Chapter 19 : Dungeon Excursion (4)

The Director of the Academy, Gregor, seemed to have little interest in running the academy. He was even indifferent to worldly affairs. Gregor rarely made public appearances.

Not only did a 3rd-year professor deliver speeches at entrance and graduation ceremonies in his stead, but he even sent a representative when summoned by the Emperor.

One might assume Gregor wasn’t even in his office, but standing before it would quickly dispel that notion. An overwhelming presence, defying comparison, emanated from beyond the door, a primal instinct warning not to disturb what lay within.

So, people knew Gregor was in his office, but…

“Director. It’s Professor Jimmy. Please open the door.”

Knock, knock.

Even when a professor knocked…

“Director Gregor, heed the Emperor’s command!”

Even when an imperial messenger shouted, demanding obedience to the Emperor’s decree…

No answer came. Only an empty silence.

Some, interpreting the silence as affirmation, had tried to open the door, but it remained stubbornly shut, unyielding to any force.

The director’s office door only opened when Gregor willed it.

‘He’s such a peculiar person, I don’t know much about him myself.’

Come to think of it, I didn’t know much about Director Gregor either. Even combining what I’d seen and heard in reality with my knowledge from the game, if I were to write down everything I knew about him, it would amount to a single line.

‘The reason the Emperor has to grant the academy extraterritoriality.’

It was a well-known fact among those in the know that within the academy, school rules superseded imperial law. Something that would be unthinkable under normal circumstances.

The only reason Gregor could get away with it was because he was a transcendent being who had reached the 8th rank. The Empire couldn’t afford to lose him, so they granted him excessive privileges.

Gregor was undoubtedly a formidable individual, but he was fundamentally an observer. Actually, most 8th-rank individuals were like that. As if reaching the 8th rank made them realize the futility of life, they all acted like reclusive old men.

There had been one instance of an 8th-rank master officially taking action recently. A year ago, Duke Superbia, along with other dukes, invaded Asmodeus.

Since then, there had been no news of any 8th-rank masters making a move.

“Well, those lofty 8th-rank folks are none of my concern.”

Right now, I needed to focus on what was in front of me.

After some idle chatter and getting lost in thought, we soon arrived at the deepest part of the dungeon. A massive door stood before us.

Whoooosh!

A chilling wind seeped through the cracks in the door, carrying an unmistakable, vile demonic aura. Lilia, a Sword Master, sensed more from the wind than I did. She turned and asked, “Do you know what’s in there?”
“Roughly. It was written in an old book.”

Beyond this door lay a colossal circular arena. And within that arena, a single monster resided.

The master of this dungeon.

“Ilerios. A 7th-rank monster.”
“7th-rank? We encountered a few 6th-rank monsters on the way here, but this is a sudden jump in difficulty.”
“I can’t deny that.”

In fact, that was why Taehaksan Cavern was notorious among gamers. Monsters were rare in the Empire unless specifically sought out. During its expansion, the Empire had pushed all troublesome monsters beyond its borders.

Monsters were rarely found within the Empire, except in facilities that deliberately raised them. And even then, most were low-risk. High-rank monsters were difficult to breed and nearly impossible to manage.

Therefore, encountering a 7th-rank monster was a rare event. Unless you were in a place like a dungeon.

“You said you’ve explored a dungeon before, right? Did you fight a 7th-rank monster then?”
“No. The most difficult part there was a wave of 20 6th-rank monsters.”
“A monster wave, huh.”

Dungeon boss rooms came in various types. Monster waves, like Lilia described, with hordes of relatively low-rank monsters. Maze-type dungeons that required solving gimmicks. And single-boss rooms, like the one beyond this door.

All were challenging, but we were relatively lucky.

Why?

“This will be easier than that place.”
“Even though my father and knights were there, I think fighting multiple 6th-rank monsters would be easier…”
“Do you know Ilerios’s defining characteristic?”

Lilia pondered my sudden question, then shook her head.

“No. I’ve never heard of such a monster.”
“Its magic resistance is ridiculously high.”
“Magic resistance? What does that mean?”
“Ah.”

Right, she wouldn’t understand that term.

“Magical defense power. In other words, Ilerios has high anti-magic. It can block most spells. My magic won’t even scratch it.”

It was virtually immune to magic below the 5th rank. To inflict damage, you’d need at least a 6th-rank spell, and even then, only half the damage would go through. It was essentially a mage’s nightmare.

“Th-Then isn’t this a huge problem?!”

Lilia exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency as she shook my shoulder. She glanced back the way we came.

“Shouldn’t we go back where we came from? If its anti-magic is that high, who knows how high its other stats are…!”
“Lilia, calm down.”
“How can I be calm right now?!”
“I told you to come with a light heart. Do you remember what I said?”
“I-I remember…”
“I told you I read about what’s in here. Do you think I would have come here knowing there’s a 7th-rank monster without any plan?”
“That… probably not.”

Lilia gradually calmed down at my words. She looked at me expectantly, urging me to explain further.

