I paused at her question, then grabbed her shoulders and shouted . “So there really is one? I knew it!”
“Kyak! Sh, Shin-nim, it’s still day time… N-Not that I hate it . In fact, you’re free to go ahead . ”
“Nevermind that!”
“That!? Did you just consider my okay sign as something petty!?”
“Loretta, is there a Dungeon higher than the First Dungeon?”
Loretta grumbled and answered .
“There is . Only administrative guild masters like myself or explorers that have gone there know about it . ”
“What are the conditions?”
“Before that, are you prepared? That dungeon certainly has higher rewards than all other dungeons, but the price you have to pay is equally high . Shin-nim might even regret going there . Just climbing the First Dungeon might be better . I’m certain . Do you still want to listen?”
I became quiet at her words . Then, I somewhat realized why she brought it up in the first place . Thus, I asked .
“If I conquer the First Dungeon, will I be able to defeat the world’s enemy?”
“…”
I asked again .
“What if I clear the higher dungeon?”
“If you can completely clear it… probably . ”
“Then isn’t the answer obvious?”
“… Right . Really, Shin-nim is…”
“I’m what?”
“No, nothing . Nothing at all . ”
Loretta shook her heads at my question . The corners of her mouth was curled up to a smile, unlike before . At her extremely pleasant smile, I also smiled .
“Okay . If it doesn’t work, I’ll bring you back to the First Dungeon even if I have to threaten the Lord!”
“It’s fine . I’ll break through it with my strength . ”
“Okay, then I’ll teach you how to get to ‘Beyond . ’”
“Beyond?”
“Yes . It is somewhere only First Dungeon explorers can hope to reach . Even amongst them, only those with the greatest abilities, potential, and qualifications can enter it . As the reason for its existence is different than the other dungeons, it is called Beyond . ”
First condition . Being a First Dungeon explorer . Second condition . Defeating all bosses one versus one . Third condition . Obtaining a god’s true name . Fourth condition . Being acknowledged by an administrative guild master . Fifth condition . Being above Gold rank . Sixth condition . Making achievements .
It was truly a path of blood and iron . However, I had already completed most of them . Loretta telling me about Beyond signified that she acknowledged me, so there was only one left for me to fulfill .
“Is the sixth condition what I think it is? Like the achievements I’ve been making so far?”
“Yes . It hasn’t been revealed how many achievements you need to make, so I can’t tell you when you’ll be able to enter Beyond . As such, Shin-nim has to focus on making achievements . Since you decided to climb Beyond, it’s better to go as soon as possible . Just like its name suggests, Beyond is a dungeon that lies past the First Dungeon . Every time you clear a floor on the First Dungeon, you’ll be able to challenge Beyond . When you clear a floor in Beyond, you’ll return to the First Dungeon . ”
“In other worlds, I’ll be able to climb more in Beyond the lower my level is . ”
“Exactly . Of course, since no one has succeeded in conquering the First Dungeon, it’s too early to worry about this, but Shin-nim really gives people hope . ”
For example, if the First Dungeon had 100 floors in total and I became a Beyond explorer after clearing the First Dungeon’s 75th floor, then once I cleared Beyond’s 1st floor, I would have to return to clear the First Dungeon’s 76th floor . Once I cleared it, I would be able to challenge Beyond’s 2nd floor . In that case, when I cleared the 100th floor of the First Dungeon, I would be able to challenge the 26th floor of Beyond . But that would be it . I wouldn’t be able to challenge Beyond’s 27th floor even if I cleared the 26th . I wouldn’t be able to conquer Beyond, being able to only conquer the First Dungeon .
Even if the First Dungeon didn’t end at the 100th floor, it was clear that becoming a Beyond explorer later was disadvantageous .
How unreasonable!
“Because no one has reached the end of Beyond, no one knows how many floors Beyond has . So don’t worry about it too much and focus on the First Dungeon . If it’s Shin-nim, I believe Shin-nim will be able to enter Beyond before the 70th floor!”
