Chapter 33: Tier 2 (1)
Given such a pattern, if you successfully attack the spine, it would be quite easy to kill the second-tier Boss in reality.
I see.
Of course, as I mentioned, the second-tier Boss is a bit larger than the first-tier Boss, so you definitely need to be cautious.
Immediately after, Kim Hyunwoo, who had told Elena that he would move her to another room once it was cleaned, explained the second tier to her in detail.
First of all, the information on the second tier is as mentioned, but do you have any questions or parts you dont understand?
Youve explained the information well, so I dont have any misunderstandings but can I ask another question?
Elena responded to Kim Hyunwoos following question.
Another question?
Yes.
What is it this time?
Elena cautiously opened her mouth at Kim Hyunwoos curious look.
Um, have you, My Lord, ever entered the Labyrinth?
Ah.
Upon her question, Kim Hyunwoo quickly grasped the intent behind her question and pondered for a moment before answering.
To be precise, I have entered and strategized in the Labyrinth with the heroes.
To be more precise, rather than entering the Labyrinth myself, I merely controlled the heroes through a smartphone or PC screen and fought.
Realizing that telling Elena this fact would only confuse her and offer no benefit, Kim Hyunwoo responded accordingly.
You entered the Labyrinth yourself?
Yes, Im quite good at commanding, actually. Well, theres no immediate need for me to enter right now, so I wont.
Kim Hyunwoo said this and suddenly thought,
Maybe I should accompany them from the fourth tier onwards.
Naturally, Kim Hyunwoo intended to continue exploring the Labyrinth even after breaking through the third tier and creating a Labyrinth city.
Breaking through the third tier was merely the minimum condition for creating a Labyrinth city; to activate it, conquering as many tiers as possible was crucial.
And to explore the tiers below the third, Kim Hyunwoo needed to descend into the Labyrinth himself.
Unlike the third tier in the game, where you could reach the Boss zone by just setting the heroes on auto-battle,
the fourth tier requires actual strategy even when just fighting regular mobs to advance.
Actually, it would be better if I could control it through a smartphone screen like before.
Unfortunately, it seems Loria cannot do that much, so Kim Hyunwoo, unable to find a way to give orders from outside by the time he descends to the fourth tier, was mentally preparing for that.
I need to become stronger to protect you, My Lord.
Hearing Elenas voice while thinking, Kim Hyunwoo belatedly remembered they were in conversation and responded.
Its good if everyone becomes stronger. If you become stronger, I can go into the Labyrinth without much worry. But dont overdo it. You are gradually becoming stronger, and by that time, other heroes will also-
I will definitely become stronger. So that I can protect you by myself.
Elena spoke as if making a declaration in response to Kim Hyunwoos words.
Yes, well Id be grateful. As I said, if you become stronger, I can descend into the Labyrinth with a bit less worry.
Realizing the conversation was slightly off, Kim Hyunwoo made a strange expression but soon nodded.
Soon after deciding through their conversation to descend to the second tier the next day, Kim Hyunwoo, who had watched Elena leave the office, opened her information window.
Hero Name: Elena
Title: X
Stars: 2 Stars
Affection: (Measuring)
-Stats-
Strength: 32
Agility: 42
Intelligence: 22
Luck: 19
Magic Power: 15
The hero feels trust towards you
Seeing her attributes rise quickly again compared to two weeks ago, Kim Hyunwoo thought that she could definitely clear the second tier with this level of ability.
Huh?
He suddenly realized her Luck had increased again.
Why did her Luck increase again?
Kim Hyunwoo wore a puzzled expression.
Im sure I havent assigned her any difficult tasks? If it seemed like a slightly dangerous job, I immediately had soldiers accompany her.
Kim Hyunwoo wondered if there had been a situation that increased her Luck due to the various measures taken to keep her out of danger.
I should investigate this as well.
He thought he should do some research on this matter.
While the increase in Luck was good, it ultimately meant that Elena was continuously facing deadly dangers.
So, while Kim Hyunwoo was thinking about the Luck,
Elena was,
heading to the training ground for practice, recalling what Kim Hyunwoo had said earlier.
Another hero
Naturally, Elena did not think that Kim Hyunwoo had recruited only one hero.
