[Lucky Overpowered] — I Became a Background Character Meant to Die in the Game’s Opening, But Now I’m Overpowered and Fighting to Save My All-Time Favorite Alchemist Heroine - Episode 16

The boss room on the fifth floor was more spacious than I’d expected. Like the rest of the dungeon corridors we’d passed through, the room was built from seamless white stone. The floor, walls, and ceiling all seemed to glow faintly, illuminating the windowless space in a soft, pale light.

At the center of this wide chamber stood five small figures, each about the size of a ten-year-old child.

But they weren’t human. Their disproportionately large ears, rusty swords, and meager loincloths barely covering their green skin gave them away.

They were goblins—monsters we had fought and defeated many times before.

However, until now, we had only ever faced them one at a time. This was the first time we’d be fighting five at once.

It might not be much in terms of sheer numbers, but with only Lise and me here, we were definitely at a numerical disadvantage.

Still, I believed we could overcome the odds.

The moment we burst into the boss room, I raised my bow.

My target: the goblin in the center. The distance between us was about twenty meters.

I took aim and loosed an arrow.

The shot hit the central goblin square in the gut, sending it flying in a bent arc from the force of the blow.

As if that had been their signal, the remaining four goblins charged straight toward us.

I quickly drew another arrow from my quiver, notching it to my bow. Normally, I’d draw using the strength of my shoulders, rotating them into place—but this time I forced the draw with my arm strength alone.

Every second counted.

Thirteen meters. I fired.

The arrow hit the goblin in the forehead. It collapsed backward with a thud and burst into a puff of white smoke. Four left.

“Take this!”

From beside me, I heard Lise’s voice as something sailed through the air.

She’d thrown a misshapen brown bottle.

The bottle shattered in front of the oncoming goblins with a sharp crack, instantly erupting into flames. It was Lise’s homemade ignition potion—in essence, a Molotov cocktail.

Now that she could craft ignition potions, Lise had gained a means of direct offense.

And her throw had been spot on.

I had encouraged her to practice throwing, and her training had clearly paid off.

That’s my Lise. I wanted to hug her right then and there.

Two of the goblins were caught in the flames, likely from the fuel that had splashed onto them. They wouldn’t survive.

That left just two goblins—one uninjured, and the other still standing despite the arrow lodged in its belly. One was about six meters away; the other, fourteen.

“I’ll finish them off!”

I dropped my bow and drew the daggers from my waist. I’d take them down in close combat. With some space between the two, I could take them one at a time.

I’d fought goblins in melee many times to reach this point. I had no intention of losing now.

I raised my daggers and charged at the nearer, uninjured goblin.

It raised its rusted sword to meet me. Its weapon had a longer reach, but our difference in size meant our effective ranges were about the same.

I didn’t hesitate—I stepped right into its attack range.

I parried its sword with the dagger in my left hand, then drove the dagger in my right hand into its throat. With a twist of my wrist, the goblin spasmed and vanished in a puff of white smoke.

One down. One to go.

Charging through the dissipating smoke, I spotted the last goblin—still staggering, the arrow protruding from its gut.

Wounded and now alone, any advantage it had was gone. There was no way it could win.

But the goblin didn’t seem to understand that. It let out a cry and charged, sword raised.

Monsters in dungeons don’t retreat. It was as if they were programmed to fight until they were defeated and disappeared into smoke. The mindless, insect-like persistence was unsettling in its own way.

But I wasn’t the type to flinch at something like that. Kill or be killed. I chose the former—without hesitation.

I surged forward, picking up speed.

As the goblin swung its sword, I sidestepped, slipping past it and slicing clean through its neck.

From the stump, white smoke gushed out like bl00d, and then—poof—its body dissolved into mist.

That’s the last of them.

“Nice work, Gee.”

“You too. That ignition potion of yours really turned the tide.”

“I’m just glad I threw it properly.”

Lise’s modest smile as she said that was so beautiful, I wished I could take a screenshot and save it forever—but alas, my eyes didn’t come with a screenshot function. Why not!?

Was there no way for me to preserve this stunning image of Lise for all eternity!?

No, I won’t give up that easily! Maybe I can’t take a screenshot—but I can engrave this moment into my mind!

“Gee? What’s wrong? You’ve got a really intense look on your face…”

“It’s just… I really want to save this image of you.”

“S-Save!?”

“Yeah. I want to etch it into my memory.”

“Don’t look at me like that! It’s embarrassing! Ah! Look! There’s a treasure chest over there! Hurry and open it!”

Fleeing from my gaze, Lise ran toward the treasure chest that had appeared in the center of the room. She was wearing the maid outfit I’d recommended, topped with a trench coat, and for some reason, the words military maid popped into my head.