Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Lesson 13. Because I Need to See You Kneel - 6
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As Light and Aire's blistering charge, which had seemed poised to swiftly reunite them with the rest of the group, soon hit its limit.
—Kwaaaah!
"Hup!"
—Slash
At first, the monsters had been overwhelmed by Aire's aura and desperately ignored them. But at some point, they began appearing one by one, lunging at them relentlessly.
Aire was stunned and furious, as if this were utterly impossible.
"Persistent, brutish, blind-eyed freaks...!"
But no matter how much she flaunted her dense magical power, it was useless.
The monsters threw themselves in her path, ready to shatter to pieces.
Even the ones they'd already passed were chasing after them now, naturally slowing their advance.
"Watch out there, it's changing again!"
"Got it."
As if the dungeon were producing monsters in real time, their numbers were overwhelming.
Even the walls forming the maze transformed into golems and lunged at them.
It felt like everything in the dungeon was hostile toward them.
Aire ceaselessly sculpted ice to block and shatter the foes, but As Light was equally busy protecting her, his body in constant motion.
—Kuaaaah!
"Hraaaah!"
—Boom!
He spun the spear shaft infused with magical power to repel the swarming enemies at once, then instantly targeted one and smashed it down.
Monsters fell to As Light's fluid movements.
And the more he swung, the more intensely magical power coiled around the shaft, keeping enemies at bay!
Whew, without this martial art...
That was a small mercy, at least.
In the chaos of battle, As Light felt his spearmanship growing rapidly.
The blade was exceptionally long, and the military spear techniques Dokgo Yeon had taught him were perfect for handling groups—ideal for this situation.
Martial arts... I thought their limits were stark, but maybe not. Does Dokgo Yeon's martial world really have techniques like this rolling around? It's nothing like the martial worlds I know...
She'd taught him this spear art so casually, as if it were nothing, but it was masterful enough to shatter his preconceptions about martial prowess.
For a moment, he wondered if she was making a tremendous sacrifice for her teammates.
From what he'd seen—her teaching and meddling with Ban Yu-won—he'd suspected ulterior motives. But on reflection, she'd meddled just as much with him and Lucelle.
It's not just about climbing the tower together. Sparring with her is brutal... but she's a good one.
Not just her.
Lucelle, too... and even Ban Yu-won.
They'd only known each other for three weeks, but they were surprisingly reliable, genuinely good party members who had his back.
Finding better partners in this academy would be tough.
Even this mysterious dungeon should be no problem with them... damn it.
"Why the hell are monsters suddenly swarming our side like this?!"
As Light screamed shrilly as he swung his spear nonstop.
The white magical power-clad blade spun rapidly, splitting the head of a massive wolf that had burst through the demonic walls to pounce on them.
But the monsters kept surging over its corpse endlessly.
"They're trying to stop us from moving."
Even Aire, whose emotions had been hard to read at first glance, now spoke with clear irritation.
Dozens of monsters, each over 2.5 meters tall, charging in a pack made it impossible to advance—the piling corpses were a hindrance.
If Ban Yu-won were here, he'd erase the bodies in an instant with that weird power of his!
As Light ground his teeth and said,
"Why? We're just trying to link up with the others."
"That's exactly why."
Aire replied calmly, having sorted her thoughts.
"They don't want us reuniting with the others."
"Wait, you mean..."
"The others might be in danger right now."
In Aire's mind flashed the image of Ban Yu-won unleashing vast magical power just before entering the dungeon.
Having cast such a massive spell right before entry, he must be exhausted.
And on top of that, their mental duel.
A mistake. A pathetic mistake born of jealousy-blinded eyes.
If she'd known something this dangerous would happen, she never would've provoked him.
There were plenty of other ways to gauge his strength.
If something happened to him because of her selfishness, she'd never atone.
Aire bit her lip, suppressing her frustration.
"We have to save him."
"Uh, yeah? Of course we do. Obviously. ...What the hell happened between you and Ban anyway?"
"Can't say. It's between us."
"My god, Ban..."
How many women has he captured?!
In that instant, Ban Yu-won solidified as the world's greatest Casanova in As Light's mind.
Whether As Light misunderstood or not, Aire had already steeled her resolve.
"...You keep promises, right?"
"Depends on the other party... but for protecting my comrades? Absolutely."
"Good. Then."
Don't tell anyone what you saw today.
With that firm instruction, Aire closed and opened her eyes.
A vertical black slit scratched across her silver pupils.
"...Huh?"
And that wasn't all.
Gorgeous purple horns sprouted from both her temples.
Finally, a small silver scale like a beauty mark appeared under her right eye.
As Light instantly grasped her identity.
"Draconian?!"
"Secret."
"My, god..."
Dragons were special beings in any dimension.
And those with dragon blood—dragonkin—were apex races, surpassed only by true dragons and gods!
An awakened dragonkin? No wonder the monsters were cowering.
As Light was shocked, but also thought:
Ban's already seduced a dragonkin!
I gotta be careful too!
"Protect me while I chant."
"Huh? Oh, yeah..."
"I'm counting on you."
As Light, lost in distracted thoughts, stammered in surprise.
Ignoring him, Aire spread her hands wide into the air and began chanting her spell.
Magic orbs floated up between them, vertical slits scratching across like her eyes, 'opening'.
"......"
Her words had been intelligible before, but now they didn't even reach As Light's ears.
Draconic tongue, spoken only by those with dragon blood—it was only natural.
—Kraaaah!
—Kick, kiheeek!
Unable to hear the draconic chant but sensing its ominous power, the monsters went berserk.