He had also recruited Lani, a support hero, in Lartania, and it was rare for a Lord to employ only one hero in the first place.
However, Elena still felt uneasy.
It was an odd feeling, as if something unresolved was stuck in her throat.
How about recruiting me instead of Elena?
For a moment, Altas voice seemed to whisper in her ear, passing through her mind.
I need to become stronger.
Elena muttered softly.
The pack of beastfolk, to which Giral, called one of the Four Kings and belonging to Red Eyes, had never left since its formation, was now left behind by him.
The reason was that Merilda, the leader of Red Eyes, had suddenly disappeared a few months ago.
Of course, the beastfolk dont particularly care about that.
The disappearance of the leader is indeed a big deal and causes chaos in the group, but for a beastfolk pack governed by the law of power, such chaos doesnt last long.
If the strongest leader in the pack disappears, the next strongest simply takes over as the leader.
Of course, some may quarrel over the position of leader during such transitions, but that was not considered part of the chaos.
In other words, in a typical beastfolk group, the disappearance of Merilda would have caused some chaos, but nothing more than a natural change of leadership would occur.
However, the reason Giral went so far as to leave the pack and head south to find Merilda was that the characteristics of the Red Eyes she created were different from other beastfolk groups.
After all, the beastfolk who joined Red Eyes were all captivated by her overwhelming power, which was beyond reach.
Because she could fight on equal terms with the greatest warrior of the North and was not inferior to any of the great heroes making their names across the Continent due to her overwhelming strength.
Thus, Red Eyes was different from other groups, and hoping for this group to continue, he left the pack in the care of the other Three Kings and came here.
Near the territory of Antalia, where Red Eyes was rumored to appear.
And as soon as he arrived near there, Giral unknowingly smiled.
That was because, despite his worries that the rumors might have been false, Giral, who had a particularly keen sense of presence compared to other beastfolk, could feel her presence, albeit faintly.
Therefore, Giral immediately headed towards the place where he felt her presence to meet Merilda.
After some time, when Giral arrived at a cliff with craters scattered around,
Giral could see Merilda.
?
He could see Merilda?
??
Giral looked at Merilda, who was facing away from him, with a face full of questions, or more accurately, full of astonishment.
Even without seeing her face, the reason for his astonishment was immediately clear.
Her tail, is it wagging?
Swaying gently side to side.
Because Merildas tail was swaying gently from side to side.
Basically, the tail of a beastfolk expresses the owners various emotions.
And a wagging tail like that usually means they are in a very good mood.
No, beyond just being in a good mood, its practically saying Im utterly delighted.
Giral wore an incredulous expression.
That was because he had never seen Merildas tail move before, as it was always dragging on the ground unless she was shaking off blood.
Moreover, the tail of the inscrutable leader, who always seemed indifferent to everything with her listless eyes, wagging like that made Girals jaw drop without him realizing.
At that moment.
Swish-
!
Giral looked into the eyes of Merilda, who had turned her head.
There, instead of the tired, indifferent eyes that were always unfeeling to everything, he saw her red eyes, listless yet with a hint of vitality returning.
At that moment, Giral was surprised once again.
Have you come?
Gasp.
At Merildas calm, yet slightly revitalized voice, he let out a gasp without realizing.
Giral had been with Red Eyes for a very long time, but he had never been greeted by her before.
No, aside from being told to just fill the numbers when he was recruited into Red Eyes, Giral had hardly ever spoken with her.
But now, she had greeted him?
And not in an unemotional voice, but rather welcomingly?
Of course, Merilda had greeted him without much thought, but Giral, seeing this side of her for the first time, froze, wondering if the being before him might be someone other than Merilda.
Merilda, turning her gaze back, looked at the territory in a very good mood.
The Absolute Ruler of Darkness who had come to pick a fight out of the blue a few days ago, or the insolent hero who had bad-mouthed her, had already vanished from her mind.
Instead, the wolf recalled the words Kim Hyunwoo had uttered earlier as she looked at him.
Yes, she was quite reliable. After all, shes the first hero, so I have a bit of a soft spot for her.
And then.
Maybe, just maybe now could be the time-
An uncontrollable hope began to grow little by little in Merildas heart
Really-
little by little.
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