Evan D. Sherden's People (6)
Rewinding to when Leo's party had just arrived on the 45th floor of the dungeon…
"Keh, as soon as you head down there's a monster. Everyone get ready for battle." Bernard, who had been complaining until they entered the dungeon, changed expressions as soon as he began handing out instructions to the party. He had switched back to when he had led the group as its de facto leader decades ago.
[Kehaaaarl!]
"The monsters in it don't seem to have changed much?"
"The traits could be different. Mikhail, have you fought that wolf before?" A group of variant wolf-type monsters appeared from the 41st floor onwards. On the 45th floor, an especially vicious type appeared to aim for the lives of explorers. Of course, no one in this party feared monsters that much.
"I have. I can defeat all the monsters here except for the boss."
"Then, Mikhail will deal with the monsters on the 45th floor first. If there are too many, then Leo can help."
"Good. Thank you for the trap detection, Bernard…I'm curious as to how he's doing." Bron was the name of the bandit who had been with them in the past. As a skilled rogue, he was in charge of guiding the party and dismantling traps, but he lacked combat power. Since he had been there before, Bernard had never served as a guide. He had experience in dismantling traps; however, he hadn't specialized in them.
"Bernard, are you okay? Evan had said that not all the traps were marked on the map."
"Although I'm old, I'm not dead yet. I can do it, so leave it to me…if I fail, don't resent me."
"It's okay to fail a little, Bernard. We can't die from something like a dungeon trap!" Bernard smacked Leo's head as they began to explore in earnest. If he felt like he would fail to dismantle a trap, he would be the first to push Leo in.
"It's a trap."
"Yep, a trap."
"Come out, boy."
"Oh, don't stop there. Mikhail, there is a discoloured part on the right wall. Hit it with your skill and step back." Luckily, Bernard's worries ended quickly. As Evan entered the dungeon and proved himself, Bernard, who had reached the peak of alchemy, was able to detect and dismantle all traps with his excellent observation skills. Like Evan, he had read the map and guided the party on the fastest and surest route. He was a bit slower than Evan, but compared to others, it was undoubtedly fast. Despite all of that, the 45th floor wasn't an easy place.
"No, damn. There are so many pitfalls!"
"No, that's not all. The number of monsters has also increased. Has the level of the dungeon as a whole increased?" Leo, who had been thinking about the previous dungeon, spoke with dissatisfaction as Iloin carefully jabbed him. Bernard wore a bitter smile.
"I think this is a whole new place we need to challenge."
"…Even now, it seems like you're breaking slowly through it." The heroes were in a serious mood, saying that their skills had declined or that the dungeon had become harder, but Mikhail D. Airok felt it was absurd. He had been slowed down to a crawl exploring on his own, yet now they were positively sprinting through it.
"Our level is 57, so we shouldn't be bragging here."
"It was good to come with Mikhail. It might've been really dangerous otherwise."
"We'll proceed step by step. It's good to glow slowly and surely." They were, indeed, heroes. They may have been proud of their past position, but they immediately recognized the changing situation and knew how to adapt to it. Mikhail had to pursue his seniors eagerly. Less than three days passed before they stood before the master battle room on the 45th floor.
"Oh, the first one I've seen in a long time."
"To be here in just three days…" A feeling of depression overcame the knight commander as the group reached the place he struggled to find for an entire month alone. But Leo ignored his complicated feelings as he muttered beside him.
"When Evan hears, he'll laugh at how long it took. Let's say we're late because of Mikhail."
"That excuse won't be enough. Let's catch the floor master before it's too late." Bernard stepped forward and pushed a mana stone into the hole in the door. The door flashed, ready to greet its guests. Each of them prepared for battle as Bernard turned to Mikhail.
"…It's not us who have to grow here. We will only help you not die, but you have to finish him off."
"I'll try my best. I also wanted to overcome it with my own strength." The master of the 45th floor was the Thunder Lycanthrope, a variant elite that possessed endless stamina, power, and a terrible lightning attribute magic. It was one that had tormented explorers for several years.
[These monsters…!]
"Whoo, it's not as difficult as I've heard." Yet the reason Mikhail couldn't go past the 45th floor was only because of its enormous size and its hidden traps, not because he couldn't handle the floor master.
"Oh, I wasn't really hurt."
"Clearly, the floor master level has also been raised. Well fought, Mikhail." The battle ended with Mikhail's overwhelming victory before Leo, or the others even tried to help.
"I knew it, but he's more useful than I thought!"
"Thank you, Leo," Mikhail responded humbly to Leo's praise. He was just happy to explore the dungeon together with Leo.𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑟𝑒𝑎𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Then, let's start exploring in earnest! Bernard, let's go!"
"Okay, boy. Don't rush in like that." Bernard tapped Mikhail on the shoulder and smiled at Leo. Iloin looked a bit uneasy, remembering what Bernard had left with Evan. Her heart pounded, anxiety welling up of the fear that she desperately wished wouldn't become a reality. She swallowed her fear, pressing it far down.
***
However, from start to finish, their dungeon expedition ended successfully without anyone getting hurt. It was natural, as they were some of the strongest in the world, challenging the dungeon with a precise map. Bernard's guiding ability grew as he went further down, and the combat power of the heroes quickly became stronger as they regained the feelings of their heyday. The young hero Mikhail also grew incredibly well so that no monster could dare block their path.
"Huh, I thought I could go further."
"Sorry, Leo. Because of my lack of ability…" When they cleared the 60th floor and grew to level 61, their expedition was over. Although he had also grown to level 61, Mikhail felt that his contribution had been lacking.
"That's right, boy. Didn't you promise to go up to only the 60th floor in the first place?"
"I think it will be smooth sailing until the 65th floor…well, it can't be helped." Leo inspected his stronger body and nodded regrettably.
"See, Bernard. There were no problems."
"You were too off guard."
"It was hard. Without you, we never would have been able to explore the dungeon like this."
"Without Bernard, Leo would've died at least once…no, five times." Iloin and Aria approached Bernard to thank him. At Ilion's expression, Aria and Leo groaned.
"But Bernard, you are very young."
"I think I can understand your view a bit better now."
"To think four levels has such a change. Now let's leave. I want to soak in hot water."
"I've really gotten a lot younger…" Before taking their leave, the party reported to the Marquis using their magic communication tool. If they just left, the world would be rocked by the news that the heroes had cleared the 60th floor.
"They're saying we can leave now."
"I want to soak in the bath."
"You're going to the Brothers' Bathhouse like this, Leo? First, put up a request with the Marquis." Leo was acting like a child, excited to leave, and Aria tapped the back of her husband. Iloin watched them with a clear smile before turning to Bernard, her cheeks red.
"What, Iloin?"
"Nothing, Bernard…well, when we go out, let's drink elven tea together."
"I like that." Bernard nodded and smiled faintly. Iloin felt a brief spike of anxiety again at the smile, but the dungeon exploration was over, meaning Bernard wouldn't be in any danger.
It was a useless worry, after all.