Chapter 331
In FBO, Boldrinde's combat style could be described as a party battle with numerous retainers.
"So, they're making their last stand in the deepest part of the underground ruins?""Yes. The non-combatants they brought with them—maids, butlers, and other attendants—have already been secured. Most of the resisting knights and covert operatives have been defeated.""Zero knights or operatives captured? Their loyalty is frighteningly high.""And you're the one saying that? I believe Lord Genjiro and his men are already in a similar league."
I pretended not to hear Bogle's comment about Genjiro's group and focused on carefully examining the hand-drawn map of the ruins.
I remember the structural patterns of the ruins where the randomly generated Azhdaha was sealed in the game. It seems we've encountered one of the more troublesome types this time. It's a structure ideal for siege defense, easy to trap and defend, but difficult to assault.
It's a space where Boldrinde's debuffs and dark magic can shine.
However, even for Boldrinde, the fortress is on the verge of falling, and his chances of victory are nearly zero.
Since he isn't the type to cling to slim hopes, he's probably pouring all his energy into reviving Azhdaha.
"If he manages to revive Azhdaha now, it'll be a hassle. I think it's about time we stepped in.""My apologies for our inadequacy. We leave it to you."
The entire point of this operation was to delay Azhdaha's revival until a time more advantageous for us. We can't have Boldrinde reviving it on his own schedule.
The enemy forces within the ruins are mostly cleared, and the traps are disarmed. It's the perfect time for our top fighters to make an appearance.
"Claudia, have the after-effects subsided?""Yes, I can't use Heavenly Fist yet, but normal combat is fine.""Ingrid, has the recast time for Perfect Clean passed?""Yes, it is ready for use at any time.""Lady Esmeralda, how is your mana?""Fully restored. I've replenished my potions as well.""Nell, you're good on the budget calculations?""Yep, I know exactly how much we can spend!"
Ideally, I'd want to wait for Claudia's Heavenly Fist cooldown, but I have a bad feeling, so it's time to move.
Aside from the Heavenly Fist cooldown, we're in perfect condition. I informed Bogle and led the party into the ruins.
"It's quite spacious in here.""It also appears to be a ruin designed with combat in mind. I've heard that buildings with intricate, maze-like layouts are common in architecture meant for repelling invaders, and this closely resembles that."
Battle scars were everywhere—walls and floors stained a reddish-black, a metallic smell of blood, and objects being carried out by knights under cloth covers—all evidence of the fierce fighting that had taken place.
Claudia was impressed by the unexpectedly vast interior, while Lady Esmeralda admired the ruin's combat-oriented design from an architectural perspective. Listening to them, we cautiously advanced deeper.
Knights stood guard along the route, checking for remaining enemies, so we encountered no resistance.
Finally, we reached the depths of the ruin, the only place where sounds of battle could be heard.
"Curse you!! Skulking and attacking from the depths! Fight with honor!!"
Simultaneously, Genjiro's furious shouts echoed, making it clear they were stuck and unable to progress further.
"Seems they're having trouble.""My Lord!? My deepest apologies. The enemy is proving more capable than anticipated, and we have yet to find a way to breach their defenses.""It's fine. I knew this spot would be the final hurdle based on the ruin's layout.""Understood!"
Seeing my arrival, Genjiro bowed his head, feeling responsible for the stalled progress. However, breaching this point requires a specific trick. I believe Genjiro's judgment to proceed cautiously, aiming to conquer it without casualties from a frontal assault, was correct.
"So, Boldrinde's setup is a labyrinth created by a barrier, combined with debuff application. The basic combat pattern is ambushes from hidden enemies. They're not the type to come out; they use small windows in hidden passages within the maze for long-range attacks with bows or magic. The walls are reinforced by the barrier, so they can't be easily destroyed, and attempting to force your way through risks collapsing the entire underground ruin."
Passing by Genjiro, I peered into the stalled area. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary hall.
But upon closer inspection, I could faintly see the shimmer of an almost invisible barrier wall. The maze seemed to be constructed from these barrier walls. The fact that you could barely perceive these wall-like structures if you stared hard enough was particularly annoying.
This tricky, barely-visible coloration was a nuisance in itself. The enemy likely attacks through holes in the walls with arrows or magic the moment you focus on trying to see the barrier, creating an opening.
"Pressure plate traps on the floor, invisible wire traps using magic wire, and as a last resort, spears dropping from the ceiling to impale anyone below..."
On top of that, the place was riddled with traps, making it difficult to advance through here. Gently reaching a hand into the hall, I also felt a slight sensation of my mana being drained.
"Mana drain debuff, and others... an oxygen depletion debuff? Since this isn't a status ailment, the knights' resistance is useless. Add in odorless poison mist, and... wow, a debuff that reduces the friction coefficient of the floor? Just because physical damage is less effective on us doesn't mean you have to be this murderous."
Recognizing the debuff trap magic placed in this space, I deduced from the method that Boldrinde himself had set them up. A truly vicious collection of debuffs.
The placement, considering what's hardest to deal with, follows the original source material, I see.
