Survival 140

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The hidden boss of ‘Sanctuary of Spirits’, the ‘Evolved Lesser Spirit’.

Normally, even if the current Academy students swarmed together, they couldn’t guarantee victory.

‘Well, this should be a piece of cake.’

I’ve memorized all its attack patterns.

Plus, I have the ultimate weapon beside me.

“This is… the hidden boss room.”

In the secret path within the cave, Rene mumbled absentmindedly.

The Saintess.

A character with the undisputedly broken buff skill, ‘Blessing’.

With the support of her steadily accumulated abilities as a possessor, I should be able to handle this alone.

“How do you even know about this? This info wasn’t even on the community boards…”

“Well, I do rely on them sometimes, but such information doesn’t come out without pioneers, you know?”

Out of respect, they’re called pioneers.

Generally, they’re people obsessed with the game.

[East Abyssal Crossroads Dungeon 22nd Try Record + 10th Amendment]

[…]

[Finally achieved results! The ‘Emerald Crystal Compass’, whose purpose was unknown despite being a relic, greatly helped in navigating the dungeon’s maze.]

[This relic can be obtained by helping the elves during the southern story arc. It’s a bit troublesome, but make sure to get it in advance.]

[You’ll probably encounter the boss after navigating the maze. A detailed strategy for the boss fight and rewards will be updated later.]

ᄂCrazy, how much time did the 22nd try take?

L3 days

ᄂThree days for one dungeon?? I respect you, teacher.

ᄂEmerald Crystal?? So it did have a use.

Of course, there were times when I dug out valuable information from the community like this.

However, ‘Under the Chandelier’ had so many hidden elements that it was hard to tell if it was a dating sim or an exploration game.

Sometimes I had to become the pioneer and tackle challenges head-on.

That’s how it was when I strategized ‘Deceptive Dusk’.

I ran this place, the midterm-exclusive dungeon, dozens of times during finals.

“You just stay back and cast buffs. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Hmph. Fine. Well, since you said you’ve seen the ending, I suppose you can brag. Here.”

From her hand, a bright yellow aura of magic surged and soon enveloped me.

‘Oh, I do feel lighter.’

I tested by stomping my foot.

A free leap, as if I had just been unshackled from invisible chains.

“It’s not called the Saintess’s Blessing for nothing.”

“Everyone who receives it is satisfied.”

I chuckled as Rene, her nose seemingly reaching the stalactites, looked proud.

“You’re still a novice, so increase your magic power more. That way, the buff will be even better.”

“Do you know how hard it is?! It’s really tough to raise stats in this game!”

Ignoring her outburst, I recalled the boss once more.

[Evolved Lesser Spirit]

[Changes form to ice, fire, earth, and lightning attributes at regular intervals]

[Each attribute alters all stats except health]

I made a rough estimate.

With my current strength and the Saintess’s Blessing added?

‘If I can’t do this, I can’t say I’ve seen the ending.’

A picture of an easy victory formed in my mind.

Though I hadn’t even defeated it yet, I was already salivating over the rewards it would drop.

“Alright, let’s finish this quickly, find the scattered others, and return. If we can defeat the dungeon master in the shortest time, good grades are guaranteed, right?”

Rene flinched at the mention of grades.

A very honest reaction.

Having just lost the second rank, she must be keen to reclaim it.

“Hurry up! If you’re the vanguard, lead the way!”

“Calling me the vanguard might be a bit much, but… with this party composition, it can’t be helped.”

One priest and one rogue.

There was no reliable warrior to hold the front line, but avoiding everything would suffice.

With that thought, I stepped into the side path.

A strangely bright and spacious cavern.

It was a space clearly prepared for a large monster to make its nest.

Licking my lips.

“Ugh, was the cave always this cold? If I had known, I would’ve dressed warmer…”

Indeed.

She was shivering, hugging her arms, and her words were somewhat odd.

‘All the trash mobs are ice spirits.’

Originally, this place should have a variety of elemental spirits, serving as a good training ground for combat.

The information I got from Wolbaek, as well as my own experiences in the dungeon, felt quite different.

The ones we encountered earlier only used ice magic.

‘This is troublesome.’

I furrowed my brows in thought.

Ice spirits have weaker attack power, smaller attack range, and slower attack speed compared to other spirits.

Their true strength lies in their durability.

They protect their fragile bodies with solid ice, making them much harder to deal with than others.

“…Maybe the boss has taken on an ice form or something.”

Still.

It’s just tricky, not difficult.

Because it’s a spirit.

Boss-level spirits show multiple phases.

If I can strike at its core when it changes form, I should easily seize victory.

With that thought, I approached the center of the cavern.

As expected, a huge iceberg was situated there.

-Grr… An intruder?

