KHIEEEKKKKK THUD THUD THUD
A single slash fell from high above and cleanly cut the hobgoblin down, its body cleaved in half and soon falling towards the ground with a couple of thuds before silence swallowed the caverns once.
Before the hobgoblin was a trail of corpses, glowing one after another and scattering into tiny fragments of light before vanishing into oblivion. They all soon fluttered away, leaving all but a young elf standing in the dim corridors of darkness.
There were no more vibrations in the ground nor in the air and no strange fluctuations of heat in the surroundings. A flick of a finger echoed in the room, when suddenly, all the young lady's senses came back to her, light shining in her eyes again.
"Eh? Are we already done?" ［Yuna］
"There's already a staircase in the next cavern, so I figured the challenge is all over. You're alright with this, right? Mister Kris? Miss Aria?" ［Grey］
"That's fine by me. I don't think it makes any difference." ［Aria］
"I actually wanted to see how Yuna would fare with the stairs and see if she'll trip and stumble or not, but I guess it is fine too." ［Kris］
"That's so mean, Mister Kris!" ［Yuna］
With the clearing of the last horde of monsters, Yuna's challenge was finally over, and she did so with perfection. If anything, it didn't seem like she had any difficulties at all, fighting like she could see perfectly fine and cutting down enemies one after another.
Even the time she took to clear the whole floor was less than half an hour. If only she could hear what Grey was saying and was being guided like Aria to the next floor, the time would have been much shorter and things would have been much easier.
"So, how does it feel? Did you enjoy it?" ［Grey］
"Un! It's a little strange to fight without seeing anything, but it feels refreshing! It does feel a little lonely after a while, though." ［Yuna］
"Haah... That's not something normal people would think about in a dungeon. They'd usually think about survival, butー Haah... Forget it..." ［Kris］
"True... It would be worrisome if my enemies were all Calamity-Class or above... The 10th floor of a Labyrinth would be hard to clear, wouldn't it?" ［Yuna］
"Oi, are we even communicating right?" ［Kris］
It was an unbelievable fear, but knowing it was Yuna who did so, Kris and Aria could only accept it as it is. It was quite easy since opponents were just G-rank, but even if they were a little bit stronger, they knew it still wouldn't make a difference.
Kris and Aria were confident they could also do the same, but only if the opponents were C-rank or below. Anything above that would be hell for me and would be no different than playing with fire. Only Grey and Yuna would be crazy enough to do so.
"It's a good training method, isn't it? Wanna give it a try?" ［Grey］
"Hell no. I ain't making myself look like a clown for your entertainment." ［Kris］
"Me too. I think I'll have to pass." ［Aria］
The two declined the offer without hesitation, a little bit of disappointment brewing in Grey's eyes. Still, he really meant his words and would like to try someday. It was a good training method to hone other senses he doesn't usually use.
Just like that, after walking a couple dozen meters, they found the staircase leading to the 3rd floor and after spiraling down a couple of meters, they finally arrived at the third floor which was even wider than the floor above it.
The monsters have yet to spawn so the caverns looked quite peaceful, only the sound of water droplets dripping from the air to be heard and the dim glow of the dungeon torchstones to be seen. A smile bloomed on Kris' face.
"Alright! It's my turn, right?!" ［Kris］
Now that they arrived at the 3rd floor, it was finally time for Kris to draw a challenge from Grey's cup. He quickly closed his eyes and with a confident smile on his face, drew one of the sticks, soon reading its content later.
The very moment he read the words written on it, his smile quickly faded away and all that was left was disbelief, utterly speechless. It says "Clear the floor while balancing an egg on top of your head."... A really absurd challenge.
"Balancing an egg... Hmmm... That certainly sounds interesting..." ［Aria］
"Here's the egg, Mister Kris. Be careful not to drop it." ［Grey］
"Ohh～! Good luck, Mister Kris!" ［Yuna］
And as if it was the most natural thing in the world, everyone easily accepted such a challenge and Grey even pulled out a chicken egg from his Inventory, placing it on top of the frozen Kris' head ever so casually, not a single thought behind his eyes.
Even his wife, Aria, was on board with the idea, cheering on him with her eyes sparkling with excitement and curiosity. Soon enough, Kris started to move and clear out the whole floor as intendedー or at least, what everyone hoped.
"Oi! Just wait a goddamn minute! Why the hell is this challenge even included in the pool of challenges?! This is absolute bullsh*t!" ［Kris］
but of course, like a customer who just got scammed, Kris cursed on the top of his lungs and complained about the challenge he got. It wasn't even a challenge like Yuna's, but rather, simply him making a fool out of himself.
"Well... I just thought it would be funny." ［Grey］
"What the f*ck?!" ［Kris］
Of course, Grey's reasoning was out of the world as usual, making Kris swear even more as he smashed the egg towards the ground. No matter how much of an idiot he is made of, there was a limit to how much he could take.
There were things like adding weight bracelets, fighting only barehanded, setting a random curse on oneself, limiting the clearing time, and so on and so forth, and yet Kris managed to pick the most absurd one out there. He was frustrated.
Yet before he could even notice, his lovely and beautiful wife had walked up to him and with another egg in her hand. She placed it casually on top of his head whilst she hummed with a bright smile painted on her face.
"Kris, Dear, didn't we make an agreement earlier to accept whatever our challenge is? You'll honor your promise, right?" ［Aria］
"Huh? But this is clearlyー" ［Kris］
"You'll honor it, right?" ［Aria］
Kris couldn't even finish his words, his wife asking him with a smile which wasn't a smile at all. He may be the stronger one, but in front of his wife, he was nothing but a weak and timid kitten. All he could do was nod and accept his fate.
Just like that, Kris accepted the challenge and walked a couple steps to see how much he can do without dropping the egg, testing his balance to the limit and doing all sorts of weird poses and patterns to see how far he can go.
It didn't take too long before he got used to it, and just right in time, the monsters soon spawned in, over a dozen ogres greeting him warmly with their booming and ferocious battle cries, charging at him soon after.
"Come here, you ugly bastards!" ［Kris］
Kris didn't just let them do as they please either. Much like how they rushed towards them, he also ran up to them at high speeds, keeping the egg on top of him in mind and summoning his trusty battleaxe before him with a flick of a finger.
KUAAARRRKKー BOOOOMMMMM CRASH CRASH CRASH
A single swing of his massive battleaxe and all the ogres were sent flying, bones crushed to fine powder as they crashed to one another. He swung a couple more times, heavy blows raining from above and pounding the ogres.
Not even a single one could even get close, the air pressure sweeping them away and sending them crashing towards the walls without a hitch. A single strike and they were sent to meet their creator, turning to fragments of light soon after.
Just like that, the battle was soon over, not a single ogre to be seen. There was a smile on Kris' face as he blew a quick whistle... A smile which didn't last too long, replaced with a face of horror as soon as he turned around.
"H... Huh...? Wh... Why the hell is that thing over there...?" ［Kris］
On the ground was a broken egg, the shells scattered around and the yolk broken messily. A cold chill ran down his spine as he realized what he saw, grasping the top of his head as he tried to deny the situation, however... It wasn't there...
No matter how much he scoured, the egg was already gone from his head and all he could feel was his hair. He was sure he kept his balance all the time so that the egg wouldn't fall, however, he completely ignored one crucial thing... The reverberations...
With every heavy strike he performed, the resulting shock from his attacks and the wind pressure accompanying it moved the egg precariously, and the moment he decided to use a strong move, the egg was blown away completely.
"Oh my, Dear... It looks like you cracked the egg, huh..." ［Aria］
"H-Hey, Aria, this is not what it looks like... That was just a trial! Yeah, a trial! Right, Grey, Yuna?! This is a trial, right?!" ［Kris］
He asked for help as much as he could, but the two only shook their heads in silence. He was left for dead in the palms of his gorgeous but scary wife, approaching him with a smile on her face, her steps somehow echoing more clearly than before.
"Aria... Did I tell you you look beautiful today?" ［Kris］
"Fufufu! Thank you for the compliment, Dear... But you know, that doesn't exempt you from the game's punishment, right?" ［Aria］
"Ugh... Goddammit! Fine! Just get to it already!" ［Kris］
Bargain all he want, Aria was firm on her stance, and soon enough, Kris received his punishment for failing to complete the challenge, very soon as well. It was 3 finger flicks to the forehead, one each from Aria, Grey, and Yuna.
Of course, keeping their strengths in mind, they weren't just any normal finger flicks either. Each one was packed with enough power to demolish massive buildings in a single strike, sending Kris flying away to the cavern walls with every flick.
Surprisingly, the one who flicked the most was Aria. It seemed like she was blowing away some steam from the frustration and headaches from dealing with Kris every single day. He may be her husband, but that doesn't mean she'll go easy on him.
Thankfully, Grey and Yuna were there to give him some emergency healing magic, healing the bump of Kris' head and also removing his headache before they even start. Despite the cause of his troubles, they were pretty handy.
"Dammit... That really hurts a lot..." ［Kris］
"Then try to not drop and break the egg next time." ［Aria］
"Hm? Next time...? What do you mean nextー" ［Kris］
Kris couldn't even finish what he was saying, when suddenly, his lovely wife placed yet another egg on top of his head with the most casual look on her face. Kris looked at her with puzzled eyes, and she only responded with a bright smile.
