Chapter 43

In the Kingdom of Albein, there are two types of places referred to as "caves." One is a natural formation without layers, simply a part of the terrain.

The other has two or more layers and is sometimes called a "dungeon." This type is not always naturally formed; it can be created by humans or monsters, or even by spirits with a will to create a dungeon.

The Ice Cave originally was an underground dungeon created by monsters, which, after losing its ruler and being abandoned, became inhabited by water spirits, changing the environment over time.

When the cave is filled with spirit power, creatures that adapt to the environment begin to gather. This includes monsters, which, if forced out of their original habitat, desperately seek a place to adapt to.

Some adapt to the environment and undergo mutations. A typical example is the goblin.

Goblins can mutate into "Frost Goblins" or "Fire Goblins" depending on the environment, and are capable of adapting. Some do not adapt and die, but because there are many of them, the mutated goblins can increase in number again after a while.

In the first layer of the Ice Cave, dozens of goblins live in a group. They boldly attack adventurers, but their strength is such that C-rank adventurers can repel them, and B-rank adventurers are not threatened. They do not use special attacks like poison at this stage, as it is impossible to collect poison in the surrounding environment of the Ice Cave. If goblins venture outside and cause harm, the Adventurer's Guild will issue a C-rank or higher extermination request.

Other creatures living in the first layer do not have the habit of attacking humans and can be left alone. Frozen Slimes can sometimes be seen, but they are considered a delicacy in the village by the lake to the east of the Ice Cave. They are difficult to prepare, so it is not recommended for amateurs to eat them. Selling them can earn money, but capturing them requires B-rank or higher skill, or one might be defeated.

Frozen Slimes, like other slimes, have the habit of capturing prey, dissolving equipment, and eating it. They do not eat organic matter and only consume inorganic materials, which is why adventurers sometimes get into trouble when caught. In such cases, whether the captured person is male or female, they should be helped by sprinkling salt, as Frozen Slimes dislike salt and will flee.

If there is no salt, other methods are possible, but the author cannot recommend them, as they might create an awkward atmosphere even after rescue.

When descending to the second layer, one often encounters Snow Wolves. Despite being wolves, they can breathe ice, and C-rank adventurers might be wiped out. They always attack in groups of about ten, and the damage from their breath attacks is severe. It is necessary to take the initiative, reduce their numbers, and minimize the damage from their breath attacks. For safety, a party of B-rank or higher adventurers is required.

Snow Wolves do not attack those who have defeated them before. Therefore, other monsters might have Snow Wolves as subordinates. In such cases, an average B-rank party should not pursue further.

Those who have Snow Wolves as subordinates are likely to have A-rank or higher combat abilities. This can cause accidents, so the Adventurer's Guild should include a warning of "Potential Danger: A-rank or higher" in requests for the second layer and beyond of the Ice Cave.

Regular environmental checks of the Ice Cave are conducted by the Silver Water Bottle Inn, making such situations unlikely, but not impossible.

One must always be prepared for the unexpected.

-- Excerpt from Chapter 1 of the Ice Cave section of the Dungeon Exploration Guide created by the Silver Water Bottle Inn --

"…We were lucky to have heard about it beforehand, but those slimes are pretty dangerous, huh?"

"Slimes are not good creatures. If they can be tamed, they can eat discarded equipment and be quite useful…"

"Ria, do you have bad memories with slimes?"

"W-well, not me. When I was asked to exterminate slimes in the past… but that's not the time to talk about it."

"Maybe you can tell us another time… everyone, the goblins are coming again!"

In the dim, poorly lit cave, Aileen had no trouble at all. Her senses were so sharp that even Ria, a beastman skilled in detection, was surprised.

There were holes high up on the cave walls where goblins could hide. From these holes, some goblins would jump down with clubs or frozen daggers, while others would throw stones. Aileen deflected the incoming objects with her mitten-covered hands, Rigel dodged the goblins' attacks and counterattacked, defeating them without injury. McKinley fired a fireball into the goblins' holes, and Ria cut down the goblins that emerged, finishing off those that ran in with a thrust.

When a goblin mage appeared, Zect, who had been observing, began to chant a spell. The light from the wooden staff, which served as a torch, cast deep shadows of the goblins he had brought with him—Zect did not miss this.

"Shadow Bind"

Immediately after the chant, the shadows of all the enemies Zect could see were affected by the magic, causing the goblins to lose their balance. Their upper bodies moved, but their feet were immobilized, bound by the shadows.

"Ria, don't cut the torch! Aim for other parts!"

"…!"

Only Aileen understood what Zect had done. Ria moved reflexively as instructed, cutting down the goblin that stepped forward to protect the mage, and thrusting her sword at the mage.

The goblin mage stopped moving, almost dropping the burning staff. Rigel ran in to catch it, but Aileen judged that it was no longer necessary to maintain the "shadow" and kicked it out.

"Whoa… Miss, can we put it out now?"

"Yeah. Your job is to use magic that interferes with the enemy's shadow… right?"

"That's right. I thought it wasn't necessary to interfere, but this much shouldn't be a problem."

"Right, it helped. The enemy is desperate, so they might attack recklessly, causing injuries."

