Raid Dungeon Battle (6)

The door to the boss room on the 50th floor of Dungeon Core Number 10.

[What do you think? Should we wait for Haku-sama? Or just go for it?]

[Yeah, we did get here first! We've come this far—we might as well go for it!]

[Oh, we're going in? If we can wear the boss down, we might get some rewards from Haku-sama!]

Looks like the seniors are raring to go.

"Hey, senpai. Before that, shouldn't we check our current combat strength? For example, Mushroom-senpai, how many Plant Warriors do you have left in stock?"

[Hmm? Let's see… maybe about a hundred. I don't mind using them all up—Haku-sama will just replenish them anyway.]

The Myconid-senpai gave their mushroom cap a soft shake and a few seeds scattered down.

Plant Warriors were the Myconid's main force—mass-producible units about as strong as Iron Golems. Being portable as seeds was a big advantage.

"What about Vampire-senpai and Dog-senpai?"

[It's as you can see—thirty Lesser Vampires. Maybe used up a bit too many, huh.]

[Don't call me Dog… Well, I am a dog, but still… As for me, I've got ten Shadow Wolves, twenty Flame Wolves, and ten Saint Wolves.]

Each of them was individually a little stronger than an Iron Golem.

Dog-senpai's units have the Undead attribute, which we were prepared for in advance, so they're especially effective against enemies with that trait.

As for us—we've got one GGiantTester and as many Rat Funnels as needed.

[So, what do you want to do, Golem-kouhai?]

[Actually, why is kouhai the one calling the shots? Not that I mind.]

[Honestly, I'm not good at leading a big group into battle. I appreciate being able to leave it to you.]

With that, the senpais all turn to look at me—Golem Avatar-kun. The decision's up to me.

So… should we charge in, or wait?

"Alright, let's ask Haku-sama for instructions!"

Ah. Passing the buck to our superior!

At that, the senpais all give me a "seriously?" kind of look.

"What? Better than charging in on our own and getting chewed out. We've got a direct line of contact, might as well use it."

[Well, yeah, I guess. I was kinda hoping our promising rookie would make a bold decision, though.]

[Personally, I'd rather follow Haku-sama's orders than be led by a kouhai, but… still kinda anticlimactic.]

[I think it's a sound decision. Nothing wrong with that.]

Yeah, I think this is the safest (and laziest) option.

And if she tells us to decide for ourselves, then it's her responsibility for leaving it to us.

If we're told to go and get wiped out with this squad—it's still her fault.

If we win? Then it's thanks to her orders and our efforts. Since Haku-san is the top boss, she has to acknowledge our performance.

Honestly, this faction is super "white" (i.e., ethical and fair). Just like Haku-san.

So, we contacted Haku-san and her reply was—

"It will take some time to secure the other floors. You can wait to join up or go ahead on your own. If you choose to proceed, please share any intel you gather."

Even if we can't defeat the boss, just getting information counts as an achievement. I love having a boss who actually recognizes our efforts.

[So, what now? Personally, I think we should scout the room with kouhai's rats again.]

[Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing. Just like we did earlier.]

[They're the most disposable unit, after all. Can you do it, kouhai?]

"Sure thing. That's what the rats are for. Leave it to me, senpais."

I cracked the boss room door open just a little and sent a few rats in as the vanguard.

The room was like a large temple. White tiled floors, pillars grooved like something out of the Parthenon. The far end was raised, like a temple entrance. The door was shut though. Along the walls were what appeared to be drawers—definitely holding something.

… It really resembled a building of the Light God Church. A holy aura that didn't fit undead at all.

GGiantTester should be able to fight just fine in here, but I'm curious what kinds of traps might be waiting.

When the rats reached the center of the room, the entrance door slammed shut.

Then, at the far end—the temple entrance, i.e., the exit of the boss room—a robed old man appeared.

"Oh, that's Core Number 10. I saw him at the assembly."

"You sure, Rokuko?"

"Even if not, what kind of regular grandpa hangs out in a place like this?"

Good point. Either way, this geezer's definitely the enemy.

[So, you've come, you vermin—hm? Hey, where are you?]

He glances around the room in confusion.

We're all outside, watching through the rats' shared vision.

"Hey, my Core says that guy's Core Number 10. What do you think, senpais?"

[Yep, no doubt about it—that's Core Number 10.]

[Might've made the monster look like himself, but that's the real deal.]

[Still, greeting a bunch of rats after locking the door? Pretty funny, hehe.]

Yup, the senpais confirmed it's definitely Core Number 10.

"You doubted me, Kehma?"

"It's not that—I just wanted to double-check."

Rokuko gave me a light pinch while I kept watching through the rats.

Finally, Core Number 10 noticed the rats' gaze. He tilted his head before raising his staff and shouting—

[What are these filthy little creatures!? Hey! I know you're right outside the door!! Come in already!! Darkness, claim their lives—Dark Shot!!]

He blasted the rats with dark magic, disintegrating them. Must be pretty pissed that his dramatic intro was wasted.

[I heard he used to be a Pope of the Light God Church… and yeah, the setup feels like a communal tomb of that church. Probably full of traps. I bet those drawers have corpses—some high-level undead stashed in there.]

[I agree. Judging by the size, probably human corpses. And based on what just happened, if we don't all enter at once, we'll get split up. We'll need to choose between a small elite group, or forcing everyone in at once…]

[That staff he's using—it's made of adamantite. Did he have humans make it? It enhances magic, but it's also usable in melee. We can't let our guard down.]

The senpais analyzed the scene from the rats' vision.

As expected of the senpais—sharp as ever.

[… So, what now? Just seeing Core Number 10 is already a solid achievement. Wanna go in?]

Myconid-senpai shook his mushroom cap and asked. The top brass said it's our choice, so it wasn't a big deal even if we lost.

"What if we keep sending rats to provoke him, and make him come to us? Then we ambush him out here instead. Better than charging into a room full of traps and getting split up, right?"

[The boss can't leave the boss room, so he might send minions instead… Oh, wait. That might be your plan.]

[You're trying to make them divide their forces. I like it. We've got enough room to fight out here, after all.]

[Didn't even occur to me to let the enemy come to us while we're invading their dungeon… This must be a Master's way of thinking.]

Dungeon Battles really are a free-for-all. You could say we're just setting up camp outside the boss room to stall for time.

So yeah—let's not walk into their trap. Let's bait the enemy out instead.

If they don't fall for it, we'll just wait until Haku-san arrives.