Live Dungeon! Chapter 359: The Fox and the Devotee

"Haaah…"

A lengthy sigh escaped Eunice as she let her cheek rest upon the table, supporting her head with a single hand and listlessly observing the Monitor. Her usually fluffy and immaculate golden tail swayed with an uncharacteristic lack of energy. On the display, Tsutomu was positioned in the heart of the ninety-fifth layer, unleashing a spell to repel the onslaught of Dark-element monsters.

When Milway had advanced beyond her and descended to a lower level, Eunice had certainly sulked but refrained from contesting the progression. She acknowledged the disparity in their abilities and quietly relinquished her standing within the Clan’s primary party.

From that point, she dedicated her efforts to devising novel applications for existing Skills. However, one day, Milway, without any prior warning, dressed her and removed her from their residence before she could voice any objections. She was escorted to Absolute Helix’s Clan House, where, to her profound displeasure, she was compelled to participate in a social function.

Initially, Milway’s overbearing actions had caused her considerable irritation. Yet, considering she had barely ventured outside except for expeditions with Team 2, engaging in conversation with individuals like Alma, whom she hadn't encountered in a considerable period, turned out to be more enjoyable than anticipated.

Still, amidst all the discussions, the person who occupied her thoughts was Tsutomu. He had evidently consumed an excessive amount of wine that evening, but curiously, his inebriated state exuded a far more pleasant aura. Typically, alcohol tended to bring out the worst in people. Strangely, with Tsutomu, the inverse was true. He remained as enigmatic as ever.

Later, succumbing to Milway’s insistence, she found herself addressing him directly. To her astonishment, he seemed… subdued, almost gentle. He was aware of her demotion but offered no mockery; instead, he calmly juxtaposed her performance with Milway’s and provided her with pragmatic counsel.

[Perhaps this facet of him is the genuine Tsutomu…] Eunice mused. […and if that is the case, then… it is a positive development. Indeed, it is.]

He had even uttered words of encouragement, a rarity for him. Placing a hand on her head, he advised her to strive diligently if she aimed to rejoin Team 1. The gesture, coupled with the sincerity behind his words, almost brought her to tears. Bewildered by this uncharacteristic kindness, she consumed more wine to suppress the burgeoning emotions within her chest. The remainder of that night passed in a hazy recollection.

However, the very next day, she implemented his advice. She temporarily set aside her experiments with new skills and redirected her focus toward mastering her current abilities, with a particular emphasis on projectile and placement-based techniques.

Milway had playfully remarked, "At this pace, you’ll surpass me again before long," but while Eunice sensed her own improvement, she doubted her ability to immediately reclaim her position in Team 1.

Furthermore, observing Tsutomu now, she recognized her complete inability to comprehend him. Initially, she had harbored a disdain for his habitually sarcastic remarks and his lack of the confidence and strength she expected from a true man. In contrast to someone like Leon, Tsutomu presented as his polar opposite. Yet, their apparent camaraderie had always been a source of vexation for her.

But now, that sentiment had vanished. This shift felt like a betrayal directed towards Leon. She attempted to suppress these feelings, but they persisted, pressing upon her chest like an unremovable burden.

She still held the conviction that she loved Leon. It was love at first sight, having observed him through the Monitors. Upon finally approaching him, only to discover his practice of polygamy, she had been utterly taken aback. And when she learned of his daily licentious activities with numerous partners, even if undertaken for the preservation of the Golden Lycanthrope subspecies, she felt a profound disgust.

Nevertheless, when she expressed her reservations, Leon had demonstrated respect for her beliefs. He had maintained complete physical distance from her, and this sincerity had only intensified her affections for him… along with her resolve. She had dedicated herself to rigorous training, ultimately becoming the most proficient White Mage among the dozens within Golden Tune.

[I am adrift… a sea of uncertainty.]

She clung to the hope that, one distant day, Leon would select her exclusively. Yet, that day never materialized. And while the notion of abandoning Leon to turn towards Tsutomu was an act she could not forgive herself for, a persistent whisper in her mind questioned: ‘How much longer will you pursue a dream destined to remain unfulfilled?’

Trapped in the internal conflict between her heart and her reason, Eunice felt she was submerging. Unable to withstand the emotional strain, she sought refuge in the only elements that could numb the pain: God’s Dungeon, skill refinement, and the ceaseless cycle of experimentation.

▽▽

[…Ultimately, it appears we will not conquer this layer before Absolute Helix makes their appearance.]

Stephanie observed the relentless passage of time with a grim acceptance. Although Ealdred Crow had finally initiated its assault on the ninety-sixth layer, following considerable internal discord, the undertaking had proven immensely arduous. Almost a full month had elapsed, and they had yet to achieve success in overcoming it.

