075 Siren

We’d barely started walking when the dungeon decided to give us our first proper "baptism."

"Get down!" I barked.

A small fish lunged out of a pillar of water, arcing through the air before diving into the next pillar and vanishing. The other two hit the deck just as I’d ordered, but the fish wasn't done with us. It leaped out again, aiming straight for our heads.

I swung my blade, cleaving the little bastard in half mid-air. It was only then that I noticed its sharp beak.

It’s basically a living sword.

If that thing hit you, it wouldn't just leave a scratch; it would skewer you. Actually, judging by the sheer amount of mana radiating from it, it would probably punch a hole straight through you.

I see. So that’s why there are water pillars standing at such perfect intervals in this room. It’s a shooting gallery, and we're the targets.

A split second later, a low hum began to vibrate from the pillars. A massive swarm of the fish began to zip between the columns like silver bullets.

Hah. So this is what a real dungeon is like.

"Don’t stop moving! Let’s go!"

"Right!" Allen shouted.

"Y-yes, sir!" Carta squeaked.

I took the lead, sprinting ahead. I figured this would be a heavy burden for Carta—Allen could usually handle himself—but I was surprised to see her chanting Wind Magic. She created a localized gale around herself, effortlessly blowing the fish off course before they could reach her.

As for Allen, he looked absolutely terrified, but his hands were steady. He was slicing through those high-speed projectiles with the same ease I was.

Tch. These two are way too talented for their own good.

It was about five hundred meters to the other side. Even at a full sprint, the gauntlet took us a few minutes to clear, but eventually, the next set of stairs came into view. I’d made it through unscathed, but Allen and Carta were sporting a few nicks and cuts.

"Need a break?" I asked.

"I’m okay," Allen panted.

"I'm fine too. No problem!"

Apparently, a little blood wasn't enough to slow them down. We headed down the stairs to the next sub-level. Carta began chanting Recovery Magic, healing her wounds and Allen’s in turns.

This is already way more intense than I expected.

Over half of the adventurers who entered this place would probably retire right there—or die. At the very least, they’d be stuck in that room for hours. But in this world, death isn't exactly treated with the gravity it deserves.

That examiner old man... he really picked a hell of a dungeon for us.

I considered summoning Debi, but I decided against it for now. I needed to conserve mana. That guy has terrible fuel efficiency. Plus, the fact that he’s incredibly annoying is a permanent stain on his record.

『DE-DEBI?!』

I thought I heard a voice echoing inside my head for a second, but I decided to ignore it.

As we descended further, the stairs became submerged. This was clearly the "gimmick" for this layer. I stopped at the water's edge to gauge the distance.

If we had to swim five hundred meters, it would take a significant amount of time. I had no idea if there were places to surface for air along the way.

Now, what’s the play?

"Water's Blessing (Cure Heal)!"

Behind me, Carta cast a spell on the group. A thin, shimmering membrane of mana enveloped our bodies.

"That’ll let you breathe underwater for about ten minutes," she explained. "It’ll help you swim faster, too."

"That’s incredible, Carta! I didn't know you could do stuff like that!" Allen cheered.

"Ehehe. I was born in the sticks, so I've always loved swimming."

She said it like it was no big deal, but that was a seriously high-level spell. Unlike simple offensive magic, Enchantment Magic is notoriously difficult. The formulas are insanely complex; you need a deep, fundamental understanding of mana to pull it off.

Seriously, stop showing off your genius. It’s making me look bad.

"Shall we go then, Weiss?" Allen asked.

"...Yeah. You’re taking the lead this time, Allen."

"Right! Leave it to me!"

I waited until Allen had dived in and disappeared beneath the surface before I looked back.

"Thanks, Carta."

"Ehehe, you're welcome!"

Well, I was the one who insisted on keeping her on the team. I figured I should keep her in a good mood.

We encountered a few fish-type monsters during the swim, but they weren't much of a threat. One hit from me was enough to kill them instantly. There were quite a few of them—about ten at once at one point—but we cleared them without an issue.

On the third basement floor, the water vanished, replaced by a vast, open space.

Wait, it’s too open.