"I didn't understand at all… so what did you do?"

"Cast a spell on the enemy's shadow, binding their feet to the ground… right, Aileen?"

"Right, that's correct. When you can judge that in battle, you're a pro."

Rigel was impressed, and McKinley looked a bit proud. Aileen, glancing at them, asked Zect.

"Wouldn't it be easy to capture the Ice Fox with this spell?"

"It would be easy for goblins, but it's a basic technique. It wouldn't work on something as agile as 'that.'"

"Right, it's not that easy," Aileen shrugged.

To capture a target, multiple people of the same rank as the target or a single person one rank higher are required.

The Ice Fox is SSS-rank in strength. In this party, only Aileen could restrain it.

Determined not to fail, Aileen tightened her resolve.

At that moment, a strong cold wind blew from the approaching second layer. White, cold particles carried by the wind touched the skin of the group and disappeared.

"This is… snow…?"

"They must have been in the second layer… everyone, be careful. Probably, ahead…"

"Wait, wasn't it supposed to be just one? What's that pack…!"

On the slope leading down to the second layer, a wide space was filled with white beasts.

—Snow Wolves. They were forming a circle around something, as if worshiping it.

"That's the Ice Fox… commanding the Snow Wolves, huh?"

"It seems to have become the boss of this dungeon. I thought it was possible. Now, we really need everyone to try hard."

"Got it! Miss, focus on the Ice Fox! We'll take care of the Snow Wolves!"

"Getting too close is tough… Ria, McKinley, I count on you."

"Understood. If we take a direct hit from their breath, we might get frostbite, so be careful."

Ria and Rigel readied their weapons. McKinley loaded a fireball into his arbalest from behind.

"3, 2, 1… let's go!"

Aileen ran forward, with Zect following behind. Some of the Snow Wolves were immobilized by Zect's "Shadow Bind" and were eliminated by his thrown slicers. However, the Snow Wolves that slipped through while running and not touching the ground attacked Rigel and Ria in groups.

"Fast… but!"

Rigel swung his sword, and one Snow Wolf flinched. McKinley's fireball hit, and the Snow Wolves flinched as they burned. Ria stepped in and cut down two with a single swing of her sword.

Confirming that they were fighting, Aileen leaped high into the darkness where the Ice Fox appeared.

To Zect, Aileen's jump seemed too high, but he understood that she had intentionally jumped to reach the ceiling.

The Ice Fox's eyes caught Aileen in mid-air, and a silver glow emitted. A storm of ice and snow obscured Aileen's vision, but she covered herself with a red glow of magic for protection, kicked the ceiling to reverse her direction, and launched a powerful kick at the Ice Fox.

"Superior Combat Technique: Heaven-Crushing Mountain Kick!"

A kick with enough force to crack the ceiling—she added a "Thunder Shock" and used all its power to propel herself toward the Ice Fox.

—But the kick that should have been impossible to avoid cut through the air, shattering the ground where the Ice Fox had been, creating a large hole.

(The snowstorm just now was to blind me…!)

Aileen felt a chill run through her. In the next moment, Zect's thrown slicer cut through the blizzard that continued to obscure her vision.

With a metallic sound, the slicer was deflected. The Ice Fox, which had disappeared into the snow, briefly reappeared and then vanished again.

"As long as this blizzard continues, we can only know its location by something other than sight."

"Right…!"

Zect, who knew about the Ice Fox beforehand, was more accustomed to sensing its presence. Even so, he could not get close to it.

(How can I capture it…? No, I have to. Dick asked me to…!)

"Behind you, dodge!"

"Damn…!"

Aileen jumped back, but a gust of icy breath hit her, and part of her body was caught in a block of snow.

The blizzard had already piled up to her knees, restricting the freedom of movement in her legs, which were crucial for a martial artist.

If she continued to lose body heat, what would happen—

She felt a new emotion rise in her chest, one she had never felt before.

"…Can you make it to us? It's probably too difficult…?"

Zect readied his slicer. If the Ice Fox appeared to attack Aileen, he would use his maximum attack as a Shadow Striker to severely wound it.

"Don't interfere. I said I'd handle it, right?"

Zect's hand stopped. In this situation, no matter how strong Aileen was, if she was frozen, she would lose her freedom of movement and take a direct hit from the Ice Fox's next attack.

A strong person is not strong because they have endless vitality. It is because they can avoid direct attacks and minimize damage.

Even the strongest can lose if they are unlucky. Zect thought this, but he could not move at all.

—Aileen's body, enveloped in a red glow, intensified.

Her pink hair turned a deeper shade of red. The red light from her eyes gave Zect a feeling he hadn't experienced since childhood.

It was terrifying.

It was something that should never be touched. Zect, unable to move, watched as Aileen's magic power exploded.

"…Seductive and demonic… Is this Aileen Superior…?"

The ice that had frozen Aileen's body began to melt. She shed her coat, now in just a dress.

The density of the magic power emanating from her body was too high. Red lightning shot from her short, inconspicuous horns, and the snow around her evaporated into a spherical shape.

"Now I can move freely. Sorry, I'm being childish."

Despite her fearsome appearance