Chapter 129: Minotauros (2)

The summoning of a Floor Guardian is generally divided into two types.

One is simply appearing with a pop at a predetermined time and place. Its birth itself follows the respawn format, similar to ordinary monsters.

The other is a summoning format where, after a certain time, it is directly called upon by satisfying given conditions.

If the King of Thorns of the first floor was a typical summoning-type guardian, then Minotauros of the second floor is a typical respawn-type guardian.

In other words, the Guild knows exactly where and when Minotauros will be born and supports the raids accordingly.

Naturally, other clans also send promising talents suited to the level, and sometimes accompany them with high-ranking adventurers.

Since as many participants as possible must achieve more than one person’s worth of merit for it to be recognized as having participated in the subjugation, they don’t directly engage in combat…but they can rescue if necessary.

In that sense, Minotauros has become not a boss to be feared, but a rare resource.

It has turned into a simple prey after a glorious past and a tragic demise.

It’s a beast which is large and powerful, but equally abundant in meat.

If it were in the deep or middle layers, it would be different, but a guardian of the upper layer is just that.

So with that said, the Guild staff, who hosted the briefing, explained the strategy mechanically without enthusiasm, and the promising members of each clan also listened half-heartedly while doing their own things.

“It’s a mess.”

“If you’re a promising talent to the extent of being here, you must have received various supports from the clan. Among them, there are records of Floor Guardians’ subjugations.”

“True. No one wants to hear a story they’ve already heard.”

As I shrugged, Lydia nodded if that was indeed the case.

That’s right. We are now trapped in a room that looks like a Guild meeting room, listening to an explanation on how to catch Minotauros.

“…But, Miss Lydia, do we really fight like this just by listening?”

“No. To coordinate to that extent, we need to have fought together previously. Everyone has experience fighting within their own clan or party, but coordinating with others is impossible.”

“Tsk. I figured as much, right?”

“Yeah. This briefing is for self-made adventurers who occasionally pop up without any affiliation, new clans with insufficient information, and to avoid Guild responsibility.”

“Avoid responsibility…”

“Even though we provided this much information, if you die in vain, it’s because you lacked skill or luck, not the Guild’s fault.”

“Adults are complicated.”

“Jonah, as a child, you can think simply. Fight as usual. Just be careful not to get caught up in other adventurers’ attacks.”

“That’s the hard part….”

My basic style is to crush them at the start. Whether it’s stealth or just snatching their weapon and cutting their throat, I aim to finish it one-sidedly before it becomes a proper battle.

But against Minotauros’s toughness, assassination is out of the question, and stealth could get me hurt by my allies’ magic.

It’s not that someone is trying to mess with me. If I could see it, I could dodge or return fire, but since I can’t see it, I can get caught up in the spells cast thinking it’s an empty spot.

“Don’t think too hard. Unlike before, you just need to inflict moderate damage. You’re not fighting alone.”

“I know that in my head… Hmm. Well, when the time comes, I’ll figure it out somehow.”

Nodding nonchalantly, I let the Guild staff’s voice drift away. The reason I’m half-listening, despite not being part of a major clan, isn’t because I’m arrogant or stupid.

When I said I was going to hunt Minotauros, Ellie clung to me all day, lecturing about the past.

I didn’t want to know the strategy information like this.

And seeing the so-called promising members of each clan filling the room…

‘If we fight, I’ll win.’

There is no need for a surprise attack. If it’s one-on-one, I think I can win head-on.

I don’t know if this is just baseless confidence, if I’m actually stronger, or if it’s because I’ve gotten used to top-tier fighters like Ellie and Lydia.

However, I can definitely tell that they are interested in me.

Some of the gathered people didn’t show much interest in me, but most of them have been glancing this way constantly since a while ago.

Some are simply showing favor based on appearance, others are displeased that someone who looks young is here, and some are intrigued by the new rookie they’ve never seen before.

But the most noticeable among them were the ones with gazes close to hostility.

“Why is that elf acting like that towards me?”

“Who knows. Maybe Jonah picked their pocket in the past?”

“No way. Even if I did, I’ve never been found out, so recognizing me is impossible.”

“…What’s with that useless confidence?”

Puffing out my chest and going ‘ahem’, Lydia shook her head. No, this is actually quite impressive.

How long had Lydia and I quietly chatted away? Before I knew it, the Guild briefing was over.

The only thing I need to remember is to gather at the square by 1 PM tomorrow.

Before getting up from my seat, I stretched my arms high and twisted my waist this way and that.

“Ugh.”

My joints, which had stiffened from sitting still, cracked and loosened up.

