The Pale King is dead?
The old Goblin didn't look like he was lying, but the Azure Princess had just asked him to kill the Pale King...
A multitude of possibilities flashed through Isagi's mind in an instant.
"Resurrection, right?"
Nearby, the two girls were whispering amongst themselves.
Lefiya, looking quite knowledgeable, was explaining to Tiona beside her.
"Don't monsters respawn after they die, just like a Monster Rex? So the Goblins now are either waiting for, or trying to find a way to resurrect, the Pale King!"
"Oh! I see!!"
It would be a waste for the Amazon girl not to be a hype man. That look of sudden realization on her serious little face was simply priceless!
"Didn't the Azure Princess just say so too? A monster's death isn't the end; they just return to the Dungeon's embrace to be reborn in a cycle."
"But resurrecting the Pale King definitely won't be that simple."
"So..."
"To resurrect the Pale King, we must first kill and release the power the King once bestowed upon three long-subjugated kings—a power that also serves as a restraint upon them."
"It is precisely because of that power's existence that the Lightless King cannot leave the castle above..."
Before a small cave to the side.
Even while crouching, Isagi and the girls had to lower their heads to see the Goblin hiding inside.
It was Pal.
The same guy who had sneakily pointed the way for him outside the Colosseum, then locked the door to trap them, and later helped lure away the Lightless King.
"That was just a test... Kuku... Adventurers, Pal had to at least confirm that you had the most basic level of strength. If you couldn't even pass that tiny little trial, then naturally there would be no need to waste time."
"Wanting to resurrect the King is no easy task."
"The Meat Cup Queen is dead. Adventurers, you have already proven your strength. In that case, we can consider going to subjugate the Lightless King... if it were before."
The sleazy Goblin spoke in a hoarse voice, still wrapped in its tattered cloak.
Its dirty eyes, full of pustules, were completely bloodshot.
The guy was huddled in the cave, not even showing his head, leaving him and the girls with no way to deal with him.
So, he wants to resurrect the Pale King?
Never mind Isagi; even the girls had an idea of the current questline.
It seems they were to subjugate the Lightless King with Pal's help, right?
But what did he mean by "if it were before"?
Isagi suddenly felt a bit guilty...
"For some reason, the Lightless King has obtained the power of a [Miracle] and has become completely different from before. The stones the King once used to seal its power have lost their effect. Pal is thinking of a new method... but... in any case, if you are prepared, then come find Pal again."
After speaking.
The Goblin hiding in the cave retreated into the darkness, not forgetting to quickly take the small bucket full of "nutrient solution" with it.
It seems the dark god he sent over before had given the Lightless King quite a power-up.
But there was good news. Since it had obtained the power of a miracle, defeating it should yield the [True Miracle] the Azure Queen mentioned, right?
That way, he could use the Dungeon's power to enhance a weapon or piece of equipment.
Isagi glanced at the greatsword on Tiona's back, thinking of buffing their gear later.
Especially the elf girl's staff.
She was originally going to use it until Lv. 5, at which point she would switch to a First-Class Armament anyway.
Wouldn't that be a huge gain?
Of course.
Isagi had no plans to challenge the Lightless King now. The BOSS had leveled up, so he and his teammates definitely had to level up before fighting it.
So what came next was simple.
Let's go!
Time to go to the Colosseum and grind ability scores to level up!!
And so, several more days passed in a flash.
In the dim and quiet cavern, a bonfire dispelled the darkness while also bringing considerable warmth.
Amidst the swirling steam, the aroma of beef curry was incredibly tempting. Paired with the mushroom and jerky soup that had just finished cooking on the side, it made one eager to start eating.
Because they had only brought about a week's worth of supplies.
They could choose ingredients with shorter shelf lives that were stored in a small icebox. This also meant Isagi and the girls didn't have to eat hard, dry rations.
He boiled some spaghetti and added it to the curry.
Isagi's revivals for the day were used up, and their supplies were nearly depleted.
So after dinner and a good rest, he planned to return to the surface.
Miss Asfi was still asleep nearby. She had really gotten her fill of lazing around these past few days.
At first.
Asfi would stand outside the Colosseum, watching him and the girls challenge the monsters.
Later, after realizing there really wasn't anything for her to do.
The woman just read a book outside the Colosseum, or tinkered with some small gadgets, and then took long naps.
Isagi discovered that the woman could really sleep.
It even gave him the illusion that if not for eating, she could sleep for an entire twenty-four hours.
Probably.
She was too busy before and had no chance to rest. Now that she was free, she just started sleeping in out of pure revenge?
This time was no different.
After eating, Asfi seemed to lean against the large supporter's pack Lefiya usually carried and fell asleep.
