Chapter 333: Guwon's Counterattack
Chapter 333: Guwon's Counterattack
“We’re finally, finally back!”
Matilda cried out, her face filled with emotion as she gazed at the 3rd Floor village.
So happy you could cry, huh? Well, I can’t say I don’t get it.
Exploring the 3rd Floor was much easier than I’d thought.
Most enemies were dealt with in one or two of Sara’s arrows, to the point where there was rarely a need for me to step in.
The few times I did have to act were against exceptionally tough bastards like Ice Golems or Transcendent Species, or when a mob of creatures like Lizardmen appeared—too many to be picked off by arrows before they closed in on us.
Of course, even when I did have to step in, it was no problem at all.
For enemies affected by the Saint’s skills, I just had to use Holy Ground Proclamation while making sure they didn’t reach my girls, and then just dodge a bit, and they’d be taken care of.
After all, my Assassin level went up quite a bit when I went to the dungeon with the Arachne Clan last time.
With my Agility so much higher compared to the last time I was on the 3rd Floor, I was at a point where I could barely be hit by normal monsters’ attacks.
Besides, I didn’t even really need to dodge. It’s not like their attacks did any damage to me anyway.
Well, if I just stood there and took the hits, it would just naturally raise my Durability, which I don’t need, so I dodged as much as possible. Dammit.
The exception was the Ice Golem, which was immune to my Saint skills, but even its attacks did zero damage thanks to my Durability and reinforced armor.
Thanks to that, everyone except for Sara and me could get by just by walking without doing anything.
Of course, my angel still cast reinforcement spells on me diligently, saying “you never know,” and Diana would disrupt the mana of any enemies that popped out with magic attacks.
Anyway, it was so comfortable it was hard to believe we were even exploring a dungeon.
Except for one thing: we didn’t know the way.
Of course, I’d brought a map from the Guild before we came, but it seemed they didn’t have any information on this area yet.
Apparently, there aren’t many adventurers who explore by breaking through from the 2nd Floor, through the 2.5th Floor ant nest, and all the way to the middle of the 3rd Floor in one go.
Well, unless you’re a special case like us, I guess that makes sense.
Anyway, for that reason, we had to find our way by comparing the Guild's map, which only showed the official route, with the map system, and that wasn't easy either.
That’s because even though the 3rd Floor is a ‘floor,’ it’s often just a vast snowfield without any landmarks like trees to serve as markers.
Even with the map system, it took us a while to find the path.
Until we finally found the way, we had to wander aimlessly through the 3rd Floor, and it seems that situation was incredibly stressful for Matilda, who isn't used to dungeon exploration.
Even if she wasn't doing much, wandering around while constantly on edge must be exhausting.
Besides, it seems this was also the first time Matilda had ever stood watch at night.
Anyway, for all those reasons, Matilda was now staring at the 3rd Floor village, shedding tears of emotion.
“Glad we made it here safely. Alright. Let's stay here for the day.”
“…Eh?”
The moment she heard me, Matilda whipped her head toward me, looking as shocked as if she’d been struck by a bolt from the blue.
“F-For today… Does that mean we’re heading down again starting tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan. With our current strength, we should be able to break through to the 3rd Floor’s Layer Boss with ease. Since we’re here, I want to try for the 4th Floor.”
“B-But…”
“No need to be so disappointed. The 3rd Floor’s Layer Boss isn’t far from here, after all.”
Hearing her say that, it seemed Diana was also in favor of going to the 4th Floor.
Though, separate from that, Diana also seemed happy to be back in the village.
“Now, we’re back in the village, so you can let go of me.”
Diana hurriedly escaped from Leia’s embrace.
So that’s why she was happy.
She’d been suffering the whole time, being held with Leia’s breasts resting on her head.
Partway through, Leia had wrapped her tail around Diana, who seemed to regain her composure by enjoying the fluffy texture of the tail with both hands. Still, it seems her dislike of the situation was stronger.
I was dying of envy watching them.
