She pointed toward Adel.
He turned his head and saw Adel standing blankly, gazing up at the ceiling.
"Why are you spouting nonsense all of a sudden, Sien?"
"You always act like a kid in these situations. You're just too dense to notice, but she's been staring at you since earlier."
"Hmm. I've never thought of myself as oblivious."
"Of course you wouldn't. Anyway, the way you saved her was pretty cool, even to me. It's no wonder a brat like her with that nasty personality falls for it."
"You're saying that out of nowhere, so it's a bit..."
Martin was genuinely flustered.
Sien chuckled at the sight.
Over the past few months, Martin had shown a completely changed demeanor.
He never lost his cool in any situation and didn't hesitate to get blood on his hands. His judgment was so sharp it felt like he could foresee the future.
For the future head of the Adalbert family, these were positive changes.
*He's changed so much it's like he's a different person, which was a bit much.*
A soft smile formed on Sien's lips.
She was truly satisfied to see Martin's human side after so long.
* * *
Three days had passed since Martin's forces joined Oliver's.
They fought bloody battles against the endlessly swarming Venom Ogres and Bloody Lizardmen.
The fighting was so intense that everyone had to fill their stomachs with potions instead of portable rations.
Still, both sides' efforts bore fruit.
They broke through the 34th floor without a single straggler.
When they reached the entrance to the 35th floor, Oliver spoke up.
All his subordinates were handpicked elites, flawless in both skill and mindset.
But considering what lay ahead, he needed to warn them firmly.
"The 35th floor is nicknamed the Basilisk Nest—one of the most dangerous floors in this dungeon."
Basilisk.
One of the dragonkin sub-species, known as among the strongest monsters, akin to drakes.
Among dragonkin sub-species, they were the smallest and physically weakest.
Yet no adventurer mocked the basilisk.
For one, they carried venom rivaling that of Venom Ogres in their bodies.
*That's why their dragon blood isn't useful.*
He tried to collect blood from dragonkin whenever possible, but basilisks were an exception.
Their blood was laced with deadly poison—applying it to the body brought not just agony but certain death.
But this poison wasn't even their true weapon.
"If you meet a basilisk's eyes, you'll fall under a petrification curse. Our talismans are engraved with anti-curse magic circles, but don't get complacent. No talisman can block their curse more than twice."
An entire floor dominated by a massive swarm of dragonkin sub-species.
Every one possessed terrifying special abilities.
It was whispered that the 35th floor had claimed more adventurers than any other.
"But no need to panic prematurely. Keep your distance, and we can win. Let's move out!"
Oliver strode forward confidently, followed by the Azure Dragon Knights.
"Let's go too."
"Understood, young master."
Elder Oriana replied on behalf of the group to Martin's order.
Moments later, they followed at the rear of the Azure Dragon Knights.
*Finally, the 35th floor.*
Martin recalled the core's location.
It was in the deepest part of the 35th floor, known among adventurers as the Chamber of Death.
He had to reach there and destroy it.
Publicly, to end the monster wave.
Personally, for his own gain as well.
*Destroy the core, and I can upgrade Kaizen's power.*
In his previous life, Stefan had personally destroyed the core with Kaizen.
The overwhelming power within flowed straight into the blade, evolving it from treasure sword to holy sword.
As its wielder, Stefan gained strength beyond his realm, winning countless battles with it.
*I have no attachment to gear, but ignoring known info would be idiotic.*
He'd seize every advantage available.
That was the duty of one who knew the future—he believed it without doubt.
As Martin burned with resolve,
Murmurs arose.
The vanguard grew rowdy.
Shouts from the knights followed.
"It's the Gustin family! The Gustins are here!"
True to their words, at the 35th floor entrance stood Mateus von Gustin and Callain Gustin.
Not just them.
The Crimson Dragon Knights' captain and vice-captain included, ten lay sprawled on the ground.
Faces darkened at the sight.
Their conditions were all wretched.
* * *
Martin's expression was graver than ever.
*This didn't happen in the past.*
Exactly 21 days since entering the dungeon.
In his previous life, no group had reached here at this time.
The Bittenfelds, who pushed ahead first, had retreated from the 34th after losing over half their knights.
But this time, the Gustins arrived first.
The past he knew had diverged.
The reason was simple.
They'd brought stronger forces than before.
The problem was that wasn't the only change.
"...Worth surviving for. Seeing you and the young master together, Oliver. The others will be thrilled to hear."
"Cut the nonsense and tell us what happened, Mateus."
Oliver's face was darker than when he'd received Martin's aid.
Mateus was an 8th Circle powerhouse like Vincent.
Yet wounds large and small covered his body.
Some parts had turned to stone outright.
"What happened... plenty, that's for sure."
"Please be specific, Lord Mateus."
Martin interjected into their conversation.
Mateus chuckled.
"The day I share intel with the young master—truly a strange one."
"Lord Mateus."
"Don't fuss, young master. I'll tell you anyway. We've found the core."
"...The core?"
Martin swallowed hard.
He'd suspected as much—the future had shifted slightly.
But a question arose.
"Don't cores change the floor's terrain when they form? This doesn't look any different..."
"Ah, let me correct that. More accurately, the core came to us."
"...Is that possible?"
"There's a basilisk that swallowed the core. It came to us first, so the core followed. That's why the 35th floor looks unchanged."
"A monster absorbed the core?"
"Exactly, Oliver. But the worst part is something else."
"Stop dragging it out and spit it out."
"The basilisk that swallowed the core evolved into a Monster Lord."
Monster Lords normally spawned every ten floors.
That rule had broken for the first time.
Just like the fact that the core's floor hadn't changed.
Martin smiled bitterly.
*The future's starting to change bit by bit.*
Nothing more threatening to one who knew the info.
So now, he had to accept it.
That he stood at a completely different starting line than before.