Chapter 49

Unable to give up, I tried pulling the lever multiple times without aligning the symbols, but no monsters appeared.

I didn't want to admit it, but there was no room for doubt.

In this world, it was impossible to infinitely spawn monsters using traps.

"But, this means we can challenge the gimmick with peace of mind! I'll work hard to find the hint for the mechanism..."

Taking Nuek's words, I silently rotated the relief and aligned the symbols to "Snake, Lion, Bird, Crack (the last one is damaged, but it seems to be a sun pattern)" before pulling the lever. The door opened.

"Uh, uh..."

Ignoring Nuek's puzzled voice, I quietly considered the cause of this situation.

Why couldn't infinite spawning through traps work in this world?

The cause was unknown.

...But, I could imagine.

First, it was almost impossible that the infinite experience grinding through traps had been removed by an update in "Brave & Blade."

One reason is that if this world was created based on "the game I had" or "my memory," it would be strange for additional elements to be added.

Moreover, the company that developed "Brave & Blade" went bankrupt shortly after announcing the fifth DLC.

It was almost certain that the version I was playing was the latest one.

If that's the case, the possibility is that the "god" changed the specifications when the game became reality.

For example, things that were limited in the game due to game mechanics, like wall climbing, became possible in reality.

This was a benefit of the game becoming reality, but it might also mean that the reverse side of this benefit is showing in this case.

In other words, "things that were possible in the game but unrealistic in reality" are being rejected in this world.

That trap was probably designed so that if you made a mistake, the monsters hidden underground would jump out.

The phenomenon of monsters endlessly spawning every time the trap was triggered, which happened in the game, is extremely unnatural in reality.

Therefore, if the world corrected this to "monsters spawning only once," it would make sense.

Thinking back, there were quite a few unnatural things in this world, but I believe this time it crossed the "tolerance line."

(Where is the line between safe and out? That's the scary part...)

However, after spending over a month in this world, this is the only time the game mechanics didn't work.

It's dangerous to blindly believe in game knowledge, but I should verify things without being too neurotic.

"...Right, yeah."

"Bro?"

What I realized here is that "using this trap for infinite grinding" is not possible.

It's too early to give up.

I lifted my head and declared to the puzzled Rad and others:

"The exploration of this dungeon is canceled. Let's head to the next location!"

I can't stumble here!

This time, I will make infinite grinding work!

※ ※ ※

"Are you sure this is the right dungeon?"

Leesia, who had just cut down a monster with one stroke, asked me.

We had moved to "Valley of Farewells," a dungeon recommended for level 7.

It's a place where adventurers who have cleared beginner dungeons usually go next. Naturally, the enemies here are easy to defeat and don't give much experience.

"Yeah. Our target this time is the 'Hidden Boss.'"

"Hidden Boss?"

It seems the concept of a hidden boss is not widely known in this world.

"A strong enemy that doesn't fit the dungeon and is hidden."

As I said this, I continued to cut down enemies and move forward.

Considering the beginners who might follow, it would be better not to kill too many monsters, but I might have to come here multiple times.

I silently apologized and mercilessly crushed the monsters, eventually reaching a dead-end side path.

"Is this... a grave?"

There, a cross with a flower crown on it stood alone.

It looked like a tombstone, with a large metal cross planted in the ground.

I approached the cross without hesitation,

"Hey, old man!?"

I firmly gripped it with both hands and rotated it.

One turn to the left, two turns to the right, and a click sounded as the ground behind the cross moved.

"Hidden stairs..."

Ignoring the surprised Rad and others, I boldly descended the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs was a circular room, and in the center stood a knight in full armor.

That was my target this time.

Staring at the hollow eye sockets, I used "Insight."

―――――――

Knight of Sorrow

LV 35

HP 2400 MP 0

Physical Attack 300 Magic Attack 0

Physical Defense 300 Magic Defense 0

Strength 255 Vitality 255

Magic 0 Spirit 0

Agility 0 Focus 0

―――――――

Seeing those stats, I couldn't help but smile.

A strong enemy, the first since "Doom Demon," was there.

※ ※ ※

Descending the stairs, Rad, who had made eye contact with the knight, stiffened as if paralyzed and looked at me fearfully.

"Old man, even I can tell. That guy is pretty strong, right?"

"It's a hidden boss. In terms of stats, it's several levels above the boss of the 'Labyrinth of the Undying' we just faced."

Rad swallowed hard.

"Don't worry. He won't attack unless you enter the room, and he doesn't have any ranged attacks. You'll be safe here."

This is still an early dungeon.

It's not designed to mercilessly kill players who accidentally find the hidden path.

The knight only uses melee attacks and moves slowly.

Even if you mistakenly get too close, you can escape safely by leaving the room.

"That's all well and good..."

