Meep (1)

The day after Meowi’s barley sprout-scented hair captured Choi Mari’s heart.

It was an early Saturday morning.

A day with no classes or schedules.

I, Meowi, and Choi Mari, who was trembling and muttering ‘Scary… Scary!’, were following closely behind a female professor.

She was a person entrusted by Yu Neung-hae to guide us to the dungeon’s location, skillfully navigating the complicated paths.

“Watch out for that protruding platform; it’s a trap!”
“Ah, yes!”

Everyone seemed well-versed in what to say.

She was a person with an attractive, uniquely soft voice.

It was Professor Sarang-mi, who was in charge of the <Understanding of Barrier Techniques> class.

As for Meowi and me, we remembered her from the entrance exam, where she was responsible for the barrier techniques.

Additionally, she only taught classes in the second semester of the first year.
Or classes for second to third-year students.

A moment later.

She pointed forward upon arriving at the destination.

Kuuu!

Beyond the melted cave, a swirling violet gate greeted us.

“Well then, I’ll be heading back now.”
“Thank you for guiding us.”
“Thank you.”
“May the guidance of the gods be with you…”
“Hoohoo~”

Alright then, everyone, fighting!

After Professor Sarang-mi disappeared, I raised my hand above the gate.

Upon meeting the condition, the entrance to the <Gate> expanded.

“Alright. Are both of you ready?”
“Yes!”
“Yes…!”

Then, from now on…

“Provisional name, <Underground Waterway> Dungeon.”

The exploration begins.

The news that greeted us upon entry was not very pleasant.

‘…A reduction of 2 in Sanity…’

The value was larger than expected.

Fortunately, since [Sanity] was not something that was noticeably apparent, the impact wasn’t immediately felt.

I first activated [Unprecedented Sense].

The sensory perception spread out like a living organism, soon adjusting its range and output according to my will.

“Senior Mari. Please light the fire.”
“Yes!”

Choi Mari clasped her hands together.

A bright orb of light began to float around us, emanating from her hands.

It was the most basic divinity spell, [Light].

The brightening light clearly revealed the structure of this place.

What stood out the most were the grotesque, melted traces on the ceiling.

They were undoubtedly corroded by the acidic fluids of the [Slime].

This shows there was definitely a [Sticky Sewer] above us.

“I’ll take the lead first. Meowi, please proceed in the direction of escorting the Senior.”
“Okay!”
“Th-thank you…”
“Don’t mention it…”

One minute, five minutes, ten minutes.

The <Underground Waterway> was deeper than expected and was gradually descending.

Although the slope wasn’t steep, it was clear that the burrow was formed by a powerful magical force.

And even the waterway flowing beside it.

‘…At least a medium size, I guess?’

It was beyond imagination.
It was large enough to sense something strange.
I’m quite a seasoned player myself.
Not only the <Trials> of ‘GAL’, but also the <Dungeons>…
But no matter how much I searched my memory, I had never heard of such a place.

‘…Was there a post in the community?’

I ground my mind’s millstone once more.

Hmm, as expected…

‘There’s nothing.’

Nothing.
This place was literally a location where not even information from ‘GAL’ was available.

Such types of <Dungeons> had a few common characteristics.

‘The management either blatantly hid it, or… it’s something that couldn’t be revealed.’

Most likely, it was the latter.

As I pondered deeply, Meowi approached and grabbed my arm.

“Meoow, Seha. Wait a moment…”
“Huh?”

With the [Night Vision] trait, Meowi touched the side wall, having discovered something.

“There’s something written here.”

I hurriedly examined it.
A metal plate with ancient script engraved on it.
It was a kind of warning that could be found anywhere.

“Meeeooow, I can’t interpret ancient script.”
“Neither can I…”
“<Those who endure the rising poison will be fortunate>.”
“Meow?! Seha, you know ancient script?”

Of course not.
I never learned something as difficult as ancient script in the first place.
I just memorized it.

The phrase commonly seen in ‘GAL’ for gimmick-type traps.

Thanks to that, I didn’t know exactly what this <Dungeon> was, but I immediately figured out the traps that appeared.

“Senior Mari.”
“Yes?”
“Please just listen to what I’m about to say, even if it sounds strange.”

I gave a short instruction while looking at Choi Mari.
Choi Mari, who was listening blankly to my words.
She tilted her head with a weird look on her face.

“…Yes?”

10 minutes, and then 15 minutes more.
Just when I thought something might show up.
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears, an eerie reaction echoed.

“Meowi.”
“Yes!”
“M-M-Meep?! En-enemies?! Are they enemies! They’re enemies, right?! Should I grab my mace and smash their heads?!”
“…Calm down, Senior.”

Grurk!
Gruruk! Gruruk!

Before my eyes, bipedal frogs that reeked of a fishy smell appeared.

They had elongated limbs like humans.

Whether due to nutritional imbalance or not, their limbs were thin, while their bellies bulged out like tadpoles.

