Chapter 196

Chapter 198: What are you going to do with it? Just standing there?

During the process of cleaning up the battlefield and gathering spoils.

“Ah, at times like these, I really miss that someone… With him around, after fending off monsters in the past, we could almost just proceed forward directly.” Izay bent down, picking up magic stones and dropped items, sighing dramatically for show.

It has been quite some days since the incident, and he hasn’t seen a certain older brother figure.

Only during the deep nights, occasionally can he hear melancholic sighs from next door.

This time, Finn not only doubled the number of words in Raul’s reflection essay but also set a deadline. To describe it vividly would be:

“One person, one pen, one lamp, one night, one miracle…”

It’s about like that.

Thus, the trio who used to explore dungeons has become just him and Refia.

With one supporter gone, their exploration efficiency has decreased significantly.

Very uncomfortable indeed.

‘That… That someone!?’

‘Could it be referring to Mr. Raul?’

Beside him, Refia, who was doing the same work as Izay, reacted upon hearing this.

Though the kind-hearted elf agreed somewhat with Izay’s statement, it was only the latter part.

Without Raul, the professional supporter big brother helping out, it is indeed troublesome to have to clean up the battlefield herself after every battle. But…

Is it really right to talk about someone like that?

Isn’t Izay usually on good terms with Raul?

And now, in Izay’s mouth, the latter has become “that someone”?

Not even worthy of a name?

People might cry if they knew…

Refia doesn’t know about the interaction between Izay and Raul from the other day. If she did, she wouldn’t think this way.

Speaking of which, she had a hand in that interaction too, so strictly speaking, Refia isn’t qualified to criticize Izay.

…

After tidying up the magic stones and dropped items, Izay and Refia continued their descent.

Compared to the Great Void traversing the entire Water Riddle City – the Great Azure Waterfall, the water labyrinth inside the cliffs and walls resembles an arbitrarily arranged skyscraper, complex and chaotic.

There are countless staircases and slopes here, and adventurers must patiently climb up and down to reach the passage leading to the next floor in the southeast part of the twenty-fifth level.

Due to the strange influence of Izay’s luck value, the characteristic maze mechanism of Water Riddle City – the randomly erupting large geysers – they haven’t encountered once.

Although they met events such as the “Monster Feast,” Flash Swallows and Happy Birds blocking the crystal bridge on the road, the progress was still very smooth.

Because for the same-level monsters, there simply aren’t any attacks that can break through Izay’s “Jade Shield.”

As for the extremely fast Flash Swallows, they can be dealt with easily using the spear form of the Exorcist.

Currently, the two have arrived at the northern labyrinth area of the twenty-sixth level.

Following the flow of water in the labyrinth tunnel, the pale crystals forming the ground emit a faint light.

Inside a cavern occupied by a small lake, they discovered the labyrinth treasure and encountered its guardian, the rare monster of Water Riddle City – the giant octopus “Kulaken.”

“Level 4 potential ability value, Refia, be mindful of keeping your distance.”

“O-Okay!”

The moment the enormous creature surfaced from the bottom of the lake, Izay pulled Refia back away from the water.

Almost all the monsters in Water Riddle City share a similar characteristic.

That is, their combat power in water far exceeds their combat power on land.

Take the floor master Anfisbina as an example.

On land, this floor master’s potential ability value can only be rated as Level 5.

However, in water, its potential ability value is enough to rival Level 6.

Crossing the vast gap between Level 5 and Level 6, such enhancement is terrifying!

Of course, as a rare monster, Kulaken’s improvement in underwater combat definitely isn’t as frightening as the floor master Anfisbina, at most reaching the edge line of Level 5.

For Izay and Refia, such a strong monster is at most a large experience package?

After all, the speed of octopuses moving on land is truly questionable…

And the two of them, being powerful long-range damage dealers, as long as they maintain a proper distance, the current Kulaken is no different from a live target.

Facing the octopus monster Kulaken that raises its massive tentacles in the water, seemingly showing off.

Maintaining an absolutely safe distance, Izay silently raised the Exorcist bow, magical arrows condensed, while Refia gripped her staff and began chanting magic runes.

“～～～～～～～～～”

The battle lasted only a short while, perhaps not even half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and the two successfully obtained the labyrinth treasure.

“There’s no mistake, this is the ‘Mysterious Water Drop,’ an almost omnipotent healing ingredient.”

Using rock formations as footholds to reach the opposite side of the lake, Izay picked the treasure hidden and growing among the azure crystal piles, shaped like droplets, his tone filled with joy as he tossed it lightly.

This is a rarely encountered rare raw material, or rather, a rare medicinal herb, even within Water Riddle City – the Mysterious Water Drop.

“Such an extremely rare labyrinth treasure? The crystallized form known by adventurers as the ‘Natural Panacea’!?”

Following Izay’s steps to the front of the azure crystal pile, exactly as the excited Refia said, these green crystals shaped like water droplets are not only rare but also have high medicinal value.

Not only can they be used to mix various advanced spiritual medicines, but they can even be consumed directly, restoring injuries like a panacea. It’s said to be sweet too.

The acquisition price of such treasures in Orario’s pharmacies, especially at the Cadiante Healing Clinic, remains consistently high, with a single piece selling for over 500,000 Valis.

And this time…

Looking at the dozens of crystals illuminated by the faint glow of pale crystals in the crystal pile in front of her, Refia couldn’t help but sparkle her eyes.

The girl with shining eyes got excited on her own, while Izay had already started picking them up for purchase.

“—?”

“What are you going to do with it? Just standing there!?”

“—!”

Reminded by Izay’s unusual words, Refia finally picked up her backpack and put the crystals into it.

“Refia, hurry up, I’ve already finished picking mine.” Izay finished first and began urging.

“Mmm, isn’t it because Mr. Izay started picking earlier than me!?” The little elf slightly pouted her pink cheeks in rebuttal.

“It’s because you were daydreaming while staring at the Mysterious Water Drops?”

“What!… I wasn’t daydreaming!”

“You were caught red-handed, there’s no use arguing about such things~ Refia.”

“Mmm!! Mr. Izay is a meanie!”

Refia entered a state of sulking with Izay like a little girl, but her hands didn’t slow down.

She quickly picked the remaining green crystals and deliberately turned her head away from Izay.

Then she glanced at her harvest in her backpack and began smiling to herself.