While explaining, I switched my ring to prioritize "Vitality."

I don't plan to take any attacks, but it's better to have a safety margin in case of an accident.

"Besides, you don't need to fight him."

"Eh...?"

"He's famous for summoning level 30 'Knights of Sorrow' when his HP is at half and a quarter. Defeating them to level up is our goal this time."

As I said this, Leesia, who had been observing, interjected with a biting tone.

"Are you planning to fight him alone!?"

"Of course not. I won't fight him. I'll just run around."

Leesia, who was still stunned, watched as I moved forward.

"Just watch and see if it works. There shouldn't be any danger, but if it gets too risky, you can help then."

With that, I stepped into the circular room.

The knight in the center slowly raised his sword, and his eyes glowed dimly.

"Combat stance, in other words."

It had been a while since I faced a life-or-death situation.

The pleasant tension made my heart beat faster.

(I should test it, just in case.)

I took a fire bottle from my inventory and threw it at the knight.

It hit the knight directly, enveloping him in flames, but...

"Well, that's to be expected."

The knight didn't move.

He just stepped forward, his eyes still glowing dimly.

As expected, according to the game's mechanics, ranged attacks don't work on him.

A close-quarters battle on his terms.

The only way to defeat this knight is to engage in a fierce sword fight to the death.

(If that's the case...)

I moved as planned.

I kept my distance and waited for him to move.

The knight approached step by step.

If I underestimated his slow movement and entered his attack range, I would receive a devastating blow.

So, I was careful not to do that.

I cautiously monitored the knight and, when he got close enough, ran around the perimeter to maintain distance.

The knight slowly followed, and before his sword could reach me, I ran around the perimeter again to keep my distance.

I repeated this process dozens, even hundreds of times, and...

...an hour passed.

※ ※ ※

(Almost there?)

I moved with awareness of direction, leading the armored knight to the back.

Just as I reached the farthest wall, it happened.

"O, OOOOOOO!"

The knight let out a terrifying battle cry and raised his sword.

(Now!)

This was the knight's only weakness.

I ran past his side and circled behind him.

I was tempted to strike his exposed back, but I couldn't deal damage during the "summoning motion."

I resisted the temptation, returned to Rad and the others, and turned back to see the knight still facing away, continuing the summoning motion.

I fired a decoy gun to distract him and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, I could finally have a conversation.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Look."

I pointed to the knight.

Right then, the "Knight of Sorrow" was summoning a "Knight of Lament" from a magic circle on the ground.

"---It's working, the proliferation is a success!!"

This was my secret plan for "infinite grinding"!

If spawning new monsters from the ground was unnatural and rejected, I would try a more natural method to increase the number of monsters.

I came up with this idea.

The "Knight of Sorrow" summons a "Knight of Lament" when his HP is reduced, but only once at half HP and once at a quarter HP, and summoning doesn't repeat if HP is restored.

However, there is another condition for the "Knight of Sorrow" to summon a "Knight of Lament."

---It is when "combat has lasted for one hour."

Since the knight is easy to run from, even beginners can continue fighting without dealing much damage.

However, to prevent infinite combat, the game design is such that a "Knight of Lament" is summoned every hour of combat.

Unlike the HP condition, there is no limit to the number of summons, so just by running around, the number of enemies increases, and you can defeat as many as you want!

"Let's wait another hour and see if it summons again. If it does, the experiment is a complete success..."

I turned back with a full smile.

"Phew, we did a lot today. We leveled up."

"Yeah, fighting a higher-level enemy was a good experience."

"I want to take a bath."

Rad and the others were chatting as they headed back to the surface.

"Wait, what...?"

I sent a pleading look to Mana, the last of the Rad party's conscience, and she flinched, looking back and forth between me and Rad.

"Um, well... Let's have a consolation party when we get back!"

She bowed and hurriedly followed Rad up the stairs.

Leesia approached me, the last person I could rely on.

"Good. Leesia, can you persuade them..."

I called out, and Leesia smiled in response.

"---Let's go home, brother."

She grabbed my neck and dragged me to the stairs.

"Wait, wait! There are still enemies, the infinite spawning..."

"Don't be silly. You have a lot to do, brother. If you waste hours here, the guild master will scold you again."

I tried to break free, but the ring's durability setting worked against me.

No matter how hard I resisted, Leesia's grip didn't budge.

I was dragged up the stairs in a flash.

Eventually, I caught up with Rad and the others.

"You, you know... You're smart, but sometimes you're a fool."

"Hmph. Rad, that's rude. Lex is cute in his own way."

Receiving warm gazes from Rad and the others, I was forcibly removed from the dungeon.

Thus, the "Second Infinite Grinding Operation" was postponed at the last moment.

The protagonist's dignity was slipping away...