Surviving in a Frozen Dark Fantasy as a Genius Mage - Chapter 32

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Mordor

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◈ Surviving the Frozen Dark Fantasy as a Genius Mage ◈

Chapter 32: 2nd-Floor Rotten Swamp

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Salt Cave, Burning City, Rotting Swamp.

Like the first floor, the second floor also had three possible areas.

Which one would appear?

I opened my eyes, setting aside my slight tension. Faint light filtered through scattered rotten trees, revealing moss-covered rocks and a sticky green swamp bubbling beneath them.

‘Hm, since when has luck been on our side?’

It was the Rotting Swamp.

Transported onto a jagged rock, we looked around.

“The Rotting Swamp, eh? Not a bad start. The profits will be a bit lower, though.”

The dwarf Gimlius took a drink from his metal flask, then spat.

I agreed.

It was still more dangerous than the first floor, but compared to the other areas, the swamp’s environment was relatively manageable.

“Will you use a divine spell?”

“No. I want to save it for now.”

“Then I’ll use this.”

Hans took a lantern from his backpack.

It was a wooden-and-glass frame fitted with a wick and oil. More expensive than a torch, it gave off less light, but produced neither smoke nor a burning smell. Its light could also be hidden at any time by covering it with cloth.

That had to be expensive.

He was well prepared.

“So we have to walk on those.”

Elena pointed to the wooden platforms floating nearby.

At regular intervals across the middle of the swamp, wooden platforms stretched from pillars rising out of the water, like dominoes set apart from one another.

They looked flimsy. Artificial, too.

“Who made those?”

“Don’t judge the Labyrinth by common sense.”

“The more you think about it, the more you’ll be swallowed by its mysteries.”

I gave Daisy a brief answer, and Hans added a well-known saying.

“Let’s make some preparations before we set off.”

Each area had a different environment and different monsters.

Naturally, the preparations for exploration differed as well.

There was almost no solid ground in this swamp. We had no choice but to walk across those wooden platforms.

The second floor was much harder than the first not only because the monsters were stronger, but because of environmental factors like this.

Starting from the second floor, the terrain became truly hostile, and special mechanics began to appear.

‘The swamp is deep and sticky. Once you fall in, you can’t get out alone.’

‘It’s only better than the other areas. This place is still dangerous.’

Some of the platforms, our only support, were as wide as two meters, though most measured around one and a half meters by one and a half meters.

There was enough room for two people to stand side by side, but not enough to move around freely.

The front line was especially important here.

“Hans, what monsters usually appear in the Rotting Swamp?”

I had already told Daisy and Elena what I knew about the second floor.

I hadn’t told the other party members, so I asked to test how much information Hans, a first-floor Scout, had about it.

“The most common monsters are Gnolls, Swamp Goblins, and the Lizardman species. Mud Golems are the stronger type.”

Mm-hm.

“They can come out from the trees or, at times, from beneath the swamp, so be careful. If we loosely tie ourselves together with rope, we can prepare for emergencies. Unlike the other areas, there aren’t many traps here. That’s the good part.”

He seemed to have spent quite a bit of money.

The quality of his information wasn’t bad.

But there was one thing he got wrong.

“What’s wrong?”

“From the second floor onward, Named Monsters can appear at a certain rate.”

They were leaders, stronger and more intelligent than ordinary monsters.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Well, they weren’t easy to encounter.

Gimlius chimed in.

“Ah, I saw one exactly once. It was in the Burning City, and it was a terrifying bastard. The reward was just as great, though.”

At the mention of money, Elena perked up.

“Reward?”

“Named Monsters sometimes carry enchanted equipment.”

“So if we cut one down, we hit the jackpot?”

“They’re hard to find, and even harder to kill.”

They were the kind of monsters that could run away if things went badly.

Elena made a reasonable guess.

“We’re lucky, so maybe we can kill one?”

Hm, that was true.

I had the Coin of Fate, after all.

Anyway, after loosely tying ourselves together with rope, we stepped onto the wooden platforms.

Creak!

“Ugh.”

The platforms swayed under the weight of our backpacks and equipment.

Unlike Daisy, who staggered, Elena quickly found her balance like the elf she was. Gimlius, despite his short stature, did the same.

“Who are you calling short?! I’m tall for a dwarf!”

“Ah, why did my inner thoughts come out?”

“Hehe, it’s true. What’s wrong with saying it?”

“You bunch of racists!”

For now, Elena and Gimlius took the lead.

Daisy and I stood in the middle, while Hans took the rear, stepping onto the platforms behind us.

Normally, Hans, the Scout, would have led before monsters appeared, while one of the front-line fighters watched the rear. The platforms were too narrow for both front-line fighters to move freely.

