Bwahahahahaha! The hero guy was thoroughly fooled, I must say! Was I cowardly? No, not at all. In one of the few games I’ve played, the boss who seemed formidable turned out to be just a warm-up act for a two-round fight.
And just like that, the hero’s party had mistaken those three unique monsters and their subordinates as the bosses. Oh, I had quite a hard time gathering points to boost the intelligence of the Royal Zombie. I reluctantly gave up on the puzzle-solving elements I wanted to include, but since they mistook it for the boss, this actually turned out to be a brilliant move!
Surprise attack successful! Your strategies fell short at the very end, dear challengers! Now that the biggest obstacle is eliminated (Luke), the real boss battle begins. Without a leader, how far can you really go?
“Y-you bastard!”
“Unforgivable!”
Finally, the women started moving, but swinging swords and daggers in their rage is easily avoidable, even for someone like me. Besides, with my special weapon, the scythe, I can use it even while stepping back!
“D-damn it…!”
“Kikuno!?”
I swung the scythe and executed a backstep, effortlessly slicing through Kikuno’s abdomen. She was already on the brink of death, and that single strike was enough to kill her. Truly, the damage output of a boss is something else! That was a fantastic hit!
“Youuu.”
Oh, this girl was called Rose, if I remember correctly. Quite the brave woman, to have already recovered like that.
“I’ll take on the role of the shield! Meg, flank from its blind spot and attack! Renka, how’s your magic power?”
“It’s still not enough!”
“Then protect Aina! Aina, prepare your light magic!”
“”Understood!””
Under Rose’s instructions, the party managed to regroup after all. She seemed like the vice leader of this party. Well, it seems I won’t be allowed to win easily like this.
“Light Lance… huh!”
Aina, was it? I purposely waited until the last moment for her to unleash her magic and swiftly sidestepped to dodge it. She was stunned by that single move. It’s no wonder; after all, most undead creatures are generally slow-witted. Moreover, unless they are special monsters, their combat AI isn’t particularly intelligent.
However, I am different now. Among the undead, I belong to a race that is fast in their movements, and inside this race, there is this Mage Player. The most annoying thing for a mage is when their attacks narrowly miss due to significant movements by their targets. Even with the guidance of [Magic Control], it’s hard to hit me when I move like this.
There’s a saying, ‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will emerge victorious in a hundred battles’. Well, I know the enemy mage like no other, so there’s no way her magic will hit me!
“Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter!”
I swiftly maneuvered around the boss’s room, swinging my scythe and unleashing a barrage of Dark Balls toward Rose and Meg. However, this was merely a distraction and a way to keep them at bay. My main targets were the mage and the priest.
I swung my scythe towards the priest. The priest swiftly crossed her small shield and staff in an X-shaped guard, defending against my overhead strike. Her quick reaction showed her skill as a top player.
“Ugh!”
She actually took the hit, but it seemed like my strength surpassed hers. I could feel the sensation of how I was gradually overpowering her, albeit slowly.
“Back off!”
Well, if I stop moving, they’ll come at me. I evaded Rose, who was about to strike from behind, and created distance between me and the four of them. Time to regroup.
“Meg, what’s your appraisal results?”
“…Skeleton Executioner, Lv30.”
It seems like one of them used [Appraisal] on me. That’s right. The race I chose for this event was the Skeleton Executioner, a special evolution of the skeleton, from the Skeleton Warrior and Skeleton Sickler.
There were two conditions for evolving into such a race. The first was “having the skill of [Scythe Mastery] and at least one other weapon-related skill at level 20 or higher”, and the second was “not having any defensive or HP-enhancing skills”. In short, it was a race that specializes in being an “attack-focused scythe user”.
It was a high-damage, highly agile, paper-thin armor type. That’s why I couldn’t afford to take a hit from the hero. With less HP than an ordinary Skeleton Warrior, it would be humiliating for me, the boss, to be taken down by the “hero” in one shot (thanks to his holy sword infused with powerful light element). Incidentally, my skill setting was like this.
――――――――――
Race: Skeleton Executioner Lv30
Job: Scytheman Lv0
Skills:
- [Scythe Mastery]
- [Sword Mastery]
- [Throwing]
- [Dual Wielding]
- [Strength Enhancement]
- [Agility Enhancement]
- [Earthen Magic]
- [Black Magic]
- [Assassination]
- [Night Vision]
- [Status Resistance]
- [Blunt Attacks Weakness]
- [Light Weakness]
――――――――――
After successfully eliminating one of them through a surprise attack using [Assassination], I occasionally used magic to keep them on their toes, employing a relentless offensive strategy that belied my appearance.
Using a scythe was actually quite difficult, but thanks to my current skills, I was able to handle it with ease. The game’s assistance system provided some guidance on how to wield it effectively.
Nevertheless, it remained challenging, but I must admit it became quite enjoyable to use.
“Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter!”
I launched another assault. Although my health was low, I was still a boss. With my stats significantly boosted, no one could catch up to me when I sprinted at full speed.
