CHAPTER 246 – CURU’S CHALLENGE AND ADVANCED DUNGEON CONQUEST 1

 

—Curulario’s Perspective—

「That oppressive atmosphere crawling over my skin, the rapid pounding in my chest… it was only a few days ago, and yet it feels like it’s been forever since I last felt this way.」

The Advanced Dungeon: Tower of the Lion. I’ve come here solo once again, into a place reeking of death.

But this time, it’s clearly different from before.

I’ve trained under five mentors—gentle, yet merciless—and spent every day brushing shoulders with death. That training has become the foundation of a newfound confidence. Not only that, I’ve reevaluated how I handle myself when alone, identified my strengths and weaknesses, and learned to avoid disadvantageous situations at all costs.

「There’s a lot I’ve come to understand only after studying under Master Aun and the others.」

Why would Master Aun send me into a dungeon solo?

It’s the enormous experience I can gain in exchange for the risk. Even just in terms of experience points, solo combat yields far more than fighting in a party. And I’ve already learned firsthand that acquiring new skills and leveling them up directly correlates with how many times I use them.

One thing I came to understand through talking with my masters is just how abnormal my growth rate is. I’d been too desperate to notice it myself, but even the masters were taken aback by how fast my level and skills increase. Hearing that made me feel not only proud, but gave me real hope for the future.

My masters don’t lie—whether to spare feelings or not.

They’ll call out my flaws without sugarcoating, and they’ll praise my strengths with full sincerity. It was selfish of me to ask for their guidance in the first place, but they didn’t once show annoyance. Instead, they made time for me and trained me diligently.

And so, there’s only one thing I can do to repay them.

Live up to their expectations—and go beyond them. Shock them with results that surpass even what they hoped for.

I’m fully aware that I still lack in every area. Not just the qualifications needed to enter the Dragon Tower, but in my level, my stats, my command of magic and skills, my experience, and my strategic thinking. That’s precisely why Master Aun gave me the task of conquering an advanced dungeon solo.

To be honest, there are other ways to get access to the Dragon Tower.

Both Calvados and Tekirana make use of a method where high-level parties that have already cleared the advanced dungeon bring newcomers along and carry them through the dungeon and the Boss battle. It’s called boosting or carrying, and while the Adventurers’ Guild considers this a dangerous act and doesn’t recommend it, it isn’t explicitly forbidden.

Naturally, the more people who qualify to enter the supreme-rank dungeon—Dragon Tower, the more personnel can be allocated to monopolize hunting grounds and expand strategic options. Even Tekirana tries to increase its numbers by any means possible to break Calvados’ current monopoly.

Of course, as the designation ‘Advanced-rank Dungeon’ suggests, clearing the Lion Tower marks you as one of the elite even in a place as competitive as Wislo.

But even among the elite, the gap in skill is vast—as wide as heaven and earth.

What my master has tasked me with this time… is to become Tekirana’s ‘trump card’. I still don’t fully understand what that means, but at the very least, it’s clearly not just about dealing with weaker foes en masse.

「So I’ve got one or two more walls to break through. And when I do finally conquer this advanced dungeon… I should have what I need to overcome them.」

That said, the fact that I’m constantly one misstep away from death hasn’t changed. One mistake and I’m done for. First, I need to analyze the monsters and their attack patterns on the first floor, and proceed with caution—but boldly, when necessary.

「Oh? Looks like we’ve got our first customer.」

Keeping low and erasing my presence as best I could, I scanned the surroundings. I soon found a group of monsters approaching me. A lower-B rank Killing Leo, with a Red Goblin riding on its back.

(They haven’t noticed me yet. I’ve got to prep and take them out in one go.)

I used 【Tail Sever】 and 【Rapid Regeneration】, then activated 【Form Shift】 and applied both 【Venom Attack】 and 【Paralytic Venom Attack】. I suppressed my killing intent as much as possible while waiting for an opening.

That’s when the Killing Leo twitched its nose, sniffing the air—and turned its head in my direction.

(Crap!)

It charged straight for me, the Red Goblin still mounted. I had managed to hide my killing intent and presence, but I hadn’t masked my scent. I should’ve moved upwind the moment I spotted them.

But it’s too late for that now.

I sprang to my feet and readied myself to counter. Then I whipped my tail around at high speed and flung it toward the Killing Leo from its blind spot.

Unlike fire wolves, these things just charge in a straight line, so they’re relatively easy to deal with. I kept my cool and focused on bringing down the Killing Leo first—but then, the Red Goblin leapt off its back and fired a crossbow at me.

「Compared to Master Aun’s lightning spears, this thing’s basically a toy!」

I dodged while maintaining control over my tail. It stabbed into the Killing Leo’s side, spinning furiously and delivering both paralysis and poison effects.

(Now it’s just a one-on-one with the Red Goblin. If I take it slow and steady, I should be fi—huh!?)

—Piiiiiiiiiiiii!!

I whipped my head toward the sound, like a whistle—only to see the Red Goblin with fingers in its mouth, blowing a piercing signal.

The first strike had gone so smoothly, I’d gotten complacent. I had the upper hand and thought I had a read on their capabilities. That whistle? Almost certainly a call for reinforcements… Looking back now, I should’ve prioritized eliminating the Red Goblin before anything else.

「Damn it!」

I vanished from sight again and darted behind the Red Goblin, slamming my short sword into its back.

Without missing a beat, I turned and used my tail again to finish off the Killing Leo. But even as I took both enemies down, I heard the rumble of footsteps from all sides.

More Killing Leos and Red Goblins were charging straight at me.

Four more pairs. Eight enemies total.

「…You’ve got to be kidding me.」