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A Little Shift in Perspective Required for Clearing a Dungeon – Part 01

The Confederacy of Einbiest’s Hopestadt was the largest city in all of Einbiest. Serving as the residence of Gerhardt, the leader of the Confederacy, it boasted a diverse population, attracting people from different races.

“Hmm, yum!” said Utekko, gulping down ale in the middle of the day. Once a Half Dragon, the curse on his race had been lifted, turning him into a handsome human in his thirties.

“I wish I could be as laid-back as you. We Ratmen are still a minority, you know,” remarked Chi the Ratman, taking small sips from his drink. Unlike Utekko, the Ratmen remained a minority race, their power as weak as ever.

“Things have improved, haven’t they? There’s no more blatant discrimination, and it’s all thanks to Jillarte.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s completely gone, but yeah, it’s better than before.”

Utekko laughed. “That’s our representative for you!”

Jillarte herself believed she hadn’t accomplished much, but her achievement in the Ruler’s Rumble tournament was witnessed by many, sparking the propagation of her ideology regarding racial harmony.

Eradicating discrimination was no easy task, however, and there was still a long road ahead of them.

“Pretty drastic of Gerhardt, though,” Chi said. “Sending Jillarte off to the sticks. Southleaf Island, was it?”

“Jillarte was an adventurer, so he probably factored that in. He has good eyes.”

“Come on now, Utekko. Did becoming human make you slow?”

“Hmm? What are you worried about?”

Glancing around, Chi leaned closer and whispered softly. “I’m talking about what those bastards from Bios would do if they learned about this.”

“They’re the ones who started it. They resurrected Lord Kouga as an Undead.”

Recalling the events that unfolded during the Ruler’s Rumble, Utekko’s hand, clutching the beer mug, trembled with rage.

“Exactly. They’re vile people. That’s why I’m worried.”

“You make a good point.”

“Jillarte will be passing through Bios territory en route to Southleaf Island, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Church catches wind of it.”

“…”

“…Utekko?”

“I’m going.”

“What?”

“I’m heading to Southleaf Island.” Utekko stood up abruptly.

“Whoa, whoa. You’re kidding, right? Are you one of those overprotective parents, or something? Just calm down! What do you plan to do when you get there? Do you want people to think she can’t hold her own?!”

“I’m going because I’m worried. If there’s nothing to worry about, I’ll keep an eye from the shadows.”

“You think you can stay in the shadows with how big you are? You idiot! Shit, too strong. Garan, lend me a hand here! Utekko is acting like an idiot! I said stop!”

Their voices filled the tavern.

---

“Not that way! Keep going straight!”

The voices of the pursuers grew closer and closer.

How?! I’m using Group Cloaking to throw them off, so they shouldn’t be able to track my exact location. But they’re steadily closing in!

Hikaru had faith in his Stealth ability, having tested its effectiveness multiple times in practice. He understood its capabilities well. But somehow, he couldn’t shake off the pursuers. He regretted not examining their Soul Boards thoroughly. There had to be some sort of secret there.

“Ah… ugh…”

Jillarte’s mouth moved, but she still hadn’t recovered from the paralysis. If only it wore off, there might have been another way out.

Using his Mana Detection, Hikaru advanced forward, his senses attuned to the enchanted walls of the dungeon and the Golems. He might be able to avoid the Golems, but not dead-ends that lay beyond the 100-meter limit of his detection range. Despite having committed the map to memory, there were inherent limitations.

“Gah…”

Gasping for breath, Hikaru arrived at a slightly larger room than the one where Jillarte’s group was ambushed. There were no exits.

“Damn it,” Hikaru cursed.

Once he reached the back of the room, Hikaru gently laid Jillarte down on the ground. He was out of breath. Even with the amplified power granted to him by the Soul Board, carrying another person while evading pursuit drained his stamina rapidly.

Footsteps closed in from behind.

“It’s a dead-end up ahead.”

“Looks like they went this way.”

“Let’s go!”

What should I do? Use Group Cloaking and wait for them to leave? If I use it right in front of them, I can deceive their eyes, but Jillarte will definitely figure it out. I don’t want her to know that I have the same ability as Silver Face.

Hikaru hesitated momentarily.

“Go… sayb… yershelf…”

Jillarte’s slurred words reached his ears. Go save yourself.

I’m such an idiot.

