Chapter 72

Three days later.

Evangeline's injuries had fully healed. The knightly lance and shield of the Cross family, which had hit rock bottom in durability, were also repaired.

Damien's eye was nearly recovered. I returned to him the SSR-ranked magic gun, Black Queen.

Only my left arm remained in a cast. I wish I could recover as swiftly as these sturdy folks.

[STAGE 4]

- Time until start: 7 days

With a week remaining until the start of the next stage.

I could rest a few more days to fully prepare for the free exploration, but the remaining days until the stage start were gradually pressing down on me.

I needed information on the next stage.

So, today, I decided to embark on free exploration.

I assembled the party, and all party members arrived at the mansion before noon. I looked over their faces.

Lucas, Evangeline, Jupiter, Damien.

Now adeptly armed, all members of my main party had gathered.

"I'm not sure if everyone has had a good rest these few days."

I grinned, making eye contact with each one.

"I'm sorry to be such a demanding boss, but it's time to deploy again."

"..."

However, for some reason,

Evangeline averted her gaze when she met mine. What was this?

"What's the matter, Evangeline? Do you have a complaint?"

"..."

As I approached her and asked, Evangeline continued to avoid my gaze, stepping back.

"No, it's just... I'm a bit embarrassed..."

"Huh?"

Why? What was she embarrassed about?

Because we're now in the same party? Because of the incident where we risked our lives fighting a golem? Or because she spilled everything about her parents to me?

"What is it? What's going on?"

"Never mind! Just move! Let's finish the briefing and set off."

Evangeline pushed me away, losing her temper.

I sighed at her unreasonable behavior. Damn, I need to understand the mind of this pubescent child.

And when I looked around, Damien also avoided my gaze. What's with him? Didn't his eyes heal?

"I... I also feel a bit awkward. Hehe..."

"What about you...?"

Damien did not answer, but scratched the back of his head. Was this because I visited him when he was sick? What is it? What's with you all?

"Ho ho ho."

Seeing us in such a state, Jupiter made a strange sound. I quickly turned my head.

"What is it, Jupiter? If you have something to say, speak up."

"No~ It's nothing. Hehe."

Jupiter covered her mouth and laughed with her eyes.

"What good will it do for an old woman to interfere in the affairs of young people?"

"Every day is a meddlesome life, and what..."

I sighed, then turned to the last party member.

"You're the only one who seems fine in this party, Lucas."

"Of course, my lord."

Lucas smirked.

"You can always rely on me."

Indeed, our main man we can trust. I heartily high-fived Lucas with an air of grandiosity. Smack!

"Alright, enough chit-chat! It's dungeon exploration time."

I clapped my hands to tidy up the mood and tied up the conversation.

"The free exploration area we are going to this time is the 'Outer Fortress, North Side' in Section 3. We will be exploring in a straight line above the northern wall of the Lake Kingdom."

I conjured up in my mind the Section 3 that I had explored many times in the game.

"There are no special gimmicks. The dungeon structure is just one long corridor. Just straightforwardly fight the monster spawns and advance."

Strength against strength.

Push forward by continually defeating the appearing monsters.

Among all the sections, Section 3 has one of the simplest setups.

"It shouldn't take too long. Let's aim to return before evening."

I looked around at my party members.

"Any questions?"

They all just quietly looked at me while checking their equipment.

I nodded my head emphatically.

"Alright, let's go!"

[Teleport Gate]

- Please select your destination.

> Lakeside Pier

> The Dried Sewer

> Hidden Alley

> Outer Fortress, North Side (New!)

After activating the teleport gate and opening the path to Outer Fortress, North Side, I was the first to jump in.

Flash-!

The now-familiar flash engulfed me.

***

[Now Loading...]

[Tip - You can re-explore areas you have already cleared. Try sending sub-parties to multiple areas for leveling up!]

Hey, don't you need to have sub-parties before you can send them, you damned tip message!

***

Upon passing through the teleport gate, the place I arrived was the safe zone in front of Section 3.

Whizz-

A tall watchtower on top of the castle wall. Here, overlooking the entire Lake Kingdom.

Gazing at the sprawling view of the Lake Kingdom, the party members all swallowed their dry saliva at once. I gestured toward the castle wall.

"Let's go straight."

As soon as I stepped on the wall after coming down from the watchtower.

Ding!

[Section 3: Outer Fortress, North Side]

- Clear Progress: Normal Room 0/1 Boss Room 0/1

- Acquired Treasure Chest: 0/2

Information about the exploration area popped up in the system window.

Compared to the previous dungeons, the layout was plain and simple. One regular monster room. One boss room. Just two chests.

'There are no special tricks, so it's straightforwardly tough.'

Depending on the type of monster that appears, there might be some variation, but this is a dungeon that demands a lot from your body.

As there is a long corridor in the form of a normal room, you have to push forward without rest. The monsters will pour out non-stop.

'So, what kind of monster horde is it this time...'

Before me, swallowing dryly, large stone statues made of rock flew and settled.

Kugugung-!

The huge stone statues that settled on both sides of the great wall all lit up their red eyes at once. I shouted out their name.

