Chapter 343 ME?

’Now, try sending your mana again.’

’L... like this?’

’A bit more in line with the structure...’

Following Ellen’s instructions, Airi cautiously let her mana flow.

Ellen watched from the side, continuing to offer advice.

It had been exactly one day since Airi’s new employment contract was signed. To learn how to open the dungeon storehouse door, Airi took a short-term intensive course in Black Magic from Ellen.

This was because Airi’s skills were at too basic a level to be put to work immediately.

It was only natural, as she wasn’t originally an aspiring mage studying magic, but rather at a level where she was just practicing basic spells while reading through magic books.

However, what was needed now wasn’t a high-level mage, and it was much better to teach Airi than to head out immediately to find a Black Mage.

Ellen calmly taught Airi the basics of magic.

’There we go. Just do it like you did just now. Now, one more time.’

’Ye, yes...’

While Ellen wasn’t a Black Mage, the magical knowledge she had accumulated while exploring numerous ruins and researching artifacts was substantial.

She was someone who had studied various types of magic to dismantle magical devices in dungeons and research relics. In terms of knowledge alone, she was a high-level magic expert.

While she couldn’t use Black Magic herself, she had more than enough knowledge to teach a novice Black Mage.

Thus began the sudden Black Magic special lecture.

Airi spent the entire day by Ellen’s side, learning how to handle Black Magic.

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- [Airi]: [Black Magic E → Black Magic D]

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It seemed the special lecture had been effective.

After studying with Ellen for a full day, Airi became able to use ’Neutralization’ magic.

A type of Black Magic that temporarily neutralizes magical devices or effects. With this, she could dismantle the magic blocking the storehouse door.

Of course, it would have been impossible for Airi alone, but the exploration team had already completed all other dismantling work. Airi’s task was the simple final step of passing mana through the center.

Since it wasn’t a high-level spell, Airi quickly grew accustomed to it.

After confirming that Airi could succeed with the magic repeatedly without failure, Ellen informed the exploration team and Ian that preparations were complete.

Ian, the members, and the entire exploration team gathered in front of the door.

’Preparations are finished.’

’Finished on this end as well.’

The exploration team members at their respective positions nodded.

Ellen nodded as well, finally turning her gaze toward Airi.

Under the gaze of so many people, Airi was trembling with an expression as if she had been forced onto a talent show stage as an academy freshman.

When Ellen spoke, Airi flinched and lifted her head.

’Now, is Miss Airi also ready?’

’N-no...’

’I see. Then shall we begin?’

’Hieek...’

It seemed Ellen had grasped Airi’s personality after spending a day with her. Even though Airi said she wasn’t ready, once the work started relentlessly, Airi also hurriedly took her position.

Watching the signals from the team members stationed here and there, Ellen spoke to Airi.

’Now, when the signal comes, just send your mana.’

’....’

Airi swallowed hard, her face tense and trembling.

The mercenary group members and the entire exploration team had their eyes fixed on Airi.

After a short silence, Ellen, having received the final signal that preparations were done, spoke to Airi.

’Now.’

Under the gaze of so many people, Airi moved her mana with an expression as if her soul had left her body.

A Neutralization Curse learned hurriedly in a single day. As Ellen said, it wasn’t that difficult of a spell.

The biggest problem was passing through the defenses surrounding the surface, but the exploration team’s mages and Ellen had already finished that work.

Airi’s job was simply to use the magic she had just learned on the defenselessly exposed circuit.

The magic Airi cautiously completed touched the magical circuit device blocking the door.

With a loud noise, the sound of a mechanism moving came from the storehouse door. It was the sound of the locking mechanism releasing.

’It, it seems to have worked.’

’Indeed. Well done.’

The defensive magic blocking the door was dispelled.

As the door slowly began to open, the exploration team’s movements became busy. The members also gathered around Airi.

’It really opened.’

’Airi! Good job! Since the door’s open, we can head out soon.’

’I, I didn’t really... do much...’

Surrounded by the members and showered with praise, Airi’s face turned bright red.

And then, the circuit was immediately dyed in a red light.

’What’s that sound?’

’Ah...!’

The alarm had been triggered.

