Volume 4 Chapter 11 The Hero’s Choice, and Its Outcome
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We were running from the heroes on the 3rd Floor of the dungeon.
No, to be exact, we were pretending to run, luring them deeper into the dungeon.
’Damn it, why can’t I catch up!?’
A voice filled with panic and irritation came through with magic.
Of course it did.
We weren’t just running blindly.
We were cleverly guiding them deeper.
With Lifia’s detection magic, we tracked the heroes’ movements, choosing routes thick with monsters to redirect them.
Meanwhile, Kéa and I pressed on with minimal fighting, trying to push the monsters onto the heroes.
”They’re definitely on our tail.”
”Well, of course they are. The heroes are full of themselves.”
’Don’t they realize we know they’re chasing us?’
’We’ve got the numbers and skills on our side!’
’It’s dangerous to go further!’
’There’s no way we’re turning back now! Plus, they must be tired too!’
Opinions among the heroes started to split.
But the push to move forward had majority support.
They thought they were the ones chasing, not realizing they were being cornered.
For me, it was the perfect situation.
It was hopeless for them, but they still didn’t understand it.
While this was going on, I found the perfect spot to face them.
Just a single tree stood in the middle of the plain.
It was a common sight in the 3rd Floor of the dungeon, but it hid the conditions I wanted.
We positioned ourselves in front of that tree, ready to ambush the heroes.
Before long, just as expected, they caught up, panting heavily.
Ten young heroes glared at me.
”Hah… hah…”
”We’ve caught up, Love Hotel Guy!”
”Don’t think you can run anymore!”
They were already pretty exhausted.
They had been chasing while fighting monsters, after all.
Of course, right?
I decided to respond in a light tone on purpose.
”Need something?”
I didn’t even need to ask, but I pretended to.
”You know what we want!”
”You tricked us good!”
The heroes glared at me with eyes burning with anger.
”We already know your skills!”
One of them pointed a finger and shouted.
”Oh, really?”
”Stop playing dumb! Your skill is… the ability to create things found in a love hotel!”
The confident young hero declares this with certainty.
Well, it’s not hard to see why he thinks that.
Based on everything we know so far, that’s a fair guess.
But it’s not entirely right, nor is it completely wrong.
The most important part is missing.
My skill creates rooms from love hotels in an alternate space.
It’s not about creating things; it’s about the facilities, amenities, and services that come with the room.
Of course, I have no obligation to tell them that honestly.
”So what?”
”What do you mean, ‘so what’? Use your skill for us!”
”I’m telling you to use it for us!”
My answer is, of course, already decided.
”No thanks.”
As soon as I respond, the heroes look momentarily stunned.
But their expressions quickly turn tense.
”What? What are you saying?”
”What’s wrong with us using it!”
”Isn’t it normal for us, the heroes, to cooperate?”
”We’re the ones picking you up after you got booted. You should be grateful!”
This is pointless.
I shrug.
”I said no. My skill is mine. I decide how to use it.”
If they had tried negotiating a bit more politely… I might have considered a different response.
The heroes’ expressions grew even more severe.
”If you plan to oppose us, you’ll find yourself in pain.”
Finally, they resort to threats.
They put their hands on the hilt of their swords.
Looks like they’re seriously ready to fight.
”Oh? But are you sure about that?”
”What do you mean!”
”If we fight here, we’ll involve that thing.”
I point to something behind me.
About ten meters behind me, there’s a tree.
Of course, it’s not just any tree.
”What a lame bluff.”
”There’s nothing there.”
Among the snickering heroes, only the scout boy’s face went pale.
”Wait! That tree is a monster!”
Right, that tree is disguised as a monster called a Pole Python.
It’s not a huge threat by itself.
In this dungeon’s third floor, it’s just average strength.
The problem is the monster named Hitchcock, who comes for the Pole Python.
They love to munch on Pole Python.
Once the scent of Pole Python’s blood spreads in the air, they catch whiff and come attacking in hundreds, even thousands.
They go wild, devouring everything in sight, not just the Pole Python.
That’s how Hitchcock got its name.
Its frenzy might be even more terrifying than the blizzard on the 4th Floor.
The heroes should have some info about Hitchcock.
”It’s a Pole Python! They told us to never touch it, right?”
The scout boy warns, sounding cautious.
But the other heroes don’t seem to care at all.
”Tch, who cares about that?”
”Sure, it’s dangerous, but that’s just normal adventurer talk. It’s not a threat to us heroes.”
”You think we’d get scared by something like that!?”
”More importantly, let’s catch that old man already.”
They either don’t understand the threat of Hitchcock or think they’ll be fine.
Either way, they put us first.
”I’ll make him howl in pain!”
One hero pulls back his bow and releases an arrow.
He’s aiming at me.
Kéa swings her twin blades and deflects it away.
”Don’t act all tough!”
One of the heroes readies his sword and charges at full speed.
”Mooluumve, Air Wall!”
Lifia casts a spell, creating a wall of wind.
It holds back the charging hero and pushes him back.
”Agh! What the hell is this, I can’t move!”
”Get out of my way!”
The impatient magician hero launches attack magic one after another.
Ice blades come flying at us in a stream.
I draw my sword and swat away the incoming magic.
But I don’t need to block everything.
Some of the less accurate attacks slip past us and shoot off behind.
And then…
’Gyaaahhhh!’
A scream of pain echoes from behind.
In that moment, the air shifted.
Just a glance behind me, and I see the tree that was there a second ago now shaking, bleeding.
The Pole Python got hit, revealing its true form.
And the smell of blood spreads all around.
”What a pity,”
I mutter to myself.
Even if it went exactly as planned, here we are.
Looking up at the sky, white shadows swirl and dive down.
Hitchcock, a bird-like monster that usually lurks above, disguising itself among the clouds.
But once it catches the scent of blood from its prey, it reveals its true nature and swoops down.
Hitchcock is already reacting.
One of the heroes whispers.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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