Chapter 2-8 : The Girl Challenges The Floor Boss
Elle and the others were making their way through the dark branching passageways while collecting valuable items from the treasure chests and defeating slimes on their way.
「So many adventurers went in, but we haven’t encountered any of them.」(Elle)
「Well, that’s just how big this dungeon is.」(Ingrid)
「I wonder how big exactly.」(Elle)
「No one knows.」(Ingrid)
Another slime appeared, but Prox immediately killed it with a fireball without breaking a sweat. The little dragon had gotten used to fighting in just a short amount of time.
「Good job, Prox.」(Elle)
「Gyau~ (Easy peasy~)」(Prox)
After extracting the thickening agent from the dead slime, they continued.
With unwavering steps, Ingrid led the group toward a big door ahead.
「See that door? That’s the room where the first-floor boss resides.」(Ingrid)
「Boss?」(Elle)
「Yeah, the most powerful monster on the floor. Each floor has at least one.」(Ingrid)
「I see. You’ve fought them before, right?」(Elle)
「Many times. The first-floor boss is a giant slime. It’s not that different from regular slimes, but you might be surprised by its size.」(Ingrid)
「Do we have to fight it?」(Elle)
「To proceed to the next floor, yes, you have to defeat it. That’s the difficult part of conquering The Great Labyrinth.」(Ingrid)
「Sounds tough.」(Elle)
「Well, let’s not push ourselves too hard. We can retreat if it’s too dangerous.」(Ingrid)
「Alright. Let’s proceed carefully.」(Elle)
They approached the door and stood in front of it.
「No trap, but I feel something powerful inside.」(Yoyo)
「That must be the boss. Everyone, are you ready?」(Ingrid)
Now that Yoyo had confirmed there was no trap, Ingrid confidently put her hands on the door.
「I’m ready.」(Elle)
「Gyau! (Anytime!)」(Prox)
『Always ready!』(Flamberge)
「*Nod*」(Yoyo)
「Fufu. We’re not in sync, are we?」(Ingrid)
Ingrid chuckled seeing the others being out of sync when replying to her.
Confirming that everyone was ready, Ingrid pushed the door.
「Wow…」(Elle)
The room was larger than Elle expected. It had a high ceiling and pillars and was bigger than the entrance hall managed by the guild.
The boss room was completely different from the dark cave-like passageways outside. It was bright and had the floor and walls made of white marble.
In the center of the room, there was a sleeping giant slime. It should be the boss. Howeverー
「WhーWhat the hell is that!?」(Ingrid)
Ingrid suddenly cried out when she saw it.
「What’s wrong?」(Elle)
「The boss is different. How come?」(Ingrid)
「Hm? But it’s a giant slime, as you said.」(Elle)
「Yeah, but it shouldn’t look like this. I’ve never seen a slime that color before!」(Ingrid)
Ingrid had fought the giant slime in that room many times, and it had the same color as regular slimes. However, the one before them had a sparkling gold color.
「A giant golden slime? Seriously!?」(Ingrid)
「So, it’s not supposed to look like that?」(Elle)
「Yeah. It’s rarely seen, but I think it’s a unique monster.」(Ingrid)
「What’s so unique about them?」(Elle)
「They’re extraordinarily rare and different from regular monsters. Of course, they’re much stronger too.」(Ingrid)
「Rare… Could it be…」(Elle)
Listening to Ingrid’s explanation, Elle suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine. She hugged herself and frowned.
「Ingrid, are the monsters here also managed by the Master of the Great Labyrinth?」(Elle)
「According to the rumor, it seems so. They spawn all the treasure chests and the monsters here.」(Ingrid)
「…..」(Elle)
Seeing Elle musing, Ingrid asked.
「Do you have something in mind?」(Ingrid)
「You had never encountered this unique boss before, right? Do you think… It appeared because of me?」(Elle)
「What do you mean?」(Ingrid)
「All the valuable items we found from the treasure chests… and now this unique boss monster… Ingrid, do you think it’s all just coincidence?」(Elle)
「Hmm, now that I think about it. It’s indeed odd.」(Ingrid)
「Right? I’m not so sure, but I think that mysterious master has been watching me.」(Elle)
「What?」(Ingrid)
Yoyo said Elle was a lucky girl, but she didn’t think so. She thought if she were really lucky, she wouldn’t have lost her father and had her home burned by the villagers.
She felt like her encounters with the treasure chests and the unique boss monster were not because she was lucky but because of the dungeon master’s doing.
