◈ 030. [Free Exploration] Dried drainage (3)
What came out of the box was a long sword with a jagged blade like a saw blade.
Taking out the weapon, I checked the detailed specifications.
[Rat Cutter (R) Lv.15]
– Classification: Long Sword
– Attack Power: 20-25
– Durability: 25/25
– Deals 25% additional damage when attacking rat-type monsters.
“Let’s catch the rat, let’s catch the rat!” – Which Sewer Manager”
Maybe it’s because I cleared a dungeon where rats appear, and the equipment is also related to rats.
‘This must be useful.’
I immediately handed the longsword to Lucas. It was a natural choice since he was the only character here to use a sword.
“Take Lucas.”
“thank you. majesty.”
Lucas was embarrassed to accept it.
“But I still have the sword I used to use… .”
Lucas’ originally used kendo R-grade equipment. This weapon was not good enough to be replaced with the original sword.
but.
“Leave it. I will have something to write about.”
The special options attached to this equipment are useful.
At my words, Lucas silently kicked a new sword at his waist. It seems to have two swords, even the existing sword.
Seeing that, I stretched my hand under the box. would there be one more?
“Here you are.”
I got something in my hand. Let’s take it out
[Summoning Scroll: Automatic Defense Turret < Player Skill >]
A magical blue glowing scroll.
“yes!”
I called for joy.
This is a guaranteed drop item in Area 1 of Exploration. Actually, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I came here to eat this.
“Your Highness, is that? Is it a magic scroll?”
Looking at the drawing in my hand, Lucas tilted his head. I quietly put the drawing into my bosom.
“You’ll find out soon what this is.”
I got all the rewards and there is no reason to stay here anymore.
“Okay let’s go!
I pointed to the back of the box. The door to the boss room was wide open.
“Hurray~!”
Lily, who welcomed me with open arms, was the first to drag the wheelchair out.
“Wait a minute, Lily! It’s dangerous, don’t go alone!”
Lucas and the rest of the party hurriedly followed, and I was the last to leave the boss room.
[Area 1: Dry Drainage]
– Clear progress: Normal room 3/3 Boss room 1/1
– Acquisition treasure chest: 2/2
Clear all.
Explored all rooms and found all treasure chests.
‘The achievement rate of the first exploration area is 100%!’
It’s a good start.
I moved lightly and walked along the corridor that led to the end of the sewer.
The narrow and shady road led to an open vacant lot.
[Second Area: Hidden Back Alley]
The second exploration area of the dungeon. Arrived at a hidden back alley.
From here, it is the inside of the ‘Lake Kingdom’ in earnest.
All the party members who came out of the sewer first stopped.
The party members were looking around with torches in their hands.
“What’s this… .”
Listening to Damian’s timid muttering, I also looked around.
‘It’s bustling.’
It was a very busy city street.
There were a lot of buildings that were almost as tall as those of Earth Seoul.
Under the far-flung skyscrapers, the roads were perfectly maintained and embroidered with beautiful patterns and decorations.
It was this much even though it was not on the main street or in a back alley.
A city built on a super-high level of magic civilization.
That is the identity of the Lake Kingdom, which is stranded here.
However, there is not a single light in this bustling city. Living beings are invisible.
It is just dead, motionless, immersed in endless darkness.
The back alleys of the city, which were paved with five-colored stone tiles, were also engulfed in darkness.
The only light was the light from a street lamp in one corner.
sigh sigh… … .
The faint sound of insects gnawing something echoed from all directions.
it’s the sound of darkness
“… .”
“… .”
Everyone in the party hurriedly raised their weapons as if they felt the presence of darkness.
“A base is a safe zone. Everyone, don’t be too nervous.”
After calming down the party members, I approached the lamppost.
A pile of stones familiar to the eye was installed next to a lamppost.
When I put my hand on the pile of stones, the stones spun around and rose up, eventually forming a teleport gate.
Tring!
[The base of ‘Second Area: Hidden Back Alley’ is connected!]
The teleport gate is connected.
And at the same time,
[You can’t proceed to the next area yet.]
The next area is not yet available.
I glanced at the other side of the dark alley. I had no intention of going any further today.
If you go, you will be eaten.
“Good job everyone. That’s all for today!”
I clapped and activated the teleport gate.
[Teleport Gate]
– Please select a destination.
> Manor House Backyard
> Lakeside Ferry
> Dried Drainage
> … .
I chose the backyard of the manor house.
The teleport gate activated and the magic door shone.
In front of the wide open road to the house, I smiled at the party members.
“Let’s go to work!”
***
[End of free exploration!]
[Level up character]
– Ash (EX) Lv.9 (↑1)
– Lily (R) Lv.20 (↑1) (1st job advancement is possible!)
