Chapter 180 – Mindless but Necessary
Chapter 180
Mindless but Necessary
Date : Day 26 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
For the next few days, Freedom Party settled into a relentless routine.
Wake up. Eat. Grind. Rest. Then repeat everything again the following day.
With Arianna's recent level-ups after clearing Monster Room, their pace increased even further. Her larger Aethell Reserve allowed her to cast more high-tier spells before running out of Aethell.
Entire groups of monsters disappeared beneath Earth Spikes in heartbeat. Their dungeon runs became noticeably faster than before.
On the second day—after clearing another Monster Room—a familiar voice echoed inside Elise's mind.
She blinked, then smiled.
“Finally...”
Hyoren immediately noticed her expression. He looked toward her.
“Level up, Elise?”
She nodded gently.
Her silver hair swayed as she turned toward him.
“Yes. Finally, Level 18.”
A faint smile remained on her face.
“And my Mapping skill also reached Level 3.”
Arianna stepped forward with genuine happiness.
“Congratulations, Mentor.”
Jackey dramatically slumped his shoulders.
“When is my turn...”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Elise covered her mouth with a quiet giggle.
“Fufu.”
The celebration was brief. Then, they resumed hunting once more.
The seemingly endless labyrinth stretched before them.
Elise always selected routes that extended deep into the dungeon while deliberately avoiding the main passages most adventurers were going to traverse.
Because of that, encounters with other parties became uncommon. Occasionally, another group would emerge from a distant corridor.
Both sides merely exchanged brief nods before continuing on their separate paths.
There was no reason for conversation. They weren't acquaintances like Jigor. Just fellow adventurers pursuing their own goals beneath the earth.
The third day arrived.
Another chamber. Another group of goblins. Arianna calmly raised Quadraflux Weaver.
“Earth Spikes.”
Stone pillars erupted from below.
DONDONDON!
Twelve goblins were impaled almost simultaneously. Moments later, the last monster dissolved into shimmering particles.
Arianna suddenly paused.
“Oh.”
A bright smile spread across her face.
“I reached Level 13.”
Hyoren smiled back.
“Good. We're only one level away from our goal now.”
Jackey immediately let out another exaggerated sigh.
“I'm still stuck… Whyyy...”
Elise chuckled.
“Be patient, Jackey. Fufufu.”
Arianna also smiled encouragingly.
“Your turn will come as well, Sir Jackey. I am certain of it.”
Jackey immediately perked up. His cat ears twitched. His tail spiraled happily behind him.
“Thanks, Miss Purple!”
The chamber once again filled with laughter.
Then, without another word, Freedom Party continued their seemingly endless grind.
***
At the end of their sixth day of dungeon diving. Freedom Party had already finished for the day.
They chose to camp inside one of the many dead-end chambers scattered throughout the labyrinth. It was a routine they had become accustomed to over the past week.
The campsite had already been secured. Three tents stood neatly against the stone wall. Four square Ward Stones quietly emitted a faint magical glow, forming a protective barrier around their temporary shelter.
The four of them sat in a circle upon a large tarp. Dinner for the night had just been served.
Elise's fried noodles.
The noodles glistened lightly beneath the magic lamp. Each plate held generous portions of thick squirrel meat alongside fresh leafy vegetables Ina had bought for them as supplies before entering the dungeon.
It wasn't luxurious. Yet, after a full week underground, it looked like a feast.
Hyoren took another bite.
The noodles were perfectly seasoned. The vegetables remained crisp. The meat was tender and juicy.
Elise's cooking truly continued to improve with each passing day.
Jackey enthusiastically shoveled another massive mouthful into his mouth.
“This is the best, Elise!”
Hyoren nodded in agreement.
“Your cooking keeps getting better, Elise.”
Across from them, Arianna elegantly twirled several strands of noodles around her fork. She brought them to her lips with graceful manners before chewing thoughtfully.
After swallowing, she smiled.
“I adore Mentor's cooking as well.”
Elise's cheeks immediately reddened. Even the tips of her pointed ears turned pink.
“You three...”
She smiled shyly.
“It's only simple fried noodles...”
