Episode 30.4 (1/2)

It's the 25th of month 1.

That morning, at first Lecan was going to the Mediation Office but he stopped short.

To begin with, he dislikes the facilities here.

The reception and information desk with those bombastic stone buildings.

A really large-scale trade and marketplaces.

And above all, the row of lodgings.

From the very cheapest to the unbelievably luxurious inns, it's got it all neatly lined up.

That in itself is not a bad thing, but Lecan couldn't help but feel revulsion when he first saw it.

They're treating adventurers like slaves.

You may get good plentiful meals and luxurious bed if you work for it, but how they're being managed and made to work is akin to slavery.

Lecan himself had no clue what made him feel that.

It might be because the way those staff members efficiently and casually handle crowds of adventurers looks like a livestock pen to him.

Of course those adventurers come here and explore the dungeon on their own volitions. That may be so, but seeing the staff manages how those adventurers proceed and the items they got in a mechanically sweeping manner just doesn't sit well with Lecan.

Lecan also loathes stone buildings. No way he could have a good rest in one such place. It was the reason he chose <Rafin's Rock Terrace Inn> even though it costs a bit more and is located slightly afar from the dungeon, and he has no regret.

So what about Mediation Office then.

It appears that trying to organize a cooperative diving with another random party by chance proves difficult in this dungeon. A party who wants to explore with another party will go to the Mediation Office. While a party who goes in the dungeon without looking for another party is a party who never plans to work together with another in the first place.

It's impossible to go on deeper floors without having the mediation office find you a matching party.

But Lecan just doesn't like how it works.

Besides, that official's gonna catch him if he goes there now.

For now he's decided to push through a few more floors with Arios.

The two <Warp>ed to floor 86, but instead of going straight to the boss room, they went in a normal room.

Five <Black Body> and four <Red Body>.

That's the enemy's composition in all floor 80s.

Just like yesterday, Lecan shot out a <Flame Spear> to signal the start of the fight. He made a <Flame Spear> that specifically focused on impact than piercing power. The magic looked more like a battering ram than a spear.

Afterward, Lecan would kill the <Black Bodies>'s mobility while Arios focused on disposing the <Red Bodies>, the battle would end before long.

Not sure why, all four <Red Bodies> would focus their attention to Lecan if he hit one of the <Black Body> with <Flame Spear> in the beginning, affording Arios plentiful opportunity to nicely get into position. And once Arios starts attacking, the nearby White Spectres would turn their attention to him, splitting up their aggro well.

One of the <Black Body> had a curious-looking weapon. Four blade claws furnished with wrist-straps that are used by gripping it with your hands, they're quite heavy and long. And it's also a Grace Gear. Arios didn't mention that it was one during the fight. Meaning Arios's insight on Grace Gear doesn't work too well on non-sword weapons.

Lecan involuntarily let out an 'ah', as he appraised the Grace Gear.

”What's the matter?”

”This weapon is called <Mount Raking Claws (Shelgragin)>. They pack some serious offensive power. The Grace is