Although it was Chloe’s request, this job was also a turning point for Jun.
Securing a stable flow of funds in the future would require running a business.
That was why they had come to this place, the “Ashen Wasteland”, which was a level 2 field.
If I remember correctly, the game lore said that this was once the land where an ancient witch lived.
However, the witch was captured by the church and burned at the stake, and in her vengeful rage, she cursed this land.
The ground was scorched dry, barren, and unable to support even a single blade of grass.
The only thing visible was a landscape of ashen canyons. The sky, which should have been blue, was a dreary shade of gray.
“Ugh…”
“Strange, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s like I don’t feel like doing anything at all.”
“It’s because of the field effect.”
This effect was called the “Curse of Apathy”.
True to its name, the curse made you feel an overwhelming sense of lethargy as if you didn’t want to do anything just by being there.
In the game, it was an effect that made your stamina and fatigue deplete faster.
In this way, there were many areas inside Blackout that had field effects.
Because of this, much like the barren rock zone, this place was not popular.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a place you wouldn’t want to visit twice. The repair costs are pretty high too.”
A voice called out from behind Jun.
It was a familiar and somewhat welcoming voice.
“Colton. You’ve arrived.”
“Long time no see, friends!”
“……”
The Blade Eagle Mercenary Group, who had teamed up with them during the Forest Guardian raid, and Maya had joined them.
***
As expected of his cautious personality, Jun abandoned the idea of tackling the dungeon with just Aiden, like they had on the level 1 field.
In a place like this, where any number of unexpected events could occur, overconfidence meant death.
So Jun asked Chloe for a favor and sent a request directly to Colton’s mercenary group, with whom he had already collaborated once.
Meanwhile, Colton met up with Bradden on the level 1 field and brought along Maya, the temporary member of the White Whale Mercenary Group.
“Thanks for coming all this way.”
“No thanks needed. When our sponsor calls, of course we should come running.”
Though Colton had gone through the trouble of bringing Maya along on the way, his expression was bright.
This was thanks to the generous payment he had received from Chloe.
“Maya. Have you gotten used to our language?”
“I learned a lot.”
“……?”
Her pronunciation was still a bit muddled, but it was much better compared to before.
Her expression, however, remained lifeless as ever.
Meanwhile, Colton glanced up at the ashen sky and spoke.
“Man, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this damned land. Has it been two years?”
Colton’s mercenary group had a solid track record on the level 2 field.
As evidence, Colton was holding the [Lantern of Holy Flame], which was an artifact that required a considerable donation to the temple to acquire.
It was an artifact that removed field effects within a certain area depending on the level.
However, it had no special effect on Jun and Aiden.
Aiden had the [Beast Body], which granted status ailment resistance, and Jun had the [Unwavering Heart].
“Anyway, your destination is over there?”
“That’s right.”
“Just like before, Mr. Mage seems to know quite a lot.”
They arrived at a canyon in the ashen wasteland, beneath towering cliffs that stretched on both sides.
Their destination was, of course, a hidden dungeon that had never been discovered before.
As Jun recalled the way, they eventually arrived at a massive boulder that was blocking part of the path.
“Aiden, can you break that boulder for me?”
“Yes!”
[Charge], [Bash].
As Aiden used the two skills in quick succession, the huge boulder split apart in an instant.
Colton’s mouth dropped at the sudden sight.
“W-What was that just now?”
“It’s a skill. He just learned it.”
“Wow… Did you get it as a reward from a raid?”
“He got it as a reward for dealing the final blow to the Forest Guardian.”
“Haha, that’s incredible…”
Colton and his men received rewards as well, but the most valuable among them was a set of iron armor.
Naturally, it couldn’t be compared to a skill.
Colton looked a little disheartened at first but soon regained his composure.
He had long recognized Aiden’s talent, and it was too late to envy another’s abilities.
“So, this is the entrance to the dungeon?”
“That’s right, it’s a hidden dungeon.”
“Hehe, so it is.”
A dungeon yet to be discovered, and inside it, there would surely be treasures no one had ever seen before.
A mercenary’s greed had already settled on Colton’s face. His mercenary group had the right to claim a portion of any treasure found within the dungeon as part of their reward.
“Alright! We’ll go in first, so just follow us closely!”
“Okay.”
With newfound enthusiasm, Colton led the way into the dungeon entrance.
Jun, Aiden, and Maya followed behind them and stepped into the dungeon’s depths.
***
The dungeon’s name was “Eternal Sleep”.
The origin of the name was evident from the scenery inside.
