◈ 273. [Free Exploration] Enemy area of the enemy
. In other words, the depth of a dungeon is an indicator of how difficult the dungeon is.
Same area – Dungeons belonging to the same depth are roughly the same in difficulty.
In other words, entering just one level deeper increases the risk of the dungeon.
“Whoa.”
After clearing all the dungeons of the shortest route from District 6 to District 7.
I glared at District 7, which stretched beyond the darkness.
Areas 6 to 10, the latter half of the dungeon, the so-called ‘Deep Demon Realm’, are incomparably vast and difficult compared to the previous areas.
District 6 is also the weakest among them, so it was possible to break through the road like this, but District 7, which must be rescued tomorrow, will not be as easy as today.
‘Fortunately, the [Wolf’s Den] is close by.’
The wolf’s den is at the beginning of District 7.
You’ll be able to knock it off and get out of there quickly. It’s a story if everything goes well.
“Come on, everyone worked hard today!”
base camp.
It was time to return to the end of today’s free exploration.
“Let’s go back and wipe our feet and rest!”
I encouraged the party members who were exhausted from clearing a few dungeons today.
I have to work hard tomorrow too, so I need to get some rest tonight.
The party members who had worked hard yawned or stretched as they entered the teleport gate one by one.
Even the sullen Lily and the tired-looking God Hand disappear into the gate. After all other party members have returned.
“Berdandi.”
I looked back at Belldandy, who was seeing us off.
“Thank you for your continued cooperation.”
Belldandi smiled softly. Every time I see him, he has a subtle expression whether he’s laughing or crying because of his tear spots.
“you’re welcome. This is all to save my comrades.”
Yes. Currently, Belldandy is only helping us to save his party.
However, it is also true that he has actively helped us with our dungeon exploration over the past few weeks.
I think this is enough to form a not bad relationship that is quite cooperative.
“Since we’re helping each other, it’s hard to say that this is a return for helping each other, but… .”
I took a dagger out of my pocket and handed it to Belldandy.
“receive.”
“yes? This… .”
Belldandi opened her eyes wide and accepted it.
Blink Dagger. It’s an SSR grade dagger from the last box.
After a lot of thought, I finally decided to give it to Verdandi.
He’s the only dagger user, and if the battle intensifies tomorrow, it’d be better to give Belldandy a trump card.
“It’s a blink dagger. Do you know how to write?”
“Wow, such a precious thing… !”
Verdandi immediately recognized what it was and looked surprised, but he did not refuse and politely accepted the dagger with both hands.
“Thank you very much Ash. I will write well.”
“what. You’re helping us, so we’re just taking care of it. Don’t be burdened.”
I took out another small pouch from my bosom and gave it to him.
“Oh, and these are sunflower seeds. I got some more.”
“Huh! Thank you so much!”
Somehow you seem to like this more than the SSR grade dagger.
Seeing Belldandi smiling and collecting sunflower seeds, I suddenly became curious.
I love it, but I’ve never seen him eat it. Do you save it and sometimes forget it?
Imagining Belldandi hiding in a corner and nibbling on sunflower seeds one by one, I hurriedly shook my head. you know how to eat
“Then see you tomorrow!”
As I waved my hand and stood in front of the teleport gate, Belldandy suddenly held out his hand.
“huh?”
What more do you want? No more sunflower seeds?
Seeing it suspiciously, Belldandy wiggled his fingers awkwardly.
“You taught me when we first met, didn’t you? When we greet each other, we shake hands like this… … .”
“ah… .”
Swallowing a laugh, I held Belldandy’s hand and said.
“okay. Please take good care of me again, Belldandi.”
“haha. yes. Good luck and see you tomorrow.”
I awkwardly waved my hand, then shyly let it go.
I left a last glance and threw myself into the teleport gate.
Flash-!
***
“… .”
The base camp where Ash disappeared.
