S24 Elro Great Labyrinth攻略①
A place unknown.
An expansive space.
Within it, a single woman stood.
Her upper body remained intact, but the majority of her form had dissolved into the space around her.
An agonizing sight.
From her mouth, words emerged mechanically.
『Mastery level has reached threshold』
『Experience points have reached threshold』
『Mastery level has reached threshold』
……
『Pain』
She jolts upright.
Frantically checks her surroundings.
A lamp casts faint light.
The walls, illuminated, are raw rock, unaltered by hand. The ground, even through the sleeping bag, feels rigid.
Elro Great Labyrinth, upper levels.
She recalls her location. Recalls the situation.
Right. They had come here to traverse the continent.
This was the second day inside the labyrinth.
It was nighttime, so they were taking turns on watch while resting.
Wiping sweat from the brow.
What was that dream, anyway?
"Are you alright?"
The teacher leaned in from the side, peering at my face.
Watch duty was assigned in pairs.
The current watch consisted of the teacher and Busgas.
He had noticed me jerking awake and came over out of concern.
"I'm fine. Just had a bad dream."
Smiling to dismiss it.
That was, in fact, true.
"Bad omen, that."
Busgas seized on my words, brushing them off lightly.
"A bad omen?"
"Yep. You've heard of the labyrinth's nightmares, right?"
"No. Never heard of it."
Even Busgas, usually loud, kept his voice low now that the others were asleep.
It exuded an atmosphere as if recounting a ghost story—gloomy and heavy.
"I know it. It referred to a myth-class monster that suddenly appeared in the labyrinth over ten years ago, correct?"
"Know it well."
Myth-class monster.
That designation referred to a creature whose danger level exceeded S-rank—beyond human capacity to confront.
"Dreams are the living calamity of the Elrow Great Labyrinth, second only to the Queen. To dream of nightmares... that may be a harbinger of the nightmare’s arrival."
"But wasn’t that monster eradicated?"
"According to common belief, yes."
"According to common belief?"
"Ah. According to common belief, it was slaughtered en masse by a legion, and finally destroyed completely by a direct hit from a great spell. But I can't bring myself to believe that. Could a monster like that really die so easily? I think it's still alive somewhere, watching and waiting—patiently, like a predator—just waiting for its next prey."
"Your words are as if you'd seen it yourself."
"Right. What's the point of hiding it? I was the first to discover the nightmare."
Busgas puffs out his chest, as if proud.
Well. One could say it's impressive, I suppose.
“At the time, there was an incident involving abnormal monster emergence. I was assigned as the guide for the knightly contingent sent to investigate the cause and cull the monsters. The cause turned out to be the nightmare driving nearby monsters away. We didn’t know that. We marched straight to the nightmare’s stronghold. I still remember it clearly. When our eyes met, I felt no sense of life at all.”
Busgas shudders, as if recalling the memory.
“Remarkable you survived.”
“That’s the thing. The nightmare has an odd habit—some might say a peculiar trait. It ignores you if you don’t make the first move. Worse, it even heals your wounds.”
“Huh?”
"You don't believe it? After that, the expedition force sent to eliminate it—apparently touched a nerve—was wiped out without warning. Then, when it emerged from the Great Labyrinth of Elro, it razed the fortress, appeared during active warfare, and began indiscriminate slaughter. A massive incident, to say the least. Yet it randomly helps people too. No one can predict its behavior. That's why it's called a mysterious creature—unpredictable, inconsistent."
What kind of chaotic monster is that?
Is it even a monster, really?
"Frankly, one thing is certain about nightmares—they're overwhelmingly strong. Monk, you seem quite confident in your abilities. I won't say it's wrong to believe in your strength, but heed this: reconsider now. From the way you fight, arrogance is evident. Believing in your own skill isn't a flaw, but there's always someone above you. If you think your strength can overcome anything, remember this: there are opponents you cannot defeat. Lock that into your mind."
A sharp intake of breath.
