Chapter 104: Those That Climb the Dungeon (3)

I succeeded in evolving my Crown Prince title to the Crown Prince of 40F. The rumor that the Crown Prince had appeared on the 40th floor began to spread among other continents' explorers, and my party instantly filled up whenever I created a party. As I hunted the reaper three times every day, I was allowing up to 27 explorers to advance to the 41st floor every day. Of course, this was only in the case that everyone did their jobs and managed to survive. In reality, the number of people that advanced was less than half of that number.

From what I saw, there were about 1,500 people that were stuck on the 40th floor without being able to advance. In other words, after about a hundred days, most of the explorers would have advanced. However, after two weeks, my party stopped being filled up completely.

"They're content as it is."

An old magician who left his party behind to join mine told me after the raid ended.

"They've stayed like this for dozens of years. Imagine if you were in their shoes and you were suddenly given the opportunity to grow. Some will be happy, of course. Some might even tear up and thank you... But there will also be a considerable amount of people that become scared."

"Why?"

"Because the weight on their shoulders would get heavier. The stronger you get, the more responsibility you have to bear. Plus, if you become stronger not by your own strength, but by borrowing someone else's, you will hit another wall. They don't want to see others looking at them with expectations, then becoming disappointed."

"..."

Swallowing the Soul Strengthening Elixir, I listened to the old man silently. Since I never had to bear the heavy weights they were carrying, I didn't have the right to say anything.

Getting stuck, breaking through, getting stuck, stuck, stuck. After repeating it for dozens of years, how much did they suffer?

As First Dungeon explorers, which only the most talented people were chosen to become, they undoubtedly received countless looks of envy, jealousy, and expectations. Near the end of their lives, when they realized they would only remain as mediocre warriors, how much shame would they have felt? Not to mention, for dozens of years, they would have only survived without improving... Would any passion or courage remain in their hearts? Would they be willing to challenge themselves again? Would they, who understood failure and defeat, be able to endure the expectations they would receive?

I asked the old man.

"Then what's the reason you came to defeat the reaper with me?"

"Is that even a question?"

The old magician answered with a grin.

"It's because I'm an explorer."

"Haha."

"I've failed a countless number of times, and countless numbers of people, who placed their expectations on me, turned their backs and left. I also just spent my days like the others. I've already climbed 40 floors, I've done well. Telling myself such excuses, I continued to lie to myself. But then you came. It was then that I snapped out of it. If I didn't take on the challenge now, I realized I might never get another opportunity. Even if I might end up kneeling somewhere, I want to see what lies beyond this place. I want to let the blood in this old body boil."

The old magician shouted.

"I've already experienced it for dozens of years! Even if I fail again, I wouldn't be losing anything! I'm happy, I'm extremely happy that I can finally get out of this floor! Even if I can't advance beyond the 41st floor! Even if it might only be an old man's bravado! I will go on. Because this heart is the only thing that proves that I am an explorer of the First Dungeon! So? Did that answer your question?"

"Of course."

I smiled brightly as I answered. His words pierced deep into my heart, and I couldn't help but smile.

"You can definitely climb higher. I guarantee it."

"Ha! If Crown Prince is saying that, I will believe it! Hahahaha!"

He laughed wholeheartedly, then he left my party and disappeared.

I had taken a jab when I had least expected it. But I wasn't displeased in the slightest. In fact, he had fanned my burning heart. Talking with the old magician, I was once again able to think about what a dungeon explorer was.

However, when I left the Floor Master room, I saw Lin with his usual unenthused expression. But, eh? Something about him seemed...

"What's wrong, Lin? Are you evolving?"

"I'm not evolving, but I'm being promoted."

Lin did not have his usual cigarette as he spoke.

"Damn it, and it's as Guild Master's substitute... What a headache. This is all your fault."

"Guild Master's substitute? What about Loretta?"

When I said that, Lin shot me a glare. His fiery eyes were really burning. How cool. I wondered if I could get a skill like that...?

"Do you know what a huge mess has happened?"

"Of course I don't. Explain please."

"Ku, for the first time in several hundreds of years, noonim made a request to the Lord personally. To take down the 4,187 puppets in charge of the Floor Shops and to replace them with Fairy Garden and other administrative guild's members."

"Wow."

I didn't know Loretta was in charge of 4,187 Floor Shops with her puppets. It must have been tough. While I was trying to digest what I just heard, Lin was continuing his talk.