“I hope that’s the case . Then, see you later . ”
As Loretta advised me with a big smile, I also answered with a smile . Then, I left for the 51st floor, vowing to myself that I would one day reach beyond the First Dungeon .
[You became level 52 . You obtained 5 bonus stats . ]
[You obtained the qualification to go beyond the First Dungeon . ]
[Would you like to become an explorer of ‘Beyond’? The moment you accept, you will be removed from the dungeon’s ranking . ]
[Please choose carefully . This place is entirely different than the First Dungeon, and those that pass this threshold may not go back . ]
“…”
On the 51st Floor Shop, I looked at Loretta . She looked back and smiled sweetly .
“What’s wrong, Shin-nim? You were fast today, too! To think you’d break through the 51st floor, which is full of trolls, in just 5 hours!”
“Um… Loretta . ”
“Yes, Shin-nim!”
“It looks like I got the qualification to go to Beyond . ”
“…What!?”
I must say, Loretta’s surprised expression was extremely cute .
[You became a Beyond explorer! You can challenge Beyond’s 1st floor . Once cleared, you can challenge the First Dungeon’s 52nd floor and you cannot immediately challenge Beyond’s 2nd floor . ]
[You made an achievement of becoming the fastest to enter Beyond since the dungeon’s founding! You obtained 4 skill points . Current skill points: 8]
[You became the current Beyond’s third explorer . You are currently ranked 3rd in Beyond . Beyond’s explorer communication channel has been opened . ]
[The residence and resort in your possession has changed their affiliation to Beyond . ]
After listening to the messages in a daze, I looked at Loretta, who was also in a daze .
“Loretta, what happened?”
“Mmm… I don’t know!”
Loretta was too cheerful . When I sighed, she became startled and began to contemplate the matter seriously . She then came up with an answer .
“I think what Shin-nim did in another world as a Dimensional Mercenary, then defeating the drake that appeared on Earth had significant impact . ”
“Those two were acknowledged as great achievements?”
“Yes! But you really are amazing . Fastest to become a Dimensional Mercenary, fastest to become a Beyond explorer… If it’s you, you might really do it . ”
“Don’t flatter me too much . ”
“Huhu . You don’t know what I’m talking about yet . ”
Loretta rejoiced with her hands together, but I was slightly scared at her eyes that seemed to be looking somewhere far away . Would she tell me if I asked? Or would she tell me to wait again? Suddenly feeling my heart tighten, I turned away . Startled, Loretta grabbed my sleeves .
“Shin-nim, what’s wrong?”
“What do you mean? I have to go to Beyond now . ”
“Ah, right… You surprised me, geez… Really . Don’t disappear without saying anything! You have to properly say you’ll be back!”
Loretta flapped her ears quickly as if she was angry . I was relieved . She was properly looking at me now .
“Then, I’ll be back . ”
“Eit!”
Loretta tried to kiss me habitually, but as I was expecting it this time, I easily dodged to the side . Then…
[You received Queen Elf’s Blessing . For the next 5 hours, you receive the following effects: You are protected against all low-rank and mid-rank status effects . You can maintain your consciousness for 5 minutes after falling in half-dead state . Your luck increases by 100 . All members of the Faerie race will see you favorably . ]
“Eh? Didn’t I dodge it just now?”
“T-That’s…”
Seeing Loretta dodged my eyes as if something pricked at her conscience, I realized . It seemed these blessings didn’t need to be applied with kisses . Loretta had always used Blessings under the guise of kissing, and when I dodged her this time, she failed to kiss me, but the blessing had gone through .
Dumbfounded, I murmured .
“You really kissed me just because you wanted to?”
“I, I already told you . I’m kissing you because I love you…”
Even as she said that, she seemed embarrassed as she tried to cover her face with her ears . Of course, even with her long ears, it wasn’t possible . This person, or rather, this elf… why was she so cute? Feeling the sense of unease I just felt disappearing, I reached my hand out to pat her head .
“Eh?”
“Mm, well, I appreciate it . It’s just that I don’t know what’s what . To be honest, my head is already full because of the dungeon and the matter with being a Hero . Sorry . You don’t have to wait for me, so…”
“S-Stupid . I’m extremely used to waiting! Even if I don’t want to!”
