Chapter 58

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: The World Is Cold (4)

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I stared at the hologram.

The gallery window was visible at the same time, and a quick glance showed the mood was absolutely rotten.

It was like a funeral parlor in there.

My thinking was different.

This was totally doable.

For real.

If I'd just thought a bit more, I could've handled it without any losses.

Haa.

I bit my lip.

Honestly, up until now, because of the anomaly minions' overwhelming performance,

I'd been thinking too vaguely about it, so I felt a little regretful.

But now wasn't the time for regrets—it was time to act.

We could still fix this.

This method might just work.

No, this was the only method there was.

I had no choice but to try.

"Secha Ham. Think you can hold out for just four more days somehow?"

"Four days out of nowhere...?"

"Maybe I can get the anomaly minions moving even in your bro's dungeon. That's what I'm thinking. Treat it as your last bastion—will you trust me once?"

I said this to Secha Ham.

First things first, retrieve the neck-snapping yandere from the swamp zone.

I'll signal the gallery at the right timing, so place it in the intruder's zone then.

"......"

Secha Ham looked at me with puzzled eyes,

then nodded.

"......Got it."

"Make sure to post live updates to the gallery, and anyway, I'll head out quick. See you alive again for sure."

I tore the escape scroll without hesitation.

I suddenly worried if Squishy could leave too, but

as it wiggled over and swallowed Chase's escape scroll,

Squishy's body glowed with light too.

Good.

"Full speed ahead!"

"Eung."

Squishy flew at full throttle.

Cutting through the clouds at a speed that felt almost abusive.

The window I'd just seen was the wave alert.

Dreamland still had four days until its wave.

If an intruder enters within this cycle, the wave starts,

otherwise the timer resets.

The anomaly minions' 'Start' tag activates when Dreamland's wave begins.

Which means

anomaly minions located 'outside Dreamland' would likely activate too once Dreamland's wave starts.

It didn't react to Dino World's wave, after all.

Seeing Squishy move freely in Dino World,

this was definitely the answer.

I was convinced.

"Keruk, keruk... Ke, keruk!?"

To start a wave, you need an intruder first.

Goblins inhabit the area near Fire Forge.

Remember Gronak, Chase's friend who entered the dungeon before?

From eavesdropping... he said as a ranger he'd cleared goblins and headed to Dreamland to help his friend.

Before, I'd had Restia lure goblins and trolls from the Low Giant Mountains into Dreamland.

So what about 'forcing' them?

Forcibly dragging intruders into Dreamland.

It should work.

I'm a buggy existence in a lot of ways, after all.

A bit sorry for the goblin currently knocked out and being dragged by Squishy,

but given the situation, no choice.

Once everything's done, I'll share some good stuff...!

All preparations complete.

The goblin entered the dungeon.

Now just wait for the wave.

I opened the gallery.

Clicked on Secha Ham's latest post.

The situation wasn't good.

Nine elves dead was some achievement,

but the damage to Dino World was far greater.

Over half its forces in minions dead or injured.

A level 200+ dungeon allows 20 entrants total.

Ten elves and one Sword Master still intact.

Secha Ham seemed to be recovering in the healing spring after getting injured by the Sword Master.

Zones left: 7 and 8.

Dino World's Zones 9 and 10 aren't combat zones.

Zone 8 breached means game over.

Now all we could do was pray.

I bit my lip and watched quietly.

The shorter the wave timer got,

the closer the elves crept to the core room.

Zone 7 finally breached.

Only the last bastion, Zone 8, remained.

Thankfully, the elves chose rest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over advance.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Yeah.

You guys need sleep too.

This works.

This is fine.

Then I should prepare too.

If the goblin leaves mid-wave, disaster.

Thankfully, the crying statue minions were moving.

Intruders hadn't entered Zone 8 yet,

but up close, their eyes were glowing.

Proof the anomaly was working normally.

Too early to celebrate.

Wave ain't over.

By the way.

"Ke, keruk..."

"Eung."

Squishy was squashing the goblin flat with its hefty body.

Sorry...

Once everything's wrapped up nice, I'll let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you go safe.