The elf girl was also a bit weary, exhausted from using too much magic after just coming out of the Colosseum.
Thus, by the bonfire, only Isagi and Tiona were still awake.
The Amazon girl was still full of energy.
She didn't even bother with the lingering wounds on her body. When he offered her the Healing Gourd, she refused, saying it was nothing, just minor injuries.
Then.
She took out a stack of blank paper and a quill pen, and began to scribble on it.
Tiona was writing her "Adventure Log" with him and Lefiya.
Isagi had only learned a short while ago that the Amazon girl loved reading fairy tale books. So, he had casually mentioned that she could record their party's current adventures.
And so, it was as if a "new world" had opened for her.
Tiona became incredibly enthusiastic. Now, whenever she had free time, she would immediately start recording everyone's "Adventure Log" in her picture book.
It's just that she didn't know many words.
So her writing was no better than an elementary schooler's essay, full of things like [Today, Isagi, Lefiya, and I went to the Goblin Kingdom, to the Hybrid Zone. We defeated a monster called the Hybrid Pallum, and we also met...]
That's pretty much the gist of it.
There were also many typos. She often had to ask him for help, making Isagi lament how many people in this other world had slipped through the cracks of the nine-year compulsory education system.
But then he remembered Tiona said she was already a Lv. 2 adventurer at the age of five.
That somehow made it even more terrifying.
"Isagi, I want to write about this. In front of that door, there was a line of words on the ground, wasn't there? Oh, right, [Treasure Chest]! How do you write 'chest'?"
"Like this..."
"I see! You know so many words, Isagi!!"
"Hmph."
"Can I ask you whenever I don't know a word in the future?"
"Sure."
Teaching someone who was worse than an elementary schooler was no problem for him.
"Right, right, right! Isagi!! I want to name my ultimate move, what do you think would be a good name?!"
Tiona had originally planned to go back and ask for her sister's opinion.
But thinking that her sister was even dumber than her, she gave up on the idea. In that case, she could only ask that Loki fellow—
Suddenly, Isagi noticed Tiona, who had scooted right up to him, had sparkling navy-blue eyes, as if she saw him as her only savior.
Is it that serious?
But he did have a good idea!!
"Let's call it [Mountain-Crushing Earth-Rendering Slash], how about it?"
He had originally thought of calling it [Mountain Crusher Strike], but that wasn't imposing enough. After all, Tiona was now a second-class adventurer, Lv. 3 and about to reach Lv. 4!
Speaking of which.
When the Amazon girl released her 'ultimate technique,' both her hands and eyes would turn blood-red, and even her weapon would be stained crimson. Coupled with her skill that increased her attack power the more she was injured.
Wasn't she just a Red Dog... ah, no, Lord Crimson Emperor!
"Whoa!!!"
So cool!
The Amazon girl felt like Isagi's words had struck a chord deep within her heart!!
"Why that name?! How did you think of it, Isagi!!"
"Well, that starts with a story."
"Eh?!"
She immediately sat up straight!
Tiona loved listening to stories the most!!
"In a faraway place, there is a continent called Arad. One day, a man known as a Slayer woke up deep within Grand Flores—what's a Slayer, you ask? That's someone cursed by Kazan..."
Isagi's story went on for too long.
As a result.
By the time they left the Dungeon, he had only just finished telling the part about rescuing a mysterious girl named Seria. The Slayer and she had left Elvenguard together and arrived at Hendon Myre, the capital of the Principality of Bel Myre.
He hadn't even started telling her how the Slayer became a Berserker under the guidance of his senior, G.S.D.
"Isagi..."
Tiona blinked, a pitiful look on her face.
For the first time in her life, the girl wanted to take the boy home with her so badly. That way, she could listen to stories all night long!!
However—
Dame! Of course not!!
The elf girl immediately cut in, breaking the line of sight between the two!!
"Time to go home!"
Lefiya was no longer dizzy, her body no longer weak. She grabbed the boy and walked away, giving the Amazon girl no chance at all!
To this.
Isagi was still pondering.
Tiona had reminded him. The girl had her own ultimate technique, so what about him? Theoretically, he should be able to have one too, right?
And Lefiya as well.
What would a Mage's ultimate technique be like?
Something like what the elf girl did before, controlling a wide-area magic like [Fusillade Firebolt] to precisely strike the same spot?
Speaking of which.
His previous use of the greatbow's magic, combined with the combat art's repetition, to continuously fire a machine-gun-like stream of light arrows—would that count as an ultimate technique?
If so...
As he was pulled further away by the elf girl, the boy looked at the gradually setting sun, and a distant memory seemed to resurface—
___
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