Laughter naturally spread around the campsite.
Then, silence gradually returned. A comfortable silence. No one felt the need to force a conversation.
They simply enjoyed the meal together.
The warmth of the freshly cooked food slowly chased away the chill that had begun settling into their bodies after spending nearly an entire week inside the dungeon.
Outside the Ward Stone barrier—the labyrinth remained as cold and lifeless as ever. Inside—the atmosphere felt almost like home.
Hyoren quietly reflected on the past six days.
Everything had proceeded according to plan. Arianna's level had steadily increased. Their teamwork had become smoother. Everyone had grown stronger.
Now, it was finally time to discuss the next step.
He finished the last bite of noodles.
After swallowing, he placed the wooden fork upon his now-empty plate.
His expression became slightly more serious.
“Everyone. We need to talk.”
Elise and Arianna immediately sensed the change in his tone. They both set aside their empty wooden plates and turned their attention toward him.
Meanwhile, Jackey continued eating his second serving without the slightest concern.
Hyoren merely smiled inwardly.
That was simply Jackey. He could listen perfectly well while eating. There was no need to stop him.
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one pointed ear.
“What is it, Hyoren?”
Arianna also straightened her posture. Her expression became attentive.
“Is something wrong, Leader?”
Hyoren nodded.
“Today marks our sixth day inside the dungeon.”
He glanced around the campsite.
“A full week has passed. Our original plan was always to stay between six and nine days before returning to Akela City to rest and resupply.”
He paused briefly.
“However… We still haven't completed the goals we set for this expedition.”
His expression became more serious.
“We still need to defeat the Floor One Guardian. The Goblin Berserker.”
He raised one finger.
“And after that… We'll proceed to Floor Two. Our real target. The Goblin Ruler and its army.”
His gaze shifted toward Arianna.
“But before any of that… You still need to reach Level 14. How much experience do you still need?”
Arianna nodded.
“One moment, Leader.”
She reached toward the purple Storage Bag hanging from her waist. After searching inside for a moment, she retrieved her Guild Card.
Her light blue eyes quickly scanned it. Then she stored it away again.
“I still require approximately six thousand experience to reach Level 14, Leader.”
Hyoren rubbed his chin.
His thoughts immediately began calculating. One goblin. Experience gained. Average encounters. Monster density. Respawn rate.
Everything rapidly assembled inside his mind.
“I see...”
He quietly muttered to himself.
“On average… We've been defeating around one hundred and fifty goblins each day.”
He continued calculating.
“With my Divine Protection increasing experience gain by 25 percent… Our daily gain is roughly between 1800 to 2000 experience.”
He smiled faintly.
“But… The Monster Room should have reset by now. It has already been six days.”
He looked around at everyone.
“If we clear it again… That's another 300 goblins. Roughly 3,750 experience.”
He leaned back slightly.
“So… What do all of you think about extending this expedition?”
He slowly laid out his proposal.
“Two more days focused entirely on grinding.”
“Then one day to defeat the Floor One Guardian and descend through Floor Two.”
He paused.
“And on the following day… We challenge the Goblin Ruler.”
Silence settled over the campsite.
Hyoren quietly added,
“That would make this a 10 day expedition. One day longer than our original limit.”
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear.
She thought quietly for several moments.
“Hmm… I am a little worried about everyone's condition. We've already spent a week underground.”
She looked around at the others.
“But...”
She trailed off.
Before she could finish—Jackey suddenly slammed his empty wooden plate onto the tarp.
“I DON'T WANT TO RUN AWAY AGAIN FROM THAT SKULKER ARMY, BIG BRO!”
His tail stood proudly behind him.
“I'm all for continuing! I've stayed inside dungeons for weeks before anyway!”
Hyoren couldn't help smiling. Elise smiled as well.
“I suppose Jackey is right.”
She nodded slowly.
“To be honest… I don't want to retreat anymore either. Our supplies should still be sufficient.”
She smiled softly.
“Ina always packs nearly twice as much food as we estimate we'll need.”
Hyoren chuckled.
“So that's two votes in favor.”
Finally, he looked toward the last person. The most important one.
