Chapter 53: Guild Quest
Chapter 53: Guild Quest
And so, the party focused on raising their job levels.
The regular route was a four-day round trip.
The travel alone took that long, so I thought we might arouse suspicion if we left after exactly four days with a massive haul of Magic Stones. I discussed it with Sara and Diana.
As a result, we decided that instead of sticking to just four days, we would stay for a full week.
After all, we had packed more than enough supplies in our inventory to last longer than a week, and we could sleep safely by using the werewolf's secret space as our secret base.
The dungeon was perpetually bright, making it easy to lose track of time, but Guwon kept an eye on the clock in the corner of his vision to make sure his biological rhythm wasn't disrupted.
During the day, we filled out the map of unexplored areas and raised our job levels, and at night, we returned to our secret base to rest.
After the first day, Sara stopped tempting me to level up during the night, so I ended up just sleeping, half disappointed and half relieved.
After a few days, we had managed to map out almost the entire regular route within a half-day's journey from our secret base.
If we explore just for today, we'll probably finish mapping the entire half-day radius.
The place we're heading today is the complete opposite of the path that goes up on the map. It's also the area least investigated by the Guild.
If we're looking for a dense population of undiscovered orcs, this place probably has the highest chance.
Let's be careful.
Until lunchtime, we explored the dungeon, hunting orcs and werewolves as usual, without any particular problems.
I thought today would end like the others—just filling out the map and raising our job levels—but the deeper we went, the more frequently we started encountering werewolves.
“That's strange. We're seeing a lot of werewolves.”
“Hmm. It might be another werewolf settlement. Let's be careful.”
I was hoping we'd find an orc settlement, but it's more werewolves?
Just how many settlements do these guys have?
According to Diana, all the Werewolf Transcendent Species marked on the Guild's map belonged to a single settlement. But since they tend to be solitary creatures, it seems they often form small settlements with just a few members.
Wait. Could it be?
Guwon checked his map, then pulled out the one from the Guild.
Just as I thought.
Although it was crudely drawn and uneven, the distribution of the Transcendent Species formed a fan shape centered on the Layer Boss.
The place our party was heading was also a certain distance away from the Layer Boss's location.
Perhaps the Transcendent Species are positioned in a circle around the Layer Boss.
Just like how stronger individuals were positioned around the Wolfdog or Goblin Transcendent Species.
The Layer Boss had a completely different level of intimidating presence, but it also looked like a type of werewolf, so Guwon became certain of his hypothesis.
“A Werewolf Transcendent Species… We should be strong enough to take one on by ourselves, right?”
“Of course. We'll be more than enough.”
“Hmm. We'll have to see the size of the settlement, though.”
We weren't letting our guard down just because of how pathetically the last Transcendent Species was defeated.
In the past few days, the party had done nothing but eat, sleep, and raise their job levels, becoming even stronger than before.
This was true for Guwon, who had raised his Martial Artist level by dodging bullet-hell patterns, but Sara's growth was particularly dazzling.
It said it all that Sara and Diana could now take down a single werewolf from a distance without me even needing to step forward.
“Wait. Everyone, stop.”
We had been advancing to the point where I was thinking we'd have to stop soon if we wanted to make it back to the secret base by nightfall, when Sara halted the party.
“There are werewolves gathered over there.”
The direction Sara pointed was toward a dense grove of trees quite a distance away.
Can she really see that far?
She didn't say 'I think they're there,' but 'they are there,' which meant she was certain.
The party moved forward, hiding behind trees and suppressing their presence as much as possible.
“Hmm. It seems we've found it.”
When we reached the spot Sara had pointed to, there were indeed werewolves gathered there.
Since they usually travel alone, there weren't that many of them, even though they were gathered.
Seven ordinary werewolves, and one that was a head taller than the rest.
For a settlement, it certainly seemed small, but it wasn't a number the three of us could just charge into recklessly.
“Hmm. Still, that's a small number.”
It seemed that even for werewolves, this was considered a small-scale settlement.
“Still, wouldn't it be better to lure just a few of them out?”
“Let's circle around to a safe distance and give it a try. It'll either work or it won't.”
The party first moved to a spot a short distance away.
It was a distance from which the pack of werewolves could just barely hear a loud noise.
The plan was to lure them out—it would be best if we could draw out a few besides the Transcendent Species, but if not, so be it.
If they all came charging out, I'd just have to dump all my bonus stats into Durability and face them head-on.
After waiting for Diana to finish her incantation, Guwon slammed the gauntlets on his hands together, creating a loud noise.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
As he continued making noise, three werewolves emerged from where the pack was gathered.
Good. That's a perfect number.
Closing the status window he'd opened just in case, Guwon waited leisurely.
There was no need for us to approach them.
They'd come to us, after all.
Immediately, Diana's fire magic exploded among them.
The spell hit the one running in the lead and burst like an explosion, burning the others and setting their fur ablaze.
On top of that, Sara's arrows flew in a continuous stream and struck their targets.
In the end, only a single werewolf managed to reach our position.
Guwon, who had been waiting, stepped forward and used Saint's Touch on the last one to draw its aggro.
The commotion must have alerted the others that something was wrong, as the remaining werewolves finally showed themselves, but by then, the first three had already been dealt with.
“Awoooooo!”
The werewolves howled long and mournfully, as if grieving for their fallen comrades, and charged forward with the Transcendent Species at their head.
Their numbers were thinned by Sara and Diana's continuous attacks, so by the time they reached me, only the Transcendent Species and two regular ones were left.