White mist, emerging from extreme cold.

Was the chill causing goosebumps on my skin?

Or was it the immense magic power faintly felt within?

“It’s much bigger than I thought. And the overwhelming pressure…! As expected of a hidden boss! I, I’ll trust you.”

The saintess clenched her fists and looked at me with trusting eyes.

As if pleading to quickly take care of it, since it was beyond her capability.

However, it was only a matter of time before her gaze turned to despair.

“…What is that?”

“Huh?!”

From behind me, a bewildered shout.

It was the sound of someone feeling betrayed by their trusted ally.

But I ignored it.

No.

This isn’t the boss I know.

[Boss]

[Ice Spirit Awaiting Resurrection]

This is no mere lesser spirit.

Judging by its ability to speak, it’s at least a mid-level spirit.

No, considering the magic power that could form complete sentences, it’s a high-level spirit.

Moreover…

-Hmm? You look familiar.

The face of an old man etched onto the massive iceberg.

How could I forget?

‘Why is he here?’

Should I call this the butterfly effect?

A high-level spirit who should have been quietly staying in the Count’s mansion now stands here as a boss.

‘He even seems stronger than before.’

It seems he has successfully recuperated, befitting the dungeon’s name, Sanctuary.

A dungeon supposedly for lesser spirits.

I entered earlier than the final exams, only to encounter him?

‘What kind of fate is this?’

I tried to deny it, but…

His sharp gaze seemed to hold a semblance of certainty.

“Of course, it’s you.”

-Indeed! You’re the one who ran around like a rat back at Count Baltrion’s estate!

The spirit arched his carved eyebrows and rose his massive body.

-I must thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to escape from that family’s mansion!

“Ha ha. Is that so? Well, I’m glad you regained your freedom. And now you’ve been able to revive so splendidly!”

Sneaking a glance at the saintess, I also began to step back.

Clearly, this enemy was much stronger than I had anticipated.

Moreover, the match-up with me was the worst.

‘I don’t know its patterns, and its defense is too strong.’

The solid durability of ice, among the highest among spirits.

With my meager attacks, breaking through it seemed extremely difficult, even on a rough estimate.

Even back then, I barely managed to defeat it by targeting its life vessel concept spirit stone…!

My plan to handle the boss alone was already thrown into the distant trash bin, and I was slowly trying to retreat.

-Hmm. Yes, I should thank you for that. But, don’t we still have a debt between us?

“A debt? Well, I’m not sure I…”

-Don’t play dumb!

The cave echoed with a roar filled with magic.

-The humiliation of being mocked and ridiculed by you! I will never forget it for the rest of my life! Atone with your life, human!

Mocking, huh.

In battles, it’s natural to use provocation tactics and sometimes mock in the heat of the moment.

But it seemed this petty ice spirit couldn’t grasp such concepts.

Shhh, shhhhhh-

White smoke started to billow out.

Was it the chilling mist exuded by the ice spirit?

Or steam from its rising temper?

It was hard to tell just by listening.

Therefore, I…

“Um, do you know that boss?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? Run fast!”

The thirty-sixth stratagem: flee.

That was the best I could do against this monster.

“Hey, two steps to the right!”

“Eek! Crazy! I almost died!”

The saintess shrieked as an ice spear narrowly missed her feet.

Fortunately, its pattern wasn’t much different from before.

Ice spear throwing with spikes.

The slow speed, a weakness of ice magic, made the lethal paths clearly visible, so the attack wasn’t very threatening.

There was even enough leeway for me to brief and advise the panicking saintess to dodge.

‘But, I don’t have any effective attacks either.’

The cold itself caused frostbite or slowed buffs just by being nearby.

For a close-combat dealer like me, it was the worst match-up.

The saintess was out of the question.

Ultimately, neither of our attacks were effective.

In the long run, the side with no health limits had the advantage.

-Are you sure you don’t need my help?

While I was pondering what to do, a worried telepathic message came from the shadows.

Despite the concern, I hurriedly replied, startled.

-Of course. Having Lady Bathory step in would be like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken, no, a rat.

“Understood. But if your life is in danger, I will step in immediately. Rest assured.”

-Just the words are enough. However, please refrain from revealing your power for my sake.

I have plenty of artifacts accumulated over time.

If necessary, I can handle this.

But.

‘It’s only impossible as Hans Byron.’

Everything I used as ‘Frost Mane’ is unusable.

The same goes for Bathory. If she steps in, it would only be considered cheating during the midterms.

Moreover, her background as a demon would inevitably raise suspicions from the dean.

We need a better stage.

A setting that provides irrefutable evidence that she’s on our side, even if she is a demon.

‘Until that’s set up, please stay quiet.’

Fortunately, she had been quite obedient to my words lately.

