Chapter 78 Mercuria Kingdom Uprising, Part ⑨
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
At last, they found it.
The dungeon’s entrance, weathered by dry winds and nearly buried by time, stood before them. Kanata’s party passed under the moss-covered stone arch, stepping cautiously into the depths. A quiet resolve burned in Kanata’s chest, as if he’d dreamed this moment countless times.
The first floor was dim, water dripping from the ceiling in an irregular rhythm. Heavy, stagnant mana hung in the air, a lurking presence watching them. Their footsteps echoed softly in the damp silence as they advanced cautiously. Princess Sakura, at the vanguard, raised a hand, halting the group.
”No sound ahead. Trap or ambush,” she said.
”Another trap? I’m over it,” Maya grumbled, tightening her grip on her dagger. She slipped into the shadows with an almost artistic grace, masking her presence.
”Complaining, yet always the first to charge in, huh, Maya-chan?” Miyako teased from the rear, her staff slung casually over her shoulder, her expression relaxed but alert.
”Quick fights are easiest. Long battles aren’t my thing,” Maya shot back.
”But then I’m stuck healing you,” Alice huffed. “No recklessness! Be cautious, Maya-san, you always—”
Maya turned away, ignoring Alice’s lecture. “It’s ’cause I know you’ll heal me. Makes it too easy.”
”That’s not exactly a compliment…” Alice muttered.
Kanata chuckled, kicking a rock to check for traps. No switches or triggers. Faris, anything?
You’re too cautious. I’d sense any traps. But easing up like them isn’t great either, Faris’s voice echoed in his mind.
”I know. Just checking. They’re fine like this—constant tension would wear them out,” Kanata replied.
Princess Sakura glanced back. “Hearing their voices… it lightens the mood.”
”Right? Looks clear ahead. There’s a hall up there for a break. One more push,” Kanata said.
The party reformed and moved on, their chatter a faint light against the dungeon’s oppressive darkness.
”Get ready. Stay sharp,” Kanata warned.
Princess Sakura led, her greatsword steady despite its size, her long black hair swaying, eyes glinting with subtle resolve. Kanata felt the air shift, heavier with intent.
”Incoming!” he shouted.
Goblins dropped from the ceiling, their furry forms baring fangs. Maya reacted first. “Too slow!”
She vanished into the shadows, reappearing to slice a goblin’s throat with her dagger. Miyako finished her chant. “Thunder Spear!”
Lightning tore through the corridor, goblin screams echoing. Kanata checked their rear as Faris warned, Orc, right flank.
”Got it. Alice, support!”
”Holy Shield!” Alice’s golden light enveloped them as a roaring orc charged. Kanata’s sword, guided by Faris’s intelligence, met its club with a shower of sparks.
”Hold it here!” Kanata grunted.
Princess Sakura’s greatsword flashed, cutting into the orc’s side. It staggered, and Maya and Miyako struck in sync. “Time to end this,” Maya said.
”Blaster!” Miyako’s spell roared, silencing the corridor.
Kanata sheathed his sword, scanning his team. No injuries. Good. These foes were no match for his party, but he couldn’t help worrying.
Overprotective much? Faris teased.
Kanata flicked her orb, silencing her, and signaled to move forward. With this team, the dungeon was conquerable. He believed it.
A heavy door creaked open.
The hall beyond felt different, its air thick with menace. Beast bones hung on the walls, bloodstains and drag marks marred the floor, and chandeliers cast eerie light from above. A boss room, Kanata noted, typical of dungeon depths.
At its center stood their foe.
”Big,” Kanata muttered, summing it up perfectly.
The Goblin King, over three meters tall, loomed. Its green, rock-like muscles gleamed under red, glowing eyes. It gripped crude but menacing Goblin Swords, pulsing with dark mana.
”GRAAAGH!” Its roar shook the hall.
”Here it comes!” Kanata shouted, and battle erupted.
Princess Sakura charged, her greatsword slashing head-on. “Hah!”
The Goblin King crossed its swords, blocking her strike, cracking the floor. “Tch, tough!” she hissed.
Maya darted from the shadows. “Look here!” Her dagger stabbed its side, but the thick hide barely bled. “Seriously? That didn’t work?”
”It’s working, but we need its mana weak point,” Miyako said, raising her staff. “Ice Bind!”
Icy chains snared the Goblin King’s legs, only to shatter as it roared. A purple-black mana surged from its body, the air growing heavy.
”Mana’s shifting! Something’s coming!” Kanata warned.
The Goblin King’s swords glowed ominously. “Mad King’s Two-handed! Dodge!” Kanata yelled, recognizing the tracking slash magic.
The beast swung, unleashing shockwaves that tore the floor, aiming for Maya and Alice. “Alice, back!” Kanata dove, pulling Alice clear, but Maya was caught in the attack’s range.
”Tch, this is bad—” Maya dodged the first slash but the second grazed her leg. “Gah… my leg!”
Alice chanted, “Regenerate!” Healing light bathed Maya’s wound.
”You’re a lifesaver, Alice,” Maya grinned.
”Thank me with dessert later!” Alice replied. “Alice, buffs! Miyako, support magic!” Kanata ordered.
