Chapter 157: Instead of the Crocodile Swarm 2
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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Bubbles boiled on the surface of the sticky purple swamp, bursting with a loud pop.
As they did, a purple gas, unmistakably toxic to any observer, hissed into the air and dissipated.
"Roland, this place wasn't like this before, was it?"
"...Of course not."
Originally, the marshland looked untouched, almost like the Amazon rainforest.
The water in the puddles was clear, merely an inconvenience to step in, and not harmful to the skin.
The vegetation was just dense trees, none of which looked like they would eat a person.
But the scene in front of me was completely different from my memory.
-Uh, Teacher Roland, is this really a marsh?
-I've seen this in a demon hunting game before.
-Feels like instead of lizardmen, we'll face hordes of zombies.
-The 30th floor had golems. Now, from the 31st floor, it looks like we'll be hunting demons.
-This is what a fantasy marshland looks like, LOL.
Puddles tainted in purple, trees that felt less like living beings and more like they were haunted, and things wriggling from under the mud that looked more like tentacles than roots or vines.
"What on earth...?"
"Hey, snap out of it and move!"
While the group was distracted observing the surroundings, a desperate cry echoed from a distance.
Instinctively, everyone, including Han Se-ah's camera drone, turned their gaze in that direction.
Two large men who appeared to be guards were sprinting towards them, with a young woman and a young man, both smaller in stature, held closely to their sides.
Judging by how they expertly navigated the narrow paths between the poisonous puddles, they were likely senior adventurers.
"What should we do, Roland?"
"We don't have space to make way for them here, so let's use the passage and head back to the 30th floor."
"Got it!"
As the approaching group came into clearer view, the faces of the young woman and man they carried were turning a sickly blue.
The purple puddles I assumed were poisonous seemed to be actually toxic.
Retreating into the passage, the stale air of the cave replaced the foul stench of the marsh.
After a moment, the panting adventurers emerged from the passage, in a very poor state.
Not only were the young woman and man suffering from poison, but the armor of the two large men also showed signs of corrosion.
"What happened to the 31st floor?"
"I... I don't know. More importantly, you have a nun in your party. Could she purify them? We'll compensate her, of course."
A party consisting of a tank, swordsman, scout, and a rogue, without a mage or a priest.
Clearly, they didn't have the capability to neutralize the marshland's poison.
At the large man's request, Irene stepped forward, casting a glance at the group.
Everyone nodded in approval.
It's only natural for priests and nuns to heal even those they don't know.
"Yes, may the Goddess's mercy be with you all."
With Irene's soft whisper, a radiant divine energy descends like a cluster of stars.
Simultaneously, the faces of two patients, previously pale and ashen, regain a healthy hue as they exhale long, deep breaths.
Her healing may lack potency and buffs, but her skills are fitting for a Saint Candidate, specializing in purification and protection.
The two individuals, who were previously struggling to breathe, now seem peacefully asleep.
A moment of silence embraces everyone, as they bask in the warmth of the beautiful divine energy filling the dim cave.
This lasts until Irene gathers the lingering energy back with a wave of her hand.
"What happened on the 31st floor? Could you explain?"
"Well, we owe you that much information at least. However, we also just climbed from the newly formed gate on the 30th floor, so we don't know everything."
"What you know will be enough."
While a lightly-armored man who appears to be a warrior tends to the two unconscious individuals, another burly man in corroded armor sits down on the cave floor and begins his tale.
"We were just as surprised when we first stepped onto the 31st floor. Instead of the lush marshland full of life we expected, it looked cursed. It reminded me of tales from childhood, where evil witches dwelled."
Whether he's a good storyteller or just chatty, the tank begins his story with flair.
From his words, most of the information about the 31st floor becomes clear.
Firstly, the puddles that reached their ankles have turned into toxic purple pools.
While not immediately toxic upon contact, prolonged exposure results in itching and a decline in one's physical condition.
The tar-like swamps, possibly containing paralytic poison, cause one to become rigid and sink if stepped on, leading to drowning.
Most monsters seem to have succumbed to the toxins, turning undead like moss crocodiles transformed into zombies or lizardmen reduced to mere skeletons, ambushing people from the poison pools.
"So, we lost our weapons to the corrosive venom spat out by the vine snakes. We'd like to request an escort back to the 30th floor gate. We can't pay right now, but once we're out, we can head to the guild and settle our debts."
"What do you think, Hanna?"
"Me? Well... maybe we should prepare some antidotes just in case. It's better to go together for now."
-From carrying bags, to lighting, to the mini-map, to the potion dispenser? This is the dignity of the top-ranked player.
-Mage (illumination), Alchemist (vending machine), Player (porter) - equipped skills.
-Forbes Ranked #1 player best suited to do grunt work.
-Can't we just trust Irene's abilities and force our way through?
Although some viewers wanted to challenge Han Se-ah's words, the majority nodded in agreement.
It was an undeniable fact for gamers that the purple puddles, clearly indicating toxicity, implied the need for antidotes.
With our Saint Candidate showing a worried expression, the decision was made from the start.
And so, Han Se-ah's first adventure on the 31st floor came to an end in just two minutes.
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Raei Translations
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We headed towards the guild, escorting the group who were devastated by the changes on the 31st floor.
There we found Rebecca, with her mouth wide open like a duck's beak.
"What's up, Rebecca? Didn't you go up?"
"This damned place, have you seen the 31st floor? The supply carriage is blocked again. All the horses pulling the carriage have been poisoned."
Looks like she tried to hop on a comfortable ride up the floors after coming down for some tobacco leaves.
But looks like the changes on the 31st floor put a stop to that.
The narrow path required them to walk through shallow puddles, but now the puddles are poisonous, inevitably poisoning the horses that stepped in them.
Rebecca, who was restlessly puffing on her pipe in front of the agitated receptionist, suddenly vaulted over the table and stuck to my side.
She seemed to have something to say, leaning in to whisper in my ear.
"By the way..."
"Hmm?"
"Who's that silver-haired one? Where's our Kaiden?"
"...Is this a serious question?"
"What the hell? Should I ask as a joke then?"
From Ertta to the city of adventurers, I thought Rebecca might have known something since she often looked Katie's way.
Turns out she was just inattentive after cooling down from the heat of battle.
When she's excited, she destroys everything in her path, and when she's calm, she doesn't care about her surroundings.
She behaves more like a beast than a human.
I whispered softly into her ear, amused.
"That's Kaiden. To be exact, she's disguised as Kaiden, and when she's not disguised, she's Katie."
"What?!"
Rebecca was so shocked by my words that her voice startled even Katie, who was waiting silently at the table while Han Se-ah was settling payments for the poisoned adventurers and our escort mission.
Ignoring the concentrated stares of nearby adventurers, Rebecca vaulted over another table and this time headed for Katie.
"You're Kaiden?"
"Uh? Oh, ...yes."
Katie, not knowing how to act being the youngest member of the mercenaries and now the daughter of the Northern Duke, answered in a casual tone.
Her shoulders shrunk in response to Rebecca's intimidating screams.
"Why didn't you greet me, you little rascal!"
"Uh, what...?"
"I introduced you to Roland's party and you act like you don't know me? You're not a mercenary anymore, huh?"
"That's not it..."
Our northern brat looked at me for help, but I had nothing to offer.
If she pretended not to know someone she used to know just because she took off her disguise, how could I help?
The viewers' chat was buzzing with excitement over the scene that looked like a college senior bullying a high schooler.
Meanwhile, Han Se-ah left her camera pointing toward our group.
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