Chapter 98

"Rare 'Dream Hole'... is that it?"

When Luze asked back, Celt was grinning mischievously.

"Yeah, that's right. If it goes well, it could turn into a bit of a fortune."

A rare 'Dream Hole'... huh.

Basically, once a 'Dream Hole' has been cleared, it can reappear at a different location with the same name after some time has passed.

While the detailed terrain changes due to random generation, the monsters and 'Dream Lords' that appear generally remain the same.

Therefore, 'Dream Holes' will never disappear from this world.

However, the appearance rate of 'Dream Holes' is skewed; some appear frequently, while others are extremely rare.

Among them, there are ultra-low-probability 'Illusory Dream Holes'... essentially bonus stages.

These types of 'Dream Holes' often collapse once a certain number of monsters are defeated, even if the 'Dream Lord' isn't slain, but they offer better drops and experience points.

"Still... we're just B-rank adventurers, after all... Those kinds of 'Illusory Dream Holes' can only be properly cleared by A-rank adventurers or higher."

"What a downer... Well, you're right. I thought you might be able to handle it, but it's a tough one, isn't it?"

Celt scratched his head.

Well... it's not that we can't go to a 'Dream Hole' based on its level, but the risk is just too high.

If we get caught up in an existence evolution or a monster horde in one of those 'Illusory Dream Holes,' we won't come out unscathed.

"By the way, what kind of place is it? If it's a spot where rare items drop, they might start circulating in the shops at a bargain price once the commotion dies down."

"From what I heard... it's called the 'Tower of Illusory Beasts.'"

"The 'Tower of Illusory Beasts'!?"

I shouted back at Celt, standing up involuntarily.

The other customers, who were sparsely scattered, looked over to see what was happening.

"Elma, Elma, this is supposed to be a secret conversation...!"

Luze lowered her voice and said to me.

"Ah, sorry, I just... got carried away..."

"Well, I wasn't planning on going anyway, so it's fine... But it's that big of a deal, huh?"

"To be honest... things change if it's the 'Tower of Illusory Beasts.'"

In the 'Tower of Illusory Beasts,' a large number of rare monsters from other 'Dream Holes' appear.

Rare monsters usually carry valuable drop items.

The basic strategy for the 'Tower of Illusory Beasts' is to find the monsters that carry the items you want and focus on defeating them for the drops.

Defeating monsters accelerates the collapse of the 'Illusory Dream Hole,' making it harder to hunt the target monsters, but focusing only on the target monsters can also get you outdone by other adventurers.

In the game, the inside of an 'Illusory Dream Hole' was always a muddy battle among high-level adventurers.

"Do you have a specific item you want, Elma?"

"...Five types of monsters appear randomly, but the Grim Reaper is included with a high probability."

"Grim Reaper...?"

At Luze's words, I nodded vigorously.

"From it, the 'Skill Book of the Reaper's Blade' drops with a decent probability. With that, Luze's attack power as a Jester class should skyrocket."

For a Jester with 'Great Luck,' the 'Reaper's Blade' is an essential skill tree.

It's like the 'Smoldering Fang' for a Heavy Knight; acquiring it is almost like completing the tutorial.

The 'Reaper's Blade' itself is a highly broken skill tree and is almost always a viable option for melee classes.

However, it has a significant drawback, which is why few players actually learn it.

The skill tree heavily relies on luck, and there's a risk of receiving a penalty if it fails to function in crucial moments.

But with Luze's exceptionally high luck, such risks are virtually non-existent.

In this world, skill books are controlled by the nobility.

If we miss this opportunity, it's uncertain when the next one will come.

"The 'Tower of Illusory Beasts' isn't that high-level... It's entirely possible to search for the Grim Reaper in the shallower areas."

If we can get the 'Reaper's Blade' here, we can significantly boost Luze's power.

Unlike skills with strict activation conditions like 'Smoldering Fang,' this could make Luze overwhelmingly stronger than me for a while.

Skill books generally have a low drop rate, but I have Luze, who excels in luck.

We've even obtained a 'Skill Book' from Embryo without specifically targeting it.

If we focus on hunting the Grim Reaper, the 'Reaper's Blade' should drop eventually.

"Let's do it, Elma! This is definitely the moment to push through! If we don't go now, it would be a waste of being an adventurer!"

Luze made a tight fist.

"The next 'Dream Hole' is decided, then."

I glanced at Celt.

"So... I'd like a skilled and trustworthy B-rank or higher adventurer, if possible..."

"Sorry, but I'll pass. The invitation is appreciated, but I have other commitments. Besides, my motto is to play it safe and steady. It's a tempting offer, but I'm not the type to take risks."

"Ugh..."

There aren't many B-rank or higher adventurers.

Especially those who operate solo are quite rare, except for special types like Celt.

Meabel, for instance, often takes on large-scale quests solo because the rewards for healers are stable, but she usually forms a fixed party.

Unlike Celt, who pretends to be a lone wolf, adventurers with fixed parties might just go to the 'Tower of Illusory Beasts' with their usual companions if we ask for their help, increasing our competition.

After all, the more monsters are hunted in an 'Illusory Dream Hole,' the closer it is to collapsing.

On the other hand, solo adventurers, except for those with special classes, often have personality issues.

It seems best to go with just Luze and me this time...