Chapter 13

The next day. While checking my skills, I was troubled by the question of what I should do... Specifically, was it okay to remain in the "Cat's Robe"...?

"Well, it's difficult to immediately prepare better equipment... It's fine, I guess."

If I were to provide support, it would be better to have support-oriented equipment, but this time, my role is just a guide. There's no need to prepare equipment.

By the way, my status is as follows:

Sharon (Charlotte Cocoriar)

Level: 12

Job: Healer

Skills:

- Heal Level 3

- Regeneration Level 3

- Body Strengthening Level 5

Titles:

- Blessed by the Goddess Flodia: Recovery magic effects +10%, recovery magic SP consumption halved

- Woman Who Had Her Engagement Broken: 5% resistance to attacks from male targets

I've been enhancing my skills and recently learned "Regeneration." This skill recovers HP every 10 seconds and is very useful during movement after battles or when there's not much time to focus on recovery.

As a guide, I probably won't use many skills, but they might be helpful at times.

***

When I arrived at the guild, Frey and the others were already there. Torte's large backpack not only had a frying pan but also a pot, so it seemed we could expect some cooking even inside the dungeon.

Frey, spotting me, waved her hand enthusiastically.

"Thanks for coming today, Sharon!"

"---Yes!"

"The Paradise of Elngora" is located two stops northeast of "Holy City Tsire." It's a convenient dungeon to use because it's close to the city, but it's challenging for first-timers, as Frey and the others have experienced.

Just a bit further in, there are many gimmicks, but it's not that deep. The reason is that the retired Elngora sometimes visited the city.

"Wow, this is 'The Paradise of Elngora'!"

After about 30 minutes of walking, I arrived and exclaimed in amazement. The entrance looked like a natural cave, and no one would think it was a dungeon at first glance. However, I was excited just by the sight of the cave. After all, opportunities to enter caves don't come around often, right?

"Alright, let's move forward. The minimum goal for today is to cross the poison corridor."

The entrance is a cave, but after walking a bit, the floor turns to marble. The walls are lined with lanterns, making it bright, and there are many non-aggressive monsters, so it's easy to progress. I cast "Body Strengthening" on everyone.

...Even at level 12 as a Healer, supporting this many people is a bit much... I'm already out of mana just from casting "Body Strengthening." If something happens, I'll have to drink a "Mana Recovery Potion" and try my best.

"This is... 'Body Strengthening'! Thank you, this is a big help! I thought you were just here to guide us..."

"No, no. But I'm still only level 12, so I can't be of much help."

"It's enough."

Frey nodded, and Luna, Reina, and Torte also nodded in agreement.

"My backpack feels lighter, nya!"

Torte was smiling, and her tail was standing straight up. Cats raise their tails when they're happy, so it seems she's pleased.

"Okay, I'll scout ahead!"

Reina jumped lightly and moved forward. She's jumping because the floor in this area is full of traps. However, it seems she has a good grasp of the trap locations, so I feel reassured.

As I felt relieved, Luna came over to me.

"Let's go then. Sharon, stay close to me. If anything happens, run away with Torte immediately."

"Understood."

So, even though I'm only level 12, we started our challenge of "The Paradise of Elngora."

We had barely started walking when an axe-wielding "Goblin" appeared. It was the first time I saw one in this world, and I was a bit startled. It wasn't particularly scary-looking, but I still tensed up. It was a small, green creature, slightly smaller than Torte.

It was still a bit strong for me to defeat, but for the hero party, it was just a goblin.

Frey immediately drew her sword and charged forward with incredible speed, quickly closing the distance to the "Goblin."

"Wow!"

I was about to exclaim in amazement when Reina's arrow hit the "Goblin" before Frey's sword could even strike. Frey's sword swung through the air...

"Well, it's fine as long as it's defeated."

Frey took a deep breath and continued forward. This time, several "Goblins" appeared. The moment they appeared, Frey closed the distance even faster than before and cut down one of them. Reina followed up with her dagger, attacking the "Goblins" as well. In situations with multiple enemies, she fights on the front line.

"Ice, transform and strike my enemies. 'Ice Pillar Arrow.'"

Luna's powerful voice echoed, and multiple ice pillars appeared, piercing the "Goblins" in a straight line. The remaining three "Goblins" vanished in a burst of light.

—They're all so strong!

I then noticed that Frey and Reina had slight scratches. This was where I, the Healer, came in.

"Frey and Reina, 'Continuous Recovery'!"

"!"

The scratches would heal quickly with this. I couldn't cast "Continuous Recovery" on the two rear guards and Torte as well, so if anything happened to us three, I would use "Heal."

It's tough to manage mana at a low level... phew.

"Sharon can use 'Continuous Recovery.' Even though you said you were low level, you're very reliable."

"I also go out to scout alone, so this is a big help!"

"I'm glad I could be of help."

We easily defeated the newly spawned goblins and continued forward.

***

We finally arrived at the poison mist zone. The narrow, long corridor has holes in the walls that release poison mist. The holes are set from the bottom to the top, so whether you crawl or jump, it's useless. Additionally, there are poison swamp traps on the floor.

Even if you recover HP while moving, there's a highly lethal poison mist trap near the end of the corridor, which can quickly drain your HP and kill you.

...It's a rather nasty trap.

Reina looked around and pouted, "There doesn't seem to be any other way..."

As a "Chaser," she might be frustrated that she couldn't find a way forward.

However, there's nothing we can do. This poison mist is the zone that has killed the most players in "The Paradise of Elngora."

I stepped back about ten meters from the poison mist corridor and placed my right hand on the wall.

"Is there a path there? I checked the wall, you know."

"Ah... It doesn't open immediately."

"Huh?"

The switch to open this hidden path is to touch the wall and wait for five minutes. It's impossible to find this by normal means. It was discovered because a player happened to lean against the wall and was left there, leading to a collective "I get it!" from everyone searching for a strategy.

"Wait here for five minutes, and a new path will appear."

"Whaaat!?"

"Is there such a mechanism...? No wonder we couldn't find it."

"Five minutes... That's a bit long."

"Ah, I didn't notice at all, nya..."

When I proudly announced this, the party also gave a collective "Boo." I understand their frustration, but... everyone was holding their heads, and I couldn't help but laugh.

After five minutes, the hidden path appeared.

"Wow, this is the hidden path!"

"It really exists...!"

"Finally, we can move forward."

"Amazing, nya~"

Everyone happily started moving down the hidden path, and I suddenly remembered the "Treasure Chest" hidden in this corridor.