Chapter 53

"Alright, just six more Smiles to go. My equipment is ready, and my level has gone up. I want to finish this quickly."

"Kurai is on a different scale, huh..."

Lucy let out a wry smile as she said this.

Lucy and I, having finished our break, were advancing again inside the "Dream Hole."

For now, we managed to get the minimum equipment suitable for our current level. However, I would like to prepare to buy equipment of a higher rank.

While black steel equipment is a cost-effective and powerful weapon, it's not the strongest weapon in our current level range. The stronger the weapon, the better.

To achieve this, I can't afford to skimp on making money. I don't want to be in a situation where I can't do what I want or get what I desire due to a lack of funds.

Especially, the opportunity to purchase a specific rare "Skill Book" could come at any time. I need to be well-prepared financially to buy the "Skill Book" of the "Reaper's Killer" whenever I encounter it. If I miss the chance in this world, it might be years before the next opportunity arises.

As Lucy and I advanced through the cave, a deep rumbling sound came from afar.

"What is that...? A giant Smile?"

"There's no such monster..."

It doesn't seem to be a "Wandering King." This "Dream Hole" is still relatively new, and the "Dream Lord" hasn't even set a bounty for its defeat yet. It's unlikely that an adventurer would rush in for the bounty and trigger a "Wandering King" situation.

Besides, the "Dream Lord" of this place shouldn't make such a sound.

"Is it a Mithril Golem!? I can't believe such a rare monster would appear..."

The rumbling sound, thud-thud, confirmed it. There's no doubt about it. This sound is... the footsteps of the mithril giant, the Mithril Golem.

This is too much luck. The Mithril Golem is an ultra-rare monster in the "Centipede Mine." It's not even comparable to Kurai.

If we defeat it, it will drop mithril, a powerful material for weapons.

However, it's much stronger than Kurai. While the enemies in the "Centipede Mine" are generally easy to predict, the Mithril Golem's attacks are too heavy. In "Magic World," it's a common joke that players who are lured by low probabilities and rare items often get wiped out by such monsters. In this world, dying means losing everything.

If we want to run, we should cut our exploration short and flee. If we're caught while fighting other monsters, it will be the end.

"High risk, high return. If I have to choose, it's probably wiser to retreat..."

To be honest, I really want mithril. It's a representative strong metal in fantasy, and its prestige remains unchanged in this world. Mithril equipment is far more powerful than black steel equipment.

"If you're going to hesitate, let's go! I'm a coward, but if that were the case, I would have quit being an adventurer long ago!"

"Are you sure?"

"If Elma is hesitating, it means the odds are in our favor! If it were reckless, you wouldn't be hesitating, right? I trust you!"

Lucy made a determined pose.

"Lucy...!"

At first, I thought Lucy was timid and kind-hearted, but she shows bravery in critical moments.

"Besides, if I think it was probably my luck that drew it here, it feels wrong to leave it alone. The Mithril Golem is probably due to my 'Great Luck,' right...?"

Lucy fidgeted, her fingers interlaced, and said this hesitantly.

"Well... probably, yeah..."

The "Dream Hole" is a nightmare seen by the sleeping god Alzaros. It's not unusual for new monsters to appear to match the adventurers who enter. It's safe to assume that the Mithril Golem was summoned by Lucy's high luck. Normally, such a monster wouldn't appear so easily.

"Anyway... if Lucy is willing, we can challenge it without hesitation. Let's go for the mithril giant hunt."

I punched my palm.

The Mithril Golem has a very high level and powerful stats. It's tough and has high attack power. We can't afford to be too straightforward in our approach.

"Alright... first, let's choose the terrain for the battle."

"Terrain?"

"Yeah, remember when we defeated the rich man Lanna in the 'Angel's Toy Box'? The width of the corridor was important, right?"

If the corridor was too wide, Lanna could escape. But if it was too narrow, we couldn't get behind him without provoking him.

In the Embryo battle, Lucy was able to stand on the ceiling and adjust her position because the ceiling height matched his altitude. If the ceiling in the boss room was too high, she couldn't have done that, and the difficulty of damaging him would have increased significantly.

When fighting strong enemies, the terrain of the location is crucial.

"Since this is a cave-type 'Dream Hole,' the conditions vary greatly depending on the location. The width, height, and footholds in the cave... If we make noise nearby, we can easily guide it. First, let's lure it to a place where we can fight more easily."