[Granting the target vulnerability to physical attributes.]
“Huuup!”
Rohan shoved both hands into the gap he had cut into the steel plate with his dagger.
And then he tore it apart, ignoring the writhing vines and bulging his forearms as he pried the plate open.
BANG!!! VRRRR!!!
The car, now moving on all fours thanks to the parasitic vines, spun its wheels as if about to burst and honked its horn like a desperate scream. The dagger embedded in the bumper was spat out as if rejected.
Whether it was the monster's instinctive recognition of danger or a reaction to its pain, Rohan didn’t care. His grip didn’t falter.
CRACK!
As Rohan forcefully dismantled the car door, the vines supporting the body weakened and began to collapse.
With a final kick, the car toppled onto its side.
[+3P]
A clear sign that the monster had been defeated.
Beyond the wall, loud crashes echoed, and more points poured in.
[+3P]
[+2P]
[+2P]
[+3P]
It was Shion and Clara’s handiwork.
Rohan wiped the sweat streaming down his face after confirming that the two girls had safely returned.
“Damn, this insane weather.”
As they got closer to their destination, the monsters' difficulty had noticeably increased.
But the issue wasn’t just the monsters. The temperature was rising to an absurd degree.
If not for his magically enhanced body, Rohan was certain he would have been another casualty of this murderous heat.
Whether the heat was a result of approaching the dungeon's core or simply a natural progression over time, he didn’t know—and didn’t want to find out.
Regardless of the answer, there was only one path forward.
“Oppa! The path is clear now!”
“Fighting motorcycles and utility poles... This battle felt like a particularly ridiculous nightmare.”
Despite the oppressive heat and stifling humidity, which made this place feel like hell itself, the girls showed no signs of irritation or conflict.
Rohan found this particularly admirable.
[You have purchased bottled water.]
“Great work, both of you.”
Rohan handed each of them a bottle of cool water. Then, sticking to the shade as much as possible, they moved on.
Leading the group, Rohan checked the timer on his smartphone.
“...28 hours and 6 minutes.”
They had spent more than a full day in the dungeon.
Since the phone was used solely to monitor time, its battery was just under half—still manageable. His main concern now was not letting the heat fry the device.
Step. Step. Step.
They passed quickly under dangerously tilted buildings that seemed to hold each other up.
Emerging from the precarious structures, they found themselves before an overpass—two X-shaped pedestrian bridges, both shattered.
Rohan approached, pretending to remain calm, as he examined the familiar structure.
“The protagonist’s party took three days to reach this point.”
Recalling the rest event that occurred in Abyss City, he mentally compared their progress.
“Good. We’re moving much faster than expected.”
He had anticipated at least two full days to reach this point, but Shion and Clara’s synergy had exceeded his expectations, allowing them to push through much faster.
After fighting together all day, the three had learned to complement each other’s styles. Their camaraderie had also noticeably grown—Shion seemed to have figured out how to converse with Clara more naturally.
Rohan approached the ruined overpass, carefully ensuring there were no vines, and turned to the two girls following him.
“Shall we rest here for a bit? The shade is nice and broad.”
“Sure!”
“Let’s do that.”
As soon as they settled in, Rohan removed his jacket and tossed it aside, then took off his shirt.
Without caring about wrinkles, he twisted the shirt tightly, wringing sweat out onto the ground.
Shion, hiding behind some debris out of Rohan’s sight, stripped to her underwear and wrung out her tank top.
Clara, however, simply removed her thick, long boots. While she was sweating the least among the three, her outfit made it difficult to address even the small amount she did sweat.
“Clara, do you need more water?”
“I still have some left...!”
Rohan, now wearing his crumpled shirt, sat beside Clara.
The unease she had shown when they first fell into the dungeon was nowhere to be seen.
“Are you hungry? Or do you want something sweet?”
“We just ate not too long ago. I’m fine.”
Clara smiled shyly as she answered, touched by Rohan’s consistent concern for her and Shion.
“Really, I’m so glad Oppa is here...”
Moments like this solidified Rohan’s image as an older brother in her mind.
Though it was only an instinctive feeling, Clara trusted that following Rohan’s broad back would lead them safely out of this dungeon.
“Rohan, wouldn’t it be better to eat during our next break instead of now?”