"Gargoyles!"

Sure enough, just as predicted, flying monsters emerged!

[Northern Outpost - Room 1]

- Eliminate all enemies!

- Lv.12 Stone Gargoyles: 8

Since this was a map where monsters continuously appeared, wave numbers were displayed.

"Alright, let's make this quick and clean! They'll keep coming, and the longer we take, the more we tire."

As the creatures appeared, all the party members prepared for battle.

Lucas lifted his longsword, Evangeline her cavalry lance and shield, and Damien his magic gun.

Jupiter also floated her magic crystal ball above her shoulder.

I pulled out a short magic wand from my pocket. This was my new piece of equipment, 'Maestro.'

Holding the Maestro out in front, I shouted.

"We break through at full speed!"

"Roger that!"

Our party of five immediately rushed forward.

***

There are two types of flying monsters that appear early in the game.

The first is the wyvern.

It's a monster often referred to as a flying dragon.

Despite having 'dragon' in its name, it's not a real dragon species, but rather something closer to a degraded form of a dragon.

It's not particularly intelligent, nor can it use the unique abilities of dragon species.

However, it still has some merit. Perhaps due to being direct descendants of dragons, their magic resistance is quite high.

The disappointment of having a party of carefully nurtured mages face a horde of wyverns...

Moreover, it spits out fireballs from its mouth as if to mimic a dragon. A flying monster with the ability to attack from a distance.

On the other hand, its physical defense is low.

If you're well equipped with anti-air weapons like bows and ballistae, you could manage to defeat them, although it would be a bit challenging.

Next, the second type of flying monster group.

The gargoyles we encountered in this stage.

These creatures have properties that are the exact opposite of wyverns.

As they are made of stone or metal, their physical defense is quite high. However, their magic defense is practically nonexistent.

Also, they don't have any ranged attack abilities. They only engage in melee combat with the weapons they hold.

While the frontline units hold them off, the rear-line mages and artifact users need to relentlessly attack to defeat them.

In other words,

"Indeed, it is the mage who is the flower of the battlefield! The crux of war! The rightful owner of the bonus salary, that's what I am!"

...Jupiter is showing off again.

Along with Jupiter's elated cry, lightning fell from the sky.

Flash-!

Boom! Boom...!

Every time a bolt of lightning struck the air, the gargoyles crashed down and shattered.

While the gargoyles were tough, Lucas and Evangeline could easily break them apart.

However, Jupiter's efficiency as an area-of-effect mage was on a completely different level.

While the two knights held back the charging gargoyles, Jupiter relentlessly unleashed lightning bolts, frying them to bits.

"Is this some sort of experience point event?"

'Well, I guess that's why I've spent so much money to level up a wizard.'

In this world, a wizard is no less than a strategic weapon.

It's definitely worth the high cost. I'm not too fond of the constant fuss, though.

"Um..."

At that moment, Damien, who had been restless because he had nothing to do, asked me in a low voice.

"Is there something I can help with, Prince...?"

"No. Don't worry about it, we should just take it easy."

You haven't fully recovered your eyesight, and my left arm hasn't completely healed yet.

"I hope we don't have to step in today."

That was my honest feeling. It's better to stay put if we don't have to intervene.

'After all, our party members currently in battle are two SSR-ranked knights and an SR-ranked wide-area wizard.'

Moreover, all of them have already undergone their second job changes.

It's an extravagant lineup for an exploration of the third sector.

"If we can hitch a ride, we, the injured ones, should just follow along comfortably."

"But still..."

Damien nervously fiddled with the fingers that held his magical gun.

I gave Damien a big grin.

"You are my last line of defense."

"...!"

"Don't rush. All you need to do is move according to my instructions when the time comes. You got it?"

Damien nodded heavily.

"Yes, Prince!"

Anyway, thanks to Jupiter's active performance, we successfully broke through the normal room.

She's a weird old lady, but her skills are definitely reliable.

After passing the ruins of gargoyle-like creatures that seemed likely to be in the hundreds, we followed the path that stretched along the fortress wall for quite a long time.

"We've arrived."

We arrived at the top of the fortress wall right above the north gate.

In front of us was a large metal door. If we go in there, we'll find the passageway that leads down to the main gate under the wall.

"Now, it's the boss room."

After a short maintenance break,

I opened the door to the boss room with a smirk.

"Let's try to clock out early today!"

Kuugugung-

The door opened with a heavy sound.

And inside the boss room...

[Outer Fortress, North Side - Boss Room]

- Defeat the boss!

- Lv.30 Gold Gargoyle

A massive gargoyle, clad in armor that shimmered as if made of gold, stood there.

"Oh..."

The Gold Gargoyle.

According to the game lore, it was a decoration in the royal palace of the Lake Kingdom, and its abilities are mediocre compared to other bosses... True to its expensive appearance, it drops a lot of items.

"Alright, let's feast on some delicious items! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

As soon as I shouted that out,

Tatat!

Jupiter suddenly spread her arms and started running towards the Gold Gargoyle.

"...?"

I blinked at Jupiter's sudden action.

Jupiter?

What are you doing now?