Arianna.
Without her, their strategy against the Goblin Ruler simply wouldn't work.
“What about you, Arianna?”
Arianna quietly removed her wide-brimmed hat.
She rested it upon her lap.
Her fingers slowly traced the brim as she carefully organized her thoughts. Unlike the others, she wasn't thinking about courage.
She was calculating. Her Aethell Reserve. Spell consumption. Recovery speed. Battle endurance.
After a long moment, she finally looked up.
“To be honest… At my current level… I believe I can sustain combat against approximately one thousand goblins.”
She spoke thoughtfully.
“If nothing unexpected happens… I should be able to cast several high-tier spells… And finish with Lava Surge.”
She paused.
Then honestly admitted,
“But… It would be close. There may still be surviving goblins. And if any unforeseen complication occurs… It could become dangerous.”
Hyoren tapped his chin.
“Barely...”
He repeated quietly.
“I don't really like the sound of 'barely.'”
Hyoren smiled wryly.
“What about the magic potions Oria gave us before?”
He looked toward Arianna.
“Couldn't you use them so 'barely' becomes 'certain'?”
He tapped his chin.
“I haven't seen you use one yet...”
Arianna gently shook her head. Her red hair swayed softly with the motion.
“I already accounted for those in my calculations, Leader.”
She smiled apologetically.
“Magic potions only accelerate Aethell regeneration. We can't continuously drink them to instantly recover our Aethell.”
She glanced toward the potion pouch hanging from her belt.
“Lady Oria's magic potions are indeed superb. They significantly reduce the recovery time between spells. But...”
She slowly shook her head again.
“They won't allow me to cast magic endlessly. There is still a limit to how much Aethell my body can regenerate in a limited amount of time.”
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
“I see… So magic potions won't completely turn the tide. They certainly help… But they still have their limitations.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a slow, deep breath.
“But...”
He exhaled.
“I also don't want to turn back anymore.”
He looked directly into Arianna's eyes.
“Are you alright extending this expedition another three or four days?”
Arianna answered without hesitation.
“Yes. That is perfectly fine with me.”
She smiled gently.
“I prepared myself for long expeditions. Spending several weeks inside a dungeon… Or traveling deep into unexplored regions… I have no objection.”
Hyoren slowly nodded.
“Good.”
He looked around at every member of the Freedom Party.
“Then it's decided. We'll extend this expedition.”
His eyes carried quiet determination.
“And we'll accomplish the goal we originally came here for. We'll conquer Floor Two.”
Everyone instinctively raised a hand into the air.
“OOOH!”
The decision had been made.
***
They continued their relentless grinding.
On the 7th day, Freedom Party once again returned to the hidden chamber.
As usual—Elise stepped onto the concealed pressure plate. The stone wall slowly slid aside, revealing the long, narrow corridor hidden behind it.
Without wasting time.
Elise walked to the trap hidden within the corridor and skillfully dismantled it. Only after confirming it was safe did the party continue toward the chamber at the end of the passage.
Hyoren carefully peeked inside the Monster Room.
A smile immediately formed on his face.
The massive Runic Array covering the center of the Monster Room was glowing once again. Fresh goblins were already waiting for them.
He turned toward the others.
“The Monster Room is available again.”
He chuckled.
“I don't think anyone else is truly utilizing this place to grind.”
Elise gripped her bow.
“We never told anyone our strategy on how we cleared it. So other parties probably think it's simply too dangerous.”
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
“I see. That's good for us. Now we can grind our levels here. Haha.”
Elise smiled.
“Fufufu. That's true.”
Arianna simply nodded.
Jackey enthusiastically raised both axes high above his head.
“TIME TO WHACK SKULKERS AGAIN! WOHOO!”
Hyoren smiled.
“Let's do this, everyone.”
The four of them immediately rushed into the Monster Room.
This was already their 3rd time clearing it. The battle had become routine. There was little tension left. Only practiced teamwork.
Hyoren once again stood at the entrance of the corridor leading into the Monster Room. Like an immovable wall, he blocked the endless stream of goblins from reaching the backline.
Jackey remained beside him.