"Aria... What are you doing?" ［Kris］
"Well, you haven't cleared the floor yet, have you? That means you still need to keep balancing the egg until everything is over." ［Aria］
"And if I drop the egg again?" ［Kris］
"Why are you asking such an obvious question? Of course, you'll get punished again, right? You're so silly sometimes, Kris." ［Aria］
Said the beautiful elf lady as she casually dropped a bomb with the brightest smile that could illuminate the whole dungeon. Yet that very same smile was the invitation of the devil in Kris' eyes, his body trembling a little bit.
He wanted to scream and cry, he really does, but he couldn't. He was powerless. He couldn't even ask Grey and Yuna for help, the two just silently cheering on him with their thumbs pointed upwards. All he could do was accept his fate... Again...
"Dammit... I... I'll do it..." ［Kris］
"Yaay～! I know you can do it! Good luck, Dear～!" ［Aria］
Tears in the corner of his eyes and regret dwelling in the bottom of his heart, Kris then proceeded with the 3rd floor whilst being vigilant to not drop the egg, trekking with as much caution as he could and keeping the egg in mind all the time.
However, as if fate was playing with him, more monsters spawned in as usual and he had to fight them as cautiously as ever. He made sure to control and weaken his strikes just enough to knock them down, finishing them off thereafter.
However, no matter how careful one is, there is bound to be an accident that makes them suffer. He dropped the eggs a couple of times on the journey, and as a result, received punishment for failing his challenge again and again.
He continued just like that throughout the whole floor, and after struggling and acting paranoid for quite a while, he could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The staircase was in sight and the challenge was finally completed.
"Yeah! It's finally over! I'm finally free from this goddamn curse!" ［Kris］
"Fufufu! Congratulations, Kris. You made it." ［Aria］
"Well, what do I say, I'm quite the tenacious man... With that in mind, could I get a kiss as a reward for clearing such a hard quest?" ［Kris］
"Please don't push your luck, Dear." ［Aria］
It was a good try, but Aria's defenses were as high as ever. Still, Kris is happy that he could finally roam around freely without any worries... Well, hot that Aria isn't happy for him either, giggling ever so softly... She may just reward him later... Just maybe...
Just like that, everyone descended on to the next floor, and like the floors before it, they then started the drawing of sticks. Now, it was Grey's turn, but rather than himself, it was Aria who picked for her, closing her eyes gently.
After all, Grey could see everything and anything if he wished to do so. Yuna didn't risk the chance and asked Aria politely to draw the sticks for him, the golden-haired elf happily accepting and picking out a challenge at random.
"Fight barehanded. No weapons or magic are allowed," ［Aria］
"Mmn... It seems like I got lucky..." ［Grey］
"What the hell?! Why is this one so easy?!" ［Kris］
By luck would have it, Aria managed to pull out the "easiest" challenge in the metal cup. It would have been a problem for Kris and Aria if they picked it on the higher floors, but for Grey, it was the most perfect challenge there is.
Of course, Kris had some problems with how easy Grey's challenge was, but they just ignored his loud yapping. Soon enough, Grey unequipped his weapons and also deactivated his equipment while he was at it, making sure he abides the rules.
UURRUUUKKK GURRRUUUKKKK WHIP WHIP WHIP
Treants and High Orcs appeared before Grey, the high orcs charging towards him at full speed with their orkish maces raised high, and the treants lashing out their thorny vines and sturdy roots towards him, rushing like a horde of snakes.
Yet despite all that, there was no trace of panic in his eyes. He simply rushed forth without a single thought in mind, countering the enemies' advances with his bare fists and sweeping them away with nothing but brute strength.
When there were high orcs, he swung his fist, when the enemies tried to attack, he swung his fast faster than they could strike, and when the vines and roots lashed out, he grabbed without hesitation, crushing them soon after.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Grey's fists flew left and right and without a single waste of movement, he sent them all flying, breaking their bones and trunks and sending them off to their creator. He didn't even dodge once, facing them head on with only his fists before him.
"Look at that confidence. That bastard probably doesn't even know fear." ［Kris］
"Fufufu! Go Grey, you can do it! Fighting!" ［Yuna］
Grey continued on just like that, crushing all the monsters on the floor with nothing but his fist alone. He didn't dodge a single time nor got hit either, continuing his killing streak as he progressed through the floor. It was yet another massacre.
Of course, like he usually does, he picked the shortest path every time, and in less than half an hour, they finally arrived at the staircase leading down the 5th floor. Grey performed his challenge spectacularly, not failing even a single time.
Time was of the essence, and after dawdling just a couple seconds, everyone then proceeded to the 5th floor. It was still Grey's turn, and since it was a new floor, it was time to draw out a challenge. Now, it was Kris who drew.
"Ohh～! Weighted bracelets! That's fun!" ［Yuna］
"What the hell?! Why does he keep getting the easy ones?!" ［Kris］
The challenge he got was to wear weighted bracelets during the fights, and taking his own strength in consideration, he equipped the ones weighing a couple hundred tons in each hand, feet included as well, totaling over a thousand tons all in all.
