Volume 1 Chapter 21 First Dungeon, Reunion With Alice – Part Iii
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We stepped into the fifth floor.
Only the boss monster is waiting here.
Since Ms. Alice’s party is ahead of us, I feel a bit anxious that we might end up doing nothing here.
When we arrived in front of the boss room, Ms. Alice’s party was already gathered there.
(Huh… it doesn’t feel like they’re on a break. Did something happen?)
”Lady Alice! Is something wrong?”
I called out.
”Oh… Sir Rob, it seems there was another party that arrived here before us, and they have already destroyed the dungeon core.”
Ms. Alice said, looking a bit disappointed.
”Really… is that so?”
I replied, surprised by the unexpected turn of events.
In ‘Princess Rave’, when the dungeon core is destroyed, monsters stop respawning gradually from the lowest floor to the first floor, and treasure chests and traps also stop appearing.
It takes about a whole day for that to completely end.
Then, the dungeon core will revive again in the deepest part of the lowest floor after many years.
To prevent it from reviving, we have to defeat the demon king that created this dungeon.
That’s the knowledge I gained from the game in my previous life, but I don’t know if it’s still true now…
(I thought we weren’t meeting any enemies because Ms. Alice’s party was ahead of us, but it seems another party ahead already destroyed the dungeon core…)
”Did Sir Rob and the others come here to destroy the dungeon core too?”
”Yes. If it’s already been destroyed, it looks like we can only go home now.”
”Um, um… can I ask you for 2 favors? If you agree, I’ll make sure to thank you!”
Ms. Alice suddenly said.
”Uh… okay. I think it depends on what they are.”
I replied, surprised.
”The reason we came here is to destroy the dungeon core and to test my current strength. So, will you fight me?”
Her eyes were filled with serious determination.
”Wait, I’m supposed to fight Lady Alice?”
I stammered for a moment before answering.
Ms. Alice looked a bit shy and turned her gaze away slightly, but she continued with a serious expression.
”Yes… um, the rules are that the fight ends if either of us surrenders or drops our weapon. What do you think?”
Ms. Alice smiled but had a determined look in her eyes.
I glanced at Dad Izana to see if it was okay to fight.
When he noticed me, he gave Ms. Alice a kind smile in response.
”I’d prefer if the weapon used is wooden. Do you have one, Lady Alice?”
”Um… ah, I don’t have one…”
Ms. Alice showed a slightly troubled face.
”Can I ask what type of weapon you plan to use?”
”Yes. I’m using a one-handed sword!”
Ms. Alice replied confidently.
”Got it. Emma, can you get the wooden swords?”
When Dad asked Mom, she opened a space and smoothly took out 2 wooden swords.
”Sure, here you go. …Rob!”
As Mom called my name, she threw the two wooden swords to me.
I caught them with both hands and walked over to Ms. Alice to hand her a wooden sword.
(I never thought I would be fighting Ms. Alice instead of a boss on this fifth floor.)
Ms. Alice and I faced each other after stepping back a bit.
”Um… can I ask about Sir Rob’s job?”
Ms. Alice asked, a little nervous.
”My job is ‘Link Master.’ My dad, an S-rank adventurer, didn’t know about it either. Have you heard of it?”
When I replied, Ms. Alice tilted her head, looking curious.
”No, it’s the first time I’ve heard of that job… I’m excited! Oh, my job is ‘Sword Saint Princess.’ …Well then, Sir Rob, let’s have a good match!”
Ms. Alice’s eyes sparkled.
”Y-yes, nice to meet you!”
(‘Sword Saint Princess’… that’s a super rare job that can take down the Demon King!)
’Hero,’ ‘Sword Saint Princess,’ ‘Saintess’──these 3 jobs are essential for defeating the Demon King.
These 3 jobs can learn holy attribute skills and magic that even those with All Attribute Affinity can’t acquire.
Well, in the case of the Hero, a holy sword is also necessary.
I was filled with a mix of surprise and excitement that Ms. Alice had such a powerful class job.
”Rob! Do your best!”
”Brother Rob~! Don’t lose, okay?”
As Rumi and Nana cheered cutely, my battle with Ms. Alice began.
”‘Sword Saint Princess’ Alice Valliere, coming in!”
With that declaration, Ms. Alice started running toward me.
(…Huh? Slow… Wait!?)
Just as I thought “slow,” Ms. Alice disappeared from my sight.