To be held in my angel’s arms, with her breasts on your head, enjoying the feel of her tail.
What is that? That’s total paradise. A utopia.
“Can’t I hold you until we get to the village?”
“No! It’s not even cold anymore!”
Leia looked at Diana with a genuinely disappointed expression, but our Archmage was completely unmoved by our angel’s gaze.
“Really. You’re all not children… Let’s get going.”
Sara, the youngest member of the party, sighed like the most mature one among us and started walking toward the village.
Perhaps because her Hero level had broken 100 and lifted its limit, Sara had completely regained her usual cool demeanor.
Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed to walk with more confidence, too.
Well, Sara always walks like a model anyway.
She was just a country girl before coming here, so it’s amazing to see her like that.
Was she literally born with it?
“Alright, then.”
“Hieuuuut!”
As we got closer to the village, Silvia’s combat mode disengaged, and she tried to subtly slip away from me. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and started walking toward the village.
The 3rd Floor village had a somewhat mystical appearance.
In the middle of the 3rd Floor, surrounded on all sides by snow, this village alone was like another world, with no trace of snow to be found.
“I included a spell to raise the ambient temperature in the teleportation circle. Wasn’t the village on the 2nd Floor quite cool as well?”
That was Diana’s explanation.
Come to think of it, was it? The 2nd Floor didn’t have a visible change like this, so I hadn’t paid much attention.
Now that I think about it, I feel like it wasn’t that hot even when I took my armor off.
As the feeling of snow under our feet disappeared, we could feel the ambient temperature had definitely risen.
Diana had also been using a spell to raise the temperature around us, but she’d kept it just warm enough not to be cold, saying she needed to conserve mana in case we had to fight at any moment.
Compared to the 2nd Floor village, this one was noticeably smaller.
Does the size keep shrinking as we go down the floors, until it becomes that village on the 5th Floor with just two buildings?
Well, I should just be grateful that we can get a proper night’s sleep inside the dungeon.
We first went to the inn, removed our gear, and then went to the dining hall to order.
It wasn’t just Matilda; everyone seemed tired from wandering aimlessly through the dungeon for days, as smiles spread across all their faces.
“Diana. With our skills, we should be able to take care of the 3rd Floor’s Layer Boss easily, right?”
“Hmph. You did say you blocked an attack from a Transcendent Species on the 5th Floor. That doesn’t mean you can be careless, but there’s no need to worry. Besides, when you face the Layer Boss, I shall be in the back preparing an attack spell.”
“Ah, so you don’t plan on fighting with us against the Layer Boss either?”
“Mmm. Haaa… I don’t mean to brag, but that would make it too easy, wouldn’t it? Use the fight with the 3rd Floor’s Layer Boss to get a feel for what the 4th Floor will be like.”
Diana took a sip of her warm tea and spoke with a languid, relaxed smile.
“Well, anyway, we can just take it easy and not get too tense. We’ve already accomplished our immediate goal of raising Sara’s job level.”
“Hmph. Now all that’s left is to complete my objective.”
“Finding the giant Magic Stone? Do you have any idea where it might be?”
“Hmph. For now, I suspect it’s where the 3rd Floor’s Layer Boss is. Wasn’t the giant Magic Stone in the ant nest also found where the queen ant was?”
“I see. So the giant Magic Stone is where the boss is. Huh? But by that logic, shouldn’t there have been one where the 1st Floor’s Layer Boss was?”
We skipped the 2nd Floor’s Layer Boss, so I can’t say anything about that, but I don’t remember seeing anything like it near the 1st Floor’s Layer Boss.
“Hmph. I believe I’ve told you before, but contrary to its appearance, the giant Magic Stone gives off almost no mana—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say none at all. It’s completely assimilated with the dungeon, feeling like a part of the terrain itself. If it’s not in a place where it’s directly visible, like in the ant nest…”
“You mean people might have just walked past it all this time?”
“Hmph. That is why I must confirm this myself. There is likely no one other than me who can sense the giant Magic Stone’s faint mana and pinpoint its location.”