Indeed, upon reflection, that's true.
Since entering the Elrow Great Labyrinth, I haven't faced a single battle that could be called difficult.
The monsters that emerge are certainly troublesome by common standards, but to me, they're all weak, low-tier enemies.
If arrogance is what he's accusing me of, then... I can't deny it.
"Apologies. I'll be more careful from now on."
"Ah. That's exactly what you need to avoid."
I apologized sincerely, yet was spoken to like that.
That was more than I could tolerate.
"Why?"
"Kid, you're fundamentally misunderstanding. What I'm saying is about everything you saw. Not just within this labyrinth. You ignored my warning when entering. You鉴定'd the Water Dragon, didn't you?"
It was exposed.
The teacher suddenly looked at me.
That was bad.
I'd heard that initiating an鉴定 on someone could provoke hostility, even if only by causing discomfort.
That meant the Water Dragon might have breathed fire because I had鉴定'd it.
"Shun-kun? Is that true?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Trying to dodge it now would only worsen things.
I apologized directly.
"The Water Dragon's breath wasn't solely your fault. It doesn't tolerate intruders in its territory."
A sigh escaped him, relief washing over.
So it wasn't my fault after all.
"But even so, you ignored my warning. You still took the risk. You put your companions in danger. This time, luck held. Everyone was blown toward the cave. But one misstep—any misstep—and one of your companions might have been left behind, trapped before the Water Dragon. What would you have done then? If that had happened, what would you have done?"
A cold sensation rushed through his body, as if blood were draining away.
Yes. If someone had been left behind at that moment.
If Katia or the others had been alone, facing the Water Dragon.
No survival mechanism existed.
And even if he had been swept away, he would have had no means to return and help.
Even the Mercy skill—its usability uncertain.
The odds it would fail were far higher.
"Do you understand? The monk lacks a proper sense of crisis. He thinks he’s invincible no matter what. That unwarranted confidence shows through clearly. I’ll admit—he’s strong for a human. Admitted, I say. There are always higher tiers. Even without that, one careless move from him could cost a comrade their life without warning. I’ve seen too many die from such negligence, by profession. Lives that could’ve been saved—lost due to momentary carelessness, a lapse in focus. Doesn’t that strike you as absurd?"
No counterargument formed.
Perhaps I had, without noticing, become a tengu.
Perhaps I had grown too confident in my own strength.
That long nose—now snapped clean in half.
My recklessness. One of my companions sacrificed.
That cannot be permitted.
Struck my own face with full force to steel my resolve.
HP dropped sharply.
But this is sufficient.
From now on, no negligence, no arrogance.
"Thank you for the advice."
Bowed deeply in the prostrate style.
Even Busgas seemed taken aback, as did the instructor.
"Hmph. So you actually took an old man's ramblings seriously."
"No. I’ve awakened because of it. I’ve been complacent until now. If I’d continued, I’d have reached a point beyond recovery."
In fact, I’m already beyond recovery.
And yet, complacency lingers.
Of course Katia would say so.
Something’s been wrong with me lately.
I’ve just realized it clearly.
This is not a peaceful Japan.
I must be more aware of that fact.
If I continue to think in Japanese terms, I might lose something else.
I cannot afford to lose anything further.
“Hmph. You’ve got a look on your face that’s at least a little more serious.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, purely out of curiosity—could you defeat the Water Dragon if you fought it?”
I pause, considering the question from Busgas.
“I believe it would be difficult.”
There’s no point pretending. I give a straightforward assessment of combat potential.
“In water, our physical attack power drops significantly. Yet magic attacks are also weakened by the dragon’s species-specific skill that disrupts magic. Victory underwater is unlikely.”
“Then on land?”
“Five minutes, perhaps.”
“Damn.”
Busgas mutters, clearly surprised.
The teacher narrows his eyes, scrutinizing me.
What?
Did I say something odd?
And a discomfort pierces through the body.
Tracing its source, Busgas was smirking.