Shion returned, fully dressed, and sat down beside the resting pair.
“That sounds reasonable. Clara, is that okay with you?”
“Yeah! I think Unnie’s suggestion is best.”
Somehow, the girls’ relationship had progressed to the point where Clara now called Shion Unnie.
It was a significant step forward.
“...”
The three of them relaxed in the shade of the overpass, enjoying the comfortable silence.
“Let’s get moving.”
With his bottle emptied, Rohan stood, prompting Shion and Clara to prepare without a word of complaint.
Clara slipped her feet into her boots and began tying the laces, while Shion adjusted her goggles and stood up.
Shion scanned their surroundings to ensure nothing had been left behind.
Meanwhile, Rohan dressed himself while observing her.
Then, he noticed something peculiar.
“Huh?”
It wasn’t a mistake—Shion’s lips were subtly curled into a smile.
Instead of finding it endearing, Rohan felt a pang of unease.
“What’s going on...?”
There was no reason for Shion to be this happy.
In a situation where they were battling relentlessly under the oppressive heat, her smile was unsettling.
Rohan paused his actions and gave her a questioning look.
Shion, reading his gaze, did something rare—she raised a piece of fabric to cover her mouth, as if embarrassed.
“...It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Don’t worry. I haven’t gone mad from the heat.”
“Well, that’s a relief, but...”
Rohan resumed dressing, though his face showed lingering doubt.
Seeing this, Shion replaced her faint smile with a hollow laugh and spoke honestly.
“It’s just... spending time like this without being bound by anything feels oddly enjoyable.”
While Clara gave a vague reaction, unaware of Shion’s circumstances, Rohan immediately understood what she meant.
“Shion.”
“Hmm?”
“When we get out of here, I’ll resolve it for you as soon as I can.”
“...”
The confidence Rohan had shown throughout the dungeon gave Shion more hope than before.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words. What could she say in response to that?
“Let’s go.”
But Rohan didn’t seem to expect an answer. He gripped his dagger and took the lead.
Clara, though puzzled by their exchange, quickly followed after him.
36 hours had passed since they entered the dungeon.
By now, the number of monsters they had dealt with was beyond counting.
Fortunately, none of them had been injured, but Rohan knew:
“The real challenge starts here.”
Having eaten and rested in shifts, they were in the best condition they could hope for.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
Looking up, Rohan spotted their destination—the building they had been aiming for.
“Looks like we found the right place, huh?”
“Indeed. It’s different from the rest.”
“Phew...”
The glass windows revealed the building’s interior, which was teeming with vines.
Unlike the ones they had encountered so far, these vines were covered in sharp, menacing thorns.
“Rohan, are we entering this building now?”
“Yeah, we have to.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better for Clara and me to take turns leading from here?”
Clara nodded in agreement, lips pressed together as if she wanted to say the same thing.
But Rohan shook his head firmly.
“No. I’m the one with formal training in dealing with monsters.”
“...Hmm.”
“And while my skills might not be the best, I’m at least durable enough to take hits. It’s better for me to lead and handle the first wave.”
Rohan’s reasoning made sense, though the girls looked like they wanted to argue about his claim of being “durable.”
Still, they knew by now that Rohan wouldn’t budge on this.
“We also need to be prepared for attacks from behind. I’ll leave that to you two.”
“...Understood.”
Shion and Clara nodded.
Ending the conversation, Rohan opened the shop.
[You have purchased a Lesser Health Potion.]
[You have purchased a Lesser Mana Potion.]
Each potion cost 100 points. Rohan bought three of each.
The potions were small, about the size of a thumb, making them easy to carry.
The health potion contained a red liquid, while the mana potion was a vivid blue.
“Each of you, take one. Don’t hesitate to use it when you need it.”
“Is this... a potion?”
Shion observed the item with astonishment.
“That’s right. I can get more, so don’t try to conserve them. Got it, Clara?”
“Y-yeah...!”
Rohan didn’t regret the 600-point expenditure.
Even if completing the dungeon would fully restore them, having preparations for the present was essential. Unlike Abyss City, here, he only had one life.
“Alright, let’s go in.”
At Rohan’s signal, the girls secured the potions and assumed defensive stances, ready to react to an ambush.
“One... two!”
BANG!
Rohan kicked down the door, revealing the building's interior.