Chapter 114 : A Misunderstanding Would Be Fine
A Misunderstanding Would Be Fine
It was clear—I was screwed.
That was the conclusion I came to after much deliberation.
Yeah, I must have been screwed.
Just up ahead, medusa kept sending relentless "love calls" with her Petrifying gaze, and behind the statue, the petrification snake flicked its tongue and crept closer.
To make it worse, Barkal and Serena... Ah, damn, just looking at them made my head start to ache.
If I don't call this situation being screwed, then what else could I call it?
"What should we do in this situation?"
Miriam's uneasy voice rang out.
Yeah, what should we do?
― Master."
Chunsik's whisper reached my ears.
― Look over there."
Chunsik indicated the ceiling above where Medusa stood, using his eyes.
There, a giant stone pillar was lodged in place, and maybe due to the commotion, a slight fissure had formed in it.
― How about targeting that stone pillar on the ceiling?"
"That one, you mean?"
― Yes. If you bring it down, at the very least, you'll be able to stop Medusa's movements."
Just as Chunsik said, when I inspected the ceiling, the stone pillar had indeed been cracked.
If it fell, it could possibly damage Medusa. But, as Chunsik suggested, I hadn't overlooked that pillar without a reason.
"Barkal would be in danger."
The moment I dropped that, I could already predict what would happen next.
A petrified Barkal.
Given how close he was to Medusa, there was no doubt his body would suffer damage.
― Master's survival comes first."
Chunsik's voice was firm. Even so, I shook my head.
"That's not happening."
No matter how important my own life was, I couldn't run away here.
Not just me, Barkal and Serena would have done the same.
"It sounds like chaos inside. Is everything alright?"
While I was talking with Chunsik, a voice sounded from outside.
Other adventurers?
Just as I was thinking about getting help from them—
― If that's so, then let's call them in."
Chunsik's cold voice flew in.
― Just act normal and bring them inside. Then, those adventurers will become your shield."
A cruel plan. To be honest, if you asked me if I couldn't consider it—I could.
But since Chunsik had said it out loud, it made it harder to go through with it.
Why?
Because I'd feel like total human trash.
"This corridor is dangerous! The dungeon master is here! If you meet her gaze, you'll turn to stone!"
If I involved other adventurers, maybe I could get out alive.
But everything that happened here was the "Dungeon God" adventurer party's fault.
I wanted to handle it myself. Barkal and Serena wouldn't want anyone else hurt because of them either.
Hmm.
Except maybe Barkal.
― Master......"
Chunsik looked at me. Even with his wolf head, I could read the emotion in his eyes as he frowned.
― I am moved."
Turns out I was wrong. I just couldn't read his emotions because of the wolf-head, but the guy was actually crying.
― Truly, the heart of a knight... Of all the necro—mmph!"
Were you seriously about to blurt out "necromancer"? With Miriam right next to us? Keep it together, you idiot.
"Wait!"
As I clamped a hand over Chunsik's mouth and scrambled for ideas, another voice came from outside.
"You, you're not the 'Dungeon God' adventurer party, are you?"
An agitated voice. I could feel a dangerous, fierce air about it.
Why? Because I'd scammed these adventurers more than once.
Just recently, I'd even hoarded all the Petrification Antidote Potions.
"Looks like the dungeon master got them?"
"Could it be... the other members have all been petrified?"
That made me nervous. What if, out of spite, they came in and tried to hurt us?
"Here's the 'Dungeon God' adventurer party! Right here!"
"They look like they're in danger."
"Then this is actually our chance!"
Their words from outside only made my anxiety mount.
What if they came in and beat me up for real, just because I'd hoarded supplies? I shivered at the thought.
"The dungeon master's inside, right?!"
"We'll help you!"
"Hang on! Dungeon God!"
But the voices outside were not what I'd expected.
It was as if they were truly trying to save us from a crisis.
Ffwiiiiiit!
As I wondered about that, something sliced through the air and flew into the corridor.
I couldn't see it clearly, but it was an arrow—wreathed in thick smoke.
As it passed, the corridor quickly filled with dense smoke.
"Cough, cough...!"
What is this smoke?
My eyes sting terribly.
I couldn't even open my eyes properly.
In that time, I felt people moving around me.
"Dungeon God!"
Squinting through the burning in my eyes, I barely made out a familiar face.
