Chapter : 143

Basilisk, a snake monster made famous by a novel featuring a wizard with glasses.

Well, I happen to wear glasses and I'm a wizard too…! So why are you showing up here?!

《Theo, dodge it!》

At Albedo's shout, I swallowed my curses as I flew up with the power of the wind this time.

Why the hell is a boss mob popping out here!

There were snakes in this dungeon, but a basilisk wasn't the kind of monster you'd expect to find in a place like this!

“This game is insane!!”

I spat out a curse and fired an ice arrow at the basilisk, but it bounced off its scales as if it were meaningless.

Is this for real? Wait a minute—

“The basilisk's magic defense is crazy high!”

The basilisk had an extremely high magic defense.

The magic attack character released on the 4th anniversary was quite a cheat character, and it was said that if you didn't get them, you'd have to wait a year and try again on their next pickup to play the game.

To counter that 0-tier cheat character, the patch that came out to snipe them was none other than the basilisk!

“This is driving me crazy!”

I’m not even the 4th-anniversary cheat character, so why do I have to deal with that damn sniper patch?!

The only comfort was that Senior Laurel and Senior Cecilia, who used physical attacks, were in the dungeon.

“You, just you wait!”

For now, it’s a strategic retreat!

Before the basilisk, which was smacking its lips, could lunge and swallow me again, I tore through space and barely returned to my party.

This time too, the coordinates were skewed, and I was transported into the air and thrown to the ground, but that wasn't the problem.

“Senior Laurel! Senior Cecilia!”

The situation here was five minutes from being a total mess, no, it was a mess in progress.

The snakes, which had been a bit wild but still cautious, were now attacking people without any regard for their own safety.

“Theo, where have you been?”

The mercenary captain was looking for someone else.

“Theo, where's Ray?!”

I almost died because of that damn Ray, you know?

Revealing Ray’s true identity is something for later. Let’s hold it in for now, phew.

“Is Ray okay?”

“Aish! For goodness sake! I'll explain later, so please focus!!”

At my shout, the mercenary captain's expression twisted slightly, but given the situation, he eventually nodded.

“You'll explain once this situation is over.”

“Got it!”

“So, junior, please explain the situation you've grasped.”

At Senior Lilia's words, I immediately summarized the situation without hesitation.

Somehow the boss woke up, and that boss seemed to be a basilisk—

Basilisk, the impact those five words could have was truly astonishing.

The people's faces twisted into the worst expressions I had ever seen.

“A basilisk is in a dungeon like this?

There’s no way we can catch it! We have to ask the Academy for help!!”

One of the mercenaries shouted urgently.

“You idiot! Isn't there an Academy student right here?!”

At the mercenary captain’s harsh rebuke, the mercenary shut his mouth as if realizing his mistake.

Perhaps influenced by the awakened basilisk, attacks that had worked well before now failed to penetrate, as if blocked by steel.

This insane balance! I can’t help but swear!

Why the hell do I have to suffer from this sniper patch!! I ground my teeth in frustration.

However, I have no intention of letting myself be taken down while feeling wronged.

“Senior, do you have a spare sword?”

At my question, Senior Cecilia immediately tossed me a spare rapier.

However, since it was literally a spare, its durability didn't seem promising.

But it didn't matter. Its purpose was already set. As long as the tip was sharp, that was all that mattered.

Puk!

The tip of the rapier pierced the snake's body, but it didn't die from it.

Instead, it struggled and tried to bite me with its fangs.

I leaned back slightly to avoid it, and I could clearly see poison dripping from the snake's fangs.

“The snakes seem to have poison! Be careful when dealing with them!”

Right after informing my comrades, I used lightning magic with the sword as a medium without hesitation.

Chijijijik.

The sound and smell of cooking meat rose acridly.

I tore off the corpse of the snake that had been zapped to death by lightning and lightly shook the sword.

“How many spare swords do you have?”

“About three?”

If I leave one for fighting the basilisk and one for the senior to use, I can use one more.

It’s not enough, but if I use them sparingly, it might not be insufficient.

* * *

Theo stabbed and pierced the body of a snake lunging at him with his sword.

Then he zapped it with lightning and burned it to death.

How many had it been already?

Countless snake carcasses were strewn carelessly on the ground.

The moment you're bitten, you're poisoned.

That fact alone made the difficulty of snake hunting skyrocket.

When the situation reached this point, there was no way not to know.

“These things, they seem to be targeting Belle!”

At the captain's shout, even the senior and the mercenaries didn't deny it and silently killed the snakes.

The snakes were clearly targeting Belle.

As if killing her was a long-cherished desire that they had to achieve even at the cost of their lives.

Belle, who had been providing cover from behind and was now being protected by everyone, also did not deny it.

“Theo, do you have any idea why?”

“⋯Perhaps the potion she drank is the problem.”

