Chapter 11: Prince Kurobuta arrives at the labyrinth

(... Wow, that's amazing!)

　Brad breathed a sigh of admiration at the sight before him.

　After a full day of riding his dragon northward from the Kingdom of Pistel, Brad had finally caught sight of his destination, Sky Mountain.

　The dungeon, commonly known as the "Mountain Range in the Sky," was designed to imitate Everest,  and boasts an imposing majesty that seems to reach to the heavens. It had been a long time since he had been in the air, and he was suffering from air sickness, but the view of the ridges of Sky Mountain from the sky was so spectacular that his air sickness was blown away. 

　After enjoying the scenery for a while, brad soon ordered the ice dragon Gilgard to descend to the foot of the mountain.

"It’s go time!"

　He guided Gilgard to land in front of a large cave and jumped off its back.

　The cavern in front of him was the only entrance to the dungeon inside Sky Mountain.

In “Final Quest”, the Sky Mountain is a familiar dungeon to many players, as it’s a level 22 dungeon and is often used as a hunting ground from the middle of the game onward due to the appearance of certain monsters.

　Brad used it many times, that’s why he chose it as his hunting ground.

"... Please wait for me."

　When brad said that, Gilgard snorted.

　Looking at the entrance and the space behind it, the inside of the dungeon is too cramped for Gilgard. It would be wiser to have him wait outside obediently and call him with his dragon whistle when he was ready to leave.

　Eventually, Gilgard spread his magnificent twin wings covered with blue scales and soared into the sky. When he was in the royal palace, He could only fly around the royal capital, so I'm sure he lacked exercise. It's a good opportunity, so he should fly around as much as he wants.

After Brad sees off his dragon, he finally steps into the first level of the dungeon.

(Oh, it's the same as Faique)

　And he was impressed by the sight inside the labyrinth.

The first level of the dungeon that appears in "Final Quest" is mostly maintained by human hands, with a majestic stone structure as if it were inside a temple, and this Sky Mountain seems to be the same.

　No monsters appear on this level, and a "stone statue of forgetfulness" is set up as a save point, playing the role of an oasis where players can take a rest.

　In fact, there was no monster, and there was a familiar stone statue in the center.

(Can I save ...?)

　Although I try touching the stone statue, it seems I can’t save like in the game.

　However, when I scooped up the water from the spring where the stone statue was placed and drank it, I felt a surge of strength.

　The water in the fountain seemed to have the same effect as in the game, restoring strength and magic

　In the dungeon where monsters appear, a high concentration of magical power is gathered. Therefore, I remember hearing in a class in the academy that the water that springs here also contains enormous magic power, and if you drink it, you can receive a recovery effect. That's the logic.

(Well, here we go.)

　I looked at the dungeon scene that I was familiar with from my previous life and regained my spirit.

　There's about a month until the sword dance festival. By then, I must be strong enough to beat the heroes of the academy and win the championship.

(But how strong should I get)

　The first candidate to win is his younger brother Alberto.

 It was revealed that Alberto won the sword dance festival even during the "Final Quest" work.

(But he was 15 when he won......)

　

 Alberto is 14 this year, which means that someone else, not Alberto, will win. Alberto's expected to compete this year, so that someone will automatically be stronger than Alberto.

　Brad has to be strong enough to beat that person--

(...... Well, what I have to do doesn't change)

　A person who defeats Alberto.

　He doesn't know who it is or how strong the person is, but what Brad does wouldn't change.

　Just get stronger.

　That's it.

　Well, there's no doubt that I have to be stronger than Alberto, so I should set him as the goal for the time being.

　Alberto's level is around 30. Besides, I want to reach a level where I can win stably without player skills.

(Speaking of level ...)

　Brad removes something like silver-rimmed round glasses from his backpack.

　This is commonly known as a "level scouter".

　It's a magic tool developed by the court wizard of the Kingdom of Pistel at the suggestion of Brad.

　As the name suggests, when you look at others through this, you can display their strength itself as a level. Of course, you don't always know the exact level like in the game, but it's definitely a good rough indicator.

　Brad puts on the level scouter and checks himself reflected in the fountain.

　Then saw the number 21 in ancient magic characters floating over me as a pale red light. This is the provisional level of the current Brad.

(It's a rush work, but it's well done)

　The court magician who developed it is a terribly strange woman, but she's definitely a genius at magic tool invention. With her improvements, it will eventually become more accurate, and more detailed stats will be quantified.

　By the way, this level scouter was born from Brad's appropriate proposal, but it's become a big topic in the magician community, "It's the invention of the century!", some seem to be saying that.

　It may be an innovative invention in this world where there was no indication of strength.

　It seems that she's already applied for a patent to the Federation of Wizards in her name and Brad's, and if the level scouter becomes widespread, Brad will also receive a huge rights fee. I'm not obsessed with money cause I'm a prince, but I'm grateful for what I get.

(Anyway, the goal is level 40)

　Raise my level by 20 in a month.

Have that as the current goal.

　According to the common sense of this world, it’s almost impossible to become so strong in a month, but I have no choice but to do something about it.

　Then, brad stepped into the second level where monsters appeared.

(Whoa, they’re here already ...)

　Soon after. He came face to face with a bipedal lizard-type monster equipped with a sword.

　It was a lizard man.

　Its subjugation level is 21. It’s a monster that’s easy to fight based on its monotonous physical attack, but it’s important to be vigilant because its fangs have paralytic poison. And only three appeared.

　Although he had reached the minimum level by training with Glace, it was only the minimum. If he had a party, it wouldn't be too difficult, but with Brad on his own, it was expected to be a tough fight.

　But when Brad saw the Lizardman, he smiled with a fearless smile.

　The lizardmen threaten brad with a vicious roar as if to say, "Oh... do you think you can deal with us?"

"Hmph, small fry like you are no match for this first prince of the Pistel Kingdom, Brad von Pistel.."

　Brad provokes monsters the monster with a pompous air.

　And in this tense atmosphere, the battle was finally about to begin...

"So... I'll run away!”

　The next moment.

　Brad turned around.

　He turned his back on the lizardman and started to run away without faking it.

　Even the lizardmen seemed taken aback by the man's all-out escape, who previously seemed to be ready to fight.

(Escape to win!)

　When the enemy was out of sight, Brad stopped and caught his breath.

　Lizardmen aren’t Brad's target monster. Leveling is not very efficient when you hunt them.

　Simply put, their experience points are bad.

　Therefore, there’s no reason to fight forcibly.

　The target will appear after the fifth level. Until then, I was going to take it easy, using as little energy as possible.

　And so it went.

　Whenever a monster appeared, Brad ran and ran, and it was half a day after entering the dungeon that he found his target.

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