Why was he even hesitating? His priority should have been clear from the start. Hikaru decided that if push came to shove, he would use Group Cloaking.

Then, Hikaru realized something.

Is that…

A figure appeared at the entrance of the small room.

At the forefront stood Esrat, accompanied by a lanky bat Beastman with a pointed nose, hunched over as he advanced, almost crawling on the ground.

I see… Those hands on his ears means he’s following sound, Hikaru analyzed calmly. I didn’t think about that.

His Stealth didn’t physically erase sounds and presence but rather concealed them within a certain range, rendering them imperceptible. For instance, a candle’s flame in the dark wouldn’t be noticed within Stealth’s range, but outside that range, people would see it.

Likewise, Hikaru’s footsteps were imperceptible within the range of his Stealth, but they became audible if the pursuer was too far. When Unken trained him in the ways of a Rogue, the old man taught him how to move softly. But the enemy’s hearing capabilities exceeded Hikaru’s skills.

A bat Beastman… Bats navigate through pitch-black caves using the echoes of ultrasonic waves. It seems he inherited that ability, granting him acute hearing.

Though he wouldn’t mind using it when absolutely needed, if possible, Hikaru didn’t want to reveal his Stealth. Reluctantly, he deactivated it.

“Gave us quite the trouble. Who the hell are you? Hey, does anyone recognize this kid?” Gogo immediately spotted Hikaru. “You look like an ordinary tourist. No way a guy like that would be roaming around the dungeon. A watcher from Einbiest? Well, whatever. Hand over Jillarte and get lost.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? You don’t actually plan on letting me go quietly, do you?”

Hikaru’s words elicited laughter from Gogo and his companions.

“That’s right! We won’t let you leave. You’re a witness, so you have to die.” Gogo turned to his men. “That kid is fast. Surround him.”

“Got it.”

Esrat and the bat Beastman remained near the entrance, while the other four, including Gogo, closed in on Hikaru and Jillarte. The rest of their group had split up into different directions.

Jillarte groaned, and Hikaru lifted her body up.

“Stay quiet,” he whispered.

“Ah… uh…”

“Please, just trust me.”

“…”

Jillarte took a long hard look at Hikaru’s face. Meanwhile, Hikaru kept a wary eye on Gogo and his men. They had already reached the middle of the room and were fanning out on both sides.

“Stop!” Hikaru shouted.

Gogo froze momentarily. “Huh? What’s this guy babbling about now? You scared? Then you shouldn’t have pulled this stunt in the first─”

“Now!”

A thunderous noise reverberated from the passageway they had entered from.

“What?!”

When they turned around, they saw a huge white flame hurtling into the room. The massive fireball struck right in front of Gogo’s group, exploding into a roaring pillar of fire.

“Gyaaaaahhh! Hot, hot, hot, hot!”

The men screamed. Seizing the opportunity, Hikaru dashed past them with Jillarte in his arms.

“Ah… Guh!”

“Basta—ugh!”

Hikaru delivered a roundhouse kick to the dumbfounded Esrat, swiftly followed by a spinning kick to the bat Beastman’s groin. He then bounded down the passageway.

“Thanks for the help!”

“No problem.”

“Are you okay?!”

Hikaru rendezvoused with Lavia and Paula. He had been aware of their approach through his Mana Detection. The bat Beastman might have sensed their footsteps as well, but he likely mistook them for his comrades’.

“O’ Elementals, heed my call. Flames rising higher than will-o-wisps, incinerate the approaching danger! Flame Wall!”

Lavia conjured a wall of flames to block the passage. This fire was real.

The white flame earlier was the non-lethal Atonement Flame, though highly effective against Undead-type monsters.

“You idiots! It’s just an illusion!”

“Ah… huh? It’s not hot…”

Voices came from the room.

“Lavia, how long will the fire last?”

“Hmm… Around ten minutes?”

“Perfect.”

Even if their pursuers regained their strength, them breaching the wall of flames was doubtful. Lavia’s fire magic was powerful; they wouldn’t get past it with just small burns. Moreover, the lack of oxygen in the area would restrict their movements.

As an avid reader, Lavia had acquired a wealth of knowledge on magic and continued to hone her skills, expanding her repertoire of fire-type spells.

Ten minutes should be enough to create some distance between them, but there were likely more of their companions up ahead.

What should we do? Can we turn back the way I came?