The adventurer I'd scammed inside the dungeon with the "Petrification Antidote Potion"—Adventurer A.
"Follow me! With all this smoke, the dungeon master won't be able to see us!"
And I could sense others entering as well.
Did they actually figure this out the moment they heard contact with her gaze was fatal?
More than that—you all.
Why would you risk something so dangerous?
"My comrades are still inside!"
The desire to rush out overwhelmed me, but saving the petrified two came first.
Upon hearing me, the adventurer made a troubled expression.
Damn it, guess I have no choice.
"Miriam! Carry Serena and get her out of here!"
I shouted to Miriam. I couldn't see her, but at least my voice might reach her.
Serena had even arched her body to make it easier to move her.
"Seriously, I can't believe all the stuff I'm doing now!"
A gruff voice came from beyond the smoke. Judging from the sounds of scuffling, it seemed Miriam had slung Serena over her shoulder.
I plunged straight through the smoke ahead.
I knew the area well enough—it was easy to find the petrified Barkal.
"Tsk...!"
But the sight of stone Barkal left me at a loss.
He looked like a hero's statue, bravely raising his weapon forward.
Barkal, you bastard!
Just like Serena said, couldn't you have arched your back or something?
Thanks to the "skeleton exoskeleton", lifting Barkal wasn't too hard. The real worry was that if I picked him up like this, part of him might break off.
If only there were two people, we could move him safely.
"Is your comrade here!?"
Just then, adventurer A, the one I'd spoken to before, appeared through the smoke.
You actually made it in here?
I didn't even know your name... but thank you!
"I'll lift this side, you take that one!"
"Got it!"
Adventurer A and I hoisted Barkal from both sides. After that, we rushed for the entrance to escape.
The smoke was still thick—enough to shroud Medusa's gaze.
But that was only a matter of time. It was visibly thinning by the moment.
Shhhh—
In the smoke, I could hear the hiss of a snake slithering. Medusa was on the move.
"Cough, cough...!"
Luckily, we managed to escape the corridor before Medusa could close the distance.
The stinging in my eyes gradually faded. When I turned around, I saw Adventurer A.
"Are you alright?"
Adventurer A was worried about me. Seeing his face, I became curious.
"Why did you help us?"
I'd told him the dungeon master was inside, and warned of the dangers.
Why would he risk his life to help us?
"Your own life comes first. There's no need to throw it away."
The adventurer grinned.
"But you guys helped us first, didn't you?"
Helped them first?
All I'd done was scam them out of "Petrification Antidote Potions."
"You gave us the Petrification Antidote Potion. Sure, it was a consumable you probably needed more than us."
"We owe you too!"
"Yeah, us too!"
"If you hadn't given us the Petrification Antidote Potion, most of us would be statues by now."
The other adventurers chimed in one by one.
So these guys...
They think we sold off our only Petrification Antidote Potion to help them.
"No matter how much you prioritize yourself, an adventurer repays their debts."
"If someone saves your life, you repay them in kind. That's basic, isn't it?"
I'm sorry, guys.
The Petrification Antidote Potion I sold you...
I charged you double. I just wanted to turn a profit.
"Those are words of truth, brothers."
The words caught in my throat, but I just couldn't tell them.
Yeah, let's not say anything. It's probably better for everyone.
Shhhh—
While I was caught up in my regrets, a massive snake erupted from the corridor we'd just escaped.
It was the dungeon master—Medusa.
"She's here!"
"Don't look at her eyes! Be careful! That snake woman's gaze is dangerous!"
Recalling my earlier warning, the adventurers quickly scattered, avoiding Medusa's line of sight.
But outside the corridor was a wide-open area. It was all but impossible to find a safe hiding spot.
All we had were the ruins of broken statues or shattered columns. Even if we hid there, it wouldn't take long for Medusa to catch us.
That's when it happened.
A shadow began to fall over Medusa's head, just as she emerged outside.
Before anyone could figure out what it was, the shadow fell like lightning, piercing Medusa's eye.
SPLAAAASH──!
A scream tore from Medusa, as if her head would split.
The thing that had come crashing down like lightning was a person, sword in hand.
The platinum-ranked adventurer party, "Golden Wind."
And that party's commander, leonhart.
He had stabbed Medusa in the eye with his sword.
That was definitely platinum rank for you. That's what I thought as I took in the scene.
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