Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Show Time
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The wall, which sloped steeply downward, was a giant slide.
*CRUNCH! TWANG!*
Diego thrust his sword into it, intending to slow their descent.
But whatever it was made of, the blade just bounced off.
Even after he had channeled his aura.
‘Something is protecting it.’
The power imbued in the wall’s surface was likely divine.
How could I know that while sliding at such a tremendous speed?
It wasn’t magic, and this was a sacred dungeon, so it was an educated guess.
‘Still, what do we do about this? The result would probably be the same if I tried.’
If physical methods wouldn't work, only one option remained.
We had to use magic to slow down.
Honestly, saving myself wouldn't be difficult.
I could just use Wind Blast like before.
But that method made it impossible to protect the two people ahead of me.
‘If I mess this up, they could get caught in the spell and die instantly?’
Wind Blast was only a 6th-tier spell, and its activation was simple.
It wasn't often used except for surprise double-casting or quick repositioning.
Its range was shorter than one might think, and its power dropped off sharply at the edges.
But a direct hit could easily tear a human body to shreds.
“This is a problem… If I’d known, I would’ve taken the lead. Ah! Should I go now?”
I didn't know how long the slide was, but it didn't seem like it would end soon.
*Fwip!*
I kicked off the wall with all my strength and began to catch up to the two of them.
After accelerating about five or six times, I closed the distance enough to reach them.
Diego was still struggling, trying to drive his sword into the wall.
Sophia, on the other hand, was curled up, not moving a muscle.
‘What’s with her? Is she scared?’
I smirked and grabbed her robe.
Then, I prepared to cast Wind Blast forward.
But at that very moment.
“Hup!”
Sophia’s eyes flew open, and she let out a short cry.
To my surprise, the speed of all three of us began to decrease sharply.
“Ha!”
“Oh!”
Diego and I exclaimed in admiration, turning to look at her.
Honestly, I was a bit surprised.
Slow was a 5th-tier, single-target debuff spell.
It was mainly used to hinder an enemy's pursuit and create distance.
But she had cast the debuff on her allies, and as a multi-cast at that.
‘Nice sense. Right. When you’re going too fast, you just slow down.’
It was a much more elegant solution than what I had in mind.
In any case, it seemed we no longer had to worry about falling into an abyss and being shattered to pieces.
Once we slowed down, the full view of the passage came into sight.
A simple diamond pattern decorated the ceiling.
It was so natural that one might easily overlook it.
But it couldn't fool my discerning eye.
‘The Kraus Theocracy definitely built this. Is this place something like the founding emperor’s tomb?’
Just like with Troyk, I couldn't for the life of me understand why ancient rulers loved creating such secretive spaces.
“Phew! What a relief. I thought we were going to fall to our deaths. Thank you, my lady.”
As I was lost in thought.
I suddenly heard Diego’s voice from the side.
He was sighing in relief and praising Sophia for her feat.
Of course, he shot me a murderous glare for pushing him down.
‘What do you want me to do? You were going to go first anyway, right?’
I brazenly spread my hands and tilted my head.
Diego’s face immediately contorted.
He looked ready to punch me once we got to the bottom.
But Sophia, who had been concentrating, turned to look at us.
“What is it, my lady?”
“What? What’s with that ominous look?”
Diego and I asked with puzzled expressions.
Weren’t we descending smoothly at a reasonable speed now?
So why did she look like a puppy that needed to go…
“Oh, don’t tell me?”
The moment a thought struck me and I lifted my head.
She spoke weakly.
“I’m sorry. I can’t hold it any longer.”
As soon as Sophia finished speaking, the Slow spell dissipated.
Our sliding speed began to pick up again.
It was only a matter of time before we were moving at that terrifying pace once more.
‘I thought she was pushing herself a bit.’
Back in Venderford, her skill was around the 6th tier.
Even if she had improved, she wasn't at a level where she could casually multi-cast 5th-tier spells.
*Whoooosh!*
“Aaaaaah!”
Diego let out a shrill scream unbefitting his age.
I nonchalantly kicked him aside, intending to take the lead.
But then, with a strange sound, my body was suddenly airborne.
*Swoosh! Thud—!*
It seemed this blasted slide had finally ended.
Thanks to the significant deceleration earlier, our speed wasn't that fast.
It was at a level where we could land and endure it just fine.
‘Still, she won’t make it.’
Diego and I might be fine, but Sophia would definitely get hurt.
A skinny mage wouldn't be able to withstand the shock of a fall like this.
But just then, I spotted something whitish near the landing point.
It was right where we were headed, so we were almost certain to hit it.
“Huh?”
Judging by the auspicious light it was emitting, it didn't seem like an ordinary object.
That was probably the reason this sacred dungeon was created.
Whether for protection or sealing.
‘Then it won’t be shattered by mere magic.’
I immediately cast Wind Blast straight ahead.
*Fwip—!*
“Eh?”
But the spell fizzled out before it could fully form, vanishing like melting snow.
I had been able to use Wind Blast just fine on the Island of the Dead, so what was this?
