I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years chapter 78

78 – Level 4 (4)

Even while descending to the 4th layer, Elena wore not an expression of tension but instead a strange smile, navigating through the maze.

It was due to the axe in her hand.

She had seen this axe several times before, but still, she glanced at it once more with a glimpse.

It was an axe that at first glance looked very expensive- so expensive that Elena herself might not even consider buying it.

While looking at the object, a faltering smile leaked out of Elena unintentionally.

‘To think you’d get me this…’

The reason why Elena was this delighted looking at the axe was of course due to the fact that the equipment that Kim Hyunwoo gifted her was very high-quality.

Basic equipment made of disaster materials is fundamentally very expensive.

However, in truth, the reason why Elena loved this gift so much was because Kim Hyunwoo gave her this expensive gift without asking for anything in return.

To be more precise, while asking her to grow a little more.

“…”

Elena leaked a small chuckle unknowingly.

As she thought about what Kim Hyunwoo had said, it felt like he trusted her a lot.

Since entering the territory of Lartania, the words “failed hero” have become outdated, and while she is receiving respect from the soldiers, her heart swelled every time Kim Hyunwoo expressed his belief in her in such a manner.

Indeed, Kim Hyunwoo was the main person who drastically changed Elena’s life, and at the same time, her benefactor.

Until she reached the 4th layer, looking at the axe again and again, Elena was smiling contentedly.

“Miss Elena, we have reached the 4th layer.”

At the novice knight’s words, she came to her senses, nodded her head, and sorted out her bubbly emotions.

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Given that they had to seriously tackle the labyrinth, sorting out their feelings was a absolute necessity.

Therefore, after taking a few breeze-like breaths, Elena stepped into the entrance of the fourth layer with the 200 trainee soldiers who had come down with her, letting out an exhausted sigh.

Soon, she started to recall the words that Kim Hyun-woo had said.

‘Starting from the fourth layer, there will be an increasing number of mutant creatures. It may be mostly hobgoblins and orcs, but they shouldn’t pose a big problem as they aren’t much different from the monsters in the third layer.’

‘But the one thing you need to be careful of are traps, because from the fourth layer there will be stone rhinos wandering about everywhere in the labyrinth. When they start to fight, they shoot horns from the walls or ceiling, so it’s best to deal with the stone rhinos first.’

‘If you enter a battle situation and failed to deal with the stone rhino first, immediately dodge. The rhino’s horn has high penetration power, and if you’re hit properly, you could die instantly.’

Elena calmly recalled the things Kim Hyun-woo had told her one by one. With an axe in her hand, she began to explain the details to the soldiers.

Just as they had been doing, they walked into the fourth layer with Elena in the lead. Just after entering, during the first battle…

“…?”

She couldn’t help but look perplexed.

And for good reason, the moment Elena encountered the first enemies and was about to participate in the fight after eliminating the stone rhinos that began to move subtly according to Kim Hyun-woo’s instructions.

“We won!”

“Whoooaaa!!!”

“???”

The battle was already over.

“?”

Elena looked confused at the monsters who were just a moment ago showing their vicious teeth, ready to attack.

Each one had either their neck cut off or limbs crushed, and they were gradually disappearing.

Seeing this, Elena naturally looked perplexed at the trainee soldiers cheering in victory.

‘…Um, are the trainees, this strong?’

Elena, having spent much time as a mercenary, knew well the lack of outstanding abilities within the trainee soldiers.

However, from what she had witnessed just moments ago.

The soldiers, who until recently, when embarking upon labyrinth explorations with Elena, could only fend off monsters in their role as common soldiers – their strength had augmented to an extent that was incomparable to before. Elena was left with no choice but to wear a dazed look.

Immediately following this, the next battle ensued.

“Monsters!”

“Kill them!”

“Kill them all!”

“Show them the power of Lartania’s soldiers!!”

This time, before Elena could so much as flinch, the trainee soldiers swiftly sprung into action, not just slaughtering the monster, but even handling the snail shell-like rocks on the ceiling on their own.

“No, why are they so incredibly strong???”

Elena was left wearing an expression of utmost bewilderment.

—

[Military Type] Trainee Soldier

Leader: Marlon [Experience Level 82/100]

Number of Members: 200 [View Details]

Combat Efficiency: Very High.

-Basic Equipment-

Head: Lightweight helmet.

Body: Iron armor lined with leather.

Waist: A wide leather belt.

Legs: Leather-rimmed shin guards.

Main weapon: Iron sword. Sub weapons: Iron spear, dagger, bow.

※The morale of the soldiers is high, so the battle efficiency is at its maximum!

※The morale of the soldiers is very high, increasing their combat power!

※The relationship between the soldiers is very high, quickly increasing their proficiency!

—

“Wow,”

Without realizing it, Kim Hyun-woo admired and clicked on the detailed information to see the proficiency of the members. He also looked surprised without realizing it.