“Wow, this is impressive…”
Even Colton, who had seen all sorts of landscapes throughout his long mercenary career, couldn’t hold back his genuine admiration.
The view before them was so breathtaking that calling it a spectacle wasn’t an exaggeration.
“They look like fossils… What are those?”
“I wonder if it’s the dragon mentioned in the ancient records.”
“A-A dragon?!”
“A dragon, you say?!”
At Jun’s explanation, Colton shouted in shock.
Meanwhile, Aiden who was standing beside him, had a completely different reaction; his eyes sparkled with excitement.
It seemed like he had read about dragons in a novel during his childhood.
Seeing their contrasting reactions, Jun chuckled and responded.
“There’s nothing too extraordinary about it. Similar things have already been found in the upper levels.”
“Well, th-that may be true… but aren’t dragon bones incredibly powerful materials?!”
“C-Could there be a dragon’s treasure hidden here?!”
“Sorry to disappoint, but you’re both wrong.”
The dragon’s bones had long since weathered away, turning into mere fossils. Fossils were, quite literally, just stones with no real value.
Likewise, there was no treasure related to the dragon to be found.
“I see…”
“Ugh.”
As expected, Aiden and Colton clicked their tongues in disappointment, but soon their expressions turned intrigued again.
Though they had never seen a dragon in person, they could sense how enormous the creature must have been in its lifetime.
The ground they were standing on was the weathered tailbone of a dragon.
A huge canyon stretched out on both sides, and the ashen sky from above illuminated the dungeon’s landscape.
The dragon’s huge ribcage blocked the sky like a roof full of gaping holes, and its spinal bones stretched far into the distance as if they were guiding the way.
“……”
Even in front of such a grand landscape, Maya who stood beside Jun as if guarding him showed no sign of being moved.
Maya’s expression only changed at a single moment.
“A gremlin!”
It was only when they encountered a monster.
“Damn machine-loving freaks!”
The gremlin monster had a body resembling a bipedal lizard with large ears.
Their physical abilities are no different from goblins, but their intelligence far surpasses that of goblins.
As proof, each of them was clad in metal gear.
– Kyaahahaha!
The gremlins charged forward with unsettling laughter while swinging their saw-bladed swords.
Whatever they had done to the swords, a faint vibration could be seen coursing through the blades.
“Don’t block head-on, deflect them! The blades will wear out!”
Following Colton’s command, the team aimed for the gremlins’ flanks.
Unlike goblins, these creatures wore armor, so they had to target the vital points.
Moreover, like goblins, they had a high breeding rate, which meant their numbers were substantial.
“One minute!”
At Jun’s shout, the mercenaries held their formation as best they could and blocked the gremlin’s attacks.
Instead of aiming for direct kills by striking vital points, their main focus was to sever joints and incapacitate the monsters.
“Haaaht!”
Among them, Aiden’s performance stood out the most.
Thanks to the training he had undergone over the past month, Aiden moved without the slightest hesitation.
He intervened precisely where his help was needed and quickly retreated to create space and maintain flexibility.
Even in his supporting role, Aiden’s movements were so effective that Colton and his team noticed immediately.
However, the gremlins were not easy targets.
Seeing that the humans’ formation was sturdier than expected, the creatures changed their tactics.
“Over there, look!”
The gremlins at the back started climbing the walls.
They managed this feat because of the equipment attached to their feet.
Sharp boots that were similar to crampons pierced the rock and supported their weight.
– Kyahahak!
Just as the rear was about to be breached, Maya who had been holding back her excitement from the battle made her move.
The twin swords she drew from her waist sliced through the air.
– Kyagh?
Just like what happened to Aiden in the past, despite her movements being clearly visible, the gremlins couldn’t block her blades.
The gremlins that had been confidently climbing the wall fell to the ground like dominos.
…As expected, her skills are truly remarkable.
Though she still struggled to control her killing intent, Maya cut down the enemies more efficiently and naturally than anyone else.
“I’ll help too!”
Aiden immediately moved to support the opposite side while matching Maya’s actions.
He channeled magical power into his feet to increase traction and ran up the wall just like the gremlins.
[Charge]
If Maya was a shadow, then Aiden was the wind.
The gremlins fell from the wall like autumn leaves as Aiden rushed up the wall.
Due to the weight of their equipment, those who landed headfirst mostly ended up dead with broken necks or in a groggy state.
And as if to signal the end of the battle—
[Earth Burst]
Jun’s magic exploded beneath the gremlins’ feet.
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