Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Master of the Jungle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The tower's terrain changes depending on who its trial master is.
If the goblin den we climbed through up to the 10th floor was a 'cave'...
Then the landscape unfolding before us from the 11th floor onward was a 'jungle'.
"Hua!"
Rox spread his arms wide and took a deep breath.
He couldn't believe the dense forest stretching out before his eyes and prodded the dirt on the ground with his toes as he spoke.
"It's a total forest, huh?"
"I told you. From here on, it's a vast jungle."
"No way... How can there be a place like this inside the tower? It didn't look that big from the outside!"
Those who haven't made it this far can't understand the words of tower veterans.
The tower doesn't have enough area per floor to warrant calling even one a 'jungle' when viewed from outside. But once you experience it yourself, you'll understand what that means.
"It's a different space."
"A different space?"
"I'll explain later. You can get lost from here on, so stick close."
"Ah, got it."
I quietly drew my sword and replied.
"Remember what I said before we came in?"
"Which part?"
"If demons appear, turn them all into marionettes."
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. Piece of cake. But are there demons here?"
"Plenty. More than you can count."
Rox quickly scanned the surroundings and asked.
"Hmm—first time hearing demons live in a forest."
"Makes sense. Few know their true nature."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Most who find out die. The survivors don't think of them as demons."
"...No clue what you're talking about. You'll just say experience it for yourself, right?"
I nodded briefly.
Rox shrugged as if he got it and took the lead.
Step, step, step.
Cynthia and her party members followed close behind us, faces tense.
And so we began exploring the jungle. Soon, darkness fell over the forest.
The ground somewhere started getting damp. At the same time, presences trailing us appeared not far off.
Everyone seemed to notice without me saying anything and began watching their surroundings.
"Berddin, seems like someone's nearby."
Cynthia was the first to speak up.
"Yeah. They've been following us since we entered the tower."
"I didn't notice back then."
"They kept their distance and moved cautiously in small numbers."
"...So now they're chasing us in large numbers?"
"Exactly. At least a hundred."
"You knew and ignored them?"
"Yeah. If we strike first, we can't draw out the 'demons'."
The others were too on edge to notice, but the enemies were always close.
Especially the one tracking us underground—it came right up to my foot.
I gathered a small amount of aura in my palm and said to Rox.
"The demons are here."
"Already?"
"Yeah. Remember the plan?"
"Of course. I just hide behind you and catch the runners, right?"
"Exactly. Don't let a single one escape. Fail, and we wait till tomorrow. No mistakes."
"Got it."
Our purpose in the tower today wasn't climbing.
Just to complete the S-rank request from the Adventurer's Guild and unlock the next hidden piece for the climb after.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground shook.
The torch Rox held dimmed as if swallowed by the darkness.
At the same time, Cynthia chanted a holy spell, enchanting Yuda's sword and Alfredo's knuckles with magic.
Ssshh!
Yuda's blade and Alfredo's knuckles glowed white.
They scanned around, ready for battle at any moment.
I pressed the aura gathered in my hand to the ground and told them.
"Your mission is to survive. Don't try to beat the enemies—fight to protect yourselves."
With that, I detonated the aura.
Boom!
The ground cracked like a spiderweb, and dog-sized ants poured out from the fissures.
They were the smallest monsters we'd face, but leagues above anything before in strength.
Jaws hard as steel, teeth sharp enough to crush rock.
And venom that paralyzed limbs for half a day once injected—enemies no jungle adventurer could ignore.
-Kieeeek!
The ants charged with eerie cries.
"Come forth, demons of my jungle."
Arriving a step late, Monkle climbed the tallest tree in the jungle.
He knew the way to the next floor, but his purpose here was to monitor Berddin's group.
"Where'd they go?"
Monkle pulled a small telescope from his bosom and scanned the forest.
No matter how vast the jungle, few adventurers wandered the 11th floor.
"Found them!"
It didn't take long to spot Berddin's group.
Not just the flashing light in the darkened woods, but the immense power felt even from a distance invisible without the scope gave away their direction.
"...Dangerous."
Monkle furrowed his brow.
Through his telescope, Berddin's group was in crisis.
Countless ant monsters surrounded them.