The creatures, with eyes larger than a human fist, moved them around while wearing crude shields, swords, and armor of unknown origin.

They were emblematic of marine monsters.
A C-grade monster, <Frogman>.

“Meowi, cover me.”
“Okay!”

I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword and bent my waist.

The moment I lifted my foot, I dashed out in an instant.

[Powerful Agility], [Dash].
And even [Reckless Charge] engraved in [Flowing Slash].

It was the moment when the auxiliary ability [Movement Speed] showed its power.

<Frogman> was flustered by the unexpected speed.

I thrust the spear I was holding downward, but to me, it was an attack slow enough to make me yawn.

‘…I’ve really gotten much stronger.’

In the past, it would have been impossible to just glance and dodge it.

This was all thanks to Peng Jin-ah’s training.

Once again, with gratitude and respect for my master, I swung my sword like lightning.

Shook!

“Krurrk!”
“Furuguuek!”

A blazing [Flowing Slash].
With a bizarre scream, two heads floated in the air.

“…Hmm?”

However, the sensation of the cut felt strange.
I examined the [Saint’s Sword].
A sticky oil was smeared on the blade, dripping down.

Ah, right.
I finally remembered.

Come to think of it, <Frogman> had such an annoying skill.

Thanks to that, the [Saint’s Sword] couldn’t exert its full power.

Piyong!

At that moment, something bullet-like flew towards me.

I dodged it by turning my head, and it caused a tiny crack in the wall.

“Kurururuk!”

Another [Frogman] was smacking its lips.

It began to rapid-fire something like a bullet once again.

The identity of the bullet was water.

The water attribute ability that the [Garden of the Pearl Spitting Tortoise] possessed.
It was the derivative skill [Water Shot] of [Streamside Water].

“Meow!”

While Meowi blocked the [Water Shot] with a shield, I thought briefly.

‘Total of 6.’

The number wasn’t many, but each held [Frog Oil].
And they had the mid-to-long range attack skill, [Water Shot].
My quickly spinning mind immediately gave the answer.

I clenched the glove in my hand.

The [Saint’s Sword] disappeared, and in its place, something heavy was gripped.
The intrinsic skill of the Hero grade equipment, [Slasla].
The ability to switch weapons due to [Slime’s Arsenal] has been activated.

“Meowi!”
“Yes!”

At my shout, Meowi dashed forward immediately.
Raising the shield held in her hand, she shouted loudly.

“Meowi! [Provocation Roar]!”

Kuuuu!

The cat-shaped magic power spread out.

The taunt, which had grown stronger than in the <Deep Swamp Bog>, gathered all the scattered enemies into one place.

Thud, thud, thud!

Meanwhile, I gathered strength into the blunt greatsword I was holding.

The greatsword was actually a ‘Gravity Sword’ used for training.

It was one of the weapons I had received from Peng Jin-ah before coming here.

Without a sharp edge, this weapon could essentially be seen as a large blunt instrument, and it wasn’t significantly affected by [Frog Oil].

‘…Here.’

Fwoosh!

In accordance with my will, flames erupted.

Applying [Burning Flames] to the Gravity Sword, I charged forward.

“Meowi, lower your head!”
“Okay!”

Without hesitation, Meowi swiftly ducked.

The <Frogmen>, who had been taunted, tried to create distance, but it was already too late.

Buuuu!
Thud!

With a loud crash, they smashed into the wall and were crushed.

A few persistent ones stood up again, but I finished them off by smashing their heads down.

Oh, lucky me?!

Not just the usual [Eyes of Reversed Heaven], but an actual <Selection> was activated.

When I heard it from the number one ranker, they clearly said it was 30%, right?

‘…Am I a special case?’

Or could it be that Meowi’s luck is involved?

‘Whatever it is, it’s good.’

I rubbed my hands together with a look of anticipation.

Just when I was wondering what to choose.

Meowi shouted.

And faster than that, [Unprecedented Sense] sounded an alarm.

“Meow! Seha, watch out! There’s one more!”

I turned my head like lightning.

Whether it had been lying in ambush, a new type suddenly leapt out like a flash.

“Krurrr!”

The creature, which had jumped high, forcefully swung down the greatsword it was holding.

It must have thought it was a perfect strike, but I had anticipated it a step earlier and barely managed to dodge.

“…Krurr.”

The creature clicked its tongue as if it was disappointed.

It was a muscular figure, a head taller than a [Frogman.

Unusually, its entire body was covered in blue scales.
And it had the head of a lizard.

Additionally, it wore fairly high-level leather armor.
And it wielded a saw-like greatsword as big as its torso.

The monster that comes to mind when thinking of the <Sewer>, the <Lizardman>.

Judging by the state of its equipment, it wasn’t an ordinary one but an upper-class <Lizardman Warrior>.

“Krururuk!”
“Hey, that’s bad manners, Mr. Lizard.”

Attacking when choosing a reward is bad manners!

Of course, it’s my fault for letting my guard down.

I gripped the gravity sword in my hand and charged at it.