"I suppose they've taken countermeasures against tunneling for their main stronghold, after all."
Breaching this dead-spot area would require immense effort, to say the least. Thinking we could just dig a side tunnel like before, I knocked on the wall and felt a hard, non-rock-like sensation.
"Likely a defensive barrier adapted from Azhdaha's seal.""If we break it, Azhdaha might revive and cause a major problem, correct?"
The barrier enclosing this critical area also doubles as part of Azhdaha's seal, meaning we can't break it from our side. Digging a tunnel and accidentally breaking the barrier, leading to Azhdaha's seal breaking and its revival... that's no joking matter.
Lady Esmeralda, who studies magic diligently, is knowledgeable about this sort of thing. Judging from her gently touching the wall and examining it, she's probably probing the barrier's nature.
Come to think of it, in FBO, there was a technique to investigate barriers by channeling mana, not using a skill. Players considered it an extra-skill, but it was concluded to be useless in combat.
"If I recall correctly..."
Even so, it's handy for analysis and exploration, so I remember it. I followed Lady Esmeralda's lead. In the game, they described it as a sensation of spreading mana thinly and widely. Back when I was Japanese, I'd think, "How am I supposed to understand that!?" while angrily using it, imagining consuming MP in the game.
"Hmm... As I thought, it's linked to Azhdaha's seal. That means we can't break it."
Placing my hand on the wall, I tried interfering with the barrier, this time truly visualizing channeling mana. The sensation confirmed it was a barrier type designed to suppress and contain something inside.
I had held a faint hope that it might be a barrier unrelated to Azhdaha's seal, but things are never that convenient.
"In that case, we have no choice but to break through this hall."
Reaching the conclusion that a frontal assault is our only option, the problem becomes how to deal with this trap zone and the covert operatives peeking out from within it.
"One option is to sweep it clean with Ingrid's Perfect Clean, but there's a risk of wiping out the barrier along with everything else, so let's table that for now."
It's not like we're without means. The quickest method would be to use Ingrid's Perfect Clean to erase everything, barrier included. With Ingrid's stats, she could easily erase a barrier of Boldrinde's making. The drawback is the potential effect on Azhdaha's seal.
"Then, this other method is better. Lady Esmeralda, if you please.""Understood."
In that case, an alternative method is preferable.
Lady Esmeralda positioned herself at the hall's entrance, at an angle where she could be targeted from inside. Instantly, an arrow shot out from within the hall.
"Magic Shield."
Seeing the arrow, she gently waved her staff and blocked it.
"If you intend to kill, then you cannot complain if you are killed in return."
With a smile reminiscent of a villainess, Lady Esmeralda activated her magic.
"Blizzard Wave."
Her expression in combat mode was full of sadistic glee. She uses magic coldly and calmly, overwhelming her opponents.
The frigid air from Lady Esmeralda's magic instantly froze the hall, making the maze's barrier walls stand out clearly. The cold even seeped into the small windows, reaching the covert operatives in the hidden passages.
"How about this?""Perfect."
After channeling the wave of cold air for just a few dozen seconds, the hall was frozen solid, like a commercial freezer.
The previously hard-to-see barriers were now covered in frost, becoming distinct white walls.The small windows from which arrows and magic came were all blocked by ice, and the traps malfunctioned due to freezing.
"Oh? If the traps are disabled, they plan to handle it with ordinary combat, I see."
All that remained were the debuffs Boldrinde had prepared, but the magical tools generating them were probably also disabled by the cold.
In the depths of the hall, shadowy figures stirred. They held magical tools in their hands.
"Whoa, everyone, evacuate outside the hall entrance immediately. Don't show your faces."
I grimaced upon seeing that.*Wealthy people with power... this is why I dislike them*, I thought, while gently pulling Lady Esmeralda back by the waist, swiftly retreating to the entrance and hiding in the shadows.
A few seconds later, gunfire echoed, and bullets rained down on the spot where we had just been.
So, they've brought out firearms.And their presence means Boldrinde's personal guard has shown themselves.
These are ancient firearms from Boldrinde's collection of hoarded magical tools. Their power is more than sufficient to kill superior opponents, if one overlooks the high operational cost.
Indeed, the wall where we had taken cover was being steadily chipped away.
"And of all things, they brought out a Gatling gun? In situations like this, you usually start with pistol types, that's the norm, right?"
I peeked out for just a moment and immediately pulled back. Bullets instantly showered the spot where my face had been. From the large caliber and the glimpse of the barrel in the darkness, I understood what weapon they were using.
It's good that they're shattering the hall's barrier for us, but now we have to deal with that gunfire.
"Well, it's probably easier than dealing with traps."
I knew we'd have to face them eventually.
"Alright then, let's begin a little study session. Everyone, watch closely.""My Lord, what are you going to do?""What's your plan?""I'm going to show you a method for dealing with firearms that anyone can use. Pay close attention."
In that case, let's have Boldrinde's personal guard serve as our teaching materials. Genjiro and Nell tilted their heads in confusion as I stepped nonchalantly into the entrance where bullets were flying.