Any goblin that slipped past Hyoren's guard was immediately cut down by Jackey's twin axes.
Behind them, Elise calmly aimed at the more dangerous goblins. Each arrow found its target with practiced precision.
Meanwhile, Arianna remained the center of the party's offense.
She calmly raised her Quadraflux Weaver.
“Earth Spikes.”
DONDONDON!
Massive stone spikes erupted from beneath the goblin horde. Many goblins died instantly.
On another occasion, she used a different spell.
“Ring of Fire.”
A small orb of fire appeared near the center of the Monster Room.
WHOOSH!
The orb rapidly expanded before transforming into a massive ring of blazing flames.
The fiery ring swept outward across the chamber and formed a fire wall. Everything caught in its path was incinerated.
The Freedom Party continued their now-familiar rhythm. Goblins keep spawned by the Runic Array. Goblin after goblin was wiped out.
Eventually, the glow of the Runic Array gradually faded. No more new goblins appeared.
Hyoren stepped forward.
He raised Dawnbreaker one last time. Dark Aethell gathered at the tip of the blade.
“Shadow Bloom.”
A fan-shaped wave of darkness bloomed from the tip of his sword.
WHOOSH!
The remaining goblins fell one after another. The chamber fell silent once more. The Monster Room had been cleared again.
***
On the 8th day.
After they cleared the last goblins, everyone finally lowered their weapons.
The familiar silence returned to the dungeon corridor once again. Only their slightly heavy breathing echoed through the chamber after another battle.
Arianna adjusted her grip on Quadraflux Weaver.
"Leader. I just hit level 14."
A small smile appeared on her face as she looked toward Hyoren.
After eight continuous days inside the dungeon, she had finally reached the level they had been aiming for.
Hyoren nodded.
"Good. Our grinding is done…"
A faint smile formed on his face.
Those words made everyone feel a little relieved.
Their original objective before challenging the Floor Guardian had finally been completed.
Elise tucked a strand of hair behind her pointed ears.
"8 days.. this was our longest period…"
She paused.
Her emerald eyes showed exhaustion but also excitement.
Although the continuous dungeon exploration had tired her considerably, there was also satisfaction.
"But we are not done yet… Floor One Guardian. Then... Goblin Ruler."
Her voice remained calm, but the determination behind it was unmistakable.
Jackey rested his axe on shoulder.
"FINALLY! I'm dying to kick some ass! All these skulkers on the first floor was BORING!"
His tabby tail immediately spiralled energetically behind him.
Unlike Elise, whose excitement remained composed, Jackey made no effort to hide his anticipation.
Hyoren smiled. He pulled a necklace watch from inside his tunic.
16:57.
He nodded slightly before closing it again.
"Just in time. The day is late. We will rest in front of the guardian chamber archway."
He looked at Elise.
"Please, Elise."
Elise nodded.
She briefly checked her Mapping skill in her mind. Only a brief moment passed before she nodded again.
"Follow me."
Without another word, Elise took the lead once more.
Hyoren naturally followed behind her.
Arianna and Jackey followed close behind as the four of them quietly walked through the familiar dungeon corridor.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the ancient stone walls.
Not long after, they arrived at the chamber in front of the Archway.
Standing at the far end of the chamber was an archway similar to the one at the dungeon entrance, although noticeably smaller. Ancient runic writing covered its surface. The runes pulsed rhythmically with a pale blue light, illuminating the surrounding chamber with an eerie glow.
Beyond that archway awaited the Floor Guardian.
Everyone naturally slowed their footsteps. They had expected it to be empty.
But they were not alone.
***
Inside the spacious chamber, multiple adventurer parties had already settled in for the night. Despite the number of people present, the room felt far from crowded. The chamber easily accommodated everyone, leaving comfortable distances between each group.
Two separate camps occupied opposite corners of the room.
Each had established their own temporary resting area, protected by four square Ward Stones arranged around the perimeter. The softly glowing runes formed invisible barriers similar to the ones the Freedom Party carried.
The camp to the left consisted of two small tents with a modest cooking fire burning between them.
