Night in Alvis.
It’s now midnight. Rion and the others had finished their first day of exploration and all the blacksmiths and adventurers were asleep.
Carts went inside the dungeon. Its cargo was a dark red orb -a golem core. The transporters are low-level adventurers hired with money. Many of them were in debt and on the verge of becoming slaves.
As instructed by the employer, they left their carts on the exploration layer. Both the Adventurer’s Guild and the guards turned a blind eye to this late-night transport.
It would have been difficult for Ganis to put pressure on the guild on his own, but the “business-savvy” slave traders were always making arrangements for him.
Eventually, the golem cores were activated.
From the rocks and dirt around it, huge stubby bodies were formed. Then the giant golems carried an orb the size of a barrel on his shoulders. And just like that, they disappeared into the depths of the dungeon.
< Puppeteer> Ganis, is still unaware of the arrival of Rion and the others. On the other hand, Rion and the others also don’t know what the magician is experimenting with.
◆◆◆
It’s the second day since we arrived in Alvis.
I will continue to “train” to become stronger. However, I pull the hood of my fireproof cloak down over my eyes and avoid combat with monsters as much as possible.
Today we are prioritizing getting through the levels.
The dungeon of Alvis has 10 levels, so in addition to fighting monsters, I also have to get used to the battlefield. In fact, the deeper we dive, the hotter it gets, and the sweatier we get. Still, when I think about defense, it’s hard to take off the cloak.
The party members are the same as yesterday, with Mia-san, Felix-san, and two supporters carrying luggage. Safi is with the supporters, and the male supporter carried the backpack she is in.
After drinking plenty of water and taking breaks, we made it to the fifth level.
“Whoa……!”
I was so surprised that I involuntarily exclaimed. The structure of Alvis’ dungeon has changed in the fifth level.
The ceiling is now 10 meters high, and a number of magic stone lanterns shine brightly above us. I’m pretty sure it’s much brighter than the cloudy sky outside.
The road is also wide enough to accommodate three horse-drawn carriages. It is as big as the main street of the Royal Capital. Until now, the passage was like a part of a mine, with a conspicuous rugged stone wall. But the walls here are suddenly smooth and polished to the point where they almost shine a ray of light.
“As expected….…”
Safi peeked out of the backpack.
“This is the palace. The mountain of Alfheim has collapsed, burying everything from the main gate up…….…”
Looking up, I talked to Safi.
“It’s such a wide road……”
“It’s like that all the way down from here. We work with golems, so we need a road wide enough for them to pass by each other, and a ceiling tall enough for them.”
I see. So, the roads are made to fit golems, rather than dwarves.
“The white dwarves also had wings, that’s why the ceiling is so high.”
The previous levels were large enough for adventurers to fight. This floor is even larger, so it must have been the center, with many dwarves and golems passing through.
“Our forges will also start coming up from this floor. The upper floors are the warehouses and barracks for soldiers.”
I took a deep breath.
“It’s amazing……”
Since leaving the Royal Capital, there have been so many surprises, both about the journey and this dungeon. There are so many things I want to talk to Lu and my mom.
When I get home… after I’ve defeated the titans, the slave traders, and all the other things, I’ll definitely tell them.
“…There have been no reports of ancient forges being found on this level.”
Felix-san, who is also wearing his hood, taps his staff on the floor.
I suddenly realized something.
“Maybe….…”
“Mm. It’s possible that it’s ‘sealed.’”
I used Alarm skill to raise my ability to assess our surroundings. For the time being, there was no wall that could be unsealed as far as my eye could see.
“Let’s go and search.”
We start walking down the huge aisle. Perhaps because it was early in the morning, there were relatively few people here at this deeper level. It’s a great way to focus on the presence of monsters.
After proceeding for a while, I heard loud footsteps.
“……An enemy.”
Perhaps because it was quiet, Mia-san have sensed its presence as well. I looked at her in agreement and pointed to the corner about 50 meters ahead.
“It’s getting closer. It’s two-legged, it’s big and it looks like it got armor on…… I can hear a metallic sound.”
“Armor?”
This time, Felix-san spoke. Remembering the level we are at and the monsters that appeared so far, I nodded.
“Guard Golem, right?”
His prediction was correct.
What appeared in the corner ahead was a huge body dressed in armor. It’s hard to grasp the size of the passage because it’s wide, but it’s probably about 3 meters long.
