Jack of All Trades, Party of None

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The "Twilight Moonbow" had arrived near the entrance of a dungeon that had suddenly appeared to the north of Darane. While they were timing their entry into the dungeon, a series of massive explosions erupted from the direction of Darane with a roar. Afterward, a tornado appeared, lifting demonic beasts along with the blast.

“Whoa! A huge explosion!”

Caroline, as usual, expressed her excitement with high energy at the sight.

“Is that Master’s magic? I really wonder how far ahead our master is. We’re trying so hard to catch up, but we just can’t keep up.”

Logan, on the other hand, spoke words that sounded pessimistic, but his expression was cheerful and battle-ready.

“I heard he overcame his inability to cast advanced offensive magic, but even so, when Orun, who’s supposed to be a swordsman, can do things that even I—who am from a mage lineage—can’t, it really puts me in a tough spot.”

Luna chuckled at Logan’s words as if agreeing.

While the three were distracted by Orun’s magic, Sophia checked the surrounding situation of the demonic beasts and calculated the timing to enter the dungeon.

“Log, it looks like the demonic beasts have settled down. If we’re going to enter the dungeon, now’s the time.”

“Got it. Then, before we enter, can you send a telepathic message to Master?”

Hearing Sophia’s voice, Logan switched his thoughts and immediately gave instructions to Sophia as he began constructing buff techniques for the whole party.

“Okay, leave it to me!”

The four of them here were all under Selma’s telepathy influence, so anyone could send telepathic messages, but since Sophia regularly communicated with Selma and was most accustomed to it, she would report to Orun via telepathy.

“Mr. Orun, we’ve arrived at the dungeon! We’re starting the exploration now!”

Sophia quickly sent the telepathic message to Orun, and a response came back.

“Yes. Understood. I pray for your success. I believe you can clear the dungeon. Don’t worry about the surface world—put all your effort into the exploration!”

Those words were filled with Orun’s trust.

Feeling their master’s faith in them, Logan and the others entered the dungeon with expressions free of anxiety.

“Yes! We’re off!”

Selma’s telepathy cuts off when entering the dungeon, which is a different space.

Just before the telepathy disconnected, Sophia’s brave voice echoed in the minds of everyone under the telepathy’s influence.

◇

“...Is this a hill?”

Logan murmured as he looked around.

The dungeon the "Twilight Moonbow" stepped into was an open space resembling the lower levels of the Great Labyrinth.

Gentle slopes and widely spaced trees gave no feeling of confinement, but the visibility was poor.

“Open dungeons are troublesome. It’s a real headache to find the path leading to the next floor.”

Luna wore a bitter expression.

Open dungeons are welcome for exploration, but when focusing on clearing them quickly, the countless paths make them the last thing you want.

“We have no choice but to map it out carefully as we go. Let’s first move away from here, Log. If we stay near the entrance, we’ll end up fighting a ton of demonic beasts.”

“Yeah. Let’s just go in some direction for now.”

Following Sophia’s suggestion, Logan decided to move away from the entrance and proceed while mapping.

Logan set off in a direction based on instinct, with Sophia and Luna trailing behind him.

However, Caroline was absentmindedly looking around.

“Carole? What’s wrong? Let’s move away from here first.”

Noticing this, Logan called out to her.

“Hmm, wait a moment, Log.”

Though she responded, Caroline didn’t turn toward Logan and muttered to herself, lost in her own world.

“An open dungeon, poor visibility terrain... both are things that person (…him) liked. —If that’s the case...”

Struck by a thought, Caroline started walking in a different direction from where Logan had gone.

“Hey, what’s wrong, Carole?”

“I want to try something. Just give me a little time.”