The lower part of the dungeon once again resembled a temple.
“Perhaps this dungeon was used for the coming-of-age ceremony of the royalty not only for its appropriate level of difficulty but also because this solemn atmosphere suited well,” Nox murmured as he looked around with tourist-like curiosity.
Peeking slightly from the open door to glimpse inside, he witnessed a great commotion in progress.
The dungeon boss was a two-headed serpent. It had the thickness of a large tree, swallowing stairs, twisting with its long body.
“They are fighting with all their might.”
The slender gardener skilled in traps, the agile maiden who utilized her mobility in clever motions. The few-worded young man seemed capable of casting attack spells.
“…They are fighting quite well, surprisingly.”
“It’s probably because Lano got injured.”
The three did not display the frivolity they usually did on the surface. They attended to Lano properly, clearly understanding what they needed to do.
“As always, you are a skilled swordsman who does not hesitate,” Nox praised his brother.
Nox rarely saw Lano fighting seriously. Although he secretly watched his training, he never accompanied him and their father on monster hunts, as he was never called.
“I think Galaxia should be inherited by Lano,” Nox murmured.
Naturally, people gathered around Lano, feeling the need to support him. It was an innate charm that he did not possess.
Nana, on the other hand, remained silently by his side.
“Well, as assistants to the next heir of Galaxia, those three are insufficient in terms of strength.”
Nox reflected, his mobility gradually affected by the accumulated fatigue up to that point. Although the serpent also showed signs of damage, Nox decided that Lano and the others could not sustain themselves in that situation for much longer.
“I’ll lend a hand to gain some merit,” declared Nox before drawing his bow.
His target was one of the twin heads of the serpent.
*Swoosh*
The arrow with concentrated magic struck directly into the beast’s golden eye.
Lano barely flinched at the arrow, without even looking at Nox by the entrance, he seized the opportunity while the serpent writhed and cut off the remaining head with a horizontal motion.
“Well done!”
As the head was severed, the serpent writhed once more before crashing thunderously onto the stone floor.
“Uh, I arrived a little late,” Nox said as he stealthily approached Lano’s exhausted group, who could no longer rise due to exhaustion.
“You did it, Lano. Now you are the heir,” congratulated Nox, extending a hand to help his brother.
They still had work to do. They needed to extract the dungeon core from the serpent’s corpse.
“I didn’t know Nox was so good with the bow!” Lano remarked with a smile.
“It was luck. Fortunately, the shot was precise,” Nox replied with the same smile.
“If you say so.” When Lunó took his hand, Nox applied a bit of healing magic.
“Is your shoulder okay?”
“Yes, I feel much better after this,” Lano said with a charming wink.
His brother perceived everything.
When Lano split in half the head he had cut, a bright blue stone rolled out.
“Here it is! Is this the core…?”
“How beautiful!” Exclaimed the maid, who still couldn’t stand up, as she saw the transparent jewel that Lano lifted.
“Did your father also have one like this embedded in his sword?”
“Exactly. Maybe this was something he obtained here?”
The dungeon core granted several benefits to its owner. Its effects were diverse but never brought negative consequences. Therefore, it was considered a highly valuable item, coveted by both nobles and adventurers.
“So, let’s go back. I will support the gardener, Nana will accompany the maid. And I will assist Lano with my magic.”
At that moment, only Nox possessed the ability to make sensible decisions worthy of an adventurer. In that instant, even Lano’s followers had to follow Nox’s directions.
In the deepest level of the dungeon, a teleportation circle appeared. By stepping on the elevated ground resembling an altar, one could instantly return to the surface.
As everyone headed towards the teleportation circle, Lano remained staring fixedly at the serpent’s corpse.
“What’s wrong? Couldn’t finish it off?” Nox joked with an untimely comment.
With the appearance of the teleportation circle, it was evident that the boss was no longer alive.
“Hey, if it had a core coming out of one of its twin heads, could there be another one in the other?”
“…No, that would be…”
Lano forcefully pushed Nox, who was trying to downplay the matter, saying, “stop joking.”
“Since we’re here, why don’t we give it a try?” proposed Lano.
“Isn’t it that the dungeon core only comes out one at a time? That can’t be real…”
While muttering under his breath, Nox drew the sword he never parted with throughout the journey and split the serpent’s head to make Lunó give up. Then, a faint “clink” was heard.
“Here it is…”
On the ground, rolling towards them, was a red gem of the same size as the one Lano obtained.
“We did it! Now let’s return together to the surface!”
Lano, visibly happier than when he got his own core, embraced Nox, who exclaimed in pain as he held his shoulder with tears in his eyes.
