Chapter 197

Chapter 197

"I survived because I'm Jung Garam right now..."

That was what I thought as I crawled up onto the shore. Like a fool, I couldn't control the strength of my skill, and I sprinted off a cliff, plummeting into the grand valley below.

Fortunately, Jung Garam's body was able to hold its breath underwater for a very long time. Of course, it was as frustrating as breathing in a humid sauna, but I was still able to breathe. Therefore, I was able to avoid drowning.

"Haah... By the way, what's wrong with the map here..."

After narrowly managing to crawl to shore, I checked where I was in the dungeon. I tried to manifest the map and confirm my location, but, as soon as I tried to use the skill, a system message blinked at me. [The map can't be loaded now]. The skill didn't activate.

[Seo Dawon: I think I've been caught by this dungeon's [Maze]...]

[Seo Dawon: I keep coming back to the same spot for a while now]

[Bang Eunji: Yes, I also tried to send the exact coordinates inside the dungeon but failed.]

[Seo Dawon: Then, I'll just break it down one by one and come to you]

[Seo Dawon: Is Kyung-sik-ie alright?]

[Bang Eunji: Thanks to my wonderful performance, we haven't been hurt.]

[Bang Eunji: It's just that today, once again, he's luggage hehe]

[Choi Kyung-sik: TT_TT ]

Looking at their conversation, I assumed that [Maze] was a skill that neutralized all skills that generated coordinates.

After reading Seo Dawon and Bang Eunji's shared messages, I shook the dust off my body and got up without replying. For now, I decided to head straight along the road in front of me. The forest road continued endlessly.

"Is this the right way to go? There are no monsters appearing... Not that I want them to appear..."

The issue, though, was that the road progressed far too leisurely than expected for a dungeon.

Of course, the scenic view couldn't have been better. It wasn't like the grime or bizarre dungeons I had been to in the past; heavenly natural scenery gradually peeped out of the fog-akin to something one might see in a xianxia 1 In addition, bamboo forest spread out from both sides of the road, wafting its subtle scent past my nose.

[OooKkiKki!]

"What is... that?"

However, Jung Garam's perceptive body soon detected something strange.

When I focused on a black shadow zooming through the bamboo forest, my gaze quickly zoomed in like the lens of a camera. When I looked at the moving shadow again, this time I could identify it.

Dozens of monkeys, that sported golden fur growing from the middle of its forehead, were crawling up the bamboo trees while observing me with their gleaming eyes. They exuded violent intent unique to monsters, but I was able to relax slightly when I saw their names.

[Son Wukong's Children] 2

The monster's name, above their heads, was colored green.

Except for Boss or Named monsters, the titles that appeared above the mob's heads were all colored differently. The color was determined according to the level of the User that saw the monster; if the monster's level was lower and significantly weaker than the User, its name was displayed in green.

In contrast, if the monster's level was significantly higher and the User would have a difficult time dealing with it, the monster's name would shine red. In other words, "Son Wukong's Children" were monsters that Jung Garam could easily beat even if hundreds of them were to attack en masse.

Maybe the enemies had their own ways of measuring a User's ability; the monsters simply observed me from far away without rushing in.

"Ah, then... Maybe it wasn't that the road here was too leisurely-perhaps all the enemies just couldn't attack me?"

Jung Garam, you're really amazing?!

After realizing that, I glanced down at Jung Garam's two arms in surprise. I hadn't even taken out a dagger yet-to think that this unarmed body could generate enough force to discourage a monster from attacking...

[We've built our king a pond out of alcohol.]

However, my relaxed attitude soon came to an end. In the blink of an eye, the path led out of the bamboo forest. The way in front of me was hidden by thick fog-thicker than before-so, I could hardly see an inch ahead.

Then, as soon as I briefly paused, a coquettish voice wrapped around my ears before scattering into the wind. Simultaneously, I sniffed the fragrant sweet scent of alcohol.

[In his hands, we placed meat that would melt on the tongue and even more gentle, beautiful women.]

"Inventory!"

I took out the dagger stored in the inventory at the unusual aura that surrounded me. However, the enemy-still unrevealed-continued to monologue mockingly in a lilting sing-song voice.

[Jump around in this paradise all night. Forget all the weary and exhausting times...]

When at last the monologue finished, the fog cleared as if it had been washed away. Seven immortal fairies wearing silk appeared before me.

