Chapter 11: Wandering Dungeon (Wandering Dungeon) – 05
“Mariane, how should adventurers respond if they discover a new dungeon? Is there any kind of regulation from the guild?”
“Actually, there haven’t been any new dungeons discovered in the last thirty years. So, the regulations themselves are quite outdated. However, as long as the discoverers do not relinquish their rights, the adventurers who find a dungeon have the first right to enter it. In the past, it was believed that those who first conquered a dungeon would receive special treasures, which is a remnant of that belief.”
“What about the obligation to report to the guild?”
“Of course, there is a reporting obligation. However, it only states that the report should be made as soon as possible, and it is not strictly defined.”
“So, it means we can report after we’ve conquered the dungeon?”
“That’s correct.”
The fact that we might be dealing with a rare case after thirty years feels very much like something our party, ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ would encounter. It’s almost certain that the cause of the massive undead emergence is this dungeon, so we definitely need to investigate it.
If we were to proceed cautiously, we should return to the guild to report before conducting further investigations. However, my instincts—or rather, my trust in the ‘Bad Luck’ skill—insist that we should enter now.
“It’s almost certain that this dungeon has newly appeared and is the cause of the undead emergence. Considering that the monsters we’ve encountered so far are low-rank, I believe we should enter and thin their numbers. I would like to hear everyone’s thoughts.”
“I agree with you, Soushi-sama. My powers can be of assistance against the undead.”
“Absolutely! We can’t miss the chance to be the first to enter a new dungeon!”
“We won’t fall behind. If we leave it unattended, the monsters will overflow in no time, so I think we should enter.”
“For safety’s sake, we could choose to return and report. However, if you, as the leader, have deemed it safe, then I will follow your judgment.”
“Alright. Then we will proceed to investigate this new dungeon. Our objectives are twofold: to exterminate the monsters that are likely to be swarming and to confirm the state of the dungeon’s lowest level. If I deem it too dangerous, we will retreat, but please inform me immediately if you notice anything unusual.”
“Understood.”
Thinking about it, this is my first time exploring a dungeon without any prior information. If that’s the case, then our true experiences will be put to the test here.
If this is indeed a trial (event) prepared by the ‘Bad Luck’ skill, then all I can do is remain cautious and navigate through it.
As we cautiously entered the abandoned village dungeon, the interior appeared to be quite similar to other dungeons. The stone-paved corridors had gravestones embedded here and there, giving it a distinctly undead dungeon feel, but nothing else particularly caught my eye.
After walking a short distance, monsters began to appear. They were the same ‘Skeletons’ we had encountered above ground. Judging by their appearance and the rusty swords and shields they wielded, they were likely F-Rank.
“Ascension!”
With a single strike of Freinir’s True Holy Magic, around twenty Skeletons were obliterated. The Magic Stones they dropped were also of F-Rank quality.
As we progressed, I asked Mariane to draw a map, which slowed our pace compared to usual. However, mapping was essential for ensuring our safety.
After defeating a large number of Skeletons and Zombies for about an hour, we finally found the stairs leading to the second underground level. We took a short break before proceeding onward.
The monsters on the second underground level were also Skeletons and Zombies. However, upon closer inspection, they were larger in size, and the weapons of the Skeletons were of higher quality, free from rust.
“It seems the rank of the monsters has increased. We should be cautious.”
I mentioned this, but ultimately, Freinir’s ‘Ascension’ still wiped them out in one hit.
The Magic Stones they dropped appeared to be slightly larger, indicating they were of E-Rank quality. Could it be that the rank increases with each level? Now that I think about it, it’s unusual for monsters to only drop Magic Stones, unlike typical dungeons.
After about an hour, we descended to the third underground level.
The rank of the monsters had further increased; the Skeletons were now equipped with light armor, and the Zombies resembled humans with blue skin rather than decayed corpses. According to Sfenia, they were known as Ghouls.
In the game I played in my previous life, Ghouls were considered undead, but it seems this world treats them differently, as Frei’s ‘Ascension’ had no effect on them. Nevertheless, Larni swiftly dispatched them with her Mithril Sword, severing their heads with ease. The Magic Stones they dropped were of D-Rank quality.
“It seems the rank of the monsters increases as we go deeper.”
“If that’s the case, the question is how many levels there are. If it ends at the fifth level, the boss might be B-Rank, right?”
If Larni is correct, I might hesitate to enter the boss room. However, it’s not the time to think about that just yet.
On the fourth underground level, we encountered a nostalgic foe: a Lich. Its companion was a muscular, higher-tier Ghoul. Naturally, thanks to Larni’s ‘God of Plague,’ more than ten of them appeared.
The Lich was not defeated in one hit by Freinir’s ‘Ascension,’ but it was rendered nearly incapacitated, making it easy prey for our Mace and Mithril Sword. The higher-tier Ghoul had powerful attacks, but it was annihilated before it could approach, thanks to Sfenia’s magic and arrows.
Finally, we reached the critical fifth underground level. The stones forming the corridors had transformed into a marble-like material, exuding a sheen that clearly indicated we had reached the lowest level.
“Since the monsters on the fourth level were of C-Rank, it seems highly likely that B-Rank monsters will appear here. If we encounter something too formidable, we should retreat.”
“Yes, Soushi-sama.”
“Honestly, I think we’ll be fine.”
“I agree. The C-Rank monsters on the fourth level were no match for us.”
“Indeed. ‘Soul’s Guidance’ has likely surpassed the upper tier of B-Rank and is nearing A-Rank in strength.”
Given that we had already defeated the upper-tier B-Rank Dark Flare Dragon, our party’s power must be at least at that level. As long as we remain vigilant, we should be able to handle it.
“Alright, let’s proceed.”
As we advanced through the marble-like corridor, I activated my Presence Detection. What appeared before us was a Headless Swordier, an armored swordsman with a helmet tucked under its arm. It was a C-Rank monster, but with three of them appearing, it was no longer just a C-Rank threat.
“Frei, ‘Divine Light.’ I’ll hold off two of them. Larni, Sfenia, and Mariane, take care of the one on the right.”
“Understood,” “Got it!”
I stepped forward to absorb the attacks. It seemed they possessed both the Honshin and Slash skills, but my shield, fortified with the Iron Wall skill, deflected all their slashes.
While I was taking the hits, one of them attempted to slip behind me. However, it was sent flying by Sfenia’s magic and Larni’s strike. Excellent support.
“‘Divine Light’ is ready.”
The corridor illuminated, slowing the movements of the Swordiers. I thrust my shield into the one that had attacked me, sending it sprawling, and then smashed my Mace into another. Its upper body crumpled like paper, vanishing into thin air. The one I had knocked back was also struggling to move due to its distorted armor. I unleashed a Shockwave, and it shattered into pieces.
It seemed Larni and Mariane had also finished off the last one, slicing it from both sides. Their teamwork was quite spectacular to behold.
“With three Headless Swordiers, it seems we are indeed facing a B-Class dungeon.”
“Hmm, but it might also be due to my ‘God of Plague,’ so it’s hard to say for sure.”
Larni added to Mariane’s comment, but I felt confident in considering it a B-Class dungeon.
“We seem more than capable of handling this. Let’s move deeper.”
I had observed the situation for a moment, but it seemed that if there were three Headless Swordiers, I could likely take them down in an instant if I really wanted to. While I must avoid complacency, I felt it was safe to trust in my ‘Bad Luck’ skill and proceed further.