Episode 46. Master of the Jungle
The topography of the tower changes depending on the type of person who is the owner of the ordeal.
If the goblin den that I saw while climbing up to the 10th floor was a ‘cave’.
The scenery that unfolds before us after the 11th floor is a ‘jungle’.
“Whoa!”
Rox spread his arms and took a deep breath.
He tapped the dirt on the ground with his toe as if he couldn’t believe the dense forest spreading out before his eyes.
“It’s a complete forest?”
“I told you. “From here, a vast jungle opens up.”
“no… … How can there be a place like this inside the tower? “It doesn’t look that big from the outside!”
It is difficult for those who have not come this far to understand the words of someone with tower experience.
Because the tower seen from the outside does not have an area so large that the word ‘jungle’ is used for one floor. But if you experience it yourself, you will know what it means.
“It’s a different space.”
“Another space?”
“I’ll leave the explanation later. “You might get lost from here, so make sure you follow along.”
“Oh, yes.”
I quietly drew my sword and answered.
“Do you remember what I said before you came in?”
“Like what.”
“When the devil appears, turn everything into marionettes.”
“Oh, don’t worry. That’s not even a problem. But is there a devil here?”
“many. “Innumerable times.”
Rox asked, quickly scanning the surroundings.
“Hmm, this is the first time I’ve heard of a devil living in the forest.”
“I guess so. “Because there are not many people who know their identities.”
“okay?”
“Well, most of those who found out died. “The survivors don’t think they are evil.”
“… … I have no idea what you’re talking about. Well, are you going to tell me to experience it this time too?”
I nodded briefly.
Rox shrugged his shoulders as if he understood and walked ahead.
Turf, plod, trudge.
Cynthia and her party members followed behind us, looking very nervous.
So we started exploring the jungle, and after walking for a while, darkness fell in the forest.
From somewhere, the soil began to become moist. At the same time, we felt a presence following us not far away.
Everyone noticed this and began to be alert to their surroundings without any explanation.
“Verdin, it looks like someone is nearby.”
The first person to speak was Cynthia.
“That’s right, he’s been following us ever since we entered the tower.”
“I didn’t feel it at the time.”
“Because only a few people kept their distance and moved carefully.”
“… … So are you saying that there are many people chasing us now?”
“yes. “There must be at least a hundred or more.”
“You know, but you ignore it?”
“Yes, because if we move first, we won’t be able to bring out the ‘devil’ guy.”
Everyone was so nervous that we didn’t notice, but the enemy was still near us.
One in particular chased us through the ground, so close that it came and went right next to my feet.
I focused a small amount of aura on my palm and spoke to Rox.
“The devil has come.”
“already?”
“So, you remember the operation, right?”
“then. All I have to do is hide behind you and catch those who run away.”
“that’s right. You can’t miss a single one. “If you fail, you have to wait until tomorrow again, so don’t make a mistake.”
“okay.”
The purpose of our coming to the tower today is not to climb.
Simply to solve the S-class request received from the Adventurer’s Coffin and to unlock new hidden pieces in the subsequent climb.
Coo coo coo coo coo.
The ground shook.
The light began to fade, as if the torch Rox was holding was being swallowed up by darkness.
At the same time, Cynthia chanted a holy spell and enchanted Judah and Alfredo’s weapons.
Easy profit!
Judah’s blade and Alfredo’s knuckles emit white light.
They looked around, ready to engage in battle at any moment.
I spoke to them as I placed the aura I had focused on in my hand on the ground.
“Your mission is to survive. “Do not try to defeat the enemy, but go into battle with the mindset of protecting yourself.”
With these words, the auror exploded.
bang!
The ground cracked like a spider’s web, and dog-sized ants began pouring out from the cracks.
Although they are the smallest of the monsters you will encounter in the future, they are powerful enough to be said to be on a different level from the monsters you have encountered so far.
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Jaws as hard as steel and teeth sharp enough to crush rocks.
And once stung, it had a strong paralyzing sting that made it difficult to use one’s arms and legs for more than half a day, so it was a powerful enemy that adventurers visiting the jungle could never ignore.
-Keeeeeeek!
The ants rushed in, making strange noises.
“Come, my jungle devil.”
* * *
Monkle, who arrived a little late, found the tallest tree in the jungle and climbed it.
He knows the way to the next floor, but the purpose of coming here this time is to monitor Verdin and the others.
“Where did you think you went?”
Monkle took out a small telescope from his pocket and scanned the forest.
No matter how wide the jungle was, the number of adventurers wandering the 11th floor was extremely small.
“found!”
It didn’t take long for him to find Verdin and his group.
Not only did it emit a flash of light in the dark forest, but it was also powerful enough to be felt from a distance that would not have been visible without a telescope, allowing the direction to be determined.
“… … “Is it dangerous?”
Monkl frowned.
The Verdin group visible through his telescope was in danger.
Countless ant monsters surrounded them.
The monsters here are not the common monsters seen outside the tower, but mutants called ‘mutants’ who have been strengthened by receiving special powers from those called apostles.
The ant you see now has a similar level of power to those classified as ‘intermediate monsters’ outside the tower.
If you let your guard down just by looking at the outside, you will be defeated in an instant.
