NOVEL NEXT Chapter 93
3rd Floor.
“…Wow… What is this?”
Being overwhelmed by the view from the entrance of the 3rd floor, which I had only seen in games.
Statues of orcs and lizardmen filling the 3rd floor. And at the center, a blue crystal.
It felt like a scene straight out of a battlefield, and I plopped down in place, appreciating it like a work of art. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of statues filled the floor. The statues holding weapons glared at each other, looking so intricately crafted they seemed ready to spring back to life at any moment.
“…But it’s just statues?”
Sif’s bewildered voice reached me from behind.
As she said, aside from the crystal guarding the center of the 3rd floor, there was nothing but statues.
That’s exactly why I chose this dungeon. It made it easier to set up the desired situation.
“Sif. Look at that crystal.”
“It looks like something we shouldn’t touch…”
“If we touch that, all the statues will awaken.”
As I pointed towards the crystal, Sif’s eyes widened, and she shouted.
“What? All those statues will awaken?”
“Yeah.”
Touching the crystal would mean awakening every one of those statues, probably close to a thousand. Considering that the dungeons near Kalon Academy serve as early-game dungeons, facing that many enemies might seem overly challenging at first glance.
However…
“Look closely. What do the statues look like?”
“Orcs and… lizardmen… but they’re divided around the crystal.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“And orcs and lizardmen are… at least in this dungeon, like mortal enemies.”
I didn’t know how it was outside, but at least in this dungeon, orcs and lizardmen were fierce foes fighting over narrow ground. Their long-standing hatred had been building up for ages, so it was time to let it all out.
“Then…”
“Right. When we open it, they’ll immediately try to finish their unfinished battle.”
Once time starts again, the hatred trapped inside their bodies will run rampant.
“Then it sounds easier than I thought! They’ll just kill each other if we leave them!”
“Sure. In theory, that is.”
But that wouldn’t happen.
“If, if we touch that crystal directly… we’ll be right in the middle of the battlefield…”
“Correct. Elisa. You’re sharp, considering you’re from the Magic Department.”
Seizing the moment, I complimented her while subtly glancing at Elisa, who was wearing a bashful smile like a crescent moon. I had to be cautious; one could be surprised just by looking at her. Sif glared at me, but I ignored her gaze and looked back at the battlefield.
As Elisa said, if we touch the crystal in the middle of the battlefield, we’ll inevitably find ourselves right in the thick of it. And we would have to struggle through a fight besieged from both sides.
And…
“Elisa. Do you know how to infuse objects with magic?”
“Ah, I know…”
“To wake them up, you need to infuse magic into the crystal.”
“W-What?”
“I need your help.”
Of course, I didn’t want to rely on her from start to finish. I couldn’t afford to crush Elisa’s confidence like that. For Elisa, more important than the assignment was her self-esteem. Her skills could be artificially boosted with lots of Easter eggs and items, but low self-esteem couldn’t be covered up with gear.
“Elisa. You can do it. Just stick close to me, and it’ll be safe. Wake the crystal!”
“W-Wait…”
Tears welled up in Elisa’s eyes. Though not as stunning as Karina, she was certainly a beauty, and seeing tears gather made me feel a pang of guilt, but we had to do it. I patted her head and whispered courage into her ear.
“When the 3rd Platoon Captain tried to kidnap you, you risked your life to save a student you didn’t even know. And you managed to escape successfully. Think of that time. You can do this.”
“I- I’ll try…”
Good. Having succeeded in persuading Elisa, I fidgeted with my screenshot feature and spoke to Sif, who was waiting for us.
“Sif. Keep taking… no, take screenshots.”
“Here?”
“No, down there.”
“W-Won’t I get attacked?”
“They won’t attack you unless you try to get too close.”
They were beings so consumed by hatred for each other that a humble cat beastkin would hardly take precedence over their mutual animosity.
“I’m setting up a makeshift camp and heading down.”
———
Getting a closer look made it feel even more vivid. I looked up at the largest statue among them.
An orc warrior.
And on the other side, a lizardman warrior.
The boss of the 3rd floor.
Usually, one of them would die on its own if left alone, but…
Since I was here, I might as well secure rewards.
Having formed a rough plan in my mind, I took Elisa, who was trembling and clinging to my sleeve, and moved toward the crystal.
In the meantime, I tapped the statues with my shovel a few times, but it didn’t have any effect. It seemed like it was either magical or blocked by some system.
“Sif! Take a screenshot!”
Click!
We managed to capture a photo of the two of us standing in front of the crystal, so we secured a record. Next…
“Elisa. Start now. You won’t need that much magic.”
“Ah, okay…”
Elisa grabbed the crystal with her hands and closed her eyes. I stood behind her, ready to dash and carry her if anything happened, while waiting for the statues to awaken.
