Chapter 18 Raid on the Dungeon!!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are we under attack?”
El, staring at the monitor, muttered without much enthusiasm.
Kanata frowned and stepped closer, peering over her shoulder. The magical display showed the dungeon entrance—recently quiet—now lined with heavily armored soldiers. Spears were at the ready, shields raised, and here and there, figures in robed attire hinted at magic users.
Over the past few days, reports from villages near the forest had been increasingly restless, prompting them to keep watch. Evidently, this dungeon was the target.
”A squad, maybe… or slightly more if you include support units,” Kanata murmured, eyes fixed on the screen. The apparent commander was giving orders, and the soldiers began marching in unison—clearly aiming to subdue rather than explore.
”What do we do? Evacuate them?”
Several races now resided in the dungeon, including children unable to fight. Should they be moved to safety?
”No, there’s no safer place than here. And where would they even run?” Kanata’s eyes gleamed sharply, silencing his companions. “Anyway, how are their positions? Traps ready? Are the passageways secured?”
”Yes. The Arachne have already sealed several spots with cocoons. They won’t advance quickly,” El replied.
”THen, deploy the Humans for support—sniper positions.”
”Okay. Goblins, prepare for ambush. Orcs will assist. Capture the women—do not attack.”
Following Kanata’s rapid-fire commands, the team sprang into action.
Inside the dungeon, races included the Succubus race and Vampire race—loyal since El’s mother’s time—the Arachne race they had met in the forest, the Lizard race reconciled after the water conflict, and the cat-like humanoid Humans who had fought over territory. The Slime and Goblin races had been present since the dungeon’s founding. Each prepared according to their strengths.
The dungeon’s complex structure favored the defenders, and Kanata intended to maximize that advantage. Soon, the first enemy units crossed the dungeon threshold.
”—It begins.”
Kanata’s voice echoed off the stone walls. Weapons were drawn, steel clashed, and deep growls reverberated as the beast races readied themselves.
The first engagement erupted with fire and lightning magic crisscrossing, arrows raining in narrow corridors. Arachne threads immobilized soldiers while Humans shot precise magical projectiles. Kanata issued directions, strategizing to minimize casualties.
”We won’t let them through. Our ground, our defense!”
The Lizardman at the front wielding a spear nodded, and his allies echoed him.
”Draw them into the first floor—split their forces.”
Kanata analyzed the shifting combat on the monitor, issuing precise commands. The entrance chamber was merely a delay tactic; the main battle would occur deeper within.
The first dungeon floor was a labyrinth, refined daily with traps: narrow, winding corridors, collapsible floors, falling rocks, teleportation circles, and illusionary spells. Roaming monsters further complicated traversal. In this incursion, enemies would be actively eliminated; they wouldn’t make it through with current forces.
”All units, take positions! Block corridor A! Funnel into B and D! Obscure lines of sight everywhere!”
El’s voice echoed through the communication stones. The Arachne hid in shadows, ready to strike, their webbing blocking paths—sometimes concealing pitfalls, sometimes leading to dead ends—leaving the invaders unable to discern real from trap.
The first enemy squad breached the entrance and stepped into the maze—just as planned.
”Team Three, here! Other teams, spread out!” the enemy lieutenant shouted. The tight corridors forced small squads to act independently, thick mist further limiting visibility.
”Kyaaa!”
A mage soldier’s scream echoed—the floor had given way. He slid down a slick, slime-covered slope to the lower levels, soaked and helpless.
Another soldier touched a magic circle on the wall and hallucinated, mistaking allies for foes, swinging wildly in panic.
”I can’t see…!”
An Arachne thread descended from above, binding a soldier and dragging him screaming into the shadows.
”They’re falling right into place…” Kanata whispered, watching the monitor.
The enemies split into three groups, each descending into chaos. Traps, poor visibility, and confusion severed coordination and morale.
”One by one, take them out… let’s test the traps we set.”
”–Move! There should be an exit ahead!”
The enemy deputy shouted, tension clear. Soldiers advanced single file down the narrow corridor. The lead shield-bearer peered ahead—but then…
”Too slow. I’ve grown tired of waiting.”
Arachne from above fired a magical projectile. Upon hitting the floor, magic spread across the corridor.
”W-what—!?”
The floor glowed red, collapsing under their feet. They fell into the “nest” Kanata’s team called home—the layer where Arachne patrolled, awaiting prey.
