READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 47
47. Conclusive Destruction
I was dumbfounded by the sight of the Lizardman vanishing with a single attack spell from Meriel.
Lilith and Alice were also wide-eyed with surprise.
“Oh, I accidentally defeated it… I should have let the monster attack to gauge Haruto’s strength… I missed the opportunity.”
Meriel didn’t look too pleased with herself.
“Huh, opportunity?”
“N-no, it’s nothing, oh-hohoho.”
Meriel covered her mouth with the back of her hand and laughed heartily.
…This girl always acts the same way when she’s trying to hide something.
“Amazing, it’s like you’re an S-rank adventurer~.”
“Ugh, it’s making me lose confidence…”
Alice was impressed, while Lilith was feeling down.
After easily defeating the Lizardman, which seemed to be a guard, we proceeded through the door.
Apparently, it was the deepest part, resembling a sanctuary.
Ahead was a giant mural.
It had clearly endured many years, showing damage all over.
The mural depicted seven figures: a knight in heavy armor, a maiden with wings, a human with a dragon’s face, and a person shrouded in flames, among others.
Each had a gem embedded in their chest: white, red, blue, green, purple, black, and… rainbow-colored.
The red and rainbow gems were flickering.
Was it just the lighting?
Or perhaps──.
“The Seven Ancient Gods, I suppose.”
Meriel murmured.
“What?”
“Though it’s quite deteriorated, it’s likely a depiction of ancient gods. The central dragon man is Supreme God Galezza, the knight is War God Vim Force, and the one wrapped in flames is God of Fire and Slaughter, Melgias──”
“You know a lot.”
“Oh, that… I read it in a book once. Oh-hohoho.”
Meriel hastily covered her mouth, letting out her usual laugh.
…It’s obvious she’s lying.
I smirked inwardly.
But what is she trying to hide?
Anyway, our exploration is finished for now──.
The next day, we returned to the guild and handed over documents detailing the ruins’ paths and traps to the reception.
“Thank you all so much.”
Meriel bowed deeply to us.
“We should be the ones thanking you. Thanks, Haruto, and you too, Meriel.”
“It was a joint effort. Meriel did a great job too~.”
“Yeah, you took down that Lizardman in one hit.”
I recalled her spell from the previous day.
It was impressive.
“It was amazing… I need to work harder.”
Lilith was fired up.
“Hopefully, we can work together again.”
“But why did you invite me?”
Meriel asked, looking puzzled.
“Even if I level up, it doesn’t benefit you.”
“It’s not about benefits. We’re friends now, and helping friends makes us happy. Right, sis?”
“Yeah!”
Lilith and Alice nodded to each other.
“Friends…?”
Meriel muttered softly.
At that moment,
“Hey, you lot really cleared the dungeon?”
A rough voice broke into our conversation.
“We B-rankers couldn’t do it… What the hell?”
“It must be a cheat! A cheat for sure!”
The adventurers we met at the dungeon entrance yesterday started shouting.
“Lilith and Alice are also B-rank.”
I thought they were higher-ranked, given their condescension.
“So, so what! They only became adventurers through connections. We’re different; we climbed up through sheer effort!”
Others badmouthed Lilith and Alice before, and these guys were the same type.
“What’s the commotion?”
“Hey, it’s the famous Lafiel’s…”
Drawn by the noise, bystanders gathered.
Adventurers and passersby alike.
──Shiver.
I felt a sudden, strange chill.
What was that…?
“Hey, are you scared? Because you indeed cheated, right?”
“We didn’t cheat. We──”
“Then prove it. We’ll see if you’re ‘real’ adventurers.”
The man who challenged me suddenly took a stance.
He crouched low, right arm vertical, left hand at his waist.
He seemed like a martial artist.
In the next instant, he moved.
Fast──!
He circled behind me at a speed beyond my reaction.
Then his thick arms wrapped around my neck.
It was a smooth chokehold.
Being a combat novice, I couldn’t resist.
──Not that I needed to.
An angelic emblem floated in front of me, and a soft light enveloped my body.
“Heh, I won’t drop you right away. Suffer as you gradually lose breath.”
True to his word, he didn’t tighten all at once.
He gradually increased the pressure on his arms while holding me.
“How’s that? Hurting, isn’t it? Hahaha.”
I coldly listened to his triumphant voice.
My skill was protecting me, so I felt nothing.
“W-what the hell…?”
The man’s confident voice now had a tone of confusion.
“Something’s wrong… I can’t choke him…!?”
“Go ahead, squeeze as hard as you can.”
I smirked.
“D-damn you!”
He furiously tightened his grip.
Probably at full strength now.
But it was useless.
I switched my [Armor Phase] from ‘absorb’ to ‘repel.’
Reflecting his power back, I sent him flying.
“Argh…”
Because he had been straining, the counter was even stronger, slamming him into the ground.
“D-damn it, you… I’m seriously pissed now…!”
The man stood, face red with rage.
“You’ve been mad this whole time.”
I was growing tired of it.
“Shut up! Now I’m really mad!”
“When we’re mad, we do crazy things, hehehe.”
Other adventurers prepared to join in.
“We don’t care if you’re a noblewoman, we’ll do what we have to!”
“Actually, we’d love to, hehehe.”
Their vulgar gazes shifted to Lilith and Alice.
“What did you say…!?”
I couldn’t let that slide.
If they harmed Lilith or Alice──.
The thought alone ignited a fierce anger.
“Don’t mess with me. I won’t let you──”
I started to step toward them,
“──[Reload].”
A cold voice suddenly cut through.
“Huh?”
“[Bullet].”
In the empty air, a small red sphere appeared.
About the size of a palm, it flew at one of the men, sinking into his chest──.
“Ugh…”
With a groan, the man collapsed.
“H-hey, Lyle!?”
“What happened, get up!?”
The adventurers crouched by the fallen man.
“H-he’s dead──.”