It is a rough humanoid figure, with a cylindrical head lit with blue light. What sets them apart from ordinary golems is their weapons and armor.
One is armed with a club, the other with an axe. And both were protected by decorated armor. This soldier-like appearance is the origin of the name “Guard Golem”.
“Eh? That’s our golem……!”
Safi’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
Mia-san’s mouth turned up in a frown.
“Good grief. Then why is it attacking us!? We’re here to help the dwarves!”
Solana responded from the gold coin.
『Hmm…… Over the years, the golem created by the dwarves may have been incorporated into the dungeon.』
With awkward movements, the golems approached us.
I decided to take the initiative. I took a deep breath and accelerated towards it. The club and axe that are swung down are not scary if you can read the trajectory well.
While dodging, I slashed through the gaps in their armor. I had seen fights with Skoll, mithril golems, and even gods —extraordinary beings. Compared to those, these attacks were so easy to see through.
『Rion… you’ve gotten braver. 』
Thor acknowledged me. It’s not just about skills. I myself have gained strength through experience.
“Mia-san, Felix-san!”
One signal to my comrades was enough.
A chain axe quickly smashed the head of a guard golem. Then a magical flame pierced the chest of the other one.
My role is to stop them, and my party members’ main focus is to deal heavy blow on them. It was our first time fighting one, but with our teamwork, it’s not a threat.
“Hmm, my level’s gone up too..”
“Let’s just say we’re growing as a party.”
Mia-san shook her chain axe and grinned, while Felix-san shrugged.
Like mine, their weapons also had magic runes engraved on them. Mia-san’s axe has 『Toughness』. In addition to increasing the power, it also seems to have the effect of increasing the strength of the weapon.
As a blacksmith, Safi seemed worried that the strength of the wielder was beginning to exceed the weapons’ design.
As for Felix-san’s staff, it has『Wisdom』. It increases the power of magic.
Felix-san traced the faint glowing letters with his finger.
“At this rate, we might be able to go and defeat the intermediate boss on Alvis’ 6th layer.”
I tried to relax my nerves, but a chill suddenly ran down my back.
Reflexively, I used the <Divine Protection of the Hunting God>. But there was no need for special search. Because from the end of the aisle, came a tremendous roar.
The entire dungeon vibrated.
The magic lamps on the ceiling even flickered.
“W-what the-?”
Mia-san held up her chain axe. In the distance, there was a golem staggering weakly. Smoke was coming out of its body, as if it had just emerged from lava.
Then the golem came to a halt, eventually crouching down.
“……Huh?”
……It looks like the remains of the golem we saw in the corridor yesterday.
――Oooooooo!
Again, a roar shook the entire dungeon. Pebbles also fell from the ceiling.
Felix-san’s eyes widened.
Another creature appeared, ruthlessly trampling over the golem.
“Gua, o, ooo……!”
It was a huge cow about the size of a horse-drawn carriage. Its horns, sticking out on both sides, were on fire.
Felix-san groaned.
“……Muspelheim Aurochs……”
It is commonly known as “Fire Ox”. It is a dangerous monster on a par with Garm. It appears in the sixth layer about once every half a day and was also called the “Intermediate Boss” due to its strength and the number of magic stones it possesses.
I know only that much.
But—
“Why is it on the verge of death already……?”
Safi’s voice trembled. The Aurochs’ entire body was burned, its right eye was crushed, and it was dragging its other leg.
Then the Fire Ox took its last breath and fell with a thud.
“D-don’t tell me…… Did it run away from the floor below……?”
I managed to squeeze out a voice. I felt that if I didn’t say something, my pounding heart would give way to fear.
The left side of the huge passage is connected to a staircase. Something is coming out from the lower level where the fire ox has fled from.
The ceiling was nearly 10 meters high.
We looked up at the huge body that had “bent over” and walked in. It is humanoid, and its whole body flickers like a summer sun. When I detected its magical power, I saw a bright red light on his chest.
“……Golem?”
I thought so because the light on its chest looked like a golem core. Its face, distorted by the heat, had a faint expression. Its mouth stretched as if it is grinning.
“D-did it laugh……?”
Mithril Golem in the Western Dungeon. An army of golems in Kalmar.
More than anything, I sense the presence of a titan.
| The Incarnation of Rage has appeared. |
The fact that God’s voice echoed in my head means that even the Chief God is also watching this situation.
The colossal golem ―no, the titan man― rushed towards us.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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