Volume 4 Chapter 88 Heatstroke Prevention, Yoshi!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ha!” I shout, swinging my sword.
Sparks fly as the dragon’s claws clash against the blade, deflected by the impact.
”Yaaah!” Kéa cries, her red ponytail fluttering in the air as she charges in with twin swords.
Her right-hand blade slices clean through a joint, while the left tears open the beast’s torso.
”Meow!” Korukona, the brown-haired, cat-eared girl, lets out a sharp cry as she leaps.
Spinning in midair, she flings the chakrams in her hands.
The whirling discs slice through the scorching air, scraping scales off the wyvern as she dances around it, confusing the creature.
The chakrams aren’t lethal against a foe this large, but the dragon can’t afford to ignore her swift, unpredictable movements.
She’s growing stronger, too.
The fire dragon opens its mouth. A bright light begins to glow from deep within—
the unmistakable sign it’s about to unleash its breath.
”Mooluumve, Wind Wall!” the half-elf girl chants, snapping her fingers.
A roaring gust swirls into a vortex, forming a wall of wind that pushes back the incoming flames.
But more enemies descend—several flying dragons glide in overhead.
”Rozmiaque, to the right!” I call.
”Leave it to me!” he replies, thrusting his palm upward as his golden hair ripples behind him.
From the cracked earth, towering trees erupt and grow in an instant, skewering the wings of the flying dragons.
His plant magic is weakened by this scorching heat, but it’s enough to halt their flight—if only temporarily.
”Crimson Ray!”
Yomi, stationed in the back row, raises her hand.
A piercing beam of ice shoots forth from her palm, striking true—right into the fire dragon’s eyes.
A monstrous scream echoes across the scorched battlefield.
The dragon isn’t down yet, but it’s clearly weakening.
Frost begins to form across its head, spreading inward.
Frozen from within, its body can’t take much more.
At last, the fire dragon collapses.
The ground quakes slightly as it hits the earth.
We’ve won—but we don’t let our guard down.
Everyone quickly scans the area.
”To the left! Another one’s coming!” Lifia warns, her eyes closed in focus.
Using her Spirit Magic, she senses the next wave.
Our team nods and swiftly repositions into formation.
The terrain around us is a hellscape of cracked, red-black stone, stretching as far as the eye can see.
From the fissures, orange light spills out—lava flows like rivers beneath our feet.
Volcanoes in the distance belch smoke into the gray, murky sky, and several wyverns glide in slow, ominous circles overhead.
This is the 6th Floor of the dungeon, Scorching Dragon’s Peak.
We’re currently exploring this uncharted domain.
My sword is strong enough to parry and counter the dragons’ razor-sharp claws.
Kéa’s twin blades slice clean through their armored scales, ripping deep into their red flesh.
We’ve been here once before.
Back then, our weapons couldn’t penetrate their defenses. We were forced to retreat.
But things have changed.
Blacksmith Beckus and magic tool forger Nokiroul crafted us new weapons, designed with exceptional cutting power and durability—more than enough to face the dragons of this level.
My sword was forged from the bones of the Guardian Seirpent we defeated on the 5th Floor.
Its gleaming white blade hasn’t taken so much as a scratch, even after clashing against dragon claws.
Kéa’s twin swords were made from Seirpent fangs.
The blue, translucent blades carve through dragon scale and cleave bone with terrifying ease.
Yomi carries two spellbooks.
One is the familiar The Magic of Light Trajectories; the other is her newly acquired Spellbook of Frost.
She specially requested it, and the Shell Merchant Guild in the Free Cities procured it just for her.
The Spellbook of Frost is intermediate in level.
Its ice magic doesn’t last long, melting quickly,
but that brief moment is all we need.
These dragons are heat-adapted—but that makes them especially weak to cold.
Lifia and Rozmiaque have also grown stronger, steadily mastering the multi-syllable chants of Spirit Magic.
With our upgraded weapons and spells, we press forward through the blistering terrain, step by cautious step.
Suddenly, an alarm blares through the dungeon.
”Hmm… It’s already that time?” I murmur.
I open the menu.
It’s the ‘Love Hotel’ skill’s heatstroke alert, reminding us to take regular breaks.
In this kind of heat, staying hydrated and resting is critical.
We’ve made it a rule to follow the alerts seriously.
”Alright, let’s take a break!” I call out.
As I activate the skill, a red door rises from the ground—
the entrance to the Love Hotel.
Relief floods everyone’s face as we hurry inside.
Each of us cools down in our own way.
I head straight for the fridge, grabbing an ice-cold sports drink to rehydrate.
Next, I step into the shower, joining Lifia and Yomi to wash off the sweat and ash.
”Yay!” Kéa and Korukona cry out as they dash toward the pool and leap in—fully clothed.
”Goodness, what manners!” Lifia frowns, exasperated.
But this time, it’s best to let it go.
The Love Hotel’s automatic cleaning services will handle the mess.