The shadow that wouldn’t stop trembling even when I did nothing had returned to normal.

“Well, at least it’s not chasing us here.”

“Because it’s a side path, it’s difficult for it to follow with that huge body.”

The creature was still recovering in its iceberg form, only throwing ice spears to keep us in check and unable to properly pursue.

It was obvious that it hadn’t finished recovering, hence unable to shed its shell.

-Thunk! Rumble!

However, it was only a matter of time.

The sound of the cave walls being broken echoed clearly from the other side.

Soon, the saintess’s face twisted in horror.

“What are we going to do about that?!”

“What do you mean? Are you planning to give up on the midterms?”

Ignoring its rampage, I hurriedly moved on.

“Follow me. First, we need to find our teammates.”

“Are you planning to fight the boss? Isn’t that impossible?”

“Not right now.”

A rogue and a priest.

With such a makeshift combination.

“Let’s find our teammates first.”

But, considering the other members who entered this dungeon.

Rene’s buffs.

Oparn’s tanking and Theodore’s damage dealing in the vanguard.

Luke’s stable long-range attacks with magic.

Finally, with my leadership, it’s not impossible to face it.

After listening to my explanation, the saintess frowned.

“Why don’t I feel convinced? Are you really the possessor who saw the ending?”

“Doubt what you should. Even after finding the hidden boss, you can’t catch it.”

“You bragged so much and yet…”

“Talk a lot for a passenger on this bus. Want to do it alone from now on?”

“…Ugh.”

She was a woman who wouldn’t lose in spirit.

***

Even if they didn’t want each other, there were times they had to stick together.

Because they were engaged.

Because they had to consider the eyes of those around them.

“Your Highness….”

“Be quiet. We had to form a group because of priority, so don’t misunderstand.”

But, it seemed the other person didn’t think so.

-Hans’ group has departed, so the remaining groups will be formed based on grades. The top group, please come forward.

-Oh, Professor Marks. I haven’t finished forming my group yet, so please start with others…

-What are you doing, Luciana, let’s go.

A faint disappointment appeared in Luciana’s blue eyes.

Professor Marks’s words about forming groups based on grades, except for Hans’ group.

That seemed to be the sole purpose for forming a group with him.

‘I must endure. I am his fiancée. Moreover, when he ascends to the highest position, I must be by his side to support him.’

Even as she resolved herself, a sense of futility lingered.

“Your Highness, let’s go quickly.”

“Don’t rush me.”

His hand touched the cheek of the Count Caspera’s young lady.

Ignoring the rule that all regional members must be evenly distributed among the groups, the crown prince forcibly pushed through with his authority.

As a result, Lady Caspera, a member from the central region who normally couldn’t be in the same group as the crown prince, was included.

For Luciana, who valued rules, this was unpleasant.

-What matters now is restoring the dignity of the crown prince. Are you trying to exclude me to maintain your top position?

Such a retort left her unable to speak.

“I’ll grant your wish later.”

“I don’t care.”

This display of affection, never shown to her, as he caressed the violet hair of the Count Caspera’s young lady, shook Luciana’s resolve more and more.

Jealousy? No.

It was closer to emptiness than such base and sticky emotions.

An engagement devoid of emotion, leaving only loyalty to the family, made it even more so.

‘…Composure.’

Yes.

Rather than worrying about her fiancé, it was better to focus on the test.

Luciana’s expression became even colder.

Therefore.

When the spirit appeared, she was rather glad.

Even the ice surrounding the ice spirits was helpless before her aura.

Her anger-filled strike shattered it into nothingness.

But.

…Grit.

Even with that venting, composure was not easily found.

‘Tsk, my training is lacking.’

Luciana grasped her sword and steadied her breathing.

To eliminate her aimless emotions, moving her body was the most efficient method.

Faster.

And more decisively.

Her unfocused anger led to a massacre of spirits, at a moment when she was far from the crown prince’s group.

The floor, walls, and ceiling of the cave.

Everything surrounding her suddenly started to move.

“So, this is the spirits’ trickery the professor mentioned.”

If there was a fortunate point, it was that the hated scene in the distance completely disappeared with the changing terrain.

No.

Moreover, an unexpected fortune came as well.

“Huh? Lady Luciana?”

“…Hans?”

“Well, what a coincidence. I was nervous since the next group had entered, but to meet like this!”

Her lips twitched at the sight of her servant bowing and showing his sly manners.

“Ugh, Lady Speda…”

“…Saintess?”

Had it not been for the blonde girl beside him, her lips might have curled up entirely.

“Where are the other members of your group? Are you two alone?”

The unpleasantness quickly turned into a cold tone.

Faced with this, the saintess, Rene, trembled like a forlorn aspen tree.

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