Monkle was worried.
‘Should I help you?’
It’s been so long since I went up to the 11th floor that I got caught by a troop of mutant Ents.
‘damn.’
If I step forward now, I will be able to escape from the enemy.
But those guys don’t experience the crisis here.
If this incident becomes known in the future, Lois, the head of the family, may punish him.
They say the opportunity for growth was taken away.
-Hahaha!
The black-haired old man wearing a black uniform who followed Monkl chuckled, stroking his beard.
“Well, I heard there were some great guys, so I came to see them and they looked like they were already dead?”
“That’s right. “I heard through the grapevine that he was a very talented person.”
“Is that little boy really Lois’ son?”
“Yes, I once received a call and went to my parents’ home. “At that time, I saw him sitting next to the head of the family.”
Monkle stopped talking for a moment and took a long breath to gather his energy.
He continued speaking while grasping the handle of the sword strapped to his waist.
“That was when Gunther and Hysteria were alive… … “I couldn’t talk to him because I was in a hurry.”
The black-haired old man nodded slightly.
“Well, Lois, Gunther, and Hysteria. “I can’t help but feel nervous because there are three monster-like guys next to me.”
“There were four.”
“four?”
“Yes, Valentine was there too.”
When Valentine’s name was mentioned, the old man was startled and his pupils trembled widely.
“Did she show her face? “I heard you don’t go to the castle when you have Gunther and hysteria.”
“I was very surprised that I also had a sister. I heard that when the older brothers are around, the head of the family doesn’t come even if they call him directly. “You came to the castle for an absurd reason?”
“What nonsense?”
“I heard you came to see your youngest brother.”
“what? “My younger brother?”
“yes.”
The black-haired old man clicked his tongue.
“Are you kidding me? Jeokhyojo, who is called a ghost, came all the way from the west to the south just to see his younger brother?
“… … I also didn’t hear it directly from Valentine. “I heard it from the butler, so it may not be true.”
Monkle scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression. Even if he thought about it, it was a story that made no sense.
Red Hyojo Valentine, she is so dangerous that she is called the Shinigami in the West, but she barely moves to meet her younger brother?
-Hahaha!
The black-haired old man could not hide his laughter.
He thought that the story he heard just a moment ago was a rumor going around Strange Castle.
No matter how scary Valentine is, she is still a woman, and this is to create a soft image in case there is a future engagement.
bang!
A loud noise was heard.
Monkle and the black-haired old man’s eyes simultaneously turned to where Verdin was.
There, Verdin, who had thrown off his cloak, was dealing with ants, freely swinging a sword longer than his height.
“Mo, Baron Monkle. “Maybe my eyes are wrong?”
The two could not hide their surprise at the battle between Verdin and the mutant Ents.
Of course, I thought that it wouldn’t be long before I was defeated, ran away, or died.
“… … no.”
Monkle sighed.
Is this really a human battle?
How can you not be surprised when you cut down fifteen mutant Ents as hard as steel at the same time, as if cutting through water?
“How old did you say he was?”
“Eight.”
“eight? “So you’re saying you haven’t graduated from the academy yet?”
“yes.”
The black-haired old man couldn’t help but be impressed by Verdin’s swordsmanship.
Since he has Strange’s name, I naturally thought he would show a high level of swordsmanship.
‘Amazing.’
This movement looked like dancers dancing to show beautiful lines, rather than swinging a sword to cut down an enemy.
‘beautiful.’
How much effort does it take to reach that level? No, that is an area of talent that cannot be reached through effort alone.
A transcendent talent that surpassed human limitations that he had never seen before in his life of over a hundred years.
“Do you still want to fight Verdin?”
Monkle asked cautiously.
The black-haired old man immediately shook his head and answered.
“no.”
“Because you think you’ll lose?”
“Me to that kid? Haha, that can’t be possible! just… … “I don’t want to pick a flower that hasn’t bloomed yet.”
“A flower that failed to bloom?”
“Yes, I think you can enjoy a more interesting game if you become a little more mature like that. “Do you really need to touch it now?”
“Are you saying you’re waiting for Dean to get stronger?”
“yes. “If you’re that talented, I don’t think it will take long.”
Monkl answered with a small smile.
“Well, you said the same thing when you challenged Sister Valentine.”
“Well, that bitch is an exception. “No matter who challenges you now, you can’t win, right?”
“I guess so. Anyway, what would you do? “I think the battle will end soon.”
“I’m just going back now. “You can finish it yourself.”
“When can I call you again?”
“Tell me when he reaches the 20th floor.”
“20th floor? “Then you will have to wait at least a year.”
“Why wait? “Because that guy is worth that much.”
This is how the two ended their conversation.
The black-haired old man leaves.
Monkle watched the battle of Verdin and his party from the tree until the end.
‘It’s a flower that never bloomed.’
So how strong can Dean become when the flowers bloom?
“It’s this strong.”
Coo coo coo coo coo.
The ground shook greatly.
Birds sitting on trees flew up to a distance away from where the battle was taking place.
Tweet Tweet!
Monkl sensed a life that he had never felt before in the jungle. He hid himself unconsciously from an unknown fear.
‘… … Run away, Verdin.’
That guy came.
fantasy,