Besides, it’s kind of nice, watching them splash around happily.
Inside the Love Hotel, it’s cool and quiet—almost like a resort nestled in the highlands.
It’s a space completely sealed off from the dungeon.
With this skill, we can keep adventuring in even the harshest environments.
These breaks are essential for our survival.
Thanks to the Love Hotel, we can keep fighting.
* * *
The monsters we defeat—dragons, fire lizards, and more—are transported into the motel, a facility linked to the Love Hotel.
This is where the dwarven brothers, Beckus and Nokiroul, work their craft.
What started as a small garage has now grown into a massive workshop.
It might even be larger than the main Love Hotel, filled with monster parts and rare materials.
Transporting all this stuff is a hassle.
And most of the time, we don’t even know what’s valuable or not.
Still, we grumble and bring it all in.
”There’s no such thing as useless material! It’s all treasure, I tell ya!” Beckus bellows at me.
So, we keep hauling it back—dragon claws, fire lizard organs, molten slime, red-hot rocks, and even sparking red grass.
Anything that catches our eye—or that the brothers request—goes into the pile.
”With this, I could build a fuel-free magic furnace! The possibilities are endless!” Beckus cackles.
”I can finally craft all the flame-based tools I’ve dreamed of!” Nokiroul adds, eyes glittering.
They aren’t just craftsmen—they’re researchers, faces lit by inspiration rather than firelight.
Nearby, Rozmiaque kneels by a burning flower, eyes wide with fascination.
Carefully, he transfers it into a pot, handling it like a priceless artifact, before carrying it to his room in the motel.
He’s a magician who manipulates plants. This fiery specimen has clearly caught his interest.
Fight, gather materials, return to base—that’s our daily rhythm.
Step by step, we advance through the dungeon.
* * *
Sometimes, we visit the clan’s main base to deliver supplies.
When we arrive one day, a familiar face greets us in the reception room.
”Sir Taro!” a young boy calls out, standing up with a bright smile. It’s Quatro, heir to the Shell Family.
The Shell Family had nearly collapsed due to competition from the Piyombo Merchant Guild, which was caught smuggling drugs.
But after we brought that guild down, their biggest rival was out of the picture.
And by supplying them with materials, magic tools, and products from the Love Hotel, they’ve regained their influence beautifully.
Quatro is surprisingly polite for his age.
With delicate features and an affable smile, he’s a charming boy, but—
”Sir Quatro…? What’s with the formality? I’m just an adventurer, you know?” I say, confused.
Flustered, Quatro quickly shakes his head.
”You don’t need to use ‘sir’ with me! Besides, Sir Taro, you’re… you’re like a divine messenger!”
He was once kidnapped by pirates—we rescued him.
So yes, technically I’m his benefactor, but I’ve kept my identity hidden.
He may have suspected before… but he wasn’t this reverent last time.
”Good attitude, boy,” Rozmiaque nods solemnly, stroking his chin.
Wait. Don’t tell me…
”Yes! I’ve been living in daily gratitude to Sir Taro, just as Mr. Rozmiaque taught me!”
I knew it. He told him everything.
”Er, Mr. Rozmiaque didn’t explain it directly, of course,” Quatro adds quickly.
”I simply reached the truth on my own!”
Rozmiaque just smiles.
”A wise child. He found the answer himself.”
Well… if that’s how it is, I guess there’s no helping it.
”So Sir Taro must have deep reasons for keeping this truth hidden! Don’t worry, I won’t spread it carelessly!” Quatro beams.
No, it’s really not that dramatic…
”I’ll keep your name secret—but I’ll share your greatness with the other believers!” he declares, dashing out of the room.
Apparently, he’s off to give a sermon for the fledgling religion Room of Love.
At least he means well. He’s passionate, harmless, and genuinely grateful.
Well, maybe being treated like a god isn’t so bad every once in a while.
And like that, our days of dungeon exploration and life in the Free City of Latipak continued.
Notes:
• Korukona – A cat-eared girl with amber eyes. She is brave but vulnerable, showing honesty and gratitude. Taro rescues her from the pirate and plans to send her to her village.
• Rozmiaque – High-ranking elf investigating large-scale Spirit Magic usage. Condescending, believes a High Elf is involved. Uses 6-letter Spirit Magic to trap targets. Displays contempt for half-elves and humans. Aggressive interrogator, possibly capable of sensing hidden information.
• Quatro – Male. A young boy, the son of a council member of Latipak. His appearance is androgynous and delicate, wearing butler-style clothes. He was rescued by Ore and now spreads the ‘Room of Love’ teachings, believing Ore to be a divine figure. He is charismatic and speaks with regal dignity.
• Latipak – A small independent state centered around its port town. Located in a strategic trade hub, it maintains neutrality despite being surrounded by large nations and Demon Race territories. It is a bustling city where humans, elves, dwarfs, and Demon Race people coexist. Known for its vibrant streets, diverse languages, and lively atmosphere.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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