Whether they were aware of it or not, Rose and her companions formed a tight formation. Presumably, the non-magic users intended to intercept my slashes and then unleash [Light Magic] at that moment. It’s a strategy of cutting the flesh and breaking the bones.
Considering I only have bones, to begin with, any attempt to cut my flesh would be a foolish joke… but let’s not dwell on such silly remarks. However, their efforts were indeed in vain.
I twisted my body with all my might from outside their striking range. If I had a physical body, my spine might have made a creaking sound. That’s how much force I put into it.
“Clatter!”
“Huh!”
And just as enough power had gathered, I hurled the large scythe I held in my hand. The scythe rotated in the air and flew straight toward the mage. Ah, wouldn’t it be convenient if I could do rice harvesting like this? No, it would still be troublesome to gather the rice stalks.
“Don’t you dare!”
Rose swung her sword and deflected the flying scythe aimed at the magician. It took incredible courage to parry a massive flying blade like that.
Well, that’s how it goes. If it had hit, it would have been lucky for her, at best. Things were actually going exactly as planned.
“Clatter, Clatter!”
“Kuh…?!”
I took advantage of Rose’s momentary distraction caused by dealing with the scythe and sliced her apart with the sword in both my hands. They might not be aware, but as the boss, I also possess [Sword Mastery] to fulfill the conditions for evolution.
Of course, I used the Executioner’s Sword. In the Middle Ages of Europe, it was a sword with a flat tip that was actually used during executions. It’s a convenient aspect of the robe that I can conceal such a weapon.
That being said, due to the flat tip of the Executioner’s Sword, it can’t be used for thrusting, but it has a bonus to accuracy when aiming for decapitation strikes. I’ll actively aim for beheadings, then.
With a powerful upward slash fueled by my speed and strength, Rose met her demise and turned into particles of light. I released my left hand from the sword, but still gripping it with the right, and used it to grab the fallen scythe and then swung both weapons at the thief and priest who stood on either side of Rose.
The thief dodged the scythe, but the priest chose to defend instead. However, she was a split second too slow in raising her shield. The Executioner’s Sword severed the priest’s head, fulfilling its purpose. Now, only two remained!
“Gah, Holy Ray!”
A flash of light burst forth from the mage’s staff. Wha… so fast! As expected, the speed of the [Light Magic], the fastest among the few offensive spells, is remarkable. If it weren’t for my race’s speed, I would have been hit.
“Is this timing still not good enough?!”
“I’m…going!”
The thief approached me while wielding two daggers in a reverse grip. Oh? So this is the dual-wielding style? Her arms moved as if they had separate intentions. She was just like the current me!
However, it seemed that the experience gap as a vanguard fighter was quite significant. I had my hands full with blocking! The fact that both of my weapons were large might also be a factor. In that case, how about this?
“Clatter!”
I used Stone Wall at my feet. And what happened? The Stone Wall rose up at an astonishing speed, even surpassing the thief’s height.
“Nhah?!”
Jumping over the thief from atop the Stone Wall, I took the opportunity to unleash my pent-up frustration. With my scythe, I severed her diagonally. Now, only one remained.
“Clatter; clatter!”
“Eek!”
Closing the distance swiftly with my natural speed, I swiftly bisected the mage’s head and torso using the Executioner’s Sword in my right hand and the scythe in my left. With that, the battle was over.
――――――――――
You have won in the event.
You have obtained 6 SP
――――――――――
“Alright~~! I won!”
I let out a triumphant shout in the now-empty boss room. Well, well, I’m exhausted. Completely drained. Who would have thought being a fighter in the vanguard would be this tiring? I could feel my nerves wearing thin.
The intensity is just too much for me. I mean, it’s one thing to bully weaker opponents, but going head-to-head with equals in a swordfight? No thanks. I’ll probably never understand the thrill of seeking out close battles on the brink of defeat like Jigoro does.
Nevertheless, choosing a race that tickles my chuunibyo spirit because it’ll be used in the PV (promotional video) seems to have paid off. Ah, but can my messy way of fighting really be used in the PV?
Having deceived the challengers with a horde of monsters led by three unique monsters, launching a surprise attack from behind, and then bewildering them with unfamiliar techniques… I have a feeling it won’t work. Well, knowing that goddess, she’ll probably edit it skillfully. …Right?
I shouldn’t worry about it! Yeah! By now, the hero party is probably posting the structure of my dungeon on the bulletin board. Those guys who read it will undoubtedly come barging in. Alright, I’ll cause as much havoc as possible in a flashy manner, if I may.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
――――――――――
You have won in the event.
You have obtained 23 SP
――――――――――
5…4…3…2…1…0
And… it’s over! In the end, no one besides the hero party made it this far. Although the hero party provided detailed information, the other challengers were defeated by sheer numbers, disregarding the traps. Indeed, even against weak monsters, being sandwiched between narrow passages from both sides would be tough, even for players who were in the recommended level range.
“Oh?”
As I was summarizing my thoughts alone, an electronic sound resonated in my head. This was the signal when some kind of notification arrived. Curious, I opened the menu, and my vision was engulfed in pure white.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
“You always manage to summon me so abruptly, don’t you, Lady Yifa?”
