GILF Hunter - Chapter 296 Did We Get It?

Ian settled into a resting spot in the middle of the dungeon.

Even though it was an abandoned dungeon now, it was once a place where exploration was in full swing.

Places to camp and rest like this still remained here and there.

Everyone set down their luggage and started a fire with the remaining firewood.

’Is it ready yet?’

’Not yet.’

When Rin asked while gulping in front of the pot, Tanya shook her head.

A small campfire burned, and a pot containing stew was slowly boiling.

The schedule was longer than a usual expedition and they had packed meticulously, so they couldn’t bring many cooking tools.

Still, it was enough to make a simple dish when camping like this.

Everyone sat around the small campfire that bloomed in the dense darkness of the dungeon, quietly watching the flickering light.

Tanya, who had been stirring the pot quietly, soon stopped her hand.

Everyone realized this and turned their gaze toward Tanya.

’It’s done.’

Tanya nodded and handed out the bowls one by one.

’Haa…. I’ve been waiting forever.’

’I made it as fast as I could.’

’No, I just meant that’s how it felt….’

Mika carefully accepted the bowl Tanya held out.

The hot warmth seeping into her hands slowly melted the tension and stress accumulated in the deep darkness.

’Phew….’

Up until now, they had only rested briefly while eating portable rations in the corridors.

Since this was the first time they were resting properly since entering the dungeon, everyone let out heavy sighs and slowly regained their composure.

’How much time has passed?’

’Isn’t it one day?’

’Isn’t it two?’

The members, who had recovered their stamina and gained some leisure while resting, talked to each other in front of the campfire.

Inside the dungeon where no light entered.

The sense of time became blurred in an environment where they couldn’t have regular rest or meals.

One day, or maybe two.

They couldn’t tell how long they had wandered or how much was left.

Lin muttered while looking into the darkness beyond the corridor past the campfire.

’Now I know why you said we had to practice in advance.’

The monsters coming out of the dungeon themselves were nothing special.

Except for Lia’s expression growing darker by the day, only monsters so mundane appeared that one might worry if this would actually serve as practice for the Labyrinth.

However, the darkness of the dungeon was certainly different.

Limited supplies. Darkness where the path ahead is unknown.

Relying solely on one small light, they had to step into an unknown gloom where they didn’t know what might be there.

If they hadn’t experienced this in advance, they would have faced even greater difficulties in the Labyrinth.

’Will we be able to do well in the Labyrinth too?’

Lin muttered a question that suddenly came to mind.

’I’m moving through here thinking it’s the Labyrinth right now. Doing just as we are now is enough.’

’Really?’

Hearing Ian’s answer, Rin pondered with a bit of worry.

…Well, things always worked out somehow, so it’ll work out this time too.

For a serious rumination, it was ultimately a simple conclusion, just like always.

While everyone rested for a while after finishing their meal, Ian checked the map he had been creating.

Since he roughly knew the scale of the dungeon, he could approximately predict how much was left.

’Let’s hang in there a bit more. There isn’t much left.’

He didn’t think it would be easy. The Labyrinth would be much worse than this.

Everyone thought the same and nodded toward Ian.

＊ ＊ ＊

Lin shouted as she hurriedly dodged to the side.

’Lia! Draw its attention!’

Lia’s sword cut through the air, emitting a red light.

The large insect monster standing in front turned its gaze toward Lia while making a disgusting noise.

A monster that appeared immediately after entering the place Ian had called the final room.

They had handled the small fry nearby without much trouble, but one unusually large insect remained.

It was much larger than the other insects they had faced in this dungeon.

Furthermore, it was a monster with an oddly hard carapace.

It appeared to be a monster at the level of a leader of the insects.

’Lin… not yet?’

’Just wait a second!’

While Lia, whose expression had gone past dark to completely blank, drew the giant insect’s attention, Rin slipped around to the back of the monster.

’Hah!’

Muffling her footsteps and presence, she aimed for the defenseless back.

Lin lunged and thrust her sword, targeting the opening created while it was attacking Lia.

-Clang!

But Rin’s sword was easily deflected, unable to pierce the monster’s hard outer shell.

She had tried several times to strike an opening from earlier, but she was failing to deal any significant damage, just like now.

’Blades aren’t working on this!’

As the insect that was struck from behind tried to turn around, a flustered Rin shouted while hurriedly backing away.

Watching the scene from behind, Mika asked Ian.

’Should I use… the barrier?’

’Let’s see a bit more. The battle might get long.’