I was momentarily flustered but immediately moved on to my next action.
*Swoop.*
I tucked Sophia firmly under my right arm and braced for impact.
What other choice was there in a situation like this?
Just had to take it with my body.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
*CRASH!*
Along with Diego’s scream, we slammed right onto the translucent white object.
But at that very moment.
A familiar voice came from somewhere.
“No!”
What does she mean, ‘no’?
Dust billowed up, obscuring our vision.
*Whoooosh!*
But soon a gust of wind blew, clearing the dust cloud in an instant.
‘Must be the Everfilts.’
How often does the wind blow in an enclosed space like an underground dungeon?
It had to be magic.
I looked around with a calm expression.
Then I saw them, figures surrounding us with a menacing aura.
Thirty rather skilled-looking guards and twenty mages.
Including the direct line of the Everfilt family, it was a considerable force.
‘They’re surprisingly fast.’
I stared at Elysia and mentally calculated the time.
It had been about three hours since we felt their presence and blasted the ceiling with magic.
They had arrived at almost the same time as us, who had taken a secret passage.
That meant they must have torn through the dungeon at breakneck speed.
‘Right. They wouldn’t send just anybody for a job like this.’
Fighting against the elites of Everfilt for the dungeon’s reward.
What could be more dangerous than this?
Even Diego, who had been screaming like a child, had a grim expression.
Sophia’s face was filled with anxiety as well.
But I alone wore a meaningful smile.
‘This is a chance to annihilate them without anyone knowing.’
So what if the enemy’s forces were strong?
I already had the continent’s biggest names as my enemies.
I couldn’t afford to be pushed around by some mere direct-line scion.
Thinking this, I reached for my Black Dragon Sword.
But Elysia’s frosty voice shot toward me like an arrow.
“What the hell is this bullshit?”
“Oh? What’s this? You look decent, but the moment you open your mouth, you ruin it.”
I pretended it was the first time I had seen her.
“I thought there were thieves scurrying around on the ceiling. Was that you lot?”
“Let’s get our facts straight. This is a dungeon of the Kraus Theocracy, on the territory of the Vertos Empire. Seems to me you’re the thieves.”
As I spoke, twirling my finger, a crack appeared in Elysia’s expression.
It seemed my powerful fact-checking had dealt her a serious blow.
Even a person with an ice-cold disposition must have a shred of conscience, right?
“Hmph! And what about you? Did you enter this sacred dungeon legally? You clearly don’t look like you’re from Kraus.”
“You… don’t seem to have one.”
“What?”
“Ah, not what you’re thinking. I’m talking about a conscience. A conscience.”
“Are you insane? Thieves like us have time to worry about conscience?”
“Oh? You just admitted it. That you’re a thief.”
“…Shutting that damn mouth of yours would be good for my mental health.”
Elysia ground her teeth and growled fiercely.
She was completely different from the person I had seen at the Everfilt estate.
It was as if she were a twin sister.
‘But that can’t be.’
Assassins didn't identify people based on appearance alone.
Rantzverger itself was full of people who could freely change their faces and bodies.
That's why they used various criteria to distinguish individuals.
Speech patterns, handwriting, gait, even minor habits.
‘Then it’s highly likely her previous demeanor was an act. There’s no need for it here.’
Why that woman had two faces didn't matter.
Now was the time we had to cut each other down.
I heightened my senses and scanned my surroundings.
The Everfilt mages had already finished their battle preparations.
The moment the order was given, they would unleash immense firepower.
Twenty attack spells converging on a single point.
‘Just imagining it gives me the creeps.’
As if certain of victory, Elysia wore a sneer.
“Wh-what do we do?”
“Do we even have a chance of winning this?”
Sophia and Diego stood back-to-back, their eyes filled with anxiety.
It seemed they couldn't see any way out either.
But I nonchalantly shrugged and explained my plan.
“Sophia, you and the knight ahjussi take the rear. You don’t have to attack, just hold them off somehow.”
“How are we supposed to do that? A ton of magic is about to rain down on us.”
“I don’t know if it’ll work, but I’ll try to block it somehow.”
“…I understand.”
Though her expression was full of doubt, she nodded heavily.
In this situation, all we could do was fight to the last.
“Looks like the last words are over. Take care of them.”
“Yes.”
*Gwoooooooh!*
As Elysia’s command fell, the flow of mana could be felt from all directions.
The spells they had prepared in advance were activated simultaneously.
*Dududududung!*
As expected of the elites from the magical family of Everfilt, the barrage of attacks was no simple matter.
Would you believe that the lowest level was 4th-tier?
Twenty such devastating spells came flying at us.
“Kyaa!”
“Heok!”
A festival of multicolored lights.
Witnessing that magnificent sight, Sophia and Diego gasped.
They couldn't even bring themselves to cast a defensive spell.
It would be pointless, and they would die anyway.
While they stood with their mouths agape, I was stomping my right foot onto the ground.
*TUNG!*
A whitish form shot up into the air.
“Alright, now it’s show time.”