”Gyaaah!” “Help! Even if we cut the threads, they won’t break!”
The screams were short-lived. Arachne kin emerged, weaving webs to trap soldiers one by one in cocooned bundles.
”Are we just going in circles?”
The second squad noticed the endless fog, confusing splits, and uneasy feeling—but had no choice but to press forward.
”…!? Demon beasts!”
From the mist appeared Humans—cat-like eyes sharp, magic bullets charged. Targeted shots pierced a soldier’s chest. Before anyone could react, two, then three more rounds struck.
The soldiers tried to spread out, but in the fog, they couldn’t see each other.
”Are we surrounded…?”
Observing their panic, a Human simply whispered:
”It’s over.”
With that, their magic bullets tore through the corridor. The floor collapsed, soldiers plummeting below, leaving only silent darkness.
”This path… it’s damp.”
The third squad entered a subterranean waterway. The footing was poor, ceilings low, and with their rear blocked, retreat was impossible.
”Damn, too many traps!”
Iron spikes fell from above, skewering the lead soldier.
”Fall back! Maintain formation—”
Splash.
The central soldier fell through the floor into the water.
”—I’ve been waiting.”
A spear-wielding Lizardman thrust forward, cutting through a soldier’s throat. Blood swirled crimson in the water.
”Ugh… what is this?!”
Slimes blocked the fleeing soldiers’ paths.
”Lightning strike!”
Electric arcs traveled across the water, convulsing the soldiers. Most fell, never to rise again.
”Time to make our presence felt.”
El’s voice echoed through the darkness.
The Lizardman who had quickly retreated to a safe distance lowered his head at the voice.
Each enemy unit was annihilated or had lost the will to fight, and silence returned to the dungeon.
”…It’s over, then.”
One by one, Kanata’s allies regrouped. With traps, terrain, and coordinated skills, they had achieved a complete victory.
”The mistake was underestimating a mere dungeon. If they’d taken it seriously, they’d have planned more carefully,” El shrugged.
”This is our home. Intruders aren’t leaving alive,” Kanata murmured, gazing once more at the now-empty entrance displayed on the monitor.
* * *
”Total annihilation…?”
Millie, assigned to a squad, stood frozen in disbelief. She considered herself unlucky. Soon after entering the dungeon, she had tried to help a soldier shoved by another squad leader—and fatefully fell into a trap.
Fortunately, the pit was deep but not lethal. It took time, yet she returned to her squad unharmed.
Or so she thought—her squad had been completely wiped out. The bodies of those she was supposed to lead lay scattered before her.
”Ugh… no… ahhh…”
”Stop… aahhh…”
”No… nooo… I’m losing it…”
”Ah… the monsters… ahhh…”
”Yaaaah… no, no, no, nooo…”
Nearby, female soldiers from another squad were being assaulted by Goblins and Orcs. At the center, a particularly large Orc skewered the female officer who had made a personal target of Millie.
She had always believed herself unlucky.
From the start, she hadn’t gotten along with Lieutenant Irena. Though her superior, Irena had dismissed Millie’s proposals and achievements repeatedly, even delivering thinly veiled insults.
”You’re not ready for the field,” Irena had said, taking command of the front-line unit just days ago. Millie should have led this elite squad, having prepared it from scratch—but instead, she had been sidelined, attending to new recruits without completing proper training.
Seeing the officer being assaulted by the Orcs, Millie questioned herself: Was I really unlucky?
If Irena hadn’t seized the squad, none of this would have happened. Millie wouldn’t have fallen into the pit, and the subordinates lying here wouldn’t be corpses. More so, if Irena hadn’t been greedy, the one being assaulted now might have been Millie herself.
…I’m lucky, she realized.
Millie turned to flee.
But…
(Maybe I’m still unlucky…)
A black-cloaked man and his entourage of monsters blocked her path. Millie couldn’t help but think so.
—
Two months have passed since the previous events from Kanata’s perspective.
For reference, the dungeon now spans five floors, though it’s uncertain if all will appear in the story. Floors one through three remain the usual upgraded zones. Floor four serves as a residential area, and floor five houses the main room and Kanata’s stronghold.
Notes:
• Millie – A desperate female knight, sheds pride for survival, her trembling pleas and fiery spirit captivating Kanata’s interest. Captured on Chapter 19, when squad raiding the dungeon.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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