“But if that’s the case, it doesn’t have to be the 3rd Floor. If you’d told me, I would have gone with you to the 1st or 2nd Floor.”
“It’s fine. Isn’t it more convenient to look for it on our way? It won’t be too late to search for the ones on the 1st and 2nd Floors after we’ve checked the 3rd.”
That’s what Diana said, but it was clearly an act of consideration for us.
Seriously. When you’re going to be considerate like an elder, at least show it a little.
You’re being thoughtful but don’t show it, so I always end up seeing you as a kid.
I naturally placed my hand on Diana’s head and stroked her soft hair.
Ah, is this also treating her like a kid?
Well, Diana seems to be enjoying my touch with her eyes closed as if she likes it, so I guess it’s fine.
“Guwooon, really!”
As I was stroking Diana’s hair, Sara suddenly clung to me from the side.
“I thought you were having a serious conversation, so I didn’t want to interrupt! But you’re just fooling around! Pay some attention to me, too!”
Sara said, rubbing her cheek against my chest.
Huh? W-What? Why is she suddenly being so clingy? Is this really Sara? Is someone disguised as her?
“…Sara-ssi. You’re a lightweight, I see.”
Seeing Sara like this, Leia murmured softly as if she’d just realized it for the first time.
“Huh? What? Who gave her alcohol?!”
“S-Sorry! She just saw me drinking and said it looked delicious, so I shared a little…”
Matilda confessed, fidgeting nervously while holding a large cup in her hand.
“She gets drunk off a single sip! I told her not to drink if she could help it after she got drunk that one time! Wait, are priests even allowed to drink in the first place?”
“Y-Yes?! What does that have to do with anything?”
Apparently, it’s fine.
Well, the religion here is different in many ways from the one where I’m from, so I guess it’s not that strange.
“Guwoooon. Hehet. How is it? Have I gotten prettier?”
“Of course. Sara is always pretty.”
“Really! That’s not what I mean! I’m asking if I’ve gotten prettier! How about it? My Her… oomph. My level went up, right? Don’t I seem prettier?”
I managed to cover Sara’s mouth just as she was about to say the word ‘Hero,’ but she didn’t give up, pushing my hand away and acting cute again.
Of course, I didn’t hate it. Sara rarely shows this kind of honest, cute side, so I was actually feeling pretty good about it.
The problem was that it wasn’t just Sara and me here, and another thing.
“Of course. You seem prettier.”
The other problem was that today wasn’t Sara’s turn.
“Huhu. Then, do you want to hold me? I want to be held by you, Guwon.”
I knew it.
Considering how she acted the first time she got drunk, it’s only natural she’d act this way now that we’re fully connected.
Watching Sara endlessly rub her cheek against my chest, acting cute as befits her position as the youngest, was satisfying, but I couldn’t accept her cute seduction.
What kind of earful would I get later if I accepted this?
“Wait a moment! Sara-yang! Today is my turn!”
Our Archmage is right next to me, with fire in her eyes.
“Get off him! Today is my turn! Nnngh! Nnnngh!”
“Hm? Guwon? How about it? Hm?”
Diana struggled with all her might, her face turning red, trying to pull Sara off me, but Sara didn’t budge an inch and just kept clinging to me, acting cute.
“You! Say something!”
“There’s no way talking to a drunk girl is going to work…”
Can’t be helped. I guess I’ll have to use my last resort.
I reached out to Matilda, snatched the cup she was holding, and poured its contents into my mouth.
Then, I held Sara’s head and gave her a deep kiss, passing the liquid from my mouth to hers.
“Eung! Hngh! Gulp. Gulp.”
As I kissed her, Sara responded with a pleasant smile, gulping down the drink I passed to her.
“W-What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Wouldn’t it be better if she just got even drunker and passed out?”
“Hyaaaang…. Guwooooon…”
“See?”
In the end, Sara let out an uncharacteristically cute sound and fell asleep.
Heh. I really am a genius.