Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 310: The Battle with the Dark Great Wolf Continues
Tsugumu’s escort team struggled against the Dark Great Wolf’s cautious tactics.
Aeris’s barrier protected the rear guard from [Dark Breath], but the vanguard had to leave that protection whenever they attacked. The monster would then slow them with intermediate fire magic and release its breath, forcing the rear guard to treat blindness, paralysis, and poison once again.
The repeated cycle steadily drained the escort team’s stamina. The Dark Great Wolf clearly possessed both intelligence and an aptitude for prolonged battle.
If [Dark Breath] could be stopped for only a moment, the vanguard could ignore the lesser fire damage and launch a decisive assault.
Tauro moved to the front.
“Tauro, step back!” Tsugumu shouted.
The escort captain had no intention of allowing the person they were assigned to protect onto the front line.
“If I stop [Dark Breath], can your vanguard counterattack immediately?”
“What? Yes. Without that breath, they can endure the fire magic and continue forward.”
“I may be able to seal it temporarily. Please attack the moment I act.”
Tsugumu studied Tauro’s expression, then accepted the proposal.
“Understood. Everyone, prepare to advance!”
After the rear guard finished treating the vanguard, three dragonfolk charged.
The Dark Great Wolf cast intermediate fire magic directly into their path. Ordinarily they’d have paused to defend, but this time they trusted Tauro and ran through the flames.
“[Skill-Killing (Weak)]—target: [Dark Breath]!”
Tauro activated the skill as the wolf drew back its head.
The monster opened its jaws, but no breath emerged. Startled by the failure of its own ability, it leaped backward too late.
The three burning vanguards reached it and drove their weapons into its body.
The Dark Great Wolf howled as deep wounds opened across its flank, yet it escaped the encirclement and retreated again.
“We failed to finish it!” Tsugumu said, moving to pursue.
A faster figure rushed past.
It was Salaman, wielding his enormous battle-axe.
“You won’t escape!”
He caught the wounded monster and brought the axe down with tremendous force.
The Dark Great Wolf released [Dark Breath] at the same instant. Salaman took the attack head-on, but his axe crushed the monster’s skull and ended the breath before it could spread across the battlefield.
Salaman dropped to one knee.
“Treat Salaman immediately!” Tsugumu ordered.
The rear guard rushed to remove the poison and other abnormal conditions.
“We defeated it, but this was one of the strongest specimens of its kind,” Tsugumu said after examining the body. “As I suspected, it carries two special designations: Tracker and Dragonfolk Slayer.”
Tauro used [Appraisal].
Dark Great Wolf
Designations: Tracker; Dragonfolk Slayer
The titles strongly suggested that the monster had hunted Salaan’s party from the deeper floors and had already killed her five companions.
Victory brought little satisfaction.
Noticing Tauro’s expression, Tsugumu rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Deaths in this dungeon are common among the dragonfolk. We mourn those who fall, but a warrior who dies fighting is honored. Don’t carry all of their deaths as though they were your fault.”
They brought the unconscious Salaan back to the Floor 113 rest room. There they treated Salaman, the burned vanguard members, and everyone still suffering from [Dark Breath].
After some time, Salaan regained consciousness.
“I… survived…”
She began to sob. Grief for her companions, guilt at being the only survivor, and relief at remaining alive overwhelmed her at once.
On the journey back toward the surface, Tsugumu asked about Tauro’s ability.
“What was that skill you used against [Dark Breath]?”
“[Skill-Killing (Weak)]. I’m relieved it worked. It failed against the Minotaur, so this was still an experiment.”
Tauro considered what had happened.
“It appears I must clearly understand and designate the opponent’s ability. If I do, I can seal that skill for a moment. The duration is extremely short, and I still need to determine its limitations and how long I must wait before using it again.”
“So our attack depended on a gamble?”
“I believed it would probably work.”
“‘Probably’ was the foundation of the plan?” Tsugumu replied in exasperation. “Please spare us such experiments in the future.”
Tauro could only laugh awkwardly.