“Sara! Get back! That thing uses wide-range attacks!”
Diana stopped Sara, who was about to continue her attack, and they both fell back.
A range attack? Do all Transcendent Species do that?
I hadn't known because we'd always defeated them in unusual ways until now, but it seemed that was the case.
Guwon used Saint's Touch on all three to draw their aggro, buying time for Sara and Diana to retreat.
While Sara and Diana attacked the easier-to-kill regular werewolves, Guwon focused on blocking and dodging the monsters' attacks rather than attacking himself.
After all, Sara and Diana had enough firepower, and since our only real means of healing were expensive emergency potions, getting injured would be a loss.
With Guwon, who could dodge even bullet-hell patterns, dedicating himself solely to defense, he was able to handle the combined assault of all three.
Nice. My special training is really paying off.
And just like that, Sara and Diana finished off the two regular werewolves.
All that was left was the Transcendent Species.
“Alright! Now you're dea—Whoa!”
“Grrrrrr!”
Just as Guwon was about to switch to the offensive, the Transcendent Species suddenly let out a great roar and swung both its arms wildly.
Sensing danger, Guwon leaped back to dodge. The Transcendent Species began to advance, swinging its arms wildly and indiscriminately.
Seeing the red afterimages left in the path of its claws, I figured it was probably a skill.
The Transcendent Species moved forward about three meters, slashing the air with its claws as it swung its arms, before coming to a stop.
So this is the area-of-effect attack Diana mentioned?
It was definitely an attack that would have been dangerous if Sara or Diana had been caught in it.
So just because I have the aggro doesn't mean the others are completely safe.
But now that we know about it, it's not a big deal.
As the party focused their attacks on the Transcendent Species, it soon fell weakly to its knees.
“Alright! At this rate, there's nothing on the 1st Floor that can give us trouble, except for the Layer Boss.”
“Hmm. To have grown this much in such a short time. Miss Sara, you are especially impressive.”
“Wh-What?! N-No, it's all thanks to everyone else.”
Startled by Diana's praise, Sara deflected the credit back to us.
I guess she still doesn't plan on revealing that she's a Hero.
Well, I'll just wait patiently. She'll tell us someday.
Having successfully hunted even a Werewolf Transcendent Species, nothing could stop the party after that.
Before we knew it, the planned week had passed, and the party returned to town.
“What?! You only just made it down to where the orcs are last time, and now you've already hunted a Werewolf Transcendent Species?! That's amazing!”
When I turned in all the Magic Stones we'd collected from hunting werewolves, orcs, and the Transcendent Species, the receptionist looked quite surprised.
I guess it's pretty surprising when a guy who used to only hunt Wolfdogs suddenly starts skipping tiers with every visit.
“I was just crouching all this time to build up momentum.”
“Yes. It really seems so. As expected…”
Huh? I was just being full of myself, but it seems she's so surprised she's actually buying it.
“By the way, is the Guild Quest over now?”
“No. Progress in the unconfirmed areas has been better than the Guild anticipated, so it'll probably continue for a while longer. Don't tell me you've mapped out more of the area as well?”
“Just a little bit.”
If I submitted a map of everything we'd uncovered, it would arouse suspicion, so Guwon deliberately drew only a portion of the map for his Guild Quest report.
We'd already made a fortune from cashing in the Magic Stones anyway, so a small loss like this was nothing.
And I don't know when the Guild Quest will end, but I can just report more during our future trips.
After settling the payment for the Magic Stones, we stopped by the general store and sold off all our items.
For the record, I kept one of the orc penises we'd collected so many of, as well as the penises from the various Transcendent creatures.
You never know when we might discover a hidden path that requires one of these.
Anyway, excluding the time I was shipwrecked, this was our first time camping and hunting in the dungeon, and things went surprisingly well.
With a sense of satisfaction, Guwon headed to the tavern where Sara and Diana were waiting.
Why a tavern and not an inn, you ask?
Because we decided to eat and drink heartily today to celebrate.
Since coming to this world, I'd avoided alcohol because of the constant pressure of having to go to the dungeon the next day, but I don't dislike drinking.
We'd been in there for a week, so even though we hadn't said it, we'd be taking tomorrow off anyway.
And a day like today calls for a celebratory drink.
Guwon found Sara and Diana at the tavern they had agreed on beforehand.
But strangely, both of them looked somewhat restless.
“What's wrong? This is a celebration of our first successful trip camping in the dungeon. Let's eat and drink and have fun today.”
“Dr-Drinking, too? I-I see. Yes. Okay.”
Sara's reaction was somehow suspicious.
“Don't tell me you've never had a drink before?”
“O-Of course not! What are you doing? Let's hurry up and order.”
She's definitely never had a drink before...
Well, she's not a child. It wouldn't be a bad idea for her to learn to drink on this occasion.
“Hmm. I shall abstain.”
“Huh? Why?”
“B-Because of the skill research. Did you forget we were going to do that?”
…Ah. Now that you mention it.
I'd completely forgotten.
So that's why they were so restless.
This gives me even more reason to drink.
Doing it while showing someone else with a sober mind is way too difficult.
Remembering that he had to demonstrate it today, Guwon also started to feel restless.
Agh. Times like these call for a drink.
“Two bottles of beer over here, please!”
“I will have juice, please.”
As Guwon raised his hand to call a waiter and place the order, Diana spoke up from beside him.
…Yeah. I guess it suits her appearance.