Chapter 19: The One Who Rules the ‘Kin of Twilight’ 14
The next morning, the eleven members of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ gathered in front of the Adventurers’ Guild and headed west, out of the city.
After about an hour’s walk, the ‘Wandering Dungeon’, their destination, opened like a cave next to a small mountain that was probably an ancient burial mound.
“This feeling… I think it’s the same as the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ we entered before,” Freinir said, causing Lady Dorozitte and Princess Marishielle, who were new to this, to tense up. Geshura was expressionless as always.
“Alright, let’s proceed while confirming our teamwork, starting with Princess Marishielle and the Grand Master.”
“Soushi-san, could you please just call me Dorozitte?”
“And please call me Marishielle. Or Marie, if it’s too long.”
“Understood, Marishielle, Dorozitte, is that okay?”
“I’m happy,” Marishielle said.
“Sounds good, I like it,” Dorozitte added.
It seemed like Dorozitte was also becoming a party member, just like that. Looking at Mariane, she had a resigned expression, so it seemed it was too late to do anything about it.
I was slightly relieved that I had the余裕 to think about such things, and then entered the dungeon.
This was my third time in a ‘Wandering Dungeon’, and the stone passageways with tombstone-like structures here and there were the same as before.
Since the first floor was D-Rank, the strength of the common monsters was the same as the ‘Twilight Dungeon’ we entered in the Elf Village.
We explored while confirming our teamwork with the new members, but Marishielle was an active A-Rank, and Dorozitte was a former A-Rank, so we had no problems at all until the third basement floor.
Even so, on the third floor, for example, about ten B-Rank Undead Headless Armored Swordsmen, ‘Headless Swordiers’, would appear. Even Marishielle and Dorozitte seemed surprised by this number.
“If you’ve been fighting like this all the time, I can understand the strength of ‘Soul’s Guidance’,” Marishielle said.
” ‘Divine Fortune’, ‘God of Plague’, and ‘Synergy’, huh? It feels like a great destiny that adventurers with such Skills have met,” Dorozitte said, impressed as she fought.
“Hmm, but weren’t there only about five before? There weren’t this many,” Larni said, picking up Magic Stones after we finished defeating twelve ‘Headless Swordiers’ in front of the stairs to the fourth basement floor.
“You’re right, there were only about five before. Is it because the number of party members has increased, or have Larni’s ‘God of Plague’ and Karma’s ‘Synergy’ leveled up…?”
“It’s also possible that this dungeon has become a higher class than before,” Sfenia added, causing a slight tension among the members.
“That’s highly possible. Either way, the boss, Lyra Nora, will definitely be stronger, so let’s be careful,” I said.
We took a long break in front of the stairs and then went down to the fourth basement floor.
The passageway on the fourth floor was about 20 meters wide. The monsters that appeared were the ‘Headless Adepts’, headless sword masters that we had become used to fighting, and the aristocratic ghosts, ‘Baron Phantoms’.
They appeared in front and back lines, totaling 20.
It wasn’t a surprising number for ‘Soul’s Guidance’, but it still seemed a bit overwhelming for Marishielle and Dorozitte.
“There were group battles in A-Rank dungeons, but this number of A-Rank ‘Headless Adepts’ is astonishing. And having magic-type monsters in the back line is a vicious combination,” Marishielle said.
“You’re right. Well, we have a lot of magic users too, so it shouldn’t be a problem… right?” Lady Dorozitte said, looking at me.
“No, there’s someone more suitable. Frei, I’m counting on you to use ‘Ascension’.”
“Yes, Sir Soushi.”
Freinir raised her staff, ‘Saint’s Prayer’, and activated the ‘True Holy Magic’ ‘Ascension’. The combination of Skills like ‘Preemptive Strike’, ‘Range Expansion’, ‘Charge’, and ‘Holy Aura’ enveloped the area in a veil of holy light.
This was the magic that had annihilated hundreds of Undead in the Royal Capital. The ten ‘Baron Phantoms’ vanished in an instant without even having time to scream, and all the ‘Headless Adepts’ dropped to their knees.
“Attack!”
Before I could even shout, Larni, Karma, Mariane, and Sakurahime moved forward and finished off the ‘Headless Adepts’. Marishielle, who had been momentarily stunned, quickly recovered and followed suit.
“I’ve heard about it, but this is the first time I’ve seen Saint Freinir’s anti-Undead battle. But I’ll say it again, ‘Soul’s Guidance’ is amazing. I don’t think there’s a party like this even in mythology,” Dorozitte said, shrugging her shoulders and laughing as if she was having fun.
“All that’s left is Lyra Nora in the deepest part. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“She might get along with Dorozitte. I was supposed to hear about the ‘Ancient Providence’, but the timing is a bit bad this time.”
“That’s something I’m curious about too. I’m very interested, so I’d like to hear a little bit about it if possible, but not before a battle, of course.”
Even Dorozitte, who seemed like a bundle of curiosity, seemed to care about that.
Anyway, we advanced through the fourth floor without any problems and took a break in front of the stairs to the fifth basement floor.
Finally, when we went down to the fifth basement floor, there was a heavy stone door leading to the room where Lyra Nora was waiting.
“Is everyone ready?”
When I asked, all ten of them nodded powerfully. Even at a time like this, I couldn’t help but reaffirm that ‘Soul’s Guidance’ was full of beautiful women.
“What’s wrong, Soushi? You’re smiling wryly,” Larni said.
“Oh, no, I was just thinking that I’m surprisingly calm. Well then, let’s go.”
I answered Larni and pushed open the stone door.
The room was the same as the previous two times, a space like a castle audience chamber with a crimson carpet leading to the throne.
On the throne at the back sat a beautiful woman with long silver hair and a crimson dress, her skin so white it was almost transparent. A faint smile played on her blood-red lips, and her equally blood-red eyes were fixed on us.
As we approached, Lyra Nora, the master of the ‘Wandering Dungeon’, gracefully crossed her legs.
“It’s been a while, Sir Soushi. I manifested this dungeon because strong forces were gathering in this land, but it’s very interesting that you’re the first to arrive,” she said.
“It’s been a while, Lyra Nora-san. I’m glad to see you again,” I replied.
“You have even more companions with you today. And everyone seems to have become even stronger than before. It’s very reassuring,” she said.
As we were exchanging pleasantries, Dorozitte, who could no longer contain herself, stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you, Lyra Nora-san. I am Dorothee Osaro, the Grand Master of the Adventurers’ Guild. I am honored to meet a legendary being like you,” she said.
“How polite. So you’re the head of the organization that Sir Soushi belongs to, the master of the Adventurers’ Guild,” Lyra Nora said.
“Yes, that’s right. And to get straight to the point, what kind of existence are you?” Dorozitte asked, leaning forward.
Lyra Nora narrowed her eyes and smiled at Dorozitte’s eagerness.
“Indeed. I promised Sir Soushi that I would talk about the ‘Ancient Providence’, so let’s talk about that as well. However, it seems you don’t have much time, so I’ll keep it brief.”
After a short pause, Lyra Nora spoke again.
I apologize, but I will be taking a break from the series on the next update date, the 1st.
I will resume on the 3rd, so please bear with me.
I wish you all a happy new year.