The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 7

Chapter 7: Twilight Sword Tomb

Medium-sized dungeons and above often exhibit unique characteristics. In the case of the Twilight Sword Tomb, it features an atmosphere resembling an underground graveyard and names carved in ancient script on each level, making it distinct.

On levels 1 to 3, wandering skeletons and ghouls populate the “Ground Where the Nameless Rest.”

On levels 4 to 5, higher-tier armed skeletons start attacking, creating the “Hill Where the Saints Were Debased.”

On level 6, superior creatures like Bone Golems and Zombie Chimeras appear in the “Plaza Where Returning Soldiers Were Executed.”

And finally, the boss room on the lowest level, the “Tomb of Undying Regret.”

Normally, the appearance rates aren’t high, and up to level 5, the danger level isn’t too severe for a dungeon. However…

“Enchant: Flame Fire!”

Using enchantment magic, I coated my weapon with flames and sliced through a charging Zombie Chimera. Its rotten leg was severed, and as it fell, I swiftly chopped off its vulnerable head with a hand axe.

“We’re only on the 5th level…”

After confirming that the Zombie Chimera had turned into a magic stone, I continued forward. The situation where monsters from the lower levels were infiltrating the higher ones was more dire than expected.

Upon reaching the 6th level, the air grew heavier. Still, thanks to the party that went ahead of me, the number of encountered monsters was lower than anticipated.

Advancing with the flaming weapon acting as a torch, I heard sounds of battle from deeper within. As I reached a corridor that opened into a plaza, I saw a group that seemed to be the party I had heard about, along with a skeletal figure clad in armor swinging a massive sword.

(Skull General!? Has the dungeon boss emerged from the depths!?)

The swordsman and the spear user were fighting while protecting a heavily wounded warrior and a mage. But they seemed exhausted and were on the defensive. There was no time to assess the situation; I leaped from behind as the Skull General sensed me and swung its massive sword in my direction.

“Wind Step!”

Using wind magic, I propelled myself into the air to evade the sword’s swing. Twisting my body midair, I thrust my small sword into its skull.

“Ugh…”

As the Skull General staggered, I landed on the ground. I infused my hand axe with magic power, enhancing its force, and struck it behind the knee – an area where the armor was thinner. The sound of metal buckling echoed as its leg was blown off.

With the Skull General losing balance and falling, I thrust my hand axe into its elbow, the arm holding the massive sword. Then I manipulated the magic-infused small sword still embedded in its skull.

“Rest.”

I tore its skull open with the small sword, then gripped it with both hands, channeling magic power into it. With a forceful swing, I drove it into its chest, armor and all.

“Ugh…”

The Skull General’s arm dropped to the ground, its body crumbled, and it transformed into a magic stone. As I turned around, I noticed the swordsman and the spear user were looking at me with astonished expressions.

“…Galan’s party?”

“Uhh, y-yes, and who might you be?”

“I’m Berg, dispatched from Walkria. Explain the situation.”

“G-Got it! We need to call for reinforcements quickly! That guy who sacrificed himself to buy us time will die if we don’t!”

The swordsman, flustered but coherent, began recounting what had happened…

―――――

Galan’s led party had managed to defeat the Skull General in the lowest level’s boss room, but when they attempted to investigate the cause afterward, an immense surge of magic and darkness erupted from a sword-shaped object in the back of the room. Multiple unknown black-armored creatures emerged.

They fought immediately, but a particularly formidable leader-like creature in robust armor inflicted a fatal wound on Galan. Though surrounded, one of the swordsmen threw himself into the fray to buy time and managed to retreat.

And that’s where I arrived, just as the Skull General from earlier attacked them once more.

“I understand the situation. You guys need to escape and call for help.”

I handed them a healing potion and quickly downed a mana potion and a stamina potion for myself, tossing the empty bottles aside before readjusting my weapon.

“I’ll go for the rescue mission.”