Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Dungeon Conquest (3)
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The guardians of the dungeon, a horde of golems, charged menacingly. These weren't just any rock golems, but high-grade ones made of metal.
Fifty percent physical resistance, fifty percent magic resistance, perhaps? They boasted durability so immense they could repel Sword Aura, but it was all useless before the power of the Holy Sword.
*CRASH! RUMBLE…*
Esterize’s area-of-effect attack swept through the area. In an instant, more than half the golems were neutralized.
As if that wasn't enough, the surrounding space shook violently. Like most dungeons, it was an enclosed area, and there was a real concern it might collapse.
“Ah, I used too much power, didn't I? The dungeon is going to fall apart!”
“It seems fine for now… but we should be more careful going forward.”
“S-Sorry… I’ll be careful.”
The princess grimaced, admitting she couldn't control her strength. It seemed she'd never received a full-power buff from the Saintess before and couldn't gauge the effect. This was why practicing together beforehand was so important.
That aside… would the dungeon really collapse from the shock? It would be absurd in the main story, but with the realism adjustment, I couldn't be sure.
Well, there was no need to take the risk. The princess seemed to think so too, as she switched to close-quarters combat.
First strike, second strike, third strike…
With the first strike, she destroyed the golem's armor. With the second, she severed its arm. With the third, she pierced its exposed core. The entire sequence flowed together as smoothly as a single motion.
Indeed, she knew exactly how to deal with them. It was just like her, the girl who used to wander into dungeons hoping to strike it rich. Her skill was one thing, but the experience she’d accumulated was even more dazzling.
She seemed to be trying even harder to meet my expectations. I finished off the golems she had neutralized with her area attack one by one.
Yes, this is what you call getting carried. It was so sweet that a smile spread across my face.
“Hmm, it’s nice that it’s so easy, but…”
“There’s nothing for us to do. Is this really okay…?”
“Well, what does it matter? The Hero’s companions are just supposed to be sidekicks… Aah!”
Was it punishment for her careless words? The elf girl nearly fell into a trap. Sharp iron spikes were embedded in the collapsed floor…
Just looking at her pale face, I could guess what she was feeling. Hmm, this dungeon was supposed to have fewer traps… Should I have warned her anyway?
“…”
It didn't seem like my fault. Given her clumsy nature, she probably would have fallen for it even if I had told her.
“Ugh, so close…”
“It’s okay, Aruru. There will be other chances.”
“—??”
The elf girl protested their overly blatant remarks, but the two girls just shrugged their shoulders.
“Hey! Are you just going to stand there and watch?”
Ilensia shouted sharply at me. If she had a nasty personality, she would have started a fight right away, but that wasn't the case.
It was the proper approach—trying to resolve the issue through the party leader without escalating the problem. Well, perhaps she had just calculated her chances, realized she couldn't win, and was requesting support…
But really… isn't it about time you realized? I have no intention of taking your side!
Especially when the opposing parties were Ceria and Aruru. Even if they were truly in the wrong, I would have sided with them.
Still, as the party leader, I had to be as fair as possible. Listening to the troubles of a struggling comrade was also part of my role.
“Why do they hate me so much?”
“They’re just teasing. You don’t need to take it so seriously.”
“Teasing? Why am I the target? Because I’m an easy mark?”
“More like because you’re a ditz.”
“—??”
“Hmm, it’s a problem if you react like you had no idea…”
Look at this. The fact that she’s completely unaware of it is legendary.
“Fine. Let’s assume that’s true for now… You must have a solution, right?”
“…”
I wanted to pry open her head. Why was she so convinced I would help her? Ilensia’s image was that of a stuck-up young lady.
In other words, she was the type you just wanted to mess with. It was an irresistible temptation. Ceria and Aruru must have felt the same way.
“Yes, there is a way. You just have to prove your skills.”
“How?”
“Use all your abilities to disarm the traps.”
“…”
Hey, don't give me that look! You’ve been coasting this whole time, haven't you? I spouted nonsense that even I didn't believe.