Surprised, I quickly activated Magic Detection.
Ms. Alice was already in a position to swing her wooden sword horizontally from my upper right.
”Ugh!”
Feeling a bit flustered, I blocked Ms. Alice’s slash with my wooden sword.
──Clang!
”Hehe… impressive. Most people would have ended there.”
Ms. Alice smiled happily.
”Haha, I didn’t think Lady Alice would be this strong.”
I replied lightly.
”Not yet, this is just the beginning!”
At her words, Ms. Alice’s gaze became serious.
(I wonder what skills the Sword Saint Princess has…)
I recalled the knowledge I gained from the game ‘Princess Rave.’
******
1. ‘Holy Slash’: A technique that releases a slash wrapped in holy light with just one swing of the sword. It deals damage to nearby enemies, and the light beam pierces through them. Enemies hit temporarily lose their “holy resistance.”
2. ‘Godspeed Dance’: For a short time, your movement speed increases, allowing you to dodge enemy attacks. You can also switch positions instantly by sidestepping or moving backward.
3. ‘Holy Sword’s Protection’: You raise your sword and create a barrier with holy power to protect yourself. For a certain time, it reduces the damage you take, and when the barrier disappears, it strikes back at nearby enemies with a burst of light.
4. ‘Chain Attack Dance’: A burst skill that confuses enemies with fast attacks. You unleash a combo of 3 consecutive strikes as a special move, and the final hit pierces the enemy with holy power, dealing extra holy damage.
5. ‘Heaven’s Blessing’: For a short time, this skill nullifies status effects on yourself or allies. After use, there is a cooldown period, and during that time, it can remove a status effect just once.
This is the list of skills obtained up to Job Level 4 for the ‘Sword Saint Princess.’
It has a good balance of power, speed, and defense, making it the job I relied on the most.
******
Ms. Alice is now wrapped in fighting spirit and magic power, looking like she’s in serious mode.
”Ha!”
Ms. Alice shouted and unleashed a super-fast slash!
”Shh!”
I also wrapped myself in fighting spirit and magic power, ready to counter with all my strength.
──Zing! Ping!
”Ugh…”
I was a bit late and got hit on my arm, causing me to jump back.
(Ha… I knew it, but she’s faster than me… Then, maybe I should try that.)
Ms. Alice seemed happy to have beaten me, smiling brightly.
”Hehe, it looks like I’m faster than you.”
Her words made a bit of frustration rise within me.
”…You know. But, you shouldn’t think you can win against me just because of that!”
Right after saying that, I ran over to Ms. Alice and challenged her to another sword speed match.
──Clang! Bam!
”Ah! …No way!”
Ms. Alice looked surprised by the unexpected result.
Seeing her reaction made my heart warm with happiness.
(Ha. If she doesn’t know my trick, she’ll misjudge my speed as being slower than it really is, right?)
While seriously wielding my sword, I also used the time magic ‘Time Slow’ to briefly slow down my opponent’s speed.
Recently, I had been practicing this magic every time during training with Rumi. It’s my secret weapon.
It can be pretty tiring, but with this, I won’t lose in a sword speed match!
…Well, when it comes to my dad, even using this, I still lose.
And so, my match with Ms. Alice, who couldn’t figure out my tricks, continued for a while.
After being hit multiple times, Ms. Alice finally dropped her sword.
”Ah… Hah… I lost, didn’t I? Thank you very much!”
Even while suffering from fatigue and pain, Ms. Alice smiled and thanked me.
”Hah… Hah… You were really strong, and I was surprised… Thank you too!”
I was pretty tired from the intense sword fighting, but I returned her smile and thanked her.
”Rob, great job!”
”Brother Rob, you were so cool!”
Rumi and Nana were super excited about my victory.
”Rob, go heal Ms. Alice!”
Following my mom’s words, I walked over to Ms. Alice and used healing magic to treat her arm and leg injuries.
”Please let me know if you feel any pain.”
I said gently to Ms. Alice while using healing magic.
”Uh… th-thank you…”
Ms. Alice replied cutely, her cheeks a bit red, making my heart race.
”Mmm…”
”Nnngh…”
Even though I was a bit distracted by Rumi and Nana groaning behind me, I completely healed Ms. Alice’s wounds.
In this way, our first dungeon exploration ended in an unexpected way, but it remained a fun memory in our hearts.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.