Kanata barked orders to Miyako, shielding Alice and Maya’s banter.
”Got it! Prayer of Godspeed! Party-wide buff!” Alice chanted.
”Magic Circle! Chant speed boost!” Miyako added.
But the Goblin King reared back, unleashing a deafening roar. “GROAAAR!”
The Roar surged with mana, a psychic shockwave scattering the room’s energy, disrupting chants and weakening magic defenses. Miyako staggered. “Ugh… mana’s unstable… my chant!” Her ice spell fizzled, and cracks spiderwebbed across Alice’s barrier.
”We’ll get overrun!” Kanata warned.
”I’ll buy time!” Princess Sakura stepped forward, steadying her breath, greatsword raised. Passing Kanata, she whispered, “Leave it to me. Stopping’s my specialty.”
The Goblin King swung again, but Sakura countered. “Kasensen Steel Stop!” Her greatsword met the blow with a lightning-crack, sparks flying.
”Now! Recover and reinforce!” she shouted.
”Thanks, Princess Sakura-san!” Alice clasped her hands, chanting. “Sanctuary!”
Radiant light flooded the hall, healing Sakura, Maya, and Miyako, while a Magic Barrier bolstered their defenses.
”Uh… okay, here goes!” Miyako, flustered, steadied the mana flow, chanting precisely. “Dual Element!”
Thunder and ice mana surged into Kanata’s sword, Faris glowing. “Kanata-kun, go!” Miyako urged.
”On it!” Kanata charged, Faris’s blade pulsing with Miyako’s mana. I’m guiding the mana flow, Faris said.
The Goblin King’s swords slashed, splitting the air. Kanata didn’t block—he flowed around them, dashing, leaping, sword raised.
”Take this!”
Faris sliced the beast’s side, mana erupting. Kanata spun, striking again. “Break Lumina!”
The blade pierced the Goblin King’s chest, thunder and ice exploding within. “GRAAAGH!” The giant staggered, collapsing to its knees.
”Now, Princess Sakura!” Kanata yelled.
”Got it!” Sakura’s greatsword sank into the beast’s neck. Maya leapt, striking its head twice. “Finish it, Miyako!”
”Thunder Blade!” Miyako’s mana-charged slash united their efforts, piercing the Goblin King.
Its roar faded, and the giant crumpled, the room’s mana dissipating like mist. Silence settled, calm air replacing the oppressive weight.
”Phew… that was brutal. Underestimated a goblin,” Kanata said, lowering his sword.
”Carelessness kills,” Alice said, smiling gently. “But we won, thanks to everyone.”
”Yeah, and thanks to me, Alice is fine, right?” Maya grinned, limping.
”Hmph, that’s my line. You’re always so mean,” Alice pouted.
”It’s ’cause you… (hog Kanata-kun).”
”Eh? Didn’t hear that!”
”Heal my leg already!” Maya snapped.
Sakura sheathed her greatsword, laughing. “I stop, Maya distracts, Alice protects, Miyako blasts, and Kanata strikes. Perfect party balance.”
Great team, huh? We could be legendary, Faris said to Kanata.
”Nah, too much hassle. Let’s hit the Dungeon Core and get back to my lazy life,” Kanata replied.
The heavy air lifted, the hall now calm. The Goblin King’s body dissolved into mana particles, leaving loot scattered on the floor.
”It’s over,” Alice sighed, clutching her staff.
”Let me rest a sec. My leg’s still throbbing,” Maya said, leaning against a rock, checking her wound.
”Your fault for being reckless,” Miyako shrugged, relief in her eyes.
”But your ambush stopped that thing. Nice work, Maya,” Sakura said.
”A compliment from Princess Sakura-san? Miracles do happen,” Maya teased.
”Miracles are rare. Don’t expect another,” Sakura shot back.
Kanata smiled at the eased mood but sharpened his focus. A first-floor boss this tough? This dungeon’s worse than I thought.
Retreat? Faris asked.
”Not yet. Let’s scout more,” Kanata replied.
”We’re just getting started, right?” Sakura interjected, and the party nodded in unison.
Some crew, Kanata thought, his unease fading. Glancing at the portal to the second floor, he steeled his resolve. No stopping here.
Notes:
• Sakura – Sent with her Ogrekin tribe in Angula’s Aaren Plains war, Sakura was captured with Annamira’s 18th Squad. Meeting Kanata, she boldly claimed the role of his “Second Consort~desuwa”—an Ojou-sama whose teasing elegance hides a cruel, playful edge.
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
• Maya – Cheerful brown-haired girl, naturally charming and social, Kanata’s classmate and morning conversation neighbor.
• Miyako – Quiet library girl with golden hair, intelligent and book-savvy, occasional silent companion to Kanata.
• Alice – A 12-year-old human Saint first appearing after Kanata rescues her as a wandering miko blessed by Goddess Milpharse. She joins his group as a healer using holy, light, water, and earth magic. El and Kanata guide her; no known family ties. She’s gentle, devout, and accepts others without fear.
• Mira – Appeared in the plague-stricken village where Alice healed the sick. Taken as payment to serve in the Dungeon, she has silver hair to her waist, a timid, whispery voice, and flusters easily—always more compliance than confidence.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply