The entity that appeared to be the dungeon core rested at the bottom of the underground lake.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible to see it. However, thanks to the moss glowing in various colors — red, blue, green, yellow — like illumination, and perhaps influenced by the unique water quality of this underground lake, what appeared to be the dungeon core at the bottom could be clearly discerned.
Of course, there were those present who had never seen a dungeon core before.
"Is that really the dungeon core? ...Are you sure? There's no chance it just looks similar and is actually something else, right?"
"Hard to say. But... take a look."
In response to Reliu's words — spoken half in doubt, or rather, three parts belief and seven parts doubt — Rei looked around the vast space once more.
At first, Reliu seemed unsure of what Rei was getting at, but when he followed his gaze, he understood.
There had been multiple passages leading to this underground lake, aside from the path they had taken to get here. In other words, even if the routes differed along the way, they would all ultimately lead to this underground lake.
"Ugh."
A thoroughly displeased — genuinely displeased — sound slipped from Reliu's mouth upon realizing this. No matter what they did, they had ended up at this underground lake. That was what he understood.
(Thinking about it that way, we got here without getting lost much, so in a way, maybe we were lucky? Though it's also possible that precisely because it was a path full of traps, we were able to reach it over a relatively short distance.)
Of course, considering that even those traps were ones Byune — whose combat prowess aside, was above a certain level in pure thief skills but by no means an expert — could disarm, it might have been the correct path.
"Probably, there were several other staircases like the ones we found in that forest. And going up and down those staircases would ultimately lead here. Setting aside dead ends and such, of course."
"...The frustrating part is I can't deny that. Damn it."
Reliu, too, must have understood that this underground lake was the deepest part of the dungeon. He could say nothing more, at a loss for words.
"Then that means we're fighting that snake. No objections, right?"
Vihera asked as if to confirm, but no one could object. Given that they were here for the purpose of conquering this dungeon, the option of not defeating that giant snake did not exist.
However... while defeating it was a fact, there remained the question of how to go about it.
"Since it's a snake, it's probably safe to assume it can move on land, not just in the water. ...Does anyone, including Marina, have any information on that monster?"
At Elena's words, everyone other than Marina shook their heads, and their gazes naturally converged on Marina.
She was the one among them who had lived the longest, had the longest career as an adventurer, and had held the position of Guild Master. Naturally, her knowledge was deep, and when it came to monsters, it exceeded that of Rei and the others.
That was why they thought she might have some information about that giant snake... but the expression on Marina's face was close to bewilderment.
If she didn't know, she could simply say so, and if she did, she could say that. Despite that, Marina said neither, deliberately vague in her response.
Considering Marina's usual personality, it was something that should have been unthinkable.
"What's wrong? Do you not know that snake?"
"No... well, I know of a similar monster. But the monster I know isn't that large. It's only about the length of two grown men..."
"In other words, a High-ranking Species or Rare Species of the monster you know?"
When told that a similar monster could have different forms and abilities, that was the first possibility that came to mind.
Looking at the snake that had already returned to the water... Rei briefly wondered once more why they still hadn't been attacked, but recalling the battle with the Silver Lion, he immediately understood.
(The Silver Lion couldn't leave its room either. Which means... that snake probably can't leave its designated space either? If so, that designated space would be...)
Rei's gaze turned toward the underground lake where the giant snake was likely swimming. He could understand that they would probably only fight that snake once they entered the underground lake.
"A High-ranking Species or Rare Species... well, that would be the natural conclusion. But the difference in size is a bit too much."
Marina said with a troubled expression, but since no one had any information about that snake monster, Marina's knowledge would inevitably serve as the baseline.
Of course, even Marina, receiving expectant looks, honestly found it difficult to speak out, considering what would happen if the information she provided turned out to be wrong.
"Just tell us. Rather than fighting a monster like that with zero information, it's better to have some, even if there's a chance it's wrong. If it might be incorrect, then we just act on that assumption."
Marina, stared at intently by Rei, seemed to hesitate for a moment, but eventually opened her mouth.
"Alright. But this can only serve as a reference at best, so keep that in mind when you listen."
Everyone nodded with serious expressions toward Marina. Confirming that, Marina eventually began to share what she knew.
"First, what I know is a C-Rank Monster called Garangiga. This monster primarily operates in water. Its fangs contain venom, and it can also spit venom liquid."
"A poison-type monster, huh. ...That's troublesome."
Reliu muttered with distaste, likely because he knew just how potent that could be.
Monsters with venom were commonplace. But precisely because their venom was effective, it became frequently used, and as a result, turned into a common attack method. Moreover, even lumping it all as "venom," there were various types — from paralytic poisons that rendered opponents unable to move, to others so potent that mere contact meant death.
"Garangiga, was it? Please tell me what kind of poison it uses."
At Elena's words, Marina nodded and spoke.