“Fufu, but isn’t this more fun?”
Well, certainly, it’s amusing to be the one catching others off guard. However, I won’t express that openly.
“So, if you’ve brought me here… Could it be?”
“Yes. I thought of granting Sir Isam his promised reward.”
Inwardly, I performed a little victory dance. This was indeed worth desperately wracking my brain to find ways to maximize the potential of weak monsters and setting traps while predicting the moments of distraction.
“I had a delightful time. Especially the expression on the hero’s face when his head was severed… It makes me want to burst into laughter just thinking about it.”
That’s quite a casual comment, isn’t it? Well, I can’t say anything considering my own actions.
“Speaking of the hero, how did the player rankings turn out? By now, they should be announcing the results, right?”
“Oh, are you curious?”
“Yes, of course.”
The ability to efficiently conquer random dungeons, where first-time strategies are demanded, can serve as a kind of indicator of how resourceful you are. Considering the possibility of future enemies, it was impossible not to take notice. As I conveyed my thoughts, Lady Yifa nodded with a smile.
“In that case, the most intriguing award would be the Most Conquered Dungeon Prize, correct? The party that has conquered the most dungeons is ‘White Sunlight’ led by that hero guy.”
Oh, so they are in first place. I must say, this is the first time I’ve heard their party name, ‘White Sunlight’. Quite impressive. And as for the honorable first victim of my dungeon, ‘Going My Way’, they may have missed out on the Most Conquered Dungeon Prize, but they still secured a proud third place. Congratulations!
“By the way, the dungeons they couldn’t clear were Isam’s ‘Cursed Tomb Tower’ and Genjuro’s ‘Insects Paradise’.”
“Huh? So, Jigoro’s dungeon was conquered then?”
“No, they simply couldn’t attempt it as they didn’t get spawned there. None of the players we gave the quest, including Isam, had their dungeon conquered.”
Oooh! So everyone succeeded! That’s great news. Especially Genjuro, who likely engaged in a fierce battle against the hero’s party and emerged victorious. I can’t help but admit he’s exceptional. Perhaps I, who resorted to cunning tactics until the very end, am the odd one out?
“Well, we don’t have much time, so let’s quickly give you the reward.”
“Time?”
“Yes. I assume you understand that this place is not somewhere players can easily come and go?”
“That’s true.”
Of course. This is the realm where the gods reside, so to speak. In simpler terms, it’s like behind the scenes. There’s no way players can casually pass through to such a place.
“If you linger too long, there’s a higher chance that the gods who don’t agree with us will take notice.”
“I see, that would be a serious matter.”
In other words, there are deities with whom Lady Yifa has a strained or hostile relationship, and there’s a possibility that they might set their sights on us. I should leave quickly.
“I’m glad you understand. Please accept this then.”
――――――――――
God Quest: “Dungeon Master” has been cleared!
You will be rewarded.
The hidden condition, “Impregnable Fortress” has been achieved!
You will be rewarded.
――――――――――
At the same time as the announcement, a radiant sphere of light emerged from Lady Yifa’s hand and flew toward me. It floated unsteadily, approaching me. Without thinking, I reached out with both hands, and the light materialized.
“This… is an egg?”
“Yes, you’re correct.”
The reward bestowed upon me was an egg that was about the size of a human head. It resembled an ostrich egg that I had seen on TV once. However, it couldn’t possibly be an ostrich… What kind of egg was it, exactly?
“Even I don’t know what will hatch from it. You see, this egg will produce a suitable partner for Sir Isam all according to Sir Isam’s actions.”
“A suitable partner, you say? That’s interesting.”
So it wasn’t random; it was determined by my actions. Although the specific actions it referred to were unknown, it meant that it would be something akin to my alter ego based on my principles of behavior. It was quite fascinating.
“That’s good to hear. Now, here is your reward for repelling all the challengers.”
“A scythe… Could it be?”
“Yes. As you’ve guessed, it is the large scythe previously wielded by Sir Isam as the boss.”
Oooh, how delightful! What a thoughtful gesture. The blade-filled and rust-covered scythe may be a memento, but it exudes a certain charm. In that case, this is more than enough.
“Although it may look shabby, please enhance it and make good use of it. I’m sure it will suit you perfectly.”
“…Understood.”
Hmm, if Lady Yifa says so, I should try enhancing it. That means it’s more than just a mere keepsake. I’ll use it with care then. I suppose I should also learn the [Scythe Mastery] from here on. Well, I’ve gained plenty of SP from this event; I can afford to splurge a little.
“It’s about time. Sir Isam, I truly appreciate your assistance.”
“You’re being too kind with your words. I merely enjoyed the event, nothing more.”
That’s my genuine sentiment, without any falsehood. Regardless of her intentions, I simply had fun. I believe the others felt the same way as well.
“Fufufu, is that so? From the divine sanctuary, I pray for a prosperous future for the ‘Night Parade’ party.”
That’s reassuring. However, before my thoughts could fully materialize into words, everything before me was engulfed in white. Ah, is this the end of this audience? While my vision was completely filled with white light, I casually pondered such things.
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