Suddenly, massive walls of water erupted from the floor with a deafening roar. The room transformed into a giant, shifting labyrinth, completely obscuring our surroundings. The walls were towering—far too high to jump over. I tried to see if I could climb one, but since it was made of liquid, there was nothing to grip.

However...

"Carta."

"On it!"

She was basically a walking cheat code for this maze. She simply took to the air, flying above the walls and shouting directions down to us. So far, she was easily the most useful member of the party.

The fourth layer, however, was where the "Protagonist Bastard" finally earned his keep. Mostly because there were so many enemies that dealing with them was a total pain in the ass.

"I'm taking a breather. He's all yours," I said, stepping back.

"W-Wait, what?!" Allen stammered.

Dungeons are long. You have to take breaks when you can.

"Hyaaah! Haah!"

This is why I love the hot-blooded types. They’re always so full of motivation. Maybe I should have brought that Duke (Mineral) guy along too. If there’s a next time, I’ll invite him; he seems like the type who would let me slack off.

"Haa... haa... it's over..."

"A-Allen, are you okay?" Carta asked.

"Yeah... I can't use much magic, and I’m not smart like Weiss, so I have to give it everything I’ve got..."

"Hah. At least you understand your place. Take a short rest and then we—"

"No, I’m fine," Allen said, standing up. "Let's keep going."

I don't entirely hate that part of you, Mr. Protagonist.

Strangely enough, even after clearing the fifth layer, not a single Siren had appeared. We’d fought plenty of other monsters, but they were all weaklings. Sirens were supposed to be rare, sure, but we should have run into one by now.

What’s going on? Is this the wrong dungeon? No, that’s impossible.

If my memory served me right, we were almost at the boss room. If we didn't find the monster we were looking for soon, we’d have to backtrack and grind until one spawned. It wasn't uncommon to spend hours in a dungeon hunting for a specific drop.

But then, it clicked.

That old man... I see what he did.

"Debi."

『Debibi!』

He popped out of the Darkness. I gripped my hilt and switched my style to Dual Sword.

The real game starts now.

"Allen, stop using that blunt piece of junk. Equip that Artifact you used during the tournament. We're charging straight through to the Seventh Layer."

Usually, Allen and I used standard swords to keep our mana consumption low, but the time for holding back was over.

"Eh? But what about the Siren?"

"He's right, Weiss. We might have missed it back there," Carta added.

"Just shut up and follow me."

The Sixth Layer was crawling with giant Water Golems. They were a nightmare to fight because they just absorbed every physical blow we landed. There were dozens of them, but they had one fatal flaw: a tiny heart. A Magic Core. It was hidden cleverly within their bodies, but once I spotted it, the fight was over.

"Gwaaaargh!"

"Focus your mana into your eyes! Perceive the core and strike there!" I commanded.

"Understood!"

"I see it! As expected of Weiss!"

The two of them were perfect subordinates; as long as I gave the orders, they executed them flawlessly. It took some time, but we eventually shattered the last of the golems and reached the end of the floor.

But there were no stairs. Instead, we were met by a gargantuan, intimidating door.

"Is this..."

"The boss room? But then, the Siren must be somewhere else—"

"No," I interrupted. "If I'm right, it’s behind this door."

The examiner had said: 'Defeat a Siren and bring back its Magic Core to pass.' He never said everyone would pass. He was telling us to go kill the boss.

When I explained that to them, both of them actually smiled. They weren't scared; they looked relieved.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. Always."

"I'm ready!"

With their resolve confirmed, I pushed the doors open.

The room inside was like an indoor sea. A massive, jagged rock sat in the very center of the water. A narrow stone path circled the perimeter, allowing us room to move, but the whole setup felt like a trap.

And there, perched on the central rock, was a massive Siren singing a haunting melody.

That song was trouble. It distorted mana, capable of silencing a mage’s chants or drastically weakening the power of a Dual Sword or any magic-infused blade. I’d already briefed the other two on the risks. If even one of us died, we’d likely fail the exam.

"We found it. The 'hit.' From here on out, we play it by ear. Scatter!"

And so, my—our—first boss subjugation began.