Chapter 26

A golden horse with wings on its back, a Pegasus, tried to trample the adventurers with its hooves from above the squad.

Monica released an arrow, but the arrow was burned up by Pegasus's magic.

Without hesitation, Monica fired a specially ordered silver arrow.

This time, it pierced the Pegasus's leg without being burned, but it was not enough to finish it off in one hit.

The Pegasus fled into the forest's undergrowth.

Since it could use recovery magic, it would likely return as soon as its wounds healed.

"Huff, huff. Damn."

Monica was breathing heavily, but there was no time to rest.

She immediately switched her viewpoint to 'Hawk Eye' and prepared for the next enemy.

Soon, a group of centaurs appeared from the right side of the forest.

"Enemy attack! A group of centaurs is coming from the right. The melee combat squad, please prepare quickly."

"What!? More are coming?"

"We can barely handle the ones in front!"

The members of the melee combat squad were already struggling with the chimera horde in front of them.

(Gah, what can we do?)

"Monica. Let's deal with the new enemy with just the rear guard. Even if we can't repel them, we can at least slow them down."

"Alright."

Monica and Shukma led the archers and attack mages to the side to contain the enemy.

Fortunately, they were able to shower the centaurs with flames and arrows before the enemy noticed their approach, causing the centaurs to stop advancing.

However, they did not fully retreat, hiding behind trees and bushes, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

(The containment was successful, but they won't retreat...)

Monica used 'Hawk Eye' to look at the melee combat squad.

Fortunately, the melee combat squad seemed to be close to finishing off the chimeras.

"Shukma, the melee combat squad is almost done. We don't need to contain the enemy anymore."

Monica whispered to Shukma.

"Understood. Let's join the front guard then."

Shukma used 'Illusion Magic' to create a mist, blocking the centaurs' path, and they quickly joined the front guard.

While doing this, Monica's 'Hawk Eye' detected a new enemy.

"! Shukma, another enemy is coming. This time from behind the squad!"

"Damn, they keep coming."

Shukma and the others immediately issued orders to move out as soon as they joined the front guard.

The squad started running to avoid the new enemy, without a moment to catch their breath.

(This is the 16th floor, the 'Divine Realm.' We can't let our guard down for a second.)

Monica clenched her lips, facing enemies of a different level from before.

So far, they had barely managed to hold off the monsters without being able to defeat many of them.

The reason for their struggle was not just the strength of the 'Divine Realm' monsters.

Monica and the others keenly felt the absence of Roland.

Even if he wasn't useful in combat, his quick judgment, thoughtful support, first steps, broad perspective, morale maintenance, and above all, the sense of security backed by his high experience, were invaluable as a mental pillar.

Now that these were gone, the squad hesitated in everything they did, and their judgment and coordination became increasingly dull.

"Once it's the 'Divine Realm,' the enemies are indeed on a different level."

Shukma said.

"Hey, don't you feel an unusual pressure?"

Yufine said, looking puzzled.

"That's because it's the 'Divine Realm'..."

Monica said.

"Still, I think the encounter rate is too high."

"Indeed. Monsters keep appearing no matter how many we defeat."

"Hey, maybe we're at the forefront of the dungeon exploration?"

"What? If that's the case..."

"If we keep going, we might reach the deepest part of the dungeon before the 'Golden Eagle.'"

At that moment, Monica's 'Hawk Eye' detected another squad marching a few kilometers behind them.

(All the members from the front guard to the rear guard are heavily armed, wearing armor and helmets. That's... the 'Golden Eagle's' second main squad, the Sebast squad!?)

"Monica, what's wrong?"

"The Sebast squad... is behind us..."

"The Sebast squad!?"

"The main squad of the 'Golden Eagle'!"

"So, we are indeed at the forefront."

"What should we do? Our goal is not to explore the dungeon."

"There are too many encounters. If possible, I'd like to let someone else take the lead... but we can't afford to do that."

Yufine glanced at the forest's undergrowth.

Another group of centaurs emerged from the forest.

"We have no choice but to keep moving forward."

Monica and the others felt the pressure of being pursued by the 'Golden Eagle' as they continued exploring the dungeon.

(I've been sweating non-stop, even though it's not hot. I've been getting goosebumps, even though it's not cold. Is this the pressure of being at the forefront of the exploration?)

Monica clenched her lips.

Her heart was beating faster than ever.

The divine beasts attacking them were tough, but the pressure from the Sebast squad, which was closing in from behind, was even stronger.

Being chased from behind was more terrifying than she had imagined.

Or was it just her imagination?

Monica felt a killing intent from behind.

It might be an overreaction, but the way Sebast and his squad were advancing was extremely aggressive.

Monica frequently checked Sebast's position with 'Hawk Eye' as they moved forward.

(They're getting closer again...)

Monica felt as if her heart was being squeezed.

"Monica. I can see a fork in the road. Which way should we go?"