“How about you show off the natural agility and keen eyes of an elf?”
“Hmm…”
“You must be the best in that regard. I believe in you.”
“The best…”
She muttered the words several times, as if she liked the sound of it. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she puffed out her chest confidently.
“Alright. I’ll show you what I can do!”
The girl boasted, her nose in the air. I might not like much about her, but I did appreciate her simplicity.
She was so easy to handle! Soon, the elf girl's spectacular performance began.
“Heh, not even close.”
“Hmph. You think I’d fall for that again?”
“This pattern is arrows… There, I’ve figured it all out!”
A series of clean evasions. She even showed off by snatching arrows flying at her out of the air.
Huh? Why is she so good? A sense of bewilderment washed over everyone, including me.
“Ugh, something must be wrong!”
Aruru stomped her feet in frustration. She had been ready to laugh at her, only to be blindsided. Then again, she was an S-rank, after all. It was normal for her to be at least this capable.
“Do you see now? Don’t you ever look down on me again…”
The elf girl laughed loudly. Just as I was about to lower my recently improved assessment of her, seeing her overlap with the image of a villainess…
“—??”
She fell for the simplest trap of them all. A rope snagged her ankle, hoisting her up to the ceiling.
An image of her hanging upside down formed in my mind. The reason it was only an image… was because Ceria had quickly covered my eyes.
“You absolutely cannot look.”
Her voice was more resolute than ever. Why? Because the laws of gravity would reveal something that shouldn't be seen?
“Yes. It’s a very unsightly scene.”
“…”
If I had to pick a side, I’d lean toward the opposite, but it seemed to be a horrific sight in the eyes of another woman. Well, if it had been some grimy guy, I’d have wanted to buy a new pair of eyes.
The elf girl’s youthful scream followed. Aruru giggled for a good while before tilting her head in confusion.
“Instead of being embarrassed, why don’t you just get yourself down?”
“Do you think I’m in any state of mind to do that right now? You have nothing to lose by showing something, but it’s different for me!”
“—??”
“And since we’re on the topic, do you think those sickeningly cute fox ears and tail will work forever? They’re bound to lose their charm someday!”
“—!!”
The fox beastkin staggered back in shock. She soon looked on the verge of tears, crying that her words were too harsh.
“Who are you to act so high and mighty? You got dumped by the Second Prince!”
“I did not get dumped! If anything, I dumped him!”
“Who would believe that? Just look at the state you’re in. It’s pathetic!”
“Ugh, you obnoxious fox… Are you really trying to start something?”
“You’re so old, yet so immature. That’s why you can’t get a boyfriend!”
“—!!”
Hmm, what should I say? If I find this situation interesting… does that disqualify me as a leader?
It was already highly entertaining, so what if a full-blown catfight broke out? It would be definitely popcorn-worthy. Ceria, who had been laughing beside me, suddenly let out a deep sigh.
“I’m starting to be certain. No matter how I look at it, this party absolutely needs me.”
The fact that there needed to be at least one sane person. That someone to mediate when the party members were at each other's throats was essential. Thus, she recognized her own necessity.
That was a relief. She must have been secretly insecure about being the only A-rank. The girls' fight was unfortunate, but in the end, it was a net gain since it lifted Ceria's spirits.
“It’s more convenient for you to have me around too, right?”
Her voice was fishing for an affirmation. I promptly nodded at her unspoken threat.
“Of course. That said, I’d appreciate it if you moved your hands now…”
“It’s not over yet. Just wait a little longer.”
“…”
In the end, I didn't get to see the elf girl dangling. It wasn't that I had any ulterior motives… I was just curious as a human being, you know?
Soon, Esterize resolved the problem. With a precise emission of Sword Ki, she severed the rope, then caught the free-falling elf girl in a princess carry.
“Why did you step in? It was obviously a scene where a man was supposed to do the rescuing!”
“Hey, why are you complaining even when I save you! You think I wanted to do this?”
Was she waiting for me to save her? She wasn't wrong, but the gap between ideals and reality can be quite vast.