For some reason, she called me stupid .
“R-Really?”
“Really! So don’t worry about something like that, and go!”
Just like that, Loretta chased me away . I didn’t understand what just happened .
Since thinking about it wouldn’t help, I tilted my head .
In the place where the stairway to the 52nd floor should be, a grey gate had appeared . Without much thought, I jumped into it .
[Commencing exploration of Beyond’s 1st floor . You cannot stop exploring Beyond whenever you want . To give up and leave, your vitality must hit zero and you must be forced out to your home in the residential area or your world . You need one month to re-commence exploration, and you cannot climb the First Dungeon during this time . ]
‘Loretta, before trying to kiss me, you should have told me about this! Though, even if you did, I would have gone anyways… But this means I won’t be able to go back to Earth until I clear Beyond’s 1st floor!’
In any case, the first impression of Beyond I had was that it was quite big . Also, its structure was a bit different than the dungeon floors I’ve climbed so far .
“Is it a maze?”
There were hard brick walls to my left and right . When I tried to attack it with my spear imbued with mana, it didn’t budge in the slightest . In fact, the red bricks absorbed my mana and reflected it back to me . I could read the mana’s movements and avoid the attack, but it was stronger than my original attack . It seemed the walls had strengthened my attack before reflecting it back . I would have to keep this in mind as I went on .
“Kuaaaaaang!”
Then, I suddenly heard a rather familiar roar . ‘Strange… I definitely heard this roar before!’ I tilted my head and walked forward . If I didn’t, nothing would get done .
“Kuaaaaaang!”
‘Hm, the sound is closer . ’
The fact that I couldn’t break the walls down stressed me greatly . On the other hand, I thought that this dungeon was more true to its role than the dungeon I’ve climbed until now .
Slowly, I approached the source of the roar . As I walked, my increased intelligence clearly drew the maze’s map in my head . As I understood the maze’s structure little by little, I understood how far I would need to walk to meet the source of the roar .
“Kuaaang!”
“Eh?”
‘This… is a bit different than the other voice . ’ I suddenly felt a chill down my back . Feeling uneasy, I immediately took out Gluttony Spear . Then, with one hand on the right wall, I slowly walked forward . I was certain . The source of the roar was up ahead .
As I thought, when the wall came to an end, a large open area appeared . It was spacious enough for the Flame Drake to lie down .
There, I found them .
“Orc Lord?”
My god, how long had it been!? Orc Lord, it was an Orc Lord! The one that had helped me become a proper dungeon explorer! Glad to see him again, I raised my voice and ‘they’ looked back at me . Their eyes were bright red .
“There are… many Orc Lords?”
I found the source of the chill I felt . My god, there was a small conference being held here! But let’s think carefully . Orc Lords were bosses from the 5th floor . No matter how fancy their armors were or how much they exuded imposing auras, they shouldn’t be able to win against me, who was level 52…
“Kuaaaang!” “Kuaaaaang!” “Kuaaaaaaang”
[Orc Lord used ‘Warcry’! All orcs are cleansed of negative status effects! All orcs temporarily become super-armored . Their attack power increases by 50%!]
[Orc Lord used ‘Warcry’! All orcs are cleansed of negative status effects! All orcs temporarily become super-armored . Their attack power increases by 50%!]
[Orc Lord used ‘Warcry’! All orcs are cleansed of negative status effects! All orcs temporarily become super-armored . Their attack power increases by 50%!]
I couldn’t help but think, ‘Don’t tell me . The Orc Lords’ Warcries…’
“Whenever one uses them, do the others’ attacks go up…?”
“Kuaaaaaang!”
[Orc Lord used ‘Warcry’! All orcs are cleansed of negative status effects! All orcs temporarily become super-armored . Their attack power increases by 50%!]
All the Orc Lords charged towards me . The ones that didn’t use Warcry shouted as they ran .
Looking at them, I grinned . Then, I turned around and ran .
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