The camp on the right was considerably larger. A single spacious tent stood at its center, large enough to comfortably house an entire party.
Within their own camps, the adventurers went about their routines without paying much attention to one another. Some stirred pots over small stoves. Others quietly ate their meals after a day of fighting. A few chatted leisurely while maintaining their equipment.
Then someone noticed the Freedom Party entering the chamber.
A familiar dwarf stood up from beside the left camp's fire before raising an arm with a broad grin.
"Hey! Freedom Party!"
Hyoren immediately recognized him—Stonebreaker's Jigor.
The stocky dwarf stepped through the barrier before striding toward Hyoren.
"Gyahaha! Fancy meeting you here!"
A wide smirk spread beneath his thick braided beard.
"I thought your party was a pioneer! And you have already reached floor two! Why are you still here?"
Hyoren returned the smile as the two stopped before one another.
"Hello, Jigor. Nice to meet you again."
He gestured toward Arianna standing beside him.
"We have a new party member, so we need to defeat the first floor guardian again. She hasn't cleared it yet."
Arianna stepped forward with graceful, measured movements before offering a refined bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Arianna Akela. I recently joined the Freedom Party."
Jigor instinctively brushed his majestic braided beard. The numerous metallic rings woven into it clinked softly against one another.
"Hoo..."
His eyes wandered over Arianna's elegant attire, lingering on the exquisite purple robe and the unmistakable ephemeral Quadraflux Weaver she carried.
"So you're the rumored Baron's daughter..."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you..."
A brief silence followed before he laughed sheepishly.
"But forgive me if my words sound rough. I'm not really used to all that noble way of speaking. Gyahaha."
Before Arianna could respond, another figure approached.
Vani, Jigor's wife and the healer of Stonebreaker Party, walked over from the camp.
Her long veil covered her hair while her modest sisterly robes gave her an approachable and gentle appearance.
She lightly nudged her husband's side.
"Jigor, you could at least try to speak more politely to Lady Arianna."
Jigor merely laughed louder.
"Gyahaha!"
Vani sighed before turning toward Arianna and offering a respectful bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Arianna. My husband can be... rather crass at times."
Arianna simply smiled.
"No need to be so strict with him. Ohoho."
She gently adjusted the brim of her wide hat before speaking with her usual composed elegance.
"When I decided to become an adventurer, I had already prepared myself to leave behind the expectations that come with my noble status."
She smiled pleasantly at both husband and wife.
"Being courteous is simply part of who I am. However, I would never expect others to speak in the same manner."
She gave a graceful shake of her head.
"So please, be at ease. There is no need to call me 'Lady.' Arianna is more than enough. Ohoho."
Jigor blinked for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Gyahaha! I like that!"
The atmosphere immediately became far more relaxed.
While they talked, Hyoren briefly glanced toward the rest of Stonebreaker Party.
Cathy sat beside the portable stove while casually waving toward them with a cheerful smile. Her shortbow rested within easy reach nearby.
Dennis merely looked up from the pot he was tending.
He gave Hyoren a small nod before returning to his cooking. As always, the quiet mage remained a man of very few words.
Hyoren looked back at Jigor.
"And that's what she said, Jigor."
Elise stepped forward after slinging her Moonveil Bow across her back.
"Hello, Jigor. Long time no see."
She tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one pointed ear.
"Are you going to fight the guardian again?"
Jigor crossed his muscular arms.
"Yeah! We had to run away last time because we couldn't deal with its regeneration!"
He flashed a confident grin.
"But now we're more prepared. We're definitely going to kill it and reach floor two! Gyahaha!"
Hyoren nodded with an encouraging smile.
"Good luck, Jigor. I'm sure your party has what it takes now that you understand how the Goblin Berserker fights."
His hand rested naturally upon the hilt of his sword.
"We already disclosed everything we learned about it."
Jigor nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! And we're truly grateful for that! Without your information, we'd probably still be stuck wandering around the Starting Room. Gyahaha!"
His gaze shifted toward the four members of the Freedom Party.
Even beneath their composed expressions, the exhaustion from clearing two entire dungeon floors was apparent.
Jigor scratched the back of his head.