"Lord has to listen to noonim's request. She's done an incredible amount of work for the First Dungeon's explorers, and she contributed a lot of other administrative duties..."

"Loretta did, huh..."

"She also put in several additional clauses, but what she wants is obvious... She wants to focus on supporting you."

"Eh? Me?"

"Right. Not with a puppet, but with her real body. She wants to exclusively be your supporter. Even though she's Fairy Garden's guild master... Well, you are a Hero and the most famous rookie in the dungeon. Plus, since humans have short lifespans, Lord had to accept at least this much. The problem is, I'm the one who has to work more because of you!"

I was wondering why Lin was complimenting me, but he was lashing out instead. Hearing what Lin said about Loretta wanting to support me with her real body, I thought back to her recent confession. To spend her daily life with me, she had made such a move. I couldn't help but be amazed.

"Hey, let me ask something."

Lin spoke as he stared at me fixedly.

"... Did you do it?"

"D-Do what!? No, I didn't do anything!"

"So something did happen. I doubt you made the first move, so it was noonim? Haa, how bold of her. She must have gotten impatient... So? What happened?"

"Lin, this was what you wanted to ask from the start, right?'

"Hurry up and answer. What happened? Did you do it?"

"I didn't do anything! I-It's on hold!"

Lin looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, then spat on the ground.

"You hopeless bastard... Do you even have 'it'?"

"I do!"

When I answered with a serious expression, Lin simply sighed. Then, he finally took out a cigarette and asked with a more serious voice.

"Don't make noonim cry. She's more frail and pure than you'd think. I warned you, alright?"

"I... got it. I got it, so stop glaring at me like that."

"Hmph, I said what I wanted to, so I'm leaving. Good luck further on. Don't die and don't fall. From what I can see, you're one of the few with potential in this entire dungeon, so don't lose your spirit no matter who you're up against. Got it?"

"... Thanks, Lin. Good luck too, being the guild master substitute."

"Argh... Yeah. I'm off."

Lin faded away. I stared fixedly at the place he was standing, then turned away. I could still hunt the reaper one more time. The grind wasn't over yet. However, someone interrupted me. It was Ye-Eun.

[I broke through the 20th floor!]

"You're getting faster and faster. Did you do it solo?"

[Yeah! This guy tries to act cool, but he's super weak. After being beaten up, he used something called Dragon Skin and kept slamming the ground with his spear, but he couldn't do anything when I just stayed glued to the ceiling.]

So you could do that! No, ordinary explorers wouldn't be able to stay on the ceiling on for that long! As I thought, Ye-Eun had a natural talent as an assassin. Thinking that she might actually catch up to me, I asked.

"Have you tried using Deific Manifestation?"

[Y-Yeah.]

"... Why is your voice shaking?"

[Scary. Deific Manifestation is scary.]

"Why!? What's scary!?"

[It hurts. Training is too hard.]

She was talking in short phrases like a kid. It must have been really difficult... Even while I was feeling troubled, I tried to act calm.

"You must have met a good teacher."

[She's a vicious woman. Shin, save me. I want to see you so much.]

"We can see each other soon. Once you clear up to the 25th floor, we can go out for a drink."

[Really? Okay, I'll try my best! I'll hurry!]

"Yeah, good luck. Ah, what magic did you get on the 10th floor? Did you also get Spirit Mastery?"

Although I thought Spirit Mastery was prepared for my Elementalist abilities, the solo clear rewards seemed to be fixed. From the rewards Ren told me about and with Ye-Eun also getting Deific Manifestation on the 5th floor, I was pretty sure of it. However, what Ye-Eun said next surprised me.

[Ah, I got something called Shadowsword Mastery. It's super fun! If I hold my dagger and attack, my shadow attacks one more time! Or I can add my shadow's power to me directly and hit harder! It's super good!]

"What, that's so cool!"

So the 10th floor reward was different! It was the perfect skill for Ye-Eun who was focused on attacking. Even while I was writhing in jealousy, I tried to act cool and congratulated her.

[Shin, what floor are you in now?]

"I'm grinding on the 40th floor."

[Then I'll catch up soon!]

"We'll see. If you look down on the dungeon, you'll regret it. Be careful."

[I, I don't look down on it. I really don't. Uk, I'll get scolded again. Master will scold me.]

"Just who did you summon...?"

Even I felt slight fear at Ye-Eun's master that I had not met yet.

Author's notes: N/A