– Damian ( N) Lv.21 (↑1)
[Obtained Equipment]
– < Long Sword > Rat Cutter (R)
[Obtained Item]
– Summon Scroll: Automatic Defense Turret < Player Skill >
– Dungeon Escape Teleport Scroll
***
Ash and the party left the spot.
A man slowly walked out of the darkness surrounding the ‘hidden back alley’ base.
It was a man wearing a black cone hat and dressed as a minstrel.
“… Are you the last player?”
Raising the gray flute in his hand, the man murmured softly.
“You’ve come this far after all.”
Beep-
The man lightly blew the flute and the darkness rippled.
Kirik Kirik… … .
Subsequently, countless bright red eyes spread like dominoes to the left and right of the man.
Thousands of eyes flashed in the darkness like the red Milky Way.
“Forgive us our sins.”
Surrounded by thousands of rats, the man lowered his head.
“Everything for the Lake Kingdom… … .”
***
It was late at night when I returned to Crossroads.
“and… .”
The exhausted Lily slipped on the wheelchair.
“Alive… I’m back… … .”
“You’ve worked hard, Lily.”
After patting Lily on the shoulder, I looked around at the other party members.
“Are you all having a hard day today and are very tired? Get some rest.”
“… I don’t know if I can rest.”
Jupiter put a cigarette in his mouth.
“To think that such a city is submerged under a lake. To think that such an enormous level of magical civilization was swallowed up in such darkness. I have no idea what the hell happened.”
“… .”
“Above all, the darkness.”
The old man’s fingertips trembled slightly.
“That darkness… It was obviously something ‘abnormal’.”
“… .”
“Do you have anything more to tell us, Your Highness?”
Everyone’s eyes were on me.
I hesitated for a moment, but shook my head quietly.
“Not now.”
Although I cleared the game to the end, it was not clear why the Lake Kingdom became like that in the game story.
Collecting clues like fragments scattered all over the place, I can only guess.
But this time I had a hunch.
I had a hunch that I would have to go into the center of the city and find out the whole truth.
So, I could only say this to the party members.
“Let’s get to know each other from now on.”
Jupiter smirked and lit a cigarette.
“I don’t think I’m going to sleep sober tonight. I’ll have a drink.”
“me too!”
Lily raised her hand.
“Come with me Sir Jupiter! I don’t think I can sleep well without being drunk.”
“It’s me, my dear. I will guide you to a good store.”
The two women teamed up and stormed off to town. I get along well.
“I will return to the temple.”
Damian gave me a soft smile.
“I’m a little scared just thinking about the darkness, but I think it’ll be a little better if I pray in the temple.”
“okay. Damian suffered. Go and get some rest.”
The party broke up.
All I did was punch the prince, but my whole body was also tired.
The dungeon was a place where just going back and forth gnawed at one’s mental strength and discharged one’s physical strength. egogo.
“Let’s go in too. You should get some rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lucas, who was returning to the mansion with me, asked me.
“By the way, Your Highness. Aren’t you going to the dungeon again?”
“huh? I won’t go until the next defense. why?”
Do you want to go to that scary place often? Well, if you can afford it, you can send a party to level and farm areas that have already been unlocked.
“Shouldn’t we find out what monster is coming next? Don’t we need to go scouting like last time?”
“Ah, that’s the story.”
Lucas was asking if there was a need to watch the monster army coming out of the lake like the last stage.
At that time, I went ahead and confirmed that the opponent was a living armor.
but.
“You already scouted.”
This time, the reconnaissance has already been completed.
I smiled at the puzzled Lucas.
“The monster army that will attack this time is the rat corps.”
“yes? ah… !”
A sigh escaped Lucas’ lips.
The monster corps are beings that ‘flow over’ from the source of the Lake Kingdom.
These overflowing monsters fill the free exploration area under the lake first, then swarm and overflow to the outside of the lake when it crosses the critical point.
It crawls out of the lake and into the city.
“The monsters you meet during free exploration are the army you have to deal with in the next defense battle.”
“I see.”
Although it is randomly determined each time. Anyway, if you visit the dungeon in advance, you can know the next enemy.
“For this defensive battle, you just have to prepare to deal with the rat monsters. Of course it won’t be easy… … .”
However, this time I have relatively little time.
Although the rats are terrible, they are easier than Living Armor.
‘It’ll be worth it.’
Trying to be optimistic, I burst open the mansion entrance.
“We are here! Have you prepared the rice and bath water, Ader!”
“Oh my gosh it’s the lord!”
Immediately, Ader burst out from inside the mansion.
“It’s a big deal, aigoo!”
Ader’s face is contemplative.
Surprised, I blinked my eyes.
I was expecting a hot meal and bath water, but I was surprised when the director suddenly screamed.
“What is it? Calm down and tell me.”
“There are no reinforcements!”
“… Eh?”
what is this sound?
Ader’s afterwords pierced my hardened ears.
“In the center as well as in neighboring cities! They say they can’t send any reinforcements!”
no, so why?