"Alright, you guys are going to rest, right?"
He waved dismissively.
"Go on. I won't bother you anymore!"
Hyoren inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you, Jigor."
He turned toward his companions.
"Let's prepare our camp."
The others nodded before following him toward one of the vacant corners.
Meanwhile, Jigor and Vani also returned to their own campsite.
As Hyoren walked across the chamber, his gaze naturally drifted toward the remaining camp.
Unlike Unbreakable Will party's modest setup, this one featured a large tent capable of comfortably housing six people.
The adventurers there had only briefly glanced toward the Freedom Party upon their arrival before resuming their own conversations. They clearly had no interest in disturbing fellow adventurers.
Hyoren quietly observed them while unpacking their camping equipment.
A six-member party… and all female…
What immediately caught his attention was that unusual detail.
His eyes first settled upon the woman clad in full plate armor. A massive tower shield rested beside her, while an equally imposing lance leaned against the tent.
Another tank. Much like Hyoren himself.
However, judging from her equipment alone, their combat philosophies were clearly different. She appeared to specialize in becoming an immovable fortress rather than being a flexible tank.
As he tried to set up their makeshift washing area, his attention shifted to the next two members.
Those two are magicians…
That fact alone was remarkable. Mages were uncommon enough that most adventurer parties were fortunate to have even one. Yet this party possessed two.
One carried a staff whose magic crystal emitted a faint brown glow. Beside her sat an elf whose pointed ears peeked through long wavy hair. The crystal atop her staff shimmered with soft emerald light.
He glanced at the staff Arianna carried, the one with four shifting colors.
Those two magicians’ conduits… Brown and green... Earth and Wind magicians, huh…
Another fact of the elf also made Hyoren interest piqued. Unlike Elise and Oria, however, the elf mage hair wasn't silver—it was green.
So not every elf has silver hair…
The thought surfaced naturally before Hyoren quietly chuckled to himself.
Of course… I shouldn't generalize after meeting only two elves… just like humans, they have varying hair color…
His gaze continued wandering across the chamber while his hands worked without pause. He placed a Water Orb near the center of their campsite before unfurling a tarp over the small area, creating a makeshift washing area.
With that done, his attention drifted toward the second group.
Another woman stood casually in the middle of their camp, chatting comfortably with her companions. Her posture was relaxed, lacking even the slightest hint of tension despite being inside a dungeon. From the easy smiles exchanged between them and the way the others naturally gathered around her, Hyoren could tell she was approachable and easy to get along with.
Yet beneath that friendly demeanor was an unmistakable presence.
It wasn't something that came from overwhelming strength or intimidating pressure. Rather, it was the quiet charisma of someone others naturally looked toward. Even while casually joining the conversation, she remained the center of attention without making any effort to be.
Unlike the rest of her companions, she wore neither armor nor any obvious weapon.
Even so, Hyoren immediately recognized who she likely was.
From Ina's description—an unassuming but beautiful, blonde-haired woman named Hilde—the leader of Merry Go Round.
A bard... Ina didn't tell me the details but...
His gaze shifted to the instrument resting comfortably nearby.
At first glance, it resembled a guitar from Earth. However, the similarities ended there. Its body was slightly larger and instead of the familiar six strings, the instrument possessed several additional ones stretched neatly across its polished wooden frame.
She uses musical instruments to buff allies, encourage them, and even heal them...
Hyoren found the concept surprisingly fascinating.
Unlike mages, swordsmen, or priests, a bard didn't rely on conventional weapons or direct spells. Instead, melodies themselves became the medium through which Aethell flowed, strengthening companions, lifting morale, and weaving supportive magic across the battlefield.
His eyes moved again.
A petite Tiger Clan beastkin rested nearby with two daggers strapped neatly at her waist.
A scout? I think…
Her smaller build reminded him somewhat of Ina, although her longer hair gave her a noticeably different appearance.
As he went back to the middle of their camp, near Elise who was finishing her cooking. Finally, his gaze landed upon the last member.
She remained quiet, sitting slightly apart from the ongoing conversation. A massive longbow rested beside her. Like the Wind Mage, she too was an elf.