“Ilerios is huge and has high anti-magic. But it sacrificed a lot for that.”

Unless it was an 8th-rank monster, most monsters with one exceptionally strong trait usually had a corresponding weakness. In Ilerios’s case…

“Its defense is very low.”
“Low defense?”
“Ilerios is a draconic monster covered in scales. The scales provide minimal protection, but they’re specialized solely for blocking magic. A swing from a giant axe would shatter them.”

With a Sword Master in the party, it was essentially weaker than a 6th-rank monster. I wasn’t kidding when I said it would be easy.

Lilia, relieved, asked again, “That information… are you sure it’s accurate?”
“I’m sure. I need you to trust me.”
“If you say so… Okay, I’ll try.”

Lilia finally steeled her resolve. I told her about Ilerios’s other characteristics besides its anti-magic and defense.

Once Lilia had a complete understanding of Ilerios, we opened the door to the deepest chamber together. A colossal circular arena made of jewels unfolded before us.

Sparkle, sparkle!

A yellow light flashed from the center of the arena, and the jewels, reflecting the light, illuminated the surroundings. With the area brightened, we could see it clearly.

“That’s… Ilerios.”

Lilia, sword in hand, slowly examined the creature. She began analyzing her opponent without a hint of nervousness.

“A body several times larger than a human. Its physical abilities definitely look strong.”

Lilia’s gaze was intensely serious. Perhaps sensing her scrutinizing gaze, Ilerios began to charge towards us.

Rumble, rumble!!!

The dungeon shook as Ilerios galloped on all fours. A draconic monster, similar to a dragon, but Ilerios had no wings. Instead, it was incredibly fast even without them.

It closed the distance in an instant.

Craaaash!!

It slammed into the wall. Just before impact, Lilia had grabbed me and leaped away, dodging the attack. I thought we’d cleanly evaded it, but the collapsing wall instantly obscured our vision with dust.

Through the dust, its eyes gleamed like blue lightning. In the blink of an eye, that blue light flashed to where we were. Ilerios had closed the distance instantly.

Lilia, witnessing its speed, rushed towards it.

“You were right, it’s really fast.”

I should be able to keep up with this speed.

With that thought, Lilia swung her sword. Sword and claw were about to clash.

Slice!

Lilia’s sword severed Ilerios’s ankle. The cleanly cut ankle fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Thump!!!

The impact of the massive ankle cracked the floor. She had severed such a heavy limb with a single strike.

“That felt good… Even with a favorable matchup, it’s best to go all out.”

Lilia, having cut off Ilerios’s ankle, didn’t let her guard down but instead readjusted her stance. Although Lilia had landed a blow, a wounded monster was a dangerous one. Especially if it was of the same rank.

As if to meet Lilia’s expectations, lightning suddenly struck Ilerios’s back. No, it was emanating lightning. Ilerios, who hadn’t resembled a dragon due to its lack of wings, now looked down at Lilia, wreathed in lightning like wings.

With a face contorted in pain and fury, it looked at Lilia.

Crackle!!!

It unleashed the lightning from its back towards her.

Of course.

“Just as you said.”

She had already anticipated this. Before opening the door to the final chamber, I had explained all of its characteristics and patterns.

‘It uses lightning as a weapon. It wraps it around itself like wings to fly, or just discharges it in all directions.’

I had also told Lilia how it used its lightning. Of course, what I knew was based on Ilerios’s lightning usage in the game, and it could be different in reality, but…

Rumble, rumble!!!

It moved as expected. As the lightning flew towards her, Lilia reflexively blocked it with her sword. A sword imbued with Sword Aura could withstand lightning, but deflecting it was another matter entirely.

However, Lilia calmly cut through the lightning and walked towards Ilerios.

Click, clack.

Lilia, with the leisurely gait of someone wearing heels, blocked Ilerios’s attacks. Taking in Ilerios’s entire form, Lilia swung her sword gently.

Ten Thousand Swords.

As she swung the sword, I, watching the fight from a short distance, fell to my knees. It wasn’t because of pain or awe; I just found myself in that position when I came to my senses.

And it was the same for Ilerios.

Thud!!!

Ilerios, unable to control its massive body like a drunkard, collapsed to the ground. Wondering what was happening, I looked around and saw only Lilia standing gracefully. I realized it was her doing.

‘Asmodeus, said to deal with dreams and illusions. I’ve heard those rumors countless times.’

I never imagined she could manifest that with a sword.

Watching the fight, I couldn’t believe my eyes and finally let out a disbelieving laugh. Ilerios, whose high anti-magic made it impervious to magic, was helpless against Lilia’s sword, which wove illusions themselves.

Lilia made Ilerios lose its sense of direction, made it forget its grievous wounds, and then… she swung her sword with utmost gentleness.

It looked as if it couldn’t even cut a flower petal, but that single strike brushed past Ilerios like the drowsiness that comes just before sleep.

Slice.

When I came to, Lilia had already slit Ilerios’s throat, gently, as if in a dream.