They were all dressed in different colors, but their beautiful faces were the same; their feet may have been exposed underneath the skirts if not for the clouds that hid them. Surprisingly, they stood on clouds-not the ground-as they looked towards me.

In addition, beneath the fairies' floating feet, a huge pond with the terrible stench of alcohol had appeared.

The lotus flowers floating on the pond surface were all made of gold, the crucian carps that occasionally surfaced were created from jewels, moreover, there were extravagant dolls attached to the submerged waterwheel. As that wheel turned, the captured carps splashed about.

Furthermore, there was a huge boat floating behind the fairies; on that luxurious boat shaped like a white dragon, people laughed and twirled around-a lavish banquet was being held atop the boat.

[Immortal Shadow Fairy]

On top of all that, the names above the heads of the fairies were colored orange. Of course, that was better than red, but it still meant that these monsters weren't as weak as the green ones that couldn't dare attack me.

Anxious, I fixed my grip on Garam's dagger and lowered my center of gravity. As soon as I bent my knees, the fairies smiled gently-all at the same time, as if they had rehearsed. Of course, the sight of seven human-shaped monsters smiling simultaneously was more gruesome than beautiful.

[We will make you happy.]

[Forget about all that makes you sad and weary.]

[Don't worry about the rising and setting sun.]

[Happiness lasts forever.]

[On the boat that floats above the alcohol pond.]

[The never-ending banquet is opening.]

The fairies, singing gracefully one verse at a time, rode their clouds and rose higher and higher.

Only then did I notice that each of them held an instrument within their arms. Though I couldn't tell what each instrument was, the immortal fairies soon commanded attention in this area by starting to play their gold and loquat seed studded instruments.

[Strum~~]

[The 'Immortal Shadow Fairies' performance has begun; the debuff has been applied. We recommend using earplugs!]

[Movement speed is reduced by 35%]

[Curse resistance has been disabled. 10... 9... 8... ]

[Stamina has been greatly reduced.]

'...Is it a buff-type monster?'

When the fairies began performing-like a bard- and applying status ailments, I thought they would be quite difficult to handle. This time, I felt even more annoyed at the playfully sarcastic system message, such as recommending earplugs.

However, the [Immortal Shadow Fairies'] attacks did not directly damage me. Even if I were to try and get close to them, the monsters were floating atop the pond-I would have no foothold. Instead, I decided to ignore the debuff for now and focus on the white boat floating behind them.

'Are they all monsters...?'

After looking at the boat with a discerning eye, I fell silent as I noted that all the humanoid monsters on the boat had orange titles.

At a first glance, it seemed like there were hundreds of folks there... No matter how strong Jung Garam may be, would he be able to fight against all of them in an alcoholic pond arena? Furthermore, I haven't even seen the boss of this place yet.

'There are also assassins dotted throughout this dungeon...' I paused my movements, briefly contemplating my situation.

It was then.

Swish-!

The airflow shifted unusually; I reflexively turned my head to the right. Immediately, a sound of air ripping passed by, brushing past my ear.

After what felt like the gentle brush of an arrow shaft against my cheek, I checked what direction the attack flew from. I was able to quickly find the archer. The archer did not bother to hide and, even for such a fancy boat party, he was peerless in his clothed finery.

[What an amusing goldfish.]

From the stern of the ship, a man with long hair, crimson inner-clothes, and blue outer robes 3 stared at me while laxly gripping a bow that spanned his height. Contrary to his disappointed-upset that he'd missed his shot-gaze, the man's cheeks were flushed pink, and his mouth smiled innocently.

My breath faltered when I saw the star symbol that marked this man as a boss monster above his head.

['De Xin' has acknowledged you. Boss Monster, 'Lord Zhou Di Xin's large-scale attack will begin in 5 seconds.] 4

The moment I read the man's name above his head, a system message had popped up. Simultaneously, the boss monster, [De Xin], looked back and barked orders to those on the ship.

[The hunting party will now begin.]

The group of people that had been joyfully laughing stopped in the middle of their merriment. The dancers turned to look at me; the immortal fairies also stopped strumming and turned their gazes on me.

Then, raising his chin, [De Xin] broke the silence.

[Catch him alive.]

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TL: There's going to be a lot of uploads this week >.<

We're in a Xianxia dungeon! I really personally like xianxia/mortal arts as backdrops for dungeons tbh.

Footnotes