But there was a reason for this.

No matter how talented Elena was, this was her first time on the second floor.

First, I had to see whether she could properly fight second-floor monsters.

“You don’t trust me?”

“I’m being careful.”

The moment the front line broke, Daisy and I in the center would be in danger. That would mean the party’s collapse.

‘If Elena struggles alone, Gimlius will step in right away.’

“Is this really only your second trip to the Labyrinth?”

“Why?”

“You’re too skilled for a beginner.”

Gimlius shook his head as he watched me give orders.

“This platform won’t break, will it?”

“It won’t break that easily. It’ll just sway.”

Creeeak. Creak.

Ominous bubbles occasionally rose from the swamp, where there was no telling what lay beneath. Skeletons and half-rotted Expedition Party members hung from the trees we passed, like bodies on gibbets.

As we stepped across the unstable platforms, one step at a time, and looked around, we faced a vast darkness that never ended no matter how much light we shone into it.

It created the illusion that we were the only people inside this enormous cesspit.

‘It feels like being buried in darkness.’

Whether it was bright or not, the Labyrinth itself held a malice that gnawed at people’s minds.

And it did so physically as well.

“A jar.”

A single jar sat on a large wooden platform, wider than the others, almost like a rest stop.

It had a glossy white-and-blue finish and looked quite valuable.

“Ian. Do you sense any mana?”

“Mm, I don’t think so.”

Hans, the Scout, cautiously approached it.

Using a long wooden pole from his backpack, he carefully prodded the jar. He then pressed down on the area around it, putting his weight into it to check for pressure traps. After sprinkling detection reagent over it, his inspection was complete.

‘He’s so thorough, I’m starting to suspect he has a cleanliness obsession.’

Still, that was how a Scout should be.

“I don’t think there are any traps.”

“Great. Come on, gold and jewels, show yourselves.”

Elena opened the jar with a greedy smile.

Instead of treasure, an awful smell wafted out.

It was like the stench of blood and animal musk condensed to an extreme degree.

There was no treasure inside.

It was filled with thick soup. Fingers, eyeballs, and melted chunks of flesh floated amid flesh-colored and red liquid.

Ah, that was...

‘Ugh, it’s even more disgusting seeing it in person.’

“Fuck.”

“Bleegh!”

Daisy immediately threw up.

Even Elena, who had a strong stomach, furrowed her brow.

“What is this?”

“Looks like monsters ate here. That’s leftover food, and the jar is their cooking pot.”

I covered my nose and mouth with my robe as I spoke.

In the Labyrinth, it was common for something that looked like a treasure chest to turn out to be a trap or a pot of human flesh soup.

Honestly, the fact that it wasn’t a trap was lucky enough.

“So this is the second floor... It won’t be easy.”

Hans’s expression hardened.

“Ever since last time, the treasure chest was a bust, and now the jar’s a bust too... Is this right?”

Elena grumbled.

Hans tried to comfort her with his own experience.

“If you mean the chests in the Ruined Prison, First Floor, I’ve opened dozens of them myself. Yet only once did I find something valuable.”

“Mm...”

“Even then, everyone grew greedy over the treasure and started fighting. That drew attention, and we lost it while monsters chased us.”

In fact, we had encountered Marauders thanks to the Treasure Room, or rather, because of it.

“I may only be a first-floor Expedition Party member, but let me offer some humble advice. Do not become too obsessed with shiny things in the Labyrinth if you wish to live long.”

He was right.

Gold stirred up the desires inside you and scattered your attention.

If you kept getting your hopes up and being disappointed over every little thing, you wouldn’t last long in the Labyrinth.

“Got it, Uncle Hans.”

Elena nodded.

“Ugh, you’ve ruined my appetite.”

Gimlius took a long drink from his metal flask, then kicked the jar, now a gravestone for its poor victims, toward the swamp with his short leg.

Splash!

As everyone’s spirits sank after that unpleasant sight, Gimlius asked me a question as we continued onward.

“By the way, Ian. What spells did you Memorize?”

Normally, it was rude to ask a mage what spells they possessed.

But if you were in the same party, you had to share information for smooth exploration.

[Faint Light] [3]

[Electric Spark] [3]

[Ice Spike] [3]

[Frost Burst] [1]

[Magic Missile] [2]

[Arcane Barrier] [1]

[Lightning Arrow] [1]

[Rising Water Jet] [1]

I currently had eight spells.

I had five slots for engraving spells.

I had to choose five of them.

Since Daisy was here, I left out Light...

“Arcane Barrier, Lightning Arrow, Frost Burst, Ice Spike, and Magic Missile.”

