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Volume 8 Chapter 211

The Boss of the Eleventh Floor of the Dungeon

Afterward, Meldie and her companions continued to defeat the incessantly charging Magic Gnome and Crenus, who were relentless in their assaults.
Meldie had already surpassed level 100, making her more formidable than B-rank monsters, no matter how numerous they were.
In the case of ordinary B-rank monsters—
As Haruto, the merciless bastard, as Meldie called him, trained his comrades, he spared no effort. When training his targets, he provided enemies that were on the verge of being unbeatable, prompting rapid growth.
By preparing opponents that the trainees could barely defeat, he pushed them to the limits, fostering rapid development.
If comrades were in danger, he had the confidence to instantly come to their aid, imposing harsh training on them under the label of being merciless.
All for the sake of gathering 『strong comrades』.
The Haruto of old had vaguely thought about wanting to protect Tina and the world they lived in.
However, upon actually acquiring the『power to protect』, he realized the multitude of things he couldn’t accomplish alone.
The current Haruto didn’t believe he could protect the world alone.
The recollection of his memories from a hundred years ago when he was active as the Guardian Hero played a significant role in this realization.
There were lives that the Guardian Hero couldn’t save.
There were towns that couldn’t be protected.
Alone, one couldn’t save the world.
That’s why he thought of training—-
Friends capable of defeating S-rank monsters.
A family with the power to slaughter demons.
Comrades capable of facing the greatest enemy of humanity in this world—the Demon King!
Sage Luano provided special lectures about drawing out the power of companions.
Of course, it was beneficial, but Haruto felt that Luano’s approach was a bit lukewarm.
In this world, everyone except Haruto could become stronger by leveling up.
If that’s the case, by continuously battling enemies on the brink of defeat, both level and combat abilities should grow—Haruto believed in this.
Indeed, his belief was not wrong.
Certainly, understanding the essence of magic in Sage Luano’s lecture increased the efficiency of converting mana into magic, ultimately increasing the power of magic.
However, what becomes more important in using magic is the status.
One with overwhelming status is stronger than someone who can use magical power efficiently.
That’s the kind of world it is.
So, what if someone with overwhelming status learns to efficiently control magical power and the body?
It’s certain that they will become stronger.
And the best way to improve status— is to continuously fight enemies who bring you to the verge of defeat.
In the midst of the greatest physical and mental challenges, a person’s soul shines the brightest, and they rapidly grow in body and spirit.
The acquisition rate of experience points increases, making it easier to level up.
Haruto, who had begun to feel the presence of others’ souls, realized this mechanism as he grew mentally and became conscious of strengthening his comrades.
The B-rank monsters he prepared were not mere small fry.
「Ugh! Annoying, nya!!」
Currently, a large number of Magic Gnomes and Crenus were flocking to Meldie, the strongest member among the members challenging the dungeon.
Meldie, unable to defeat the swarming monsters, was getting frustrated.
When she tried to defeat Magic Gnome with physical attacks, Crenus would act as a shield.
If she tried to use magic against Crenus, Magic Gnome would charge in.
That’s how Haruto had given instructions.
With Meldie’s speed, she wouldn’t be hit by the monsters’ attacks.
However, to deliver an attack powerful enough to defeat Magic Gnome and Crenus, whether through physical or magical means, she needed a bit of charging time.
So, she couldn’t defeat the monsters.
Haruto included Meldie in the members challenging this dungeon to improve that.
For Meldie to defeat the monsters on this floor, she needed to either shorten the charging time and prevent the monsters from guarding or—
And Meldie fulfilled Haruto’s expectations.
「Sally, Lilia! Behind me!」
「Y-Yes!」
「Understood, nya!」
Taking Seira and moving outside the encirclement of monsters, Meldie gave instructions to Sally and Lilia.
The two stopped fighting and immediately moved behind Meldie.
The monsters chased after them.
「If you want to protect against both physical and magical attacks—」
Magical power overflowed from Meldie’s body.
「Eat this, nya! Earth Spear!」
She slammed the ground with all her might.
From the place she struck, countless earth spears emerged.
The Earth Spear as a magic and the rocks Meldie had blown away assaulted the monsters.
The rocks pierced Magic Gnome, and the Earth Spear pierced Crenus.
「A-Amazing……」
Seira was astonished by the scene before her.
While battling monsters and moving through the dungeon, they had reached an open area. Meldie then unleashed magic powerful enough to gouge out the entire ground of that area.
Every monster in that area was defeated.
「H-How is that, nya」
Even Meldie seemed exhausted.
Having depleted both magical power and stamina, she was breathing heavily.
「Meldie-sama, are you okay, nya!?」
「H-Here, a magic recovery potion! Please!!」
Snatching the offered potion from Sally with force, Meldie quickly gulped it down.
「I’ll restore everyone’s stamina」
Seira, the Holy Maiden and user of the world’s highest-level healing magic, began to replenish the energy of the three.
「Phew. Thank you, Seira, nya. And Lilia too」
「No, I didn’t contribute much in the battle……」
「I-I neither. It felt like monsters were only attracted to Meldie-sama」
「Ah, probably, Haruto planned it that way. I shouldn’t have gone along with Haruto’s proposal, nya」
Meldie also noticed that Haruto was manipulating the monsters.
Regretting that she easily succumbed to his invitation, finding it interesting.
「But well, since we’ve come, might as well clear a bit more」
「Is Meldie-san okay?
「Both magical power and stamina have recovered, so I can fight!」
「But the monsters on this floor were something else. Maybe even the boss—」
「There might be something incredibly strong, nya」
Lilia and Sally began to consider retreating.
With their current strength, they felt it was still insufficient to proceed.
「Boss rooms usually have only a few bosses and minions. If there aren’t many enemies, we can handle the boss」
Saying so, Meldie walked towards the boss room.
Seira and the other two followed.
「Uh, um…… Haruto-san’s magic, the Flame Knight. That’s not the boss, right?」
「Seira, it surely isn’t, nya. If such a magic were the boss on the first floor, that would be too much. That kind of magic should be on the final floor or the one before that」
　──＊＊＊──

They arrived at the entrance of the boss room.
「For now, let’s clear the eleventh floor, nya!」
「Yes! Please leave healing to me」
「I’ll do my best, nya」
「I’ll give it my all!」
The four entered the boss room.
The boss was not there.
「Huh…… the boss isn’t here, nya?」
「M-Meldie-san! There!」
Seira pointed to the ground in front of her, where five magic circles were drawn.
Suddenly, they began to glow.
Five knights appeared.
「Those things—」
「Do-don’t joke around!!」