Of course, despite all that, it wasn't much of a problem. Grey could lift over 20 times the total weight of the bracelets. They would slow and wight him down, but for the D-rank monsters in the 5th floor, it was more than enough.
"This is unfair! Let me draw another one!" ［Kris］
"Kris, don't be unreasonable! Just accept it and moveー" ［Aria］
"No, it's alright, Miss Aria. I also think this is a little underwhelming." ［Grey］
"Alright! It's decided then! Don't take back your words later!" ［Kris］
Feeling a little underwhelmed, Grey allowed Kris to draw another stick, however, much like the first one, it wasn't really exciting for anyone. Kris drew another stick again out, only to be elbowed by his wife for being too bothersome.
Still, Grey decided to do all three challenges Keis drew out. The first one was the weighted bracelets, next was fighting using the lower body only, and lastly, a recurring challenge which Grey has to fight with senses removed, much like Yuna before.
Yuna quickly casted the same curse on Grey, blocking his sense of sight, hearing, and mana detection, then setting him off to fight some monsters, their sharp and obnoxious cries soon ringing all throughout the dungeon.
KHIIEEEKKK HUUUAAKKKK GURRRKKK URRRGHHHHH
"That bastard... Seriously, what a monster..." ［Kris］
"I already expected it... But there really is no difference, is there?" ［Aria］
"Waah～! That looks like a lot of fun! I want to do multiple challenges too!" ［Yuna］
Yet despite all the limitations placed on him, Grey managed to fare fairly well against the monsters. In fact, it feels like there was not a single difference at all, eliminating and annihilating all enemies with all but a single kick from him.
Grey continued to dominate the whole floor and swept away all the monsters with his legs. Their skulls were crushed, their ribs were broken, their weapons were shattered, and their eyes flickered in the face of death.
Just like that, the 5th floor was over before anyone could even notice, yet another flight of stairs greeting them by the end of the caverns. They spiraled down once more and before long, entered a massive system of caverns.
"Alright, Yuna, Aria, let's settle the scores again." ［Kris］
"Fufufu! Let's see if you're still lucky this time, Mister Kris." ［Yuna］
"My, you two sure are energetic." ［Aria］
Of course, with the new floor before them and Grey's turns now over. It was time to decide who'.. be clearing the floor between the remaining three. With the challenges in mind, it seems like they're playing a game rather than clearing a dungeon.
"""Rock! Paper! Scissors! Throw!"""
They rolled the dice and left everything else to fate and luck, showing their hands to one another. Both Yuna and Aria threw "scissors" whilst Kris threw "Rock". Now, it was Kris who suffered from his luck, Yuna giggling as she celebrated.
"Dammit... Why is my luck so terrible today..." ［Kris］
Without a choice to pick on, Kris could only grit his teeth as he drew from the metal cup and after closing his eyes, he picked one he had a good feeling about. A good feeling which actually turned out to be more than terrible.
Written on the stick were the words "Pick another challenge. If you fail that, you will be kicked out of the bedroom tonight.". It was so surreal, Kris had to rub his eyes and read it again to see whether he was just seeing things or not.
"Oi, Grey! Why in God's name is there a challenge like this?!" ［Kris］
"I just thought it would be funny. I didn't think you'd actually get it though." ［Grey］
"Of course, you did, you damn bastard!" ［Kris］
Surely enough, the challenge was real and it seems like it was all Grey's doing, the product of his mischievous thinking. He only put it as a joke, but never did he think Kris would actually manage to pick it. His luck was amazing... One way or another...
"I think it's a good challenge. I approve of it." ［Aria］
"Oi, Aria! That's too harsh!" ［Kris］
"Fufufu! Do your best, Mister Kris! We'll be cheering on you!" ［Yuna］
"Goddammit... Why does this always happen to me..." ［Kris］
Worst of all, Aria fully approves of the challenge. If Kris fails then she can have the bedroom for herself and some peace of mind, and if Kris comes out victorious, she can get to see her husband work hard for their sake. It was win-win.
He has no other choice left, and though he doesn't want to do so, he could only draw another stick and pray for the best. However, the heavens denied his prayers, a familiar challenge greeting him brightly... It was time to balance some eggs again.
"F*ck..." ［Kris］
And so, just like that, Kris took off in a long and arduous journey which could all crumble down with a single mistake. He took the safest paths, concentrated as he battled, and moved carefully as if his life depended on it.
It was a long journey full of hazards and dozens of close calls, but the determined man continued to persist. He trekked with all his might and a burning passion in his heart, and somehow, one way or another... He succeeded...
All's well, ends well... I guess...
CHAPTER 490 END