On the ninety-sixth layer, God’s Dungeon underwent a significant transformation, presenting a defensive battle of unprecedented difficulty. It took considerable time to decipher the specific rules of engagement. Once a Magic Stone was presented to either the northern or southern Dragon, hordes of monsters would emerge from the outside, but their focus wasn't on the Explorers. Instead, these invaders directed their aggression towards the Ancient Castle situated at the center of the combat zone.

To conquer this layer, the party's objective became defending the Castle until the onslaught ceased. Only after successfully repelling the attack would the Black Gate leading to the subsequent layer materialize. This entirely novel form of trial proved overwhelming for Stephanie’s party, as the abrupt shift in objectives caught them entirely off guard.

During their initial attempt, oblivious to the layer's mechanics, they could only witness in dismay as the Castle succumbed to the monsters' relentless assault. Sections of the terrain crumbled, and despite their ability to maintain a position above the destruction using [, the entire ninety-sixth layer began to disintegrate the moment the Castle fell. The party was wiped out amidst the ensuing chaos. Later, they discovered the option to retreat mid-battle via the Black Gate, yet the frustration from losing precious equipment remained a potent memory.

With each subsequent attempt, their proficiency grew, but the challenge of dividing their forces into two distinct groups to adequately secure both the north and south fronts placed an immense strain upon them. The Magic Stones required to appease the Dragons could only be obtained by vanquishing foes in the doughnut-shaped corridor, compelling them to fight for resources while simultaneously defending the Castle.

This type of coordinated effort, demanding simultaneous action from a divided party, was entirely alien to them, significantly impeding their progress. By the time they began to adapt, both of Absolute Helix’s teams had already reached the later stages of the ninety-fifth layer. It seemed almost a certainty that they would advance beyond it the following day.

Knowing this, the sting of failure was particularly sharp for Stephanie, who had intensely desired to clear the ninety-sixth layer before Tsutomu and his team. She had dedicated herself to the task with such fervor that dark circles reappeared beneath her eyes. However, the ninety-sixth layer necessitated a completely different strategy than any they had encountered before, and sheer determination alone proved insufficient for victory.

Their intelligence network diligently pursued every potential avenue for an alternative solution, but all efforts proved fruitless.

[I wished to be the one to reach the end first… for Mister Tsutomu’s sake,] Stephanie reflected internally.

Although five members of Absolute Helix had already progressed to the ninety-ninth layer, they had not yet attempted the hundredth. The prevailing belief was that Tsutomu’s hesitation stemmed from his distrust of Diniel following her misstep on the ninetieth layer, and this assumption was likely accurate.

However, Stephanie discerned that there was more to the situation. What first alerted her was Korinna, specifically the astonishing rapidity of her improvement. While many tended to overlook Channelers due to the Job's relative scarcity, Stephanie had observed her closely. What she witnessed now was a Healer capable of matching her own strength.

Ever since rumors began to surface suggesting Korinna might be capable of clearing the ninetieth layer, Stephanie had identified her as a formidable contender. Following Korinna and her group's successful defeat of the Corrupted Shell, her latent potential became undeniable. From the outset, her team had demonstrated an extraordinary level of synergy, and over time, their abilities had only been honed further.

Korinna herself had undergone a transformation. With each passing day, her self-assurance increased, and consequently, her team’s performance followed suit. In stark contrast, Tsutomu’s party had encountered setbacks. Though they eventually regained momentum, Korinna’s team now held a slight advantage in terms of advancement.

Stephanie theorized that Tsutomu intended to have Korinna’s party be the first to enter the hundredth layer. He had been discreetly nurturing her strength as a Healer, tailoring the eventual composition of her party around her unique competencies. All evidence indicated this was a deliberate strategy.

If anyone else had heard such a hypothesis, they would likely have dismissed it as improbable. The notion that one could orchestrate Korinna’s rapid development as a Healer seemed far-fetched, considering the multitude of complex factors involved. Yet, Stephanie had meticulously assembled the pieces of this puzzle through careful observation and accumulated experience. She was absolutely convinced.

The singular aspect she could not comprehend, however, was the underlying motive. Why would he invest such extraordinary effort, specifically for Korinna?

She had harbored the hope that by matching Korinna’s progression and updating her own performance records, she might secure opportunities to question Tsutomu directly. But regardless of her diligent efforts, she remained but a single component within a larger unit. The extent to which she could effect change independently was inherently limited.

[They say Mister Tsutomu is merely trying to avoid peril… but that’s preposterous. There has to be a deeper reason. Whatever his motivations, I must be the one to stand by him…]