“You can really use all those spells?”

Gimlius was startled by my answer.

“You said this was only your second exploration... And you’re still young...”

“I listed my spells on the party recruitment request, didn’t I?”

“No, it’s normal to exaggerate a line or two on a resume, so I assumed...”

Ha, did he take me for some back-alley spellcaster who made a living through scams and lies?

“I’m a genius mage.”

Gimlius marveled.

“Incredible... Those spells could have handled the Burning City or the Salt Cave even if we had ended up there... Hah.”

As we moved, Elena’s ears suddenly perked up.

Holding a round shield as large as her torso and the lantern she had borrowed from Hans, Elena shouted.

“Monsters! Three Gnolls. Two Goblins...”

Awooooo!

A resounding howl rang out, followed by the chilling whistle of something cutting through the air.

One of them was an archer, and an arrow came flying at us.

Clang!

Elena blocked it with her shield while Daisy and I ducked.

Projectiles were what killed mages and Priests first.

“Daisy! Light!”

“Okay!”

At my words, Daisy chanted while crouching.

“Merciful Meia, drive away the darkness with Your light.”

Bright light spread out from her and illuminated the path ahead.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Unlike the monsters on the first floor, the second-floor Gnolls were properly armed.

I saw two bipedal hyena-men in leather armor running toward us over the platforms.

‘All of them are wearing leather armor. One has an axe, one has a spear, and another has a bow.’

Another one was drawing a bow from the rear, while two Goblins followed behind the charging Gnolls with daggers in hand.

“Gimlius! Elena! Duck for a moment!”

Just before the clash, Elena and Gimlius ducked.

Hans moved from the rear to the platform where Daisy and I stood, then pulled the crossbow trigger.

Thwoom!

Thud!

“Gahk!”

The armor prevented a fatal wound, but the force behind the quarrel sent one Gnoll toppling backward.

The platform shook violently, and one Goblin trying to avoid the toppling Gnoll fell into the swamp.

Clang!

Elena used that opening to confront the axe-wielding Gnoll charging at the front.

She blocked its swinging axe with her shield, pressed her shoulder against it, and grappled with the Gnoll.

“Grrrk!”

The strength of the hyena-man, built entirely from muscle, surpassed that of the slender elf.

But Elena had swordsmanship she had paid to learn in the city. She had experience and skill that a wild monster lacked.

“Hup!”

Holding her sword hilt in a short reverse grip, Elena struck the Gnoll’s knee.

When it tried to bite through her throat, she smashed its jaw with the edge of her shield.

Grragh!

She loosened her grip on the shield handle, pulled her sword free, gripped it with both hands, and swung.

Slash!

A clean diagonal cut.

The blade went in deep from the excessive force and was slightly damaged, but the Gnoll, its neck half-severed, collapsed while spraying blood like a fountain.

“Fuck. When did...?”

Elena had easily brought down one Gnoll, but she looked down with a short curse.

A Goblin that had approached without her noticing had stabbed a dagger into her thigh.

Her new armor kept it from being a fatal wound, but an injury was still an injury.

Elena flinched, then gritted her teeth, grabbed the Goblin by the head, crushed its eyes with her fingers, and flung it away.

Screeech!

Then she faced the spear-wielding Gnoll that had been hit by a quarrel, gotten back up, and charged again.

With its line of sight no longer obstructed, the Gnoll archer in the rear drew its bowstring once more.

Above Elena’s head, visible only to me, the Coin of Fate spun.

[Elena blocks or dodges the arrow]

[Elena is hit by the arrow]

[Minor injury or fatal injury]

‘Not a chance.’

Twing!

The Magic Missile I fired curved at a strange angle and struck the hand of the Gnoll preparing to fire its bow.

Yelp!

The coin vanished.

Fate had changed.

‘Monsters with ranged attacks really are dangerous.’

Elena finished off the wounded Gnoll spearman. Hans then fired his crossbow again and dealt with the disarmed Gnoll archer, bringing the battle to an end.

“Pant, pant.”

“Elena! Let me heal you right away...”

“Wait, Daisy. It didn’t go deep because of the armor. It missed the artery, so herbs and a bandage should be enough.”

“Ah, it stings.”

Daisy gave Elena first aid and wrapped a bandage around her thigh.

Elena then glared at Gimlius.

“Hey, dwarf. Why did you just watch?”

Gimlius had done nothing during the fight.

He answered calmly.

“Sorry for leaving you to fight alone, but I wanted to see whether you could do your part on the second floor.”

In truth, Gimlius had been ready to rush forward at any moment if Elena was in danger.

Elena asked with an annoyed expression.