As Light gritted his teeth, blocking them as he shouted,
"I don't know what it is, but hurry! These bastards keep multiplying!"
"............"
The longer the draconic chant continued, the more frenzied the monsters became.
As Light, left to hold them off alone, was dying inside.
The signals from his holy sword grew stronger as the fight intensified.
Drawing it would clear these monsters easily.
He'd promised Ban Yu-won not to draw it unless his life was at stake, but...
Who knows what Bans in right now. If I stubbornly keep the promise here and something happens to him? ...But if I just hold out until Aire finishes chanting, maybe I won't need to draw it? Am I just unconsciously craving to swing the holy sword and using Ban as an excuse? No, but even while I'm agonizing, Ban might be in danger...
With the holy sword in hand, he never had these convoluted worries.
Since resolving not to rely on it, every day was foolish torment.
He pitied himself—what must others think?
"...!"
His mind raced with complex thoughts, but his body moved frantically, repelling the giant monsters.
Finally, Aire completed her spell, letting out an incomprehensible scream as she finished chanting.
The moment the floating orb's eye snapped open.
—Grooo...
A colossal ice dragon was summoned.
"Wha, that's..."
"Wipe them out!"
—Guoooooh!
Aire commanded fiercely, her personality shifting with her revealed dragonkin nature.
The mana-and-authority-forged ice dragon roared massively, sweeping all directions!
—Crackcrackcrack!
—Kweeeek!
—Kaaaah!
Not just the mountain of monster corpses blocking them, but dozens more slashed by As Light's blade or batted away by his shaft—all froze and shattered at once.
As Light was speechless at the overwhelming might.
"What kind of spell is that? Even the royal court never had anything like it..."
Even the kingdom's grand archmages needed the palace's magic circles to cast anti-army spells.
—Kuaaaaa!
After one coil, the unfaded ice dragon circled lazily around them protectively.
Aire's face paled slightly.
"Magical power's draining steadily. Hurry, let's regroup."
"...Right. Follow me!"
But their hopes were dashed.
They'd barely resumed advancing when the dungeon's boss monster appeared.
With a boom!, it emerged naturally from nowhere, blocking their path.
—To think a human wielding dragon power entered. You've truly made things difficult.
It spoke to them in an oddly friendly tone.
"A lion...?"
The labyrinth's monsters were all characteristically massive, filling the passages.
But this rock-covered lion was exceptional: 4 meters tall, over 10 meters long—a monster among monsters.
—No need to wonder at my identity, human. What's important is that I'm this labyrinth's guardian, blessed by the 'Wandering Lantern of the Night'.
"A monster empowered by a constellation."
As Light's expression hardened.
He realized it the moment he saw it.
His current spear couldn't scratch it.
Not because the spear lacked power.
Because his level—the aura he could draw with it—was insufficient.
—Bearer of three souls, pitiful human wielding dragon power. I have no intent to harm you.
Fortunately, it didn't seem poised to attack immediately.
Just spreading its arms to block the passage.
—Merely, until my master achieves her desire, let's chat a while.
"Her desire? You mean my comrades' lives?"
—Something like that. But she has no intent to take yours—a fortunate thing, no?
Crunch—As Light's teeth ground.
Fortunate? Fortunate? The humiliation burned.
He recalled the words of the constellation he'd met upon first entering the tower.
The All-Seeing Observer who treated him as worthless trash, fodder for Ban Yu-won and Dokgo Yeon's contract!
Do I seem like someone who doesn't need watching? Someone who'd be content surviving alone even if comrades die?
Infuriating.
He couldn't fully deny its attitude, burdened as he was with the karma of surviving alone no matter who died—infuriating.
But more than that, he raged.
At everyone treating him like roadside gravel!
"I'll kill you."
He thought it was his voice, but no.
The calm, cold voice laced with boiling fury came from Aire beside him.
"But I'm low on magical power. I'll hit it hard once, so finish it off. That hidden power of yours—you can do it."
"......"
—Truly intent on fighting? I know you're strong. But I also know you've expended much energy... You'll be sorely hurt. Foolish.
As Light bit his lip hard.
As Aire said, even her ice dragon's strike couldn't finish it with his spear.
But the holy sword? No need for her—he could end it alone.
Force that arrogant lion whelp to kneel, rip out its heart!
...But.
"Killing it will break the dungeon."
"Yeah. It has a magic core in its body... No need to rescue—he'll be safe too."
That was why Aire wasn't impatient.
Unlike typical dungeons in mountains or forests, this one spawned in midair.
Shatter the core, and the dungeon vanishes, ejecting everyone safely.
"Alright."
As Light exhaled deeply, shaking off his hesitation—and tossed her something from his pocket.
Aire's eyes widened at the small, fragrant round thing fitting in her palm.
"What is it?"
"Candy. It'll refill your magical power in one go. Permanent growth too. Ban made it, so thank him later."
"How does it restore magical power? Why give it to me?"
"My power's sealed for... reasons, for now. So you take it. Hurry."
—Wha...? What is that—the power dwelling within!
The lion sensed the candy's terrifying power and rose in alarm, but As Light raised his spear, facing it squarely.
"Ha! Eat it quick!"
"Got it."
Aire bit into it, expression baffled why he'd yield such a treasure.
Sensing the surging magical power—and permanent changes in her body—she was stunned but didn't hesitate.
"Tear it apart!"
—Kuoaaaaah!
The ice dragon roared, empowered by her overflowing magical power.
The boss, blessed by the Wandering Lantern of the Night, lasted less than 30 seconds before vanishing.
Its magic core shattered, and the dungeon dissolved.