What striking about her, she was exceptionally tall. Even while seated, her height was immediately noticeable. Her long hair shone with a striking bright blue color beneath the dungeon's magic lamps.
As he sat beside Elise, his mind thought about the unusual party.
Two elves… One beastkin… Three humans… A rather uncommon combination… Merry Go Round... led by Hilde…
Hyoren recalled what Ina had told him.
Unlike most adventurer parties who dived in Akela Dungeon, Merry Go Round was not originally from the frontier city itself. They were a Bronze Rank party known for constantly traveling from one town to another.
Sometimes—even across national borders.
***
Freedom Party gathered around their modest campsite as Elise served the dinner she had prepared.
It was a simple soup made from vegetables and squirrel meat, yet after an entire day of exploration, it looked far more appetizing than any luxurious feast.
Warm steam rose from each wooden bowl, carrying a pleasant aroma through the chilly dungeon chamber. As everyone took their first spoonful, the warmth gradually spread throughout their bodies, washing away the lingering cold that had settled into their muscles after hours of fighting.
For a while, there was almost no conversation.
Everyone was simply too hungry.
The only sounds filling their small campsite were the occasional clink of wooden utensils against bowls and the quiet slurping of hot soup. Before long, every bowl was emptied.
Jackey even helped himself to a second serving before finally leaning back with a satisfied grin.
"WOOHOO! That really hit the spot!"
Elise smiled warmly.
"Fufu. Glad everyone enjoyed it."
She poured everyone a cup of freshly brewed tea before handing them out one by one. The fragrant drink helped both body and mind relax after another exhausting day inside the dungeon.
Hyoren accepted his cup and took a slow sip before setting it down beside him.
He looked around at his companions.
"Alright. We've been diving this dungeon for eight days now."
His calm gaze swept across the group.
"Tomorrow, we'll defeat the Goblin Berserker early in the morning. After that, we'll spend the rest of the day crossing the second floor until we reach the guardian chamber's archway."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Then, the day after tomorrow, we'll challenge the Goblin Ruler and its army with our bodies fully rested."
Jackey immediately shot one hand into the air.
"WOHOO! Time for revenge!"
His tabby ears perked upright while his tail spiraled excitedly behind him.
Elise smiled softly, her pointed ears twitching slightly.
"I think that's a sound plan."
Arianna simply inclined her head with graceful elegance.
"Understood, Leader."
With tomorrow's schedule settled, the conversation gradually drifted toward lighter topics.
Nothing particularly important.
They simply chatted while enjoying their tea, letting the peaceful atmosphere wash away the fatigue from another long day inside the dungeon.
As Hyoren's gaze wandered around the chamber once more, it eventually settled on the campsite occupied by Merry Go Round.
Once again, his attention naturally drifted toward the blonde-haired woman leading the party.
Even while casually talking with her companions, she somehow remained the center of the conversation without making any effort to stand out.
It wasn't intimidation. It was simply charisma.
Hyoren looked toward Elise.
"Elise, do you know much about bards? Ina mentioned that the leader of Merry Go Round is one."
He glanced back toward Hilde.
"They fight using music or singing, right? But... how is that even possible?"
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear before giving an apologetic smile.
"To be honest, I don't know much more than you do."
She shook her head lightly.
"I've only heard that they fight by using either songs or musical instruments."
Arianna calmly set down her teacup.
"I can answer that, Leader."
Hyoren turned toward her with interest.
"Oh? Please do."
Arianna adjusted her sitting posture before beginning her explanation.
"From what I learned from a bard who also studied at the Academy, anyone may first learn either the Singing Skill or a Musical Instrument Skill."
She folded her hands neatly on her lap.
"Once they are proficient enough on those, they can unlock its combat-oriented version. At that point, sound itself becomes their medium of attack. They can produce sonic waves, sound based attack, and other similar techniques."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"And bards are also capable of using magic."
Hyoren blinked.
"Huh? They can use magic too?"
Arianna nodded gracefully.
"Yes. There is a unique rune known as the Sound rune."
She lightly raised one hand as she explained.