Belldandi examined the objects in both hands alternately. It was the best equipment, a flashing dagger, and a pouch of sunflower seeds.
‘… You’re a good person, Ash.’
In addition, he promised to rescue his comrades who were captured by monsters. Although time is running out… … .
Belldandi wanted to believe in Ash.
He was one of the few good people I met while exploring this endless hellish dungeon. Belldandy squeezed his dagger and pocket tightly.
‘… Shall we go?’
After packing up, Belldandy set out for the base camp.
There was a separate space for her and the Holy Grail Expedition Party as their base.
After walking for a long time in the darkness of the dungeon, the place came out soon.
The space where the water supply connects between Districts 5 and 6. This is where water leaks from a broken pipe and seeps into the dug-out stone wall.
Nameless grasses and moss grew thickly around this narrow passage where rare clear water flowed.
Belldandi, an elf born and raised in a tree, was most comfortable in this dungeon, and the party made their living quarters here.
Returning to the empty shelter where all of his comrades had been kidnapped, Verdandy entered the hut, unpacked his belongings, and headed for a small dirt field next to the waterway.
Then, in the finely ground soil, he carefully planted the sunflower seeds he had obtained from Ash.
“… after.”
I emptied the contents of one pocket and wiped the sweat from my forehead with my soiled hands.
“Are you doing something in vain, elf?”
Suddenly, along with the sound of innocent laughter, a tickling voice was heard.
《To plant flower seeds in a dungeon here that does not receive even a handful of sunlight. Are you stupid?”
“-?!”
Surprised, Belldandy quickly pulled out the dagger and held it in his hand, then turned around.
softly.
How have you been hiding that insidious force for so long?
In the shadows on the other side of the aisle, an existence that scattered suffocating fraudulent spirits appeared gliding through the air.
It was a woman whose voluptuous body was exposed through the frayed monk’s attire.
Horns sprouting near the temples on both sides of her light pink hair that seemed out of this world. and the devil’s tail.
Belldandy gnashed his teeth, raised his dagger and called out his opponent’s name.
“Salome… !”
7th in the ranks of the Nightmare Corps Commander.
The eldest daughter of the dream demon.
The femme fatale succubus queen prostitute-
Salome, the leader of the Dream Demon Corps, narrowed her eyes and smiled. Her red eyes gleamed with a magical light.
“Ahaha. Nice to meet you too, honey.”
Belldandy glared at Salome with a puzzled look.
“How is this… ! I put several layers of cognitive reduction magic… … !”
“I teased one of your co-workers a little bit, and he recited it? You will be here.”
At those words, Belldandi’s eyes widened.
“What did you do to my colleague, a dreamer!”
“I’m still alive. Elf.”
Salome covered her mouth and giggled.
“But what? I don’t think it will last long. You’ve been locked in my ‘dream’ for quite some time. Maybe soon after the last stamina is gone, I’ll dry up and die?”
Right after that, Salome waved her index finger from side to side.
“Ah, I know all about you. I’m coming to the rescue with your new friends. What are you talking about?”
“… !”
“Do you really think you can do it? I don’t think you felt it when your party members were captured.”
Salome’s porcelain-white and beautiful face spread like cracks in ridicule.
《The power gap.》
“… .”
《Even the nameless of the world has attacked alone to save those who have been captured, but is defeated every time. It is unreasonable to rescue your comrades with your own power.”
Plague Corps. dream army. Werewolf Corps.
The commanders of the three corps were allied, and the party of the Holy Grail Exploration Party in Verdandi, which was swept away by them, had to be defeated helplessly.
Feeling the mighty power of the enemies, Verdandi couldn’t easily deny Salome’s words.
The prostitute said in a tone that was quite enjoyable.
“Above all, I am not an idiot. If you try to take my guests by force, I will destroy your dreams in no time. Then the mind that was watching the dream will collapse.》
“… .”
《You know? It’s just that I’m keeping it alive. When mercy ends, your comrades die. Or worse.”