These weren't common monsters seen outside the tower—they were 'mutants', enhanced by the apostles called mutants.
Each ant matched mid-tier monsters outside in power.
Underestimate them by looks, and you'd be done in seconds.
Monkle hesitated.
'Should I help?'
How long had they been on the 11th floor, and they run into a mutant ant squad?
'Damn.'
If he intervened now, they could escape the enemies.
But they wouldn't experience this crisis.
If word got out later, Family Head Roys might punish him for stealing their growth opportunity.
-Kuhahaha!
The black-haired old man in black smoke robes following Monkle stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"Came to see some big shots, and they're already done for?"
"Exactly. Rumors said they were amazing, though."
"That little kid Roys's son, right?"
"Yes. I saw him once at the main house when summoned. He was sitting next to the Family Head."
Monkle paused, exhaled deeply to steady his aura, gripped his sword hilt, and continued.
"That was when Brother Gunter and Brother Hysteria were still alive... I was too busy to talk to him."
The black-haired elder nodded slightly.
"Makes sense. With Roys, Gunter, and Hysteria there—three monsters. Can't relax."
"Four."
"Four?"
"Yes. Sister Valentine was there too."
At Valentine's name, the elder flinched, eyes widening.
"That woman showed her face? I heard she doesn't go to the castle with Gunter and Hysteria around."
"I was shocked too. They say she won't come even if the Family Head calls. But she came for some ridiculous reason?"
"Ridiculous reason?"
"To see her youngest sibling."
"What? Her sibling?"
"Yes."
The black-haired elder clicked his tongue.
"You joking? The Red Filial Bird called a grim reaper crossing from west to south just for a sibling?"
"...I didn't hear it from Sister Valentine directly. From the butler, so maybe not."
Monkle scratched his head sheepishly. Even he thought it absurd.
Red Filial Bird Valentine, dangerous enough to be called death itself in the west, moving for a sibling?
-Kuhahaha!
The black-haired elder couldn't hold back his laughter.
He figured it was silly gossip in Strange Castle.
No matter how fearsome Valentine, she's a woman—probably building a softer image ahead of an engagement.
Boom!
A loud explosion drew their gazes to Berddin.
There, Berddin had shed his cloak, wielding a sword longer than himself freely against the ants.
"M-Monkle Baron. Am I seeing this wrong?"
Both were stunned by Berddin's group battling the mutant ants.
They'd expected quick defeat, flight, or death.
"...No."
Monkle groaned.
Was this truly human combat?
Slicing through a dozen steel-hard mutant ants like water—who wouldn't be shocked?
"How old is that kid?"
"Eight."
"Eight? Hasn't graduated the academy yet?"
"Yes."
The black-haired elder couldn't hide his admiration at Berddin's swordsmanship.
He'd expected high skill with the Strange name, but...
'Incredible.'
It wasn't swinging a sword to cut foes—it was like dancers tracing beautiful lines.
'Beautiful.'
How much effort to reach that realm? No, effort alone couldn't touch it. Pure talent.
A transcendent talent beyond human limits he'd never seen in his over-century life.
"Still want to fight Berddin?"
Monkle asked carefully.
The elder shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Think you'll lose?"
"To that brat? Haha, no! Just... don't want to pluck an unbloomed flower."
"Unbloomed flower?"
"Yes. Let it ripen more, and we'll have a better match. No need to touch it now."
"Waiting for Din to grow stronger?"
"Exactly. With that talent, won't take long."
Monkle smiled faintly.
"True. You did the same challenging Sister Valentine."
"Th-that's an exception. No one beats her now, right?"
"Of course. So, what now? Battle's ending soon."
"I'll head back. Handle the cleanup."
"When to call next?"
"When he reaches the 20th floor."
"20th? That's at least a year."
"I'll wait. He's worth it."
With that, they ended their talk.
The black-haired elder left.
Monkle watched Berddin's group battle from the tree till the end.
'Unbloomed flower.'
How strong would Din be once it blooms?
"Already this strong."
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground shook violently.
Birds from distant trees took flight where the battle raged.
Chirp chirp chirp!
Monkle sensed a killing intent unlike any before in the jungle. An unknown terror made him hide instinctively.
'...Run, Berddin.'
That guy was here.