「Elle, do you know who the master is?」(Ingrid)
「No…」(Elle)
「Hmm… You don’t know them, but perhaps they know you.」(Ingrid)
「I don’t know.」(Elle)
「Oi, oi! That’s enough chatter! It notices us!」(Yoyo)
While Elle was wondering who exactly the mysterious dungeon master was, Yoyo suddenly felt malice coming from the giant slime. It seemed to have noticed their presence.
「It’s coming!」(Yoyo)
Despite its giant jelly-like body, it moved quickly toward the group and extended sharp spikes out of its body toward them.
「ー!!」(Ingrid)
Ingrid swiftly hugged Elle with her arm and picked Yoyo up with her other hand and jumped to the side, avoiding the spikes. Meanwhile, Prox and Flamberge flew toward the ceiling.
「Thank you, Ingrid!」(Elle)
「It’s faster than I thought.」(Ingrid)
「This bastard’s trying to skewer us!」(Yoyo)
『I’ll skewer it first! Leave it to me, Senpai! HAAAAA!!』(Flamberge)
Right after dodging, Flamberge flew toward the giant slime, trying to stab it. Howeverー
ーCLANG!!
『What!?』(Flamberge)
Upon hitting the slime, a metallic sound was heard, and Flamberge was bounced off into the air.
『What the hell is that thing!? It’s freaking hard! A slime can’t be as hard as metal, right!?』(Flamberge)
「No way! It can harden its body!」(Ingrid)
The giant golden slime seemed to have a special ability. It was fluid and gooey when it was moving, but when it felt threatened, it would harden its body as solid as metal.
「As expected from a unique monster. What a troublesome enemy!」(Ingrid)
「Ingrid, if it has a metallic body, that meansー」(Elle)
「Fire it is!」(Ingrid)
「Gyau! (Fire!)」(Prox)
Ingrid took out a fire arrow and shot it. At the same time, Prox also shot a fireball at the slime.
They hit it, but it was unharmed, as if their attacks didn’t inflict any damage at all.
「Oi, oi, seriously!?」(Ingrid)
「Ingrid, I think its body is not just ordinary metal. I think it’s gold.」(Elle)
「Gold? That explains why it’s golden.」(Ingrid)
「If I’m not mistaken, the melting point of gold is about 1000 degrees Celsius. Normal flame won’t do much damage.」(Elle)
「So my arrows won’t work, huh? Dammit! Looks like he’s our only hope.」(Ingrid)
「Yeah.」(Elle)
Elle stretched her arm up toward Flamberge, who was floating near the ceiling, and spread her fingers.
「Flamberge, come!」(Elle)
『Yes, my princess!』(Flamberge)
Immediately, Flamberge descended quickly and rested his hilt against Elle’s palm. Elle then held him firmly.
『I can unleash my flame now, right? Right!?』(Flamberge)
「Yeah, but wait for my signal.」(Ingrid)
Flamberge was so excited to be able to unleash his powerful move again.
「Elle, Flamberge, you two will be the one finishing it off. Prox and I will create an opening for you. Yoyo, you… You cheer for us.」(Ingrid)
「Ou… Good luck, guys!」(Yoyo)
Aware that his telekinetic ability wouldn’t do much in this fight, Yoyo moved away and hid behind a pillar.
「Alright, let’s do it!」(Ingrid)
「Un!」(Elle)
「Gyau!」(Prox)
『Let’s kill this big guy!』(Flamberge)
First, to distract its attention, Ingrid ran toward the left side of the giant slime and shot several flame arrows and explosive arrows at it. At the same time, Prox flew toward the other side and shot fireballs.
The slime extended spikes to both sides toward Ingrid and Prox, but they dodged them elegantly.
While the enemy was focusing on the twoー
『Elle, now! Give me your mana!』(Flamberge)
「Un! Lend me your power, Flamberge!」(Elle)
Elle held Flamberge forward with both hands and injected him with her mana.
『Uwoooooooooooghhh!! Feel my fire! Crimson Emperor : SEARING FLAME!!!』(Flamberge)
ーBWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSHHH!!!
The scorching, twirling flame came out of Flameberge’s glowing blade and extended toward the slime.
Feeling the danger, the giant slime tried to dodge. Howeverー
「I won’t let you!」(Ingrid)
「Gyau! (Die!)」(Prox)
Ingrid and Prox continuously attacked it with fire from both sides, preventing it from moving. It didn’t have a choice but to harden itself as solid as possible and receive the flame head-on.
CSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHー
However, Flamberge’s flame easily exceeded 1000 degrees Celsius. It was so hot that the hardened golden giant slime started to melt.
It took less than a minute for the flame to turn the enemy into golden liquid that covered half of the room floor.
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