“To me… What do you want?”
Belldandi asked in a voice that seemed to vomit blood. Salome’s eyes widened.
“You want something from me, so aren’t you threatening me like this? come on tell me What do you want?”
《It’s simple. The people you’ve been close to these days.”
Salome spat out her requirements succinctly.
《Hand it over to me.》
“What?”
“No no, I don’t need all of them. All you need is that human commander named Ash.”
A light blush appeared on Salome’s cheeks as she remembered her opponent.
“I am interested in him. The man who overthrew Orlob, Celendion, and now Lunared… … .”
“… .”
“At this point, it is absolutely not a coincidence. It’s inevitable. There is something about that human man.”
Right after that, Salome scowled like a child, her eyes twinkling.
“So please arrange a one-on-one meeting between me and that guy named Ash! is it possible huh? Please!”
“… how to meet Do you want me to seduce you?”
“Ahaha! of course? Is there anything else a succubus can do?” An
eerie shadow fell on Salome’s innocently laughing face.
“I’m going to drown myself in a dream, turn my mind into mush, figure out how they managed to do these things, and then kill me.” “
… .”
“Then the King of Kings will favor me very much. ‘Salome! Alleviating Jim’s worries! After all, you are the prettiest and smartest!’ while doing. Ahh, I want to be praised quickly~”
Belldandi, who was listening with his teeth clenched, trembled his eyes.
“… What if I decline your offer?”
《Rejection?》
A cruel smile crept across the prostitute’s lips.
《Can you refuse?》
“Kuh… .”
“Are you going to throw away the precious comrade who went through this hell together? I too have watched you and your comrades conduct endless exploration for over a hundred years. Do you think he doesn’t know your camaraderie?”
Yes. More than anyone else, the comrades who have been together for a hundred years in this hell are more important to Belldandi.
however… .
“… .”
Belldandy squeezed the flickering dagger in his hand. My eyes also went to the sunflower seeds planted in the flower bed.
Ash’s kind face flickered in front of his eyes, saying he would help without hesitation.
Salome snorted at Belldandi.
《I can’t believe you are attached to those humans too?》
“… .”
“That is such a funny story. Noble elf.”
Salome folded her long fingers one by one and continued.
“The reason you are wandering here is to find the treasure that will save your country. Why are you looking for that treasure? Isn’t it because your country was pushed back in the war with humans?》
“… !”
“Even though your country has already been destroyed by humans, and your race continues to live as slaves to humans? Do you want to take the side of humans even in this situation? Haha, that’s really stupid.”
Belldandy, who had been shaking his hands, spat out through clenched teeth.
“So you’re looking for the Holy Grail… … .”
《Hmm?》
“If we find the Holy Grail, we can raise the World Tree again, activate the ancient magic, and revive our kingdom… … !”
Salome covered her mouth and giggled.
《Shouldn’t we be hostile to humans anyway in the process?》
“… .”
“No matter what, humans are your enemies. And humans are also my enemies.”
The prostitute held up the pure white island island corn and swept her long neck.
“I am saying that I will kill your enemies instead. Wouldn’t it be enough to thank me instead?”
“… .”
Belldandi, who had been silent for a long time, asked with difficulty.
“… As long as you pass Ash.”
“Huh?”
“Then you’re talking about returning my comrade safely, right?”
“then. Of course not,”
Salome affirmed.
《This is the only way to save your fellow countrymen.》
“… .”
“The enemy of an enemy is an ally. In the face of our common enemy, humans, we are allies. Elves.”
Salome slowly reached out her hand and asked for a handshake with Verdandi.
Belldandi stared blankly at the white and beautiful hands of the nightmare corps commander.
The handshake he exchanged with the human commander who was helping him a moment ago… … crossed my mind
《How is it?》
Showing off a beautiful and deadly smile.
Salome asked in a whisper.
“Will you form an alliance with me?”