"First, the fangs carry a hemorrhagic venom. The kind that makes bleeding not stop. The venom liquid reportedly causes a burning pain upon contact. ...But, I repeat, this is strictly information about the monster I know called Garangiga. I have no idea whether this applies to that creature, which appears to be a Rare Species or High-ranking Species."
"Understood. We must be cautious of the poison. ...What about attack methods other than poison?"
"Sharp spines are hidden between its scales, and it uses them for tackles and constricting."
"...That's an unpleasant attack method."
A giant snake charging in with countless spines deployed from the gaps between its scales. Imagining that, Rei muttered with genuine distaste.
If such an attack landed squarely without being evaded or defended against, it might not be a fatal wound... but it would still result in gruesome injuries.
The others must have imagined the same thing, wearing expressions of equal displeasure. Of course, what Rei pictured was the image of being dragged across a grater, so his was subtly different from the others'.
"If we're talking about special attacks, that's about it. However... I simply can't believe that the Garangiga in this underground lake has only the same attacks as the ones I know."
A Rare Species was called such precisely because it possessed abilities the species did not normally have, and a High-ranking Species was an evolved form, which naturally had increased capabilities compared to its pre-evolution state.
Given that, it was likely one or the other... or in the worst case, both. Since there was even a possibility of it being a Rare Species of a High-ranking Species of Garangiga, what attacks it would use remained unknown.
Still, it was far better than fighting Garangiga with no information at all.
"So that means: watch out for venom liquid at long range, venom fangs and scale spines at close range. Otherwise, we treat it like a normal snake."
"Right. Though I have no idea whether a snake that size can be treated like a normal snake at all."
Everyone must have shared the same sentiment at Marina's words. They let out weary smiles.
With the tension eased somewhat by the laughter, Rei moved on to the next topic.
"Now that we have a rough idea of Garangiga's abilities through educated guesses, the next topic. ...Needless to say, I have absolutely no intention of fighting in water — its territory. I'll ask just in case, but none of you want to fight Garangiga in the water, right?"
Rei asked, but given Vihera's personality, it wasn't as if he didn't think maybe, just maybe...
Fortunately, however, Vihera did not object to Rei's words and nodded without protest. This was largely because Vihera had her own reservations about fighting in water.
Fundamentally, Vihera was not adept at underwater combat. Magic Impact Palm and attacks using claws or blades created from magic would be somewhat effective, but in water, Vihera could not fully demonstrate her martial arts — her true forte.
In other words, the very foundation of Vihera's combat style would become unusable. Fighting a strong foe under such conditions would naturally leave Vihera without any sense of satisfaction. If so, it was only natural that she would want to fight on her home ground — the surface.
Moreover, Garangiga was not a monster incapable of fighting on land. From Marina's explanation, it was clear that it possessed ample combat capability on land as well.
"Good to see no one's volunteering for suicide. ...That means the biggest problem is how to drag Garangiga out onto land."
"Even with us right here, it hasn't shown any sign of caring."
Reliu, too, must have judged that even if he kept saying he didn't want to fight, his opinion wouldn't be adopted. He shifted his thinking toward how to defeat Garangiga safely. As an alias-holding adventurer, it was only natural to want to win as reliably as possible if they had to fight.
"If we get close to the underground lake, it'll probably react... Marina, how does Garangiga behave in that regard?"
"I understand what Vihera wants to know, but the Garangiga I know would attack immediately if prey was nearby. The reason the Garangiga here hasn't attacked is probably because that underground lake serves as what you'd call a boss room."
"Troublesome."
The ecology of the monster called Garangiga was undeniably troublesome, but even more troublesome was the underground lake as a location itself.
"I can move through the air riding Set... but Elena's Sleipnir boots aren't enough to freely walk through the sky."
"Indeed. Unfortunately, that is the case."
"I have Spirit Magic and a bow, so I can manage some means of attack."
"I have Wind Slash, but... if it's in the water."
"I don't have any long-range attack methods to begin with. ...I suppose I'd be throwing rocks, like before."
"Mhm!"
Each stated their attack methods, but in the end, what became clear was that they simply couldn't fight in water.
"That being the case, we definitely need Garangiga to come out of the underground lake... what options do you think we have?"
Marina, who received their looks, thought for a moment... and then, prefacing with the caveat that she wasn't confident, she offered a method she had thought of.
"First, move to the underground lake... no, in this case, above it, I suppose. Move there and attack Garangiga, and it should recognize us as enemies. After that, if we move back to where we are now... outside the underground lake, it might chase after us. Whether it'll actually leave the boss room, we won't know unless we try."
"Above, meaning..."
The gazes of everyone present, including Rei, turned toward Set.
Set, with Ielo perched on its head, looked back with round, innocent eyes. What?
Whether it was right to send Set alone above the underground lake... Rei hesitated, but ultimately, having no other option, he would have to leave it to Set.