‘Is this for real? Proficiency is over 70 for most of them?’

Normally the soldiers’ proficiency does not increase so quickly.

Even when Kim Hyun-woo raised ordinary soldiers, the upgrade window didn’t pop up until after he initiated real combat experience several times.

But now?

Since the proficiency of most soldiers had exceeded 70 after only about a month of training, Kim Hyun-woo unknowingly expressed admiration and a bright smile.

“I knew my intuition was right.”

“No, actually it’s probably because the soldiers were initially well-trained rather than because of my own training.”

“No, no matter how eager they are, it tends to be a waste of effort if there’s no one to properly guide them. It’s all thanks to you, Mila. Thank you very much.”

“F-f-feel free to…!”

Mila spoke flustered, at the sight of Kim Hyun-woo bowing his head.

But Kim Hyun-woo was so elated, he didn’t even care about that.

Even if a novice soldier turned into a seasoned veteran, they were often scorned by many simply because they were once too weak during their novice days.

But what if they could quickly advance past their novice period?

From Kim Hyun-Woo’s standpoint, this was something worth applauding, hence he couldn’t help but smile.

####

Several hours after exploring the fourth floor.

Elena, whose combat skills as a novice soldier proved to be far superior than anticipated, reached the end of the fourth flooor with more stamina to spare than before, and was able to face the boss of the fourth floor instantly.

■■■■■■-!

The boss of the fourth floor was a monster that seemed like an oversized version of the Stony Horn Snail, Kim Hyun-Woo had mentioned, further modified to appear more monstrous.

Unlike the Stony Horn Snail, whose horns were its only prominent feature, this variant retreated into its shell with at least a dozen more horn-like protrusions, and fired them in all directions.

Boom-! Clatter, clatter, clatter! Boom!

The horns fired off everywhere in an instant.

Since the other soldiers hadn’t entered yet, Elena twisted her body quickly to dodge the horn that was flying towards her.

Kaboom!

The horn that whizzed past her head and lodged into the wall showed it wasn’t a force to be reckoned with.

Kim Hyun-Woo knew this too, but he also felt a chill run down his spine.

Yet, Elena didn’t flinch. Instead, she sighed lightly.

“Huff!”

She immediately charged in, recalling Kim Hyun-Woo’s advice.

‘The force of the horns fired by the variant Snail is powerful, but easy to avoid. Just avoid a straight line with the mouth of the horns. It will keep tilting its body to aim for you, but please avoid it.’

“He can only shoot his horns in a straight line. That’s why it’ll be easier for Elena to deal with him up close.”

Recalling his words, Elena immediately plunged into the inside of the crab and in an instant reached the crab’s front, raising her hand axe.

“The shell is thick… I’ll have to strike at least three times like this!”

With that thought, she swung the axe down.

At that moment,

Thunk!

Contrary to Elena’s expectations, the axe pierced through the crab’s shell in an instant, tearing through its flesh.

■■■■■■■■■!!!

The crab thrashed about, its dozens of legs suddenly emerging and swiftly moving across the ground as if changing position.

Crack!

At that moment, a sharp blue bone, appearing almost like a lie, pierced through the crab’s body.

“!”

In awe of the tremendous power of the axe, Elena, almost unconsciously, regained her composure and plunged into the crab’s interior, swinging the hand axe fiercely towards the crab’s belly.

And then,

Crack-!

As the crab met its demise, its flesh began to disintegrate into dust.

Hearing the cheers from behind, Elena let out a small sigh and, with a look of admiration, gazed at the hand axe she had crafted from the calamity’s materials.

“…This time too.”

She marveled at the enormous bones, now larger than the third floor and no longer a laughing matter in size, that had once again aided her.

“…?”

Soon, she noticed a different pattern from the last time, engraved on the object.

Elena, who had been staring at it for a while, said, “First, let’s go back.”

She then took the blue bones and began to prepare to leave immediately.

As Elena started to prepare to leave, the trainees who had been bustling around began to pack the loot they had obtained so far and the blue bones onto the carriage she had brought.

While quietly observing the trainees, Elena subtly checked their reactions.

“Hmm…”

She took out a magnifying glass from her pocket.

Of course, she was already aware that the likelihood of finding something with the magnifying glass, based on Kim Hyun-woo’s words, was almost negligible.

“…Using a magnifying glass in a newly conquered layer increases the chances of finding good items… That’s what the rumor among the mercenaries said, right?”

Unconsciously influenced by the circulating rumor among the mercenaries, Elena had bought the magnifying glass.

…In truth, she couldn’t forget the strange sensation she felt when she first used the magnifying glass, more than the rumor. However, Elena was trying to convince herself that she was buying it to “confirm the rumor.”

“Sigh…”

Elena soon used the magnifying glass, glancing at the trainees.

And about 10 minutes later.

“…”

She began to exit the maze with a somewhat melancholic expression, not quite claiming to have cleared the 4th layer.