“Ah, so it’s not entirely empty boasting, is it?”
Was that an鉴定?
“Isn’t that a breach of etiquette?”
“Idiot. This is part of tactical analysis—necessary for safely navigating the labyrinth.”
Is it really just a matter of wording?
Clearly, he was curious about my stats and peeked out of interest.
Then, I’ll return the favor.
I perform an鉴定 on Busgas.
The result shocks me.
『Race: Human LV66 Name: Busgas
Status
HP: 933/933 (Green) (Details)
MP: 829/829 (Blue) (Details)
SP: 949/949 (Yellow) (Details)
Stamina: 901/931 (Red) (Details)
Average Attack: 903 (Details)
Average Defense: 887 (Details)
Average Magic Ability: 821 (Details)
Average Resistance Ability: 824 (Details)
Average Speed Ability: 902 (Details)
Skills
HP Regeneration Speed LV3, MP Regeneration Speed LV9, MP Consumption Reduction LV9, Magic Perception LV9, Magic Manipulation LV8, Magical Combat Technique LV5, Magic Infusion LV4, Magic Impact LV4, SP Regeneration Speed LV5, SP Consumption Great Reduction LV5, Destruction Enhancement LV4, Impact Enhancement LV4, Slash Enhancement LV3, Piercing Enhancement LV1, Shock Enhancement LV2, Earth Enhancement LV4, Dark Enhancement LV1, Battle God Technique LV1, Vitality Infusion LV10, Skill Infusion LV1, Vitality Impact LV1, Earth Attack LV8, Poison Synthesis LV10, Medicine Synthesis LV10, Martial Arts Genius LV5, Sword Talent LV2, Coordination LV10, Command LV6, Throwing LV10, Firing LV10, Three-Dimensional Mobility LV9, Identification LV3, Focus LV10, Thought Acceleration LV2, Premonition LV2, Parallel Consciousness LV1, Record LV10, Accuracy LV10, Evasion LV10, Probability Great Bonus LV3, Stealth LV10, Concealment LV7, Silence LV10, Odorlessness LV10, Danger Perception LV10, Presence Perception LV10, Heat Perception LV10, Motion Perception LV10, Soil Magic LV10, Earth Magic LV8, Light Magic LV4, Shadow Magic LV10, Dark Magic LV5, Healing Magic LV10, Poison Magic LV3, Destruction Resistance LV9, Impact Resistance LV9, Slash Resistance LV9, Piercing Resistance LV9, Shock Resistance LV9, Soil Resistance LV7, Dark Resistance LV7, Paralysis Immunity, Poison Immunity, Sleep Resistance LV8, Acid Resistance LV5, Stun Resistance LV3, Corrosion Resistance LV3, Fear Resistance LV6, Pain Nullification, Pain Reduction LV3, Dark Vision LV10, Far-Sight LV3, Five Senses Great Enhancement LV7, Perception Range Expansion LV10, Fate LV1, Magic Storage LV9, Heavenly Motion LV1, Wealth Fortune LV1, Firmness LV1, Fortress LV1, Taoist LV9, Amulet LV9, Vedanta LV1
Skill Points: 50
Titles
"Assassin," "Monster Slayer," "Guide," "Alchemist," "Devourer of Evil," "Mass Killer of Monsters," "Savior," "Cataclysm of Monsters"
What is this old man!?
Stronger than Highlins!?
"High-level鉴定 user. Not a鉴定 stone, I'd wager."
"Then why do you have a鉴定 stone, Busgas-san?"
"Ah. A level-eight rarity."
A level-eight鉴定 stone is a luxury item beyond the reach of commoners.
Possessing one means this person is no mere commoner.
Status.鉴定 stone. This individual appears to be extraordinary.
"Understood. Your status is high. If you're upper-tier, you should be fine."
Approved by Busgas-san.
"Provided you don't encounter remnants of a nightmare."
Yet, a nameless unease stirred at the final words Busgas-san had murmured quietly.