Shukma asked.

"Let's go right."

Monica inadvertently chose the path with fewer obstacles rather than the one leading to their destination.

(Faster. We need to move forward faster.)

"Let's hurry. Everyone, run."

The squad followed her instructions, increasing their marching speed.

From their reactions, Monica realized that the others felt the same way she did.

An unpleasant feeling was closing in from behind.

However, as they progressed through the 17th floor, the presence of monsters suddenly stopped.

(What? What's happening now?)

Monica, despite her heightened tension, thought with a strangely clear head.

She used 'Hawk Eye' to search the surroundings, but everything was hazy and unclear.

"What is this...?"

"The presence of enemies has disappeared."

A few seconds after Monica, Shukma and Yufine also noticed the abnormal situation.

"Hey, Monica. Can you see anything with 'Hawk Eye'?"

"I can't. I can't see anything. There's nothing!"

Monica said, on the verge of panic.

She had been so tense that she was in a precarious mental state.

"Hmm. 'Guardian of the Magic Tree.' That's rare."

Monica and the others were startled by the sudden male voice.

Turning around, they saw a man sitting there, dressed in black, with a long sword on his back.

"I thought the 'Golden Eagle' would be the first to explore this time. But rare things do happen."

Monica looked at the man, feeling bewildered.

(Who is this guy? A human? How did he get to the 'Divine Realm' all by himself?)

"Um, who are you...?"

"I am a swordsman belonging to the guild 'Crescent Knights,' Yugan."

"Yugan!? You mean the famous Yugan?"

"Shukma, you know him?"

"Know him? He's the S-class adventurer, Yugan."

"S-class!?"

"That's right. I am the S-class adventurer, Yugan."

The man stood up with a sly smile and approached Monica and the others.

(This guy is an S-class adventurer. He can reach the deepest part of the dungeon solo. We've managed to get this far with a squad of thirty, with a lot of strategic planning... and he's done it with just a sword.)

Monica, who had been on the verge of panic, forgot her state and stared intently at the S-class adventurer in front of her.

Indeed, he looked slender, but his movements were flawless, and his attire and long sword exuded immense magical power.

Monica felt that no matter how hard she tried, she could never surpass him.

"Why is an S-class adventurer here?"

Shukma asked.

"I heard a rumor that a dragon with a shell appears in this dungeon. I came to this town based on reliable information, and it seems the rumor was true."

Yugan pointed with his thumb to a small hill ahead, shrouded in white mist.

"It's there. As the dungeon's boss."

"The dungeon's boss!?"

"So, this is the deepest part of the dungeon?"

The members of the squad murmured.

They had finally reached the place where the boss was.

(We've somehow reached the deepest part without realizing it.)

Monica was at a loss as to how to react to this fact and remained dazed for a moment.

"Normally, I would explore it alone..."

Yugan looked displeased.

"But the war elephants are in the way. It's a bit tough to explore alone. So, how about we team up?"

"Team up?"

"I'll join your squad."

"!?"

"We'll form a united front and defeat the boss together. I'll give you the dungeon's management rights, and in return, I'll take all the items dropped by the monsters. What do you think? I don't think it's a bad deal."

Monica and the others looked at each other, their expressions clearly showing confusion.

Yugan scanned the squad.

"From what I can see, you have exactly 29 members. The maximum squad size is 30, so you're just one short. This is perfect. No need for arguments."

Yugan said this while inwardly tilting his head at the squad's composition.

(What's with this squad? There are too many shield bearers. The rear guard seems to be the main attackers, but the composition is too skewed. And the faces... I thought this was Lilianna's squad, but I don't recognize any of them. Is this a newly formed squad?)

Yugan, though puzzled, smiled slyly.

(Maybe it's better for me.)

Monica and the others looked at each other.

Their faces showed signs of hesitation.

"Let me tell you, the boss is tough. Even I, an S-class adventurer, find it tough to explore alone. From what I can see, your squad has many shield bearers, which means high defense, but there's a lack of offensive power, right? I think it's a better strategy to add me to your squad."

"Actually, our goal is not to explore the dungeon."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Our goal is to improve our skills and adventurer ranks... We were planning to take on quests to improve our ranks on this floor."

"What? You came all this way just to improve your ranks?"

"Yes. It's based on the instructions of the person guiding us... a appraiser."

"An appraiser? You..."

Yugan said, sounding exasperated.

(Are you serious? These guys came all the way to the deepest part of the dungeon and are following an appraiser's instructions. I'm surprised they made it this far. They're not even newbies, are they?)

From what Yugan could see, the melee combat squad included some veterans, but Monica and Yufine still had the youthful freshness of teenagers.

Shukma looked like a student from a training institute (equivalent to a modern middle school).

(Still, I need to somehow convince them to challenge the boss... This is going to be tough.)

Yugan frowned at the unexpected challenge.

He