At Theo's words, the mercenaries' expressions hardened in an instant.

“Hey, no way.”

“That’s the only thing I can think of right now.”

Theo said, zapping another snake.

The spare rapier he had received finally couldn't withstand the impact and broke.

As soon as she confirmed it, Cecilia quickly threw another spare rapier to Theo.

After dealing with the snakes that rushed in like waves, the entrance to the dungeon finally came into view.

“Everyone, run!!”

At Theo's shout, everyone's faces brightened and they started running towards the outside.

It was then. A huge vibration was felt, as if the world was shaking.

“Dodge it!!”

At Theo's shout, Cecilia gracefully leaped up the wall.

A basilisk with its huge mouth wide open had tried to eat Cecilia.

If her reaction had been even a little late, she would have been eaten whole.

Cecilia felt goosebumps all over her body as she watched the basilisk, with its jaws closed, slowly retreat.

A real basilisk, it wasn't that she didn't believe her junior's words, but… the shock of witnessing it with her own eyes was considerable.

“If the basilisk gets out of the dungeon, everyone will be in danger.”

The moment a huge monster like that goes to the fief, the entire fief will be devastated.

“Let’s the four of us handle it.”

“That’s insane.”

At Lilia's words, Theo let out a small laugh.

Even Theo, who was usually so shameless, couldn't argue with that.

“I'll make the plan.”

I already know the basilisk's patterns and how to defeat it.

Besides, with Lilia, Cecilia, and Laurel, there’s a good chance of winning.

“While we hold it off, could the mercenary corps please call Viscount Loren?”

“It’s too dangerous! If anyone’s staying, it should be us!!”

“Then you’ll die, 100% chance.”

At Theo's point, the captain stood tall and looked at him.

He knew well that Academy students were strong.

However, even so, it bothered him to leave children who were the age of his own in such a dangerous place.

“No, I’m staying.”

“⋯You could die, you know?”

At Theo’s question, the captain took out a bandage and tied his hand to his sword.

There should be no unfortunate incident of dropping the sword due to trembling hands in fear.

At the captain’s determination, Theo clamped his mouth shut.

He couldn’t bring himself to stop him.

How could he tell someone who was prepared to lay down their life that they would be a hindrance and should leave?

“Theo, can you do it?”

“⋯I can’t guarantee the captain’s life!”

Theo shouted at the captain as if biting his words.

At the virtual permission, the captain gripped his sword as if he had been waiting.

Alright, I can do this. Theo made a vow to himself and shouted loudly.

“Then let the basilisk hunt begin now!!”

* * *

Magic for All the Magical Girls in the World.

Laurel really didn't want to use this magic, even if it meant dying.

However, with true death fast approaching, she had no choice but to use it.

“Magical Girl, transform!”

I'd rather bite my tongue and die!!

When the gorgeous transformation, which felt like an instant or an eternity, was over, she had transformed into the magical girl outfit Theo had seen before.

“Sh*t, kill me!”

I never thought I'd wear an outfit like this in my life!! I wanted to wail, but instead, I decided to mess up the culprit of all this.

“I will never forgive you!”

Laurel, wearing a gorgeous pink one-piece dress the same color as her hair, glared poisonously at the culprit, the basilisk.

“Lilia!!”

At Laurel's shout, Lilia, who had also finished her transformation, conjured a flame.

The beautifully bloomed flame was beautiful enough to mesmerize everything in the world.

It's impossible to mesmerize a basilisk. However, making it lose its focus for a split second is enough.

Because the moment the basilisk is distracted by the flame, Laurel will approach it.

“Hyaa!”

Laurel, with the mercenary captain, who was bigger than her, tucked under her arm, quickly ran up the basilisk's body and moved towards its tail.

And before the basilisk could swing its body, she grabbed its tail tightly.

“Kyaaaaaaak!!!”

The basilisk roared as if to say, let go of me.

“I will never let go!!”

Gritting her teeth, she holds on and on.

As if that was the only thing she could do, endlessly holding on was Laurel's one and only mission at this moment.

At that moment, a faint cry, difficult for humans to hear, was heard.

It was the basilisk's call to its kin.

“Please cover for Senior Laurel!”

“Got it!!”

At Theo's request, the mercenary captain, who had moved to the tail with Laurel, answered vigorously.

The captain, gritting his teeth, began to deal with the snakes that persistently rushed to kill Laurel for the freedom of their master.

While Laurel handled the snake's tail from behind, the three of them took on the snake's head.

Theo rose high into the sky to assess the situation.

As long as magic wasn't very effective, there wasn't much he could do.

But I can do it. No, I have to do it.

With determination, Theo's golden eyes shone sharply.

“Be careful of the basilisk's poison!”

The basic preparations were complete.

From now on, it was time for the real basilisk hunt.