"When this rune is incorporated into a spell, the caster's voice or the sound produced by their instrument becomes the spell's medium."
She continued calmly.
"Unlike ordinary spells, it doesn't require targeting runes such as Shoot, Straight, or even Area. Anyone capable of hearing the sound will automatically be affected by the spell."
Hyoren's eyebrows rose.
"Wait... isn't that a little too overpowered?"
Arianna smiled knowingly.
"It would certainly seem that way at first."
She took another sip of tea before continuing.
"However, it comes with several limitations."
She set the cup back down.
"First, the Sound rune can only be used with supportive magic. It works with healing spells, buffs, and debuffs. It cannot be applied to offensive spells that directly inflict damage."
She gestured gently as she spoke.
"Because of that, most bards only study Light Magic or, at most, Dark Magic. The other elemental branches simply don't offer enough supportive or weakening spells to fully utilize the Sound rune."
Hyoren slowly nodded as he digested the explanation.
"I see..."
He rested a hand against his chin.
"So it's limited to status effects."
A moment later, another thought crossed his mind.
"And I suppose you also need additional limitation runes to prevent your magic from affecting the wrong targets."
He glanced toward Merry Go Round.
"Since anyone who hears the sound could be affected."
Arianna smiled approvingly.
"Exactly, Leader."
She nodded.
"And there's another limitation. The bard must continue singing or playing their instrument. The moment the performance stops, the spell's effect ends as well."
She added one final point.
"Furthermore, the farther someone is from the caster, the weaker the spell's effect becomes."
A smile spread across Hyoren's face as the mechanism finally made sense.
"Because the sound itself becomes weaker over distance."
Arianna gave an elegant nod.
"Precisely.”
With his curiosity finally satisfied, Hyoren leaned back slightly and quietly enjoyed the rest of his tea.
The conversation gradually died down as everyone savored the peaceful silence. Before long, the last drops disappeared from their cups.
Hyoren placed his empty mug on the ground before rising to his feet.
"Let's get some sleep, everyone. We've got a big day tomorrow."
Everyone nodded in agreement before standing as well.
Jackey let out a long yawn, raising both arms high above his head as he stretched until several joints audibly cracked.
"Yaaawn... Yeah... I'm sooo sleepy."
His tabby cat ears drooped lazily as he turned toward his tent.
He casually waved over his shoulder.
"Night, Big Bro! Night, Elise! Night, Miss Purple!"
Everyone watched him with warm smiles before returning the wave.
"Good night."
Jackey ducked into his tent, and only moments later, the sound of rustling fabric came from within as he settled in for the night.
Arianna was next.
She gracefully gathered the hem of her robes before offering a slight, elegant bow.
"Leader. Mentor. Let me bid you a good night."
With that, she quietly made her way toward her own tent.
Although having a similar design, it was noticeably better crafted than the others. The sturdy canvas, finer stitching, and reinforced frame reflected the quality one would expect from the daughter of a baron.
Hyoren watched her disappear inside before turning toward Elise.
"Shall we get some sleep too, Elise?"
Elise smiled gently as she stretched her arms above her head, her silver hair swaying softly behind her.
"Let's, Hyoren."
The two lovers then entered their shared tent together.
After settling onto their bedding, the exhaustion accumulated over eight consecutive days of dungeon exploration quickly overtook them.
Not long afterward, their breathing became slow and rhythmic. Outside, Jackey's unmistakably loud snores echoed throughout the resting chamber. From Arianna's tent came only the faint sound of gentle breathing, nearly drowned out by the beastkin's thunderous snoring.
One by one, the members of the Freedom Party drifted into peaceful sleep.
Tomorrow, they would once again challenge the first floor's guardian—the Goblin Berserker. But for tonight, they simply enjoyed a well-earned rest within their modest campsite.
The three tents stood quietly beneath the protection of the four square Ward Stones.
Not far away, the camps of Unbreakable Will and Merry Go Round gradually fell silent as well.
No more conversations echoed through the chamber.
Only the steady pulse of the archway illuminated the cavern with its dim, rhythmic glow. The archway remained a silent witness as three adventurer parties rested beneath its watch.