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    TL/Editor: raei


    Status: 5/Week Mon-fri


    Illustrations: Posted in discord.


    Join the discord! Here


    As Season 2 began and we moved from the 54th to the 55th floor, our budding Saint candidate finally started to grow. As the saying goes, great things take time, and her development was nothing to scoff at. From the start, her ability to apply both protection and purification simultaneously was reminiscent of the double casting often seen in novels.


    While that was certainly a joyous occasion, Han Se-ah''s mouth drooped like melting ice cream, refusing to turn upward. This was likely because our party had finally reached the 55th floor.


    "Wow... We''ve actually made it to the 55th floor. Come to think of it, we''re the first party here. Grace is so incredible that we skipped all the fake safe zones and took a shortcut through the real ones, right?"


    -With a 5★ guide and the lucky totem, the speed is insane lololololol


    -Yeah, they hit all the safe zones while skipping the fake ones. Isn''t this the fastest clear time without quest complications?


    -Han Se-ah must be pissed that she can''t get special enhancement stones and mission rewards lolololol


    -As expected of our path-paving sis, working tirelessly to be number one ???? Giving up even on missions to push forward ?????


    -At this rate, won''t they encounter the Ogre right after defeating the mid-boss?


    To replenish our dwindling food supplies, we registered the gate in the lantern and returned to the 50th floor, the Harpy Islands. Even as we retraced our steps through the safe zones using Grace''s intuition and Han Se-ah''s minimap, the Ogre didn''t appear.


    We touched base at the 50th floor, rested and regrouped, reported to the guild, and then arrived back at the 55th floor.


    "In that case, why don''t we spend some time searching for fake safe zones on the 55th floor?"


    Lukius suddenly spoke up.


    "What do you mean, Lukius?"


    As we gazed at the uncharted territory untouched by other adventurers, Lukius unexpectedly broke the silence. Everyone''s attention naturally turned to him, as if they had been maintaining a reverent quiet in honor of being the first to reach the 55th floor.


    Scratching his chin, Lukius continued in his typical mercenary-like, slightly deferential manner, addressing Han Se-ah:


    "Well, you see. The reason we three joined the hero''s party was to investigate the fake safe zones, right?"


    "That''s right."


    "But recently, we''ve been clearing floors so quickly that we haven''t even seen a fake safe zone... I''m a bit worried we might be missing something important."


    Lukius quickly backpedaled, insisting he was just throwing out an idea without any real significance. Of course, our group wasn''t so authoritarian that we''d get angry at a mere mercenary for voicing an opinion, so everyone started to seriously consider his suggestion.


    Especially Han Se-ah, who knew about Lukius''s ''Lucky One'' title.


    "...Guys, if the lucky one is saying this, could there be something to it? Maybe if we don''t investigate the fake safe zones before the mid-boss fight, we''ll miss out on something irreversible."


    -Sounds plausible :) Lukius Lucky Boy seems to have sharper instincts than expected. It might be wise to heed his words.


    Below the 50th floor, when monsters got stronger, individuals became slightly more powerful and their numbers increased.


    To put it roughly, if there were two goblins with strength stat 4, the next floor might have three goblins with strength stat 5. This applied to everything from goblins and kobolds to black-feathered wild harpies, excluding special named monsters.


    "Bombs incoming!"


    "Irene, bestow your protection!"


    But the 55th floor was different.


    Was it because of balance issues? While it was fine for ten enemies to gradually increase to twenty, having dozens of enemies suddenly become hundreds would be too much.


    Instead of increasing the number of goblin infantry, they drastically increased the number of commander-level orc javelineers. At this point, it was more like goblin infantry supporting a javelin corps rather than orc javelineers commanding goblin infantry.


    As usual, Manaashi and I charged into the goblin infantry, with stick bombs flying over our heads with a whoosh. The unstable, flickering mana in various colors looked quite threatening. With their sheer numbers, Grace could only pierce through two or three at most.


    Han Se-ah, Irene, and Grace didn''t charge in, so they were under Irene''s protection. If needed, Han Se-ah could help a bit more with her shield magic, so there was no need to worry.


    The problem was Katie, Lukius, and McDonagh, who were trying to follow Manaashi and me into the fray. Various stick bombs that looked ready to explode at any moment fell with a plop in front of the three running across the prairie. With nearly twenty orc javelineers throwing bombs haphazardly, it looked extremely dangerous, but--


    "Goddess, grant us your protection!"


    "Nice, this is why we bring a priest!"


    "Heck yeah! This is what a barrier is, this is what a priest is!"


    -Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den! Go go den!


    -LOL, if this level of barrier can withstand bomb explosions, how strong must the large barrier be?


    -Seeing mama go wild really puts Han Se-ah''s lack of conscience in perspective, coasting all the way to the 55th floor


    -Surprise attack criticism habit free ride spotted Suddenly reminded of the amazing free rider


    -The bombs seem more focused on CC than damage? There''s lightning, gas, and other stuff keep flying around


    Faster than the bombs could explode, a burst of light enveloped the three, rendering the orc javelineers'' ultimate attack completely useless.


    As one viewer pointed out, the three broke through the chaotic explosions behind them unscathed and pounced on the goblins. Even though they had barriers, they wouldn''t charge headfirst into explosions, so they dodged direct hits and used the barriers to negate the aftermath, resulting in a clean charge.


    The spectacular explosions that would have incapacitated over a dozen members of a mid-rank adventurer party couldn''t stop the three''s advance.


    "Sheek- Strong bodies you have, but lacking in discipline!"


    And so, the price they had to pay was an assault by four 5★ close-combat warriors and one 6★ tank.


    The orc javelineers, startled by the three emerging unscathed from the bombs, hastily drew axes and clubs, but Manaashi wasn''t about to stand idly by.


    He skewered one with his spear, then began smashing orcs with his forearms and tail, moving as flexibly as a rampaging snake. Usually, he just swung his spear around, but it seemed he was inspired by Irene''s progress and decided to go a bit wild.