It was dazzling.
As Elisa began to infuse magic, the crystal started to shimmer with a blue wave. I shielded my eyes and waited for the light to calm down.
“H-Hiiik…”
Sounds of explosions echoed from the battlefield. I saw monsters emerging through the breaking statues and grabbed Elisa’s shoulder, who was getting scared.
“Keep going.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Gwaaaah!”
“Kiyaaaak!”
As the battlefield came back to life, cheers echoed everywhere. Was it joy that the war had begun again, or was it anger finally surfacing after being trapped for so long? As Elisa stumbled, I pushed aside my doubts and picked her up.
“A-A-A…”
“Hang on tight so you don’t fall.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than a purple head stuck to my chest like a baby.
I slammed into the ground without hesitation.
This place would soon be a blood-soaked battlefield, so getting out as quickly as possible was key. I activated a skill to survive any potential attacks.
“Crafting. Crafting. Crafting. Crafting. Crafting…”
Walls began to rise alongside me. The strength of the orcs and lizardmen might break through eventually, but as long as I could withstand a single hit, it’d be enough. I repeatedly used my skill and dashed toward Sif.
“Th-That’s terrifying…”
“It hasn’t even started yet.”
“What?”
“Crafting.”
“Meow?!”
I dug a small pit in the floor with my skill and set it up so I could sit. I gently placed Elisa there. With her cheeks flushed in excitement, she asked me while looking up.
“…Is it over?”
“No. This war can only end with our involvement.”
What’s the point of letting them fight it out amongst themselves? In this war, there had to be a winner, and we had to win as a neutral third force. I sat in front of Elisa, matching her eye level.
“How much magic did you use?”
“About 30%…”
“How many times can you cast a Level 3 spell?”
“I think I can do it about ten times…”
“What about Level 2 spells?”
“Two times…”
“Can you use fire and lightning magic?”
“I can…”
So I only had to sweep away the rest except for the leaders.
I pulled out some jerky from my backpack and shared it with Sif and Elisa.
“Eat this. We’ll need to move soon.”
I munched on the jerky, accompanied by the sounds of clashing weapons and flesh tearing. There was no reason to jump into the fight immediately.
I’m not like Renny, who can single-handedly create a massacre, nor am I foolish enough to stick my neck out in such an inefficient space as a battlefield.
The most important thing for survival is to not put oneself in peril.
“We’ll rest for 30 minutes and then join the fight.”
I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.
—————-
“I-I’m so scared…”
The scent of blood creeping from the battlefield into the tunnels. The sound of metal clashing. The final screams.
A horrifying battlefield even just imagining it.
Various kinds of fears rocked her heart.
It’s frightening.
I want to run away.
But I can’t run.
Not only does she lack the ability to flee, but she also couldn’t afford to choose to cowardly escape from a dungeon she came to for her assignment. Even if she’s a timid coward with low self-esteem, she still couldn’t forget her humanity.
“B-But I’m still scared…”
Wandering eyes aimed at Sif, who was resting with her eyes closed, just like Johann. The cat beastkin, with her black ears folded, plunged into a light sleep, as if accustomed to such situations.
Soon after, her gaze turned to Johann. A hulking man with scars and burns on his fearsome face. His spirit, having traversed many battlefields, reminded one of a legendary warrior. Unlike the translucent or blue-glowing spirits around, his shone a deep red.
She couldn’t help but feel fear from this unknown spirit. What in the world is that spirit? The unfamiliar fear combined with his appearance created even greater terror.
“B-But, it’s not that scary anymore…”
Having seen him for quite a while, she was past the point of being frightened by his looks.
She thought he might be a good person. With her somber appearance and timid nature, it was rare for someone to like her. Still, he was the first man who treated her kindly.
Is this how it feels to have an older brother?
Without realizing it, Elisa quietly approached him, who was sitting with his arms crossed. Fortunately, there was a space next to him where she could sit. She cautiously took a seat beside him, leaning against his body.
The baby bird searching for the safest spot amid the fear gnawing at her soul quietly closed her eyes. The fatigue accumulated from descending the 3rd floor weighed heavily on her eyelids.
The man, who had been dozing, opened his eyes slightly at the warmth he felt beside him and laid her upper body down. Her face, nestled against his knees, looked peaceful.
“…Seems like you’re sleeping well.”
“Wow, quite popular~”
Sif, who was observing the situation unfold, teasingly laughed and mocked him. Johann’s arm twitched, and he immediately dropped his tail and gave him a sad look.
“Just close your eyes again.”
“Yeyeye.”
As they all closed their eyes to the lullaby of the monstrous battlefield sounds.