After hearing Ian’s answer, Mika nodded and stared forward, ready to use the barrier at any moment.

’Lin! Just get behind me!’

’Wait, I think I can do it…. Let me try one more time!’

’Lia! Take this!’

’….’

While everyone was busy running around, shouting, fighting, and supporting each other.

Mika quietly watched the battlefield from the very rear with Ian.

’Ah, I got through!’

This time, the sword of Rin, who had been circling nearby aiming for the monster’s back, shallowly cut a weak spot in the gap of the carapace.

-Kieeeek!

The monster that took the attack thrashed even more violently.

Lin’s attack landed, but it was too shallow to be considered a decisive blow.

’I think I’ve got the hang of it! Lia, let’s try one more time!’

’Wait, Rin! We’re almost out of noise bombs!’

Ian watched the scene from behind and muttered quietly.

’As expected, is the firepower a bit lacking against heavy armor…?’

Hearing Ian’s murmur, Mika, who was next to him, glanced at Ian.

Firepower shortage…?

Mika unconsciously muttered quietly.

In the meantime, Ian spoke to Mika while looking at her.

’Mika. When I give the signal, set up a wall in front.’

’Ah, yes!’

Snapped back to her senses, Mika cast the wall magic she had prepared in advance.

As a transparent wall was erected in front of Lia, the space between the monster and the allies was momentarily separated.

Even though its durability was still weak and it could only hold out for a short time, it was enough to buy time to stop the battle and regroup.

’Everyone, take these!’

’These are….’

Meanwhile, Tanya received instructions from Ian and delivered the items prepared in advance to Rin and Lia.

Fire bombs and oil bottles.

Even without an explanation, everyone understood perfectly what they had to do.

──!!

Lia first bound the monster’s feet, and the oil bottle thrown by Rin flew in.

Soon, along with items that restricted movement, several fire bombs struck home.

With all its subordinates annihilated and left alone, the giant insect burned helplessly on the spot without being able to offer any resistance.

It was a combination that always worked well against enemies whose high defense rendered direct attacks ineffective.

’Phew. We should have used this from the start.’

Lin muttered while wiping sweat from her forehead as she backed away.

It was a mindless monster that was hard to even stab once with a blade, but it seemed it couldn’t stop its body from burning.

After stalling for a moment while blocking its movements, the burning monster soon collapsed to the floor.

’Did we get it…?’

’Lin, what are you doing?’

’No…. Usually, in times like this, they suddenly spring up when you let your guard down.’

Lin watched the burning insect for a while as it made crackling sounds, then picked up a few stones and threw them.

Whether they became unnecessarily anxious because of Rin’s words, everyone glanced around and stayed wary of the burning insect’s corpse.

In the meantime, Ian, who confirmed the monster was dead by looking at its HP, approached the altar at the end of the room.

Originally, it would have been the place where the dungeon’s treasure was, but this was a dungeon that had already been stripped of all its treasure. Not a single item of value remained.

Instead, there was a metal box on the altar.

When Ian opened it, there was a dusty guild certification plaque inside.

Number 17.

Ian retrieved it and instead placed an item inside that he had received from the guild, which had the number 8 written on it.

The number 17 that was in the box was the item Ian had to bring back to pass the exam.

The number 8 Ian put in was for the next person who would enter for an exam.

Ian, having secured the necessary item, turned around and spoke to the members.

’It’s over. Let’s head back now.’

’Really?’

’Haa….’

Everyone sighed in relief at the words that it was over.

It felt as if they had been in the dungeon for almost a week based on their perception.

’When do we get back out?’

’It won’t take long to get out, so hang in there just a bit more.’

They already had a map for the way out, and it was rare for monsters to reappear in places they had passed, so the return could be done much faster.

After finishing the final battle, everyone sat for a moment to catch their breath and then stood up, nodding at the suggestion to return.

Because resting outside the dungeon would be much better.

＊ ＊ ＊

’It’s the outside….’

Everyone moved their exhausted steps and emerged outside the dungeon.

Since they already knew the way, there was no chance of getting lost, and fortunately, they didn’t encounter monsters again.

Unlike when they went in, it really didn’t take long to come out.

’Phew….’

The cold outside air brushed past their faces.

Everyone was slightly surprised by the sudden influx of fresh air and slowly inhaled.

Whether it was morning, the sun was rising in the distance.

Everyone squinted and covered their faces at the sunlight they were seeing for the first time in days.

The end of the tedious dungeon conquest.

And it was a promotion to C-rank.