As I leisurely stretched, the surrounding gazes became more intense. Maybe because Lydia was next to me, no one was staring too hard….

“Tsk.”

No. There was someone.

The pointy-eared one who had been glaring at me from earlier clicked their tongue as they approached.

“A man without any dignity.”

“Huh?”

The term ‘man’ itself isn’t particularly offensive to me, given my memories of Earth. However, in this world, it’s a rather derogatory expression akin to calling someone a ‘wench’, and the fact that it was used with that intent makes me angry.

Gently stopping Lydia, who had furrowed her brow, I grabbed her sleeve and took a closer look at the pointy-eared one in front of me.

Blonde hair, white skin, small chest, tall stature, neat appearance…

A typical elven woman. One peculiar thing was that everything she wore from head to toe looked incredibly expensive.

The tiara on her head emanated a formidable magical power, and the brooch on her chest radiated a holy energy as if it were a sacred relic.

Each earring on her long ears and every ring on her fingers were artifacts, and though I couldn’t speak for the performance of her clothes, their material seemed on par with Morgana’s robes.

And the crowning touch was, of course, her weapon.

The whip at her waist was made from the leather and bones of an unknown monster.

Its exact capabilities were unclear, but it exuded an aura comparable to Lydia’s collection of famous swords, surpassing even my Unicorn Dagger.

Her own skills didn’t seem particularly outstanding.

Considering her presence, movements, gaze control, the amount of aura she held, the state of her muscle development, and so on.

Taking all these into account, she was at most around 1.2 Lemons?

With Lemon and Apple still struggling on the first floor, it would be tough for them to reach the second floor yet.

Even if one somehow managed to build up their specs through sheer grind, challenging a Floor Guardian is absolutely out of the question.

However, that person is standing here. They probably supplemented their lacking strength and skills with magical tools.

Or perhaps received help from the muscular elf archer glaring this way from behind, like a bodyguard.

In other words, an annoying young lady from a filthy rich family.

Having roughly assessed the opponent, I decided to respond accordingly.

While feigning flattery, I would subtly deploy ‘Sound-Eating Footsteps’ and ‘Faster Than the Eye Pickpocket’ simultaneously to strip them of everything they’re wearing.

“My apologies for showing such an unsightly appearance…”

“Lady Lydia. If I may offer a piece of advice, it would be wise to keep your distance from this vulgar creature. It’s a rattlesnake that could bite your hand at any moment.”

“…What? Vulgar? Rattlesnake?”

Lydia’s face turned icy. Normally, she has such a calm expression that she probably didn’t notice, but I know. This means she’s about to explode.

In a hurry, I reached beyond Lydia’s sleeve, grabbed her hand, and desperately tried to calm her down as I spoke.

“Hey, isn’t it a bit rude to be so impolite on a first meeting? Calling someone vulgar and a rattlesnake just for stretching a bit.”

“Ha! Now you’re being shameless too, on top of being vulgar.”

“……”

What is this? Did I unknowingly rob this woman of all her possessions or something? Otherwise, it seems impossible for her to direct such genuine contempt my way.

As I stood there, dumbfounded, watching her, she snorted and continued.

“Well, you did enchant that person for a moment, so you must be no ordinary vulgar person.”

“…That person?”

I tilt my head just for a moment, wondering who it was. The brat continued speaking with the same arrogant attitude.

“The one you’ve been spreading rumors about recently.”

“…!”

Is it Eve? Come to think of it, she looks like a high-ranking elf’s daughter. The only person who could be referred to as ‘that person’ because they dare not call her by name would be Eve.

“She has returned to where she rightfully belongs. She’s taking what she should, so a worm like you shouldn’t stick around and interfere.”

“Hm. So you know where Miss Eve is?”

“Ha! There’s no place for someone as vile as you to meddle now. Leave Pangrave immediately, or I’ll make sure you have nowhere to stand.”

For some reason, she insulted me by bringing up Eve, and now she’s threatening me to leave Pangrave.

But it was clear that she knew a clue about Eve, which I had been waiting for for so long.

I smiled brightly and opened my mouth.

“Who do you think you are, to interfere between Eve and me and tell me what to do?”

“…How dare you!”

Just as she was about to shout something in rage. I grabbed her hair and slammed her head onto the desk.

Bang!

Thanks to all sorts of magical tools, she was unscathed, but she widened her eyes, trying to figure out what had just happened to her.

I continued, twirling a dagger in front of her eyes.

“You seem to be mistaken about something, but I’m not here to ask you anything.”

It meant I would find out myself from now on.