Airi stood up with an extremely panicked expression.

’Hic, did I make a mistake! I’m sorry!’

’No. There was another safety device inside the storehouse.’

Ellen, who had hurriedly examined the circuit, replied.

The storehouse door had opened correctly, but it seemed a separate alarm set up inside had gone off.

’It seems it was designed so that if the door is opened without following a set sequence, the defense facilities activate. Usually, mages don’t bother with this because it’s tedious for the user too, but it seems this was a mage with a very prickly personality.’

Everyone watched the interior of the storehouse as it slowly opened.

Since the alarm had sounded, it was time for traps to activate, but the nearby traps had already been dismantled. The only place where something could happen was inside the storehouse.

Ian and the members also stepped forward, preparing for battle.

In the meantime, the storehouse door opened completely.

’It looks like there’s something inside...’

’What is that?’

In the lightless, dark storehouse, a blurry shape began to appear.

As Lia stepped forward slightly and lit a torch, the silhouette of something inside the storehouse became faintly visible.

A massive rock was blocking the passage into the storehouse.

Those who had consumed Danger Detection Potions could see a red aura rising from that rock.

’....’

As if reacting to Lia’s approach, the lump of stone twitched and slowly rose from the ground.

It was a Golem.

’It’s a sentry! Everyone, retreat!’

The exploration team gathered near the door hurriedly pulled back.

When exploring dungeons or ruins, it was common for defensive magic to activate or sentries to appear suddenly.

Since it wasn’t their first or second time experiencing this, the exploration team moved in an orderly fashion, grabbing their equipment and data to take cover.

And conversely, Ian and his members stepped to the very front.

Finally, something to fight!

Normally, Rin would have shouted that, but this time, the opponent wasn’t one that allowed for such lighthearted words.

Rin looked up at the massive body of the golem from below.

She had thought it would be nice to have something to fight since the escort work was too quiet, but... could it not have just been a decent, ordinary monster...?

Rin grumbled inwardly as she took her position at the front.

The golem walked out of the storehouse with slow movements.

Meanwhile, the exploration team had successfully retreated, and the members of the Ian Mercenary Group took their positions in front.

Lia, looking up at the golem, quietly set down her shield. It wasn’t an opponent whose attacks could be blocked with a shield.

’Mika. Can you block that?’

’Ma... maybe once?’

If it was a barrier of maximum strength, then perhaps...

Mika spoke with a lack of confidence.

...I should assume it can’t be blocked.

Rin and Lia briefly made eye contact and nodded silently.

’By the way... how do we deal with a golem?’

Faced with a golem so massive they had to look up for a long time, everyone looked at each other with troubled expressions.

Recalling data about golems she had read before, Mika shouted.

’There’s a main circuit somewhere; we just have to stop that!’

’Where is it?’

’That... I don’t know!’

’Sigh...’

’It’s not that I don’t know, it’s that it’s different for every golem!’

Hearing Rin’s sigh, Mika shouted back with an indignant expression.

In the meantime, while observing the situation and exchanging signals with Ellen, Ian relayed to the members.

’Just stall for time! The exploration team will find a way to stop it!’

’Yes!’

The golem, having drawn close, swung its arm.

Rin, who had quickly run to dodge the golem’s attack, aimed for an opening and attacked the golem’s arm, but naturally, it wasn’t very effective.

Only a few scratches appeared on the golem’s body, which was a mass of rock reinforced with mana.

Rin retreated with a troubled expression.

She had boasted about showing the skills she had grown through special training, and it had to be this kind of opponent.

Rin circled the golem with a worried face.

With Tanya’s support, Rin and Lia attacked one arm together and chipped away a part of it, but even that was quickly restored.

It was automatically repaired because of the dungeon’s mana assisting the sentry.

While they held the golem and stalled for time in the front, Ellen, who had been investigating the mana flow, finished interpreting the golem’s structure.

’Found it.’

Turning her head, Ellen shouted toward Airi.

’Aim for the right side of the head! The main circuit is there! If you use the Neutralization Curse on the exposed circuit like you just did, it should work!’

’Eh? Me?’

Airi, who was holding her bow and wondering where to attack while looking at the golem, asked with a panicked face.