Well, that aside… seeing the girls bickering like this made my heart feel heavy. I just wish they would get along… It was fine for now, but I was worried about the future.
I calmly composed myself. In times like these, the leader’s role was crucial. I'd watch a little longer, and if it didn't seem right, I'd have to establish some discipline.
First, we had to finish conquering the dungeon. The party members bickered, but they still did their parts. Before long, we reached the end of the dungeon, and the boss slowly rose to its feet.
It was a giant, standing a full four meters tall. As if to assert its superiority over the other golems, it radiated a dazzling pressure.
At the sight of its tremendous presence, the girls let out cheers of joy, one and all.
“—!!”
“Th-That’s…”
“Its whole body is covered in gems!”
Sapphires, rubies, topazes, emeralds, and so on… I had forgotten the official name, but in any case, it was a golem made of jewels.
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with greed. Among them, the princess’s reaction was the most intense. The way she summoned her fighting spirit from her entire being… it was as if she were heralding an awakening.
“Luciel.”
“Yes. Let’s go all out.”
“Good. For once, we’re on the same page. Now, then…”
The girls quickly formed a united front. Even Aruru and the elf girl called a truce. It was the ideal situation I had hoped for… a more beautiful sight than any other.
“…”
Hmm, is this right? I never imagined party harmony would be achieved this way. The battle had already begun. There wasn't even time to tell them the strategy.
I felt a brief moment of concern, but it soon became clear that a strategy was meaningless.
“We have to destroy the parts without gems!”
“I know!”
“I’ll take its attacks. You guys aim for its weak points in the meantime.”
They coordinated on their own without any orders from me. While there were some minor shortcomings, it was still a leap forward.
What was this situation? Even a boss that surpassed S+-rank was no match for the girls’ earnestness.
A growing madness… As time passed, the gem golem’s massive body shrank. They carved it with the care of an artist. It was like watching true craftsmanship.
“…”
“…”
Ceria and I just stared blankly at the scene. No, wait… why wasn't Ceria tempted by the gems? Was it the composure of someone born into a wealthy family?
“Hmm, I feel a bit greedy… but I don’t want to become that pathetic.”
A girl who maintained the grace of a noble lady in any situation. Indeed, my fiancée was not only self-restrained but also remarkably thoughtful.
*RUMBLE…*
The gem golem finally collapsed. It felt like it had made a slightly hasty exit, as if disgusted by the girls’ obsession.
“An offering for the goddess…”
“Precious resources for the kingdom’s reconstruction…”
“For me… maybe a marriage fund for later?”
“Wow! Now I can feed my younger siblings until they’re full!”
Their circumstances were all different, but they had brilliantly achieved their common goal. They had done it without me, and the significance of that feat left a deeper impression the more I thought about it.
“Prying all those off is going to be a lot of work.”
In the main story, it would have been *Sapphire x10 acquired*… just a quick line, but now, with the realism adjustment, they had to do it by hand.
The girls were about to start the work with cheerful faces when they suddenly began glancing at me. Why? Was it because they thought I’d find their greed-fueled frenzy strange?
I've been watching you the whole time, and you're putting on an act now? It might have been a bit undignified, but I could certainly understand.
“Um, you know…”
“We’re about to do something… just us.”
They collectively sent me a pleading look, as if asking me to turn away for a moment. I knew what they were feeling. They didn't want me to see them drooling, *ehehe~*, over some gems.
I was willing to find even that side of them cute, but out of respect for their dignity, I should give them the space to enjoy themselves comfortably.
“I’ll go look for the hidden reward…”
So don't worry about me and pry away to your heart's content. The gems were part of the reward, but the real prize was something else.
The Panacea Elixir. It had the effect of instantly healing all wounds and restoring all stamina upon drinking. If that reminds you of something, you're probably right.
*Thump, thump.* Please let the copy bug work…
There was something I desperately wanted to try. After defeating one of the Four Heavenly Kings, how could I resist the urge to feed them an elixir and beat them up again?