Volume 1 Chapter 30 Guardian Of Emerald Green
As we continued to encounter monsters several times, we ventured into the forest beyond the grasslands of the lower layer.
The enemies we encountered included not only Minotaurs, but also Skeletons and Ogres. However, we never came across any special monsters that used magic defense like the Shadow Chimera.
"But seriously, how many of them are there...?"
Leoness moved his gaze from side to side, observing his surroundings as he spoke. Then, he looked at the ground around him.
In front of his gaze, numerous monsters such as Minotaurs and Ogres had turned into silent figures.
There were probably about twenty of them. We had already encountered similar groups a couple of times before.
"I've never heard of a dungeon with such a large number of monsters. If it weren't for Ark-san, I don't think we would have been able to advance this far."
Ryuin's words may be a bit exaggerated, but in reality, I was the one who defeated all those monsters alone. If I hadn't, someone's magic power would have run out much earlier.
(My stats still aren't going up.)
No matter how many monsters I defeat, my stats, which have reached their limit, don't change at all. My skill level only went up a little.
"I'm sorry... I've been useless this whole time..."
It seemed like Fatina thought she couldn't do anything because she was weak, and she had a look of apology on her face.
Fatina isn't exactly powerless. She can easily defeat ogres and skeletons, but for now, I wanted her to conserve her strength.
"It's not Fatina's fault."
"It's not your fault, Fatina-san. We haven't been able to do anything since we came to the lower layer."
"...One person is just too strong."
"If a strong enemy appears from here on, it's our turn!"
Leoness grins as he puts his hands on his hips.
"...That's right! I'll do my best too!"
"Yeah! That's the spirit!"
Thanks to Leoness's words, Fatina seemed to regain her energy.
I must be grateful for his kindness, as I wouldn't have been able to provide such support myself.
"There's something over there."
Suddenly, Veronica pointed ahead into the woods.
At the spot she pointed, the top of some white structure came into view.
"It looks like a building..."
"Perhaps we've finally reached the end of the dungeon? Shall we go and see?"
Everyone proceeded in the direction where the building could be seen.
After pushing through the overgrown grass for a while, the woods eventually opened up into a clearing.
What lay beyond was an aged structure.
Its pointed roof resembled a church one might find in a town.
At the entrance of the building, columns reminiscent of a church stand, entwined with abundant ivy, giving the impression that they could collapse at any moment.
In the center of the front wall, there is a wooden door, but it is closed, preventing any glimpse of the inside.
"A building... I wonder what's inside."
"It looks like a cathedral or something, but for now, there's no point in thinking about it. Let's move forward. Leoness, lead the way."
"Yes, but we don't know what might happen, so everyone should keep their distance."
There is no other structure that looks like a building around here.
Perhaps there is something related to the Emerald Green Dungeon here.
Leoness thrusts his large shield into the ground and pushes against the door with all his strength.
Slowly, the door begins to open with a creaking sound.
"...Wait, there's nothing there."
Ryuin lets out a voice that seems to mix relief and disbelief.
There was nothing inside the cathedral.
The stone pavement on the floor was completely dilapidated, and there was nothing else except for a pedestal placed at the farthest end.
"Well, let's just go in for now... It would have been nice if there was at least one treasure."
"Maybe there's a basement or something, let's search."
"Ark-sama, shall we enter as well?"
"Yes."
However, there really was nothing inside the cathedral.
Even if we searched, there was nothing that resembled anything.
"There really is nothing here..."
"Hmm, there might be another building somewhere."
Ryuin and Fatina searched every nook and cranny, but couldn't find anything.
(──Is this really not the place?)
We came straight ahead from the lower layer, but it seemed like there was no other place that seemed to have something besides this building.
If that's the case, where else could it be?
(Or rather, what if the culprit moves within the dungeon?)
If the cause is something like a special monster like Shadow Chimera, it might not be staying in one place. If that's the case, staying here might be a waste of time.
──While thinking about such things, suddenly a creaking sound could be heard from somewhere.
"Hm? ...What, did the door just close?"
Leoness looked puzzled, and there was a door in front of him that should have been open.
Perhaps it was originally designed to close on its own.
"...I have a bad feeling about this! Everyone, gather in the center!"
Ryuin immediately shouted, as if sensing something from experience.
The party members gathered in the center of the cathedral.
Fatina and Ryuin quickly drew their swords, while Leoness prepared his large shield.
'Grrr...'
As we listened, a faint growling sound could be heard from somewhere.
(What was that...)
But as we looked around, there was nothing to be seen.
Which meant...
"It seems like things are about to get a little troublesome..."
Leoness wiped sweat from his forehead and looked up with wide eyes.
Seeing him, everyone turned their faces upward in unison.
There, standing before us, was a monster covered in shining green scales.
With sharp, long claws on its front and back legs, and large, golden shimmering eyes.
It was a famous monster that even non-adventurers would recognize.
──It was a dragon.
The dragon slowly flapped its massive wings, clinging to the ceiling of the temple with its front and back legs, staring at us.
"Run towards the entrance!!"
As Ryuin shouted loudly, everyone ran towards the entrance at once.
And just as we started running, the dragon came crashing down onto the floor of the cathedral.
A great tremor occurred, shaking the entire cathedral building.
Part of the fragile inner wall collapsed, crumbling and falling.
"Damn it! The door won't open!"
Leoness pounds on the closed door, but there is no sign of it breaking.
Even an S-Rank adventurer like Leoness couldn't destroy it, indicating that some mechanism was at work.
'Rrrooarrr!'
The dragon, having descended onto the floor of the cathedral, stands on its hind legs and lets out a loud roar towards us.
"I can't believe there's a dragon in a place like this!"
Ryuin shouts while covering the area in front of her with both arms.
The dragon is a monster equivalent to an S-Rank adventurer.
What sets it apart from other monsters is its enormous size, ability to fly through the air, and its powerful breath (breath attack).
The size of the dragon in front of us is beyond comparison to even that of a minotaur.
Including its wings, it spans half the width of this cathedral.
"Everyone, move back! Veronica, don't let your defensive magic waver!"
"...Understood. Light, become a shield to protect── (Protection)"
Veronica's magic engulfed Leoness, causing a radiant glow to emanate from his entire body.
Suddenly, the dragon stomped the ground with its front legs.
In the next moment, enormous plant roots emerged from beneath the floor, piercing through and advancing towards Leoness.
However, Leoness skillfully intercepted the attack with his large shield.
"If it's just one, I can still defend against the attack... No, no way!"
As soon as Leoness exclaimed in surprise, the magical light that enveloped his body shattered and dispersed into the air as if it were mist.
"Does this mean that this creature's attacks ignore magic defenses?!"
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